"Uncle, she’s just a secretary. I think Iris’s idea is better. Autumn probably doesn’t even understand what we’re discussing," Ivan interjected dismissively. Derek’s gaze shifted sharply to his nephew, his expression unyielding."Then I hope, when the company loses money, you’ll be taking full responsibility for that decision," Autumn replied, her voice cool as Ivan’s face darkened into a scowl."How does the company lose money by proceeding with the lawsuit?" Ivan shot back, clearly annoyed."It’s been three months. Yes, NDA Pharmaceuticals blatantly copied our ad campaign, but so did several other companies. If we had acted sooner, we might have profited from the lawsuit. But now, it appears we set a trend, and others are following suit. According to my research, we haven’t actually lost any money. It looks more like a cover-up," Autumn explained, her gaze unwavering. Ivan’s brow furrowed as confusion and irritation mixed on his face."What are you even saying?" Ivan demanded, and t
Autumn’s head hung low as she leaned over the toilet, her stomach twisting painfully. She gagged, her watery, probably red, eyes catching sight of the morning breakfast she'd barely managed to eat. She let out a quiet groan, clutching her abdomen as she backed up against the cold cubicle wall for support. “Are you okay?” A concerned voice echoed gently off the walls, its familiarity hinting at one of the female coworkers she’d recently gotten to know. “Do you need help?” The voice came again, genuine and caring, but panic shot through Autumn. If she accepted, she risked exposing her pregnancy—a secret she was desperate to keep hidden as part of her plan to later fake an abortion. “I’m... I’m fine,” she managed, forcing herself to swallow down another wave of nausea. Her voice was weak, barely masking her discomfort, and she didn’t know how much longer she could hold it in. “You don’t sound fine.” The voice persisted, accompanied by a gentle nudge at the door, making Autumn’s pulse
The room was thick with tension as Maverick sat silently, reading glasses perched on his nose as he poured over a large, black book. Across from him sat three seats. Autumn was in the middle, flanked by Judas and Ivan, each as silent and wary as she was. They all knew Maverick's temper and were uncertain what he might do next. Autumn had walked in to find Judas and Ivan already seated, likely having been there before the news leak hit. The quiet tension in the air pressed down on them all, amplifying every small sound. When Maverick finally shut the black book, the heavy clap echoed in the room. He removed his glasses and massaged his forehead before setting them on his desk. “Judas, Ivan, please leave us. I need a word with my daughter-in-law,” he said, his voice calm—too calm, almost frighteningly so. Both men didn’t hesitate, leaving the room with surprising speed, leaving Autumn alone with the man she privately referred to as her “beast of a father in-law." She kept her gaze t
Iris could barely believe her eyes as she stood face-to-face with Maverick Ashton. He had called her in for a meeting, but he hadn’t spoken a word yet, and the silence was beginning to eat at her nerves. Her mind raced, wondering if Autumn had lodged a complaint against her, setting off Maverick’s wrath. A sneer tugged at the corner of her lips at the thought—Autumn was always desperate to be one step ahead, but two could play that game. Iris had her own tricks. But Maverick’s words, when he finally spoke, threw her off balance. “Have you ever killed someone before?” Iris blinked, stunned. Her eyes widened as she shook her head vigorously, the shock registering in her voice. “No, I—human life is… it’s valuable. I could never do that.” She forced an innocent tone, playing her part as best she could. Maverick chuckled dryly, seeing through her facade with ease. His son may have been gullible enough to fall for her act, but he wasn’t so easily fooled. “It’s a shame, really,” he c
"The person you are trying to call isn’t available at the moment. Please try again later."Autumn frowned as the robotic voice echoed for the third time. It was strange; she’d spoken to Charlie just this morning. Now, it felt like her friend had disappeared without a trace, leaving nothing but this automated message. Something was wrong—she could feel it in her gut. And somehow, Autumn was certain it had Elliot Fraser written all over it.As they drove toward Charlie's apartment, Autumn slumped back in her seat, her mind racing with worry and frustration. Then, a distant sound pierced her thoughts: sirens, growing louder as they drew closer. She glanced at Derek, who squinted in the direction of the noise, clearly as confused as she was.This part of the city was usually safe and quiet—a haven for the elites. Sirens blaring here was unusual. Derek hit the button to roll down the window, and, almost on instinct, Autumn leaned forward, sticking her head out to get a better look. Her eye
Autumn’s breath caught, her mind reeling as she stared at him. “You’re lying!” she shouted, her voice filled with defiance and disbelief. “This has to be some kind of sick joke. Why would Charlie murder her father? You could be sued for defamation!”“Believe what you want, Autumn,” Elliot replied evenly. “But that’s the truth. Why do you think she hasn’t answered your calls? She’s fled the country.”Autumn shook her head in denial, clinging to the belief that something deeper was going on—that Charlie couldn’t possibly be guilty. But Elliot’s words planted a seed of dread that grew, spreading through her thoughts. “I’m not buying your lies,” she muttered, though her confidence faltered. Elliot just shrugged, uninterested in her disbelief.“If you still doubt me, the police officers here can fill you in,” he said, gesturing around the taped-off scene. “I’m done here.”Autumn’s heart raced. “Then are you saying Charlie also leaked those lies about my affair along with the paternity resu
The frustration brewing within Dexter was clear. He watched as Iris lay beside him, engrossed in her phone, scrolling and laughing, a wide grin lighting up her face. It irritated him. They barely saw each other anymore, and even when they managed to steal a rare moment together, her attention seemed glued to anything with a screen—anything but him.In the beginning of their affair, they’d been consumed by lust, maybe even love. They shared secrets, leaned on each other emotionally and physically, growing dangerously close. But Iris had always been clear about one thing: their relationship was nothing more than a fling.All she ever talked about was her obsession with her sister’s husband, Ivan, and how Autumn had "stolen" him away. And even now, she was sending flirty texts to Ivan, her fingers tapping away as she lay right next to Dexter in bed.“Maybe you should put the phone down,” Dexter muttered, eyes narrowing as he glanced toward her screen.“Autumn filed for divorce,” Iris rep
“Why don’t you come stay with me?”Autumn froze, her expression unreadable as Derek’s words dangled in the air. She didn’t even glance in his direction. Maverick is yet to greenlight the divorce, and she was exhausted by Ivan’s shameless flaunting of Iris, treating her like the mistress of their home. Amidst the swirling rumors, she’d expected scornful looks or whispers, but no one seemed to care about her failed marriage. Perhaps it was because she was standing beside Derek, or maybe, people had simply moved on.The elevator hummed as it descended, enclosing the two of them in its muted light. Autumn hadn’t openly complained about her situation, yet here Derek was, offering her a way out.“Aren’t you the same man who warned me to guard my reputation?” she murmured, letting out a quiet, bitter scoff. As the elevator doors opened midway down, two young women entered, each nodding respectfully at Derek and Autumn before exchanging excited glances. Autumn’s lips curved into a faint smile
Autumn froze at Derek's question. Her mind raced for an answer, but nothing coherent came to her. "We should take this inside, Autumn," Ethan suggested gently, watching the tension in her posture. Autumn shook her head, her resolve hardening. "No. Derek needs to hear this," she muttered with quiet determination, glancing at Derek, whose concerned gaze lingered on her. His expression wavered, confused and uneasy. "If I tell you the truth, Derek," Autumn began hesitantly, her voice low but steady, "you might hate me. Or worse, you'll think I'm crazy." Derek stepped closer, his brow furrowed deeply. "Will the truth make me hate you?" Autumn hesitated, uncertainty flickering in her eyes before her expression turned cold. "That depends on you," she replied flatly. Derek took a steadying breath, the weight of her words settling uncomfortably in his chest. "So... who’s back?" "Charlie Fraser," she answered bluntly. Derek blinked, his brows knitting together. "The Charlie Fras
Derek took the manual from Autumn, carefully examining the safety latch instructions. Without hesitation, he began rolling up his sleeves. Then, in one smooth motion, he folded his shirt and placed it neatly on a nearby chair. Autumn coughed awkwardly, her gaze darting to the far end of the room. Heat crept up her neck as she felt her face flush. She quickly backed away, giving him space. “I’m going to make lunch,” she mumbled, fleeing before Derek could reply. As she entered the kitchen, her heart pounded in her chest. She leaned on the counter, trying to calm herself. “He’s just here to help with the crib. Get a hold of yourself, Autumn,” she muttered under her breath. Determined to distract herself, she busied herself preparing lunch. Soon, the kitchen filled with the warm aroma of broth. Humming softly, Autumn ladled the soup into two bowls, placing them on a tray. A small frown crossed her face as she glanced at the portions. Will this be enough? she wondered, recalli
D.O.N Corps felt as if Derek had never left. Although his memories were gone, Derek returned as the ruthless CEO everyone knew and feared. The moment his presence graced the scene, indistinct chatter echoed through the halls like ripples in water. On his first day back, he wasted no time, calling back-to-back board meetings. Yet, to his surprise, the company wasn’t in disarray. Every issue he planned to address had already been resolved—Autumn had taken care of it all. For once, there was little for him to do. This unusual reprieve left the employees of D.O.N Corps grateful to Autumn, despite the grueling meetings she had subjected them to in his absence. As they filed out of the latest board meeting, whispers of appreciation filled the air. Evette, however, hurried to her office, keen to avoid Derek’s scrutiny. “Miss Evette,” Derek’s voice cut through the chatter. His stride, usually commanding, carried a hint of hesitation. Evette froze, her bag half-slung over her shoulder.
Cameras flashed from every corner as Iris dropped to her knees, the sound of the clicking shutters filling the air like a swarm of locusts. She wore a sleek black gown that clung to her curves. A black fascinator perched on her head, its delicate veil casting a shadow across her tear-streaked face, partly obscuring her features but not her pain.The moment she arrived at the police station, the paparazzi had swarmed her, hurling questions like stones about Elliot's arrest. Iris forced her chest to rise and fall dramatically, her breathing labored as her mascara streaked down her cheeks in inky trails. Her trembling hands clutched at the folds of her dress, the fabric twisting under her grip as she knelt on the cold pavement. To any passerby, she looked like a woman shattered by grief, you could as well liken her to a victim.But inside, Iris felt none of that. She felt alive.For once, the people of Havenport were paying attention—not to her, exactly, but to Charlie. And that was cl
Instead, he turned to Autumn, his features softening slightly. "Are you okay?" he asked gently, concern evident in his voice. Autumn barely acknowledged him, giving a small nod before turning to walk away. But Derek wasn’t done. He grabbed her hand, halting her in her tracks. Behind them, Ben was still ranting, his voice shrill like a barking dog. Derek turned, his glare silencing the man instantly. With a sharp order, he instructed the security to remove Ben. "I’ll handle her," Derek said calmly. The guards nodded, dragging a still-sputtering Ben away. With the commotion gone, Derek turned his attention back to Autumn. His hand still gripped hers as he leered closer, his other hand landing firmly on her shoulder. "Is that the father of the child?" Derek asked, his voice low but laced with an accusatory edge. "Why would you let that old prick knock you up? Were you driven by his wealth and decided to sleep with him?" Autumn’s head snapped toward him, her eyes narrowin
"It's just stress. Your baby is still kicking and healthy," the doctor informed Autumn, and the pent-up stress she had been feeling slightly eased. It had been three days since she discovered Iris was still alive and had gotten plastic surgery to look exactly like Charlie. Because of this, Autumn had a growing fear—more of a crisis—that any single person she encountered could be Iris. Even though Iris hadn't caught on that she was aware, Autumn was clearly still in danger, given Iris's alliance with Elliot. "Is it possible for me to travel a month from now?" Autumn asked as the doctor glared at her, judgment in her eyes. "No, you're in your third trimester. Any moment now, you could go into labor," the doctor said, concern written all over her face. "It's urgent. Can't you just write me a doctor's note and pardon me?" Autumn's tone was desperate. "So I can have my license revoked? I think not. You can't even travel until a month or two after giving birth," the doctor said, st
"You've been busy." Elliot's frame leaned against the white tile of the hospital's restroom. Iris was busy fixing her make up, dabbing a pint of gloss across her lips as she pouts her lips. She shrugged satisfied with the glossiness of her plump lips, she had to give it to Charlie for at least being so pretty. She didn't understand why Charlie didn't just seduce Derek from the beginning she was beautiful and now Iris had her face.She turned to Elliot who she finally noticed taking a space in the room."This is the lady's restroom." Iris smudge her index finger across her lips as she tried to set down the rest of her gloss."What are you doing?" Elliot asked, leaned back even more relaxed even though he was more stressed than ever."I'm fixing my make up? What does it look like I'm doing?" Iris said as Elliot groaned, his palm retreats to his face in frustration."You know what I'm talking about Iris. What business do you have with Derek Ashton? Are you reconsidering our alliance?" El
"It's best you don't tell Derek the baby belongs to him." Iris said as Autumn rose from her seat. It's been two weeks since she came disguised as Charlie and Autumn was sick of it. She was now eight months pregnant and was nearing delivery while her supposed babydaddy was coddling up to the two faced bitch that stood before her.Iris uttered the suggestion in the cafeteria and Autumn stood up with her protruding tummy sticking out like a sore thumb. Everyone in the cafeteria, mostly nurses feared she might give birth right at that moment. Autumn sucked in her breath wary of the eyes that summerged her. "And what should I do with his child? Hide it's existence from the father?" Autumn gloated reaching for her paper cup."Abort it." Autumn paused gripping tightly to her cup at the utter mention of abortion. "Excuse me?" Autumn questioned looking avertly at Iris smug face.She was due to delivery and Charlie had the guts to recommend an abortion?"You did it with your first child with
"He has amnesia," the doctor said to Autumn, her voice calm but heavy with implication. Autumn bit her lip, her eyes filling with tears until they spilled over, streaming down her cheeks. Evette, who stood beside her, immediately pulled a napkin from her bag and handed it to her friend. Evette couldn't hide her surprise. This was the first time she had ever seen Autumn break down. At work, Autumn was known for her ruthlessness and unyielding demeanor. The sight of her crying now made Evette's chest ache. She must really love Derek, she thought. "How long will this last?" Autumn asked, her voice now firm as she quickly wiped her face. The moment of vulnerability was gone, replaced by her usual composed, no-nonsense expression. The doctor sighed softly. "It could last weeks, months, maybe even years. It depends on his recovery process, Autumn," she explained in a measured, comforting tone. But to Autumn, the words were anything but comforting. Autumn’s brow furrowed in frustration.