LOGINShe ran as fast as she could, her heart pounding hard in her chest. The bushes scratched her arms and face, while tree branches blocked her way. She didn't know where she was going. All she knew was that someone was chasing her. She could hear footsteps behind her. “Help!” she cried, tears filling her eyes. “Please, somebody help me!” No one answered. She kept running until her foot caught on a root. She fell to the ground with a painful cry. Before she could get back up, someone grabbed her ankle. “No!” she screamed, trying to pull away. The person dragged her across the ground as she struggled with all her strength. “No! Let me go!” She suddenly gasped and sat upright. Her breathing was uneven, and sweat covered her forehead. She looked around in panic before realizing she was sitting in her office. The sound of the air conditioner and the bright afternoon sunlight pouring through the windows slowly calmed her down. “It was just a dream,” she whispered, placing a hand on
The morning headlines continued to dominate every news channel and social media platform. Across television screens, newspapers, and online articles, one name kept resurfacing—the Harthwore family.More specifically, Layla.Footage of the orphanage she had begun renovating played repeatedly on the television mounted on Adrian's office wall. Reporters praised her generosity, speaking about how she had once grown up there before leaving to build a new life. The once-forgotten orphanage had suddenly become the center of public attention, with many applauding her decision to give back to the place that had raised her.Adrian sat comfortably behind his desk, one hand resting against his cheek as he watched the broadcast in silence.For nearly thirty minutes, he hadn't moved.He wasn't particularly interested in the news itself. He was simply passing the time while waiting for Jade, who had insisted on taking him out to lunch as a way of thanking him for everything he had done for her the p
The following morning, Ruth quietly met with her accomplice to finalize the next phase of their plan. The abandoned warehouse they had chosen as their meeting point sat hidden behind a row of neglected buildings, far from curious eyes. Dust floated through the narrow beams of sunlight that filtered in through broken windows, while the heavy silence inside made every footstep echo against the concrete walls.Ever since the incident at the hospital where he had nearly been caught, the man had gone completely underground. Ruth had arranged for him to relocate to a different house, ensuring no one could trace his whereabouts.She folded her arms and fixed him with a serious look.“I'm trusting you this time. My daughter is no longer in the hospital, and neither is my son-in-law.”The man met her gaze confidently.He had never failed her before, and Ruth wanted to believe this assignment wouldn't become another unfinished job.“I'll get going,” he replied. “But what about the men I mention
The grand Harthwore mansion stood in its usual quiet elegance, bathed in the warm glow of the evening sun. The marble floors reflected the soft light pouring in through the towering glass windows, while the neatly trimmed gardens outside swayed gently beneath the cool breeze. Inside, the silence carried a comforting warmth, broken only by the faint ticking of the antique grandfather clock and the occasional clink of china from the kitchen.“How did your day go, sweetie?” Natasha asked warmly as Layla walked into the living room.Exhausted yet satisfied, Layla slipped off her heels before dropping onto the plush couch beside her father, resting her head on his chest.“It was fine, Mother. I had a great day with the staff. I got to pick out the winners, and honestly, they all put in so much effort.”A proud smile spread across Natasha's face.“I'm glad to hear that. Let me get you a glass of juice.”She rose gracefully and disappeared toward the kitchen, leaving Layla alone with her fat
The phone rang repeatedly, but Adrian chose to ignore it.It was probably that one person—his stepmother—with her endless demands. He couldn't help but think his father should have simply given her permission to go shopping with a few guards. Instead, he had to juggle work while running errands for her.His attention shifted back to his private investigator, who was unloading bags of groceries from the car.The man picked up the last pack of bottled water before he walked toward the old woman.After the incident at the mansion, Adrian had looked into her background to determine whether her visit had been a trap. To his surprise, everything she had said checked out. She really had lost her daughter.For the first time, he understood why she was desperately searching for her granddaughter.He had promised to help her find the child.Even so, he had emphasized that no children were living at the Salvatore mansion. She must have been given the wrong address.“How about you show me a pictu
“Zara, leave the room. I need to talk to your father.”She pursed her lips, crossed her arms, and shook her head.Sophia didn't have time to argue. What she needed to discuss concerned Zara, and she couldn't risk the little girl overhearing.“Listen. I know your father just got back, and you want to spend time with him. Why don't you come back when I'm done?”Zara held out her pinky toward her. “Promise you'll come get me when you're done.”Sophia hooked her pinky with Zara's and smiled. “I cross my heart. Now go on to your room.”Zara hopped off the couch and skipped up the stairs. The moment she disappeared, Sophia moved to the seat beside Nolan.“I am troubled,” she began with a sigh. “I never imagined there would come a day when I'd be this worried.”Nolan released a quiet breath. At least this wasn't about the company. Things were finally falling into place, and he had Sophia's unwavering support through it all.“What is this about?”Sophia's gaze drifted toward the staircase. Th
“Who are you calling? If you keep dialing and they're not answering, let's just proceed with our work. We can handle this on our own,” Ashley said, irritation lacing her tone.Her mother ignored her and continued calling the number.They had had enough of Layla disrupting their lives, especially As
The information Joshua had shared weighed heavily on Harthwore's mind.He didn't know what to believe or whether he should even believe his son. Every one of them was filled with doubt.There was no way he could easily accept that the people they considered their closest friends — people they regar
A resounding slap landed across Nolan’s face, forcing his head to snap to the side from where he had been seated before she stormed into the room. He squeezed his eyes shut, the sting from the slap spreading across his cheek as if his brain had momentarily stopped working. Shaking his head slightly
Layla watched as they carefully packaged everything she had spent the past few days creating. This time, her work had nothing to do with emotions or healing from the pain she had endured. She had told him she was capable of creating something beyond expectations—and she had delivered flawlessly.He







