Alexander led Eden to the restaurant and Eden was shocked when he saw that the establishment was a very expensive one.“Dude, are you sure about this place?” Eden looked at Alexander with slight worry. “I’m not sure if I can afford it.”Alexander smirked at his old friend. “That’s okay; just leave it to me.”It was then that a man approached them. “Oh my goodness! It looks like neither of you guys have aged a day;”Eden and Alexander turned their gazes to find a slightly shorter and pudgy man heading toward them. “Guys, it’s me, Bruce Daniels!”“We know!” Eden and Alexander chuckled as they shook their heads.The three men came together and exchanged hugs and pleasantries.Bruce looked at the restaurant. “Woah, Alexander! This is where you want us to have dinner? I’m sorry, my guy, but I’m not sure I can afford even the cheapest meal here.Alexander clapped each hand on Bruce and Eden’s backs. “You guys shouldn’t worry about this. Let’s just go in and have an amazing night already.”E
Alexander led Eden to the restaurant and Eden was shocked when he saw that the establishment was a very expensive one.“Dude, are you sure about this place?” Eden looked at Alexander with slight worry. “I’m not sure if I can afford it.”Alexander smirked at his old friend. “That’s okay; just leave it to me.”It was then that a man approached them. “Oh my goodness! It looks like neither of you guys have aged a day;”Eden and Alexander turned their gazes to find a slightly shorter and pudgy man heading toward them. “Guys, it’s me, Bruce Daniels!”“We know!” Eden and Alexander chuckled as they shook their heads.The three men came together and exchanged hugs and pleasantries.Bruce looked at the restaurant. “Woah, Alexander! This is where you want us to have dinner? I’m sorry, my guy, but I’m not sure I can afford even the cheapest meal here.Alexander clapped each hand on Bruce and Eden’s backs. “You guys shouldn’t worry about this. Let’s just go in and have an amazing night already.”E
Alexander waited with a cold face as the waiter left to call the manager. A few seconds later, a man with gray hair showed up.“Sir, this is the pathetic man who threatened me into calling you. I was practically bullied, Sir.” Eden raised an eyebrow. “Well, maybe my friend here wouldn’t have had to insist you call over your manager if you had done what you were supposed to do.” He turned to the manager. “Your waiter was very unprofessional in the way he regarded my friend here. Perhaps, you should consider getting a better hire.”Bruce nodded his head. “I second that. I also witnessed your waiter being utterly rude to my friend.”The manager didn’t look like he was in a good mood as he looked at Alexander, checking out his outfit thoroughly. “Your outfit looks quite legit, but I doubt it’s real.”Fiona laughed. “Of course, it’s not real. How would such a poverty-stricken man like that be able to afford the real deal?”Lesley became curious after hearing this, so she whispered to her
Alexander turned to Eden with an ominous stare and he smirked at him. “All I can say is that I’m the opposite of everything my in-laws described me as down at the base floor. I’m the opposite of that and more.”“And more,” Eden repeated the last two words with a warm smile at Alexander. “I’m shocked; I’m also beginning to doubt if I truly knew a lot of things about you back when we used to be roommates.” He turned to Bruce who wouldn’t stop eating. “Hey, aren’t you also curious about Alexander?”Bruce looked up from his meal to glance at Eden with innocent eyes.Eden raised an eyebrow. “Or did you actually know the real Alexander this whole time?”Bruce glanced at Alexander before shaking his head furiously.In reality, Eden didn’t know Bruce that well. The man had only lived with them for less than a month. It was after that month that Eden had to leave the country for a while.What Eden didn’t know was that Bruce was actually a subordinate to Alexander and was the big boss of the un
Jenifer Carlson stared at her image in the cracked bathroom mirror, reflecting on the person she had become. Looking at her reflection, she noticed a weary 28-year-old woman with dark under-eye circles, a stark contrast to her once energetic and animated demeanor. She splashed cold water on her face, trying to rid herself of the haunting memories of her life."Kain," she croaked, her voice rough from sleep deprivation, shouted out, "Are you awake?"Kain Light grunted from another room, saying, "Yes, I'm awake." "What will we be having for breakfast?"Jenifer breathed heavily and entered the compact kitchen. The walls had peeling paint, while the linoleum floor showed stains and signs of wear. She searched through the mostly vacant pantry and discovered a can of beans."Beans once more?" Kain chuckled as he stumbled into the kitchen, his eyes tired and bloodshot after a night of excessive drinking."It's the only thing we got," Jenifer whispered as she opened the can and emptied it int
The day seemed to stretch on forever, with every minute dragging by slowly. Jenifer kept herself busy cleaning the apartment to distract her mind. She cleaned the floors, cleaned the dishes, and organized the mess. Doing anything to distract herself from facing the despair of her circumstances.Later in the afternoon, a knock was heard at the door. Jenifer became motionless, feeling her heart beat rapidly. Who might that be? She carefully cracked open the door, looking out cautiously.Is that you, Jenifer? A familiar voice said, "It's Lisa."Jenifer swiftly widened the door. Lisa,Hey there! Why are you here?Lisa entered the small apartment, glancing around. "I was concerned about your well-being. You appeared very different yesterday, so when you missed your shift today, I realized there was a problem.Jenifer experienced a surge of thankfulness. "Thanks for showing up, but this isn't the place for you." "It's dangerous.""Not safe?" Lisa frowned. "What's going on, Jen? You can tell
Jenifer woke up and was instantly surprised by the unfamiliar place around her. The room was lavish, featuring tall ceilings and sumptuous décor. She sat upright, experiencing a peculiar light-headed sensation."Where am I?" she quietly uttered, scanning the area with bewilderment.Her attention was drawn to a mirror on the opposite side of the room. She staggered closer to it and exclaimed. The reflection she saw was not her own. Tall, dark hair, captivating blue eyes, and an unfamiliar face."Oh my God," she whispered. "I am not this."The entrance to the chamber opened, and a maid walked in, holding a tray with breakfast."Miss Isabella, good morning," the maid greeted with a cheerful tone. "After breakfast, your father wishes to meet you in his office."Jenifer's thoughts were racing. Isabella, are you there? Who was Isabella characterized as? She nodded slowly, attempting to restrain her rising panic.She was able to express her gratitude by saying, "Thank you."After the maid de
The Romano family siblings gathered around the spacious dining table to share a special breakfast, showcasing their strong familial bond. The room was filled with a comforting heat as sunshine poured in through the high windows."Did you observe the look on Bennett's face yesterday night?" Alexander Romano chuckled, slicing into his eggs. "Priceless."Veronica Romano, sitting to his right, smirked. "He must be fuming. Five years, and we finally got that contract."Lucas Romano, the third-born, glanced up from his phone. "Dad was celebrating pretty hard. Did anyone see how much he drank?"Sophia Romano, the youngest, giggled. "I think he finished more than one bottle of that expensive wine."Alexander's eyes twinkled. "He deserved it. Bennett Conglomerate didn’t stand a chance against us."Veronica leaned forward, her eyes sharp. "We need to capitalize on this victory. The market's going to be watching our every move."Lucas nodded, tapping away on his phone. "I've been working on so
Final Act: Present Day The gala gleamed with luxury. Chandeliers emit a warm golden glow throughout the room, reflecting off the crystal goblets and shiny marble floors. It was a festivity of victory, not only for Ashlyn Bennett but for a legacy revived. The tables were filled with the elite of the business world. Conversations hummed with curiosity, admiration, and whispers of awe over the events of the International Business Summit. The Ashlyn Bennett Foundation’s launch was the talk of the night, and at the center of it all stood Ashlyn herself, poised but undeniably powerful.Richard Knight rested against the bar's edge, swirling his drink. His gaze remained fixed on Ashlyn, who was engaged in a conversation with a distinguished man dressed in a pinstriped suit. “She’s something, isn’t she?” Steven White remarked, sidling up beside him. His voice carried a mix of pride and regret. Richard smirked. “Something? She’s everything. Hard to believe she pulled all of this off in one l
Veronica sat opposite Isabella, a serious expression on her face. "So," she began, her voice low. "Tell me everything."Isabella hesitated, her fingers nervously tracing the outline of the Gemini Heart pendant resting against her chest. "It's... complicated," she began, her voice hesitant."I've dealt with complicated things before," Veronica replied, her eyes steady. "Try me."Isabella took a deep breath. "My name isn't Isabella," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's Jennifer. Jennifer Clarke."Veronica raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. "Jennifer?" she echoed. "But... you look exactly like Isabella.""That's because... we switched bodies," Jennifer explained, her voice trembling slightly. "Our souls... they swapped."Veronica stared at her, a mixture of disbelief and curiosity in her eyes. "Switched bodies?" she repeated. "How is that even possible?""It's the necklace," Jennifer said, touching the Gemini Heart. "It happened wh
"I missed you, Alexander," Sophia cried. "Ever since Isabella came into your life, you've been... different. Distant. I felt like I was losing you.""So you decided to sabotage my relationship?" Alexander asked, his voice filled with hurt and anger. "To lie and manipulate me into turning against the woman I love?""Sophia cried as she expressed, "I didn't mean to cause you any pain, Alexander." I simply... I desired for everything to return to normal. Prior to her arrival and I was scared of losing another family member like we lost dad.""Nothing will ever return to how it used to be, Sophia," Alexander said firmly, his voice unwavering. "You've completely changed everything. You have shattered my trust and my belief in you." Sophia's cries grew stronger, her body trembling with sadness. She had nothing left - her brother's faith, connections with her family, and the man she had fought hard to win back were all gone. Alexander observed her, feeling a weight of sorrow and disill
Sophia's confident expression wavered, shifting to a glimmer of astonishment. "I have no idea what you're referring to," she replied, pretending to be innocent. Isabella snapped at Sophia, "Don't act shy with me. I listened to it all. The picture, the falsehoods, the scheme to tear us apart. It all originated from you."Sophia's calm facade finally shattered. "Who cares if it did?" she snapped, her eyes filled with rage. "He is too good for you. You are just an opportunistic Bennet."Isabella stated angrily that it was untrue, her voice filled with emotion. "You are only jealous. Jealous of our joy, jealous of the love we have for each other.""Feeling jealous?" Sophia laughed with contempt. "Don't be dumb. I am simply trying to defend my brother from a deceptive witch such as yourself.""Protect him?" Isabella echoed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "By framing my father? By feeding Alexander lies?""Your father was a criminal," Sophia insisted, her voice rising. "He deserves ev
As night descended, they snuggled on the couch, watching a movie, their bodies wrapped around each other. A feeling of routine came back, a pleasant break from the disorder in their daily lives. Isabella whispered softly, leaning her head on Alexander's chest, "This is nice.It just the two of us." "Yeah," Alexander agreed, tightening his arms around her. "Just us."While they enjoyed their renewed bond, they couldn't shake a persistent feeling of unease. The sensation of being observed, of something feeling off. While carrying Isabella to bed, Alexander noticed a sudden movement outside the window. He looked quickly, but noticed no one. He brushed it off as just his imagination, yet the sense of unease lingered. Later that evening, while Isabella was fast asleep in his embrace, Alexander couldn't rid himself of the sense that something was wrong. He rose from the bed and approached the window, gazing out at the darkness. The road underneath was empty, with only the soft buzz of t
Veronica's eyes grew wider. "Monica?" Do you really think that's a wise decision? Isabella was adamant about needing to hear it directly from her. "I need to find out the truth." Veronica nodded. "Okay. I'll go with you."They found Monica at the same luxury hotel, lounging by the pool, a smug smile playing on her lips."Ah, I see," Monica sarcastically uttered. "If it's not the betrayed wife. What reason do you have for this visit that caught me by surprise?"Isabella advanced, her fiery gaze fixed ahead. She expressed a desire to discover the truth, her voice vibrating with rage. "Tell me the truth about you and Alex's alleged child." Monica arched one eyebrow. "And why do you believe I will share any information with you?" "I know for sure that you are not telling the truth," Isabella stated, her voice getting louder. "I am sure that this is all planned. I am going to find out one way or the other."Monica chuckled, emitting a rough, scraping noise. "You are out of touch wit
Alexander paused, his face briefly showing a hint of uncertainty. He said with a strained voice, "I... I can't bring myself to believe it. The way he behaved... the gleam in his eyes while revealing the safe code... it seemed like he was aware of something we weren't."Isabella suggested that, "perhaps he was simply concerned," although a hint of doubt had been instilled in her thoughts."Perhaps," answered Alexander, though uncertainty still lingered in his tone. The upcoming days were a flurry of inquiries, questioning, and allegations. The intense media hype about Monica and Daniel kept going strong, further escalating the situation. Every discussion, every exchange was tainted with a sense of doubt. "David, have you found anything else about James and Uncle's whereabouts?" Alexander asked over the phone, his voice sharp with impatience."Nothing concrete yet," David replied. "Sterling has vanished. Cleaned out his accounts, disappeared without a trace. And James is in Europe.
Three days laterThe opulent office, once a symbol of Romano power and success, now felt like a prison. The silence hung heavy, broken only by the occasional muffled sob from Mr. Romano."I... I can't believe this," Alexander said, his voice hoarse. "How could Sterling do this? We are family."Isabella sat beside him, her hand resting on his. "I know," she whispered. "It doesn't make sense."Alexander looked up, his eyes red-rimmed. "He was always... different. Ambitious, yes, but this..." He trailed off, shaking his head."We need to figure out why," Alexander said, his voice firm. "There has to be a reason beyond simple greed.""What about Monica?" Isabella asked. "And the child? How does that fit into all of this?"Alexander ran a hand through his hair, his face etched with frustration. "I don't know. But I intend to find out."He stood up and began pacing the room, his mind racing. "James said he manipulated the marriage agreement. We need to see the original document.
Monica ended the call before Alexander could answer. His thoughts were racing as he gazed at his phone. He had never encountered a woman named Monica, much less had a child with her. This must have been some sort of error. The following day, the news spread like wildfire through the press. Headlines blared, "Secret Love Child of Romano Heir!" Photos of Monica and a young boy, prominently displayed in newspapers and websites, sparked the controversy. The media frenzy escalated dramatically, with reporters constantly following and harassing Alexander and Isabella. "Mr. Romano, is that accurate? "Do you possess a hidden son?" "Isabella, what are your thoughts on your husband being unfaithful?" "Are things turbulent in your marriage?" They were overwhelmed by the incessant barrage of questions, leading to a tornado of disorder and bewilderment. "This is absurd!" Alexander shouted as he made his way through the crowd of journalists. "I have no idea who this woman is