LOGINNaomi Sinclair paused while packing her things and looked up at her supervisor in confusion.What did he mean?The Sinclair family had already submitted her resignation request on her behalf. All the work at hand had been completed, and the relevant documents had been handed over to other members of her team.Naomi couldn’t think of any other reason why the supervisor wouldn’t let her go.Besides, she had always had the impression that this supervisor had been at odds with her. Wasn’t he the one who most wanted her to resign in the entire department?The rest of her team seemed to be working diligently, but in truth they were all secretly listening to what was happening.Everyone exchanged glances, wondering what the supervisor was up to.Could it be that he wanted to keep Naomi?For a moment, everyone was confused.The supervisor slammed the document in his hand down in front of Naomi and said in a harsh tone, “You can’t leave until the work is done.”The obvious difficulty made ever
“You know, a girl like me is easy to be deceived. At least I won’t be bullied if Mr. Cole is here.” Vera Ashford offered a reasonable excuse.It was true that major businesses tended to bully the weak and fear the strong.Besides, being alone would make it easier to expose something wrong, and Sebastian Cole didn’t want to miss the opportunity to investigate.“Fine.”The two of them went to a home improvement and paint store together.After explaining their purpose, the merchant took them to the paint area to choose.Vera leaned over to look at the samples on display. The fabric of her top draped over her chest, revealing more than it should.Seeing that Sebastian didn’t look at her, she deliberately raised her head a little. “What do you think of this color? I think it’s very delicate. It should be easy on the eyes once it’s applied.”Sebastian tilted his head. Vera straightened her chest without a word.He sneered the moment her little thoughts became obvious.So the truth had final
“Okay! I’ll wait for you.”Vera Ashford stopped pressing and hung up decisively. Moments later Sebastian Cole’s phone lit up with the address she had sent.A flicker of regret crossed his mind. Had he exposed too much interest? What if she used those drawings against him later?He dismissed the thought. Once the truth came out, their paths would never cross again.“Vera Ashford,” he murmured under his breath, “you’d better not disappoint me.”Meanwhile, at the Sinclair residence, Derek Sinclair sat staring at a list of restaurants. He still felt guilty about the cold way he had treated Naomi because of Vivian. Now that he had a free afternoon, he wanted to invite mother and daughter out for a proper meal and make amends.He had narrowed the choices down to a few places and was about to send them to Naomi for her opinion when his agent’s call shattered the plan.“Derek, your vacation is over. Come back to the company today.”His expression tightened. “Can it wait until tomorrow?”Once
Custody transfers after divorce are common enough that the clerk processed everything without comment.Once both parties signed, the clerk filed the updated records on the spot. Ethan Blackwood and Julian stood holding the court-stamped custody paperwork. Only two names were gone from the family records, yet the thin folder in their hands felt like an abyss.Empty. Cold. The warmth and beauty of the past could never be recovered.Tears flooded Julian’s eyes. He grabbed the edge of Naomi Sinclair’s coat without caring who saw. “Mom, please don’t abandon us. Dad and I will change please…”His voice broke. Between the still-childish brows and the shape of his eyes, Naomi could see traces of herself. For years she had endured everything because this boy was her son. She had yielded, compromised, and stayed.And what had it earned her?Ethan Blackwood’s selfishness lived on perfectly in Julian. Father and son were cut from the same cloth. Neither had ever learned gratitude.Go back?Imposs
“Naomi?”The surprise and pure joy in Ethan Blackwood’s voice made Naomi Sinclair’s lips curl into a cold, private smile.Relief, more than anything.Every previous call had been met with his clipped impatience, his distant tone. This was the first time he had spoken her name like a man who finally understood what he had lost.Men really were the same everywhere. They never valued what they held until it slipped through their fingers.“Mr. Blackwood,” Naomi answered evenly, “you should adjust how you address me. From now on, it’s simply Naomi Sinclair.”Silence stretched on the other end of the line.She did not wait for him to recover. “Do you remember what I told you about Lily’s custody papers? I want them transferred to me.”“I remember.” Ethan’s voice had gone rough.“I’m at the county clerk’s office right now. Bring the legal documents and finish this. I’ll wait thirty minutes.”She ended the call without another word.On the other side of the city, Ethan lowered the phone and l
Old Mr. Sinclair gave a satisfied nod. “Then after breakfast, go with your third brother to change your surname.” “All right.” Naomi agreed without hesitation. The old man added, “Don’t worry about Lily. I’ll have Derek take her to school.” “As for your position at Cole Enterprises just resign. If you still want to work and build something of your own, speak to your eldest brother. He can open a branch for you.” Hearing the quiet support in her grandfather’s voice, Naomi felt a little overwhelmed. “Is that… really all right?” She turned to Marcus Sinclair. She had never intended to fight for any part of the family fortune. In truth, the assets she already held were nearly equal to those of the Sinclair family. Marcus nodded, a warm smile softening his usually serious face. “Of course. Everything we have is yours as well.” “If you ever want to try the entertainment industry, come to your second brother,” Derek declared. “I have more than enough resources!” “And if yo







