He hadn’t expected him to be at the desk studying, but then, when you were the president, you put everyone else before yourself.Those were Damian’s thoughts as he entered the private quarters belonging to the president and his wife. Luckily for Damian, the witch was nowhere nearby.She had been pretty occupied herself.He approached the desk where President Lewiston studied reports, his gaze sharp and focused.Damian cleared his throat. “Sir, the social media protests have gained traction. People are rallying behind Ranya over the preservation of his mother’s home.”Lewiston raised an eyebrow, a faint smile creeping across his face. “I am very much aware of how busy Ranya has been, Damian.” He leaned back, his tone laced with a mix of pride and frustration. “So, he wants to take on the President himself, does he? That boy will surely never back down.”“He’s certainly persistent,” Damian agreed, hiding the smile playing at the corner of his lips. “The protest spread fast, and people a
“What in the universe did you mean when you said you didn’t know where she was, Yang?”He couldn’t be serious right now! What she needed to hear was something that would lift her spirits, not tear them down again.That was precisely why she had driven down to her private property. The only thing that seemed to give her solace was her pet.“You don’t call to tell me that nonsense!”Signoral’s voice dripped with venom, each word biting as she paced relentlessly around the open-air area of the property.The atmosphere felt far too hot, too stifling to contain her anger; any further provocation would unleash the fury bottled inside her.Her lioness, Lily, lay on the floor in her cage, gnawing heartily on a chunk of meat that didn’t seem to satisfy her, consuming it in anticipation of something far more filling.“I’m telling you nothing but the truth,” Yang replied cautiously, his voice trembling slightly, aware of her rage. “I won the case to keep the child, but in the next moment, Vivian
“Wait, all of this—this entire building, is for my coffee shop?” Calista’s voice echoed in awe as she stepped through the massive double doors, her gaze sweeping over the expansive, high-ceilinged space.He had told her he wanted to show her something he hoped she would like. And for fuck’s sake, she loved it.Ranya was just too full of surprises.Ranya grinned, folding his arms as he leaned against the entrance. “Well, you didn’t expect me to give you anything less, did you?”Calista turned to him, a mix of excitement and exasperation in her eyes. “Ranya, this is…huge! I wanted to do this myself,” she insisted, though her smile betrayed her excitement. “You know how important it is for me to feel like I built this from the ground up.”“I’m not taking that away from you,” he replied calmly. “I’m just giving you a foundation, an empty canvas. Everything else is up to you—decor, equipment, design. This place will have your touch, Calista. All of it.”She gazed back at him with a wide sm
“Sir, we’ve arrived.”Anthony barely registered Felix’s voice as he opened the car door, his mind lost in the cold, turbulent waters of his thoughts.Calista’s rejection in California still played vividly in his mind; her words had stung like a bee, and no matter how he tried, he couldn’t stop them from ringing repeatedly in his ears. Her disappointment had been so evident.The Calista he had once known now saw him as a stranger, someone she never wanted to be acquainted with. His only regret had been taking her with him back to Texas. They could have been so happy, like they used to be.What hurt the most was the fact that she had chosen Ranya, discarded him as if he were nothing, and told him to leave. The anger it had stirred was fierce, unforgiving, and seethed within him like poison.He still felt it burning in his chest as he climbed the White House steps, barely noticing the stately façade standing before him.The moment he entered the grand hall, he barely had time to catch hi
Calista walked into the hall, which she called the place packed with an audience.Okay, she was going to get interviewed, but she hadn’t really expected it to be a live session with a multitude seated and waiting for her turn.Despite the hatred from some in the audience, she didn’t let it pull down her defiance.Ranya had wanted to come down with her, but Calista knew that would only cause more harm than good.The hall erupted in applause as she walked toward the stage, her eyes meeting Signoral’s, who seemed to be enjoying the hatred oozing from parts of the audience.Calista had managed to make an impression by standing up for Ranya against the demolition of his mother’s home. The room buzzed with electric tension, every eye in the hall fixed on the two women seated across from one another.Calista, poised and serene, sat on one side, her calm, almost amused demeanor contrasting with Signoral’s innocent, angelic facade. Between them sat the host, visibly thrilled to orchestrate suc
"Did I abduct your father?" Signoral words filled the hall. "Well, darling, you left me with absolutely no choice."The hall buzzed with shocked silence as Signoral’s recorded voice filled the entire space.No one expected the innocent goddess to be involved in such a game. Signoral’s eyes turned blank as she watched every plan she had orchestrated fall right back at her.Calista had really crossed the boundary; she had just pulled the string of war faster onto her head.“That is your voice, I believe,” Calista said the moment the recording stopped.“What did you just do, Cal?” Signoral asked, her voice laced with loathing and hatred. Her eyes darkened, making her look like the devil she was. A vivid contrast to the angelic, innocent appearance she had worn earlier.“Exactly what you would have done. I only beat you to it.” The murmurs from the crowd and the confused looks on the host’s face made their voices seem so distant that no one could hear the battle going on between the two w
“I told you I had nothing to say to you,” Signoral let out, watching the detective as he made her repeat the same words over and over.The small, stark room buzzed with silence, broken only by the faint hum of a ceiling light that flickered now and then.Signoral sat rigidly, her nails tapping an impatient rhythm on the cold metal table as she glared at the blank walls. Her perfectly coiffed hair was slightly disheveled, and her jaw was set with frustration.Two hours. She had been trapped in that interrogation room for two hours. Every tick of the clock reminded her of the humiliation she had suffered at Calista’s hands. Her fingers tightened into fists. God, how she would make her beg for mercy.Just as she felt she might snap, the very annoying detective entered. He settled a file in front of her and flipped it open with a sigh. He looked at her expectantly, attempting again.“So,” he began again, leaning forward. “You really weren’t going to deny your involvement or accept it?”Si
"She was responsible…"The President sat at his desk, his eyes scanning the news on his tablet. He hadn't been surprised to see the reports confirming Signoral's involvement in Mr. MacQuoid's abduction. In a way, he'd anticipated it—observing silently, waiting for the opportune moment to act."Signoral had MacQuoid abducted. She had control of the Sharks," he muttered again, watching how she was being dragged from the stage.Just then, the door opened, and Damian entered with a confident stride, carrying an update he knew the President would find significant."Sir," Damian said, bowing slightly. "I managed to reach Mr. MacQuoid without alerting Ranya or anyone else in his Florida building. After some persuasion, he agreed to meet with you."The President looked up, giving Damian a slight nod of approval, though his expression revealed nothing more. Damian hesitated, curiosity etched on his face. He wanted to know why the President was so intent on this private meeting with MacQuoid.B
The hospital buzzed with urgency as medics wheeled Calista into the emergency room. Tubes snaked across her fragile body, her face pale and lifeless. The doctor barked orders to his team, his voice sharp with authority.“She’s in critical condition! We need to stabilize her heart!”Ranya stood frozen in the hallway, his hands trembling as they clutched the edges of his blood-streaked jacket. His throat burned from inhaling smoke, but the agony in his chest far outweighed the physical pain. He paced, his eyes darting to the operating room’s red light. Every second felt like an eternity.When the doctor emerged, his face grim, Ranya rushed toward him, gripping his coat. “Save her!” His voice cracked, raw with desperation. “Do whatever it takes. I’ll pay any amount, give up anything—just save her!”The doctor placed a firm hand on Ranya’s shoulder. “We’ll do our best, but her heart is weak. She’s on life support now. The next 24 hours are critical.”Ranya staggered back, the weight of th
Ranya gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white with tension as he pushed the car to its limits. The tires screeched on the asphalt, leaving behind faint trails of smoke as the vehicle hurtled through the deserted road.His heart pounded violently against his ribcage, every beat a painful reminder of the urgency that gripped him. The image of Calista’s face - her laughter, her warmth - flashed before him. He gritted his teeth, muttering to himself.“Hold on, Calista. Hold on for me,” he whispered, his voice a mix of desperation and determination.Lynn’s voice crackled in his earpiece, updating him on the location. “Boss, the building is fully engulfed. Be careful.”“Careful?” Ranya barked back. “She’s in there, Lynn! Do you understand what that means?”Lynn’s silence was answer enough. Ranya’s foot pressed harder on the gas pedal as he weaved through traffic. His mind raced with worst-case scenarios. Was she alive? Was she trapped, crying out for him? The thought of her s
The whole crowd stirred the moment the old man spoke up, his voice reverberating through the grand hall. Chairman Hamilton, with trembling hands, pointed toward Signoral, his face etched with desperation. “Tell me now!” he rasped, eyes gleaming with unshed tears. “What did you do to my Allen?”Allen had always come to him in dreams, begging him to remember. Yet he would wake up to find his mind a blank slate—unable to recall anything.The guests murmured among themselves; the atmosphere turning electric. Whispers of confusion, disbelief, and anticipation rippled through the sea of faces.Signoral’s face turned pale, but she forced herself to remain composed. Clutching Ranya’s arm, her nails dug into his skin as she hissed under her breath, “Ignore him. Let’s finish this wedding. Now.”Ranya shoved her hands away and turned to her with a smirk that didn’t reach his eyes. “Afraid to lose, Signoral?” he asked mockingly, his lips twitching as he pressed a small button on his earpiece. “Ly
The wedding took place in the sprawling outdoors of a luxurious estate in Texas. Guests from across the globe - politicians, business moguls, and celebrities - graced the event. Despite the short notice, the wedding was a spectacle of grandeur. Ornate decorations, pristine floral arrangements, and the soft hum of a live orchestra created an enchanting ambiance. Ranya stood at the altar, his tailored suit exuding elegance, but beneath the surface, a storm of emotions churned. Worry for Calista tightened his chest with every passing moment. He fought to maintain his stoic facade, yet memories of his promises, and the potential consequences of this union—haunted him. Thoughts of Calista filled his mind: her smile, her trust, and the despair she must have felt. His hands, clasped tightly in front of him, trembled imperceptibly, a stark contrast to the composed image he projected. With every glance toward the arriving guests, the whispers of his conscience grew louder, questioning h
Signoral stood in front of the full-length mirror, her reflection a striking vision of elegance. Her white gown, meticulously crafted with intricate lace and shimmering beads, hugged her figure as though it had been made for her alone. Penelope and a small team of stylists hovered around her, making final adjustments to her veil and train. The air felt stiff, not just from the preparations, but from Signoral's brewing thoughts. She couldn't help but feel something was wrong. But she had made Penelope check over and over for any sign of leakage whatsoever. Charlotte, too, had seemed to be in good health, but she hadn't wanted to take any chances. That was why she had wired a lot of money to her, with stern warnings that she had to disappear for good this time. Her phone buzzed on the vanity table, drawing her attention. She picked it up, glanced at the caller ID, and swiped to answer. Charlotte's voice came through, sharp and accusatory. Talk of the devil. "Signoral," Charlott
The following morning, preparations for the wedding were in full swing. All of America buzzed with shock at the whirlwind announcement of Ranya and Signoral's wedding. Speculations ran wild, and everyone had an opinion about the sudden turn of events. Some believed Ranya was erratic, incapable of making rational decisions. Others celebrated, claiming that Signoral had finally secured her rightful place by his side. Meanwhile, a considerable number expressed disappointment, having grown fond of Calista and rooting for her relationship with Ranya. The media frenzy was unparalleled. Paparazzi and journalists flocked to both the Lewiston Estate and Signoral's residence, hoping for an exclusive statement from either of them. As expected, Signoral basked in the attention, offering vague yet tantalizing comments to reporters. Ranya, however, maintained a strict low profile, refusing to entertain any questions. Five hours before the open-air wedding—the most talked about in America—the
Washington, D.C."Did you do as I instructed?" Mr. Lewiston's voice emerged quietly, his hands working diligently on his laptop as he screened through the files the caller had sent him. "Yes, sir," came the composed reply of a woman from the other end of the call. "I sent you every single detail, including the supplements injected into his system. I had one of my men verify the data—it’s accurate." "And the real heiress?" Mr. Lewiston asked, his tone dropping lower. There was a brief pause before she responded. "She was spotted in China, sir, with your sister," she said, hesitating slightly. "But the authorities were already looking for her. I was about to make provisions to get her out, but they're out already... Mr. Windsor used his jet to take them out. They're on their way to Texas as we speak." "Good work, Rena," he said, leaning back in his chair as he moved his fingers away from the keyboard. His fingers tapped rhythmically against the desk while he processed the inform
Calista sat in the dimly lit room, her arms wrapped around the chair as the evening deepened into night. Anthony sat across from her, his expression torn between guilt and frustration as they both stared at nothing in silence. Signoral's guards loomed near the door, their presence a constant reminder of her captivity. Calista glanced at Anthony, her annoyance simmering beneath the surface. "Why?" she asked, her voice low and angry. Anthony raised his head and turned to her. Bruises marred his body from the beating. "Why what?" Calista turned away, her chest tightening. She couldn't shake her growing resentment toward Ranya. He hadn't even tried to reach out or threaten Signoral on her behalf. Did he even care if she was okay? He had told her the night before that he couldn’t breathe if she wasn’t near… but he sounded like someone who had enough oxygen to last him forever, even without her by his side. Her mind drifted to Signoral’s earlier words after she had ended Ranya’s
“The wedding wouldn't be held in Washington as I promised. We will have it here." Ranya ended the call with Signoral, his jaw tightening as the anger he had bottled up turned into weariness. The room fell silent for a moment, all eyes on him. Damian, Valerie, Lena, and Lynn exchanged wary glances, their expressions a mixture of concern and disbelief. "You didn't ask if she was doing okay…" Mr. MacQuoid's voice broke the silence. He couldn't help himself. His daughter was being held captive by someone who used to be her best friend. Ranya glanced at Mr. MacQuoid, knowing the man felt guilty and was beating himself up over Calista's kidnapping. Perhaps if he hadn't called her to talk about leaving Ranya, things wouldn't have escalated the way they had. "No," Ranya replied curtly, shoving the anger and worry aside. "Hearing her voice will only make me do nasty things I'd definitely regret." And that was the truth. He wouldn't be able to bear it if her voice betrayed any uneasin