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Gulping nervously and casting a fleeting glance at the rest of her family, who looked at her expectantly, Karina raised her chin and pondered the appropriate response to her daughter's question."Mommy, is my Daddy here?" Sophie tugged at her shirt once again.Karina averted her gaze, instinctively, and forced a reassuring smile. "No, sweetheart." Then, squatting down to her level, she whispered, "Let's not talk about him right now, okay?"Sensing her mother's distress, Sophie nodded with a wide grin.Karina kissed her cheek and stood up. Turning to her family, she muttered, "Excuse me. I need to go and rest. It's been a long day."Zora nodded and gestured for her to get some rest."Good night." Karina glanced at everyone and left with her daughter. An insidious grin spread across Martha's face as she thought, 'What a clever way to dodge a difficult question. How intriguing.' She made eye contact with Riley, who also smiled maliciously. Minutes later, Martha was removing her makeup
After a moment of contemplation, Karina set down her utensils and gazed at Martha, seated across from her at the dining table. "I will do it." "We have faith in you, dear," Zora reassured Karina with a warm smile. The atmosphere at the breakfast table grew tense as the family grappled with Martha's bold stance, leaving the fate of Karina's ascension uncertain. After breakfast, Riley burst into her parents' room, her mind buzzing with questions and disbelief. "Mom, why suggest such a challenge? Karina's going to take it and prove she's the rightful heir to the Algernon business empire. Ugh!" She clenched her fist in frustration. Martha, wearing a mischievous smile, rose from her seat. "Don't worry, darling. Do you know who Mike Henshaw is?" Riley furrowed her brows in confusion. "He's a notorious misogynist. That's why he'll reject whatever proposal Karina brings," Martha explained confidently. Riley's eyes widened in realization. "Wow," she chuckled. "She's bound to fail," M
After a moment of anticipation, Lucas turned to face his family and unveiled his plan. âI will make Karina fall for me and manipulate her into doing our dirty work.âAmira's smile widened in amusement at the idea.Juliana leaned forward with curiosity. âHow do you plan to achieve that?ââShe's already ensnared in my trap. She made a deal with me,â Lucas explained confidently.Anita's interest piqued. âWhat kind of deal?ââShe asked me to pose as her boyfriend until she decides to end it,â Lucas revealed.Anita chuckled, finding the situation intriguing. âFascinating.ââI've also uncovered something significant about her,â Lucas continued. âShe happens to be the ex-daughter-in-law of our longtime rivals, the Algernon family.âJuliana's eyes sparkled with excitement. âTruly?ââYes, Mother. I knew this would interest you the most. She's Aidan Algernon's ex-wife,â Lucas confirmed.Juliana exchanged a meaningful glance with Anita, a realization dawning on them. âThis changes everything.ââ
The man before her was antiquated in appearance. Karina spun around, giving a disapproving glare as he surveyed the restroom before finally fixing his gaze upon her."Excuse me? This is designated as the women's restroom.""Is that so?""You're obviously not visually impaired, so you must have noticed the sign above the door."He chuckled and shrugged nonchalantly.With a stern expression, she commanded, âDo leave now." Turning to face the mirror, she observed as he took a step closer and clicked his tongue in a distasteful manner."Feisty, huh? Oh, I love getting lost in the women's restroom and stumbling upon beauties like you."She sneered, rolling her eyes with annoyance."Oh, baby, you look exhausted. You know I can give you a quick and pleasurable time right here. Just promise you won't scream."She gulped as she realized he was a foreigner. He began to unbuckle his belt playfully as he took another step towards her.She stood her ground but glanced down at him through the mi
Not wanting to seem weak, Aidan averted his gaze, but couldn't resist looking back at her. He couldn't tear his gaze away from her face, which he desperately wanted to touch."I was a fool," he admitted, trying to make amends."I don't care," she replied with indifference. "Stay out of my personal matters."Sensing her provocation, he backed off. "By the way, I heard you're going after the deal with Well Land Resources.""I'll proudly secure the deal," Karina replied, looking away."It's your first time," he guessed correctly, causing her to snap."Do you think I'll fail?" She challenged him."I'm an expert in these things and I have a better chance," he boasted."Tell that to your amazing wife, Amira, I'm sure she would love to know how incredible you are," she sarcastically retorted."She's not a good listener like you," he replied, softening her coldness. His words made her shift her gaze so he wouldn't see her reaction."And she's not my wife," he added with a cool smile.Loweri
Karina found herself greeted with both genuine well-wishes and artificial ones from her family the next morning before hastily departing from the house. She had an appointment with Mike Henshaw at 10 am but decided to check into a nearby hotel an hour beforehand to properly prepare herself.Equipped with the crucial details Georgia had given her and her presentation conveniently saved on a flash drive, she settled into her hotel room to go over it once more. Despite her determination to go through with it, she couldn't help but feel an unsettling pit in her stomach and a diminishing sense of confidence with each passing moment.For the past six years, she has dedicated all her efforts towards building a successful career in Hollywood and the commercial media industry, aspiring to become a renowned and rated R superstar actress and model. It had always been her dream to captivate audiences on the big screen.Her return had solely been prompted by her daughter's persistence and her ow
Karina pursed her lips as she wrestled with the urge to storm out of the office at that moment. But as she considered the gravity of the deal and the importance of impressing her new aunt, Martha, with her prowess in dismantling the company, despite her lack of business knowledge, she swallowed her pride and nodded. "Very well, Mr. Henshaw. He may remain present. I will proceed with my presentation." Aidan kept his gaze fixed on her as he sat on a nearby couch, watching intently as she continued with her pitch. In the next four minutes, she concluded her presentation, impressing Mike and leaving Aidan in awe of her eloquence and poise. She embodied an aura of incomparability, a complete contrast to the Karina he had once known six years prior. He could not help but feel captivated by this woman of valor, whose very presence heightened her allure. There was no other woman who could compare, not even Amira. And that was a harsh truth, one he could not deny. Lost in her gaze, he was
Struggling to comprehend, Karina dropped the document. "You must be joking, right?" Mike Henshaw chuckled. "I do not make such jests. In fact, Aidan recommended you for this. He declined the deal when I offered it to him." She narrowed her eyes, still trying to make sense of the sudden shift in the situation. Wasn't he here to present his own proposal and secure the deal? Tilting his head, Mike peered at her as he muttered, "What's so special about you, as he mentioned?" "Excuse me?" "He wasn't quite clear, so I'm inquiring. I want to know as well." Karina slowly looked away, lost in thought. Everything felt surreal.Taking a seat, Michael instructed his personal assistant, "Revise the contract for Everhardt Properties and ensure that the necessary paperwork is delivered to the company by tomorrow."The man nodded and left. Karina regathered herself, peering at Mike.Assuming that she was still taken aback, he clarified, "He didn't even give a presentation. He actually relinqui
A Few Months LaterLife had started to return to normal for Karina and Sophie. Sophie, with the help of therapy and the constant support from Aidan and Karina, had begun to heal from the trauma of her kidnapping. They spent their weekends visiting parks, and museums, and sometimes just enjoying quiet family picnics, which helped Sophie find joy again.Karina and Aidan, too, had found a new rhythm in their relationship. They decided to set aside their past differences and work together for Sophieâs happiness and welfare. Aidan's family, especially his mother, Cruzita, had also mended fences with Karina. The shared goal of giving Sophie a stable and loving environment brought them closer.Meanwhile, Lilly had undergone her transplant surgery, thanks to the Everhardt family's efforts in finding a suitable donor. Her recovery was a beacon of hope amidst the chaos.During these months, Anita and Amira faced their trials. Amiraâs defense team, led by her best lawyers, had fought tirelessly t
The atmosphere was charged with a mixture of dread and desperate hope, a battle of wills playing out in the room.The men appeared, one of them carrying Sophie on his shoulder as she squirmed and cried. Karina called out desperately, "Sophie! Sophie!"Anita's expression turned concerned as she watched the scene unfold, her eyes flickering between Karina and Sophie. âIâm doing you the honors because Iâm a mother too. Use this moment well and say goodbye properly to your daughter.â She signaled to the man, who dropped Sophie down and the other went and untied Karina. The little girl ran to Karina, her face tear-streaked and trembling.âMommy, I missed you,â Sophie cried, trembling.Karina managed a smile through her tears, cuddling her daughter tightly.âDonât worry, darling. Iâm here. Nothing will happen to you.â She scanned Sophieâs face, then shot an angry look at Anita. âWhy does my daughter look like this? What have you been doing to her?!âAnita shrugged nonchalantly. âJust keep
Karina watched with teary, weary eyes as Anita paced impatiently. Lucas stood nearby, his face a mask of frustration. Juliana returned, her face pale as she informed them that Lilly was ready.Lucas sneered at Anita. âWhere are your men? They shouldâve been here by now.ââTheyâre coming. They should beââ She was cut off by a knock on the door.Anita took a step forward, but Lucas stopped her with a raised hand. He went to open the door and returned with two burly men in tow.âWhat the heck kept you guys?â Anita snapped.âSorry, maâam. Traffic was a nightmare,â one of the men apologized.Anita hissed. âFine. Lucas, theyâll go get Sophie now.âLucas nodded, watching them head upstairs before turning his gaze back to Karina, who was sobbing and staring at him with a mix of sorrow and betrayal.âLucas, I never thought you could do this to me,â she choked out, her voice trembling with a mix of desperation and heartbreak.He leaned forward, feigning remorse. âIâm sorry, love. You know I ha
Anita asked, tensed, âWhat are we going to do?ââTie her up!â Lucas commanded. He dragged a chair and placed Karina on it, securing her tightly with ropes. âWhere are your guys who are supposed to take Sophie to the facility?â he grumbled.âThey are on their way,â Anita muttered, nervously glancing at Karina.Lilly appeared, her eyes widening in horror as she saw Karina, who was now bleeding from the head. âMommy, what happened to Aunt Karina?âLucas flicked his gaze at the girl, snarling, âUgh, this girl. Take her to her room and get her ready, Mother!âJuliana quivered and walked to Lilly. âLetâs go, my dear,â she said softly, leading Lilly upstairs as Lucas continued tying Karina to the chair.In the Everhardt mansion, Aidan walked into the house. âWhereâs Karina?â he asked Gina.âShe went to the office about 30 minutes ago,â Gina replied.He nodded and turned to leave but stopped as Georgia walked in with some files in her hands. âGeorgia, have you seen Karina?â he quickly asked.
Aidan and Karina arrived at the Everhardt mansion, the tension palpable between them. Aidan got out of his car and quickly walked up to her, his tone urgent. "Karina, I think we should inform Inspector Kai."Her eyes widened in surprise. "No. We shouldn't.""What? Why?" Aidan asked, bewildered."Lucas is no fool," Karina explained, her voice steady but tense. "He might have figured that I didn't just come to his family's house looking for him. I'm sure Anita told him already that she saw me at the hospital, and then he figured out that he messed up by lying to me twice."Aidan shook his head in frustration. "So, what are we going to do? Stay calm when Sophie's earring was lying in their house?"She sighed deeply, struggling to keep her composure. "Aidan, we shouldn't react impulsively. Lucas shouldn't think that I'm suspecting him."Aidan eyed her with concern. "Are you scared of him or what?""I'm just considering the odds and possibilities now. What if⌠my daughter is in that house
Karina answered it, faking her cheerful voice. "Hello, Lucas.""Hi, Karina. Uh, sorry but you can't see Anita or Lilly."Her brows creased. "What? Why?""They left the country. They went to Switzerland.""But you said we could have dinner with them, Lucas.""Yes, I had no idea they left. I just called my mom and she told me about it."She nodded. "So, when did they leave?""Last night, yeah."She nodded. "Okay. It's fine. Let's talk later." She ended the call and groaned. "He lied again."Aidan asked, "What happened?""I saw Anita and Lilly less than an hour ago, and he said they left last night," she concluded.Aidan's expression turned grim. "He's definitely hiding something, Karina.""I feel so too. I need to go over to his family's house.""I'm coming with you.""But you're going to stay outside and hide. Paraventure Lucas shows up, he shouldn't see you."He agreed, and they left. Aidan followed Karina's car as she drove to the Salvatore Mansion.When Karina arrived, she placed so
The air in the room shifted, charged with a new, tense energy.Lucas's face darkened, his jaw clenched tightly."Karina?" he muttered, half to himself, half to Amira. The intimacy between him and Amira shattered instantly, replaced by a complicated mix of fear, guilt, and anger.Amira pulled back slightly, her eyes wide with surprise and worry. âWhat do we do?" she whispered, her voice trembling.Lucas took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "Stay quiet," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument. He disentangled himself from Amira, his expression hardening as he prepared to face whatever was waiting for him on the other side of the door.Lucas started heading to the door and halted. He spun and gestured at Amira to go hide somewhere. She quickly grabbed her clothes and ran off, her footsteps light as she disappeared into another room. He exhaled deeply, trying to steady himself."Lucas, are you thereâŚ?" Karina's voice was tinged with impatience."Uh, I'm coming!" he ca
Anita held Lillyâs hand tightly as they walked into an examining room in an extinguished hospital owned by the Algernon family. She had brought Lilly for a discreet proper checkup. She had been meticulous in ensuring this visit would be confidential, preparing for the upcoming transplant surgery. After the doctor had thoroughly examined Lilly, they all returned to his office, a tense silence hanging in the air.The doctor sat behind his desk, looking over Lillyâs charts before raising his eyes to Anita."So, Mrs. Anita, when is Lilly scheduled for the transplant?"Anita forced a smile, her mind racing for a believable answer. "Weâre taking her to England for the transplant. A hospital there has found a suitable donor."The doctor frowned, clearly puzzled. "England? Which hospital, if you don't mind me asking? We need to transfer her medical records and ensure they have all the necessary information."Anitaâs responses became increasingly evasive. "It's a private facility. Theyâve as
Soon, Amira matched Lucasâs vigor, her enthusiasm doubling his pleasure. He growled and moaned, âGood girl, keep going.â She finished, then licked him from his V-line up to his chest, biting his nipples. Lucas groaned, his body tensing with the mix of pleasure and pain.âYouâre not scared of me?â he muttered hoarsely.Amira smiled naughtily. âWhy would I be? I know you wonât kill me.âHe nodded, kissing her forehead. âI wonât. You're just different.â They started kissing passionately, their lips moving in a synchronized dance of lust and dominance. She asked between breaths, âHow?âHe chuckled, pulling back to look at her. âEveryone considers me a monster.âThey locked gazes, Amiraâs eyes piercing into his as she smirked. âWeâre alike. Raymond used to be someone special to me before. I loved and adored him.â Her tone turned flat and callous. âBut I killed him.âLucas grinned. âIâm not like you, darling. I donât kill the ones I love. Only those who give me trouble.âShe started care