The sun cast a golden hue across the skyline as the cab pulled up in front of the large, modern home nestled quietly in a peaceful Los Angeles neighborhood. The air smelled like sea breeze and freshly mowed lawns. Birds chirped in the distance. A new chapter had silently begun.When the car pulled into the private, gated neighborhood, her breath caught. Adrian stepped out first, his usual guarded expression replaced with something softer—relieved, maybe even hopeful. He opened the door for Crystal, who stepped out slowly, her eyes wide as she took in the property.“This is… yours?” she asked quietly, looking up at the spacious two-story house, lined with glass windows and lush greenery.Adrian nodded, avoiding her gaze. “Yeah. One of a few places I have here. I figured this would be the calmest for you.”She turned slowly, scanning the area. Everything felt… safe. Far from Evelyn’s cruel gaze. Far from the ghost of her pain.Adrian walked ahead, unlocked the door, and pushed it open.
The evening air wrapped around Ilda like silk as she stepped onto the mansion’s wide balcony. The golden rays of the setting sun highlighted the pride on her face. She pulled out her phone, dialing a number she knew by heart no hesitation, no second thought.The call connected.“I was wondering when you’d call,” the man’s voice came through, smooth and amused.Ilda’s lips curved into a full, victorious smile as she leaned against the railing. “She almost ruined everything today.”“You mean the old head of department?” the man asked with a low chuckle.“Yes, Felicity.” Ilda rolled her eyes. “That witch found a way to trace some of the documents and connected them to Rays and Co. She was beginning to look in the right direction. If she had connected the dots a day earlier, Christian might have suspected me.”“But he didn’t,” the man said knowingly.“Of course not,” Ilda said, her voice laced with wicked glee. “You should have seen his face—confused, angry, completely shocked. And I just
The house was eerily quiet as Olivia stormed down the hallway, her heels clicking against the polished marble floors, each step echoing in the emptiness. Her mind was racing, the fury inside her growing with every thought of Ilda’s audacity. She had just witnessed that woman mocking her, mocking her family, and she couldn’t take it anymore. Her fingers curled into fists, and she gritted her teeth as she walked faster, her breath sharp with anger.Just as she rounded the corner, her mind still clouded with rage, she suddenly collided with someone hard.“Ugh!” Olivia gasped, stumbling backward, but strong hands caught her, pulling her back before she could fall. She looked up, her face flushed with frustration, only to be met with a calm, unreadable gaze.“Robert…” she muttered, irritated, not even realizing it was him she had run into.His grip loosened, but he didn’t let go entirely. “Olivia, are you alright?” he asked, his voice low and surprisingly gentle, a stark contrast to her bu
The soft rays of the morning sun filtered through the sheer white curtains of the spacious bedroom. The room was wrapped in quiet warmth, touched by the scent of freshly baked bread and sizzling eggs. Crystal stirred gently beneath the plush duvet, the satin sheets brushing against her skin. She opened her eyes slowly—just in time to see Adrian walk in with a large silver tray in his hands.“Good morning, sunshine,” he said with a smile, his voice thick with warmth.Crystal blinked at the tray in surprise. “Adrian…?”On the tray was an exotic breakfast—perfectly poached eggs, warm croissants, crispy bacon, a bowl of mixed berries, a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, and a side of honey-drizzled pancakes. The meal was arranged so beautifully it could have been served in a five-star hotel.“You didn’t have to do all this,” she murmured, sitting up as he placed the tray gently on her lap.“I wanted to,” he replied softly, sitting beside her on the bed. “You deserve to be pampered,
The soft glow from the vanity mirror lit Ilda’s room in a warm hue as she gently brushed her hair. She ran her hand down the sides of her body, her eyes locking on her slightly rounded belly reflected in the mirror. A quiet sigh escaped her lips.“I can’t believe I’m looking all big already,” she muttered, pulling back slightly and examining her figure. “This child is really putting on some weight on me.” She smiled a little to herself.Just then, two soft knocks came at her door.She blinked, rolling her eyes. “Oh, this chef in this house—always making me eat more because I’m pregnant. I just don’t understand them.” She muttered under her breath, standing from the stool with a reluctant stretch.She walked over to the door, flipping a strand of hair behind her ear just as she opened it—and froze.Standing there was Robert.His face was unreadable. Not angry, not cold, just... tight. Quietly serious.Ilda’s hand instinctively moved to close the door, but he placed his palm gently agai
Christian’s heart dropped. “My mother’s?”John nodded, eyes narrowing. “But it doesn’t make sense. The IP address was rerouted. Someone used a cloaked protocol to imitate her clearance. These aren’t random hacks. They were executed from within your company’s network. Someone with access... and knowledge of your system.”Christian’s fists tightened. “Who was the last person to log in under that clearance?”“Here,” John pointed, eyes scanning the string of data on his screen. “This transaction… it was executed using Olivia’s executive clearance.”Christian’s heart pounded. “My mother’s?”John gave a tight nod, his brows drawn together in concern. “Yes. But something’s not adding up. The IP address was rerouted. There was a cloaking protocol that used advanced stuff. It made it appear like Olivia logged in herself, but the location pinged internally from your company’s main server.”Christian’s fists balled at his sides. “So you’re saying it’s someone inside.”“Exactly. Someone with both
The morning sunlight spilled through the tall curtains, casting golden beams over the room as Crystal slowly blinked herself awake. The sheets felt warm, and the air held a rare kind of peace. For a moment, she lay still, listening to the birds chirping just outside the window and the faint swish of tree branches swaying in the wind.Then, memories began to surface—soft, delicate ones wrapped in laughter and love.Her mother’s voice, singing in the kitchen while baking her favorite cake…Her father’s off-key birthday song every single year, just to make her laugh…The handmade birthday cards with little drawings…The feeling of being home.A faint smile curved Crystal’s lips as her fingers brushed against her small baby bump. She whispered gently to herself, her voice light as air, “I can’t believe I’m one year older today…”She let out a soft sigh, blinking away the sting that threatened to cloud her eyes. Just as she turned her face to the window again, the door clicked open. She tu
The sky had already started to turn amber as evening rolled in. Crystal had spent nearly the whole day quietly in the house, replaying childhood memories in her mind like soft music. The moment she whispered, “Can’t believe I’m one year older today,” she had no idea her words would set something in motion.Now, the house was unusually quiet. She had spent most of the afternoon alone, her eyes occasionally drifting to the clock. Adrian hadn’t returned since morning. Even the workers seemed oddly silent. A part of her had tried to shake off the earlier disappointment, but it lingered. Maybe he really forgot, she thought.Just as she stood up to go upstairs and call it a day, there was a gentle knock on her room door.“Ma’am,” one of the housekeepers said with a warm smile, “please, come with me.”Crystal blinked, confused. “Where to?”“Please, ma’am. Just follow.”With hesitant steps, Crystal followed the woman out of the house and into the garage. But the moment the large doors slowly
The grand hall of the Blake mansion was filled with urgent footsteps and low murmurs. Within minutes of Olivia’s collapse, the family’s private doctor, Dr. Halden, arrived, his medical kit in hand and concern etched deeply into his brow. He was led swiftly upstairs to Olivia’s room, where she had been laid gently on the bed by Christian and the house staff.Olivia looked pale, her skin clammy, and her breath came in slow, shallow waves. Though her eyes had opened faintly, she remained still and mute, her lips barely twitching as if she were trying to form words that simply wouldn’t come. Her once fierce gaze was now vacant — distant, trapped in a fog.Dr. Halden moved quickly and with practiced hands, checking her pulse, taking her temperature, and examining her eyes. “She’s stable, but barely,” he said gravely. “She’s regained consciousness, but she’s currently unable to speak or communicate properly. Her nervous system seems to be under a kind of strain — possibly induced by strong
“Any news?” Christian asked without turning.John sighed, walking further in. “I spoke with our guys. All airport security stations have been notified — private hangars, commercial lines, even border patrol. His name, face, and passport numbers have been circulated. They’re all on high alert. If he tries to leave the country, he’ll be stopped.”Christian slowly turned, his eyes blazing.“So you’re telling me he hasn’t left yet.” He stepped closer, each word heavier than the last. “That means that bastard is still walking around… breathing my air… after everything he’s done to my family.”John nodded cautiously. “It’s very likely, yes.”Christian slammed his palm on the table, making a stack of files tremble. “Good! That means I still have time. I’m going to make sure he pays for every damn thing he’s done.”He started pacing, fists clenched at his sides.“He stole from my mother. He used her… betrayed her trust. And the nerve — the nerve — to use her private codes to drain her shares,
The fluorescent lights of the hospital corridor flickered slightly, humming in the sterile silence that blanketed the space. Crystal sat stiffly on the metal bench, her hands clutched tightly together in her lap, her knuckles pale from the pressure. Her eyes, red and swollen from silent crying, remained glued to the double doors of the surgical theater.Each second that passed felt like a dagger to her chest.She kept whispering under her breath, "Please God… please… just let him be okay."The wall clock above ticked mockingly — its sound loud and hollow in the hallway. Crystal had no idea how long she had been sitting there. Time had lost all meaning the moment they wheeled Adrian away on that cold metal stretcher.She had begged to see him, just once, before the surgery…But they had refused.Now all she could do was wait…And hope.Suddenly, the doors burst open. Her heart skipped.A doctor in scrubs emerged — his mask lowered, sweat lining his brow. He pulled off his gloves slowly
Before Ilda could form a response, heavy footsteps echoed down the grand staircase.Olivia descended slowly, dressed in a dark silk gown, her face lined with exhaustion and worry."What’s going on here?" Olivia asked, her voice tight, her eyes narrowing into suspicious slits.Christian didn’t answer directly.Instead, he reached into the inner pocket of his suit with a slow, deliberate motion, his jaw tight and a storm flickering in his eyes.With a sharp flick of his wrist, he threw a thick bundle of papers at Olivia’s feet.They scattered across the floor like fallen leaves, rustling against the marble tiles.Olivia bent down, her hands trembling as she picked up the papers, her perfectly manicured fingers struggling to grasp them. Her face paled, and a deep frown etched itself between her brows as her chest rose and fell in uneven, shallow breaths.Her eyes scanned the top sheet and her face slowly drained of all color.A deafening silence filled the room.Only the faint ticking o
The heavy front door swung open with a deep, resonant groan, and Ilda stepped inside, her arms burdened with shopping bags and a small piece of luggage. A gust of cold, stale air greeted her, stirring a faint shiver down her spine. The workers, clad in crisp uniforms, rushed toward her, their footsteps tapping sharply against the marble floors.They wore polite smiles—too polite, too rehearsed—as they relieved her of her bags, their movements practiced and mechanical.The mansion swallowed her whole.It felt different.Too cold.Too empty.The grand hall stretched out before her, a cavern of gleaming marble and shadow. The once-warm chandeliers that used to bathe the entrance in soft gold light now flickered weakly, casting long, distorted.Ilda hesitated on the threshold, her heels clicking softly as she shifted her weight. She could hear the distant ticking of the grand clock in the main parlor, each second stretching out with painful slowness. The echoes of the workers’ footsteps r
The late afternoon sun dipped lazily behind the hills, casting long shadows over the winding streets. Inside the luxurious midnight-black Rolls Royce, Ilda sat like a queen basking in her triumph.The car's interior smelled of rich leather and the faintest hint of her expensive perfume.Next to her, several luxury shopping bags, bearing logos of high-end brands, rustled softly as the car glided smoothly along the quiet road.Her fingers absentmindedly brushed over a bag of delicate pastries she had picked up, her lips curling into a slow, wicked smile.Victory tastes sweeter than anything money could buy.Today, she felt invincible — like she had the world spinning in the palm of her hand.Christian Blake — the once untouchable, arrogant businessman — was now no better than the dust under her feet.The memory of his shattered face at the boardroom replayed in her mind like a cherished melody, and she let out a small, satisfied laugh, low and dangerous.The driver, a muscular man dres
The morning sun streamed softly through the large windows of Ethan's luxury penthouse, painting golden patterns across the marble floors.It was a new day — a victorious day.The air inside was sweet with the scent of fresh flowers and the richer, almost tangible scent of triumph.Ethan sat on the couch, a glass of wine in one hand, watching the morning news that recapped the disastrous collapse of Christian Blake’s business empire.The headline flashed boldly:"CHRISTIAN BLAKE: FROM BUSINESS KING TO FALLEN TYCOON"Ethan chuckled darkly under his breath.He leaned back, running a hand through his hair in sheer satisfaction.From the hallway, Ilda emerged, her silk robe trailing behind her like a queen making her entrance.Her face wore a victorious smile — a smile of someone who had waited so long for this moment.As she approached, Ethan’s eyes softened, and he set his glass aside, opening his arms wide."Come here, my queen," he said warmly.Ilda laughed — a rich, soft laugh — and s
His fists clenched at his sides, his jaw tightening with rage.Near the door, Ilda stylishly rushed forward, pretending to be horrified.She placed a gentle hand on Christian’s arm, her voice a perfect melody of fake concern."Christian, please... calm down," she whispered softly."You're going to make yourself sick. Please, let’s sit down. It’s not the end. We can fix this..."Christian wrenched his arm free, eyes burning with frustration.He glared at the remaining workers in the room — the ones who had failed to shut off the footage in time."You’re all useless!" Christian roared, his voice tearing through the heavy tension like a blade.It wasn't just anger in his tone — it was betrayal, humiliation, a man desperately trying to claw back his crumbling world.He stood there, fists trembling, chest heaving with rage.The echoes of his shout bounced off the cold boardroom walls, leaving a deadly silence in its wake.The workers shrank back like scolded children, their heads bowed low
70Christian entered the boardroom with his usual commanding presence, his expensive watch glinting under the light, his polished shoes clicking softly against the tiled floor.John followed close behind, carrying the folders for the meeting.Around the long oak table, the Chinese investors were already seated, their faces stoic, professional, their eyes sharp and evaluating.Christian offered a polite smile, inclining his head respectfully as he greeted them."Good morning, gentlemen. It’s an honor to finally have you here at Blake Enterprises," he began, his voice strong, confident."We’ve been preparing for this partnership for months, and I believe today marks the beginning of a mutually profitable relationship."The investors murmured polite greetings in return, nodding slightly.The translator sitting at the side repeated Christian’s words in Mandarin, ensuring everyone was on the same page.Christian felt the usual rhythm of business flowing through him.This was what he was go