Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 91 - Chapitre 100

I stared at Jessica, my mind reeling. "You kidnapped my daughter to offer her a mentorship?"Jessica laughed. It was warm and genuine, like we were old friends discussing a business proposal over lunch."Kidnapping. You keep using that word. I prefer to think of this as recruiting. I've been funding her education, watching her grow, investing in her potential." She gestured around the luxurious apartment. "Does this look like a kidnapping? Emma has been treated like a guest. Fed, entertained, completely unharmed. I simply facilitated a conversation that you've been avoiding for five years.""By drugging Diane and breaking into her house?""By creating circumstances where you couldn't refuse to listen. If I'd invited you to coffee, would you have come?"She had a point. I would have involved the FBI immediately."Emma is brilliant," Jessica continued. "Genuinely talented in ways that go beyond technical skill. She has vision. She has empathy. She has that rare combination of artistic a

The words hung in the air. "We have a deal."But even as I said them, I felt wrong. Like I was betraying everything I'd fought for. Like I was handing my daughter to a predator and calling it education.Emma squeezed my hands. "Mom, it's going to be okay. I promise."Jessica moved toward a desk in the corner, pulling out paperwork. "I'll have contracts drawn up. Terms clearly specified. Your conditions, Emma's autonomy, my obligation to—""Stop."Emma's voice cut through the room like a knife.Both Jessica and I turned to her.Emma stood taller. Her jaw set. Her eyes clear and determined."I changed my mind.""What?" Jessica and I said simultaneously."I said I changed my mind. I'm not interested in your mentorship, Jessica." Emma's voice was steady. Adult. Authoritative. "I appreciate the scholarship. I appreciate you funding my education. But here's what I know about you: You kidnapped my mother. You destroyed designers for decades. You hurt people for profit. That's not success. Th

Six months into intensive therapy with Dr. Chen, I made a decision that terrified me.I was taking a sabbatical from Nott Designs.Six months. Complete break. No emails. No calls. No decisions.Victoria would run the company. She'd proven more than capable. The board approved immediately. Some of them looked relieved, which probably said something about my management style lately."Where will you go?" Victoria asked during the transition meeting."Italy. Tuscany. As far from everything as I can get while still being in civilization."Marcus booked a villa in the hills outside Florence. Sixteenth century stone farmhouse with vineyards and olive groves. No WiFi by design. Just peace and space and time.Emma was hesitant at first. "Mom, I have classes at Parsons. I can't just leave for six months.""I talked to your dean. You can do an independent study. Art history in Florence. Drawing and painting with local instructors. You'll get full credit and real experience. If you want to come.

After the party ended and the last guests filtered out, I asked Sophia to stay. We sat in my office on the top floor—just the two of us and the city lights stretching out below."Tell me about your mother," I said. "The real story. Not the version that protects either of us."Sophia took a deep breath. "I was born eight months after everything happened with Brock. After the fake accident. After he and Mom tried to steal your life." She twisted her hands in her lap. "Mom got pregnant right before Dad—I mean, Brock—before the accident. She didn't know until after everything fell apart.""So Brock never knew about you.""No. Mom said when she realized she was pregnant, he was already gone. Disappeared with his sister. The mafia was after Mom for the money. Her face was scarred. Everything was destroyed. She couldn't tell Brock even if she'd wanted to. And honestly, I don't think she wanted to."I tried to imagine Tatiana pregnant and alone, dealing with the consequences of her choices wh

Four years passed in what felt like moments and eternities simultaneously.Emma thrived at Parsons. Not just survived—thrived. She made dean's list every semester. Won awards for her design work. Became president of the sustainability club. Built a reputation as someone who combined technical excellence with ethical consciousness.Sophia finished her gap year, enrolled full-time at Parsons, and graduated a year after Emma. During their overlapping years, the friendship that started tentatively grew into something deeper. True partnership. They understood each other in ways other students couldn't—both carrying complicated family histories, both determined to build differently than their parents had.Now it was Emma's graduation day. May sunshine warmed the ceremony venue. Families packed the auditorium. Marcus sat beside me, camera ready to capture every moment. Diane was there, having become like a grandmother to Emma over the years. Agent Park attended too, retired but still part of