My team arrived with the rest of the documents and equipment about an hour later. Then it took us the rest of the day to make ourselves comfortable in the new place. Unsurprisingly, they all loved the new laboratory. It certainly gave them more freedom to work on several different ideas at the same time. It couldn't compare to the space we had in Hayes Laboratories. Unlike the old labs, the rooms Darren offered us were never meant to be warehouses. They were designed and built as a place for experiments, and all my team needed to do was sit there for five minutes for the ambiance to boost their creativity beyond natural limits.I was happy for them. It could have been a new beginning for them… for me. Unfortunately, our situation had too many loose ends for me to idly sit and explore the possibilities of our new space. I let them enjoy themselves and organize their workplaces while I returned home to prepare for the meeting with a lawyer.The next morning, I was sitting on a large sof

I rolled back my shoulders and let the slow exhale calm me down. Then I marched toward the entrance with all the confidence I could muster. I had entered that building countless times before, but never while feeling anxiety or fear—until now.I tried not to stand out too much, but I did not resemble an average secretary either. I chose a black, fitted pantsuit, perfectly hugging and emphasizing the curves of my body. It also exposed a little bit of flesh around the cleavage, turning me into a hot businesswoman.I opened my purse to grab my pass, and my heart began to hammer. I knew quite well that my mission could end before it even began if my access had already been canceled. I could only hope that Callan was too busy celebrating the merger to think about my access to the company.I passed the revolving door and followed the line of other employees in suits. Most of them were still half asleep. Some of them were yawning. Others were drinking coffee from their thermal mugs. Then I gl

As soon as I entered my apartment, my team welcomed me with champagne in hand—one that they pulled out of my fridge and opened. I drank the toast with them and tried to enjoy our win, but keeping the smile on my face quickly became a struggle.Callan's words rang in my head. Perhaps he had said them to confuse me and keep me restless. Perhaps I should have ignored them, but his tone, the confidence in his voice, the sneer twisting his lips—all of it made those words more believable. I didn't have the chance to talk with Darren, get to know him. I knew that there were matters he didn't want to discuss with me… What if he couldn't solve his problems? What if they would truly prevent us from being together? Then again… what could have been more complicated than the matter of his father's death and my father's involvement in it?I put down my empty champagne glass on the kitchen counter and walked over to Ren. “Um… we need to talk about the flash drive you gave me.” I patted his shoulder

I analyzed my father's words over and over again, and there was a small part of me that understood why he was afraid to tell me the truth. Certainly, the rest of me was still furious that he kept it a secret. Was there still a chance that my father was a killer? Yes. But even if he had done it, it wouldn't have been his conscious choice. And there was the most logical argument... He couldn't have planned it and executed this assassination overnight.“My father is innocent,” I murmured before placing my head on the pillow. “Someone else must have done it.” It seemed like the only rational explanation. “Someone wanted to frame my father for it…” The real question was: who?My entire team decided to “lay low” for a few days before our departure for Hokkaido. Unsurprisingly, they all decided that my apartment would be a perfect hideout. Luckily, they behaved… mostly, and they didn't break anything.We left only to arrange our new laboratory, and Sakura and I went a few times to the clinic

DARRENA nightmare. I entered a fucking nightmare. Lilly got up from her seat, her face bleaching, her expression twisting in pain. I wiped my lips from Amelia's kiss and pushed her hand away. She clicked her tongue before turning to Lilly.“Oh, that's right! I forgot that you know each other!” A cold laugh tore through her throat. “I guess he didn't tell you, did he? I'm sorry to crash your romantic visions, honey…” She stepped toward her, extending her hand.“Don't touch her,” I hissed, grabbing Amelia's wrist.An angry smile tugged at her lips. “So protective of this one, I see... Shall I get rid of her like I did with the last one?”My blood began to boil. I could see my hands curling around Amelia's neck, my thumbs pressing against her windpipe and crushing it. I wanted to do it. I was prepared to do it here and now.“Darren.” Lilly's soft voice shattered my bloodlust. My eyes drifted to her, and I saw her close to tears. “Is this true…? Is she your fiancée?”I worked my jaw. I d