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Chapter 8: Hidden Agendas
Last Updated:
2024-11-15 18:29:40
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In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 9: Unseen Bonds
Opening the door to a nicely furnished bedroom, his face soft, he gestured for Violet to enter. "Violet, this was my sister's room. My father has been renovating it over and over with the hope that one day she would come back. It's your room now."Violet's eyes widened as she took in the spacious room: soft lavender on the walls, with delicate silver Shannon accents that shimmered in the light. A huge plush bed sat in the center of the room, dripping in fine linens. Tall windows looked out over the gardens, and above hung a small crystal chandelier, casting a warm glow throughout the room."Thank you, Clyde," Violet whispered, still drinking in the sight around her.Clyde gave her a small smile. "I'll be in the room next door if you need anything."She nodded, trying not to let her excitement get the better of her until he was gone. The moment he went out and closed the door, she broke into a grin as she ran to the bed and threw herself on it. The bed was like a cloud, and she plunged
Last Updated : 2024-11-15In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 10: The Plan Unveiled
Eva was pacing around her grand room, waves of anger emanating from her. Another vase flew across the room and crashed into the wall. Tony grimaced, ducked his head slightly, and looked with wide eyes at the shattered pieces on the floor."Jesus, Eva," Tony cursed under his breath. "You don't need to break everything.""Don't even mention Jesus right now!" Eva snapped, clearly furious. "All that so-called evidence you presented backfired completely! And you're lucky that Clyde's father is still clueless or you'd have been out of a job right now."Tony tightened his fists, his cool faltering because the pressure was building up. "I've done everything you asked. How did I know he would go all guns blazing to protect her?"Eva's glare sharpened. "If you want that promotion, you'll have to try a little harder, Tony. You need to prove, once and for all, that this Violet is an imposter." She paused, crossing her arms as she gave him a withering look. "What do you even know about her, anyway
Last Updated : 2024-11-17In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 11: Unmasking the Truth
Eva stepped out of Violet's room, her hand clutching the strands of hair pulled from Violet, an expression of grim satisfaction etched on her face. Sharon, her mother, was waiting in the hallway; a smug expression played on her face as her eyes swept the evidence in her daughter's hand."Finally," Sharon whispered, a sly smile diffusing into her lips. "This will be our ace of spades. Till Friday, she will be identified as an imposter, and nothing will prevent Clyde or his father from acknowledging it."Eva nodded, and her eyes glinted. "I just can't wait to see the look on their faces when it all comes out. This charade ends now."The two women quickly made the arrangement to have the DNA sample sent out to a lab in which they had a high degree of confidence, knowing full well the results that would come from it would reveal Violet to be an outsider. They were already envisioning the scene: Clyde's father filled with disappointment and shame, Violet humiliated and cast out. Everything
Last Updated : 2024-11-17In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 12: A Birthday to Remember
The grand hall at the West mansion was something to behold, decked out to the nines to celebrate Violet's birthday. Chandeliers sparkled from above the well-laid tables, while soft murmurs of chatter filled the room; guests in their best, mingled with each other celebrating this occasion. Violet stood near Clyde, her unease masked beneath a polite smile. She wasn't accustomed to so much attention, and although the mood was celebratory, she had the nagging thought that disaster was imminent.Clyde leaned into her and spoke in hushed, comforting tones. "Relax, Violet. This is your day. Try to enjoy it.Before she could respond, their father, Robert West, stepped onto the stage. The room fell silent, and all eyes turned to him. He commanded attention and radiated warmth, and everybody was drawn to him."Thank you all for joining us tonight to celebrate a very special occasion, my daughter Violet's birthday." His voice was filled with warmth and pride, sparked a thunderous applause that s
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The air was heavy in Clyde's stepmother, Eva's, gaudy office. Eva sat behind her desk, her features contorted in irritation. Sharon, Eva's daughter, paced back and forth, while Tony sat in the corner, tapping his fingers on the armrest of a chair."We can't just sit and watch Clyde and Violet take everything away from us!" Eva declared, her palm slapping the desk. "They're ruining everything we've built!"Tony leaned forward, a sly smirk tugging at his lips. "I know Violet is an imposter. That DNA test was edited.""Yes, Mum!" Sharon chimed in, her eyes gleaming with malice. "They must have tampered with the results, but we can't let them win."Eva sank back in her chair, her eyes narrowing in thought. "That reminds me the real Violet has a birthmark on her back. Tony, are you positive Violet doesn't?"Tony was silent for a moment, then shook his head. "No, she doesn't. When we were dating, I never saw anything like that."An evil smile curled Eva's lips. "That's it. We'll use that to
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Violet sat in Clyde’s office, nervously fidgeting with the hem of her blouse. She still wasn’t entirely sure how she’d ended up in this position. Clyde had called her that morning, and before she could wrap her head around what was happening, he’d casually announced, “You’re my assistant now.”That sounded simple enough, but Violet wasn't naive. She knew this would be anything but an ordinary job with Clyde's stepmother and stepsister lurking around every corner. Things had started well enough: Violet had sorted Clyde's schedule, fielded a few calls, and even managed to impress him with her multitasking. Her moment of bliss was short-lived as his stepmother, Sharon, and stepsister, Eva, burst into the office. "Violet," Sharon said with honey-tinged venom, "why don't you fetch us some coffee? Two sugars for me and cream for Eva."Violet hesitated, looking over to Clyde, who was too busy on his laptop. "Didn't you hear her?" Eva snapped, flipping her hair. "She said coffee." Viol
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Clyde's stepmother, Sharon, sat pacing up and down in her excessively elaborate living room. The shining red varnish on her nails tapped against the champagne flute with rhythmic precision. Her mind took her through plots and subplots. Across her, on the plush velvet couch, sat her daughter Eva, who regarded her mother with a mixed expression of admiration and impatience.We've tried everything," Eva said, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "The DNA test, the birthmark, every angle we've used to discredit Violet has backfired. She's practically untouchable now." "Not untouchable," Sharon corrected tartly, her eyes narrowing. "We've just been going about it the wrong way. If we can't prove she's not Violet West, we'll ruin her another way. We'll take her down along with Clyde.Eva's eyes widened in interest. "What do you mean?"Sharon smiled-cold, calculated. "People already think it's suspicious how fast Clyde and Violet have become such close allies. Whispers have started regardin
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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 : 2024-11-26
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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
