Lucy's words continued to resound in Ginny's head as she walked away toward the mansion, her mother's threat still twisting inside her chest like a knot.Beside her, Raymond was similarly tensed with his facial expression set and determined as they walked through quiet hallways.They stopped in the sitting room, and Ginny leaned against the fire place, her racing thoughts trying to wind down. "She's not bluffing, is she?”He turned to her, his eyes flashing with the same frustration that churned in her stomach. "No. Lucy knows exactly what she's doing."Ginny crossed her arms over her chest, her gaze ablaze. "I've dealt with it my whole life, Raymond. All the control, the demands, the expectation everybody's gonna fall into line. But now… I just don't know how much more I can take.”Raymond stepped closer, his hand extending to hers. "You don't have to face her alone, Ginny. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."She gave a slight smile, but it didn't stay long. "Then what do we do? Yo
She couldn't shake the cold weight of her mother's threat as she paced the study.She turned toward the window, staring out at the gardens below. Far off, she saw Raymond making his way toward the edge of the property, and an idea sparked within her.Days of her mother's wrath, tension on the estate, constant surveillance had been taking its toll.Perhaps, for a few hours they might find some peace.Ginny went downstairs, her heart thudding as she followed Raymond out into the cool evening air.She managed to catch up to him as he reached the edge of the gardens, away from the house and any curious eyes."Raymond!" She called, her voice breathless.He turned, surprise flickering across his face before softening into a smile. "Ginny… is everything alright?""Let's get out of here. Just for a while," she said, catching her breath. "I need a break from… from all of this. From her."Raymond's face lit up, and he nodded, holding his hand out to her. "I think that sounds perfect."They drove
The threats just seemed endless; each day brought a new twist or turn as Lucy tried to force them apart.But despite the strain, Ginny's resolve was getting tougher with each passing moment.She'd made her choice and she wasn't about to back down.She and Raymond had spent too long being manipulated, kept on a leash by her mother's grip over the estate.It was time to break free.Just as she was marshaling her thoughts, footsteps approached.Raymond entered, his face clouded with frustration, a stack of documents clutched in his hands.What is it?" Ginny asked, a thread of alarm in her voice.He laid the papers down, his jaw tight. "Lucy's pulling out all the stops. She's making a formal presentation to the board, citing she's taking control of the estate 'for the family's best interests."He turned to her, his face dark. "And she's insinuating we're unfit to have any part in its running.”Ginny huffed, the anger boiling just below her surface. "She's really going to do it, isn't she?
Ginny clutched Raymond's hand tighter as they walked to Mr. Davis's office.The lawyer had been discreetly working with them for weeks, finding them any loophole that might prevent Lucy from taking full control of the estate.Her heart was racing with a mix of hope and nerves, as this meeting might just alter everything.Raymond turned to her, his face breaking into a reassuring smile. "Today's the day, Ginny. Whatever your mother tries, we're ready for it."Ginny nodded, fighting against the swirl of doubts in her mind. "She won't stop, Raymond. She'll fight us every step of the way.""Then we keep fighting too," he returned easily. "We're in this together.”They walked into Mr. Davis' office, where the lawyer greeted them with a firm handshake. "I have gone through the documents that you furnished me with, and from what I can see, you have got a good case," he said, motioning them to sit down. "In case Lucy intends to make claims on the estate in court, you have every right to conte
Her heart was racing as she approached the estate library-where everything was supposed to finally be out in the open.Raymond had asked her to meet him here, saying it was time to set things right in front of the board.Opening the door, she found him already seated and looking more serious than she'd ever seen him."Hey," she said quietly, lowering herself onto the seat beside him. "Is everything ready?"Raymond nodded, an iron radiance in his eyes. "We do this, Ginny. We go today."The moment they were preparing for, Joshua came in, his face shut. He wore a reassuring smile, but Ginny knew he was concealing something-something that weighed much on him."We are all here now," Joshua said, breaking the silence. "The board members and key family trustees are assembling in the main hall. They want answers, and it's time we gave them some."Raymond's jaw clenched. "Then let's go."The tension was palpable as they entered, every set of eyes turning to them as Ginny sat down beside Raymon
This betrayal was on Lucy's hands, her final move in a game Ginny hadn't even known they were playing. But she couldn't afford to react now-not now that the stakes were so high.Raymond sat beside her. Silent as always, but she knew tension was radiating from him. He turned and leaned into her, his voice low, "Stay strong. We'll get through this.”Across the room, Lucy watched them both, a smirk twisting in her face that made Ginny's blood run cold.She hadn't even tried to hide her satisfaction, and Ginny knew that all along Lucy had been waiting for this, the result of some plot from the beginning.Ginny straightened in her seat, refusing to show Lucy even a glimpse of weakness.Finally, Mr. Caldwell, one of the older board members, broke the silence, clearing his throat. "Miss Annabella," he began, "are you certain of what you're saying? These are serious accusations. Do you have any evidence to support them?"Annabella's gaze flickered briefly to Ginny, and for a second, Ginny tho
The board meeting over, Ginny stumbled out with Raymond. The day was a small victory, but all that tension and conflict had her feeling like she teetered on the edge of a precipice.Raymond was calm throughout; that calm had been an anchor for which she was grateful. The two needed some momentary peace away from Lucy's games and Annabella's betrayal.Mute, they walked down the halls of the estate and finally stopped at one of the more quiet corners near the terrace. Raymond looked around cautiously before he took Ginny's hand in his."Come with me," he said softly, leading her down the path toward the gardens. In silence, they moved through the evening air, coolness from the night wrapping around them like a veil of calmness.When they reached a secluded bench surrounded by the rose bushes, Raymond sat down, pulling her beside him.Ginny leaned against him, feeling the warmth of his arm around her shoulders. "I don't know how you can keep so calm," she whispered, looking up at him. "I
Ginny found herself restless after her encounter with Lucy. Ginny could feel it, like a storm gathering at the edge of her consciousness.Her curiosity for answers kicked in, and she resolved to follow up on Raymond's suspicions regarding the estate's hidden documents.Raymond had spoken of some old family vault, a place seldom spoken of, where records, deeds, and personal family documents were kept. The key, he had said, was somewhere in Lucy's office.She waited until late in the evening when, hopefully, a moment of stillness would capture the house. While one and all were either at dinner or in their rooms, Ginny managed to slip silently into the hall, her feet light as she went forward towards Lucy's office.The pounding of her heart against her ribs as she stops at the heavy oak door makes her really apprehensive. The very thought of being apprehended here sent shivers down her spine, but she pushed it away, replacing her nerves with her determination.She carefully turned the ha
The room was suffocating, filled with the sharp tang of fear and the heavy sound of panting breaths. Ginny’s heart pounded as Lucy’s men spread out, eyes sharp and muscles tensed.Annabella leaned against the cool stone wall, holding the book of accounts as if it was her ticket to life. Joshua, on the other side, has his jaw clenched, fists too tightly bunched at his sides."You actually thought that you could outsmart me?" Lucy's voice sliced through. There was an undercurrent in her voice: humor laced with rage. She did another step and, by that light, her eyes sparkled menace. "You have underestimated me once too often."Standing her ground and her eyes fixed on Lucy, Ginny said, "We aren't afraid of you anymore, Lucy. The truth's out, and it is only a matter of time before the board sees it.Lucy's lips curled into a smile, but it was anything but friendly. "The boa"rd? Oh, darling, you don't think I'm worried about the board, do you?"She turned to one of her men, nodding sharply
The early morning air was sharp and cool as Ginny stood on the balcony of her room, staring out at the sprawling estate below.It was the calm before the storm, that silence that always heralds the expectation of an up-and-coming battle.Two days had gone by since they had met with the investigator, and their plan had begun its motion. Her testimony to the embezzlement of Lucy into papers, with the damning link to Victor Kane, had all been set in place.She had learned to make the most of moments like this; when the quiet seemed to cradle her in its fragile, uncertain peace. She knew it wouldn't last. The board meeting loomed ahead, and with it, Lucy's inevitable counterattack."Morning." Annabella's voice snapped her from her thoughts. She stepped onto the balcony, joining Ginny with a determined expression."Morning," Ginny said, offering her a small smile. "Are you ready?"Annabella glanced over at her, the light in her eyes unwavering. "As I'll ever be. We've come this far, and no
“You’re playing with fire, Ginny,” Joshua warned, his voice low as he leaned against the doorframe of her room.She sat at her desk, staring at the documents strewn all over the front of it. Margaret's testimony and the board's decision to sideline Lucy had been a monumental win, but it was a hollow victory. The air in the mansion still felt charged, like Lucy's fury had soaked into its walls.“She’s lost control of the board,” Ginny said, her tone resolute. “She knows she’s slipping, and that makes her more dangerous. But we’re not backing down now.”Joshua shook his head, his expression grim. “You don’t get it. Lucy’s not the type to slink away into obscurity. She’s the kind who burns everything to the ground if she can’t have it.”“Then we’ll douse her fire before she starts it,” Ginny replied sharply.Before Joshua could argue, a knock on the door interrupted them. Annabella stepped in, her face pale but determined.“We have a problem,” she said, holding up her phone.Ginny’s sto
“You can’t let her win, Ginny,” Annabella said sharply, leaning closer. “This is our moment. If we falter even for a second, she’ll dismantle everything we’ve worked for.”Ginny's fingers shook slightly as she flipped through the stack of documents before her, seated in the back of the car, parked a short distance from the boardroom where the meeting was about to take place. Joshua sat beside her, his expression unreadable as he stared out the window."I know," Ginny said finally, her voice low. "But this isn't just about facts and evidence, Annabella. It's about perception. Lucy's a master at twisting the narrative to suit her. Even with everything we have, she'll find a way to cast doubt if we're not careful."Joshua turned to her, his voice surprisingly steely. "That's why you need to stay calm. Let her think she's in control, and then hit her where it hurts."Anabella smirked. "That's what I've been saying all along."She exhaled slowly, and the nerves were forced to settle in. Th
“You’re going to get yourself killed,” Ginny hissed, gripping Annabella’s arm tightly. “This isn’t just some game of cat and mouse, Annabella. This is Lucy. She’ll tear you apart if you make the wrong move.”Annabella wrenched her arm free, her face sharp and defiant. "Then it's a good thing I don't plan on making a wrong move."Joshua, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, let out a long sigh. "Ginny's right. This is reckless, even for you. Confronting Lucy directly? You might as well hand her a loaded gun.Annabella rolled her eyes, placing her hands on her hips. “We can’t keep waiting for the perfect moment. We’ve got the evidence, Margaret’s testimony is locked in, and Lucy’s scrambling to keep control. This is the time to press her, not sit around hoping she doesn’t retaliate first.”Ginny leaned in, lowering her voice. "And just how do you plan on doing that? Walk in and just accuse her? She'll twist everything you say and bury you before you know what's hit you."A sl
The mansion buzzed with tension. Staff whispered in corners, their eyes darting nervously as they went about their duties.The front-page article had thrown the household into disarray, and Lucy's fury reverberated down every corridor.Ginny sat in her room with Annabella and Joshua, the stolen files and copies of the article spread out before them like battle plans."She's going to retaliate," Annabella said, her voice tight with urgency. "That article was a nuclear strike, and Lucy isn't the type to surrender quietly.Ginny nodded, her fingers tracing the edge of a document. "We've drawn her out of the shadows. Now we need to be ready for whatever she throws at us."Joshua, who had been uncharacteristically silent, spoke up. "I found something," he said, his voice low. "Last night, after Lucy called her allies, I checked the study. She left a folder open on her desk."Ginny's eyes narrowed. "What kind of folder?”Joshua wavered, glancing between them. "It was correspondence; letters
The next morning dawned overcast, as though the world itself mirrored the tension within the mansion.Ginny woke early, her mind still swirling with the revelations from the night before.They sat in the locked drawer of her desk, a comfort and a threat all at once. She hadn't slept too well; the enormity of what they were about to do weighed heavily upon her.Annabella came into her room at precisely seven, with a mug of steaming coffee in her hand and a glint in her eye. "We need a plan," she said without beating around the bush. "Lucy's not going to stay idle for long. She'll know something's off soon."Ginny nodded, taking the coffee gratefully. "We take the evidence to the board before she has a chance to spin her lies. We have the will, the financial records, everything. But we really have to tread carefully. If she gets even a hint of this...""She'll go nuclear," Annabella finished grimly. "Which means we need to move fast.As though called out by the saying of her name, Lucy'
The estate’s library smelled of aged leather and polished wood, a comforting yet foreboding scent that Ginny could no longer separate from her mounting anxiety.She sat at one of the long tables, surrounded by stacks of old legal documents, their edges frayed from years of handling.Annabella sat across from her, flipping through another bound volume, her brow furrowed in concentration."I still don't understand how she managed to rewrite his will," Annabella muttered, slamming her book shut in frustration. "There has to be something in here we can use."Ginny said nothing at first. She had been stuck on a page in the old draft of Raymond's will when suddenly her heart was racing wildly as one sentence leaped out at her."Annabella," she said quietly but urgently. "Look at this."Annabella leaned forward. Her eyes scanned the passage that Ginny pointed to. "What am I looking at?"It's a clause," Ginny said, her voice shaking with excitement. "It prevents the estate from unilateral con
The impending board meeting loomed like a thunderstorm on the horizon, its threat palpable. Ginny found herself in a restless daze, oscillating between hope and dread.She had hardly slept, her nights plagued by the specter of defeat. But something far more insidious gnawed at her gut-the flickers of recognition she glimpsed in Raymond's eyes.He was remembering, piecemeal and painfully, and the implications hung over her like a physical weight.This morning was no different. Outside her window, the sky was a mass of grey, diffused sunlight struggling to break its way through heavy clouds. At her desk, she sat flipping through Annabella's notes, though her mind struggled to focus. A soft knock on the door startled her out of her reverie."Come in," she called, her voice hoarse from disuse.The door creaked open, and Raymond stepped inside. His presence filled the room, his tall frame and broad shoulders exuding a quiet strength that still managed to unnerve her.“Ginny,” he said, his