The night was elegant, and the most prominent figures in New York attended the McCollum reopening ceremony. The governor was present, alongside other investors from different countries.Alex was welcoming guests when a familiar voice called out to him.“Mr. McCollum,” the voice said.Alex turned to see John McCall smiling at him.“Thank you for inviting us despite the dispute between you and my son. I really appreciate—”“It’s not necessarily for that, Mr. McCall. Please have a seat,” Alex said, cutting him off. He then walked up to the stage to deliver his welcoming and gratitude speech.“Good evening, everyone. Thank you for honoring our reopening invitation. Despite the challenges we’ve faced, many of our investors stood by us. Your trust means everything, and as always, we will not let you down.I personally chose to give this speech because I must inform you that our company has been under attack by Harden McCall. He has been attempting to undermine us ever since my wife rejected
Hazel couldn’t stop laughing. She supported her big stomach as she continued laughing, which made Alex smile. It had been so long since he’d seen her laugh like this. Her laughter made him smile even more until he finally felt it was enough.“Haze, it’s no joke,” he said, but Hazel kept laughing.“His military boys came earlier to take you. I’ve been outside trying to dismiss them,” he added, yet Hazel laughed even more.“Harden was the one who went to inform him after digging deep into your origin,” Alex added, which finally made Hazel stop laughing. She frowned.“Harden? What does he want from me?” she asked, hitting her forehead.“He wants you away from me, even though he can’t have you,” Alex replied, causing Hazel to scoff.“Do you believe that nonsense, Alex? Aiko Smith, the General of the Military, is my grandfather? Come on, that’s not even possible. Search him online—I look nothing like his Asian face. This is absurd. Goodness,” Hazel said, sighing.“We’re not looking for my
The room was dimly lit by candles. The once-silent atmosphere became lively as moans escaped Hazel’s lips. Her legs were spread wide as Alex busied himself between them.“Ah,” she moaned, her fingers digging deep into Alex’s hair.“A-Alex, I’m… Ahh,” she gasped, pushing her head back as Alex deepened his tongue inside her. He parted her folds with his tongue and pushed deeper while spreading her legs further.“A-Alex, you’re going to separate my legs from my body,” she chuckled, only for Alex’s hot mouth to devour her again. He sucked hard on her clit, making Hazel scream as her body vibrated.“That’s… fucking good, Alex,” she exhaled deeply, sighing in satisfaction.“So, you’re good?” Alex raised his head for Hazel to smile.“Mmm,” she nodded, her eyes drifting to the bulge in his pants.“Let me help,” she offered, but Alex shook his head.“How dare you? I said let me help. All you have to do is sit. Do you get it?” Hazel demanded, her tone playful yet firm.Alex furrowed his brows.
Hazel furrowed her brows at the name, glancing at Alex for clarity, but he remained silent, his sharp gaze fixed on the General. “My goodness…” the General whispered, his voice trembling with disbelief. “You look just like her.” Hazel frowned, her confusion growing. “Just like who?” she demanded, stepping closer to Alex. “Raina,” the General said, his voice thick with emotion. “She was…” He hesitated, his hands trembling. “She was my mistress, the love of my life. And your grandmother.” Hazel froze, her breath caught in her chest. “What? My parents were John and Gloria Smith. My father never—” The General’s voice grew firm, laced with pain. “Your father, John, was Raina’s son—my son. She hid him from me after my family was massacred. I thought I’d lost everything. But Raina… she disappeared with him, leaving me to believe I was utterly alone.” Hazel’s eyes widened, her heart pounding. “Why would she do that? Why didn’t she tell you?” The General’s shoulders slumped, his
The study doors closed behind them, leaving the General and Harden in silence. Outside, Hazel leaned into Alex, her voice barely a whisper. “I’m scared, Alex.” He pulled her close, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “You don’t have to be. I’ve got you.” As they walked toward their car, the tension lingered in the cold winter air. Hazel tightened her coat around herself, glancing up at Alex. His jaw was set, his dark eyes scanning their surroundings as though expecting danger at every corner. “I feel like a pawn in their game,” Hazel whispered. “The General, Harden… even my past. It’s suffocating.” Alex stopped, turning to face her. His hands cupped her face gently, his voice steady but firm. “You’re not a pawn, Hazel. You’re the queen. And no one—not Harden, not the General, not anyone—gets to decide your life. Only you do.” His words brought a flicker of reassurance, but doubt still clouded her mind. “But they won’t stop, Alex. Harden won’t stop, and the General… he’s power
Alex nodded grimly. “He’s using every connection he has to come for you. Last night, he attended that gala with General Aiko. He’s doubling down, likely whispering in the General’s ear that I’m some monster keeping you captive. He wants to turn him against us.” Hazel stood, her hand instinctively resting on her stomach. “And the General? Do you think he’ll believe him?” Alex exhaled sharply, his gaze darkening. “The General is no fool, but Harden’s desperate. He’s feeding on the General’s guilt for abandoning his family all those years ago. He’ll twist it, make himself seem like the savior you need—someone who can give you the ‘life you deserve.’” Hazel scoffed, her anger rising. “The life I deserve? I have everything I want. I have you. Our baby. He has no right—no idea what’s best for me!” Alex crossed the room, his hand gently cupping her cheek, forcing her to look up at him. “I know, Hazel. But Harden thrives on manipulation, you’ve given him the opportunity to feel I wasn
As they left, Harden remained seated, his fists clenched and his jaw tight. Alex didn’t spare him a second glance, but as they walked through the mansion’s grand halls, he leaned down to whisper in Hazel’s ear. “It’s not over. He’ll try again.” Hazel squeezed his hand. “Then let him try. He’ll lose every time.” Harden stood in the General’s study, pacing furiously as the General watched him with a critical eye. The door clicked shut as the General’s assistant exited, leaving the two men alone. “You’ve lost, Harden,” the General said, his voice calm but laced with finality. “Hazel has chosen Alex. You’ll do well to respect that.” Harden’s jaw clenched, his mind racing. “You don’t understand, General. Alex is dangerous—for her and the child. If she stays with him, she’ll never be free, we’ve spent time together, we’ve shared a bond that she can’t deny, she has confessed her regrets to me. I can give her stability, safety… love.” The General sighed, shaking his head. “Love? T
Inside the McCall office, Harden anxiously drummed his fingers on the polished oak desk, his sharp eyes darting between the wall clock and his expensive wristwatch. The silence in the room was suffocating, broken only by the rhythmic ticking of the clock. He exhaled deeply, frustration evident in his posture. Suddenly, his phone buzzed, breaking the stillness.“You agreed that if I do this, I’ll get twenty percent of the shares in McCall Corporation?” the voice on the other end asked sharply. Harden let out a slow sigh, gripping the phone tighter.“It’s a signed deal, Mr. Lark. Just do this for me,” Harden said curtly, his voice laced with impatience.“Alright,” Lark replied, though there was a hint of reluctance in his tone. “But don’t associate me with this if it doesn’t turn out as you wanted.”Harden’s lips curled into a sly smile. “And if it doesn’t turn out as I wanted, you won’t be getting twenty percent. You’ll get ten percent at most,” he countered, his voice cold and calcula
Grace was embarrassed. The look on Alex’s face made her immediately hide her phone. Alex scoffed, then sat back, watching as Grace swallowed hard.“I’m so—”“Is your salary not enough?” Alex asked, causing Grace to immediately bow her head.“I lost my previous phone, boss. I was planning to get a new one once I go out with Madam. I’m sorry, boss,” Grace immediately apologized.“I asked a question,” he said quietly.Grace raised her head, then immediately bowed again.“It’s more than enough, sir,” she said, bowing her head as she bit her lower lip.Alex nodded, then opened his wardrobe and brought out a new phone and a SIM card.He unboxed the phone, turned it on, and installed a personal tracker. Then he placed it on the table. He picked up his phone, activated the SIM card, and set it down. Looking at the still-embarrassed Grace, he spoke.“Fix this on my wife’s clothing, somewhere she can’t see it,” he instructed.Grace bowed and carefully picked up the SIM card.“Thank you, boss,”
The night was quiet. The butler and Grace looked at each other—what were they going to do with all this food and cake on the table? They knew their boss and madam were not coming downstairs anymore tonight. Grace looked at the butler, who sighed.“What a waste,” he whispered, and Grace nodded in agreement.“Is it okay if I package them and take them to the mansion? My colleagues will be excited to eat it. Since the boss isn’t there, they only eat regular meals,” she said.The butler nodded. “But keep the cake. The madam might want it,” he said, then helped Grace package everything while they cleaned up.Back upstairs, the room was warm and quiet. The only noise was the soft moans escaping Hazel’s lips as her neatly pedicured fingers traced against Alex’s skin.“Ah…” a breathy moan escaped her lips as Alex’s body moved in a slow, rhythmic way with hers.“Oh, Alex… goodness,” she gasped as his pace remained steady and torturous.“I love you,” Alex whispered as he pushed himself deeper i
The large governor’s dining room was eerily silent. Camila cleared her throat and smiled, but the look on Mrs. Governor’s face was far from pleasant.Harden scoffed, adjusting his suit.“With all due respect, Mrs. Governor, since my family is here, please do well to explain why I should be accused in such a manner,” he said, smiling at her.“My wife is angry about our current situation, and during the investigation, your name has come up frequently. She might have misunderstood something,” the governor said calmly.Mrs. McCall scoffed.“Well, I wouldn’t be surprised if it turns out to be true. After all, he’s the reason his father committed suicide,” she said, making Harden scoff even harder.Without a word, he stood up and left. Camila immediately rose from her seat as well.“Forgive our abrupt departure, Your Excellency,” she said before rushing after Harden.“Please, let’s eat, sir,” Mrs. Governor urged. “I understand how you feel, and right now, I feel the same way. He has hidden
Hazel frowned at the gift box in front of her. The last time she heard of Kayla, she was with an actor in Hollywood, and her mother had been sentenced to jail for the murder of Alex’s mother. She looked at the butler before nodding at him.“Open it,” she said.The butler nodded and began to open the box. Inside, he found a beautifully crafted old Italian-designed vase. Hazel’s frown deepened. The butler gently placed it on the table before taking out a letter from the box.“There’s a letter, madam,” he said.Hazel took the letter, unfolded it, and began reading.“Hey Alex,It’s been a while. I’m doing fine here. Martinez is taking good care of me. I hope Hazel is doing well too. I know she will never forgive me for the past.The vase you’ve been asking about since childhood—the one my mother told the maid to throw away, calling it old and disgusting—the one with your mother’s name on it…I know you might have forgotten about it. After my mother ordered the maid to discard or break it,
The two people became confused about what to do as Hazel kept crying in pain. Immediately, Grace grabbed the mansion phone to call Doctor Frank while Alex carried Hazel, rushing out of the mansion. At that moment, Hazel burst out laughing.“I got you,” she said, making Alex frown even more.“It’s a prank, baby. I’m fine. I just wanted to see how worried you’d be,” she said, laughing, but Alex didn’t find it funny. Grace held her chest and sighed in relief.“It’s funny to you? You…”“Babe, come on. It’s a prank. I’m perfectly fine, my love. Don’t frown at me like that, Alex,” she said, smiling, but Alex didn’t respond. Instead, he dropped her down and walked back into the mansion.“Madam, it’s not as funny as you think it is. We were…”“Come on, Grace, you both are unbelievable. I said it’s a prank,” she said, walking into the mansion.“Alex, baby. My heartbeat. My love,” she called out, but Alex didn’t respond.She walked into his study and saw him sitting silently on his couch.“I wa
Hazel looked at Dr. Frank with her eyes wide open as he kept rubbing her stomach until he officially confirmed he could hear two heartbeats.“Congratulations once again, Mrs. McCollum,” he said, helping Hazel up.“So, what is it, Frank? Is the baby healthy? You said two heartbeats—am I having twins?” she asked anxiously.Dr. Frank nodded, and Hazel teared up, covering her mouth with her hands.“Twins? Is it a boy and a girl, two girls, or two boys?” she asked, her excitement evident.Dr. Frank chuckled at her enthusiasm. “Well, it’s a boy and a girl.”Hazel gasped and covered her mouth again in excitement. “Please don’t say anything to Alex. I want to surprise him with it,” she said.Dr. Frank nodded. “Of course, ma’am. Congratulations once again.”He helped Hazel walk back to his office, where Grace and the guards were waiting.At the General’s villa, Gloria sat, looking around. The luxurious, old-money-style villa made her wonder who had invited her over.“Please come with me, ma’am
The sunshine streamed brightly through the curtains in the spacious bedroom, casting its warm rays on Hazel as she slept. Her elegant facial features twitched slightly under the light before her long lashes fluttered. Finally, she opened her eyes. Her luscious lips parted as she slowly came back to reality.Hazel yawned deeply, then sat up.“Good morning, madam,” a familiar voice greeted her, prompting Hazel to frown as she turned toward the figure.“Grace?” she exclaimed in surprise.Grace stood in her maid’s uniform, bowing her head respectfully.“Give me a hug, Grace. I’ve missed you so much,” Hazel said, her eyes welling up with tears. Without hesitation, Grace stepped forward and embraced her.“Please don’t cry, madam,” Grace said gently, rubbing Hazel’s back. “I wouldn’t know what to say to the boss if he walked in and saw you like this,” she added anxiously.“Don’t mind me; this pregnancy makes me so emotional,” Hazel said, wiping her tears. “It’s been months, Grace. How are yo
The doors to the dining room opened, and three men in black suits entered silently, their imposing presence casting a shadow over the room. Alex smirked, his tone ice-cold. “I mean, Mr. Lark, that your time has run out.” The assistant paled, his hands trembling as the men in black closed in. *Outside the Villa* A convoy of cars pulled up near the entrance to the McCollum estate. The general, sitting stiffly in the backseat of his car, glanced at his assistant. “I don’t think it’s wise to approach the villa uninvited,” the general said, his voice calm but firm. “Shall I write to Mrs. McCollum, then? Ask about her health and that of your great-grandchild?” the assistant offered. The general nodded, his lips curving into a rare smile. “Yes, do that. And… one more thing. Have you found her mother?” “Yes, sir,” the assistant replied. “She’s currently in the city.” “Invite her to the villa,” the general said, his expression unreadable. The assistant hesitated. “Are you sure, sir?
Simon immediately followed Alex’s instructions. As expected, Alex approved of the arrangements. The drive back to the villa was dead silent. Hazel held Alex’s hand tightly, watching him carefully for any unusual signs that might necessitate returning to the hospital. “When are the workers in the mansion coming back?” she asked, breaking the silence and earning a small smile from Alex. “They’re already back. I just want us to stay at the villa until you give birth,” Alex replied, his tone calm. Hazel sighed. “It’s lonely in the villa. At least in the mansion, the maids keep me company when you’re away.” Alex nodded thoughtfully. “I don’t trust them with you. They might accept money to hurt you. Let’s stay here until our child is born,” he said, lifting her hand to his lips and planting a gentle kiss. “And the scan?” Alex asked, watching Hazel closely. “You remember?” Hazel responded with a smile. “Of course. I dare not forget anything about you,” he said, making Hazel blush. “I