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Chapter 15: The Trap
Last Updated:
2024-11-25 17:58:52
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In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 16: The Return of Lily
The grand West mansion sizzled with anticipation when the sleek black car swung into its driveway. Clyde's ex-fiancée, Lily Harrington, got out, perfectly manicured fingers adjusting her designer sunglasses. She looked upon the estate with a calculating smirk; her sharp features gleamed brightly in a fusion of beauty and menace. She had returned to claim what she felt belonged to her, and she wasn't leaving without a fight.Sharon and Eva were already concocting their next move against Violet inside the mansion. When the butler announced Lily's arrival, both women exchanged knowing glances. "Perfect timing," Sharon said with an arching smile. "She's just the ally we need."Eva's eyes shone with mischievous intent. "Lily always managed to get a rise out of Clyde. If anyone can help us drive a wedge between him and Violet, she can." The ReunionLily sashayed into the grand living room, her heels clicking against the marble floor. Sharon and Eva rose to greet her, their expressions w
Last Updated : 2024-11-26In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 17: Unwelcome News
That evening, the West family mansion buzzed with increased activity. The dining hall had fresh white lilies on the table and a hint of gold on every decoration. It surely was something more important than just a family dinner. Violet sat quietly at one end of the table, her eyes straying to Clyde, who seemed uneasier by the minute. Across from him sat Lily Harrington, perfectly attired in a glossy black evening gown that matched the sumptuousness of the room. A serene smile covered an assured undertone of entitlement.Sharon and Eva, who sat quite close, exchanged knowing glances. They both seemed a bit too involved in the outcome of the evening. The patriarch Richard West entered last, claiming the space in the center. With his pleased smile, he sat at the head of the table and raised his glass to silence the people.Good evening, everyone," Richard began, his tone appropriately warm yet formal. "Tonight's dinner is more than just a family gathering. I have an important announcement
Last Updated : 2024-11-26In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 18: A Night of Deception
As the night wore on, the West mansion was wrapped in silent splendor. Antique paintings, elegant chandeliers, and faint creaks and whispers of evening breeze teased its halls. And Lily Harrington, never one to waste an opportunity, had made herself comfortable in one of the mansion's opulent guest rooms. Of course, she had planned this moment from the instant she'd arrived calculated attempt at solidifying her position as Clyde's fiancée, willing or not.Lily's Bold MoveWrapped in a clinging silk robe, Lily sashayed down the hall towards Clyde's room. Her bare feet made barely any sound on the plush carpet as she recited her lines in her head. She had decided that tonight would be the night to remind Clyde of what he should feel for her—or at least make him rethink his disobedience.She reached his door, hesitated a moment, and slipped inside. Clyde's room was in semi-darkness, with only the warm glow of a bedside lamp illuminating his firm profile as he sat at his desk, poring over
Last Updated : 2024-11-26In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 19: Early Morning Trap
Soft morning sun rays managed to drill their way into the West mansion, casting golden hues on its intricately carved hallways and rooms. In the kitchen, Violet was leaning against the counter, peeling an orange. She loved such rare moments of tranquility before the storm of activity that was sure to erupt soon.As she popped a slice into her mouth, Sharon entered, her steps deliberate, her smile overly pleasant. Violet looked up, slightly surprised."Good morning, Violet," Sharon greeted, her tone unusually sweet."Good morning, Mrs. West," Violet returned with a polite greeting, sensing something was off.Sharon walked over to the counter, picking up a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. "Here, have some juice. It's good to start the day with something refreshing."Violet demurred but took the glass, considering it a friendly gesture. After a few sips, Violet was sure Sharon kept looking at her.Sharon clapped her hands together, simulating urgency. "Oh, by the way, Violet, one
Last Updated : 2024-11-27In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 20: A Friend's Revelation
The early afternoon sun poured through the tall windows of the West mansion as Violet stood in her room, sorting through her things. She had spent the morning mulling over Richard's words, his offer still fresh in her mind had told her she could go back to her acting career if being Clyde's assistant was too much for her. While she was grateful for it, it seemed a confirmation of some sort that her time in this house was almost over.It was with a dress folded into her suitcase that the tapping on the door came."Come on in," Violet called.The door creaked open, and there he was, framed in the doorway and making the gloomy room bright. "Violet! I miss you!""Olivia!" Violet exclaimed, hurrying to embrace her friend.Memories StirringThe two women hugged tight, and Olivia stepped back, her gaze wandering to the large room. She wrinkled her brow slightly. "It's weird, but I feel like I've been here before."Violet cocked an eyebrow. "Really? Perhaps you have been to a party here befor
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The dining room of the West family buzzed with conversation, where Violet had sat quietly with her hands folded in her lap. He had just sprung on her that her future husband's family would visit later in the evening, and it had made Violet agree. But with a knot deep down, her mind kept up with better reasoning that it was her necessary step to enter their family.Across the table, Clyde sat rigidly, his jaw clenched as his gaze remained fixed on Violet. Every word she had spoken earlier about accepting the marriage arrangements echoed in his mind, fueling a wave of anger and pain he could barely suppress.“I’ll do it,” Violet had said earlier, her voice steady but devoid of enthusiasm. “If this is best for the family, I’ll accept the marriage arrangements.”Richard beamed, seemingly pleased. "Excellent, Violet. This will strengthen the West name and see that you are well taken care of."Clyde had barely been able to contain himself at the time. The thought of Violet marrying another
Last Updated : 2024-12-05In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 22 Eva returns
Eva clicked her heels sharply against the shiny floor as she strutted her stuff through the private lounge of the airport and finally finished her call. The business trip had gone better than expected, sealing deals that boosted her reputation and, more importantly, her control within the company. Confident and satisfied, she looked forward to catching up on the drama that no doubt had unfolded back home.As her driver pulled up to the mansion, a silence Eva was unfamiliar with greeted her. Generally, the household buzzed in activity and whispers; today, it was subdued. Eva's brows furrowed as she entered the grand foyer, knowing full well in her instincts that something was off.A maid approached her hesitantly, her hands clasped nervously. "Welcome back, Miss Eva. Hope your trip went well."It was fine," Eva replied briefly, shrugging off her coat. "What's going on here? It's too quiet."The maid hesitated, looking around as if she was unsure whether to say anything. "It's about Mrs
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Clyde sat alone in the dimly lit study, the room heavy with the silence that had become his constant companion. His fingers traced the edge of an old photograph, one that had been tucked away in a drawer for years. It was a picture of him and his real sister, the sister he hadn't seen since that fateful day when she disappeared from his life.His heart ached as he stared at the photograph, a haunting reminder of what had been lost. The girl in the picture was so young, her eyes filled with innocence and hope—eyes now lost to him, vanished into the depths of time and circumstance.Clyde could still remember that day with painful clarity. It had been a few months before his mother's death, and the family had been at a turmoil. He had been so wrapped up in his own little world, too focused on his own problems to notice the cracks forming in their home. But his sister, she saw it all-the cracks between their parents, tension in the air, changes creeping in unnoticed by everyone else.Her
Last Updated : 2024-12-05
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In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 70: Olivia escape
Her eyes darted from one corner to the next. The adrenaline coursed through her veins, andevery instinct screamed at her to keep moving, to find an escape before anyone noticed shewas gone. But as she reached the end of the corridor, her hopes began to falter.The door she had been heading toward, the one that she had thought might be her salvation,was locked—just like the others. Her fingers fumbled with the handle, desperate, and she pulledon it again, then tried to force it open. It was no use.Frustration surged through her, and for a moment, she wanted to scream, to give up. But shecouldn’t afford that. Not now.She looked around, trying to assess her surroundings. The hallway was eerily silent. There wereno guards in sight, but that didn’t mean she was safe. She needed to think quickly.Her mind raced. There had to be another way out. Perhaps there was a window or another doorhidden somewhere. She couldn’t let herself get trapped now, not when she was so close.As she tur
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 69: Voilet recovery
Mathew’s expression darkened slightly, a hint of sadness flickering in his eyes. "That’s mydaughter," he said softly, taking the photo from Eva’s hands. "She’s been missing for severalyears now."Eva’s heart clenched. "Missing? What happened?"Mathew sighed deeply, his gaze fixed on the picture. "It’s a long story, but I’ve recently comeback to find her. That's why I’m here.”Eva reached out and laid a comforting hand on his arm. "I'm so sorry, Mathew. If there'sanything I can do to help, please let me know."Mathew gave her a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Eva. Your support means more than youknow."Violet continued to recover until the doctors were able to discharge her from the hospital. Clydewas always there by her side, seeing to it that she had everything she needed. As they cameout of the hospital, Violet inhaled deeply of the fresh air, feeling free and relieved.Upon arrival, the staff welcomed Violet with warmth; Clyde helped her settle down, and as theywere walk
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 68: Leo Levine re
These days in the hospital soon became endless, all filled with physical pain and emotionalturmoil. The fall had not taken from Violet any more than a broken arm, but much morepriceless a loss that floated in the air around her. The nurses were in and out, giving hermedication and taking vitals, while Clyde sat beside her whenever he could, offering what littlecomfort he could.Yet within her frail frame, Violet refused to become a weak soul. She startedphysiotherapy to get her arm functioning again, but while doing all this-her heart was the onethat felt heavier. The hospital became a place of healing, not only for her body but also for herspirit.Meanwhile, Clyde was in the middle of all the chaos that engulfed the company. Despite Sharon and Leo's efforts to block his attendance, the meeting he had attended was just thebeginning of the war. The company was in disarray, and Clyde knew that unless he moved fast,the empire his father built could crumble.He spent hours in the
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 67: The Bad News
"Trying wasn't enough," Leo snapped. "Now everything is falling apart. We can't afford any moremistakes, Sharon. If Clyde stays on top of this, we'll lose the whole game."Her face flashed with anger as Sharon's heart began to race. "Don't put this all on me, Leo. I'vebeen doing everything I can while you've been playing your games. Maybe if you had a betterbackup plan, we wouldn't be in this mess."Leo’s voice lowered, cold and dangerous. "We don’t have time for your excuses. Fix this,Sharon. Or you’ll regret it."The call ended abruptly, leaving Sharon fuming. She stood there for a moment, her breathcoming in sharp, shallow bursts. The pressure was mounting, and Leo’s anger only fueled herown.Sharon didn't so much as glance backward toward the entrance of the hospital as she spun onher heel and strode away. Her heels clicked sharply against the pavement, echoing thefrustration as she headed toward her car. She needed a new plan, and she needed it fast. Leowasn't going to g
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 66: The frustrating moment
Violet smiled politely, but her eyes never left Sharon's, sensing the undercurrent of tension."That's very kind of you, Sharon."Upstairs, Clyde entered the bedroom, his mind already on the board meeting ahead. He movedwith purpose, selecting a sharp suit from his wardrobe as his mind played out the possiblescenarios at the office.The tie was correctly done, and his phone went off with the reminder of his meeting.Down the stairs he went, to rejoin Violet, who waited at the door. "I will be back before you knowit," he said, clasping her hand one last time."Be careful," Violet whispered, her eyes shaded with concern."I will," Clyde promised, his tone firm with conviction.Sharon thought quickly, trying to find a way to ensure Clyde wouldn't make that important boardmeeting. She had to think fast, and she knew just the thing to engage him-Violet. An almostdiabolical smile curled Sharon's lips as she contrived her plan.Sharon quickly ran into the kitchen and brought back a bott
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 65: The accident
Violet sat on the edge of the bed and watched Clyde pacing across the room while her eyesshone with apprehension. He looked tired but not beaten, and after reaching the wall, he turnedto face her and started to speak."When I got to the warehouse, I knew something felt off, but I went in anyway," Clyde began, hisvoice firm, yet laced with residual fear from the experience. The place was dark and quiet, tooquiet. I called out for Olivia, but nobody answered, so I realized it was a trap.Violet's heart sank, though she maintained poise and nodded for him to continue."Before I could react, they jumped me," Clyde said, his fists clenched at the memory. "Theybound me up, and that's when I met Leo Levine. He was there to gloat-to tell me how heplanned to take everything from my father, our family's legacy. He even bragged about how, bynoon tomorrow, he'd be announced as the new CEO."Violet gasped, placing her hand over her mouth. "Oh, Clyde…Clyde reached for her, taking her hands
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 64: The Romance
The post-euphoria of their passionate encounter went away; the room slowly relapsed into itsquiet stillness, with their mingled breaths being the only sounds that Eva lay on his chest,tracing lazy circles on his skin while her mind remained blissfully blank and savoring theafterglow.But then, suddenly, the shrill ringing of her phone resounded through the stillness, placing themboth in a shocked stillness. Eva's heart went a miss as she reached for her phone lying on thebedside table. Looking at the screen, her breath caught-it was her mother."Mom?" she answered, still sounding husky from the exertion."Eva, where are you?" her mother's voice came through, laced with worry and urgency. "I needyou to come home. Now."The concern in her mother's tone was enough to snap Eva out of her blissful state. She sat upabruptly, clutching the sheet to her chest. "Is everything okay, Mom?"There was a pause, and then her mother said, "It's important, Eva. Please, just come."Eva's heart p
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 63: The Night Heats Up
Eva continued to talk with the man; with every word, it was an affair. His hand brushed againsthers, sending a spark coursing through her entire body. The laughter between them softenedand gave way to lingering glances, a growing tension that neither seemed in any hurry to break.The music in the bar had shifted to a slower, more sensual rhythm, matching the simmeringenergy between them. Eva leaned closer, her breath mingling with his, her fingers playing withthe rim of her glass. She felt the pulse of desire growing, a magnetic pull that drew her towardshim.“You’re intoxicating,” he whispered, his voice a husky murmur that sent a shiver down her spine.His eyes locked onto hers, dark and intense, promising something that made her heart race.Eva didn't answer with words. Her gaze dropped to his lips; her own parted slightly in aninvitation. He caught that subtle invitation; his fingers reached out and gently traced the line ofher jaw, pressing her face higher. The gap between
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 62: The Unraveling
Sharon burst into her penthouse and slammed the door shut with a force that sentreverberations through the silent apartment. Her heels clicked loudly against the glitteringmarble floor as she marched toward the expansive living room, her mind a maelstrom of angerand frustration.How did he get away?" she whispered, the words repeating in her mind like a mantra. "It wasperfect-everything, every eventuality.She threw her coat onto the sleek leather couch, her hands shaking with barely restrainedanger. She began to pace up and down, trying to put together how Clyde had managed to slipthrough their grasp. The guards were doubled and the warehouse secure, yet somehow, Clydemanaged to outwit all.Sharon stopped dead in her tracks, her beady eyes now set on her phone, which lay on thecoffee table. Snatching it up, she scrolled down her contacts to Eva's number in a jiffy. Eva hadbeen one of their inside players, an important part of their scheme. If anyone had informationregarding
