"Ethan, here are the papers you wanted," Ethan strode powerfully into Rafael's office with a folder of papers. His totally professional businesslike manner may have been intact but out of those eyes, there was something about Rafael which set Ethan's teeth on edge.He was gathering up his papers on the desk, glancing back toward Ethan as their eyes met. That twisted-knife feeling hit him full force, as fast as he pushed the emotion aside. He reached for the documents, flipping with a practiced eye through them. "Thanks," he said curtly enough without looking up.Ethan had slouched at the edge of the desk, an easy pose, but his eyes seemed as sharp as razors. "How's that investment deal coming along?" he asked, light in tone.Rafael didn't raise his gaze from the papers before him. "It's good. Just ironing out a few wrinkles before moving forward."Ethan nodded again, but this time forced some interest into the action. "Good to hear. You have always been good at closing deals."Rafael
Ethan left the office, letting the door swing shut behind him as he strode on down the hall, a barely subvocalized smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Dinner tonight huh? His mind whirled noiselessly. But he'd be stupid- no, beyond stupid to let his defenses down just because he finally saw a small chink in Rafael's armor. The invitation itself had been a surprise if not suspicious. But Ethan was not the man to refuse a challenge, at least under such high stakes.And it tugged at something deep within—one part anticipation, another unease: dinner with Rafael and Bernice. Actually, he had been playing a very long game, one of diligent tactics working toward weaving his own threads that finally were to bring Bernice down and put him in with Rafael. This night could be the turning point, but only if he played his cards right.He left the building, heading for his car, as anticipations of the night overwhelmed the weariness from making inroads in the thinking process. As he drov
"You've got it all wrong, Rafael," said Liam with a very slightly smirking expression as he leans back in his chair.The late afternoon sun diffused to a golden glow that now bathed Rafael's study, the two men seated there facing one another. A vastly colorful contrast to his entry.Rafael's arms crossed and he looked war on him. "Wrong? I saw you with Bernice, Liam. You can't tell me that wasn't something."Liam only laughed, shaking his head'. "Oh, I'm not denying we were together. But it's not what you think." He reaches into his pocket, then pulls out his phone. "Here, take a look at these."He took the phone gingerly when Liam offered it to him, his other arm still tense on his chest, fingers curled a bit, as if he might snatch it away. He glared suspiciously at the pictures running across the screen, squinting a little to try and get through the information. One picture showed Liam and a nice-looking lady, both wide-smiling at the camera. One of them showed them holding a baby
That explanation Rafael had been awaiting long, very impatiently. Bernice and Liam fixed their eyes keenly on him with expressions one could hardly explain but they looked full of hope.Ethan's jaws parted to speak, but no words came forth. His mind was totally blank; which eluded him. For the first time in his life, Ethan felt speechless, and he knew he was in deep trouble.He counted off the seconds, each one dragging into infinity, for Ethan to find a way to wriggle out, but he found none. No clever lie, no smooth excuse could get him out of this.Finally, Rafael spoke, wrestling his voice into hardness. "I don't know what you're playing at, Ethan, but I'm no fool. If you have something to say, say it now. Otherwise, I'll make sure you regret ever crossing me.".Ethan's mind echoed with the reality: he'd been cornered, trapped in every sense of the word, like a rat, and there was no getting out of the consequences of what he had done. Game over. Ethan had known it."Ethan," Rafael'
That explanation Rafael had been awaiting long, very impatiently. Bernice and Liam fixed their eyes keenly on him with expressions one could hardly explain but they looked full of hope.Ethan's jaws parted to speak, but no words came forth. His mind was totally blank; which eluded him. For the first time in his life, Ethan felt speechless, and he knew he was in deep trouble.He counted off the seconds, each one dragging into infinity, for Ethan to find a way to wriggle out, but he found none. No clever lie, no smooth excuse could get him out of this.Finally, Rafael spoke, wrestling his voice into hardness. "I don't know what you're playing at, Ethan, but I'm no fool. If you have something to say, say it now. Otherwise, I'll make sure you regret ever crossing me.".Ethan's mind echoed with the reality: he'd been cornered, trapped in every sense of the word, like a rat, and there was no getting out of the consequences of what he had done. Game over. Ethan had known it."Ethan," Rafael'
He burst into the apartment, slamming the door with each breath roaring out of him in angry spurts. "Bernice!" he growled, his fists balled at his sides. "That despicable, scheming woman! My Goshh!! Olivia, I swear, I'm going to make her pay!"Olivia glanced up from where she sat on the couch, arched brow in place as she took in Ethan's tempestuous expression. "What happened? Why are you so mad?”Ethan walked back and forth across the room, shaking with anger. He couldn't really keep it in check. "Rafael made me apologize to Bernice." He spit the words out like blowtorches. "On my knees! In front of her and Liam. Like I was nothing. Nothing!" He shook his fists in the air.Olivia's eyes flew wider open in incredulous disbelief. "On your knees? You've got to be kidding! That bastard had you!""I'm damn serious" Ethan hissed again, his voice low through each syllable, laced with venom. "I was humiliated, Olivia. She just stood there, looking down at me as though I were some bug to crus
Ethan smiled wider, unable to check his excitement at what they had in store. "Once this is all said and done, Bernice is going to be nothing more than history. Rafael is going to be left high and dry, and we're going to get exactly what we want."Olivia smiled back at him, her lips parting to mirror him. The two were reveling in the success of this pending victory way too early. "Let's work our magic, Ethan. Bernice is going to be blindsided."The smile on Olivia's face widened, and as the night carried on, she leaned back in her chair more and more. "By the time we're done, Bernice is gonna be ruined. And Rafael… he'll have nobody else to turn to but us.""I am going to start following her closely. Waiting for the tiniest indication that she might be up to something and then we strike," Ethan nodded, plotting in his head. "We'll make sure that she's got something hidden or will; either way, we win." Olivia's eyes literally sparkled with excitement as she narrated.It was pretty inv
How in the name of God did this happen, Gabriel? " The voice is kept low, a sort of undercurrent beneath the quiet drag of Rafael's pacing through the length of his study; his fingers crush the phone in a white-knuckled grip.Gabriel Greenwood, the managing director of Rafael's company, was taut on the other end of the line. "I don't know, Rafael. We're still wading through the details, but it would appear that someone here got their hands on our plans and sold them to Barrington Enterprises. This morning, they launched the product. Our exact design."Rafael pounded his fist across the desk, scattering sheets of paper. "This isn't some minor setback, Gabriel. That was to be our crowning glory. We have been working on it for months. How could somebody on the inside betray us like that?""I understand your frustration, Rafael. Believe me, I am as angry as an enraged bull. We've already started a full-scale internal investigation. The IT department is all over it digging up every digit
The chandeliers of the mansion were bright and starlike, splashing golden light upon varnished floors, Bunches of flowers scented the atmosphere as one heard the sound of reverberating laughter and music across the halls and jingling sounds that waiters made around the crowds with flutes of fine champagnes and hors d'oeuvres on their trays."Is everything ready for the toast?" Rafael demanded from one of the serving people. Authority was in his voice while his eyes played around the room."Yes, sir. Champagne is ready and so are the musicians," he said with a slight bow and scurried away.Rafael turned his eyes on Bernice, standing near the middle of the room in her glittering emerald gown. She covers it quite well, yet he manages to see right through it, to the scared smile below. Rafael moved to her, threaded an arm reassuringly around the nape of her lower back."You look lovely tonight," he whispered softly, clear into her ear."Thanks," she whispered, looking into the hall. "I ju
Sheets of rain lashed outside a small café across Liam's apartment complex as Alexander sat nursing coffee that was already cold, which he had not touched. His gaze turned out the door expecting Liam to walk in. Hoping he got his text. The anchoring weight on this day further depressed his body. The sound of defeat played out in his head until the door finally swung open, and Liam came in with drips coming off his umbrella."Alexander," he said, shock mingling with the sudden sobering of his tone. "Never thought I'd be coming in here to find you of all people waiting. What's up?"Alexander motioned to the empty chair opposite him. "Sit down. I need someone to talk to, and you're the perfect person at the moment.”Liam raised one eyebrow but did as instructed, tugging his coat off and hooking it over the back of the chair. "This does sound serious. Let me take a guess, it's about Bernice."Alexander exhaled with a heavy sigh, and the strain in his voice betrayed him. "It is always ab
"Two daddies?" Luca echoed, his voice full of wonder. "Does that mean we get two birthday parties too?"In the naivety of the question, a small, bitter laugh was dragged from Bernice. "Oh, sweetheart…", she started, but her words caught in her throat as tension pulled thick in the air.Rafael hunched down beside him, his features soft but strained. "It means you'll always have more people who love you. But I'm your father, Luca. You and Mia…you're my everything.”Luca looked up at him and furrowed his little brow as the meaning of Rafael's words digested. "But Uncle Alex takes care of us. Is he not our daddy too?"Mia stared at them, clutching her stuffed animal tightly. "Uncle Alex is fun…is he still our daddy?"Alexander had been leaning quietly against the wall until now; he stepped forward, his face composed, an edge laced in his voice. "I'll always be here for you, just like I always have been. But…," he paused, his eyes flicking to Bernice before he finished, "…your real father
The shrill ringtone of Rafael’s phone broke through the tense silence. Bernice flinched, startled from her thoughts as Rafael answered. His expression, initially sharp, softened slightly as he listened.“She’s awake?” His voice carried a mix of relief and urgency. “We’re on our way.”Bernice’s heart leaped at his words. “Mia?”Rafael nodded, snapping his phone shut. “The hospital called. She’s asking for you.”Without waiting for another word, Rafael pulled Bernice to his car, started the engine and pressed the gas pedal, speeding toward the hospital. Alexander’s car followed close behind, his headlights glaring in the rearview mirror like unspoken accusations.“I’ll need to explain things to her and Luca” Bernice murmured, her voice trembling as she twisted her hands in her lap."You will get the chance," Rafael replied tightly, his eyes fixed on the road. "But it is no longer just about you. It's time the kids knew the truth."Bernice's chest tightened; she wanted to argue but knew
"Gate 27B. Last call for flight 489 to São Paulo," the calm, automated voice echoed over the airport intercom.Detective Marcus was concealed behind a pillar, his striking eyes scouring the busy terminal. So excited, he could hardly contain his accelerating heartbeat. He then glanced at his watch-just at this time, Olivia's got to pop up. Every single lead, each and every crumb-into which he had looked-intimidated him before it all boiled down into this. Marcus reached for his radio."All units, Gate 27B. This one's not going to make it," ordered Marcus.Across the terminal, Olivia sashayed confidently through the crowd, arm linked with a man whose face bore a cruel smirk—Sebastian Reyes, the man who had framed Bernice three years ago. They looked relaxed, like a couple off on a romantic getaway. Olivia's sunglasses shielded her eyes, but her smile was bold, too bold. She believed she had won.“They really thought they could stop us?" Sebastian whispered, his hand tightly squeezing
"Run the footage again," Rafael ordered sharply, voice as keen as a razor. Fingers clasping the edge of his desk, white-knuckled. His assistant Gabriel blinked and then replayed the security footage on Rafael's big office screen.Rafael's eyes narrowed as the figure coming into view was one he could never mistake: his nephew, Ethan. Wearing a sharp suit, Ethan navigated the restricted areas within the company with confidence. It wasn't just access to the right places that remained an outstanding thing but what he was doing with it."There," Rafael pointed. "Pause it.Gabriel froze the footage; Ethan slipped a small USB drive into the server room. "We thought it was a cyber-attack," Rafael whispered, his quiet tone boiling with anger beneath. "It was him all along."Gabriel nodded grimly. "It matches perfectly with the timeline of events. Every major breach happened after he had entered the server room.Rafael leaned back, running a hand over his face. His heart pounded with a mixture
"Is everyone in position?" Rafael's voice sliced the tense air like a knife as his eyes scrutinised the dimly lit industrial warehouse ahead.Detective Marcus adjusted his earpiece. "Yes. My team has got the perimeter covered. When they hand over Luca, we move in."Rafael's jaw clamped down as he turned to Alexander and Liam. Both of them stood close, their faces taut and resolute. For once, they had the same purpose in mind.Alexander shifted weight. "This better work. If anything happens to Luca-""It won't," Rafael cut in. His tone was final. "We will get my son back tonight.""Your son?" Alexander sneered. "Don't forget Bernice's stake in this thing. She is the only one here holding things together while you play the hero."Rafael's eyes darkened. "This isn't the time for petty arguments. Luca's life is at stake."Liam's voice cut in them, raising a hand. "Enough. We focus on the rescue. Settle your issues later."There was no sound for a moment, but for the distant thrum of the c
"Pass the salt, mi amor," Rafael said in a low voice, never once taking his gaze off Bernice's face.It was this note that made Bernice blink. They sat opposite to each other at the wide, dining table-the candle flame leaping, squirming across its brilliant facets between them. But she said nothing, merely pushed the salt toward him with extended fingers, which touched his with glancing fingers, and, for an instant, all bitterness over, his eyes melted almost down; moved her so that she"Thanks, dear," he stammered, his curled lip twisting into a small warm smile.Madam, the head housekeeper, watched them across the room in silent pleasure. She had worked for the Fernandez family for years and had practically witnessed their rollercoaster love affair up and down. And for the first time in years, she saw them finally together again."I'm so happy to see you both like this," Madam whispered softly.Before Bernice could get a word out, one of the younger maids entered with a tray of win
"Are you sure you'll be fine by yourself?" Rafael asked as his hand rested on Bernice's waist, standing by the car outside the hospital. His touch was warm, familiar, and far too comforting for Bernice's liking."I'm fine, Rafael," Bernice said finally, though conviction eluded her tone. She stepped back, releasing his hold.Rafael laughed low, a knowing kind of sound. "You did that very same thing last night, remember? Right before you-""Stop." Bernice's eyes went wide as she scanned the car park, her cheeks ablaze with color. She did not need to be reminded how she let her guard down.His teasing grin deepened. "What, before you told me you loved me?""I didn't mean it," she muttered without looking his way.“Are you sure about that?" Rafael leaned in, his lips brushing her ear. "Because it sounded pretty real when you said it in my arms."Her breath hitched, and she shoved him lightly. "Go to work, Rafael."He laughed, stepping back but not before giving her one last, long look. "