جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 100

Adrian I knew the moment Vivian arrived. She had something up her sleeve. Not because she walked into my house like she owned the place, her head held up as she smiled at those who exchanged pleasantries with her, but because the tail I put on her had reported something disturbing Vivian Hawthorne had met with my sister-in-law privately not long after the invitation was sent out With me married, and not to her, Vivian had no more reason to suck up to Nathan's mother Which only left one possibility, they were plotting something And whatever it was I'd find out So I sent someone to keep an eye on her. Emily was still accepting congratulations when Daniel approached me near the bar. He didn’t look at me directly. Just stood beside me like any other assistant waiting for instructions. “Sir,” he said under his breath. “Miss Vivian has met privately with Mrs. Carter...again” I didn’t react outwardly. Nathan’s mother. Of course. “How long ago?” “Twenty minutes.” “And?” “T

Emily Walking into Vale Corporation as the future head of the company felt strange. For years, my father had kept me away from this place, emphasising the duties of a woman and a wife, but now I walked in with my head held high, the same way I'd seen my mother walked when I'd followed her as a child. The receptionist stood up the moment she saw me. “Good morning, Miss—” She stopped halfway. A slight flush appeared on her face. “Mrs. Carter.” The title still sounded strange. I simply nodded. “Good morning.” But even as I walked past the front desk, I could feel eyes following me. Whispers drifting through the lobby. Everyone knew why I was here today. News traveled fast inside corporations. Especially when the rumor involved someone suddenly stepping into the position of CEO. I stepped into the elevator calmly. When the doors opened on the executive floor, my father was already waiting outside the conference room. His expression was dark. Not surprised. Not confused.

EmilyMy father’s composure cracked so suddenly it almost amused me.“What… what do you mean by that?” he stammered, his voice lacking the authority he usually wore like a second skin. For a man who thrived on control, even the slightest hint of uncertainty made him look smaller—pathetic, even.I leaned back slightly in the chair, crossing my legs with deliberate calm. “You heard me.”His eyes narrowed, trying to regain footing. “Emily, this isn’t a game. You don’t throw around words like ‘underlying secret’ without explaining yourself.”A small smile tugged at my lips, one that didn’t reach my eyes. “Why are you so tense? I was just stating the obvious. You’re worried, aren’t you?”“Worried?” he scoffed, too quickly. “Of course I’m worried. The company—your grandfather’s legacy—is at stake. And now you’re sitting there making vague accusations—”“Oh please,” I cut in, my tone still light, but sharper now. “Let’s not pretend this is about legacy. You’ve never cared about that.”His ja

Emily “You don’t have to go if you don’t want to.” Adrian’s voice was calm, steady, like he was offering me an easy way out. I turned slightly to look at him, studying his expression. He meant it. And I even considered taking his offer, because today had already been exhausting enough. I didn’t need more tension, more scrutiny, more carefully veiled hostility. But I exhaled quietly and looked away. “I’ll go.” Adrian didn’t respond immediately. I could feel his gaze on me. “I don’t have a reason to hide,” I added, my tone even. “I didn’t do anything wrong.” That was the truth. Whatever storm was brewing around me, whatever whispers and assumptions people were clinging to— They weren’t built on anything real. “They’re the ones with something to worry about,” I finished. A pause. Then— A faint, almost imperceptible nod. “Alright,” Adrian said. The drive was quiet for a while before Adrian broke the silence "Vivian came to see you" it wasn't a question, it was a stateme

Martins Remove me from the company? The words echoed in my head Slow. Calm. Controlled. That was how Adrian had said it. Like it was nothing. Like I was nothing. A muscle in my jaw ticked as I stared at him, seated there as if he owned the room—as if he had always owned it. As if he hadn’t taken it from me. From me. I inhaled slowly through my nose, but it did nothing to cool the anger rising in my chest. “There is no need for that,” I replied, my voice steady, although i wanted to tear him into pieces, he sat there, relaxed, as though he couldn't be bothered, but I knew better. That stillness? That quiet composure? It was control. Calculated, intentional, absolute, control. And it had always been like that. Even when he first came into this family. A bastard son. Dragged into this house by the old man like some kind of last-minute correction. Like a mistake that needed fixing. And I had accepted him. Tolerated him. Given him space, a place at the table. More tha