For five years of their contractual marriage, Serena couldn’t even catch a glimpse of her husband Alexander Vanderbilt who fled the country right after he signed the papers. She couldn’t even see him when his assistant came with divorce papers. Unbelievably, their first encounter unfolded as one night of intoxicated intimacy, with both failing to recognize one another. The next morning, she realized what had happened but when her husband still did not recognize her, she did not bother to inform him. Serena believed their paths would never cross again, only to discover that this was the commencement of their intertwined destinies. The next time Serena met with Xander, she used her middle name 'Ava' and her mother's maiden name 'Alvarez'. Recalling the virgin that had shared his bed the previous night, he almost mistook her as a prostitute until he saw her designs for his new house which, according to rumor, he bought for him and his soon-to-be bride and also his first love, Victoria. How ironic. Fate dictated otherwise and true love indeed saves the day as the more they interract, the more Xander started to feel something for Serena while Serena herself remain cool and composed, which only made him even more curious! If only he knows that she is still his wife...
View MoreThe nurse hesitated for a moment but then entered Alfonso’s hospital room, pushing the small stainless steel tray in front of her. The overhead fluorescent lights cast a sterile glow over the stark white walls, and the faint scent of antiseptic filled the air.The two bodyguards stationed outside barely spared her a glance. She was the same nurse who had been tending to Alfonso’s care for days, her presence routine and unremarkable.Inside, Alfonso lay motionless on the hospital bed, his breathing slow and mechanical. His face was gaunt, his skin sallow under the artificial lighting. The machines beside him hummed a rhythmic yet fragile tune, a constant reminder of his precarious condition.With practiced hands, the nurse reached for the syringe, carefully drawing the medication into it, preparing to inject it into the IV bag.But just as she brought the needle close to the drip chamber, Alfonso’s eyes shot open—wide and filled with sudden panic. His body convulsed, his chest heaving
Ava made her way to Le Châteauesque Manor today. It had been a few days since she last checked in on Rex, and the thought of how his surgical wound was healing gnawed at her.As she stepped through the grand iron gates, the scent of freshly trimmed hedges and late-blooming roses filled the crisp afternoon air. The estate's sprawling gardens, once a place of quiet solace, felt strangely empty without Rex bounding through them.Aunt Torres's face lit up the moment she spotted Ava, her warm smile deepening the wrinkles around her eyes. "I just took Rex for a walk," she said, brushing her hands against her apron. "Rex has been restless."With Alexander still absent, Aunt Torres hadn't dared let Rex roam freely. Instead, the loyal dog had been confined to the spacious back room, his days spent pacing within its walls.As soon as Ava entered, Rex's ears perked up, and the sound of his frantic barking echoed through the manor. He recognized her instantly.Her heart ached.She hurried over, cr
Ava reached for the car door handle but hesitated, her fingers lingering against the cool metal. With a deep breath, she sank back into her seat, turning to Alexander. "Mr. Vanderbilt, if Miss Victoria Laurent comes after me again… can I still count on you for help?"Her voice was steady, but there was an unmistakable weight behind her words. She wasn’t asking lightly. The Morales family couldn’t compete with the power and influence of the Laurents, let alone the Vanderbilts. Victoria was his girlfriend, and with his support, she could become even more ruthless.Alexander’s hands rested lightly on the steering wheel, his gaze unreadable. A silence stretched between them before he finally spoke. "Why do you think I would take your side?"Ava met his stare, determined. "It’s not about taking sides. It’s about doing what’s right. At least I never provoked Miss Laurent. She’s the one who sees me as a rival—even though, between you and me, Mr. Vanderbilt, there’s nothing going on."The mome
The meeting, originally scheduled for two hours, stretched into three due to an unexpected change midway. By the time it finally concluded, Alexander shut his laptop and glanced out the window. Night had fallen completely, and the cityscape shimmered with golden lights, illuminating the skyline in a breathtaking display.He had informed Jonathan earlier that he would be driving himself tonight, so his assistant had already left. Now, the only person remaining in the office with him was Ava.Alexander rose from his chair and made his way toward her. She was curled up on the couch, fast asleep, her breathing soft and even. For a moment, he hesitated. She looked peaceful—almost fragile—under the warm office lights, and he didn’t want to wake her. But he had to.“Ava,” he called gently.Dressed in his impeccably tailored suit, he reached out a hand and nudged her lightly with his long fingertips. Instead of waking up properly, Ava instinctively reached out and grasped his hand, her finger
Ava furrowed her brows slightly. Was losing her position such a devastating blow to Michelle?Tears streamed down Michelle's face, her expression twisted with rage and humiliation. "He actually sided with you—he actually sided with you! There must be something unspeakable between you two! You seduced him, you wretched woman! I hope you rot in hell!"Ava found the accusation almost laughable. Now, she fully understood—Michelle’s fury wasn’t just about losing her job. Alexander must have dismissed her personally, delivering a blow to both her career and her pride.Watching Michelle unravel, Ava decided she had tolerated enough. Striding forward as the security guards held Michelle back, she landed two sharp slaps across her face.The sound echoed in the tense air.Michelle stood frozen, her wide eyes filled with disbelief as she slowly raised a trembling hand to her stinging cheek. "You dare to hit me?"Ava smiled, a slow and deliberate curve of her lips. "Yes. I do."She leaned in slig
The city stretched out beyond the vast floor-to-ceiling windows of the Vanderbilt family’s office, its skyline glowing against the velvet night. The twinkling lights reflected off the polished mahogany desk where Alexander sat, a stark contrast to his cold, impassive demeanor. Shadows from the skyscrapers flickered across the glass, but he remained motionless, focused on the papers before him.Jonathan entered the room, a stack of documents in hand, his expression tinged with hesitation. "Sir," he began cautiously, "I heard that PW Group has signed a cooperation agreement with the Morales family."Alexander didn’t even glance up. His fingers tapped idly against the edge of his pen, his attention still fixed on the contract before him.Jonathan hesitated before continuing. "Five hundred million dollars. That’s the Morales family’s two-year order volume, and they have to complete it within six months. If they fail, they’ll face severe penalties—possibly even bankruptcy."The silence tha
Ava's forehead furrowed deeper as she scanned the document in front of her. It outlined a five hundred million dollar collaboration between the Morales family and PW Group, yet it was frustratingly vague on specifics.Her fingers tightened around the paper. What kind of deal required such an astronomical cash flow? Even during the last round of financing, the Vanderbilt family hadn’t invested this much. This project was larger than any she had seen before.A cold sense of unease settled in her chest. Something wasn’t right.Without wasting another moment, she picked up her phone and called Alexei Volkov. After acquiring Mr. Thompson’s company, Alexei had gained considerable insight into PW Group, far more than Rachel would know.When he picked up, there was an unmistakable smirk in his voice. “Ava, really? You only call me when you need something? What happened to our friendship?”His tone was teasing, but she didn’t have time for games.“Mr. Volkov,” she said, trying to keep her voice
With his passport, bank card, and phone securely in his pocket, Kenny was just about to leisurely step into his car when—out of nowhere—a rough burlap sack was thrown over his head."Who?!" he shouted, his voice laced with sudden panic.There was no answer. Instead, a pair of strong hands grabbed him, dragging him backward into a dark alley. Before he could struggle, blunt blows landed on his body—hard, merciless strikes from what felt like wooden clubs. A dull, sickening pain spread through his limbs as the world around him became a blur of agony.Kenny's mind raced. He was supposed to be on a flight out of the country tonight. The money had already been transferred, and Alfonso could wake up at any moment. If Alfonso identified him, everything—years of careful scheming, countless manipulations—would be ruined. Who the hell was doing this? And why now, at the worst possible moment?Damn it!Fear coiled in his gut as he tried to bargain. "Stop hitting me! I'll give you fifty thousand d
The sterile scent of antiseptic lingered in the air, mixing with the faint hum of medical equipment monitoring every breath Alfonso took. The dim lighting in the hospital room cast long shadows, making the space feel colder than it already was.Ava sat beside the bed, her fingers curled around her father’s frail, calloused hand. She had spent the last few days in a relentless cycle of worry, exhaustion, and hope, unsure whether he would wake up at all.Then, finally, a flicker of movement.Alfonso's eyelids fluttered before slowly, painstakingly, opening. His eyes, bloodshot and rimmed with exhaustion, locked onto Ava’s face. There was something in them—something urgent, desperate, almost pleading. But when he tried to speak, the oxygen mask stifled his words, reducing them to shallow gasps.Ava’s heart clenched at the sight."Dad," she said softly, squeezing his hand. "Please don’t push yourself. You're still recovering. You need to take it slow."Tears welled up in his eyes, spillin
The morning light filtered through the sheer curtains, casting long shadows across the pristine hotel suite. The scent of expensive cologne lingered in the air, mingling with the faint remnants of last night’s champagne.Alexander stood by the window, his posture rigid, his sharp gaze fixed on the woman sitting at the edge of the bed. Serena.She was undeniably beautiful, her tousled hair cascading over her bare shoulders, her delicate fingers working swiftly as she finished buttoning her blouse. But Alexander remained unmoved.“I’ll compensate you generously,” his voice was smooth but laced with ice. “But don’t expect anything beyond that. What happened last night changes nothing.”Serena paused, fingers tightening around the last button of her blouse. The weight of his words pressed against her, heavy and unforgiving.Meanwhile, Alexander’s mind reeled, replaying the events of the previous night in fragmented flashes.The Vanderbilt family had hosted a grand banquet in his honor—a sp...
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