Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 121 - Chapitre 130

Three days. Seventy-two agonizing hours stood between Flora and the truth. Eva had become an elusive shadow, flitting between Flora's penthouse suite and the company's legal team with a dogged determination to ensure the paternity test results would not be compromised. "I'm taking every precaution imaginable," Eva had assured Flora, her brow furrowed with worry. "Alice wouldn't hesitate to pull a fast one if she could." Flora stared at the television screen, barely registering the vibrant colors and cheerful sounds emanating from it. She knew Eva was doing her best to protect her, but the waiting, the uncertainty, and the isolation gnawed at her relentlessly. Left alone in the vast, echoing penthouse, she felt the weight of the waiting press down on her. The phone clutched in her hand felt oddly heavy. She sighed and glanced at it, her finger hovering over Damien's contact. She missed him, craved the sound of his voice, the comfort of his words. But a

Flora hesitated but eventually joined in, her curiosity piqued. The reader, an older woman with a cryptic smile, laid out the cards and began to speak in a soft, melodic voice. Flora listened, half-believing, half-amused, as the woman spoke of new beginnings and unexpected allies. As they left the stall, Flora’s mind drifted back to the impending test results. The tarot reading had been a fun distraction, but reality loomed heavy over her thoughts. Sensing her mood shift, Olivia looped her arm through Flora’s. "Hey, let’s grab some ice cream. There’s a stand over there that makes the best gelato." Flora allowed herself to be led to the ice cream stand, appreciating Olivia’s efforts to keep her spirits up. They ordered their gelato—pistachio for Flora, chocolate for Olivia, and mint for Cyprus —and found a spot to sit and enjoy the treat. As Flora savored the cold, creamy dessert, she felt a sense of gratitude towards Olivia. Despite their rock

Sleep came easily that night, a deep and dreamless slumber that left Flora feeling refreshed when she woke the next morning. As she stretched away the remnants of sleep, yawning as she did so, the suite was eerily quiet, and Eva was nowhere to be seen. Flora padded into the kitchenette, the polished granite floor cool against her bare feet, and began making herself a cup of coffee. As the bitter liquid invigorated her senses, she pulled out her phone. Her thoughts wandered to the looming paternity test results. In a few hours, her world could potentially crash down around her.She found it strange, almost disconcerting, how calm she felt now. The past few days had been a whirlwind of nervous anticipation, a constant knot of anxiety churning in her stomach. Yet, here she was, facing the precipice with a sense of… stillness.The events of the previous day played back in her mind like a disjointed film – the dazzling displays of the fair, the awkwardness with Olivia and

Eva reached out and squeezed her hand, her face a mask of shock and sympathy. "Flora," she began softly, "breath. I need you to breath."Alice's laughter grew louder, more vindictive. "I knew it! All this time, you were nothing but a fraud, a parasite leeching off my husband’s fortune!"Mr. Henderson shot Alice a warning look. "Mrs Wicks, that's enough."Ignoring him, Alice stood, her eyes gleaming with triumph. "Finally, justice is served. You have no right to anything in this family, Flora. You should know without me having to tell you that it's time you pack your things and leave."Cyprus, who had been silent until now, stood up, his expression unreadable. "Flora, I’m sorry."Flora couldn't bring herself to look at him. Instead, she turned to Eva, seeking some semblance of support. "What do we do now?"Eva, ever the calm and collected lawyer, took a deep breath. "We contest this. We demand a retest. This could be a mistake, a mix-up. There’s no way we’re g

Damien's brow furrowed. "What kind of advances?" His voice was tinged with a hint of wariness.Flora's voice was barely above a whisper. "He’s been overly affectionate, and it makes me uncomfortable. I made it clear I’m not interested, but he doesn’t seem to be backing down."Damien's face darkened, a mix of concern and anger flickering in his eyes. "Flora, you shouldn't have to deal with that. Did he do anything inappropriate?"She thought back to Cyprus's words that evening he'd dropped her off at the hotel after the trade fair. "No, not exactly. Just made me uncomfortable," she replied, her voice steady. "I'm worried, Damien. I’m worried he’ll think I encouraged it, especially with us being apart. And then there's the fact that I'll be here, running the company. It’s going to be hard on us."Damien's expression softened. "Flora, listen to me. You haven't done anything wrong. You're not responsible for his actions. And as for us, we can handle the distance. We’ll m