Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 51 - Chapitre 60

Five Days Later“Tasha, where are you?”Mom’s voice comes through the phone sharp and uneasy, the kind that immediately tightens something in my chest. Irritation flashes hot and fast, cutting through the dull numbness that has settled in me these past few days. I grip the steering wheel harder, my knuckles whitening.“I met Ruby at the beauty salon,” she continues without waiting for an answer, “and she said the lectures ended an hour ago.”I exhale slowly through my nose, staring straight ahead at the stream of cars inching forward at the intersection. The city feels louder lately—too bright, too crowded—like everything is pressing in on me at once.“So now I have to account for every step I take?” I ask, my voice colder than I intend, but I don’t soften it. I can’t. “Didn’t you say you were proud of my independence? Of my judgment?”There’s a brief silence on the line, the kind filled with unsaid accusations. My tone doesn’t even sound like mine anymore. It’s distant, clipped, stri

The Sungate Bridge banquet hall is filled with people, expensive appetizers, and premium alcohol. The birthday of the company that my husband heads is always celebrated in style. I head the marketing department, yet I don't feel like I'm part of today's celebration. I've grown tired of these kinds of parties over the years, and I can't stop thinking about how he would be here today.About a year ago, Jaden Reed's name popped up in the Los Angeles news, with a report that a little-known 31-year-old businessman had bought a big-name company just as it was struggling financially. This shocked many people at the time, and he found himself under intense scrutiny from journalists. They wanted to know everything about him: his past, his family situation, and how he got his start. Rumor had it that he’d inherited his uncle’s small business and managed to expand it considerably in a relatively short time before deciding to move to Los Angeles from Chicago, where he’d lived for five years. In a

"It's unlikely that he put a gun to their heads and forced them to take his money," I remark coldly, my voice cutting through the humid air trapped inside the car. The leather seats, once a symbol of our shared success, now feel like a slick, suffocating trap."I wouldn't be surprised at all."Isaac's attack on Jaden is like throwing eggs at the neighbors' windows; it’s a petty, juvenile display of frustration that only makes me want to end this conversation. It’s a desperate attempt to shift the blame onto a villain rather than look at the wreckage in the rearview mirror. It's a shame you can't get out of the car while it's moving; I find myself eyeing the door handle, imagining the rush of wind and the silence of the asphalt as an alternative to this suffocating tension."Why are you telling me all this now?" I ask, my fingers digging into the upholstery.Because the situation is dire. I've already contacted everyone I could."How dire is it? We could reduce staff and consider closi

"The house I bought is being renovated."Jaden turns to face me, and now we're both looking at each other. I hope my composure doesn't fail me and that the storm of emotions I'm experiencing doesn't show on my face. The problem is that being separated from him hasn't changed anything for me. He still lives inside me—my closest friend, the person who has occupied a part of my heart since I was nine and never left. The second problem is that, looking into his eyes now, I know for sure that things are completely different for him."I'm glad it worked out for you, Jaden," I say, not trying to flatter or win him over. I don't smile. I just want to say these words.Jaden's face remains impassive, and his gaze is indifferent. They glance at the delivery man who brought the order before signing his form."Is this what you wanted to talk about?""No, it was an unplanned digression," I say, swallowing hard as I dig into my bag and pull out the contract. As I watch Jaden skim the pages, I clarif

"I'm working on it. I'm currently in talks with Tony Sutherland...""Offering him the same thing?" Two of your friends refused, citing a lack of funds. Muster up the courage to face the truth: No one will do charity work. People don't trust you, and they won't donate money to you. It's time to take drastic measures. Damn it! Which one of us runs this company?" I raise my voice, but only because I'm furious."I called him this morning and asked him to sign the contract," Isaac says quietly, looking straight ahead. "The bastard refused. He said he wasn't interested in it under the old terms anymore. Are you happy now?"I grip the fork on the table, feeling the cold metal spread across my skin and seep into my chest. Isaac looks lost and broken, but I don't feel sorry for him right now. Jaden wasn't joking; he really intends to get the most out of this deal. I return the utensil to the table and try to breathe evenly. At least one of us has to keep a cool head."Negotiations to save a co