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Planting the Seed

Author: Evelyn Joness
last update publish date: 2026-01-25 22:02:43

Vivian Ashcroft sat in her new office a smaller, darker space than the one she’d had at Blackwood Industries.

The Ariadne Group had taken the top floors. This was the leftovers. But she wasn't defeated. She was just switching tactics. From defending a fortress to leading a guerrilla war.

She had the investigator's report. She had the grainy photo of Nicholas Hale meeting the mystery woman. She knew what "N.H." meant.

But proof wasn't enough. She needed to weaponize it. She needed to turn his
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  • The Return Of The Betrayed Bride    I’ll Burn You First

    His eyes lifted to hers sharp and full of hate.“The same woman who lied about having cancer just to trap me?”Katherina flinched. “That was years ago—”“And you’re still the same,” he cut in coldly. “Still lying. Still manipulating. Still ruining people’s lives.”Her face tightened. “I’m not here to fight.”“Oh, but you always are,” he said. “That’s all you know how to do.”Katherina leaned closer, her voice dropping. “I can get you out of here.”That made him pause.Just for a second.“I have money now,” she continued quickly. “Connections. People who owe me favors. I can fix this. I can get your case reopened. Reduced. Maybe even dismissed.”Damien stared at her. Suspicious and Unimpressed.“And why would you do that?” he asked.“Because we can help each other,” she said. “We can take everything from Amelia. Together.”Silence.Then—Damien burst out laughing again.Louder this time.Mocking.“You?” he said, shaking his head. “Take anything from Amelia?”His voice turned sharp. “Yo

  • The Return Of The Betrayed Bride    Dinner with the Enemies

    Amelia looked up from her coffee, her eyes narrowing slightly.“Maria? What is it?” she asked. “You look… nervous.”Maria didn’t answer immediately. She closed the door behind her first.That alone made Amelia sit up straighter.“I’m fine,” Maria said, but her voice didn’t match. She walked closer, lowering her tone. “I just… didn’t know if I should say anything.”Amelia slowly set her cup down. “Say what?”Maria hesitated just long enough to make it feel real.“It’s about Mr. Alejandro.”Amelia’s expression hardened instantly. “What about him?”Maria leaned in slightly, like she didn’t want anyone else to hear.“I saw him last night,” she said. “Very late. In the hallway.”Amelia’s eyes locked on hers. “Go on.”“He was on the phone,” Maria continued. “But… it wasn’t a normal call.”“What do you mean?”“He kept looking around,” Maria said quietly. “Like he didn’t want to be seen. And when he noticed movement, he turned his back.”A pause.Amelia’s fingers curled slightly on the table.

  • The Return Of The Betrayed Bride    The Housekeepers Choice

    Before Maria could react, the woman's hand shot out. The slap cracked across Maria's cheek like a whip.Maria stumbled back, her hand flying to her face. The sting was sharp, immediate. Tears spilled down her cheeks."I said no," Maria said, her voice shaking but firm. "You can hit me. You can threaten me. But I will not betray that woman. She took me in when I had nothing. She paid for my apartment. She helped me send Mateo to a good school. She is family."The woman stared at her, surprised."You're willing to let your son die for her?"Maria's chin lifted. Tears still streaming, but her voice was steady."I'm going to find another way. I don't know how. But I will. And you—" She pointed a shaking finger at the woman. "You stay away from me. Stay away from my son. Or I swear to God, I will go to Mrs. Favino and tell her everything."The woman's face twisted with rage. For a moment, Maria thought she might hit her again.Then the woman smiled. It was cold. Terrifying."You're makin

  • The Return Of The Betrayed Bride    Pick A Side

    "I didn't have to turn her against anyone." Amelia's voice was cold. "She saw what you did. She made her own choice."Katherina's hands balled into fists. The rage was coming back."You want to talk about choices?" Katherina spat. "You chose to destroy me. You chose to take everything I had. My company. My lover. My peace of mind. And now my baby is dead, and I have nothing."She grabbed a heavy crystal paperweight from the desk and raised it over her head."I have nothing!" she screamed.Valentina stepped forward, her voice sharp. "Katherina, put that down. Now.""Stay out of this, Valentina!""I will not." Valentina moved between her and Amelia. "You want to hit someone? Hit me. But you will not touch my sister."Katherina's arm trembled. Her eyes darted between them Amelia, cold and steady, and Valentina, fierce and protective."You always protect her," Katherina whispered. "Even when I was little, you always chose her.""Because she never gave me a reason not to." Valentina's voic

  • The Return Of The Betrayed Bride    Reunion of the Three Sisters

    Amelia told her. About Gabriella. About the drugging. About the fake DNA test. About the affair that wasn't an affair. About the surgery. About the slow, painful unraveling of a marriage that had started as a contract and become something real.Valentina listened without interrupting, her eyes soft with sympathy."And now?" Valentina asked. "Do you love him?"Amelia was quiet for a long moment. "I don't know. I think I do. But I'm not sure if it's enough.""Love is always enough." Valentina set down her wine. "The question is whether he loves you back.""He says he does.""And do you believe him?"Amelia thought about Alejandro's face when he'd held her in the recovery room. The tears in his eyes. The whispered promises."Yes," she said finally. "I believe him.""Then fight for him." Valentina leaned forward. "Don't let pride or fear or Gabriella Guerra destroy what you have. Fight for your marriage, Amelia. Fight for your family."Amelia smiled, tears in her eyes. "When did you get

  • The Return Of The Betrayed Bride    The Prodigal Daughter Returns

    Amelia let out a soft, humorless laugh. “You think they’ll let me?”“Yes,” Rebecca said quickly. “If you back down now. If you stay quiet. If you stop pushing—”“Stop fighting?” Amelia cut in.“Yes!”Amelia’s eyes hardened. “No.”The word landed heavy. Rebecca exhaled sharply. “Amelia—”“No,” she repeated. “I’ve done that before. I’ve stayed quiet. I’ve walked away. And every single time, it cost me something.”Her voice dropped. “My company. My name. My peace.”She stepped closer. “I’m done losing.”Rebecca softened slightly. “And what if this costs you everything?”Amelia didn’t even blink. “Then at least it’ll be on my terms.”Another silence.Long. Tense.Rebecca studied her, really studied her. “You’re serious,” she said quietly.“I’ve never been more serious.”Rebecca let out a slow breath, then pulled out a chair and sat down.“God help me,” she muttered, opening her bag. “Fine.”Amelia didn’t move. “Fine?”“I’ll draw up your contracts,” Rebecca said. “Hostile takeover clauses.

  • The Return Of The Betrayed Bride    The Night Amelia Favino Fell

    “He didn’t believe me. He’s demanding a paternity test.”“We expected that.”“Yes, but he might tell Amelia.” Gabriella stood up, pacing. “That’s actually better. Much better. Let him tell her himself. Let her hear it from him that there might be another woman’s baby. The doubt alone will eat her a

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-04-01
  • The Return Of The Betrayed Bride    The Grandmother’s Verdict

    Alejandro walked to the window and looked out at the city just starting to wake up. Somewhere out there, Amelia was probably awake too, dealing with this nightmare. And Leo. God, what was this doing to Leo?“I’ll come home,” he said finally. “I’ll talk to Abuela. But Mamá, I need you to understand

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-04-01
  • The Return Of The Betrayed Bride    Execute or be Executed

    "It's advice." He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a persuasive murmur. "You know the truth. You have evidence. You could go to the authorities, the press, Alexander Blackwood. You could try to bring me down, bring Amelia down. But here's what you need to understand, Katherine: you're not inno

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-04-01
  • The Return Of The Betrayed Bride    PHASE 3

    SCENE: LE BERNARDIN — PRIVATE BOOTHKatherina didn’t take Nicholas’s hand when he reached for hers.They sat in a shadowed corner of Le Bernardin, the restaurant glowing with soft lights and quiet elegance. It should have felt romantic. Instead, it felt like a courtroom.She was wearing the emerald

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-31
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