جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 490

(Ruby)Leaving Mama and the mansion behind felt bittersweet, but I knew it was time. Her health seemed stable for now, and she had Lydia there to keep her company. Besides, I’d been neglecting the boutique for far too long. My work, my sanctuary, it deserved my full attention again. The drive to the boutique was a reflective one. The morning sunlight poured through the car window, warming my face as I thought about all the chaos of the past week with Jack getting injured and coming at my door. I don’t know what possessed me that had made me go to his apartment and then fall asleep over there after cooking him food. I felt a blush climbing up my cheeks when I remembered the way I had gotten up and practically ran from there.Fortunately, I hadn’t bumped into Jack back at the mansion. However, it did not soothe my worry over him any less.When I finally arrived, the familiar sight of the boutique brought a sense of calm. The glass windows sparkled in the sunlight, the display mannequi

(Jack)I don’t know what I was thinking when I made the decision to meet Marco like this but I knew Thomas would not approve of it.I hated doing this behind his back but sometimes, I felt like Thomas was too cautious about certain things and if I let Marco toy with me like this, it would just be more embarrassment from me.I truly didn’t know what his deal was. A rejected lover? A possessive ex? Or just a psycho freak?The café loomed ahead, its warm light spilling onto the street through the rain-smeared windows. Inside, patrons nursed lattes and pastries, their conversations blending into the low hum of jazz filtering through the speakers. It was the kind of place where power moves were made over espresso, where the polished oak tables and leather chairs lent an air of civility to even the ugliest business.I paused at the door, brushing the rain off my jacket, before stepping inside. The faint aroma of freshly ground coffee mixed with the sharp undertone of tension that followed

(Thomas)The investors filed out of the conference room, their chatter fading as they moved down the hall. It had been a grueling two-hour session, but judging by their firm handshakes and approving nods, I’d won them over. I loosened my tie, allowing myself a moment of relief before the next storm hit.Charlotte Ellis, my newly hired assistant, walked beside me, her tablet balanced effortlessly in one hand, her other hand poised to jot down notes. She’d only been here a few days, but already she was proving to be indispensable. Her sharp focus and ability to anticipate what I needed before I even asked were refreshing after the chaos of the past few months.At the moment, I felt like I had made the right decision by bringing her onto the team. She also seemed to blend effortlessly with the staff that worked on our floor.“That went well,” she said as we exited the conference room, her heels clicking against the polished floor.“It did,” I replied, “Though I’m not celebrating yet. Inv

(Lydia)I found myself pacing back and forth in the hallway outside Mama’s room, my thoughts a tangled mess. The texts from Clara were still fresh on my mind, her words clawing at my sense of calm. I couldn’t shake the image of her desperate tone, begging me to meet again, insisting that she had more to say.I was trying to ignore her, trying not to spiral, but the weight of it all was getting to me. The lies, the secrecy, the uncertainty of who Clara really was and what she wanted, it felt like too much. I couldn’t tell Thomas. I couldn’t tell anyone.I needed a distraction, a place to vent without revealing everything. Mama’s room was the closest thing I had to a safe space.Taking a deep breath, I knocked lightly on the door before stepping inside.Mama was sitting in her favorite armchair by the window, wrapped in a shawl despite the midday warmth. Her pale face lit up when she saw me.“Lydia, darling,” she said, her voice warm but weary. Dr. Roberts had started with her radiother

(Thomas)The steady hum of the city outside my office window was a constant backdrop to my thoughts as I reviewed yet another report. The weight of running the company pressed on me as usual, but I had developed a rhythm for managing it. Still, my mind wandered briefly to Lydia. Her determination to re-enter the acting world was both admirable and concerning. I was wrestling with my own fears about her choice, even as I tried to respect her decision.Just as I reached for my coffee, the phone on my desk buzzed. “Mr. Lombardi,” came the voice of one of the building’s security guards, tense and urgent.“What is it?” I asked, already dreading the answer.“There’s been an incident in the underground parking lot, sir. Your car…someone slashed the tires.”I froze, my grip tightening on the phone, “Slashed the tires? How did someone get into the parking lot in the first place? Isn’t it supposed to be secure?”“We’re still reviewing the footage,” he said quickly, “But whoever did it was quic