LOGINShare
Chapter 47: In search of Olivia
Last Updated:
2024-12-24 04:27:23
Related chapters
In 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 : 2024-12-24In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 50 A New Lease on Life
Thick tension filled the air as Clyde paced the sterile corridor of the hospital; the sharp echoesof his footsteps reverberated from the cold wall. Hours had passed since the surgery, and eachminute felt like an eternity. His father, Richard, was in the hands of the best surgeons money couldbuy, but he was also the cornerstone in Clyde's life and the West Media empire. Still, the feargnawed at Clyde's resolve.The operating room's double wooden doors finally opened, and Dr. Harris emerged, yanking hissurgical mask off his face. His face was calm and reassuring. Clyde sprang upright at once, his heartbooming against his rib cage."Dr. Harris," Clyde said, stepping into his office. "How'd it go?Dr. Harris gave a slight smile. "The surgery went well. We were able to resolve thecomplications, and your father is stable. However, he'll need time to recover, and the next fewweeks will be critical."Relief swept over Clyde's body, and he let out a deep breath. "Thank you," he said wi
Last Updated : 2024-12-24In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 51: A Knock on the Past
The afternoon sun filtered through the curtains of Violet's modest apartment, casting warm,golden rays across the room. She sat on the couch, a steaming mug of tea in her hands, lost inthought. For months, she had carefully hidden herself, changing her last name and leavingbehind the chaotic life that once had tethered her to Clyde. She thought she'd left it all behind.A sudden, sharp knock on the door broke her reverie. The suddenness of it made Violet's heartjump. She seldom had visitors in this quiet town, and no one from her past knew where shewas. Setting her mug down, she walked hesitantly toward the door, her pulse quickening witheach step.She froze as peering through the peephole showed her Clyde standing on the other side,commanding in presence. His chiseled jaw was determined, while his piercing eyesseemed to scan through the door as if they could see right through it.She slowly opened the door, and her breath caught in her throat."Clyde," she whispered, her voic
Last Updated : 2025-01-02In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 52: The Cooking
Determined to make her a breakfast she’d remember, Clyde rolled up his sleeves and got towork.Clyde was cracking eggs into a bowl when he heard the soft padding of footsteps behind him.Before he could turn around, he felt slender arms wrap around his waist.“You’re up early,” Violet murmured, her voice still thick with sleep. She pressed her cheekagainst his back, inhaling his scent.I wanted to surprise you," Clyde said, his voice warm, setting the bowl down and swiveling toface her, his hands coming to rest lightly on her hips. "But I guess the surprise is ruined now."She cocked her head, lips curling into a sleepy smile. "Not ruined. Just… interrupted.Clyde chuckled, leaning down to brush a kiss against her forehead. "Well, since you're alreadyhere, how about you keep me company?"Violet stepped back, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Only if you let me help.""You? Help?" he teased, raising an eyebrow. "Do you even know how to cook?"She playfully swatted his chest. "I'm
Last Updated : 2025-01-02In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 53: An Evening of Intensity and Love
The evening air felt thick with the promise of security and closeness. Clyde and Violet sat closetogether on the couch, talking softly about the earlier scare. A dimmed lamp cast soft light ontheir faces; however, nothing could dim the spark that seemed to build up from the momentthese two had been reunited.Violet leaned into Clyde, her head against his shoulder, his arm around her protectively. Thetouch of his warm skin, the soft sound of his breathing, and the lingering memory of him dashingto save her combined with an upsurge of emotion she couldn't pretend didn't exist.Her fingers made soft circles on his chest. "You're always there for me," she said, her murmurlow. "How did I ever deserve someone like you?"Clyde leaned her chin up, and his dark eyes locked to hers. "You don't have to deserve it," hewhispered. "You just have to let me love you.The tension in the room shifted and became electric. Violet's lips parted as Clyde's thumb strokedher cheek. She felt her heart
Last Updated : 2025-01-02In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 54: The warehouse
Clyde exited Violet’s apartment with a heavy heart, his mind racing with thoughts of Olivia andthe danger surrounding her kidnapping. He pulled out his phone and quickly dialed his driver.“Get the car ready. I’ll be down in five minutes,” Clyde instructed, his voice firm andno-nonsense.“Understood, sir,” the driver replied before ending the call.Clyde paused for a moment on the curb and looked down the peaceful street. It was hoursbeyond midnight; city lights laid long, disjointed shadows in streaks across the pavement. Hehitched at his coat and strode toward the parked car, unconscious of covert eyes that watchedevery movement.From the darkness of an alley a couple of blocks down, two shadowy men in black attireexchanged glances. A large, muscular figure had a scar running down his left cheek. He spokeinto his small earpiece."He's on the move.""Follow him. Stick to him like glue," a cold voice replied over the line.They disappeared into a black car that had been parked
Last Updated : 2025-01-06In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 55: The trap
Clyde stepped into the dimly lit warehouse, his footsteps echoing against the cold concrete floor.The space was immense and eerily quiet, with scattered crates and metal beams casting longshadows under the faint glow of flickering overhead lights. His sharp eyes darted around,searching for any sign of Olivia."Olivia!" Clyde's voice rang out firm but cautious.No response.He moved more inward, his hand instinctively brushed against the concealed weapon tucked athis side. There was something unreal about the silence. Clyde's instincts were screaming at himto turn back, but the thought of Olivia being held here kept him moving forward.He saw a chair near the middle of the warehouse with leather straps dangling from thearmrests. It was empty, but his heart shivered at the sight.He went low to his knees to peer at the ground. Scuff marks and a smudge of what appeared todried blood sealed his suspicion that someone had been here recently."Darn it," he whispered to himself.Sudde
Last Updated : 2025-01-06
Latest chapter
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
