As the shiny black car smoothly stopped in front of a tall building, a foot stepped out from the driver's side. The shoe was a fancy black leather loafer, so clean it shone in the sunlight and was showing that whoever owned it was clearly rich and stylish.
The driver got out. He was a tall man in his mid-30s with dark hair, sharp features, and a calm, classy look. He took off his sunglasses, showing his sharp brown eyes that scanned everything around him with a serious look. In one smooth motion, he took off his casual jacket, revealing a fitted black suit and a neat white shirt underneath. His hair, neatly styled, moved slightly as he walked, making him look even sharper. He walked towards the building's entrance with long strides, covering the distance easily. As he passed a guard, he tossed his car keys to him without even looking. The guard, clearly used to it, caught them like it was nothing. Liam Hamilton's eyes narrowed a little as he walked, his whole vibe full of power, class, and wealth. He walked like he owned the place with shoulders straight, head high, full of quiet confidence. That's Liam Hamilton, the rich heir to the Hamilton family. When Liam stepped inside, the security guard opened the door for him politely. Liam walked in and looked around, locking eyes with someone waiting by the next door. James, his assistant, stood there in a sharp suit, watching Liam closely. His face gave away nothing. He stood straight with his hands behind his back, looking calm and patient. Liam narrowed his eyes as he walked toward James. There was clear tension in the air, like they both knew something big was coming but weren't saying it yet. When Liam got close, James didn't look away. He just kept staring, his expression serious. The silence between them felt thick. "Mr. Hamilton, thank God you're finally here," James said, clearly relieved. "Why did my mother drag me here?" Liam asked, sounding suspicious. "Maybe you should see it for yourself," James answered vaguely. "Just tell me. What's going on?" Liam pressed. James paused, then spoke in a low voice, "Please don't tell Madam I told you, but…she's got Miss Johnson all dressed up in the banquet hall. The moment you open that door, you're walking straight into your own wedding. Right now." Liam's eyes went wide in shock. "Great, so I'm the last person to know I'm getting married." As he turned to walk away, James grabbed his arm. "Since you're already here, why not just go inside and get married?" Liam's face tightened with anger. "If you don't let me go right now, I swear I'll kill you." James didn't let go. "If Madam finds out I let you leave, I'm dead." Liam's eyes burned with determination. "I am not getting married today. No matter what." Liam glanced over at the security guard, who was quietly watching the whole scene. His uniform had the word "Security" printed in big letters. Liam's eyes lit up with a plan. He walked over to the guard without saying a word. Then, he took off his fancy jacket and swapped it with the guard's uniform jacket. He put on the jacket, adjusted it, and grabbed the earpiece, placing it in his ear. His neatly styled hair now had a few loose strands, giving him a more rugged look. James watched in shock, realizing what Liam was doing. Liam made a quiet "shhh" gesture to James, putting a finger to his lips, signaling him to keep quiet and not give him away. Right then, Liam's mother came out of the banquet hall, her eyes scanning the area. "Where is Liam?" she asked James in a firm voice that still had a bit of concern. James, caught between Liam's signal and his boss's question, paused for a second. Before he could answer, Liam had already slipped away to the side and disappeared. James opened his mouth, but it was too late. Liam was gone. "He…left," James finally said, sounding flat and emotionless. As Liam tried to sneak away from his mother, he ended up walking into a completely different wedding that was already happening. The room was full of excitement and everyone looked ready for something big. While he was trying to blend into the crowd, a woman with a bright smile and a cheeky sparkle in her eyes walked up to him. "Hey! Do you want to get married?" she asked in a flirty voice. Liam's eyes went wide again. TEN MINUTES EARLIER… The room buzzed with energy as guests waited for the groom. The announcer spoke into the mic, "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the groom, Mr. Noah Smith!" Everyone clapped loudly. But as the clapping went on, people started to notice something was off. Noah wasn't showing up. The bride, standing beautifully in her wedding dress, was alone at the front. She looked confused. The applause slowly faded. People began whispering to each other, trying to figure out what was going on. The bride looked around, her face growing more worried by the second. As things got quiet, Mrs. Smith,Noah's mom, a classy woman who looked young for her age,walked up to the bride, holding a piece of paper. People started whispering again. "Looks like the groom ran off," someone whispered. "Poor girl's been ditched." Another person added, "He was too good for her anyway. Did she really think she could marry into the Smith family?" Then with a sneer, "An orphan girl trying to score big." The bride's face fell when she heard those cruel words, but she forced a smile, trying to stay calm. "It seems Noah is running a little late," she said. But before she could say more, Mrs. Smith dropped her glass of wine with a loud crash. "We're the Smith family, I mean the famous Smiths," she said coldly. "You really thought we'd let someone like you join our family?" "If that's how you feel, why go through with this wedding?" the bride asked angrily. "This was just a lesson," Mrs. Smith snapped. "I've seen too many gold diggers like you." Then, mocking her, she shouted, "Noah?! Smith?! Oh, he's not coming." The bride's eyes widened as Mrs. Smith threw the paper at her. She caught it, looking confused and embarrassed. Quickly, she pulled out her phone and called Noah. Noah's voice came through, sounding sorry but distant. "Hey baby, I'm really sorry. My mom wants me to take over the family business. I don't have a choice but to end things. Take the money and live well." Before he could say more, Mrs. Smith cut in again, her voice full of poison. "You heard him. You're just a nobody. No one's ever going to marry a gold digger like you." The bride had had enough. Her anger boiled over. "Do you think I care about your stupid money?" she snapped. "I'd never marry a fake like your son!" She yanked off her veil and threw it on the floor. Gripping her bouquet tightly, she stormed over to Liam Hamilton, who was still trying to wrap his head around everything happening. "Hey, do you want to get married?" she asked again, her eyes full of fire.The next morning came with a heavy silence. The streets outside the Hamilton mansion were still, and the sunlight broke through the windows like a quiet blessing. Inside the house, there was a calmness, a strange peace that hadn’t been felt in years. After everything, the fights, the pain, the losses, it almost felt unreal.Meanwhile, at the police headquarters, Noah Smith sat in a holding cell. His wrists were cuffed tightly, red from the steel digging into his skin. He didn’t speak. He didn’t ask for a lawyer. He just sat there, still as stone, eyes fixed on the white wall in front of him. His hair was disheveled, his face pale, and the burns on the side of his neck and hand were bandaged, but they stung with every breath.The officers didn’t look at him with pity. They looked at him like a ghost finally caught. Some even whispered that this man had cheated death, burned in an explosion, vanished for years, and returned wearing another face. Now, he was just a man: broken, exhausted
The rain had just stopped, leaving the driveway of the Hamilton mansion soaked in tiny silver puddles. Inside the study, Ava stood by the window, her eyes lost in the distance while her mind reeled with questions.Something wasn’t right.Jim was getting too close.Too comfortable.And his presence around Michael… it wasn’t just odd anymore, it was hauntingly familiar.“I’m done pretending,” Ava muttered under her breath.Liam walked in with slow steps, fully recovered and strong enough now to stand behind her and wrap an arm around her waist.“You feel it too, don’t you?” he whispered.Ava nodded. “Yes. It’s him, Liam. It’s Noah.”Liam’s eyes darkened.Just then, the door creaked open.James.He had been released from jail just a day ago after Ava demanded a full reinvestigation.His face was rough with stubble, his eyes sharp and ready.“I made a few calls,” James said, entering. “Checked every profile linked to Jim Hawkins. There’s nothing, no hospital record, no family, no trace of
The sun was barely up, casting a pale orange hue over the glassy roof of the central city hospital. The smell of disinfectant floated through the air as Ava and Mia walked through the entrance, heading straight to the records unit. Ava clutched the envelope from Jim, those strange messages that hinted at betrayal from James and the doctor. Her mind had barely rested since she read them. “I don’t want to believe this,” she murmured to Mia. “But if there’s even a little truth in it…” “We need to confirm,” Mia replied. “If it’s fake, then we’ll confront Jim. If it’s real, we’ll decide what to do next.” Just then, Jim pulled up in a cab across the street. He sat still for a moment, watching them disappear into the hospital building before stepping out and crossing the road. He moved fast, quietly following them inside like a shadow. Inside the Records Office The doctor on duty, Dr. Cole, a stern older man with grey brows and a calm voice looked at the printed messages Ava had
It was a calm afternoon. The sun was bright, the sky clear, and everything in the Hamilton estate felt unusually peaceful.Too peaceful.Ava sat on the balcony with baby Hope nestled in her arms. Her smile was soft, but her eyes were distant, like someone searching through shadows in her mind. Ever since Mrs. Hamilton’s sudden death, the house felt colder, even with sunlight pouring in.Downstairs, Liam was in the study, going through some architectural plans with Jim Hawkins, who now seemed more like a brother than a neighbor.“I really appreciate everything you’ve done, Jim,” Liam said, pouring them both a drink. “You’ve helped this family more than some of the people who’ve worked for us for years.”Jim gave a soft, humble laugh. “You don’t have to thank me. I’m just lucky to be trusted.”That word "trusted" sat in the air like a seed.And it was already beginning to grow.Later That Evening…James walked into the Hamilton mansion, dressed in his usual black suit, files tucked unde
It was a warm Saturday afternoon. The Hamilton mansion was quiet. Birds chirped outside the window, and the smell of fresh roses drifted in from the garden. Mrs. Hamilton sat on the veranda, dressed in a long, cream-colored gown, sipping her favorite tea: green jasmine, lightly sweetened with honey.She turned her gaze toward the horizon. So much had changed in two years, Ava had given birth to another child, Liam had recovered, but their son… still missing.Her heart ached, but she stayed strong. For the family.Just then, her phone buzzed.Unknown Number.She hesitated, then answered. “Hello?”A smooth voice came through. “Good afternoon, ma’am. This is Mr. Hawkins. Jim Hawkins. I recently started working with Warner Architect… thanks to your daughter-in-law.”Mrs. Hamilton smiled softly. “Ah yes, Jim. Ava mentioned you. Polite young man. What can I do for you?”“I hope it’s not too forward,” Jim replied, “but I’ve been working on a concept that I think fits perfectly with your late
Ava sat at the edge of the bed, phone in hand, her thumb hovering over the dial button. She stared out the window, where the sky was slowly turning orange with sunset. For some reason, her heart beat faster than usual.Still, she pressed the button and called.After a few rings, the line picked up.“Hello?” Jim’s voice came through, calm and low.“Hey… it’s Ava,” she said softly.“Oh, hi,” he responded quickly, but politely.“I spoke with my husband, and there’s a job opening at Warner Architect. Just a small role to start with. Kind of like an intern-slash-site-assistant. You’d be helping on real projects, though.”There was a small pause before he replied, “Wow. That’s... that’s amazing. Thank you.”“You’re welcome,” she said, managing a little smile. “You start next Monday. Liam says you should come by the firm at 9 a.m. He’ll personally meet you.”Jim cleared his throat. “I’ll be there. I promise. Really grateful for this, Ava.”“No problem,” she said, though her fingers were slig