Se connecterElena picked up her phone and dialed Daniel. He answered after a few rings, his voice low and slightly impatient.“What is it?”Elena leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs. “My payment still hasn’t been processed.”There was a brief silence on the other end before Daniel replied, “I told you I’d take care of it.”“I know what you told me,” Elena said, her voice carrying a touch of irritation. “But it isn’t easy deceiving Ariana. I’m putting my reputation on the line for you, Daniel. The least you can do is make sure I get paid on time.”“I said I’ll handle it.”“You’d better,” Elena replied coldly. She glanced toward the closed office door before continuing. “And you need to deal with Marco too. That idiot actually thinks his testimony is going to help Ariana in court.”Daniel let out a quiet sigh. “What did he say?”“He volunteered to testify that Ariana is a wonderful mother.” Elena rolled her eyes. “Can you believe that? He’s known her for barely a week, and he actually thi
Elena tore them again, calmly reducing the documents to pieces before dropping them onto the table. “I’m making something very clear,” she said coldly. “You hired me to represent you. That means you listen to me.”She leaned back in her chair, her expression completely unmoved. “You want to fight Daniel for custody? Fine. Fight him. But stop bringing me emotional speeches, useless witnesses, and people you think are credible simply because you love them.”Ariana clenched her fists.Elena gave her a cold, almost mocking smile. “Find me people with clean records, credibility, and firsthand knowledge of how you care for Aiden. Otherwise, I will walk away from this case.”Ariana stared at the torn papers. “But you just destroyed the documents I signed.”“Yes.” Elena shrugged. “Because I haven’t decided whether you’re worth the trouble yet.”Marco’s expression hardened. “You can’t treat her like this.”Elena slowly turned her eyes toward him. “Was I speaking to you?”Marco fell silent.Ele
Valerie stopped in front of him and looked him straight in the eyes. “I’m Valerie Rossi.”Briggs scoffed and folded his arms across his chest. “I don’t care who you are. This is a prison transfer, and you have no authority here.”Valerie’s eyes narrowed, but she remained calm. “Oh, I think you’ll find that I have exactly the authority I need.”Briggs gave her a dismissive look. “She’s a prisoner. She’s been cleared for transfer. That’s all you need to know.”Valerie gave him a cold smile. “Then I suggest you check your paperwork again.”Briggs frowned, clearly annoyed by Valerie’s confidence. “And why would I do that?”Valerie stepped closer, her expression hardening. Her voice remained calm, but there was a clear warning in her tone. “Because if you put another hand on my client without following the proper legal procedure, you’re going to have a very serious problem on your hands.”Behind her, Daniel quietly opened the briefcase and began taking out the documents.Valerie didn’t eve
Ariana opened her mouth, but Elena raised one finger, stopping her.“So, whether you like it or not, legally, he is still your husband.”Ariana’s face tightened.Elena picked up her pen again and tapped it against the table. “You can call yourself whatever you want socially, but the court is going to look at the legal documents. And according to those documents, Daniel Blackwood is still your husband.”Marco shifted uncomfortably beside Ariana.Elena glanced at him. “And before you start defending her again, remember that I’m trying to help her. Making excuses won’t get Aiden back. Facts will.”Ariana's eyes filled with tears. "I know. That's why I'm here. That's why I need your help. I'll do anything. I'll pay anything. Just please, help me get my son back."Elena studied Ariana for a long moment, her eyes unreadable. She slowly tapped her pen against the table, her expression cold and calculating.“Tell me, Mrs. Martino,” Elena said, “do you have any idea how much this is going to c
ELENA CASTILLO’s OFFICE — CONFERENCE ROOM — AFTERNOONThe office was sleek and modern, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city skyline.Ariana sat at the conference table, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. She was nervous, her heart pounding in her chest. Her palms were sweaty. Her mouth was dry. Beside her sat Marco, his leg still bandaged, his arm in a sling. He had insisted on coming with her, and she was grateful for his support.Across from them sat Elena Rossi, a sharp-faced woman in her forties with cold eyes and a predatory smile. Elena Castillo sat across from Ariana, looking completely unimpressed.She was dressed in an expensive black pantsuit, her hair pulled back into a tight, severe bun. A gold watch rested on her wrist, and her manicured fingers tapped an expensive pen against the table with growing impatience.She glanced at Ariana as if she were already tired of dealing with her. “So,” Elena said flatly, flipping through the papers in front of her. “
Elena ignored her. “Amelia is nothing but a manipulative liar,” she said coldly. “She used Alejandro from the beginning.”Serena frowned. “Elena—”“She trapped him with a pregnancy that wasn’t even his,” Elena continued, her voice filled with disgust. “And now she’s trying to pull him back in with another baby.”She shook her head. “It’s pathetic. She knows Alejandro is moving on, so now she wants to use the baby to drag him back into her mess.”Serena’s eyes narrowed. “You people really hear yourselves, right?”Elena glared at her.“What is that supposed to mean?”Serena slowly set down her glass.“It means a woman just lost her daughter.”Serena’s voice became firm as she looked around the room.“And while her other baby is fighting for his life in the hospital, we’re sitting here calling her pathetic. Maybe, just maybe, we should stop celebrating her pain for five minutes and remember that she’s still a human being.”Alejandro immediately nodded, his expression becoming serious.“She
BLACKWOOD INDUSTRIES ~ NEW YORK Katherina slipped Nicholas Hale’s card into her folder and closed it.Control. That was the word. And that was what she needed to hold on to.She straightened her blazer, smoothed her face, and returned to her desk as if nothing had happened. As if the air in the ro
Marisa jabbed a finger at Amelia. “Yes. You.”The room went quiet.Alejandro tensed. “Mother, don’t.”“No,” Marisa said, her voice cold. “You don’t get to shield her. Let me speak.”She stepped closer to Amelia. “You show up here… and suddenly the Guerras strike. You have ties to the Blackwoods. To
ALEXANDER MANSION~ NEW YORKAlexander Blackwood stormed through the marble halls of his mansion, his anger practically vibrating through his steps. The maids and staff froze as he passed, their whispers trailing behind him. He reached the Master bedroom, flinging the door open.“Vivian!” he shoute
THE FAVINO ESTATE — LATE MORNINGThe house felt different after Marisa left.Amelia noticed it first.The servants moved softly, avoiding eye contact. Phones were kept on silent. Even the sunlight pouring through the tall windows felt restrained, like it didn’t want to interrupt whatever storm was







