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
“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
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
The day before her wedding, Olive Bennett couldn’t contain her excitement. Her white lace wedding gown hung neatly on the closet door, and her veil lay folded on the bed. Everything she had ever dreamed of was about to come true—marrying Frank, the man she had loved for six years, in front of friends and family. She glanced at the clock. Delilah, her stepsister, was supposed to help her with last-minute wedding details, but she was late, as usual. Olive sighed and decided to make herself some tea. The apartment was quiet except for the faint hum of the refrigerator. As she stirred honey into her tea, Olive’s phone buzzed on the kitchen counter. It was Frank. “Hey, babe,” she answered cheerfully. “Hey, I left my cufflinks at your place,” Frank said. “Mind if I swing by and grab them?” Olive smiled. “Sure. They’re in the bedroom drawer. I’ll leave the door unlocked.” “Thanks. I’ll be there in ten.” Olive decided to take a quick shower before Frank arrived. She left her phon
The following morning, Olive woke up to the sound of her phone buzzing incessantly on the coffee table. She had fallen asleep on the couch, her face streaked with dried tears. Her eyes burned, and her head throbbed as she groggily reached for the phone. A flood of messages and missed calls greeted her. Most were from concerned friends and family checking on last-minute wedding details. But there was one from Frank, and just seeing his name made her stomach churn. We need to talk. Call me. Olive stared at the message, her heart heavy with anger and pain. What more was there to say? She had seen everything she needed to. She tossed the phone aside and sank back into the couch, burying her face in her hands. The betrayal was still fresh, the memory of Frank and Diana together replaying in her mind like a broken record. Delilah’s smirk, her mocking words, and the damning pregnancy test result—all of it left Olive feeling raw and exposed. Olive decided she couldn’t stay in the apartmen
Olive adjusted the strap of her suitcase as she maneuvered through the crowded airport. The din of announcements over the intercom and the bustling of passengers filled the air. Her chest felt heavy, weighed down by the betrayal and heartbreak that had unraveled her life in just a matter of hours. Each step felt like she was leaving behind the fragments of a dream she had clung to for years—a life with Frank, a family she thought she could trust. But that dream was dead now, and she had to move forward.She gripped her boarding pass tightly, as if it were her lifeline. Her destination was New York City. It wasn’t a place she’d dreamed of living, but it was far enough from the chaos she was escaping. It was a city big enough to lose herself in, to start over without the judgmental stares and whispered rumors that would undoubtedly follow her back home.Olive inhaled deeply as she stopped at a coffee counter to order something warm. The sleepless night had drained her, leaving her jitte
Olive stood at the window of her temporary hotel room, staring out at the city that was both foreign and overwhelming. New York’s endless buzz felt like a cruel mirror of the turmoil inside her. Her fingers drummed on the edge of the windowpane as her mind reeled from everything that had unfolded.This city was supposed to be her escape. It was supposed to be a place where she could start fresh, leave her broken engagement and family betrayals behind, and figure out what to do next. But instead of finding peace, she was now saddled with a mystery pregnancy and a gnawing fear that her life was spiraling out of control.“I need to find a place,” she murmured, pacing the room. Living in a hotel felt too transient, too uncertain. She needed stability, even if only the kind a proper apartment could offer.---The search for a new home consumed most of her day. Olive wandered through neighborhoods, touring cramped apartments and overpriced studios. Nothing felt right. The city was bustling,
Olive sat in the cramped seat of the plane, her fingers tracing the outline of the leather handbag resting on her lap. She had only packed the essentials—clothes, a few personal items, and the lingering sense of uncertainty about what awaited her back in Chicago. For the first time in days, she felt a small but real sense of calm. She had made up her mind. New York was where she wanted to build her life. It would be her escape, her fresh start.The past three days in New York had done something for her—brought her peace, gave her space, and allowed her to breathe. The messages from her father had only confirmed that there was no going back to the life she had known. She wasn’t the same woman who had left Chicago, and she never would be again.As the plane touched down in Chicago, Olive stared out of the window, unsure of what she was walking into. It was hot for the middle of the afternoon, and the heat pressed against the window as the aircraft taxied to the gate. She had no intentio
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