I saw Aline's laptop and immediately checked it. As usual, the stock charts and so on were opened up."What are these stocks?" I wondered.I wrote down the names and codes and opened Aline's history of buying and selling."Twenty million dollars for just this one stock?" I whispered to myself. I read the name of the company Aline had bought.I had never even heard of a company that was famous enough to have such a name. Somehow I had a feeling that something was not quite right."There's no point in somebody buying that many shares in an obscure company."Unsure of my analysis, I had a look at the company's web site. It had a very ugly and disorganized look. Even the design had the look and feel of a high school student's work."This is so unprofessional." For a company that Aline had bought twenty million dollars worth of shares in, it was obvious that the company's website was not up to standard.I remembered that my favorite novel reading site was better than this one.That was not

In the early morning hours, Aline and Rafe had already locked horns.Their disagreement echoed through the corridors. The specifics of their argument escaped me, and yet a phrase from Aline broke through the muted exchange and hung in the air with poignant clarity."Why won't you hug me?" she begged. A simple question that somehow brought a smile to my lips.The day unfolded with a strange beauty. A kind of grim satisfaction that came from witnessing Aline's misery.It was as if the misfortune of this terrible woman infused the atmosphere with a twisted joy."Ah, am I in heaven now?" I wondered, stunned by the surreal turn of events.The sharp sound of a door slamming brought me back to reality, signaling Aline's hasty departure.It was not difficult to surmise that she had gone to seek comfort or perhaps advice from her father.Once the storm of emotions had settled, I left my sanctuary. The living room, now a stronghold of calm, revealed Rafe crouched on the big sofa.His attention

Arriving at a substantial building, the presence of a sign bearing the name of a prominent law firm was unmistakable."Is this the office of your acquaintance?" I asked Rafe, to which he replied in the affirmative.Upon exiting the vehicle, I was greeted by a number of guards who displayed a remarkable familiarity with Rafe.In the midst of them, another individual emerged and offered a warm greeting to Rafe."This is Kant, a connoisseur of legal matters," Rafe introduced, facilitating our acquaintance.The name resonated with me as I recalled his frequent appearances on television programs. My memory served me well: this gentleman was known for his involvement in important legal matters."Mr. Rafe, how can I be of assistance today?" the gentleman inquired with courteous professionalism, ushering us into a room within the soaring structure.In the private chambers of the individual known as Kant, the air was thick with anticipation."Kant, I seek your expertise in the legal maneuverin

Aline's party was a grand affair, held in the magnificent State Palace."Is this even allowed?" I whispered to Rafe, noticing his obvious discomfort with the whole event.It was hard to believe. Here we were in the State Palace, the very heart and symbol of our country, transformed into a venue for the President's daughter's extravagant party."See that man over there? He's a diplomat," Rafe said quietly, nodding toward a man engaged in conversation."And that woman he's talking to is the foreign minister of another country," he added, pointing to her.I was in awe. Never in my wildest dreams had I thought I'd be rubbing shoulders with such influential figures. This event was on a whole other level compared to Rafe and Aline's wedding.Thinking back, their wedding seemed almost rushed. Aline and Rafe had been engaged for barely a day before they tied the knot. But here, at this party, everything was meticulously planned and opulent, a stark contrast to their simple wedding."Dear gues

The atmosphere at Aline's birthday party was tense, suggesting potential trouble. At first I was convinced that something bad was about to happen, especially when a loud laughter suddenly echoed around us."Haha, relax! It's all part of the act," a voice boomed. Rafe and I quickly turned toward the sound, only to see Aline's father come into view.Despite his reputation for being stern, Aline's father managed to maintain a warm and approachable demeanor. However, I knew better; beneath that facade was a man with a much darker nature. Rafe and I exchanged a quick glance and realized we had no choice but to play along with whatever script Aline's father had in mind.Ever the quick thinker, Rafe playfully chimed in, "Haha, Uncle, looks like you caught us, doesn't it?" His words cleverly framed the whole situation as a harmless charade.Closing in, Aline's father put a friendly arm around Rafe, but when his eyes met mine, I could feel the cold, unspoken hostility behind his smile.The ten