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What if Sonia was in danger? Or worse she was held captive by his enemies?The thought struck Raymond like a bolt of lightning, freezing him in place. His breath turned uneven, his pulse hammering in his ears. The more he tried to make sense of it, the more impossible it seemed.His fingers dug into the armrest of his chair as he stared at the phone screen. The message glared back at him."See you soon, Raymond."A cruel joke? A hallucination? Or something far worse?He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. The air in the room felt thick, suffocating, despite the cool weather.If someone had gone to such lengths to keep Sonia hidden, then her revealing herself now meant something had changed.Either she needed help.Or she was leading him into a trap.His gaze darkened. He wasn’t the kind of man to walk blindly into danger. If Sonia was alive, he would uncover the truth himself.His mind was made up.He would return to New York. That was where it all started. That was where
Just as Olive entered, Sonia majestically walked up to Raymond and gave him a hug.Raymond stood frozen. His muscles tensed, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. His mind couldn’t process what was happening.Sonia was here. In his penthouse. Holding him.This was impossible.This was a dream. It had to be.But then he looked up and met Olive’s gaze.She stood near the door, her eyes locked onto him, her expression unreadable. She didn’t speak. She didn’t move.Sonia’s grip around his waist tightened. She pressed herself closer, resting her chin lightly on his shoulder. Her lips curved into a smile, a silent victory as she glanced at Olive from the corner of her eye.Sonia wanted Olive to see this, to make her know she owns Raymond. She wanted to prove something.But Olive didn’t react.Not a single blink. Not a single shift in her expression.She simply stood there, quiet, watching.And for some reason, that made Raymond’s chest tighten.Raymond had expected something, like a
Raymond sat beside Sonia’s hospital bed, his eyes locked on her pale face. The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor filled the silent room, but his mind was anything but quiet.He should have remembered.Sonia had always been fragile. Her heart condition had been a constant worry, and they had planned her surgery before the accident turned everything upside down. But when she disappeared, he had been too consumed by his anger, grief, and guilt to think about it.Sonia stirred, her eyelashes fluttering as she slowly opened her eyes. Her gaze met his, soft and fragile. "Raymond… “She faked weakness in her voice as she called,” barely a whisper.He exhaled. "I’m here."She gave him a faint smile. "You… carried me."He didn’t respond.Her fingers moved slightly, reaching for his hand. "I knew you wouldn’t let me go."His shoulders stiffened. Guilt gnawed at him, twisting inside his gut.Sonia looked up at him, her eyes filled with something unreadable. Then, her voice barely above a brea
He pressed his lips together, then answered. "What is it?""Sir, Sonia collapsed again."Raymond closed his eyes for a brief second, a slow dread crept up his spine. "Fine. I’m on my way." He hung up.When he looked at Olive, she was staring at him, her face carefully blank. But he could see it, the way her fingers curled slightly by her sides.She was hurting. "Olive," he tried again, stepping toward her.She took another step back. "You should go," she said simply."That’s not—""Raymond," she cut him off, her voice sharp but quiet. "Just go."Her words sent a cold ache through him, deeper than he had expected.He was afraid that when he left this house, she wouldn’t be waiting when he came back.But Sonia had collapsed. He couldn’t ignore it.With a slow breath, he turned toward the door.By the time Raymond arrived at the hospital, Daniel was waiting for him outside Sonia’s room. His expression was unreadable."What happened?" Raymond asked, keeping his voice level.Daniel hesitat
Sonia clutched her chest as if she were in unbearable pain. "Raymond, please..." she whimpered, her voice trembling. "I don’t understand why she hates me so much! I’ve done nothing but try to be kind."Raymond took a step forward, his expression unreadable. Sonia was not one for theatrics, yet here she was, crumbling before him like a fragile doll. His gaze traveled over her trembling frame, the tear-streaked face, the way she hunched as if moments from collapsing.It was an act."Sonia, stop," he said, his voice firm.She blinked up at him, lashes damp, lips quivering. "Stop what?" she whispered, her voice laced with innocence.His jaw tightened. "I'm not blind. You’ve been playing games since you got back."Sonia stiffened. "I... I don’t—""Enough, Sonia." His voice was quiet but sharp, cutting through the tension like a blade. There was no anger, just finality, as if he had already made up his mind.Sonia’s breath hitched. Real shock flickered across her face before vanishing just
His heartbeat slammed against his ribs as he staggered forward, his knees nearly buckling."Olive," he whispered hoarsely, dropping to his knees beside her. His trembling fingers brushed against her cheek—cold. Too cold.His pulse roared in his ears. Panic threatened to seize him, but he shoved it down, forcing himself into action."Olive, wake up," he pleaded, gently tapping her pale cheek. No response. Her breathing was shallow, her lashes fluttering slightly, but she wasn’t conscious. His hands pressed against her wound, desperate to slow the bleeding, but the warm, sticky liquid seeped between his fingers, mocking his efforts.Gritting his teeth, Raymond scooped her into his arms, cradling her against his chest. The metallic scent of blood filled his lungs, suffocating him, but he didn’t care. Right now, nothing else mattered.His strides were swift, as he stormed out of the room. The mansion’s guards froze at the sight of their master, drenched in blood, carrying an unconscious O
Raymond swallowed the lump in his throat, his fingers gripping the pen so tightly that his knuckles turned white. The doctor’s words echoed in his head, bouncing around like a cruel taunt."We can only save one."His gaze flickered to the form in his hands. A single signature, a mere stroke of ink, would seal the fate of either his fiancée or their unborn child. His vision blurred, his chest tightening like a steel vice.He looked up at the doctor, desperation bleeding into his voice. “There’s no other way?”A shudder ran through Raymond’s body. His mind was a mess of thoughts, and he wished he could find a way out—but there was none. No amount of power, wealth, or influence could change the reality before him.He turned to Daniel, his most trusted aide, but even Daniel’s usually steady demeanor was shaken. His lips parted as if he wanted to offer a solution, but no words came. There was none.Raymond’s bloodstained fingers trembled as he brushed them through his disheveled hair. His
Sonia’s scream tore through the dark, room, raw and piercing. Her body jerked violently against the restraints as Daniel twisted the blade deeper into her hand. Blood trickled down her fingers, pooling onto the cold floor beneath her.Her chest heaved, her breath ragged. Pain coursed through every nerve, but she refused to break. Instead, she let out a low, pained chuckle, her lips curling into a bloody smirk.“Do your worst,” she rasped, her voice hoarse but laced with defiance. She spat a mouthful of blood onto the floor, her dark eyes flashing with a twisted kind of amusement.Daniel regarded her in silence, his expression unreadable. Without a word, he turned away, walking toward the table in the corner.Sonia’s gaze followed him, her heart pounding despite the mask of bravado she wore.She watched as he carefully selected his next tools—another knife, smaller but just as deadly, a whip with leather-stripped ends, and a lighter. He moved with a kind of precision that made her stom
Olive’s breath came in shallow gasps, but she refused to let her exhaustion show. Her body ached from the bruises, her limbs heavy with fatigue, yet her spirit stood unyielding. Her narrowed eyes locked onto Mia, who loomed over her like a predator savoring its prey."What do you want?" Olive’s voice, though hoarse, cut through the tense air like a blade.Mia smirked. "Still defiant? After everything?" She crouched slightly, her dark eyes gleaming with amusement. "That’s what I like about you, Olive. Even at your lowest, you still pretend to have control."Olive didn’t flinch. She wouldn’t. If she gave in now, it was over.Mia sighed dramatically. "You really are a stubborn little thing." Her gaze flickered to Olive’s stomach for a fraction of a second—barely noticeable, but Olive caught it.A chill ran down her spine.The unspoken threat in Mia’s stare sent ice through her veins, but she swallowed down her fear, keeping her face unreadable.Mia noticed. "Oh? That struck a nerve, didn
“You will soon find out.” Raymond’s face tightened, his teeth grinding together. Mia’s words kept repeating in his head. They sounded like a warning, or maybe even a threat. Take him to the car. Let him see his beloved. Mia grinned as she walked away gracefully. Kain and Kerah exchanged silent glances before signaling the men to drag him forward. They held him tightly and made him walk to the car. He barely resisted as they shoved him into the backseat, wedging him between two towering brutes. The car door shut loudly, trapping him inside. The engine roared as the car sped away. The interior was silent, the only sound the hum of the wheels on the road. The city lights faded behind them, and the earlier rain had left the weather dark and quiet. Raymond’s heart pounded, his mind racing with worry. Olive.He hadn’t forgotten why he was here. Raymond seethed with anger, his fingers twitching as he tested the ropes binding him. His captors remained silent, but he could feel th
Raymond stares at Kain, his breath catching as memories flood back.A flashback to the family meeting: Mia introducing Kain as her "long-lost brother." His grandfather had insisted he help his "future brother-in-law" by offering him a job. Raymond had refused because Kain didn’t meet the basic requirements—he doesn’t do business based on favoritism; one must merit it. That was the first and last time he saw him.Now, standing before him, the pieces fall into place. The doctor’s face from the video surveillance—the man involved in Olive’s kidnapping—was Kain.His stomach twists. If Kain is here, that means Mia might be involved too.Raymond’s mind races, connecting his past search to his discoveries in Mia’s interactions with the fake Sonia. He had always suspected Mia, but now, with Kain in the picture, her role becomes even more suspicious.Was she working with them all along? Was everything—her concern, her visits—just an act?His blood runs cold. If Mia is involved, then she’s doin
Raymond parked his SUV outside Wilston Warehouse. The rain had slowed to a gentle drizzle, but the sky remained dark.He gripped the steering wheel tightly. His heart pounded hard. He glanced in the mirror. There was no car or any trace of people coming. It was just him here.Something felt wrong.With a deep breath, he grabbed the document and stepped out. The rain kissed his skin with little droplets. It felt cold as ice, but that didn't matter right now.His thoughts kept drifting back to how Olive would be right now, and silently he hoped that after submitting this document, there wouldn't be any more requests.Raymond pushed the big door open. It creaked loudly, the sound echoing in the empty warehouse.Boxes and crates were stacked high, covered in dust. Rusty tools hung from the walls. The place smelled like metal and old wood.His footsteps echoed with every step. The warehouse felt empty."Olive?" he called. His voice bounced off the walls, but no one answered.Drip. Drip. Dr
Mr. Logan arrived at Raymond’s penthouse, clutching a leather-bound folder containing every copy of the Golden Island estate documents.Raymond stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, his silhouette framed against the city’s shimmering skyline. He didn’t turn when Logan approached, but the tension in his shoulders was a dead giveaway. He already knew why Logan was there.“Here it is,” Logan said quietly, placing the folder on the glass coffee table. “Every copy… as you asked.”Raymond inhaled deeply, letting the weight of the moment settle over him. For years, Golden Island had been more than an estate; it was the heart of his empire—his blood, his sweat, his identity. Trading it away felt like carving out a piece of his soul. His hands trembled slightly as he opened the folder.His eyes skimmed over the documents, but the words blurred into a haze. His chest tightened. He blinked rapidly, willing away the sting of emotion. There was no time for weakness. Not now.A flicker of memory s
Raymond paced back and forth on the dock, his shoes echoing loudly in the empty space. The wind howled, creating a mournful sound as it swept through the old metal beams. Despite the sun shining brightly, a cold sensation churned in his stomach.He couldn’t stop thinking about what was happening. His team stood a few feet away, staring at their phones with worried expressions. They were all thinking the same thing: What’s going on?Raymond stopped pacing and gazed out at the water. He checked his watch for what felt like the hundredth time.He started walking again, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios. What if something had happened to Olive?He wasn’t sure he could forgive himself if it had.“History can’t repeat itself,” he whispered under his breath. “The woman I love has to live. She can’t die. Not again.”His team glanced at him, their eyes filled with unspoken questions. But Raymond had no answers. All he could do was wait and hope that everything was okay.The wind kept b
Delilah leaned against the cold brick wall, one leg bent as she twirled a lock of hair between her fingers. The phone was pressed to her ear, her lips curling into a knowing smirk as the line connected.“Hello, Frank.”There was silence which was long enough for her to picture the way his jaw would tighten.Then, his voice came through as he said “What do you want, Delilah?” in a sharp and impatient tone.Her smirk deepened. Oh, how she loved getting under his skin. “Oh, come on, don’t be so grumpy. I have good news.”Frank’s scoff was immediate. “Good news?” He sounded incredulous, his anger barely restrained. “After all the losses I’ve taken because of you?”Delilah rolled her eyes, tapping her nails against the phone. “Oh, don’t start. I’m fixing everything.”“Fixing it?” Frank snapped. “Because of you I lost properties, money and even trust from my families”She sighed, cutting him off before he could launch into one of his never-ending rants. “Olive is here.”For a brief seconds
"We will check to see how long," Ethan responded.Ezra sighed lazily as he crossed his arms against his chest, his eyes fixed on Olive, who sat oblivious to their presence. Olive was now so weak that she couldn’t even sense how many people were in the room. She was almost slipping into a coma.Ezra shifted uneasily. “So, what’s your plan?”Ethan didn’t answer right away. His gaze remained locked on Olive, his expression unreadable. Finally, he said, “Let’s watch first. But Mia must not hurt her.”Ezra scoffed, dropping his arms from his chest. “And if she does?”“You have to stop her. This wasn’t the plan, but I don’t care anymore. All I need to find out is if she’s truly our sister. If she is, this mission has to be aborted.”Ezra exhaled sharply, his skepticism evident. Ethan had always been the strategist, the one who thought five steps ahead. That trait had been the reason for their issues with Raymond, but now, him giving it up meant he was truly invested in uncovering what had
"That's enough, Ezra," Ethan called out. He stood in the room, watching Olive like he was seeing something that wasn’t supposed to be there. His chest tightened, but he forced himself to stay still.Ezra stood beside him, leaning against the wall with an impatient look. He was checking his phone, barely paying attention. Ethan licked his lips, hesitating for just a second before speaking."Doesn’t she look like Mom?"Ezra barely reacted. He let out a short, dry chuckle without looking up. "Are you serious?" His tone was flat, dismissive.Ethan’s fingers curled into his palms. His throat felt dry. "Look at her properly."Ezra finally lifted his gaze, scanning Olive for barely a second before shaking his head. "You’re overthinking."Ethan swallowed. His pulse was steady, but his thoughts weren’t. "No. I know what I’m saying."Ezra rolled his eyes and turned away. "We buried her, Ethan. Our sister is dead."Ethan’s stomach twisted. He glanced at Olive again. The resemblance wasn’t just i