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Chapter 41: Olivia's Past Revealed
Last Updated:
2024-12-23 18:20:52
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In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 42: Clyde's Discovery
The morning sun streamed in through the large windows at the West estate, yet Clyde's heartwas dark with worry. It had been weeks since Violet vanished into thin air, and he was restless,desperate for answers. His private investigators had turned up nothing, and each passing daydeepened the ache in his chest. Unable to concentrate on work, Clyde called in and decided tostay home for the day. He found himself wandering aimlessly through the house, eventuallydrifting toward Violet's room. The door was ajar as if inviting him in. He hesitated for a momentbefore stepping inside. Her scent, like lavender, wafted through the air, while her favorite booklay on the bedside table. The bed was made neat, but items remained that belonged to her.Clyde's eyes roamed over them all as frustration made him run a hand through his hair."What were you hiding, Violet?" he muttered under his breath.As he moved towards the desk, something caught his eye. A piece of paper peeked out fromunderneat
Last Updated : 2024-12-23In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 43: Tony's Discover
Tony sat in his dark office, a look of frustration etched upon his face. He'd been trying to digdeeper into Violet's sudden disappearance, but every lead simply seemed to vanish. There wassomething about the situation that just wasn't sitting right with him; his obsessive need tounravel the truth drove him through sleepless nights. He leaned back in his chair, and a memorycame to the fore: the last time he had seen Olivia at the café, she had been wearing awatch-plain, yet unusual. At the time, Tony had thought nothing of it, but now it gnawed at him. Itlooked uncannily like the one Violet had once flourished, claiming it was proof of her connectionto Clyde. A slow, calculating smile oozed across Tony's face. "Could it be?" he whispered. Tonyimmediately sprang into action, rummaging through old photos and documents he had collectedwhile investigating Violet and Clyde's family. Among them was a picture of Clyde and his sisteras children, each wearing identical watches. Their
Last Updated : 2024-12-24In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 44: Tony’s Revelation
Tony paced back and forth in the luxurious sitting room of Sharon’s private villa, his impatienceevident. Sharon lounged on an opulent sofa, sipping her wine with calculated calm, while Evasat beside her, pretending to be engrossed in her phone. When Tony finally spoke, his voicewas low and sharp. “I’ve figured it out.” Sharon raised an eyebrow but didn't look up. "Figuredwhat out? Tony, You called us here to talk in riddles?"Tony leaned forward, placing both hands on the glass coffee table. "Olivia. Violet's so-called'friend.' She's the real Clyde sister." The words hung in the air for a moment. Sharon's wineglassfroze halfway to her lips, and Eva's eyes snapped to Tony, her phone forgotten."What?" Sharon said slowly, setting her glass down. "Are you sure about this?"Tony nodded, a smug smile on his face. "Positive. She has the watch, Sharon. The one theirmother gave to Clyde and his sister. It's undeniable." Sharon's expression darkened, and sheleaned back, tapping her ma
Last Updated : 2024-12-24In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 45: Celebrating the Chaos
In the dark confines of Sharon's expensive office, the ambiance was electric with smugsatisfaction. Sharon leaned back in her chair, a smug smirk playing on her lips as she swirledthe glass of red wine in her hand. Facing her, Eva sat perched on the edge of the desk, her legscrossed, an equally sinister grin carved across her face. Our little problem, Olivia, is finally out ofthe way," Sharon said, her voice dripping with malice. "I have to admit, the execution wasflawless." Eva laughed softly, a cold sound without warmth. "Flawless indeed. Locked in a darkroom with no hope of escape. She won't be able to reveal her precious truth to Clyde orRichard. As far as they're concerned, she's just a nobody. Sharon raised her glass in a mocktoast. "Precisely. We have to keep her there for as long as we need. Let sleep never find her.Let her rot in that place until she forgets even her own name."Eva leaned in, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "And what about Violet? If we're going to
Last Updated : 2024-12-24In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 46 The Distraction Game
Sharon smoothened out her blazer as she strode into the boardroom. Her sharp heels tappedwith every step on the tile floor. Beside her, Eva toted a pile of documents. Her face reflectedcomposure. Both of these women were prepared for the implementation of the next stage oftheir scheme-to continue keeping Clyde busy with things so that Richard's health worsened.Clyde, sitting at the head of the long table, glanced up as the two entered. For a brief second,his incisive gaze rested on Sharon before returning to the report in front of him. "What's thismeeting about?" he asked, curt.Sharon smiled sweetly, masking her true intentions. “We need to address some urgent mattersregarding the company's financial projections. There have been discrepancies in the recentquarterly reports that demand immediate attention.”Clyde frowned, flipping through the documents she handed him. “Discrepancies? I reviewedthese last week, and everything was in order.”Things have changed," Eva chimed in
Last Updated : 2024-12-24In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 47: In search of Olivia
Days passed after the kidnapping of Olivia in whirls of confusion and tension. An investigationfronted by the local authorities and supported by Clyde had not yielded any useful lead yet. Thedisappearance of Olivia had sent shockwaves to all who knew her, especially Clyde, whocouldn't get that vision out of his mind - her being forced into that black car.Clyde paced his office, his jaw clenched and his mind racing. Every avenue he pursued seemedto hit a dead end. He had hired private investigators, questioned anyone who might have seensomething, and even offered a substantial reward for information. But the kidnappers hadplanned the operation meticulously, leaving no trail behind.Detective Hargrove, lead investigator on the case, stood over Clyde, shuffling his notes. "Mr.West, I know this is frustrating, but these things take time. We monitored the surveillance footagefrom the area, but the car they used had fake plates. Like they vanished into thin air.Clyde slammed his f
Last Updated : 2024-12-24In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 48: A Brewing Confrontation
The soft beeping of monitors serenaded the hospital room as Clyde sat beside his father,Richard. The older man, while still frail, had gained some color in his skin due to the vigorouscare Clyde had provided courtesy of the private nurse he had hired. Sharon smiled weakly asshe pushed her way into the room and clutched a nosegay of flowers before her as if it wouldward off her reasons for coming."Richard," Sharon cooed, putting the bouquet down on the table, "I've brought you these tobrighten up the room."Clyde bristled. He'd watched her manipulations for days, and now he was convinced: Sharonwasn't here out of concern."Sharon," Clyde said icily, "we have to talk. Outside."The Heated ExchangeSharon followed Clyde out into the hospital hallway, her heels clicking against the tiled floor. Sheplastered on her usual facade of feigned concern, but she couldn't hide the nervous flicker in hereyes."What's this about, Clyde?" she asked, folding her arms.Clyde's jaw tightened. "
Last Updated : 2024-12-24In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 49: A New Identity
Warm morning sunlight spilled through the dusty windows of the small, nondescript office ontothe figure of Violet. She sat there, her heart racing, clutching tightly onto the pen in her tremblinghand. It had not been easy to decide to change her last name, but it was necessary.Disappearing from Clyde's life and from the small bit of life they tried building together with littlethey had, anyway-was the only hope for saving herself and the secret she carries.She stared down at the form in front of her, the blank space glaring back at her like some sort ofchallenge. Her old name was no longer safe; it tied her to too many memories and too many risks.She had thought long and hard about this, about leaving behind the person she used to be andbecoming someone new.With a deep breath, Violet wrote her new last name: Everett.It sounded foreign, yet so oddly freeing. Violet Everett. A name free from her past, free fromClyde was free from the storm of emotions that had ravaged her lif
Last Updated : 2024-12-24
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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
