★★★★ Damon entered the room with a purposeful stride, his gaze falling on his grandfather who was seated comfortably on the couch, sipping tea with a serene expression. The scene was one of calm and order, a stark contrast to the tumultuous undercurrents of their lives. "Why are you here?" Damon’s voice cut through the stillness, his tone laced with a mixture of irritation and concern. Dante, full of youthful exuberance, bounded into the room with a bright smile. "I had the best day, great-grandpa! I wish you could have been there to see it!" His enthusiasm was palpable, a stark contrast to the tension that hung in the air. Elder Colley’s eyes, however, were cold and distant. He set his cup down with deliberate precision, his movements measured. Standing up from his seat, he fixed Dante with a steely gaze. "Go to your room, Dante," he commanded, his voice carrying an unmistakable edge of finality. Dante’s smile faltered, a flicker of confusion and disappointment crossing his face.
★★★★As evening fell, Jasmine and Ceece made their entrance at the grand anniversary party of Colley Theatre. The opulence of the event was evident in the glistening décor and the air of sophistication that enveloped the venue. Jasmine’s gaze immediately fell upon Cindy, who was the centre of attention, laughing and engaging animatedly with her circle of friends. Flashbulbs from the media cameras popped sporadically, capturing the scene.Ceece leaned closer to Jasmine, her voice a soft murmur meant for Jasmine’s ears alone. "Wow, what a transformation. I would have expected the ‘princess’ to cause a scene after the breakup."Jasmine observed Cindy with a critical eye, her expression thoughtful. "It is surprising," she admitted, her voice laced with equal parts intrigue and caution. "But we shouldn’t provoke her. This might be just an elaborate façade to deceive us into underestimating her."As she spoke, Jasmine’s eyes scanned the room, searching for Damon among the guests. Her heart
★★★★★ Jasmine found a quiet corner of the room, a small refuge from the whirlwind of social interaction and flashing cameras. She slipped her phone from her purse, her finger hovering over the call button for Payne. Just as she was about to dial, Ian appeared at her side, balancing two glasses of wine with practised ease. “Here you are,” he said, offering one of the glasses to her. “Are you hiding out here? Even as the lead actress, you’re supposed to be the centre of attention tonight.” Jasmine accepted the glass, her fingers brushing against his for a brief moment. “It’s not that I’m hiding,” she replied with a hint of a smile. “My heels are killing me, and honestly, as soon as you walked in, it felt like the crowd’s attention shifted from me to you. I figured it was a good time to take a break and let the buzz settle.” Ian chuckled softly, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “I suppose I do have a knack for stealing the spotlight,” he said, leaning against the seat beside her. “B
★★★★★As Jasmine stood beside Cindy, cutting the cake in front of the eager crowd, she smiled for the cameras, her eyes scanning the room with a mixture of anticipation and guardedness. The spotlight was firmly on them, and Jasmine's thoughts were already drifting towards the end of the event and the prospect of going home.Suddenly, a voice crackled through the microphone, cutting through the celebratory atmosphere. “Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please?” The speaker’s tone was urgent and commanding, and soon, the cameras shifted to focus on the new arrival. “I’m Maria Perchor’s manager,” the woman continued, her voice dripping with disdain. “I realize this is a major event and my interruption might seem unwelcome, but I’m compelled to address something that cannot be ignored.”The crowd murmured in confusion and curiosity as the woman took a deep breath, her eyes locking onto Jasmine with a look of bitter determination. “I’m tired of watching how people like Miss
★★★★★ “Calm down, everyone,” Ian’s voice cut through the clamor, cold and commanding. He stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the restless crowd. “It’s clear to me that you all have an affinity for chaos. This woman, who claims to be a manager, has presented you with a fragment of a video, and you’ve all leaped at it without question. Why are you so quick to follow her? Do you have some personal connection with her, or is it just the allure of scandal?” A murmur of discontent rippled through the crowd. “Is there any way you can prove us wrong, Mr. Ian?” someone demanded. “Maria’s sudden replacement raises serious doubts. How can we ignore the evidence she provided?” Ian’s expression hardened, struggling to find a rebuttal. Jasmine, sensing his frustration, stepped forward and took the microphone with a steely resolve. Her voice, though calm, carried an edge of defiance. “This film is my project, my responsibility. I won’t be intimidated or forced to abandon it because of baseless
★★★★★“Help me, please!” Jasmine scrambled to her feet, her voice desperate as she turned to the figure emerging from the car. But as she caught sight of the hood and mask the person wore, her hope turned to ice. A chill ran down her spine, her heart pounding with a growing dread. The nerves in her legs felt like they were tightening into steel bands.Her gaze snapped back to the man who had been chasing her. He had stopped a short distance away, watching her intently. The realization struck her like a jolt: these people might be working together, and their intention could be to kidnap her.Jasmine’s eyes flitted toward the dark expanse of the jungle beside the road, a possible escape route that beckoned her with its shadowed refuge. Before she could make a move, the man behind her surged forward, closing the distance with alarming speed. His hand clamped down on her arm, his grip so tight that Jasmine felt a sharp, searing pain shoot through her. It was as if his fingers were trying
★★★★ “Get out of the car, bitch,” the man growled, his voice dripping with venom. His grip on Jasmine’s arm was unyielding as he yanked her from the wrecked vehicle. The cold glint of a knife suddenly appeared in his hand, its blade pressing menacingly against Jasmine’s throat. Fear gripped Jasmine, her breath hitching as the sharp metal hovered near her skin. Each slight movement could drive the blade deeper, and her mind raced with frantic caution. She could feel the heat of the man’s breath on her neck, his fury palpable. “Hold still,” he snarled, his voice a low, dangerous murmur. “One wrong move and this knife will be the last thing you ever feel.” He dragged her roughly to the front of the black car, positioning her as a living shield against their unseen adversary. “You coward!” he bellowed, his voice echoing through the night. “Show your face! Get the fuck out of the car, now!” The black car remained eerily still, the driver’s presence hidden behind the tinted windows. “I
★★★★★“Hah!” Jonathan sneered, his defiance clear as he pushed Damon away with a rough shove. Damon staggered against the car, momentarily disoriented, while Jonathan’s hand reached for the knife that had fallen to the ground.Jasmine, her heart racing, tried to move toward Damon, her mind set on helping him. But Damon raised a hand, a silent command for her to stay back, his eyes fixed on Jonathan with steely resolve. She hesitated, her fear mingled with concern, but her instincts told her to stay out of the immediate danger.Jonathan’s grip tightened around the knife’s handle as he prepared to lunge again. Damon, undeterred, straightened himself and faced Jonathan with unyielding determination. “You know,” Damon said, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife through the air, “even if you manage to escape tonight, I will hunt you down. No matter how far you hide, no matter how deeply you bury yourself.”Jonathan’s eyes flickered with a mix of fear and defiance. He held the
★★★★ "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