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
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.
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
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
Autumn's throat went dry. She hadn’t expected her sister to catch on to her, but that didn’t matter. What mattered now was how much Iris knew. Her gaze swept over Iris, studying her from head to toe. It was uncanny—almost disorienting—how much Iris resembled Charlie. But there was always something unsettling about Iris, an eerie presence that lingered whenever she was nearby. That’s why Autumn had never fully accepted the idea that Iris was dead. Something about it had never felt right.“It’s been a while now,” Autumn said, her voice calm but laced with an edge. “Do you know you can go to jail for identity theft? Well, if it’s still called that, considering what you did is... rather extreme.” Iris chuckled, a sharp, scornful sound. Her lips curved into a mocking smile, her glare slicing through Autumn like a blade. “It’s not theft if it was handed to me by Elliot,” Iris retorted. “Besides, I’m just helping Charlie. You know, until she gets back—if she gets back.” Autumn’s eyes wid
Autumn dropped to her knees abruptly, clutching her stomach with one hand. A guttural moan escaped her lips, loud and raw, mimicking the sound of someone in unbearable pain. Iris froze, her legs trembling as the scene unraveled before her eyes.The door to the apartment complex swung open, and Derek stepped out, wearing only a crumpled dress shirt that looked like it had been hastily thrown on.Iris's gaze darted between Derek and Autumn, her wide eyes betraying the shock and disbelief coursing through her.“Derek, she's lying! I don’t have a knife!” Iris hissed, her voice sharp, but Derek wasn’t listening. He rushed to Autumn’s side, dropping to his knees. His arms encircled her trembling frame, pulling her into a protective embrace.“Derek, I swear! She was perfectly fine just seconds ago!” Iris persisted, desperation seeping into her tone.But Derek’s focus was fixed on Autumn as she wiped her tears with trembling fingers, her breath coming in shallow gasps. Slowly, Derek lifted hi
Derek's footsteps echoed loudly in the polished hallway of Fraser Media Company, each step firm with determination. The sound seemed to reverberate in his mind, stirring fragments of memories he couldn't fully grasp. One of Charlie's bodyguards, tall and expressionless, escorted him without a word, leading him to her office with a precision that made the encounter feel almost ceremonial. By the time they reached the heavy oak door, Derek's emotions were a chaotic mix: disgust, confusion, and a simmering annoyance. Charlie's recent behavior gnawed at him. If her claims were true, she could have simply filed for divorce. Yet she’d clung to him, claiming to love him for years, making it nearly impossible for Derek to sever their twisted bond. The bodyguard opened the door with a professional nod, stepping aside as Derek entered. His eyes immediately landed on Charlie's back, her silhouette framed by the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the bustling city. She turned slowly, he
Autumn Dawson stood stiffly at the edge of the dance floor, her hands clenched tightly around her champagne glass. she watched with teary eyes, her husband twirl his new bride, Iris Dawson—her much younger half-sister—across the polished wood. The twinkling lights above cast a soft glow on their joyous faces, a sharp contrast to the storm brewing in Autumn's chest. For twelve years, she had played the role of his substitute wife, enduring the empty nights and the whispered rumors, only to be cast aside the moment his father passed away. On the very day that marked their twelve-year anniversary, he had married Iris, leaving Autumn to bear witness to a happiness that had never been hers. Autumn Dawson watched the couple with a heavy heart, her bloodshot eyes tracking every movement as Ivan smiled ear to ear at Iris. That radiant smile was something she had never been granted; Ivan had only ever shown her one expression on that handsome face of his—a cold but an unyielding glare. It w
Derek's footsteps echoed loudly in the polished hallway of Fraser Media Company, each step firm with determination. The sound seemed to reverberate in his mind, stirring fragments of memories he couldn't fully grasp. One of Charlie's bodyguards, tall and expressionless, escorted him without a word, leading him to her office with a precision that made the encounter feel almost ceremonial. By the time they reached the heavy oak door, Derek's emotions were a chaotic mix: disgust, confusion, and a simmering annoyance. Charlie's recent behavior gnawed at him. If her claims were true, she could have simply filed for divorce. Yet she’d clung to him, claiming to love him for years, making it nearly impossible for Derek to sever their twisted bond. The bodyguard opened the door with a professional nod, stepping aside as Derek entered. His eyes immediately landed on Charlie's back, her silhouette framed by the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the bustling city. She turned slowly, he
Autumn dropped to her knees abruptly, clutching her stomach with one hand. A guttural moan escaped her lips, loud and raw, mimicking the sound of someone in unbearable pain. Iris froze, her legs trembling as the scene unraveled before her eyes.The door to the apartment complex swung open, and Derek stepped out, wearing only a crumpled dress shirt that looked like it had been hastily thrown on.Iris's gaze darted between Derek and Autumn, her wide eyes betraying the shock and disbelief coursing through her.“Derek, she's lying! I don’t have a knife!” Iris hissed, her voice sharp, but Derek wasn’t listening. He rushed to Autumn’s side, dropping to his knees. His arms encircled her trembling frame, pulling her into a protective embrace.“Derek, I swear! She was perfectly fine just seconds ago!” Iris persisted, desperation seeping into her tone.But Derek’s focus was fixed on Autumn as she wiped her tears with trembling fingers, her breath coming in shallow gasps. Slowly, Derek lifted hi
Autumn's throat went dry. She hadn’t expected her sister to catch on to her, but that didn’t matter. What mattered now was how much Iris knew. Her gaze swept over Iris, studying her from head to toe. It was uncanny—almost disorienting—how much Iris resembled Charlie. But there was always something unsettling about Iris, an eerie presence that lingered whenever she was nearby. That’s why Autumn had never fully accepted the idea that Iris was dead. Something about it had never felt right.“It’s been a while now,” Autumn said, her voice calm but laced with an edge. “Do you know you can go to jail for identity theft? Well, if it’s still called that, considering what you did is... rather extreme.” Iris chuckled, a sharp, scornful sound. Her lips curved into a mocking smile, her glare slicing through Autumn like a blade. “It’s not theft if it was handed to me by Elliot,” Iris retorted. “Besides, I’m just helping Charlie. You know, until she gets back—if she gets back.” Autumn’s eyes wid
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