로그인EmilyThe next morning, I drove to the Thompson family mansion with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. What could Mrs. Thompson possibly have to tell me that was so urgent?Marcus accompanied me as always, but I asked him to wait in the car when we arrived. Whatever this conversation was going to be, it felt private.The mansion was just as grand as I remembered from years ago, though it felt different now, colder somehow, but less intimidating. A housekeeper answered the door and led me to the downstairs guest suite, where Mrs. Thompson was staying.I knocked gently before entering. "Mrs. Thompson?""Emily. Thank you for coming." She was propped up in bed, looking even more frail than the last time I saw her. But her eyes were clear and determined.I sat in the chair beside her bed. "You said you needed to see me?""I did. I need to..." She paused, gathering her strength. "I need to ask for your forgiveness. Properly this time.""Mrs. Thompson, we've already discussed this...
EmilyI was having breakfast with Lucas and Lily when my phone started buzzing non-stop. Text after text, email after email, all coming in so fast I couldn't keep up."Mom, what's wrong?" Lily asked, noticing my confused expression.I opened the first message. It was from my secretary: "Ms. Kings, have you seen the news about Thompson Group? This could affect our partnership!"My stomach dropped. I quickly pulled up the news app on my phone, and what I saw made my blood run cold.Headlines everywhere:"THOMPSON GROUP IN CRISIS""FINANCIAL INSTABILITY ROCKS THOMPSON EMPIRE""INSIDER CLAIMS ALEX THOMPSON PRESSURED EMILY KINGS INTO PARTNERSHIP""What?" I whispered, reading through the articles in disbelief.Someone had leaked damaging information about Alex's company, or worse, fabricated lies and timed it perfectly to cause maximum damage. The articles were in every major business publication, all published within hours of each other.This wasn't a coincidence. This was a coordinated at
AlexI woke up to small hands shaking my shoulder and Phil's voice calling, "Dad! Dad, wake up!"I opened my eyes groggily to find my son standing beside my bed, already dressed for the day in his favorite dinosaur t-shirt."Phil? What time is it?" I squinted at the clock. 6:30 AM."I've been awake forever!" Phil said with the exuberance only a six-year-old could have this early in the morning. "Can we have breakfast together? Like a real family?"The words "real family" made my heart swell. I pulled him into a hug, careful of his healing incisions. "Of course we can, champ. How are you feeling this morning?""Really good! My side barely hurts anymore." He squirmed out of my embrace. "Can we check on Grandma, too? I want to show her the drawing I made yesterday.""That sounds perfect." I got out of bed and grabbed my robe. "Give me a few minutes to wash up, and then we'll go see her together."Phil waited impatiently while I brushed my teeth and washed my face. When I was presentable
Vanessa The drive back to the farmhouse took about forty minutes. I was rehearsing my story about the "hospital visit" when I pulled into the driveway and saw Michael standing on the front porch with his arms crossed.Something about his posture made my stomach drop. He didn't look concerned or welcoming. He looked angry.I got out of the truck slowly, keeping my expression innocent. "Michael? Is everything okay?""That's what I would like to ask you, Rebecca." His voice was cold. "Or should I call you by your real name?"My heart stopped. Stay calm, I told myself. Stay calm and deny everything."I don't understand what you're talking about," I said, walking toward him with a confused expression. "What do you mean, my real name?""Don't lie to me anymore." Michael pulled out his phone and held it up so I could see the screen. "The news. It's all over the news."I looked at the screen and felt my blood turn to ice.WANTED: VANESSA Hartman There was my face plastered across a news web
VanessaI woke up early the next morning to find a response to my email waiting in my inbox. My heart raced with excitement as I opened it."I'm interested. Meet me at Rosewood Café, 10 AM today. Come alone. I'll be wearing a blue tie. D.C."Perfect. David Chen had taken the bait.I waited until Michael was up and making breakfast before I announced my plans for the day."Michael, I need to go back to the hospital for a follow-up appointment," I said, keeping my voice weak and in pain. "They want to check on the internal bleeding they were worried about."Michael looked concerned immediately. "Do you want me to drive you? I don't think you should be driving yourself again.""No, no. You've done so much already. Besides, don't you have work on the farm today?" I gave him a grateful smile. "I'll be fine. It's just a quick check-up."He hesitated, clearly torn. "If you're sure...""I'm sure. I'll be back before lunch."After Michael reluctantly agreed, I got ready and took his truck, dri
VanessaI ran through the dark streets for what felt like hours, my injured ribs screaming with every breath. Behind me, I could still hear sirens wailing, searching for me in the night.The hospital security had responded faster than I'd expected. By the time I'd made it out of the building, police cars were already pulling up to the entrance. I barely escaped through a back alley, my heart pounding so hard I thought it would burst.Now, blocks away from the hospital, I finally allowed myself to slow down. I ducked into a shadowed doorway and tried to catch my breath, pressing my hand against my aching side.Pain shot through me with every inhale. I knew I had definitely made my injuries worse with all this running. But at least I was free, hadn't caught me.I pulled the baseball cap lower over my face and started walking again, trying to blend in with the few pedestrians still out at this late hour. I needed to get back to Michael's farmhouse. It was the only safe place I had.But a







