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The First Milestone

Author: Feli_love
last update Last Updated: 2025-10-17 16:01:22

(Amelia's POV)

"They made us look like a lie, Adrian. We have to make them wrong."

I stripped out of my expensive, constricting suit, the silk feeling like a mockery after the brutal failure in court. The judge was worried about the chaos. He was worried about the violence and the scandal Abigail Anderson had so effectively weaponized.

I walked into the living room of the penthouse. Adrian was there, staring out at the cityscape, his shoulders tense. He was still in his own formal wear, his tie loosened, a shadow of defeat clinging to him. We had just come from a dinner with Julius, where the consensus was grim: the fight was legitimate, but the public image was a disaster.

"We almost lost, didn't we?" I said, my voice barely a whisper. "Abigail used every insecurity I have. She used the contract, the money, the age—everything."

Adrian turned, his eyes tired and haunted. "She used the fact that we've been running on performance instead of foundation. We can talk about love all day, b
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  • What the Heart didn't Know    The Hayes-Cole Legacy

    (Amelia's POV)"I think we just stabilized the stock price by holding hands."I murmured the observation, looking across the conference table at Adrian. We were in the process of finalizing the quarter's strategic report. The market had reacted fiercely and positively to the formal announcement of Adrian as the new COO of Strategic Operations at Hayes Corp. His name, once a liability, was now an asset, backed by the implicit financial strength of the Cole Dynasty."The market responds to confidence, Mrs. Cole," Adrian replied, his voice low with quiet satisfaction. He pushed a binder across the table. "And confidence is precisely what we're going to give them. I've finished the risk assessment review for the next five years."The binder contained his vision, a cold, clear, brilliant analysis of the company's future. It was focused not just on profit, but on structural integrity and ethical defense."This is aggressive, Adrian," I said, flipping through the pages. "You're recommending

  • What the Heart didn't Know   The Scars of the past

    (Adrian's POV) "You're quiet, Mr. Cole. The world is safe, but you look like you're still fighting."Amelia's voice, soft and knowing, pulled me from the dark loop in my head. We were sitting on the terrace of our penthouse, the quiet of the night a stark contrast to the chaos of the past year. Lucia was asleep, the company was stable, and the legal battles were over. Yet, the adrenaline in my veins refused to dissipate."I am still fighting it," I admitted, turning to look at her. "I'm fighting the memory of the rage."The Weight of the ViolenceI had to tell her the rest of it, the part I still carried like a physical wound."You know I broke that man's arm to protect you," I continued, my voice low and heavy. "But you don't know the feeling, Amelia. The absolute necessity of the violence. It was cold, immediate, and utterly efficient. When I broke that arm, I felt nothing but a dark satisfaction. And that scares me, because that's what Branwyn and the others felt all the time.""Y

  • What the Heart didn't Know   A True Honeymoon

    Amelia’s POV "Pack light. No phones. No secrets."I pressed the simple instructions into Adrian’s hand along with a plane ticket. We had won the custody battle, dismantled Lyra’s network, and stabilized Hayes Corp with the Cole merger. The chaos was over. It was time for the real beginning."Where are we going, Mrs. Cole?" Adrian asked, his eyes gleaming with anticipation and surprise."Somewhere without lawyers, board meetings, or assassins," I replied, pulling him close. "Somewhere we can finally have the honeymoon we were cheated out of. A honeymoon born of love, not contract."Escape to SanityThe destination was a private villa tucked away on a secluded Mediterranean coast. It was the antithesis of the cold, sterile hotel suite where our marriage began. The air smelled of salt and jasmine, and the only sound was the gentle, rhythmic crash of the waves.We shed our professional armor instantly. No suits, no strategy, no guarded language. We were just Amelia and Adrian, two people

  • What the Heart didn't Know   Corporate Takedown

    (Adrian's POV)"Lyra’s empire ends today, Julius. Hit every account."I stood in Julius Anderson's private operations room, the tension replaced by cold, absolute focus. The final court ruling had given us peace, but the corporate war wasn't finished. Lyra, even in prison, still controlled the intricate network of shell corporations—the Aegis Acquisitions Group—that held the stolen Hayes assets."We have the authorization, Adrian," Julius confirmed, tapping his screen. "The court's final ruling, combined with the criminal evidence we collected from Brandon and the traitor, grants us a complete asset recovery mandate. I'm initiating the freeze and seizure on three continents simultaneously.""We need to guarantee nothing leaks," I stated, watching the screens. "Lyra and her lawyers are desperate. They'll try a last-minute wire transfer.""The moment I hit the command, every bank is notified, and every key account is locked. This is airtight. We are dismantling Aegis, not just freezing

  • What the Heart didn't Know   The First Family Dinner

    "It smells like winning."I whispered the words, stepping into the penthouse with Adrian and Lucia squeezed between us. The immense relief of the court victory was palpable, but the true prize was the quiet, simple joy of this moment. Lucia, holding my hand, skipped forward, her eyes wide with happy exhaustion."It smells like pizza," Lucia corrected, giggling."Pizza and peace," Adrian added, closing the door behind us. He looked exhausted, yet lighter than I'd ever seen him. The heavy burden of the past was finally gone.The penthouse was filled with warmth. Martha had arrived hours earlier, transforming the sterile corporate space into a true home. The kitchen table was laden with food, and the muted sounds of conversation drifted from the living room."We brought your girl home, Martha," I announced, pulling Lucia into a comforting hug.Martha rushed over, embracing Lucia first, then pulling Adrian and me into a massive, three-way hug. "Oh, thank goodness. You three belong togethe

  • What the Heart didn't Know   The Definitive Ruling

    (Dual POV)"The court is prepared to deliver its final, definitive ruling regarding the permanent custody of the minor child, Lucia Hayes."The judge’s voice, though calm, felt like thunder in the silent room. Every sound—the rustle of Julius’s papers, the creak of the bench—was amplified a thousand times. The weight of the last two years, the fear, the running, the fighting, all boiled down to this single moment.Part I: Adrian (The Verdict)I locked eyes with Amelia. Her hand gripped mine so tightly I could feel the blood draining from my fingers, but neither of us let go. We had laid out our lives bare: the lies, the violence, the deep, flawed, honest love. We had thrown away every legal advantage by not using Lyra's blackmail. Now, we waited for judgment."The court has reviewed the exhaustive evidence," the judge stated, adjusting his glasses. "The initial instability, the criminal chaos surrounding the plaintiffs, and the transactional nature of the early marriage are acknowled

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