Ginny paced her room, clutching the document Annabella had given her. Joshua’s wavering support weighed heavily on her mind.Because, if he were to take their mother's side wholly, then she and Raymond would be left with no allies strong enough to counter the plans laid down by Lucy.She paused at the window, her eyes straying to the garden where Annabella would often take walks when she wanted time alone.Tonight was no exception; Ginny saw her sitting on a bench, lost in thought. Between them, there was a growing tension; an uneasy partnership neither of them could ever quite feel confident in.Ginny made up her mind. She needed something more from Annabella if they were going to stand even the slightest chance against Lucy.________________________________________Annabella didn't bat an eyelid when Ginny walked up, though her keen eyes flickered up, sizing her up. "You couldn't stay away, could you?"Ginny sat down beside her, crossing her arms as she faced the woman who had broug
Ginny’s pulse hammered as she crouched beside Raymond, her heart pounding in the silence.Lucy’s gaze swept over their hiding spot, suspicion etched into every line of her face. Ginny gripped Raymond’s arm, praying that Lucy wouldn’t step any closer.The tall man with her, whom Ginny assumed to be the “specialist,” seemed equally alert, his eyes sharp and penetrating.“Are you certain no one followed you?” he asked, his voice low but commanding.Lucy wavered; her gaze lingered into the shadows. Then she gave a slight toss of her head, dissolving the thought. "Yes, I'm sure. No one knows about this meeting."Ginny breathed as relief washed over her while Lucy turned her back and resumed speaking with the man.The two entered inside the guest house, their voices muffled as the door clicked shut behind them.Ginny threw a tight glance at Raymond; her voice was barely above a whisper. "We have to get out of here before they see us."Raymond nodded, his face taut with tension. "Let's go."
Raymond sat on the edge of his bed and rubbed his temples as yet another wave of confusion washed over him.The room was alien to him, and the soft glow of the morning light did little for the building unease inside of him.He knew something was wrong, something to do with his thoughts, his memories-he just couldn't put it into words.Ginny bustled in silently, carrying a tray with tea and toast on it. Her face reflected a gentle smile, though her eyes betrayed concern: "Morning," she said gently, laying the tray on the bedside table. "How are you feeling?”Raymond looked at her, his brow furrowing. "I don't know," he admitted. "I keep trying to remember things, but it's like there's this fog. I see these flashes, but they don't make sense."Ginny sat beside him and her hand brushed his. "We'll figure this out," she said, steady-voiced. "Whatever's causing this, we'll find a way to fix it.”Raymond nodded, but doubt clouded his features. "Do you think Lucy…?" He trailed off without fi
Ginny paced outside the private clinic on the estate, her arms wrapped tightly about her as worry clawed at her insides.Raymond had fallen without warning, his body going slack and unresponsive while she'd fought to get him to assistance.The doctors hadn't told her much, only that they were running tests to figure out what was its cause.Mrs. Taylor?" A voice cut into her thoughts, and she turned to see Dr. Langston, the estate physician, standing in the doorway.His expression was carefully neutral, but something in the weight behind his eyes made her stomach drop."Is he all right?" she asked quickly, stepping forward.Dr. Langston nodded, though his hesitation didn't quite slip by her. "Mr. Taylor is stable for the time being. Physically, he seems fine, but... there are signs of significant stress on his memory function."Ginny frowned. "Memory function?Dr. Langston sighed and waved at her to follow him inside. She followed him into Raymond's room, where he lay propped up on the
Ginnie's mind was racing as Joshua stepped into her room; the hesitation was written across his frame.Despite everything, she still wasn't quite sure if she could really trust him. His loyalties had wavered so many times before, and above everything else, Lucy's influence on him still overshadowed him.But there was something about the way he seemed tonight."I know you have every reason not to believe me," Joshua said quietly. "But I'm here because. I just can't ignore anymore what she's doing."Ginny crossed her arms, studying him intently. "Why now? What's changed?"Joshua heaved a sigh, running a hand through his hair. "She's gone too far. The way she's treating Raymond, t's not right. And if she's willing to do this to him, I can only imagine what she's planning for you."His words hung in the air, laced with guilt and a hint of fear. Ginny softened a little; however, her guard remained up. "If you are serious about helping, then you need to be honest with me, Joshua. What else
This estate loomed dark and silent as Ginny, Joshua, and Annabella crept toward the guest house, with tension heavy in the air.The only sounds they made were muffled footsteps, sometimes accompanied by the sound of leaves rustling in the wind.Annabella had insisted on bringing them here, maintaining that Lucy's latest meeting could provide them with critical evidence of her plans."Are you sure about this?" Joshua whispered, his voice barely audible.Annabella shot him a sharp look. "If I wasn't, you think I'd risk getting dragged into this mess? Trust me, Lucy's meeting with someone important tonight, and it's not for tea and biscuits.The only sound from Ginny was the soft crunching of gravel beneath her feet, her eyes never leaving the darkened building ahead.Her heart pounded with every step as fear and determination mixed in her chest.If they could uncover Lucy's plans tonight, it could be the turning point they desperately needed.As they approached the guest house, Annabell
The guest house was suffocating as Lucy's voice pierced the silence. "I know someone's in here," she said with a voice that was sharp and probing.Ginny and Joshua crouched behind the table, their breathing shallow and their hearts racing.The briefcase with the damning documents rested tightly in Joshua's grasp, but there was no easy way out without being caught.Footfalls sounded as Lucy continued into the room, deliberate and slow. Papers shuffling on the desk indicated her searching. "You can't hide forever," she called out; her tone was cold, growing even more so with the passing of each second.Ginny turned to Joshua. Her mind was whirling. If Lucy found them now, all would be lost.She motioned to the side door, little more than a blur in the half darkness.Joshua nodded and tightened his grip on the briefcase as they edged further toward the door.But just as they reached the door, the clatter of something heavy hitting the floor made them freeze."What was that?" Lucy snapped
The house was unnervingly quiet as Ginny descended the staircase the next morning. The air seemed heavier, thick with unspoken tension.The meeting of the board had rattled Lucy's veneer, carefully built, but Ginny knew it would not be enough to bring her down.She was the type that would never raise the white flag in defeat, and Ginny had no illusions that her mother would simply walk away.By the time she made it down the stairs, Joshua was waiting for her in the sitting room pacing, hands in his pockets, with a very worried expression.She's furious, he said the moment Ginny entered.Ginny folded her arms. "Did you talk to her?""She didn't have to say much," Joshua replied. "She spent half the night on the phone, and from what I overheard, she's planning something big. She's not going down without a fight, Ginny."Ginny's jaw clenched, a spark of determination firing up in her chest. "Then we need to be ready.Joshua nodded, though his expression remained uncertain. “It’s not jus
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