登入“As for why it was kept hidden,” she continued, a cold glint appearing in her eyes, “what do you think would have happened if people found out that I…the one you all called a fool and confused, the granddaughter of Don Victor, had married Zogo Walton? It would have happened before I was even ready, before I had properly taken my place in this company. Every greedy person, every opportunist, every vulture would have come running not to help me, but to use this marriage to ask for favors, to demand shares, and to grab power. And you two would have been the first to twist this into something ugly, wouldn’t you?”Damian opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out at first. When he finally found his voice, it sounded rough and unsteady.“But… this is impossible! How could Father agree to something like this without asking the rest of the family? Without even telling us? It goes against all our traditions…”“Tradition?” Amara spoke softly, but there was a sharp edge to her words. “My g
Husband?The word hung in the heavy silence like a thunderclap, sharp and deafening.Edgar and Damian froze in their seats as if struck by a bolt of lightning. Their eyes stretched wide, their jaws went slack, and for a long moment, neither of them could draw a proper breath. They stared first at Zogo Walton, their minds refusing to accept what they had just heard, then whipped their heads around so fast their necks ached, turning their full, disbelieving gaze toward Amara.Zogo Walton… Amara’s husband?How could this be possible? When had it happened? How could such a monumental event have taken place without a single whisper reaching their ears? For years, they had kept close watch over her movements, believing she lived a quiet, isolated life in the countryside, far removed from the high society and business circles of the capital. Meanwhile, Zogo Walton was a man who moved among the highest ranks of power, traveling across continents, building an empire that few could even approac
Zogo noticed every little detail: the faint blush spreading across Amara’s cheeks, the deep red that crept all the way to the tips of her ears, and the way she quickly lowered her head, burying herself behind the documents as if she could hide her fluster between the pages. To anyone else in the room, she might have looked perfectly calm and composed, but not to him. He saw it all clearly, and strangely enough, he found it utterly adorable.A soft, knowing smile touched his eyes, though he wisely chose not to say a word about it. He knew if he teased her now, she would only grow even more embarrassed, and he rather liked seeing this shy, unguarded side of her.Truthfully, Zogo did not fully understand himself either. Ever since the day they first met, something inside him had shifted, and a side of him he never even knew existed had begun to emerge freely and naturally, without any effort or pretense. With everyone else, he remained exactly the man the whole business world knew: cold,
Zogo moved with a natural, effortless authority, his stride long and confident, as if this company, this room, and everything inside it already belonged to him. Behind him followed Brook and Finn, their expressions serious and alert, guarding his steps. Zogo did not stop or pause to greet anyone, nor did he acknowledge the stunned faces of the two older men seated at the table.He walked straight toward the head of the table, right to where Amara sat, and without hesitation, he pulled out the empty chair beside her and sat down right next to her, as if he had every right to be there.Edgar and Damian were frozen in their seats, their eyes wide with confusion, shock, and a sudden, rising fear.They knew Zogo Walton very well. For years, they had tried countless times to approach him, to invite him to events, to meetings, to dinners, hoping to build a connection with one of the most powerful, influential men in the country. But every single time, he had turned them down flat. He had ign
Amara’s smile widened, cold and sharp, cutting through his excuses like a blade. She leaned back in the large CEO’s chair, looking at him as one would look at a child caught stealing candy: amused, disappointed, and entirely in control.“Is that so, Uncle?” she asked, her tone dripping with mock sweetness. “You told them I was unstable, unfit, and incapable… all because you were worried about my health? You whispered to them that I was too young, too naive, too confused… and you did that out of the goodness of your heart? Tell me… did you also mention to them how you visited every single director’s office one by one, long before this meeting? Did you tell them how you promised them higher positions, bigger shares, and full authority… if only they would stand against hand and me the company over to you?”Damian went completely still. His face drained of all color until he looked like a ghost.Edgar stiffened in his seat, his jaw tightening so hard the muscles stood out. His calm, ruthl
Edgar and Damian exchanged a sharp, knowing glance. Finally, it clicked in their minds that this was exactly why Amara had survived that assassination attempt at the cemetery days ago. She hadn’t been lucky, and she certainly hadn’t been defenseless. She had been ready.A cold shiver ran through both men. Fear coiled tight in their chests.Does she know it was us?Does she know we sent those killers?They studied her carefully. Up until now, she had only moved against Morrie, Campos, and the other directors who had openly stolen funds or sabotaged the company. She had never once mentioned the attack, never hinted that she knew who was behind it. They told themselves that she must still be as naive and sheltered as she appeared. She had only gone after the ones whose crimes were obvious, right in front of everyone’s eyes. She couldn’t possibly know about the darker, secret things they had done.Convinced that she was still easy to manipulate, they decided to test their luck and make th
The study of Musk Mansion glowed dimly with firelight, tall shelves casting shadows that seemed to listen more closely than men. Outside, rain lashed against the windows, but within, only the slow tick of a clock and the crackle of the hearth filled the silence.Don Victor sat in his high-backed ch
The dining hall of the Musk estate was filled with warmth and shadow. Crystal chandeliers glowed softly above, like stars trapped in glass. Heavy curtains shut out the city, leaving only firelights and the gleam of polished silver to mark the evening. The smell of lemon oil lingered on the paneled
The stone corridors of the temple were cool and hushed, sunlight filtering through narrow windows and painting long strips of gold across the polished floor. The faint scent of incense lingered in the air, mingling with the sharper fragrance of herbs drying in clay bowls by the walls.Elira sat prop
The study smelled faintly of lemon, the kind of subtle richness Amara had always liked. It was past midnight, and the silence in the estate felt heavy, broken only by the faint hum of the city outside the tall windows.On her desk sat the folder. A slim thing cream cover, no markings but its presenc







