Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 101 - Chapitre 110

A moment earlier, Nancy tiptoed through the dim kitchen, the cold tiles biting at her bare feet. Her head still throbbed from the wine, but something more profound… something restless…had pulled her from bed. She had searched for Charles in all the usual places: his room, his study, even the library. But he was nowhere.A strange pull led her to the kitchen, and as she reached for a glass of water, movement outside the window caught her eye.A shadow.Tall. Still. Familiar.She moved closer, her breath fogging the glass as she peered out. But the window was too foggy, too dim. She needed to see clearly.Quietly, she unlatched the side door and stepped out into the cool night, slipping into the shadows near the hedges. Her breath hitched when she saw him.Charles.Leaning against a stone column, a cigarette glowing between his fingers, his face carved in moonlight and silence.He was waiting.But not for her.Nancy’s heart clenched.She stayed hidden in the dark, her back pressed again

“Say yes, please…” Nancy’s voice was light, almost teasing, as she leaned into Charles’s arm, her smile radiant.Emily looked between them…Nancy glowing, Charles unreadable, his eyes locked on hers.“Sure,” Emily said quietly, forcing a smile. “I’d be honored.”Nancy beamed. “Perfect! I knew you’d say yes.”But Emily’s heart was already elsewhere.She wouldn’t be there.Not at the wedding.Not in this life.She would leave soon.**The jewelry shop was nestled in the heart of the city, its glass façade gleaming under the afternoon sun. Inside, the air was cool and fragrant with polished wood and velvet. They were led through the main showroom into a private VIP room… quiet, intimate, and lined with velvet trays of diamonds that sparkled like stars.Shirley Lewis, the boutique’s owner and Nancy’s longtime friend, greeted them with a warm smile and a kiss on both cheeks. “Nancy, darling! You didn’t tell me you were bringing royalty.”Nancy laughed, looping her arm through Charles’s. “W

Emily slipped away from the putting green, the day’s sunburn and fatigue weighing on her shoulders. Nancy and Justin were deep in conversation by the clubhouse patio…too absorbed to notice her departure.Inside the spa’s cool marble hall, she paused at a row of doors labeled “Steam Room,” “Sauna,” “Shower,” and “Powder Room.” Disoriented, she caught sight of a young attendant pushing a trolley of fresh towels and asked, “Excuse me, where’s the ladies’ shower?”The attendant smiled kindly and led her down a side corridor. Emily felt a flicker of relief this was exactly what she needed.As she reached for the “Shower & Changing” sign, a firm hand seized her wrist. She yelped and whirled around to find Charles, his dark eyes sharp in the muted light.Without a word, he pulled her deeper into the suite, closing the door behind them with a soft click. Emily gasped as he engaged the lock.The room was vast: white marble floors warmed by underlighting, a corner Jacuzzi bubbling faintly, a gl

“She was poor. We both were,” Nichole continued, her gaze fixed on Emily. “But instead of helping, she threw me and my father out. She stayed behind in the house…hers now, I guess… and what did I have? Nothing. So I did what she taught me to do.”Emily looked at Nichole with a burning gaze. She already knew Nichole was up to.Nichole laughed, bitter and bright. “To sell myself.”The old man beside her shifted and stood still. It was a good thing that her old man was deaf. He could not hear anything, and nobody knew except her.“I’m with this old man now because I don’t have a choice. Because Emily taught me that I can only survive being with a rich man, even if he's old or ugly. Money is more important than everything else.”Emily’s voice cracked. “That’s not true!”“Then tell them the truth!” Nichole shouted. “You worked nights behind that bar, didn’t you? You knew what those men wanted. You offered more than drinks. And you have abortions so many times. I knew that because I am your

“Son, is this woman another play toy of yours?”A hush fell over the ballroom.The music faded, the laughter died, and all eyes turned toward the woman in the gold gown who had just shattered the warmth of the moment with a single, cutting question.Emily instinctively stepped back, her heart thudding. Justin moved slightly in front of her, protective, his jaw tightening.“Mom,” he said, his voice low but firm.Olivia Chase stood tall, her posture regal, her expression sharp as a blade. Her gown shimmered under the lights, but there was nothing soft about her presence. She was elegance wrapped in steel.Emily swallowed hard. She could feel the weight of Olivia’s gaze, the judgment in her eyes. Another danger. Another storm.“Mom, this is Emily,” Justin said, his tone clipped. “She’s a friend.”He turned to Emily, his eyes softening, silently telling her: Don’t worry. I’ve got this.Emily nodded faintly, her knees trembling beneath the weight of the moment. She stepped forward and gave