The house was eerily quiet as Ryan sat in the sunlit living room. The rays filtered through the curtains, but their warmth did little to lift the fog that clouded his mind. He ran his fingers through his hair, frustrated. It had been weeks of the same routine. Bella left early for the office, and he was confined to the house. The walls seemed to close in on him more and more each day. "Rest," she kept saying. "You need to rest and fully heal."But he felt fine. His body was stronger. His mind? That was another story. He couldn't shake the flashes, those brief moments of clarity when another version of his life danced before his eyes, only to vanish like smoke. His thoughts were interrupted by the creak of the front door. Bella stepped inside, dressed immaculately as always, her high heels clicking against the marble floor. She smiled when she saw him, but there was something behind her eyes. Something he couldn’t quite place." Ryan, love," she called, setting her bag on the counte
“You’re lying,” she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes. “This can’t be true.” “I wish I was lying,” Luca said softly, his voice filled with regret. “But it’s the truth, Ivy. And now that you know, you’re in danger too.”Ivy shook her head, refusing to believe what she was hearing. “No,” she said, her voice rising. “This can’t be happening. My mother… she wouldn’t…” “She would,” Luca said firmly, cutting her off. “She’s done worse. And she won’t hesitate to get rid of anyone who stands as a threat to her if she thinks you’re a threat.” Ivy’s legs felt like they were going to give out beneath her. She stumbled back, collapsing into one of the armchairs, her mind racing. “Why are you telling me this?” she asked, her voice barely audible.“Because I care about you, Ivy,” Luca said, stepping closer. “I couldn’t stand by and watch as you were kept in the dark. You deserve to know the truth—so you can protect yourself.” Ivy looked up at Luca, her vision blurred by tears. “What do I do
Bella sat in her sleek new office at the top of the Kendrick tower—now rebranded as Vector Empire. She gazed out the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking over the city as it shimmered under the midday sun. A sense of triumph washed over her. She had nearly everything she ever wanted: the power, the company, and control over the entire Kendrick fortune. Yet, as she swirled the glass of wine in her hand, the victory felt hollow.“If only Ryan had loved me,” she muttered to herself. “None of this would’ve been necessary.”Her mind wandered back to that fateful night, the night that had set everything into motion. It was the night she had finally decided to take control of her destiny and cement her position in Ryan's life—by any means necessary.She had asked him out for lunch that day, trying to act casual, like the friend who had always been by his side. Ryan had been distracted, his thoughts clearly elsewhere, but Bella had insisted. "You’ve been so stressed with everything going on,
His tall, imposing figure cast a shadow across the room, and Bella could sense something was wrong immediately."Bella," he said, his voice low, "we have a problem."She raised an eyebrow, setting her glass down."What is it?"Victor sat down across from her, his hands resting on the armrests of the chair. "It’s Luca He’s been digging into our past. He knows about the offshore accounts."Bella’s heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean? How could he know?""He’s not as clueless as we thought," Victor replied, his eyes narrowing. "Luca has been working. He's been investigating us for weeks, and I think soon he might find the accounts we’ve been funneling Kendrick's money into."Bella’s mind raced as she processed the information. "So what do we do now?"Victor leaned forward, his gaze cold and calculating. "We can’t wait any longer. We need to move faster. If Luca takes it to Ryan and then he takes this to the board, everything we’ve built will crumble."Bella gripped the edge of her desk,
Ryan sat in the passenger seat of Luca’s car, the city lights flickering through the window as they sped through the quiet streets. His thoughts raced faster than the car, the weight of everything pressing down on him—Bella’s betrayal, Victor’s manipulations, the company slipping through his fingers, and now this meeting with Luca. He needed answers, and he needed them fast. Luca drove in silence, his grip tight on the steering wheel. They both knew they couldn’t afford to raise suspicion, especially with Bella’s guards likely watching Ryan’s every move. The less noise they made, the better their chances of discovering the truth.Finally, they pulled into the driveway of Luca’s secluded house on the outskirts of the city. It was a modern, minimalist home, surrounded by high walls and trees that shielded it from prying eyes. Luca parked the car and gestured for Ryan to follow him inside.Once they entered the house, Luca led Ryan to the living room, motioning for him to sit on the l
Chapter 103Ryan sat on the edge of the bed, staring at Mrs. Jessica with an expression of helplessness and frustration. The weight of everything was suffocating him his company stolen from under him, his heart torn apart by the fact that the woman he truly cared for was still being held captive. He had failed at everything, and it was killing him inside.Mrs. Jessica lay in the bed, her frail body barely moving. Her eyes, however, were full of fire as she looked at Ryan with a mixture of disbelief and resentment. She had endured so much, and Ryan knew that his words were not enough to make amends for the pain she had suffered."I’m sorry," Ryan began softly, his voice trembling. "I... I’m sorry for everything you’ve been through. I didn’t know I couldn’t have known. Please... forgive me."Mrs. Jessica didn’t respond immediately. Her hands tightened into fists under the blanket as she glanced away from him, clearly struggling with her emotions. “You have no idea what I’ve been t
Chapter 104Ryan sat frozen, his eyes locked on Mrs. Jessica as she unraveled the dark and tangled web of his family's past. The shock of what she was saying hit him like a tidal wave, leaving him reeling with disbelief and confusion.“I knew your father had skeletons in his closet,” Ryan muttered, shaking his head slowly, “but I never imagined it would be this bad.”Mrs. Jessica’s eyes were weary, filled with years of pain that she had buried deep inside. “Ryan,” she said softly, “you were just a child when all of this happened. You couldn’t have known. But the truth is, your family has done unspeakable things.”Ryan shifted uncomfortably in his seat, trying to process it all. “So, my father… he forced you into a relationship?” He glanced at Luca, who remained silent, watching the conversation unfold with a grim expression.Mrs. Jessica nodded, her voice filled with a mixture of shame and bitterness. “I didn’t want to do it,” she explained. “I knew it was wrong. I knew being involve
Mrs. Jessica sat at the edge of the old, creaking hospital bed, her frail hands trembling as she reminisced. Her eyes, tired from years of pain, glistened with unshed tears. It had been so many years since Mr. Kendrick took her other twin, Ivy, and not a single day passed without her feeling the crushing weight of that loss.“Ever since Mr. Kendrick took Ivy,” Mrs. Jessica began, her voice hoarse from the memories she had buried for so long, “I haven’t been the same. Every day, I wake up thinking about her. What does she look like now? What has she become? Does she know I exist? Does she remember me?”Ryan watched her closely, a knot forming in his throat. The weight of the revelations from the previous night still hung heavy in the room. His mother had torn apart this woman’s life, and now, here she was broken, yet still standing, fighting for her daughter. He couldn’t help but feel responsible for the pain his family had caused her.“Mrs. Jessica, I’m so sorry for everything,” Rya
Months had passed since Parker waited in vain for Ryan to come to his rescue. As the cold reality set in, the hope that had once flickered inside Parker’s heart dimmed until it was nothing but a distant memory. The prison walls around him felt like they were closing in, suffocating him with the weight of his past mistakes. Every day, he wondered if his son would ever come, but no sign of Ryan emerged. He had gambled on the wrong side of history, and now he was paying for it with every lonely second that ticked by.Meanwhile, Mrs. Rose Kendrick, once a woman of unmatched power and deceit, was locked away in her world of doom. She had seen the writing on the wall long before now. When the truth came to light, when all the lies she had crafted so carefully unraveled before her eyes, she knew no one was coming to save her. The empire she had tried to manipulate for herself and her lover Parker had crumbled. Her final days were filled with silence, the kind that came not from peace but
Ryan paced the length of his father’s study, his mind racing with conflicting emotions. He held the hospital reports tightly in his hand, his knuckles white from the grip. The reports confirmed his worst fears—the man he had called his father for his entire life wasn’t his biological father at all. Dr. Parker was. The revelation had shaken him to the core, and he knew he couldn’t keep this secret any longer. He had to tell Mr. Kendrick.Taking a deep breath, he walked over to where Kendrick sat in his leather chair, his eyes already filled with concern. Kendrick had noticed Ryan’s turmoil the moment he entered the room, but he hadn’t pressed him to speak."Dad," Ryan began, his voice trembling slightly. He rarely ever called him anything but ‘Dad,’ but now, with this new information, it felt like a lie. Still, it was all he had ever known. "I received something today. It’s… complicated, and I don’t know how to explain it."Kendrick raised an eyebrow, worry etching deeper into his
The atmosphere in the house was finally calm, or so it seemed. After everything they had been through—the betrayals, the conspiracies, and the almost impossible escape from danger—Iris, Kendrick, and Jessica were relieved to be back home. The past few days had been nothing short of a nightmare, but now, with Ryan by her side, Iris felt like she could finally breathe again.Ryan had transformed into the kind of husband Iris had always dreamed of. He was attentive, caring, and endlessly devoted, especially when it came to their newborn. Late-night feedings and diaper changes—Ryan was right there with her, helping in every way he could. The chaos and distrust that once clouded their relationship were gone, replaced by a bond forged through hardship and love.One afternoon, as Iris cradled their baby on the living room couch, Ryan returned from the front door, holding a small package. There was no return address, just his name scribbled hastily across the front. He furrowed his brow as
The tension in the hospital room hung heavy as Iris took a deep breath and prepared to explain everything. The faces of those around her—Jessica, Ryan, Kendrick, and Ivy—were etched with a mixture of concern, curiosity, and shock. Ryan, especially, seemed anxious, as though every word Iris spoke would shift the very foundation of what he believed to be true.“I found out I was pregnant,” Iris began slowly, her voice steady but filled with emotion, “on the same day that Mrs. Rose asked to see me. She called me out of the blue and said she needed to talk. I thought it was something important about the family, but when I got there…” She paused, her gaze shifting to Ryan before continuing. “She told me to leave you, Ryan. She wanted me gone so you could be with Bella.”Ryan’s jaw clenched at the mention of his mother’s betrayal, but he remained silent, allowing Iris to continue.“I was devastated,” Iris admitted, her voice cracking slightly. “I didn’t know what to do, and on my way back t
The tension in the room had begun to settle after the police escorted Mrs. Rose and Dr. Parker out in handcuffs. The silence that followed felt like the calm after a storm, but there was still an air of unease.Mr. Kendrick stood in the center of the room, his expression heavy with guilt and regret. He turned toward Jessica, who stood with her arms crossed, looking as though she wasn’t quite sure what to make of him yet. Ivy and Iris, standing side by side, had barely spoken a word since everything unfolded.Kendrick cleared his throat, his voice thick with emotion. “I’m sorry,” he began, his eyes filled with sincerity as he faced Jessica and the twins. “Jessica, Iris, Ivy… I know words aren’t enough to make up for the years I’ve spent apart from you all, the lies, and everything else that’s happened. But please believe me when I say that I’ve regretted every single moment I wasn’t with you.”Iris remained silent, her face pale from shock, while Ivy’s gaze flickered between Jessica a
The room was suffocating. Ryan sat up straighter in his hospital bed, his eyes narrowing as Luca entered, his expression grim. The air felt thick with anticipation as everyone waited for the news. Luca cleared his throat and looked directly at Ryan. “The anonymous messenger? It was Sarah—your house help,” he said quietly. Ryan’s brows furrowed in confusion. “Sarah?” He glanced at Ivy, then back at Luca. “What do you mean? She’s just a housemaid. Why would she—" “She’s been traced and caught,” Luca interrupted his voice firm. “We got her while she was trying to flee the country. She’s been feeding information to your enemies, Ryan. She’s been working with Mrs. Rose.”The room went still. Ivy gasped, her hand flying to her mouth, and Kendrick’s face drained of color. Mrs. Rose stood frozen, her eyes wide in disbelief as all eyes turned toward her.“What… what are you saying?” Ryan’s voice was low, but it shook with barely restrained anger.“She confessed everything,” Luca continued, h
The silence that followed Mr. Kendrick's confession was deafening. Everyone in the room seemed frozen, processing the weight of his words. Mrs. Rose’s face was a mixture of shock and rage, her hands trembling as she gripped the back of a chair for support. Ryan and Ivy exchanged uneasy glances, while Jessica stood still, her expression unreadable, though her eyes glistened with the pain of memories that had long since scarred her.Kendrick took a deep breath, his voice thick with regret as he continued. "I was in love with Jessica," he admitted, his eyes locked on the floor as if unable to meet anyone’s gaze. "We were both so young, and I couldn't resist her. But I was already married to Rose. There was no way I could marry Jessica. I was the heir to the Kendrick family fortune, and it would have been a scandal—a disgrace—to have an affair and a child out of wedlock."Rose scoffed, her voice laced with venom. "So instead, you chose to keep me in the dark and raise the child of your
The tension in the room was so thick it felt as though it could suffocate them all. Mrs. Rose stood frozen, her heart hammering against her chest as her eyes darted from Jessica to Kendrick and then to her children. Her worst nightmare was unraveling before her eyes, and there was no escape. Kendrick, too, was motionless, his face a mixture of disbelief and confusion. His eyes met Jessica’s, and a flood of memories rushed back—memories he had buried for years. He tried to speak, but the words caught in his throat."Je… Jessica?" Kendrick’s voice was barely above a whisper, his shock palpable. Ryan, standing by his father’s bedside, turned to Kendrick, his brows furrowed in confusion. "Dad, do you know her?"Jessica stood tall, her eyes blazing with the fire of long-buried resentment. She ignored Ryan’s question and locked eyes with Mrs. Rose, whose face was now dripping with cold sweat. Rose’s hands trembled as she took a step backward, her composure slipping with every second."No…
Mrs. Rose paced anxiously around the hospital room, her heels clicking against the cold tile floor. She glanced at her watch for the hundredth time, her impatience growing by the second. Where were Ivy and Ryan? What were they up to? Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard the door open. She turned swiftly, only to see Ryan step into the room, followed closely by Ivy. Relief washed over her for a split second, but it quickly faded as she saw the grim looks on their faces. Something was wrong.“Where have you two been?” Mrs. Rose demanded, crossing her arms over her chest. “I’ve been looking all over for you!”Ryan didn’t respond immediately. His face was hard, his jaw clenched. Ivy, too, seemed distant, her eyes fixed on the floor as if she couldn’t bear to meet her mother’s gaze.Before Mrs. Rose could demand answers, a weak cough sounded from the hospital bed. Her husband, Mr. Kendrick, had woken up. Slowly, he turned his head toward her, his eyes filled with anger and betray