"What's more humiliating than being left alone during the debate? That was the plan—to show everyone that neither his wife nor daughter supports him after his scandals, emphasizing the danger he represents," Lawrence argued."I have to go. I'm sorry, but it's something I need to do. What's your take?" I pressed, glancing at the others.In the end, we agreed Lawrence would accompany me with his security team, Jason would be nearby to help extract my mother if necessary, and Sara offered to provoke Mark by visibly supporting Isabelle Silver.Oddly enough, Lawrence scolded Sara, telling her to stop meddling and stay with her parents that afternoon. Even more strangely, Sara didn't argue. Instead, she pouted and quietly placed her hand over her stomach in a... peculiar way.Was it just me, or did she have a bit of a belly?-All the progress I'd made in the days away from Mark seemed to crumble the moment we arrived at the auditorium for the candidates' debate. Seeing his face on the
Emma White's P.O.V.The chaos in the auditorium was absolute—shouts, people running in all directions, and sheer panic painted a scene of hell. My eyes stayed locked on Mark, who lay on the ground with blood smeared across his face. I couldn't move, paralyzed by shock and confusion."Get down! Don't just stand there," Lawrence urged, pulling me to a crouch.Obediently, I dropped low, realizing we weren't the only ones doing so. Others had also taken cover, waiting for the madness to subside. Though the gunshots had ceased, the frenzy hadn't. I couldn't get a clear view of how badly Mark was hurt—his security team had dragged him behind the podium."What just happened?" I asked Lawrence breathlessly."Whatever it was, it wasn't fatal," he replied, his eyes scanning the stage.From my crouched position, I saw Mark rising to his feet, ignoring his guards' insistence to stay down. My mother suddenly bolted from her seat, rushing to the stage the moment she spotted him. Her face was e
The officer's words hung in the air, echoing like a death sentence."Yes, yes, we'll confirm everything at the station," he repeated, motioning for Jason to be taken away.I stepped in their path, refusing to move. They asked me to step aside several times, but I stood firm. Just when I thought they might physically remove me, a voice froze everyone in place. Mark's voice."What's going on here?" he asked, his tone feigning martyrdom, like a man miraculously reborn.One of the officers summarized the situation—how they had been forced to shoot the sniper in the back and were accusing Jason of being his accomplice. I glanced at Jason helplessly, my heart breaking as he avoided my eyes. He wouldn't even look at me."Do you know him?" the officer pressed. "Do you have any idea why he would target you?""Unfortunately, yes, I know him. He has threatened my life multiple times and my daughter's too, driven by some sick obsession with her," Mark declared.Jason finally snapped, liftin
If I had the superpower to walk up walls, trust me, I'd be doing it right now. How could I not? Lawrence, Emma, and Jason were all at that chaotic political debate. Sure, I agreed with the plan, but that was with the condition I'd be there, not isolated in my parents' house, waiting anxiously for updates and glued to the television.The program was showing introductions for each gubernatorial candidate while they took a commercial break. During the downtime, they cut to shots of the audience settling in their seats. My eyes stayed locked on the screen, my nails reduced to stubs, while I heard my mother coming down the stairs."Look at all these treasures I found, darling!" she exclaimed.I didn't take my eyes off the television, still focused on the delayed start."What did you find?" I asked absentmindedly."If you'd just turn around, you'd see what your mother is trying to show you."Sighing, I tore my attention from the screen and turned around. What greeted me left me both am
"Either way, Louis, you have to promise not to spread this around. We want to announce it when things are calmer," I insisted.My brother zipped his lips theatrically, pretending to lock them with an invisible key. I could only hope he'd keep his word. And that my mother wouldn't lose her mind trying to show off the news or dig out all my old baby clothes to dress a child whose gender we didn't even know yet."Miss Sara, someone is asking for you," said Rita, one of the house staff.Her tone caught my attention. She sounded hesitant, almost uneasy, which was unusual. Rita was normally cheerful and loved to speak loudly. It was also odd that someone would come looking for me here, at my parents' house."Who's asking for me?" I asked, puzzled."It... it's—""It's me, Sara."That voice.That voice belonged to none other than the infamous witch herself. Victoria strolled in without so much as a knock, announcing herself as if she owned the place.Victoria knew nothing about respec
"A cheater calling out another cheater," Victoria said with a tight smile. "There are no tricks this time. I'm simply adapting to the whims of my eldest son."My image of Victoria had always been clear: a rigid woman who cared solely for her own benefit. Which, naturally, made me suspicious."Does Lawrence know you're here?" I asked."I don't report all my movements to Lawrence," she replied smoothly. "This is an act of goodwill and acceptance. My children are my greatest treasure."The way she struggled to say those last words told me everything."You didn't succeed in contesting the will, did you? And the twins aren't helping you, are they?" I said, piecing it together.Victoria's face twisted in irritation. For someone who prided herself on being composed, her expressions betrayed her frustration. I had hit the mark."You must be enjoying this," she hissed. "You and your mother probably think you'll waltz into my properties and do as you please, but don't count on it. I won't
Lawrence Lewis's P.O.V.The excuses Mark was spewing, blatant lies disguised as explanations, grated on my nerves. He was desperate, throwing out any argument that might stick. But as he continued, something didn't add up."Aren't you talking a bit too much for someone who's supposedly injured?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.The source of the blood staining his face was a mystery. He caught my drift, suddenly remembering the pain he was supposed to be in, and dramatically pressed a hand to his cheek."How can I not, when you're about to throw away everything we've built together? What will happen to the clinic? To the future of our investments?" he demanded, his tone dripping with faux urgency."Well," I began, deliberately slow, "since we haven't been able to secure the remaining land from the Browns, the project seems far off. And frankly... no one trusts you enough to sell. You've turned potential allies into enemies. For what, exactly?"Mark bristled at my words, pretend
"You're wrong. She's not an impossible dream anymore," I said firmly.Victoria gave me a sly smile, the kind that always carried malice."Just wait a few years," she drawled. "Once she gives you a child and grows bored of you, that girl will take off to another country, like the restless little savage she is. And you? You'll be left with nothing but the humiliation of her affairs plastered across our social circles. Just you wait."Her words struck deeper than I wanted to admit. I hated that she knew me well enough to aim where it hurt. Sara's free spirit was one of the things I loved most about her, but it was also a constant whisper of doubt in the back of my mind. I tried to push those thoughts away when I saw Sara hurrying toward me.She didn't slow down as she neared. Instead, she threw her arms around my neck, pulling me into a tight embrace. Her warmth was grounding, but today, it wasn't enough to silence the insecurities clawing at me."Are you okay, Ren? Did they hurt you
Sara Brown's P.O.V."Didn't we agree you wouldn't come, Mom?" Richard asked, his voice low and disappointed."Richard, you too?" Victoria exclaimed, her voice trembling with a mix of hurt and indignation."What else did you expect, Victoria?" Julian interjected, crossing his arms. "We practically had to beg Sara for permission just to see Matthew. Meanwhile, you've done nothing to make amends yet here you are, demanding things. That's not how this works.""Do you want me to apologize to Sara?" Victoria's voice cracked as she looked at me, her emotions on full display.I would never trust Victoria, and I certainly would never leave my son alone with her unsupervised. But in this moment, her vulnerability chipped away at some of my hardened resolve. Life had been so good lately, so full of joy and love, that my heart no longer had room for resentment."You don't need to apologize to me," I said calmly. "The people you owe an apology to are your sons."Victoria's eyes widened, her
Sara Brown's P.O.V.Six months later.Becoming a mother was one of those adventures I never knew I needed, but I'd never been more grateful for taking the leap—especially with Lawrence by my side. Now, here we were, standing in front of a flower-draped altar nestled in the woods of the Brown family estate.Getting married in this spot felt symbolic. It had been our sanctuary as kids, the place where we'd escaped from the grown-ups and shared secrets. It was fitting that my best friend, the boy who'd been by my side through thick and thin, was now becoming my husband.Behind us was a small gathering of family and close friends. The Browns—ever-expanding with a small army of kids—were all present, as were a handful of Lawrence's relatives, including his brothers, Richard and Julian. We'd kept the guest list to just sixty people, making this a more intimate celebration than anyone would've expected from a Brown-Lewis wedding.Still, it was perfect. Everyone we loved was here. And the
I looked at our baby's tiny face, and the urge to cry overwhelmed me again. He was absolutely perfect."Are you going to keep crying?" Sara teased with a mischievous grin. "If you don't stop, I won't give you another one."I wiped my tears immediately, not wanting to take any chances. She burst out laughing, her radiant energy filling the room."So," quickly shifting topics, she leaned forward slightly, "what are we naming him? We agreed we'd know when we saw him. I've got a name from the shortlist in mind. Do you?""I do," I replied, smiling."Okay, let's say it together," she suggested, and I nodded. "On three. One, two, three—""Matthew!" we both exclaimed in unison.We stared at each other before breaking into matching grins. Sara started clapping in excitement over our perfect sync. I laughed at her enthusiasm, but something on the hospital TV caught my attention—a news report about yesterday's gubernatorial election. Images of Isabelle, the winner, flashed across the scree
Lawrence Lewis's P.O.V.Three months later...Just when I thought I couldn't be any happier with Sara loving me, life proved me wrong. Every day felt like a new peak of joy. A few months ago, I believed I had reached the ultimate high when she accepted my proposal during our trip to Finland. I'd asked her under the northern lights in a private and intimate moment, just the two of us—just like our entire relationship had been.The fallout from canceling my engagement to Emma had been relatively manageable for me. There were no financial or legal repercussions, and I narrowly escaped the disgrace of almost becoming the son-in-law of a criminal like Mark. But to say I avoided all drama would be a lie. The rumors and gossip surrounding how Sara and I had gotten together were relentless.I was usually a calm man, but any criticism aimed at Sara, accusing her of "breaking up" my previous engagement, turned me into a beast. Sara would always tell me to ignore the noise, that only we knew
I stood there frozen, feeling every gaze lock onto me. It was as if time had stopped. No one spoke, no one moved—they just stared. Sweat started trickling down places I didn’t even know could sweat.“Hi… how’s everyone doing?” I asked, my voice hesitant.I braced myself for the shouting, the dramatic exclamations, the scolding even. Instead, the extroverted ones in the room simply smiled at me while the quieter ones went back to what they were doing, almost as if nothing had happened. The initial wave of attention just… evaporated.“As I was saying,” Uncle Lucius continued, picking up right where he’d left off, “if you don’t finish your vegetables, we’ll give them to the lion in the forest.”My jaw dropped. This table—the entire Brown family—was completely unfazed. Even Lawrence had that knowing smile on his face, almost as if he’d expected this exact reaction. Before I could recover, Aunt Lucia and Aunt Marianne came over and pulled me into tight hugs.“You look gorgeous, Sara. A
Richard's voice broke the silence as he gathered his courage. "We'd like to add Duke and Monarch for me, and the boat for Julian. With that, we'll be ready to sign the agreement."I rubbed my ears, almost certain I had misheard."The horses and the boat? That's all you want?" Lawrence asked, his tone tinged with disbelief."Yes," Julian confirmed, his voice hesitant. "We believe... they're of great sentimental value to us. And they were gifts. They just... weren't officially transferred to us."Lawrence's eyes darted between them as if trying to confirm whether these were the same brothers he'd been fighting with."That's it?" he repeated, his suspicion evident."That's it," Richard said, though his discomfort was plain to see."What are you two plotting?" Lawrence asked, narrowing his eyes.The twins exchanged confused glances."Nothing?" Julian said, his tone growing defensive. "What are you plotting? You told us you wouldn't give us anything but then sent this offer out of
I couldn't help but notice the sadness etched onto Lawrence's face. He'd always said he wouldn't give his brothers anything. Yet here he was, not only offering them a portion of the inheritance but also bracing himself for their inevitable demands and negotiating with them."Wouldn't it have been easier to just offer them exactly what you were willing to give from the start?" I asked as I leaned against his shoulder, wrapping my arms around him. His sadness was palpable, and it was breaking my heart. Just moments ago, he'd been so happy. "Just say 'Take it or leave it' and then forget about them."Lawrence sighed, his gaze distant. "I know them. And I know myself. I can't lay the blame for all my hardships on them like I do with Victoria. Despite what I said during the will reading, I know they deserve more than what my father left them.""You have a heart of gold, Ren," I murmured, kissing his cheek. "Don't let those brats melt it down, okay?"He chuckled softly, though his sadnes
I swayed my hips rhythmically against his body, the two of us joined in that intimate connection we'd rediscovered nearly every night since the chaos with a certain corrupt official had come to an end.As Lawrence neared his release, he called my name, his voice rough with passion. I teased him by sucking on the thumb he'd slipped into my mouth, which was all it took for him to shut his eyes tightly as the force of his climax overtook him. I followed him into that blissful release just a moment later.Utterly satisfied, I collapsed beside him on the bed, both of us completely naked, basking in the warmth of each other's bodies. My breathing was still ragged as Lawrence shifted closer, his hands roaming gently over my hair, my chest, and finally, my stomach. The way his hand lingered there told me exactly what he was about to ask—again."Are you sure you're comfortable with this?" he asked."No. It was terrible. I never want to have another orgasm for the rest of my life," I replied
"What's going on here?" I asked Sara suspiciously."Just go with the flow," she replied, opening my car door with a grin.I hesitated but decided to follow her advice—or at least try. After exchanging cheek kisses, I walked over to where Jason was waiting. I tucked the envelope with my test results into my pocket. As I reached him, he took my hand, and we started walking up a hill in the park."When did you ask Sara to bring me here?" I asked, curious."That's a secret," he said with a chuckle. "And since you two are such close friends now—""Close friends?" I interrupted, raising a brow. "You think we're really friends?""That's how it seems. You smile a lot when you're with her," he replied."Do I?" I considered it for a moment, warmth spreading through my chest. "Maybe we are."Jason smiled but kept silent. As we climbed one of the hills, I was taken aback by the breathtaking view of the city spread before us. But even more surprising was the blanket laid out on the ground,