3 months later I wiped the sweat from my forehead and let out a dramatic sigh. “Alright, whose idea was it to have so much stuff?” “I believe that would be yours, sweetheart,” Dad called from across the living room to my mom, grinning as he struggled to push a particularly heavy box toward the hallway. “If I remember correctly, you’re the one who kept saying, ‘Oh, we’ll need this! We can’t leave this behind!’” she huffes, plopping onto the nearest couch cushion. “Okay, but in my defense, we do need all of it.” “Really?” Brian arched a skeptical brow as he held up a box labeled Kitchen Stuff #5. “Explain to me why we need five whole boxes of just kitchen stuff.” Mom ruffled his hair as he passed by. “Because we actually cook, Brian. Unlike you, who seems to survive solely on energy drinks and microwave meals.” He groaned, batting her hand away. “I do not.....” Dad snorted. “Son, you literally texted us last week asking how to boil an egg.” Laughter filled the room as he
Chapter One: The sharp, metallic tang of blood filled my mouth as I lay motionless on the cold, hard floor. My body was too weak, too battered, and my vision blurred as the darkness slowly edged in. I could feel the warm pool beneath me, spreading wider, soaking through my clothes and into my skin, but my hands were useless now, trembling as they pressed in vain against the deep wound in my side. Each breath came in shallow, jagged gasps, burning my lungs, and I was choking—on blood, on shock, on disbelief. How did it come to this? How could it be her? Above me, Lisa stood—calm, poised, as if this was all a casual affair to her. Her carefully curated mask was down now, revealing the disgust and hatred in the familiar face I once trusted more than anyone in the world. I blinked, my mind struggling to process, to understand how my best friend, my closest confidante, was now the one watching me die. My body was shutting down, but my mind—my mind was still alive, still refusing to acc
Tears welled up in my eyes, my throat tightening with a sob that I couldn't release. My family—mother, father, brother gone. Every single one of them. And Lisa had been behind it all. My best friend, the person I trusted more than anyone, had orchestrated their downfall. The pain, the grief that followed, it all began with her. “Why?” I gasped, choking on the word, barely able to breathe as the horror of it set in. “Why would you do this?” Lisa stopped pacing then, standing over me with that same smile, that twisted, hateful smile. “Because I could,” she said simply. “Because it was fun.” Fun. Destroying my family had been fun for her. “And Josh?” I forced the question out, though I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear the answer. Lisa’s smirk widened. “Oh, Josh. He was such a perfect little pawn, wasn’t he? At first, he didn’t believe me when I started whispering those little lies about you. That you were selfish, that you didn’t care about him. But after a while, I gave him reasons to
The darkness swallows me whole, deeper and deeper, until there’s nothing left but silence. It feels like I’m floating, weightless, in an endless void. The air is thick, suffocating, yet somehow, I breathe. Time ceases to exist here—minutes, hours, days? I can’t tell. There’s no difference. There’s no sound. No light. No sensation. Just... nothing. Maybe this is what death truly is—emptiness. A quiet place where thoughts fade into oblivion, and everything ceases to matter. I can’t say I expected anything more, and nothing less. I drift through the blackness, waiting for the inevitable. But then… a flicker. Faint at first, like a spark in the distance, almost invisible against the endless dark. Slowly, it grows brighter, pulsing, beckoning. I’m drawn to it, helpless as it pulls me closer. The brightness came to a halt right in my face, I couldn’t help but reach out, wanting to feel more of the bright light. After what felt like years in the void, it was very welcome. There was a swit
Tears well up in my eyes as the memories of them rush back. Dad, with his quiet strength, the way he would tuck his glasses into the pocket of his shirt when he was about to have a serious conversation. Mom, always bustling about, full of energy, her laughter filling every corner of our home. And Sam, my brother, the one who tried so hard to be the responsible one after everything went wrong. The one who paid the ultimate price. I lost them. Every single one of them. I buried them, grieved for them, and now… they’re gone.I turn towards the mirror, the one that stands in the corner of my room, and what I see makes my breath catch in my throat. Staring back at me is a version of myself I haven’t seen in years. My face is younger, smoother, free from the lines etched by grief and loss. My hair is longer, darker, not yet streaked with the exhaustion that came from trying to survive the endless tragedies that followed. How is this possible. Did I go back in time? I look hurriedly around
“Anna?” My mother’s voice cuts through my thoughts, soft and puzzled. “Sweetheart, are you alright?”They’re all staring at me now, my father looking up from his newspaper, Sam blinking at me in confusion, and my mother, her brow furrowed with concern.I swallow hard, trying to compose myself, to remember that for them, everything is normal. The last time they saw me was just last night at dinner. For them, nothing has changed. But for me, everything has.“I… I’m fine,” I manage to say, my voice thick with emotion. “I just… I had a really bad dream. A nightmare.”My mother’s face softens, and she moves towards me, her arms open. “Oh, sweetheart. Come here.”I step into her embrace, burying my face in her shoulder as she holds me close, the familiar scent of her perfume overwhelming me. I haven’t been held by her in so long. I haven’t felt her warmth, her love. I cling to her, my body shaking with silent sobs as I try to control the flood of emotions.“It’s okay,” she whispers, strokin
Sitting on the edge of my bed, I feel the weight of everything pressing down on me, threatening to suffocate me. My family, our future, the lies I’ve lived through. My mind keeps racing, replaying every betrayal. I want to fix everything, to untangle this mess, but I know I need to start somewhere. And the first step, as painful as it is, has to be to extricate myself from Lisa and Josh.Josh. The name that once made my heart flutter now turns my stomach. Months ago, I would have done anything to hold onto him, to believe that we were building something real. But I know the truth now, and the truth is a bitter pill to swallow. He’s been with Lisa all along, sleeping with her, laughing at me behind my back. The thought burns through me like acid, and for a moment, I want to scream. How could I have been so blind?I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. There’s no point in holding on to someone who’s already gone. Breaking up with him feels like the obvious move, but I hesitate.
Disoriented, I blink at the morning light streaming through the window. My eyes sting, and my mind feels like it’s been in a bender all night long. I could barely sleep, chasing solutions for saving Josh’s uncle. Despite hours of turning over every detail I could recall, I’m no closer to an answer. At one point, I passed out from exhaustion, but unfortunately, I could only get a few hours of sleep. now i had to deal with being sleep deprived all day longI push the thoughts aside and head to the bathroom. If I’m going to survive today, I’ll need to face both Josh and Lisa without raising suspicions. My mind hardens as I make a vow to act normal, calm, and composed. They can’t know anything’s changed until I’m completely free of their influence.After a hot shower, i run a towel through my hair to dry it. I had it cut short after a while of working tirelessly as it was too much work. I missed my long hair, and I was glad to have it back.I pause in front of the mirror; the reflection s
3 months later I wiped the sweat from my forehead and let out a dramatic sigh. “Alright, whose idea was it to have so much stuff?” “I believe that would be yours, sweetheart,” Dad called from across the living room to my mom, grinning as he struggled to push a particularly heavy box toward the hallway. “If I remember correctly, you’re the one who kept saying, ‘Oh, we’ll need this! We can’t leave this behind!’” she huffes, plopping onto the nearest couch cushion. “Okay, but in my defense, we do need all of it.” “Really?” Brian arched a skeptical brow as he held up a box labeled Kitchen Stuff #5. “Explain to me why we need five whole boxes of just kitchen stuff.” Mom ruffled his hair as he passed by. “Because we actually cook, Brian. Unlike you, who seems to survive solely on energy drinks and microwave meals.” He groaned, batting her hand away. “I do not.....” Dad snorted. “Son, you literally texted us last week asking how to boil an egg.” Laughter filled the room as he
Anna's POV The adrenaline lasted just long enough to get me through the press conference, but the moment I stepped out of that suffocating room full of reporters, everything hit me all at once. it was a little overwhelming to be honest.p I barely remembered the drive back to Sinclair Enterprises, only that the moment I walked into the building, the weight of everything I had just done settled on my shoulders. Exposing the Drummonds, standing in front of the press, defending Alaric and his family—it was a lot. And yet, I had done it. I still couldn't believe it. That I was strong enough to do that on my own, and like a bad bitch too. The realization filled me with something warm, something almost foreign. Confidence. I didn’t want to dwell on it too much, though. There was still work to do. So instead of collapsing into a chair and letting the exhaustion swallow me whole like I wanted, I kept moving. I buried myself in paperwork, answering emails, reviewing reports, g
Alaric's povI watched as their mouths hung open, struggling to process what had just happened. Some looked downright terrified, probably recalling the treacherous words they had uttered moments ago. Others appeared relieved, sensing a shift in the tide and being happy they had kept their mouths shut.Not that I cared for their reactions. I had already marked every single one of them. Their actions during this crisis would not be forgotten. Drax Industries was long overdue for a complete overhaul, and this only solidified my decision.I turned my attention to Vincent Crowe. Unlike the others, his expression remained neutral, a small, almost amused smile tugging at his lips.“Well,” he said, his tone light, almost mocking. “That was a rollercoaster of emotions. Congratulations on clearing your name, Mr. Sinclair.”He might not have been the true mastermind, but it was clear he wasn’t someone to be taken lightly. He had walked into this room with absolute confidence, which meant he beli
As soon as the police hauled the Drummonds away, the reporters wasted no time descending on me like a pack of hungry wolves, their voices overlapping as they shoved microphones and cameras in my direction."Miss Renwick! How did you uncover the truth?""When did you start suspecting the Drummonds?""What does this mean for the future of Sinclair Enterprises?""Will Edward Sinclair be reinstated as CEO?""Do you have a statement for the investors who pulled out due to the allegations?"I held up a hand, and to my surprise, the room quieted just enough for my voice to carry.“The truth was always there,” I said, my tone even but firm. “All it took was looking beyond surface-level accusations and following the evidence. It’s a shame that so many were quick to condemn the Sinclair family without proper proof, despite their years of hard work and success.” I let my gaze sweep across the gathered reporters, making sure they felt the weight of my words. “Journalistic integrity should require
After a few more hours of waiting, an emergency meeting with the stakeholders was called. I looked at Alaric, and he nodded to me. This was it. This was the moment we had been waiting for—the hidden person was about to show their face. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t be able to witness the look on their face when the real truth broke out. I had another role to play, the bearer of good news, or rather, bad news if you were looking at it from the Drummonds' perspective. A slow smile crept onto my face. So this is what it feels like to win. I rather enjoyed the sensation. I walked into the venue where Eric was still basking in the praises of those around him. People called him a brave, righteous man who upheld justice. I snorted at the irony—those words couldn’t be further from the truth. As soon as I stepped into the hall, Eric zeroed in on me like he had been expecting my arrival. His lips curled into a cruel smile as he gestured toward me, his voice ringing with triumph. "And here is th
As it turned out, we barely had time to breathe, let alone think about anything other than work. The moment Jason confirmed that the Drummonds were making their move, our workload tripled overnight. Crisis meetings, legal consultations, damage control—it felt like we were running a marathon with no finish line in sight.But despite the chaos, the tension between Alaric and me only grew stronger. It was in the way his gaze burned into me every time I entered his office, the way his fingers would linger when I handed him a document, the way his voice softened whenever he spoke to me, even amidst the storm.And then there were the nights.Exhausted beyond belief, we would barely have enough time to eat before collapsing into bed—his bed, because he still refused to let me sleep in my own. Every night, he would pull me close, his warmth seeping into my skin, grounding me in a way I never thought I needed. And every night, without fail, he would press a lingering kiss to my forehead and mu
His grip loosened just slightly, only for his fingers to tangle in my hair. The way they threaded through the strands sent a shiver down my spine. "I love your hair," he murmured, his voice deep and rough. Before I could respond, he gathered my hair into a bunch, tugging me closer. My breath hitched, my heart pounding against my ribs as his darkened eyes flickered down to my lips. "And your lips…" His thumb brushed lightly over my lower lip, his breathing uneven. "Gods, those lips drive me insane."Heat bloomed across my cheeks, but before I could say a word, he closed the distance, his lips capturing mine in a slow, deliberate kiss—gentle, as if he was afraid of scaring me away. But I didn’t want soft. I wanted more. I pulled back slightly, catching his bottom lip between my teeth and biting down, just hard enough to make him feel it. I tugged lightly before releasing him, watching as his eyes darkened further, his breath hitching. A deep, guttural "Fuck," escaped him, his voic
“I think we should set our differences aside and work together to reveal whoever this is,” Damian said, his tone serious.Alaric scoffed, looking at him like he’d just suggested the most ridiculous thing in the world. “Work together? Just a few months ago, you sent people to kill me.” His voice was sharp, laced with barely contained fury. “Anna was with me, and she got injured. Because of you, she was harmed.”“I’m okay,” I tried to interject, but Alaric wasn’t having it. His jaw was set, his fists clenched at his sides.“The only reason I allowed you in here,” he continued, “is because I wanted to know who wanted to hurt Anna. But now you expect me to work with you? Never.” His voice was final, unwavering.Damian’s smirk was long gone. He straightened, brows furrowing. “Wait… A few months ago?” He shook his head. “I never sent anyone to you a few months ago.”Alaric’s entire body went rigid. “What?”Damian looked genuinely confused. “I didn’t send anyone after you. If someone attacke
The day had passed so quickly that I barely noticed when night fell. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt this content, this… safe. Alaric never let go of me, whether it was casually resting a hand on my thigh or lacing our fingers together. It was like he needed to reassure himself that I was still here, and I found myself clinging just as much.When it was time for bed, I had started toward my room, but before I could even argue, Alaric had scooped me up effortlessly and carried me straight to his.“You’re sleeping here tonight,” he said firmly, as if daring me to challenge him.I didn’t.He tucked me in, pressing a kiss to my forehead before whispering, “Sleep, Anna.”The next morning, training resumed, but I immediately noticed the difference. Alaric was still strict, still relentless, but the pressure had lessened. He no longer demanded perfection, and when I got something right, he actually smiled.He smiled. While training!!!I never thought I’d see the day.With everythi