Semua Bab The Comeback of a Star: Bab 81 - Bab 90

RAVEN I'd been Ayra's manager for years, and I thought I'd seen it all. Drama with co-stars, difficult directors, tabloid rumors…all part of the job. But this? This was a whole new level of nightmare. I sat in the emergency PR meeting early, surrounded by Ayra's legal team, publicists, and brand representatives who all looked like they wanted to be anywhere else. My phone hadn't stopped buzzing for the past six hours. "The Opium Skin deal is dead," Fine from the legal team said flatly. "They sent the termination notice an hour ago. Citing 'moral character concerns' and 'brand misalignment.'" I felt my stomach drop even though I'd been expecting it. "What about Lilies?" "Still in emergency discussions with their board. They're not pulling out yet, but they're 'monitoring the situation closely.'" He made air quotes around the last part, his expression grim. "Translation: one more bad headline and they're gone too," I muttered. "Three other brands have requested statements," ano

MR. CANEI stood at the head of the conference room in Yaldon Enterprises, looking at the assembled family members, and felt the weight of fifteen years pressing down on my shoulders.It’s been years since William Yaldon died.Fifteen years since he recorded that video telling his children the will would be read "in fifteen years, not a day sooner."I’ve been watching them circle each other like sharks, trying to position themselves for an inheritance they knew nothing about.Today, they would finally learn the truth.Olivia sat at one end of the long table, dressed in a severe black suit, her expression screams that she was determined. She'd spent fifteen years running the Technology Division, positioning herself as the obvious heir. She thought today was just a formality.Ryan sat beside her, fidgeting with his phone. He'd been assuring his son Christopher for years that the empire would be theirs. Christopher sat next to him, looking hungover and miserable, probably still reeling f

LIAMI stood in my father's office which was now mine and I felt absolutely nothing.The view was spectacular. The city being clear from where I stood, the entire skyline spread out like I owned it. Which, technically, I kind of did now.Chairman and CEO of Yaldon Enterprises controlling interest in a fifty-billion-dollar empire.And I felt nothing.I walked to the massive desk…the same one my father had sat behind when he told twelve-year-old me that I was being sent away to Switzerland. That it was "for the best." That "people were talking" and it was "causing problems for the family."I'd cried that day. Begged him not to send me away. Promised I'd be good, be quiet, be invisible if that's what he wanted.He'd looked at me with those hard eyes and said, "Liam, sometimes sacrifices have to be made for the greater good."I was the sacrifice.I sat in his chair and it felt too big and heavy. My phone buzzed and it’s another congratulatory message. This one from a board member I'd neve

LUCY I stood in front of the bathroom mirror at the charity gala, adjusting my diamond earrings and checking my makeup one more time. It looked absolutely perfect. I looked exactly like what everyone expected as always. The beautiful, nonchalant youngest Yaldon daughter at a children's hospital fundraiser. My dress was elegant but not flashy and my smoke was glued on. My phone buzzed. A text from Jared: "Everything's in motion, just stay visible." I deleted the message and slipped my phone back into my clutch. Tonight, everything would change. The gala was exactly as boring as I'd expected. Rich people pretending to care about sick children while really just networking and showing off their wealth. My Gram stories were already blowing up. Pictures of me with the hospital director, with grateful families and with the charity organizers. I made sure to time stamp it all so It would be indisputable that I was obviously here. After a couple of hours I was getting tired of keepin

CHAPTER EIGHTY-THREE FREEDOM AND INVESTIGATIONLIAMThe lights in the interrogation room were giving me a headache. I've been here for six hours and I've been asked the same questions seventeen different ways. It was like they were trying to get me to slip up and admit to something I didn't do."Mr. Yaldon, let's go over this one more time," Detective Gideon said, her voice tired but persistent. "Where were you on the night of Ryan Yaldon's death?""At home with my fiancée," I said for what felt like the hundredth time. "From approximately 7 PM until we heard about Ryan around 11 PM.""And she can confirm this?""Yes. As I've already told you." I said getting irritated."What about your sister Olivia's accident the night before?""Also at home with Ayra. We were having dinner." I leaned back in my chair. "Detective, I've answered all these questions multiple times. Either charge me with something or let me call my lawyer." My voice turned hard."We found evidence at Ryan's scene," De