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Chapter 88: The Proposal
Last Updated:
2025-01-31 08:59:59
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In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 1: Please lie to my father
Violet stepped inside the darkened bar, her heart racing with trepidation and exhaustion. She had just finished a brutal day of being a background actress, barely scraping by enough to pay the rent. Her life wasn't glamorous by any means, at least not yet, but at least she had Tony-or so she thought. For three long years, she'd looked after him through thick and thin, whenever he needed help and nobody else was there to provide it. Now, Tony had invited her here, claiming that he had something very important to tell her. She saw him at a small table; his new suit shone in the low light. He was different-confident, even arrogant. Violet came up to him with a hopeful smile, but it faded away when Tony hardly noticed her. "Hi, Tony," Violet said, sounding ambiguous. "Violet, sit down," he replied coolly without looking at her. She slid into the chair, feeling the weight of something ominous settle in the air between them. "What's going on?" Tony sighed, adjusting his cufflinks like h
Last Updated : 2024-10-18In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 2: Dad Am Back
As Violet peered at her reflection the next morning, she could feel the anxious churn of her stomach. What had she gotten herself into? The surreal conversation with Clyde the day before kept replaying itself in her head. She couldn't shake off that gnawing doubt. This was insane, wasn't it? She was about to lie to a dying man, telling him she was his long-lost daughter. For what? One million dollars a day? She bit at her lip, tying a loose ponytail with shaking hands. With the rent overdue, the electric bill precariously on the verge of a cutoff, and Tony's cruel rejection fresh within her mind, she knew she didn't have a choice. This was her ticket, the break she'd been waiting for all these years. By the time Clyde showed up to collect her, the nervousness was worse. His black sedan was ushered to the front of her dingy apartment complex, shining under the morning sun. She paused for a second, then stepped outside and slid into the passenger seat. "Morning," she muttered, softer
Last Updated : 2024-10-18In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 3: No Turning Back
Violet stood in the hallway of the hospital, still raw from her encounter with Clyde's father, Richard. She had barely managed to process the weight of what she had agreed to when a loud, haughty voice echoed down the corridor, pulling her back to the present. "Well, well, well, isn't this a surprise," the voice was sharp, full of disdain. Violet turned around in time to see two women headed toward them. One was older, in a cut-to-fit suit that screamed money, her chin held high as if she smelled something rancid on the soles of people's shoes. The other one was much younger, almost a carbon copy of the older woman in a designer suit with an icy expression to boot. Clyde straightened up beside her. "Sharon," he said in a low mutter, not concealing his annoyance. "Eva." Violet said nothing. She didn't have any idea who these women were, though by the look on Clyde's face, it wasn't going to be a pleasant meeting. She came to a stop in front of Clyde, where the older woman Sharon g
Last Updated : 2024-10-18In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 4: A Memorized Script
Violet stood by the large window of the West Estate, staring out into lawns so well-manicured they extended far beyond what she would ever have dreamed possible. It still felt surreal being here, living a life of luxury she'd only ever seen in movies. The plush carpet beneath her bare feet was soft, and the scent of polished wood and fresh flowers filled the air. Everything in this place screamed wealth. But to Violet, it wasn't home-it was just another set, another role to play. She turned away from the window as the study door creaked open. Clyde walked in, a large envelope in his hand. His expression was serious, the playful smirk she had seen a few times now replaced with something far more businesslike. He held out the envelope toward her. These are the papers I was telling you about," he said, all business. "I need you to commit them to memory. This is your backstory." Violet reached for the envelope hesitantly, already feeling the weight in what was inside, even before open
Last Updated : 2024-10-18In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 5: Sister At Home
Violet's heart raced as she stepped into the sleek, marble lobby of her father's company, West Media. Today was her first day officially at the company, and though Clyde had prepared her, she couldn't rid herself of the butterflies clawing at her insides. She had woken hours earlier, had practiced her lines from the carefully written backstory by Clyde, and had run over her role in her mind over and over until it felt real. She was the long-lost daughter of Richard West, Clyde's sister, and soon everyone would know.She took a deep breath and moved toward the elevators, her heels clicking against the polished floor. Clyde's instructions replayed as she rode up, floor by floor, toward the upper offices. "Stay calm. Be confident. You're a West now," he'd said with that slight smirk that was becoming familiar. But before she could get her bearings, the elevator doors opened and she found herself standing face-to-face with one of the people she had hoped never to see again.It was Tony, h
Last Updated : 2024-11-15In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 6: A Scheme Unfolds
The day following her tumultuous first experience in West Media with Tony, Violet got to the office early, anxious for a second chance. Clyde had reassured her that she belonged here, but a little voice inside her remained apprehensive. She hadn't missed the poison in Tony's eyes when Clyde had presented her as his sister, nor had she forgotten the ignominy of his trying to bodily throw her out. Little did she know her troubles with Tony were just beginning.She had just reached her new office and was heading toward it when she passed by Clyde's assistant, who greeted her with a smile. "Good morning, Ms. West.She returned the greeting and swung open the door to her office, settling in. The room was eloquent, as Clyde had it put together for her; she'd barely gotten her bag down when the phone on her desk began ringing.It was Clyde."Violet," he said, all business. "I need to see you in my office, please. We do have some things we need to attend to."Violet's heart fluttered slightly
Last Updated : 2024-11-15In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 7: Unveiling the Lies
The air was dead in the hospital room as Violet sat beside her father, adjusting his pillows and brushing imaginary creases from his blanket. Clyde sat nearby with his laptop open but found his gaze drifting to her time and again. He was taken by her commitment, her endless patience, and the warmth she brought to that cold, sterilized room.Violet, dear," he murmured, extending a frail hand toward hers. "You don't have to do all this. The nurses can do it for me."She slipped her hand over his, smiling. "Father, I want to do this for you. I haven't been around to take care of you for so long. Please, let me make up for it, in any way I can.".Just as her father was about to say something, the door creaked open, and into the room trooped Sharon and Eva, their faces smug with satisfaction, yet at the same time thinly veiled with irritation. They were both carrying a stack of papers, which Sharon clutched tightly as if it were a treasure. The tension in the room became immediately palpab
Last Updated : 2024-11-15In The Smoke-Filled Room Chapter 8: Hidden Agendas
Morning sunlight seeped through the grand windows of the dining room at the West estate, casting a warm glow upon the elegantly set table in silverware and fine china. Violet slowly entered the room, her eyes taking in Clyde, his stepmother Sharon, and half-sister Eva, who were seated. Upon the table lay an eerie presence of contrived politeness hanging in the air, like a separating wall.As Violet sat, Sharon looked up with an inimitable smile painted on her face. "Good morning, dear Violet. Just discussing how important it is to make you feel part of our family.".She allowed a polite smile to stay in her expression, but her guard was up immediately. Violet knew Sharon and Eva meant nothing like welcome after their confrontation at the hospital. There was calculation behind Sharon's sweet words.Eva was sitting next to her mother and lent in with as much feigned warmth. "Yes, we want you to feel right at home, Violet." Her hand was under the table, playing with something.Clyde's ey
Last Updated : 2024-11-15
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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
