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Chapter 23: Weight of Regret
Last Updated:
2024-12-05 17:20:32
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In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 24: Too Intimate for Siblings
Two weeks had passed since Sharon's accident, and the West household had adjusted to an uncomfortable routine. Sharon was still trying to regain her memory, which irritated Eva. Every day, Eva sat by her mother, guiding her, eager to put together the pieces of Sharon's memories.The air was thick in Sharon's room as Eva sat beside her bed, holding a glass of water. "Mom, think harder," she said. "You said you were going to show Dad something important before your accident. Try to remember what it was.Sharon furrowed her brows, her fingers clutching the bedsheet tightly. "I don't know, Eva," she said, her voice laced with frustration. "It's all a blur. I remember walking… the pool… and then nothing."Eva sighed and stood, pacing the room. "Mom, you have to try harder. This isn't just about us anymore. Violet and Clyde… they're taking over everything. We need to stop them."Later that evening, as Sharon lay alone in her room, fragments of her past began to resurface, like pieces of a b
Last Updated : 2024-12-05In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 25: A Visit to the Past
The night was still, with the moon reflecting its silvery light upon the West mansion. Violet stood at her room door, her heart pounding against her chest. The air seemed thick with secrets, and her restless mind had been hounded by memories of her childhood. She had to go back-to that very town where she grew up and everything started.She pulled a thin cardigan over her shoulders, grabbed her small purse, and crept out of her room. Her footsteps were light against the polished floors as she tiptoed past the other rooms, careful not to wake anyone. Her breathing was shallow, her nerves taut like a string ready to snap.Unbeknownst to Violet, a pair of sharp eyes had followed her every movement. Eva had grown ever suspicious with the secrecy of her friend and thus had kept tabs on her. She watched as Violet slipped out the side door and disappeared into the cool night.Eva smirked. "What are you up to, little miss perfect?" she whispered low. She took her coat and quietly followed, he
Last Updated : 2024-12-06In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 26: A Day Out with Jacob
The morning sun burst through the curtains of Violet's room in ribbons of gold, cast upon the walls. Violet stood at the window, sipping her tea, when a knock on the door jolted her out of her reverie. Placing the cup down, she walked over and opened the door to find Jacob standing in the doorway, his usual charming smile illuminating his face."Good morning, Violet," he said, a playful lilt in his voice. "I hope I'm not disturbing you.""Jacob?" she said, surprised. "What brings you here so early?""I figured you could use a break," he replied. "How about some shopping? My treat."Violet hesitated. It had been a while since she'd gone anywhere for herself. Still, Jacob's enthusiasm was contagious, and before she knew it, she was nodding."Alright," she said with a small smile. "Give me a few minutes to get ready."Jacob drove them to the city in his sleek car, the atmosphere light and easy. He hummed along to the radio as Violet gazed out the window, the scenery shifting from quiet s
Last Updated : 2024-12-06In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 27: Whispers of Betrayal
The grand lounge of a high-end hotel was the place where Sharon and Eva had decided to hold their secret meeting. The air was thick with the smell of leather and aged bourbon, and the low hum of conversation lent an air of secrecy to the surroundings. Around a polished table, a group of the company's prominent shareholders sat, each looking curious yet wary.Sharon, in a navy blue suit that commanded respect and oozed authority, stood at the head, with a serene yet scheming smile on her face. Eva sat beside her, composed and sanguine, but inside her heart bubbled with excitement."Thank you all for coming," Sharon began, her voice warm yet calculated. "We're here today because we're concerned about the future of West Enterprises.A silver-haired man at the table, Mr. Langston, leaned forward. "Concerned? What do you mean, Sharon? Richard and Clyde have been running things quite smoothly."Sharon gave a soft, almost pitying smile. "That's the perception, yes. But the truth is far more
Last Updated : 2024-12-06In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 28: A Claim Too Far
Violet stared at the woman, her body tense, her breathing shallow. The night was colder now, the air heavy with uncertainty. The woman stepped closer, her features clearer under the dim glow of the streetlamp. Her eyes were sharp, and her face was etched with a life hard-lived.I'm your mother, Violet," the woman said quietly, a sad edge to her tone. "I've been looking for you for years."Violet stepped backward, her instincts warning her not to believe too quickly. "My mother?" she repeated, doubt lacing her voice. "That's impossible. My mother. she." Her words trailed off, memories of her childhood pain flashing before her eyes.The woman's face softened, as if she knew Violet was unsure. "I know this is a lot to believe, but it's true. Your father, he never wanted you to know about me. He took you from me when you were just a baby."Violet's chest tightened. "And now you expect me to believe you? After all these years, you just show up and claim to be my mother? Why now?The woman'
Last Updated : 2024-12-09In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 29: Tony bad intentions
The evening air was cool as Violet strolled down the quiet street, lost in thought. Her visit with Olivia earlier had lifted her spirits, but everything else weighed heavily upon her. She decided to take a longer route home, enjoying the solitude and the rare peace it brought her.Unbeknownst to her, there were shadows lurking nearby. Three men, in dark clothes, waited in the alley just ahead. They exchanged glances, their smirks an outward expression of their malicious intentions."Tony said to make it quick," one of them grumbled, adjusting his grip on a length of metal rod.An AmbushShe turned the corner, and the men stepped out, blocking her path. She froze. Her heart pounded as the lead man sneered.Well, look who's all dressed up and fancy," he sneered; the venom in his voice was unmistakable. "Tony sends his regards."Violet's eyes widened in surprise at the mention of her ex-boyfriend. "Tony? What does he want?" she asked, attempting to keep her voice from shaking despite the
Last Updated : 2024-12-09In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 30: Tony's Obsession Intensifies
The air in Tony's office was thick with tension as he paced back and forth, clutching a glass of whiskey. He couldn't stomach it anymore-the sight of Violet living her dream, thriving in a life he believed should have included him. It wasn't fair. Tony swirled the amber liquid in his glass, his jaw tightening with resolve. If she had thought she could leave him in the dust and forget that life, she was sorely mistaken. He would pull her back into his world, no matter the cost.He reached for his phone and dialed a number. "Mr. Gaines, I need your services."A deep voice on the other end responded, "Private or public matter?"Private. Discreet. I want everything there is to know about Violet- her past, her secrets, her connections. Leave no stone unturned." Tony's voice was cold, calculated."Consider it done," the investigator said, his voice thick with the confidence of a man who had ruined lives. Unveiling SecretsIn a matter of days, Gaines came back with his findings. A thick fil
Last Updated : 2024-12-18In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 31: A New Rival for Clyde
Heels echoed on the marble floor of the big building of West Corporation. Violet, in a tight black dress that Clyde handpicked for her, literally strutted down the hallway, clutching a folder that contained all the details concerning the next meeting. The façade of professionalism came about so easily for her now, but beneath that was the secret she and Clyde shared secret binding them close yet so dangerously. She was not his sister, Violet West, but an actress hired to play the part of Violet in an Elaborate Charade.As Violet entered Clyde’s office, she noticed him standing by the large glass window, gazing out at the city skyline. “You’re tense,” she said softly, setting the folder on his desk.He turned, his eyes locking on hers. “We’ve got trouble,” he said, his voice low and grave.“Trouble?” she asked, her stomach tightening.A man named Adrian Blackwood has just acquired a significant stake in one of our subsidiary companies," Clyde said, his tone clipped. "He's a tycoon from
Last Updated : 2024-12-18
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In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 88: The Proposal
Clyde had been planning this moment for days. Despite the chaos surrounding them, he knewlife was too short to wait. After everything they had been through—near-death experiences,betrayals, and endless danger—he was sure of one thing: he wanted Violet by his side, forever.He chose a quiet evening for his plan. The sun was setting, casting a warm golden hue over theMaranzano estate. Richard and Olivia were conveniently out for the evening, and Clyde hadarranged for a private dinner on the balcony overlooking the estate’s sprawling gardens.Violet stepped onto the balcony, her breath catching as she took in the sight. The table was setwith candles flickering softly, their glow illuminating Clyde’s nervous smile. A bouquet of herfavorite flowers rested in a vase at the center of the table.“Clyde, what is all this?” Violet asked, her eyes wide with surprise.Clyde walked over to her, taking her hand in his. “Just something simple to show you how muchyou mean to me,” he said, his
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 87: The Clyde recovery
Clyde’s AwakeningThe hospital room was quiet except for the soft hum of machines and the faint sound of Violet’sshaky breaths. She sat by Clyde’s bed, her fingers tightly gripping his cold hand. The beepingmonitor was steady but seemed unbearably loud in the stillness.Tears rolled down her cheeks as she stared at his pale face. He had always been so strong, unshakable, and now he looked so fragile. The thought of losing him felt like a knifetwisting in her chest.“Clyde…” she whispered, her voice breaking. “Please… please don’t leave me. I can’t do thisalone.”She leaned closer, resting her forehead against his hand, her tears soaking the sheets. “Youpromised me,” she sobbed. “You said you’d always protect me, no matter what. I need you,Clyde. For the sake of everything we’ve shared, for the future we dreamed of… please wakeup.”Her voice cracked as she poured her heart out, the pain in her words filling the room. “I loveyou,” she choked out, her grip tightening. “I can’t l
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 86: Eva’s Deadly Plan
Eva stormed into Sharon’s old office, the place where all her mother’s dark deeds had beenorchestrated. Her hands were trembling with frustration after Tony’s confrontation. He knew toomuch, and worse, he had proof. The smug, arrogant Tony was no longer the pawn he had been;now, he was a threat.Eva paced the room, dialing a number she hadn’t called in years. It was a contact her motherused for their most sensitive “clean-ups.” A man who had no loyalty, only a price tag.When he picked up, his voice was low and cold. “What do you need?”“There’s a man named Tony,” Eva hissed, her voice seething with hatred. “I want him gone.Make it look like an accident.”The man chuckled darkly. “Consider it done. Where can I find him?”Eva provided the details with a sense of finality. “Do not fail me,” she warned before hanging up.She sat back, her lips curling into a sinister smile. “Goodbye, Tony. You’ve outlived yourusefulness.”Unaware of the immediate danger looming over him, Tony sat i
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 85: The Hospital
After the recent incident with Jonas attempting to abduct Clyde from his hospital room, RichardGray, Clyde's father, took no chances. He hired a team of highly skilled bodyguards to protectClyde around the clock. Dressed in sharp black suits and armed discreetly, the guards stood atevery entrance and exit, ensuring no unauthorized person could come near Clyde's room.Richard personally oversaw the arrangements, his stern expression betraying the deep worry hefelt for his son. “No one gets in or out without my permission,” he told the head of the securityteam. “My son’s life depends on it.”Olivia, Clyde's younger sister, visited the hospital every day. She was a whirlwind of emotions,constantly hovering around her brother's bedside. She brought flowers, read to him, and evenplayed soft music, hoping it would reach him in his coma.“Clyde,” Olivia whispered one day, her voice trembling, “you have to wake up. I need my bigbrother. You’re the strong one in this family. Don’t let
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 84: The Fake Doctor
For days, Violet remained by Clyde’s side, refusing to leave the hospital. She barely slept, hereyes red from crying and exhaustion. Every time a nurse or doctor came into the room, shewould anxiously ask if there was any change in Clyde’s condition. The answer was always thesame—he was still in a coma.She spoke to him, her voice low and filled with emotion. “Clyde, you have to wake up.Everyone’s waiting for you—your dad, Olivia, and me. I can’t do this without you.” She brushedhis hair back gently, her hand trembling as she willed him to respond.Despite her fatigue, Violet’s resolve never wavered. She had a gut feeling that Eva wasn’t doneyet. She kept watch over Clyde like a hawk, but her lack of sleep made her vulnerable.Eva, sitting in her luxurious apartment, smirked as she dialed a number. “It’s time. You knowwhat to do,” she instructed coldly, her voice dripping with malice. “Make sure Clyde doesn’tleave that hospital alive.”On the other end of the line, a man named
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 83: The Mocking Visit
Violet sat in the hospital waiting room, her hands clasped together so tightly that her knucklesturned white. Clyde was still in surgery, and every passing second felt like an eternity. Her mindraced with thoughts of what had just happened, of how close she’d come to losing him.The sterile scent of the hospital did little to calm her nerves, but she kept telling herself to holdon, to stay strong—for Clyde.Suddenly, the soft click of heels echoed through the hallway, breaking the suffocating silence.Violet looked up and froze.Eva stood in the doorway, her presence as chilling as a winter storm. She wore a sleek blackdress, her hair perfectly styled, and that mocking smile—the one that could curdle blood—wasplastered across her face."Eva," Violet hissed, standing up. Her body tensed as she took a step forward."Violet," Eva replied smoothly, her voice dripping with false sweetness. She stepped further intothe room, her heels clicking ominously against the tiled floor. "You lo
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 82: The Lock Up
Tony's plan unfolded late at night when Violet least expected it. After receiving the damningevidence Eva fabricated, he was convinced that Violet and Clyde had been the mastermindsbehind his downfall. Fueled by anger and Eva's manipulative whispers, Tony decided it was timeto take matters into his own hands.Violet was leaving her office when Tony’s car screeched to a halt in front of her. She barely hadtime to react before Tony stepped out, his face twisted with rage.“Tony? What are you doing here?” Violet asked, confused but calm. She had tried to avoid himever since their last bitter encounter.He didn’t answer. Instead, he grabbed her arm roughly.“Let go of me!” she shouted, struggling against his grip.“You’re coming with me,” Tony snarled, dragging her toward his car.Violet fought back, but Tony was stronger. He shoved her into the back seat and slammed thedoor shut.“Tony, you’re insane! Let me go!” she yelled, banging on the windows.But he ignored her, climbing into
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 81: Two Birds, One Stone
After Eva’s public humiliation and dismissal from Michael Gray’s life, she returned to herapartment, fuming. The whispers and stares at the restaurant had been unbearable, and therealization that her carefully planned schemes were crumbling made her blood boil. But Evawasn’t one to go down quietly.Unfortunately for her, she wasn’t the only one plotting revenge.Tony had spent months in exile, nursing his wounds after being set up for embezzlement at hisprevious job. The accusations had been damning, and while he managed to avoid jail time, hisreputation was in tatters. His departure from the city wasn’t voluntary—it was a matter ofsurvival.But now he was back, and he wanted answers.Tony sat in the dimly lit bar where he had arranged to meet Eva. His fingers tapped rhythmicallyagainst his glass of whiskey as he waited. When Eva arrived, she looked frazzled but puttogether, her usual confidence replaced by a nervous energy.“What’s this about, Tony?” Eva asked, sliding into t
In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 80: Michael The Real father
The evening was quiet at the estate, but Harris’s mind was anything but. He had spent the pastfew days investigating Violet’s past, determined to find answers to the questions surroundingher biological family. Something about the story Michael had told him during a fleetingconversation at a business event had struck him as familiar. Now, as he pieced together clues,Harris’s heart began to race.He had uncovered documents that linked Violet to Michael Carter—a wealthy businessman whohad been searching for his long-lost daughter for years. The same Michael Carter who, by abizarre twist of fate, had recently become romantically involved with Eva, Violet’s stepmother.Harris paced his study, the weight of the revelation sinking in. How could such a tangled webexist in their lives? He grabbed his phone and scrolled to Clyde’s number. This wasn’tsomething he could handle alone. He needed Clyde to know the truth before the situationspiraled out of control.Clyde arrived home from th
