★★★★★ As soon as the morning arrived, Jasmine prepared breakfast for Payne. It was the usual—eggs, juice, and bread. "Mom, why do you look so rushed? Do you have a shoot this morning?" Payne asked, noticing her mother's hurried movements and the familiar look of concentration that appeared whenever she was juggling too much at once. "Not in the morning, sweetheart, but I do have one in the evening. Right now, I'm trying to be quick because I'm going to visit a school. If it impresses me, we'll get you enrolled there. I don't want to waste another year of your education," Jasmine said, spreading avocado on her toast. Jasmine chose not to reveal the real reason for her rush, knowing her daughter’s inquisitive nature. Mentioning Dante would spark a slew of questions and a likely demand to accompany her. "Aw! You make it sound like I'm committing a crime," Payne said, flashing a mischievous grin. "Tell me, Mom, are you planning to kick me out before I turn 18 or after?" Payne asked, f
★★★★★Dante, on the other hand, was continuously scanning the crowd of parents, looking for Jasmine. He hadn’t told his father about the event, so if anyone from his family were to be here, it would be Jasmine.From a distance, Damon watched his son with a puzzled expression, unable to understand why Dante hadn’t gone up on stage after hearing his name called."Dante, you need to go to the stage. Everyone is eagerly waiting to see your performance," a teacher approached, her voice gentle but firm.Dante remained adamant, his eyes darting around the room. Although his family's seats were not far away, Dante was too small to spot Jasmine over the crowd."Dante, listen to me," the teacher repeated, but Dante dismissed her words, his face still hopeful.Seeing his son's distress, Damon took a few steps forward, intending to intervene. Just then, Jasmine stood up and rushed towards Dante, causing Damon to halt."Dante," Jasmine called out, hesitating slightly as she didn't want to draw unn
★★★★ "Dante has already finished performing? Oh, shoot! I thought I was on time," Cindy exclaimed, frustration clear in her voice. She frowned as she watched the woman laughing with Dante and taking photos together. "Who is that woman with him? Is she a teacher?" "No, she’s someone Dante invited," Damon replied calmly. "Dante invited her? Who is she exactly? How did Dante know her? He didn’t even once ask me to come, but he asked her to be here. It’s strange," Cindy said, feeling a tightness in her chest. She was disappointed and hurt that Dante had called this unknown woman to be a part of such an important event but hadn’t informed her. She had only found out about it from her grandfather, who had encouraged her to go to the school and be with him, thinking it would help her make a good impression on Dante. "It shouldn’t matter who he invited or didn’t invite. What matters is that he’s happy, and I’ve never seen him this joyous," Damon said firmly, not moving an inch. He believed
★★★★"Dante, come here," Cindy said with a displeased voice. She did not like how that unknown woman was holding him as if she were his mother. It stung Cindy because Dante had never allowed Cindy to hold him that way, despite her spending the majority of her time with him.Dante looked at Cindy coldly before turning to his father. "This is why I didn't tell you about this," he said, his tone icy.Damon, noticing the tension, let go of Cindy's hand and approached Dante. He picked him up in his arms, saying firmly, "I didn't ask her!"Jasmine stood nearby, feeling increasingly confused. "Why does it feel like there's a theatrical drama unfolding here?" she thought, examining the dynamics. "There's no genuine emotion in their eyes. Dante seems disgruntled to see his mother. What's going on?""I don’t like how they talk to Pretty Lady!" Dante exclaimed to his father, his small voice filled with indignation.Damon looked directly at the woman, his expression hardening. "Did you hear that?
★★★★★ "Actually..." Jasmine parted her mouth to speak, only to be interrupted by Dante. "Dad, try it, it’s yummy!" he said excitedly, holding out his ice cream. Damon glanced at Jasmine before turning to his son. "I don’t like ice cream," he replied flatly. Jasmine shifted her attention to Dante, hoping to ease the tension between him and his mother. "What about your mother?" she asked, simultaneously, making it clear to the shopkeeper that she wasn’t Dante’s mother. "She is not—" Dante began to clarify, but Cindy’s voice cut him off. "Since I maintain a strict diet, I usually avoid sugar," Cindy interjected, her words laced with a strong taunt. "You wouldn't understand." Jasmine turned around and faced Cindy with a smile. "Yes, I won't understand," she said, her smile unwavering. She crossed over to a seat with her ice cream, Dante following close behind. Before settling in, he looked back at Cindy. "She’s an actress and quite popular!" he announced proudly, then joined Jasmine
★★★★★"Dad, don’t you want to meet Payne?" Dante asked sweetly as he leaned on the seat. They were heading toward their house, the sun casting long shadows on the road ahead."Why would I?" Damon questioned nonchalantly, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of Jasmine leaving. There was a certain sensation left within him, an emptiness he couldn't quite shake off. Her departure lingered in his mind, casting a shadow over his usually composed demeanor."Not so important," Dante replied, his tone casual but with a hint of mischief. "But since the pretty lady knows me well, you should meet Payne."Damon's curiosity was piqued, despite his attempt to appear uninterested. "What are you planning at?" he questioned, moving his head slightly to look at his son, trying to gauge his intentions. "You’ve been talking about Payne quite a bit. Is there something I should know?""No, nothing special. Since the pretty lady did so many things for me, I think you should do something for Payne as well," D
★★★★★ "Who’s there?" Jasmine called out, her voice trembling slightly. The lights turned on abruptly, flooding the room with harsh brightness. Jasmine blinked against the sudden glare and saw Paul sitting at the judge's panel with another man. A surge of anger shot through her as she immediately assumed Layla might be involved in this. It seemed like a prank designed to humiliate her. "Are you kidding me?" Jasmine's voice rose, her frustration palpable. "I thought there would be an audition here. I rushed all the way to this place for nothing! What is going on?" Paul leaned back in his chair, a calm smile playing on his lips. "Well, you are on the stage, and I am sitting at the judge's panel. What do you think we are doing here?" Jasmine glared at him, struggling to keep her anger in check. "I can't believe you would pull something like this. Is this some kind of joke to you?" The other man, who had been quietly observing, stood up and addressed her. "He is the producer, and you
★★★★"I have enough money to offer you, is that what you wanted?" Paul's angered voice did not lower down, resonating through the dimly lit room."I said move back from me! You're making me repulsed more and more!" Jasmine spoke distastefully, her eyes narrowing with disdain."Why can others touch you, but not me? You used to be mine, and I have never gotten what I wanted!" Paul shouted, his grip tightening as he adamantly held her against the wall. His breath simmered with anger, hot and heavy against her skin.Jasmine couldn't take it anymore. With all her strength, she punched Paul in the face, making him stagger back. "Get away from me!" she shouted. "I love someone else. And I'm glad I chose someone else over you because you are disgusting!"Paul clutched his face, his eyes filled with a mix of shock and rage. "You'll regret this, Jasmine," he spat out. "I promise you, you'll regret this."Jasmine gave him a long, piercing glare before heading toward the exit. She wouldn't forget
★★★★ "Ellie!" Gary tried to approach Harley's mother, but he stopped him, saying, "Don't come close to mom. I didn't lay my hands on you just because of her even though I was on the verge of ripping your neck off your body. So, Again count yourself lucky!" Harley growled at his father. Just then, one of Harley’s men interrupted. "Boss, this woman is fainting!" Harley’s gaze shifted briefly to Amanda before he gave his orders in a cold, merciless tone. "Take her to the hospital. Make sure she doesn’t die, and ensure she gets proper treatment at our camp." Amanda tried to protest, but her words failed her as she collapsed. Without hesitation, Harley’s men carried her away, leaving the scene in tense silence. By that time, Harley's mom mustered up some strength and looked at her husband with pain and tears. Earlier, when Amanda said those things about Gary, she denied them without a second thought, even though somewhere in her heart, a bad feeling was swirling. But, in the end, she wa
★★★★"Are you hurt?" Harley asked, concern lacing his voice."Yeah, my foot," Nadia winced, her grip tightening around his neck. "I think something’s stuck in it."Without hesitation, Harley scooped her up in his arms, cradling her gently as he made his way inside, his jaw set with determination."It's Amanda, and she has more people inside," Nadia cautioned him so that he could have his gun ready."Humph!" Harley hummed only, then took her to a place where there was little light and a small place to sit. He carefully laid her down, turned on the phone's flashlight, and said, "Hold it up on your feet and let me see what it is?"Nadia's face was tired and sweaty, but her eyes were calm seeing Harley in front of her eyes. She got the phone and held it up, only then did they both notice a nail embedded in her left foot.As soon as Harley touched the nail, Nadia cried out, clutching his hair in her palm as her agonizing voice erupted, "Oh, it’s hurt!"Harley looked up at Nadia’s painful f
★★★★★ "I don't know how...." Harley's mother's hands were shaking as she held the gun in her hand. "There's no time for a lesson! Just put the muzzle on my handcuffs and shoot!" Nadia shouted, her impatience growing as Amanda's people could show up at any second. "Alright," Harley's mother muttered, exhaling sharply. She pressed the muzzle against the lock and fired without hesitation. The handcuffs snapped open instantly. Nadia forthwith ran to Amanda and pulled her back by her hair before Amanda could able to run out of the room. "Let me go, bitch!" Amanda protested, trying to scream. But Nadia held her back with her arm around her neck. Suddenly Amanda's men arrived with guns drawn. Seeing them, Amanda screamed, "Don't just stand there and help me!" She gritted her teeth and spat at the people who should have been running to her aid. "Don't come close to her if you want her alive and well?" Nadia yelled, holding Amanda tightly as she tried to strike a deal for them to escape.
★★★★★Meanwhile, Harley returned home and learned from the servant that his father had been awake for a while but had ordered no visitors until he permitted it. Ignoring the warning, Harley marched straight to his father’s room. Rather than knock, he pounded on the door.His father’s irritated voice boomed from within. "I warned you—I don’t want any interference! If you all want to keep your jobs, stay out of my business!"At that moment, Harley responded by firing on the door lock and then kicking it open. Gary ran to the corner in fear, his back hitting the wall. When Gary saw that it was Harley who had shot at the door, he blurted out, "What's going on in your head? You could have called me!" "Where are they?" Harley yelled with murderous eyes."Who are you talking about?" Gary replied, trying to sound calm, but miserably failed under his son's intense gaze. Harley clenched his teeth and rushed to his father, who tried to escape, but Harley grabbed him by his throat and howled, "
★★★★★ Jasmine was exhausted, thirsty and going through the ripping pain in her shoulder, but she made sure she reached out for her husband, who was looking for her crazily. "Hello... it's me!" Jasmine said in a tired voice and crawled away from the dead man. Since it was almost dark, she took refuge behind a tree and decided to stay there until Damon came. "Where are you?" Damon's harsh voice broke out, full of impatience and tension. "Come and get me. I am tired and I...I killed a man who wanted to kill me," Jasmine said, "Also a group of people took Nadia with them. She is in danger too. Bring men," Jasmine said, closing her eyes. "Hang in there!" Damon said. There was a sense of reassurance in his voice that calmed Jasmine and she replied, "Okay!" And she touched her shoulder where she felt pain. Meanwhile, Harley reached the mansion where Amanda's father was busy in the swimming pool with some young lady. As soon as they entered, they all started screaming in fear becau
★★★★★"I don’t know anything!" Harley’s mother stammered, her voice trembling as she scrambled towards Nadia, who sat handcuffed in the corner. "In my sleep, I felt someone’s hand on my face, and I jolted awake. I tried to fight, and Harley’s father did the same, but they injured him before dragging me out of the villa. It was dark outside.""I think it’s the same people who brought you here. They pretended to be the police and tricked me," Nadia said calmly as she looked at Harley's worried mother."How is his father?"Nadia felt bad hearing Harley's mother's worried voice."When I left the villa, a doctor monitored him and the doctor said he is fine and has no injuries," Nadia said."You are not lying to me, are you?" Harley's mother asked again just to believe Nadia was not saying the positive just to keep her calm."Why would I lie to you to keep you satisfied when both of our lives are at stake? I was thinking about your son. I'm afraid he won't deal with this situation patiently
★★★★Nadia didn't go to her house. Instead, she went to Jasmine's house. All the way she kept wondering if Amanda was really that stupid. Knowing Harley's nature, how could she dare to attack his mother, and why did she think that kidnapping Harley's mother would make it easier for her to get back into his life?When she was about to enter Jasmine's house, a police car blocked her way, which shocked Nadia, and she quickly got out of the car in confusion and asked, "What happened, Sir?!" At the same time, Jasmine saw Nadia and the police from the balcony, where she was walking with a coffee mug in her hand. So, she decided to go and see what the matter was."Are you Nadia Hazelwood?" a policeman asked.Nadia replied, a little nervously, "Yes, sir, I am Nadia Hazelwood. Is something wrong?""We found illegal substances in your house. You have to come with us to the police station," the cop said, showing off the handcuff to Nadia who could no longer stop herself from panicking as she mut
★★★★ As the morning dawned Nadia found herself pinned down by a strong arm around her waist and unable to breathe. But what scared her the most was the thought that Harley was naked. She moved quickly and looked under the sheets, but he wasn't naked; he was wearing his boxers, and she sighed with relief. Then she tried to push his hand out of her to get up, but he grumbled, "Let me hold you a little longer." "I have a lot of work to do; hugging won't buy me time," Nadia grumbled. "You work in my office, and as your boss, I am ordering you to remain on the bed with me; if you're so free, you can show me your care by kissing me," Harley said. "Stop your nonsense, Harley. Your mother will come anytime and I will feel ashamed," Nadia put her hand on his face and tried to push him away, but she couldn't. Though his sleeping face looked innocent and peaceful, which urged her to stare at him for a long time, she refused to do that since she was embarrassed to show her affection. Suddenl
★★★★★"Uh..huh! What did you hear him talking about?" Harley replied calmly."He was talking to someone in the garden who I couldn't see so I was standing near the wall and listening to their conversation, then I heard your father say that if that person can't achieve what he has been given to do then he should kill himself or your father will kill him," Nadia said with shock and fear in her eyes as she thought that Harley’s father was going to harm someone."Hmmmm... Dad is consumed by the greed to get the power. That is why he abruptly came here with Mom," Harley said, making his way to the bed, his hand unbuttoning his shirt, while he added, "Let him do what he wants. I'm glad you found something entertaining in this house!""How come you are so relaxed even after knowing all this? What if he is plotting something dangerous against you because I felt he has no sympathy for you or no care that you are his son," Nadia said impatiently putting both her hands on her waist as she did no