It was the morning after a week ago that Elena had settled matters at the company's branch in Italy. The sun was only partially shining on the balcony when Elena's cell phone notification beeped. She had just finished a light workout, sitting in the lounge with a glass of detox juice in hand.Her phone screen is full of notifications from Instagram, Twitter and even email. Her WhatsApp group is also unusually busy.Soon, Tamara's call came in."El, have you seen the news this morning?" Tamara's voice sounded panicked."No, I haven't. Why?" Elena took a sip of her juice, still relaxed."You have to watch the news on Twitter. Now!"Elena frowned, then opened Twitter. Within seconds, her eyes widened. The hashtag #ElenaQueenScandal was trending at number one. Many gossip accounts shared lewd video footage-with the caption: "Allegedly Elena Queen with a middle-aged man, is this how she gets investors?""WHAT IS THIS?!" Elena stood up reflexively, almost dropping the glass."That video ha
This morning, the Queen Group's New York branch office looked different. Not because of the usual bustle of energetic employees, but because of the tense atmosphere hanging around every corner. The company's stock has plummeted, making investors nervous and the media pouring news like oil on a burning fire.In the main meeting room, Elena sits at the end of the table. Her hair, usually flowing in a beautiful bun, is now tied up in a makeshift bun. Bags under her eyes adorned her face, which was beginning to look tired. In front of her, the PR, legal and public relations teams sat with worried looks on their faces."What about the last update?" asked Elena, her voice hoarse but firm.Mira, the head of the legal team, sighed. "Our stock is down again, 12 percent since this morning. Some investors are starting to question Queen Group's reputation and are considering withdrawing support.""The demo at Queen's Mall is also getting worse," Jessy from the PR team continued. "The crowd is sta
A while later. "This can't be... This guy's too sneaky," Nathan muttered, his eyes glued to the laptop screen that had just displayed the latest report from the digital tracking team.Mira nodded, her expression no less frustrated. "That guy erased the trail before we could identify the last IP point. We came close to finding the exact location, but somehow, the account just disappeared. All the records just vanished, like a ghost.""That guy's no amateur," Nathan rubbed his tired face. "This is clearly the work of someone who knows how to hide their identity... or has the help of a cyber insider."Elena stayed at the far end of the room, standing hugging herself. Her gaze was blank outside the window, staring at the buildings that had been a symbol of her former glory-which now felt like they were laughing at her."We almost knew who it was, but we failed," Mira said quietly."That means that person is still one step ahead of us," Elena replied quietly, her voice like mist covering
That morning, at Damian's company headquarters, the atmosphere was different from usual. The staff looked more energized, as if a fresh breeze had just entered through the long-closed window.Damian walked into the boardroom, his suit neat, his face full of confidence. Several directors sat in a row, looking at him with mixed expressions of relief and disbelief."Good morning," Damian opened the meeting, his voice calm but steady."Mr. Damian, we just got confirmation," said one of the directors. "The new investor has officially injected funds. We can breathe easier starting this month."Damian nodded. "How much is the total investment?""Eight trillion, initial stage."David's eyes narrowed slightly. He knew that number wasn't small, and he also knew... it didn't come without a price."Who introduced this investor?" asked Damian, though he already knew the answer.One of the PR staff sitting in the corner of the room raised a hesitant hand. "Mrs. Isabella, Mr. Damian. She presented o
That morning, the air felt stale than usual. Elena sat in the living room of her apartment, hugging her knees as she stared at the muted television screen. The business news scrolled quickly below, like a knife that kept slicing slowly into her sanity.~Stocks in a company owned by Elena Queen fell 3.4 percent this morning. The mall owned by Elena Queen also in the city center was reportedly empty of visitors. Analysts expect this to be an ongoing effect of the scandal that broke last week~Her cell phone rang. It was Tamara.Elena immediately picked up the phone."Elena, it's bad!". "I know, Tamara," she said quickly."Yes, but... Honey, you should see this morning's report. It's not just the central mall, our branches in Italy and Thailand are also dropping in turnover. They're asking - should we stop operations for a while?"Elena closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Don't panic... let's hold off for now. Let's set up a conference call this afternoon, and I'll explain myself."
Inside the study, Damian sat leaning back in his chair, staring intently at the files on the desk. In front of him, Isabella was pacing back and forth, an annoyed look on her face."I told you, this isn't necessary, Damian," Isabella exclaimed, her voice rising.Yes, this woman strongly disagreed with Damian taking a DNA test. Just now her husband had said that he would DNA test Alva and himself, just to convince himself of the accusations against Elena. Damian didn't answer. He just picked up a form from the table - the DNA test consent form."I want reassurance, Isabella. I want to know... whether Alva is really my son or not."Isabella stopped her steps, staring at Damian as if he had just insulted her entire ancestry. "You're crazy! What a waste of time! It's obvious that Alva is not your flesh and blood! You didn't forget, did you? Elena, the designer queen, was hit with a case that she often climbed into the beds of businessmen to get financial injections. Certainly, Alva is no
That afternoon, Elena's apartment was quiet. Nathan and Tamara had just left, having spent hours making plans with Li Zheng. Elena had just closed the door when the doorbell rang again.Ting tong.Elena frowned, feeling strange. She stepped carefully to the door, peeking through the small hole.And her eyes immediately froze.Damian.With his neat gray suit and his trademark flat face, the man stood at the door, as if his arrival was a matter of course.Elena let out a long breath, trying to calm the boiling anger. She opened the door just a little, enough to slip her body in the gap."What do you want to come here again, Damian?" Elena asked coldly."I want to see the kids." Damian's voice was flat, but his gaze was sharp, piercing.Elena smiled a small, cynical smile. "It's useless. They won't want to see you.""I want to see them," Damian insisted, moving a little closer. "I'm the father."Elena held the door firmly. "No, no, no. I won't let you in."Damian hardened his jaw. "I'm t
After the simple but hearty dinner, Elena began to clear the table. She carried a pile of dirty dishes to the kitchen, while the children's laughter could be heard from upstairs. One by one, Olivia, Katty, Delya, and Alva went to their respective rooms. The apartment was finally quiet again.Nathan stood in the doorway of the kitchen, watching the busy Elena. She leaned against the wall, arms crossed over her chest, a small smile playing on her lips."Elena..." he called softly.Elena turned her head, smiling tiredly but warmly. "Hmm?"Nathan stepped closer without making much noise. In an instant, he was hugging Elena from behind, his chin resting on her shoulder. The warmth of Nathan's body made the cold night air feel lighter.Elena froze for a moment, then breathed a sigh of relief and let herself lean back in the embrace.Nathan took a deep breath, as if holding back something he had been meaning to say for a long time. "Let me ask you something else..." he whispered in Elena's e
The next day."Hold on, Mom, my hair is still messed up!" said Olivia, the eldest, as she smoothed her bangs in front of the small mirror in the waiting room of the registry office.Elena smiles and fixes the collar of Delya's shirt, who is standing next to her. Nathan sat in the next chair, holding his youngest, Alva, who looked curiously at the uniformed officer."Are you sure we don't need a party or an invitation?" Nathan whispered softly."Sure. This is enough. I just want the day to go smoothly," Elena replied, looking at her children. "The important thing is that we're officially husband and wife."Nathan nodded. "Okay. But after this, we'll celebrate with them, okay? Whatever you want.""How about some ice cream? But Daddy has to buy all the flavors," Delya said, her eyes narrowing playfully.Nathan laughed. "Sure thing, kiddo. Daddy will buy a whole case if necessary."A uniformed officer approached them. "Mrs. Elena and Mr. Nathan Drake Sebastian?""Yes," Elena and Nathan re
Elena opened her eyes, looking at Nathan who was now parking the car slowly in front of her apartment."But, I've given birth to four children, Nathan. You know that."Nathan looked away, still waiting."Do you... still want to have your own biological children as a descendant of the Sebastian family?" she asked softly.Nathan looked at her with a look that was hard to describe: gentle, calm, and respectful."Elena," he said with a sigh. "I never made children a requirement. I fell in love with you, not because of the possibility that you may or may not give birth again.""But..." Elena bit her lip. "What if you regret it one day?"Nathan smiled, then took Elena's hand, holding it tightly."Your four children are enough for me. They're not just a part of you, they'll be a part of my life too. And if they let me, I'll consider them my children too."Elena was silent. Nathan's words came in like a wave sweeping over her last stronghold."I didn't think you could care that much," she whi
Elena's black car drove smoothly through the dark night. Beside her, Nathan sat in silence, occasionally glancing at Elena who seemed to be seriously staring at her cell phone screen."I thought you'd be relieved after Nuno was arrested," Nathan muttered at last.Elena didn't answer immediately. She opened her contact list and selected a name labeled "Only If Desperate"."You know I'm never really relieved before the game is over," she said quietly. "Nuno is just the surface. We haven't touched the mastermind yet."He pressed the call button.The connection was made. A deep, heavy voice greeted from the other side. "Hello, Queen Elena.""I need your help," she said quickly. "Starting tonight, I need you to monitor Isabella Lancaster. Discreetly, not to be suspicious. Where she goes, who she meets, even if she's just shopping report it to me."The detective paused for a moment before replying, "Does that mean I have to watch her 24 hours?""Y, of course. But don't let her get suspic
That afternoon, the air was stale. In the middle of the deserted streets of an abandoned industrial estate, an old metal door was half-hidden behind a grove of bushes. That's where Nuno Gract was hiding - the man who had been a shadow in cyberspace, hacking, manipulating, spreading lies from behind a screen.Elena got out of her black car. Behind her, Nathan followed, his face tense, jaw hardened. Two plainclothes policemen were also standing by, their jackets slightly open, revealing weapons at their waists."This is the place," Nathan whispered, pointing to the door. Elena gave a small nod, her eyes as sharp as daggers. Silently, they approached, footsteps muffled by the dusty ground.One of the policemen signaled a countdown. Three... Two... One.BRUKK!The door was forced open. The sound of metal creaking echoed.The dark room was immediately ambushed by flashlights. Thin smoke billowed - the smell of dampness and burning wires was overwhelming.In the corner, Nuno Grac
That morning, the sky was clear with no clouds.A black car pulled up slowly in front of Alva's school gate. From inside, Sisca - Alva's nanny - got out first, making sure it was safe before opening the door for the little boy."Alva, come on, we're here," Sisca said with a smile.Alva, who was still hugging her little doll, nodded slowly, then went downstairs with cheerful steps.As soon as her little feet touched the ground, several casually dressed bodyguards immediately moved around them. Not flashy, but tight enough to make anyone think twice about approaching.Since the kidnapping case the other day, Elena didn't want to mess around with security anymore. Especially since Alva, her flesh and blood, was now her top priority.Sisca straightened Alva's small bag. "Remember, don't leave the classroom until Auntie comes. If there's anything, go straight to the bodyguard uncle.""Yes..." Alva said with a small nod, then ran towards her friends who were already playing in the school ga
Five o'clock in the morning. The sky outside was still dark, the apartment air cold. Nathan opened his eyes slowly, realizing that Elena was still fast asleep in his arms. He smiled a little, rubbing Elena's wet hair against his cheek. She looked very tired. Last night Nathan had really tortured Elena with pleasure. Nathan breathed a sigh of relief. He looked down, kissing Elena's forehead without waking her up. "Sleep, my dear..." he whispered softly.Carefully, Nathan got out of bed, picked up his t-shirt that was lying on the floor, then left the room, closing the door gently so as not to disturb her sleep.As he stepped into the living room, Nathan let out a small yawn. "Alright, next assignment..." he muttered as he ruffled his hair.Nathan opened his phone, looking at the digital clock that was already pointing at five past ten. After thinking for a moment, Nathan smiled - he knew Elena's kids were usually up early to get ready for school. Nathan walked into the child
The air in the room was warm, but in Elena and Nathan's chests, a bigger fire was already burning.They were still lying down, their breathing not quite back to normal.Nathan caressed Elena's cheek with the back of his finger, a small smile perched on the corner of his lips."Elena... Thank you," he whispered, as if still unable to believe the woman in front of him was truly his tonight.Elena closed her eyes for a moment, savoring the caress. "I can't believe we're finally here either," she murmured.Nathan chuckled, then leaned down to kiss Elena gently on the forehead. "And I'll never let you go."They stared at each other for a few moments, then, as if there was something he didn't want to let go of, Nathan got up from the bed and tugged on Elena's hand."Where are you going?" asked Elena, her voice hoarse and spoiled.Nathan smiled mysteriously. "Just come along."Nervously, Elena shook her head but followed Nathan into the bathroom.Nathan opened the shower, letting the warm wa
After the simple but hearty dinner, Elena began to clear the table. She carried a pile of dirty dishes to the kitchen, while the children's laughter could be heard from upstairs. One by one, Olivia, Katty, Delya, and Alva went to their respective rooms. The apartment was finally quiet again.Nathan stood in the doorway of the kitchen, watching the busy Elena. She leaned against the wall, arms crossed over her chest, a small smile playing on her lips."Elena..." he called softly.Elena turned her head, smiling tiredly but warmly. "Hmm?"Nathan stepped closer without making much noise. In an instant, he was hugging Elena from behind, his chin resting on her shoulder. The warmth of Nathan's body made the cold night air feel lighter.Elena froze for a moment, then breathed a sigh of relief and let herself lean back in the embrace.Nathan took a deep breath, as if holding back something he had been meaning to say for a long time. "Let me ask you something else..." he whispered in Elena's e
That afternoon, Elena's apartment was quiet. Nathan and Tamara had just left, having spent hours making plans with Li Zheng. Elena had just closed the door when the doorbell rang again.Ting tong.Elena frowned, feeling strange. She stepped carefully to the door, peeking through the small hole.And her eyes immediately froze.Damian.With his neat gray suit and his trademark flat face, the man stood at the door, as if his arrival was a matter of course.Elena let out a long breath, trying to calm the boiling anger. She opened the door just a little, enough to slip her body in the gap."What do you want to come here again, Damian?" Elena asked coldly."I want to see the kids." Damian's voice was flat, but his gaze was sharp, piercing.Elena smiled a small, cynical smile. "It's useless. They won't want to see you.""I want to see them," Damian insisted, moving a little closer. "I'm the father."Elena held the door firmly. "No, no, no. I won't let you in."Damian hardened his jaw. "I'm t