Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 21 - Chapitre 30

Lena's POVThe ballroom was breathtaking, crystal chandeliers casting warm light over hundreds of guests in evening wear, soft classical music floating through the air, and tables draped in ivory linen. The annual Business Leaders Summit always went all out, but tonight felt different.Tonight, I was one of the honorees.I smoothed down the front of my midnight blue gown, my fingers brushing against the silk fabric as I took a steadying breath. Across the room, I could see Henry and Abel near the bar, both looking sharp in their tuxedos, watching me with expressions that mixed pride and protectiveness.Damien was somewhere in the crowd, networking as always, but he'd caught my eye earlier and given me an approving nod."Ms. Morrison?"I turned to find a young woman with a clipboard and headset smiling at me nervously."You're up in five minutes," she said. "If you could make your way to the side stage?"My stomach fluttered. "Of course. Thank you."As I walked toward the designated I

Aiden's POVThe ceiling above my bed had a crack that ran from the corner all the way to the light fixture. I'd been staring at it for the past hour, tracing its jagged path with my eyes, unable to sleep despite the exhaustion weighing down my bones.The apartment was silent except for the occasional drip from the kitchen faucet I couldn't afford to fix and the muffled argument happening somewhere down the hall. The walls were thin enough that I could hear everything, screaming matches, crying babies, the constant reminder that I'd fallen into a world I never thought I'd inhabit.My phone sat on the nightstand, screen dark, mocking me with its silence.No calls. No messages. Nothing.I rolled over, grabbing the device and unlocking it with more force than necessary. My thumb hovered over Lena's old contact, even though I knew it wouldn't go through. I'd tried dozens of times over the past few weeks. Same result every time.The number you have dialed is no longer in service.I tossed t

Lena's POVI was halfway through my morning coffee when Damien burst into my office without knocking, his phone clutched in his hand and an unreadable expression on his face."Have you seen this?" he asked, crossing the room in quick strides.I set down my cup, frowning. "Seen what?"He placed his phone on my desk, the screen displaying the homepage of The National Observer, one of the country's most widely-read publications.The headline made my stomach drop."THE LOST HEIRESS: How Lena Morrison Went from Missing Child to CEO"Beneath it was an old childhood photograph I'd never seen before, a little girl with dark curls and bright eyes, wearing a white dress, smiling at the camera."Where did they get that picture?" I whispered, leaning closer."Henry thinks it's from the family archives," Damien said quietly. "Someone must have accessed old records."I scrolled down, my heart pounding as I read the opening paragraphs.“Twenty years ago, four-year-old Lena Morrison vanished without

Lena's POVThe conference room on the forty-second floor had floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the city. Today, it was filled with our executive team, legal advisors, and representatives from Vertex Innovations, a cutting-edge AI and automation company we were in the process of acquiring.This was it. The acquisition would create an entirely new division for Morrison Corporation and solidify our position as industry leaders in technological innovation.I sat at the head of the table, Damien to my right, Henry to my left, and Abel across from me. Claire Winters, Vertex's founder and CEO, sat directly opposite me, flanked by her team."Ms. Morrison," Claire said, adjusting her glasses. "We've reviewed your final offer. It's more than generous.""Vertex Innovations represents exactly what Morrison Corporation values," I said, keeping my voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through me. "Innovation, forward-thinking technology, and ethical development practices. This acquisi

Lena's POVI stood in front of the full-length mirror in my bedroom, turning sideways to examine my reflection. There was no hiding it anymore.At eight months pregnant, my belly had become unmistakably prominent. The tailored suits that had been my armor in the boardroom no longer fit properly, no matter how much I tried to adjust them.I ran my hand over the curve, feeling the firmness beneath the fabric of my maternity dress, a navy blue piece that my stylist had assured me looked "professional and elegant."It did. But it also screamed "pregnant CEO" to anyone with eyes."You look beautiful."I turned to find Henry standing in the doorway, a soft smile on his face."I look pregnant," I corrected, turning back to the mirror with a frown."Those aren't mutually exclusive," he said, entering the room. "Are you ready for the shareholders meeting?"I took a deep breath. "As ready as I'll ever be."Today's quarterly shareholders meeting would be another major corporate event where I'd a