Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 31 - Chapitre 40

The air in the grand living room remained heavy with an eerie silence. The only sound was the faint ticking of the antique clock on the wall.The tall man adjusted his suit before clearing his throat. “Christian, I presume?”Christian gave a small nod, his expression unreadable.The man extended a firm hand. “I’m Robert… Ilda’s father.”Christian shook his hand, his mind quickly piecing things together. So, this was the man who had abandoned Ilda all those years ago. His eyes flickered toward Olivia, but she had already looked away, avoiding Robert’s gaze as if the mere sight of him was unbearable.Ilda let out a low chuckle, arms still folded. “What brings you here if I may ask?” Her smile was sharp, edged with something dangerously close to amusement, but her eyes carried none.Robert sighed and pulled out a small stack of papers from his jacket. “Look at these,” he said, handing them to her. “I’ve been ill for years. I didn’t run away, Ilda. I could never leave my family behind. Yo

Olivia froze, her lips pressed into a thin line as Robert’s words sank in. “Old friend?” she hissed, her tone thick with resentment. “You must be delusional.”Robert smirked, stepping closer, his rugged face now more visible under the soft light streaming through the hallway. His once sharp features had grown slightly worn with age, but his piercing gaze remained the same intense and almost teasing. “Come on, Liv,” he whispered, his deep voice holding a familiar warmth. “Is that how you welcome your old flame?”Olivia's breath hitched, and for a moment, memories surged like a tidal wave late-night whispers, hidden glances, his rough hands tracing her skin when they thought no one was watching. She clenched her fists, pushing those thoughts away. “Don’t you dare,” she warned, her voice trembling.Robert’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “You still look beautiful when you’re angry,” he murmured, reaching out as if to touch her face. Olivia took a quick step back, her heartbeat hammer

The house was unusually quiet. Crystal sat alone in the living room, curled up on the plush, oversized couch. The faint hum of the TV was the only sound breaking the silence. She absentmindedly flipped through channels until the news caught her attention."Breaking News: The prestigious Blake Corporation has appointed Miss Ilda as the Vice President of Operations. CEO Christian Blake expressed his confidence in her abilities during a press conference earlier today..."Crystal's hands tightened around the remote. A rush of emotions overwhelmed her, and without thinking, she switched off the TV, tossing the remote onto the couch."Why can’t they just leave me alone...?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "They’re far away, but I still suffer from the pain."Just then, the door creaked open. Adrian stepped in, carrying a small bag from the hospital. His face looked weary, dark circles shadowing his eyes, but he stopped when he saw Crystal's distressed face."Hey," he greeted softly, rem

The room fell into an eerie silence after Ilda’s mocking applause. Olivia’s heart raced, and she swallowed hard, her gaze darting between Robert and Ilda.“What are you doing here?” Olivia snapped, trying to regain her composure.Ilda let out a low chuckle, tilting her head as she studied Olivia. “I was just passing by when I heard... quite an interesting conversation. You really should be careful with your secrets, Olivia.”Olivia’s eyes flashed with anger. “You have no business here. Get out.”Ilda folded her arms, leaning against the doorframe, her smirk unwavering. “Oh, I think I do. You see, it’s not every day I get to hear the mighty Olivia Blake discussing her... past affairs. So, this is Robert, huh? The one who has you all twisted up inside.”“Watch your mouth,” Olivia warned, her tone ice-cold.Robert cleared his throat, stepping forward. “Ilda, this isn’t your concern.”Ilda turned her attention to him, her eyes gleaming with intrigue. “Oh, but it is. Because I’m just wonde

Crystal didn’t turn. She kept walking, the sting of betrayal burning hotter than ever. Silent tears streamed down her cheeks.Behind her, Betty turned to Evelyn and chuckled. “You see that? She's halfway out already.”Evelyn smirked. “Just a little more… and she’ll disappear for good.”They both burst into soft, victorious laughter as Crystal disappeared down the hallway, alone and broken once again.Crystal stepped into her small room and gently shut the door behind her. The silence was too loud. Her eyes wandered across the dim space: the worn-out chair in the corner, the neatly folded blanket on the bed, the window that barely let in light.Her heart ached.She stood still for a moment, the weight of everything crashing into her all at once. Adrian’s sudden outburst, the cruel taunts of Evelyn and Betty, the fake recording still echoing in her head. “I just want Crystal out of this house.”Her knees weakened. She sat slowly on the edge of the bed, her fingers trembling as they cl