Novel & Cerita A Stolen Past

ACCOUNT HOLDER: ETHAN VERMON-BLACKWOOD (TRUSTEE: MARCUS THORNE). My father hadn’t just stolen the trust. He had set us up to be the faces of the greatest financial massacre in history. To the world, Zander and I hadn’t exposed the Council—we had just successfully robbed them. The sound of a hundred police sirens wasn’t coming to save us. They were coming for the new “Kings of the Underground.” And from the treeline at the edge of the property, I saw the glint of a sniper scope.

Rosemary's one of their pawns. I expected Bradley to be shocked by the revelation, but he looked like he had figured it out already. I explained, "Old Fox has been cozy with the orphanage for a while, so they're clued in about what goes on there, including your blindness. The person you found three years ago was a plant, custom-made for you." He stood up, a dangerous vibe rolling off him. "I'll handle this," he said firmly. "Hold up," I said, trying to caution him.

he teased, dark amusement flashing in his eyes. I slid into the seat silently, too drained_ too numb to fight. And too afraid of what would happen if I tried to defy him. He got in after me, starting the engine with a low growl. As the car sped away from the college and the carnage behind us I stared out the window, numb. I realized it didn't matter if it was Lewis or Aiden. I was just a prize being passed from one monster to another. And monsters never gave back what they stole.

Elena looked back at the burning ruins, the sky above glowing red and gold. For the first time, she understood what The Stolen Pride truly meant — not just a legacy lost or a bloodline broken, but the cost of holding on too tightly to something that was never meant to be owned. She whispered into the rising smoke, “We’ll carry it right this time. Not as pride. As truth.” Alessandro wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Together.” She nodded, leaning into him as the fire consumed the past. And somewhere within the blaze, faint and fleeting, she swore she heard Matteo’s voice once more —

Tucked deeply into the bottom of his leather duffel bag, wrapped in a thick training shirt to conceal its sharp metallic scent, was the stolen ancestral ledger. As the car sped back toward the university borders, Jake leaned his head against the glass window, his golden eyes reflecting the passing winter trees. The grueling days of playing the victim were over. He was returning to the campus with a stolen piece of history in his hands, and the moment he locked himself inside his dorm room, he was going to take his time, dissect every single hidden name in that book, and unearth the weapon that would finally bring Avery down to her knees.

"Don't be naive. Wall Street is not a place where a miner's-town girl changes the rules with pretty speeches. My family has roots here. Networks, funds, board seats. You can't pick those up by having dinner with the right men a few times." I listened quietly. Under that elegant face, what had been hidden for fifty years finally showed itself. A stolen name, a stolen identity, a stolen life, and still the same arrogance. She was not Grace Walker. Grace Walker was my grandmother, who had died with her eyes open, still whispering the name of the man who had promised to come back. I tightened my palm and kept my voice cold. "Are you done? Mrs. Hale, the result will not change. Please leave."

Graham hugged her tightly, his hand trembling with fear as it finally dawned on him. Leanna looked at me with tear-filled eyes. "Thank you, Gwyn… Just… Thank you so much…" I shook my head and patted her on the back. Graham looked past her shoulders, his gaze landing on me. It was deep and unreadable. I recalled the day when Leanna died in my past life. It was raining very hard. When he found out that she had left in disappointment after learning that we'd slept together, he stayed up all night before her grave in the thunderstorm. And when he got back, he smashed everything he could get his hands on before discovering my diary hidden away in a corner.

I thought he had fallen asleep, but then I felt him stiffen. "Because the Firm isn't a building, Panni," he said, his voice hollow. "It isn't a network. It was an idea. The idea that people like us can be owned. And as long as I have those letters, I remind myself that I stole you. I didn't just save you. I committed the greatest theft in history." He turned to me, his eyes glowing in the moonlight. "And a thief is always looking over his shoulder." I reached up, cupping his face, feeling the tension that never truly left him. "You didn't steal me. I walked out of that wreckage with you."

And I just stood there, in that cold room full of diamonds, holding back the kind of scream that could shatter glass. I still stood there, with the door still swinging behind Jeremy as he disappeared from the house. My fingers had trembled. I had planned to leave tonight...sneak out, vanish from Smith's life, start over. But now? I’d crossed a line I couldn’t uncross. I had stolen from Smith. Not just anything..heirlooms. History. Things passed down through generations. For Jeremy. That bastard. My heart pounded like a war drum in my chest. This wasn’t just betrayal. It was the ultimate sin.

Together, they were a force to be reckoned with, a united front against the darkness that threatened to engulf them all. And so, with their sights set on the horizon, the team pressed forward, driven by their shared purpose and the unyielding determination to make a difference in a world where shadows and secrets intertwined. As Alex delved into the stolen information, a chilling realization dawned upon them. The heist had been more than just a recovery mission—it had unearthed a far-reaching conspiracy that extended to the highest echelons of power. The stolen data contained evidence of corruption, manipulation, and a plot that could destabilize nations and plunge the world into chaos.