LOGINAnger crept up Daniel's spine."Alina tried what?" His voice dropped, low and dangerous. "Say it."Mrs. Helen bowed her head. Her hands trembled. "Mrs. Alina... yesterday, she tried to hurt herself, Sir. With a small knife from the food tray. But I arrived in time. Just a shallow cut. I cleaned and bandaged it. Not deep—"BANG!Daniel slammed the table until the lamp on it wobbled.Mrs. Helen flinched. She covered her mouth with trembling hands."YOU!"Daniel turned. His movement was quick. His eyes sharply locked on Mr. Harris with anger no longer restrained."Why didn't I know about this? Why DIDN'T YOU REPORT IT?!"Mr. Harris stood upright. His back straight as usual, but his jaw hardened and his face lost color."I thought... it wasn't necessary to make you worried, Sir. Madam had been handled. The wound was small and already treated. Mrs. Helen also watched twenty-four hours without break. I thought the situation was under control, Sir.""YOU THOUGHT?!" Daniel stepped forward. Th
Mrs. Helen stood in front of Alina's bedroom mirror with trembling hands holding a comb.Alina sat in a chair with a posture as stiff as a doll. Her eyes stared blankly at the mirror but not really seeing her own reflection."Madam," Mrs. Helen whispered in a soft voice full of worry. "Mr. Daniel will be home this afternoon. Let me help you tidy up, okay?"No response. No reaction.Mrs. Helen took a trembling breath and began combing Alina's hair with very gentle movements—as if touching something very fragile that could break at any moment.Alina's hair, which used to be thick and shiny, now looked dull and fell out on the comb. Mrs. Helen felt her chest tighten seeing how many strands fell every time she combed."Madam is beautiful," Mrs. Helen whispered while braiding Alina's hair in a simple way. "Mr. Daniel will surely be happy to see Madam looking neat."Still no response.Mrs. Helen took some moisturizer and applied it gently to Alina's pale face. Her skin felt cold and dry und
At nine in the morning, William Montgomery entered the luxurious restaurant in downtown Chicago with an aura that commanded the room.Daniel was already waiting at a corner table with a smile that was warm but full of calculation."Mr. Montgomery," Daniel greeted while standing and extending his hand. "Thank you for taking the time."William shook with a firm grip—his eyes sharp and wary."Mr. Blackwood. Your proposal was intriguing enough to make me curious."They sat facing each other like two chess players studying each other's opening moves.Daniel knew exactly why he was here.Not to discuss technology or market projections.But to buy influence over the man who could pressure Adrian Lawson—the lawyer who was targeting Alina.A waiter came. They ordered—William ordered an egg white omelet with asparagus, Daniel the same.Then the meeting began."Let's get straight to the point," William said while placing a napkin in his lap. "You're proposing a strategic partnership for a joint
While Daniel fought against Adrian in Chicago, in the dark and quiet mansion, Alina lay in bed with her eyes open staring at the ceiling.Mrs. Helen sat in a chair beside the bed, half asleep with her head leaning against the wall.It was almost midnight.Alina wasn't sleeping. She couldn't sleep even though her body was tired and her mind was empty.Junior's words still echoed in her head like a painful mantra."I hate you.""I hope you leave forever."Alina looked at her wrist wrapped in white bandages—the result of last night's failed suicide attempt.She didn't regret that Mrs. Helen had saved her.But she also didn't feel relieved to still be alive.Alina just felt empty.Like a doll that was still breathing but not really living.Her bedroom door opened very slowly—almost inaudibly.Alina didn't react. She didn't care who entered. Didn't care what would happen.But Mrs. Helen woke with a quick movement, almost falling from her chair."M-Mrs. Clarissa?"Clarissa stood at the door
Adrian didn't flinch. He stared at Daniel sharply."I have testimony from her father. Evidence of systematic isolation. Concerns about a pregnant woman being cut off from proper independent medical care. Pattern of coercion and intimidation toward anyone who tried to help her."Adrian paused, letting the words settle."I filed a petition for emergency wellness check because there are reasonable grounds to believe that Alina is in a potentially harmful situation."Daniel listened with an unchanged expression—calm, controlled, almost serene.When Adrian finished, Daniel walked closer—but not in an aggressive way. More like an executive approaching a meeting table."Mr. Lawson," he said in a voice that was low but perfectly clear. "I appreciate that you believe you're doing the right thing. Truly. But you're operating based on incomplete information from parties who don't fully understand the complexity of our situation."He stopped, letting that statement hang in the air before continui
Daniel arrived at the client company's office building with Marcus and the legal team behind him.They walked into the luxurious lobby with confident steps—Daniel's posture upright, black suit neat, an aura of power following his every movement.Today's meeting was with Hartwell Industries—a medium-sized technology company seeking a strategic partnership to expand into the Asian market.Not Blackwood Enterprises' biggest client, but significant enough to build a profitable business relationship.And more importantly—William Montgomery had a minority stake in Hartwell.Daniel had researched thoroughly before coming. This was a golden opportunity to build an indirect connection with Montgomery Industries while demonstrating Blackwood's undeniable value.The receptionist guided them to the conference room on the fifteenth floor.The door opened to reveal a spacious room with a long table, large windows facing downtown Chicago, and three people already seated waiting.Daniel recognized tw
The next morning, Junior came home from the hospital.Alina heard the car before she saw it. The familiar purr of the Mercedes engine cutting off in the driveway below.She moved to the window, pressed her palm against the glass.The driver's door opened first. Daniel stepped out, straightened his
Alina packed in silence.The few belongings she still considered hers fit into three boxes. Clothes. Books. A framed photo of Junior from two years ago that she'd hidden in her drawer.Two maids helped carry everything. They worked quietly, efficiently, eyes down.No one spoke.The walk to the new
Mrs. Helen stepped out of the room, her face still wet with tears but her posture resolute.Mr. Harris stood in the corridor exactly where he'd been for the past hour, hands clasped in front of him, expression professionally blank."Mr. Harris," Mrs. Helen began, keeping her voice steady despite th
"You have no right to be here at all."Clarissa's words landed in the waiting room like something final.Alina stood very still."I'm not leaving," Alina said quietly."Actually." Margaret rose from her chair with the slow deliberateness of someone who had been waiting for exactly this moment. "You







