MasukCurtis slowly opened the door, tiptoeing inside and finding his way upstairs through the darkened room. It was about 10:46 p.m. by the time he arrived home, and he was wishing he didn't meet Tessa awake because he knew it was going to be a heavy fight.Before he could reach the staircase, the light quickly turned on."Where are you coming from?"Curtis instantly shivered as he turned sharply toward the voice. He almost lost his footing before quickly steadying himself. His heart skipped violently against his chest. There on the couch was Tessa.She wasn't sitting lazily as though she had been watching television. She sat upright, both hands resting on her knees, her posture stiff from hours of waiting. Her eyes were swollen with exhaustion, yet they remained painfully alert. It was obvious she had been sitting there for a very long time, refusing to leave the living room until he returned.Curtis swallowed quietly.Every excuse he had rehearsed during the drive home suddenly disa
"I... I guess this is where we say goodnight." Curtis said as he reached Lauren's apartment gate."What?" Lauren snapped, turning to his side. "Nah. You wouldn't do that. Remember you promised to have dinner with me the other day.""I know." He said. "I remember, but it's kinda late now for that. Maybe some other time."His hands tightened on the wheel."I refuse." She persisted, her voice sounding like she was going to cry. "Come on, Curtis. At least do this for old times sake. It's just dinner."Curtis stared at her for a moment. The request sounded harmless enough. A simple dinner. Nothing more. Yet he could not explain why a strange feeling continued to linger in the back of his mind. Ever since Lauren returned to the business world, she had appeared different. He had dismissed Tessa's concerns repeatedly, convincing himself that Lauren was simply rebuilding her life after prison.Now, sitting outside her apartment, he wondered if things were truly that simple.He rubbed a hand
One evening, Curtis sat comfortably beside Tessa on the couch while a television program played quietly before them. It had been days neither of them was discussing Ecofel's problems, Crown Aurora's sudden rise, or the growing tension surrounding Lauren's increasingly aggressive competition. The atmosphere inside the living room felt peaceful, something both of them desperately needed after weeks of stress.Tessa rested comfortably against him while scrolling through messages on her phone from several department heads who were still trying to recover from the recent project disaster. Though she was physically present, part of her mind remained occupied with business concerns. Ecofel was gradually stabilizing, but the wounds caused by the leaked information had not completely healed.Curtis, meanwhile, appeared distracted.He had barely paid attention to the television since they sat down.His thoughts had wandered several times throughout the evening.That alone was unusual.Norma
The problems started when one of Ecofel's most anticipated luxury projects collapsed unexpectedly.For months, the company had invested heavily in the project. Designers had worked tirelessly, marketing teams had prepared campaigns worth millions, and investors had confidently predicted another major success for the company. Instead, what should have been a triumphant launch turned into a disaster that sent shockwaves throughout the organization.The designs were no longer unique.The promotional strategy had somehow become familiar to competitors.Several important clients unexpectedly withdrew their support at the last moment.Worst of all, Crown Aurora had released an astonishingly similar project shortly before Ecofel's launch, effectively capturing the market attention Ecofel had spent months preparing to secure.The atmosphere inside Ecofel headquarters quickly became tense.Department heads were summoned into emergency meetings. Executives rushed from one office to another ca
"Did you see that?" Tessa said, pointing at the screen as she stared at Curtis.Curtis released a tired breath and shook his head as though he was already exhausted by the mere mention of Lauren's name. The interview had been replaying repeatedly across several television stations, and every time it appeared, Tessa's irritation seemed to increase."Baby, don't let this woman bother you." He said dismissively. "You're ten times better than her. She can never equate your talent. Never. The market and the investors know that after all. You've proven many times before her imprisonment."Tessa released a breath, her hands folding around her chest as she continued staring at the television screen where Lauren's confident smile was frozen.The situation annoyed her more than she cared to admit.It wasn't simply because Lauren had returned.It wasn't even because she had started another company.What bothered her was how quickly everything had happened.Within an unbelievably short period, L
The conference room on the top floor of Crown Aurora reflected everything the company had rapidly become—powerful, ambitious, and impossible to ignore. A long marble table stretched across the room beneath elegant lighting while floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city's financial district. Seated comfortably at the head of the table was Lauren.The transformation in her appearance was remarkable.Prison had not broken her.If anything, it had sharpened her.Her expensive cream-colored suit was perfectly tailored. Her makeup was subtle yet flawless. There was no trace of the emotional and unstable woman people once knew.Across from her sat three senior Ecofel employees.Each of them was among the most valuable talents within the company.One supervised product development. Another managed retail partnerships. The third oversaw several international projects that had contributed significantly to Ecofel's expansion.Lauren folded her hands together and smiled."I appreciate all
"Give me that, bitch!" Pascal snapped furiously, pushing forward from his seat, trying to seize the phone.The moment the words left his mouth, he lunged across the table with complete disregard for the people around them. His face had become twisted with panic and rage. The confidence he had car
"Is he going to be okay?" Curtis asked the doctor worriedly, turning from Harrison's unconscious body to the doctor."The accident led to some internal bleeding and a severe injury behind his head." The doctor explained. "He wouldn't have survived this, but he was brought in early. He's going to ma
"So it has gotten to this?" Tessa asked, her face filled with pain and disappointment. "Tell me the truth, Curtis. Are you truly the father of that woman's child?"Tessa was seated in the living room, staring at the television screen that had been flooded with news reports, expert opinions, and end
Vanessa Quinn stood confidently near the entrance of the hall.Unlike everyone else, she appeared completely relaxed.Almost amused.The sight of her immediately sent murmurs through the crowd.Reporters began whispering among themselves.The journalists hurried to reposition their cameras.This wa







