Chapter 58: The Roar of the LionLeo paced furiously around the luxurious suite, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. Sharonsat on the edge of the bed, crossing her arms over her chest. There was huge tension in the air,as if their well-laid plans were about to awry at any moment.How can this be possible?" Leo snarled, making a sudden stop to glare at Sharon. "Clyde wassupposed to be bound properly, and there is no way for him to escape!"Sharon's eyes narrowed. "Either we underestimated him or someone on our side got sloppy.Leo let out a growl, slamming his fist into the wall. “Careless? This isn’t just careless, Sharon.This is a complete disaster! Clyde knows too much, and if he makes it to tomorrow's board meeting, we’re done for.”Sharon got out of bed with a gracious, almost sluggish slowness. She laid a placating hand onLeo's chest. "We can still make this right," she said in hushed tones, her voice reassuringly lowand level. "We just have to find him before morni
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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