The boardroom was buzzing with quiet anticipation. Press conferences like this one were always meticulously organized, with reporters and photographers lining up their equipment, ready to capture the moment that would make the headlines. The Anderson Empire’s recent turmoil had the media’s full attention, and now, everyone was waiting for the bombshell Lilly had alluded to.Lilly stood in front of the mirror in the dressing room adjacent to the boardroom, pulling her blazer tight. She observed her reflection, her expression composed. Every detail was precise—the fit of her suit, the neatness of her hair, and the cold calm she exuded. She had always been calculated, every step planned, but today, there was more at stake.It time she face Liliana demons and over with it already, the world will be certain that she is alive after today and there won’t be anymore doubts on their minds, the Anderson family will be shaken to the core with this move of hers.Ray appeared behind her, adjusting
Ray’s entrance seemed to silence the room as if his presence alone commanded a certain reverence. The air crackled with the weight of the moment, every eye locked onto the couple standing before them. Together, they were an undeniable force, and the reporters knew it.Lilly stood with her head held high, her composure never wavering, while Ray exuded quiet strength beside her. It was clear now—this wasn’t just a press conference about Anderson Empire’s financial future. This was a changing of the guard, a public declaration of a new era, and the media could feel it.Ray approached the podium with ease, the room once again stilling. His voice was deep, measured, and commanding. “As my wife mentioned, Anderson Empire is now under my leadership. This isn’t just a transition—it’s a transformation. We’ve spent the last several months restructuring and preparing for the future. You’ll see that reflected in our upcoming projects and initiatives.” Calling ‘my wife’ in front of so many people
The press conference had barely ended, and the internet was already ablaze. Social media platforms flooded with reactions, memes, and conspiracy theories. News outlets scrambled to publish breaking headlines, and Anderson Empire was trending globally. The public, as always, was quick to react—and even quicker to judge.On Twitter, a trending hashtag had already emerged: **#icequeenLives**. Alongside it, another hashtag was gaining traction: **#AndersonEmpireReborn**. People couldn’t stop talking about Lilly’s dramatic return, her marriage to Ray Manchester, and, of course, the kiss that had set the internet on fire.“**Did anyone else just see that? Liliana Anderson—sorry, Manchester now—literally dropped the mic with that kiss! ICONIC. #icequeenLives**” “**So... poisonings, secret marriages, and now Ray Manchester in charge of Anderson Empire? This is better than any TV drama. #AndersonEmpireReborn**” “**Is it just me, or does anyone else think Ray and Liliana planned this whole
James Anderson stood frozen, the phone pressed to his ear, the board member’s frantic words still echoing in his mind. The Anderson Empire—his empire—no longer belonged to him. The family legacy he had killed for even though Liliana was in charge he still felt in control now belongs to Ray Manchester, how the hell did this happen.“Turn on the news?” James repeated, his voice cold. He could feel the slow burn of rage building inside him. He didn’t need to be told what was happening. He had a feeling that Liliana had just made a public statement that would send shockwaves through the business world.He hung up the phone without another word and strode over to the television. His hands shook as he grabbed the remote and flicked it on. The screen lit up, showing the aftermath of a press conference. Reporters were still in a frenzy, flashing lights illuminating the sleek boardroom where Liliana and Ray Manchester had stood just moments ago. “...in a surprising turn of events, Liliana And
Matilda paced the room, her heels clicking against the marble floor as she frantically dialed Ellen’s number. Her hands were trembling. The sight of Liliana’s betrayal on the television had ignited a storm of rage, but it was Helena who now posed the greatest risk. If Helena saw any of this—if she even *suspected* what had happened—it could unravel everything.The changes in Liliana came as a big shock to her, and her sudden interest in investigating her poisoning was unexpected. What changed? What happened to the old Liliana that does even give a fuck what happens around her. Ellen picked up on the third ring. Her voice, as cool and calculated as always, soothed Matilda’s nerves for a brief moment. "Mrs Anderson, what is it?" she asked right away, she may love Helena but she does give a flying fuck about anyone of her family.“Ellen, I need your help.” Matilda didn’t waste time with pleasantries. “You need to keep Helena away from the news—away from anything to do with Liliana and R
In the grand Manchester estate, sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting a warm glow on the lavishly decorated sitting room. Mitchell, was seated on a cushion, her eyes glued to the television screen. The news of her son’s marriage to Liliana Anderson had just broken, and Mitchell’s lips curled into a wide, triumphant smile.“I knew it,” she said, turning to her husband,, who was sitting nearby with a newspaper in hand. His gaze shifted from the paper to the screen, where Liliana was coolly conducting an interview. She was elegant, poised, and utterly unapologetic about her recent takeover of Anderson Empire. Mitchell’s heart swelled with pride.“You see that, hubby?” Mitchell’s voice rose with excitement, the usually composed woman unable to contain herself. “That’s *our* son’s wife. She’s a force of nature! Look at her—fearless. She’s not like those other women, all demure and helpless. Liliana knows exactly what she wants, and she’s not afraid to take it. The Andersons d
Chloe stepped into her car, starting the engine as she mentally prepared for the drive to Jerry’s house. She had to deliver some documents and assist with investigating Felix’s Aunt Ava, as ordered by her boss. The past three months had been filled with surprises, but the biggest one was the transformation in her boss. A woman who once didn’t care about any man now seemed entirely enmeshed with a Manchester, practically handing her empire over to him on a silver platter. *What if he betrays her?* Chloe thought, her fingers tightening on the steering wheel. *Men can’t be trusted with power, especially not when they already have plenty of their own.* Still, she had to trust her boss’s judgment. She had never made a wrong business decision before, and Chloe could only hope this wouldn’t be the first. As she checked her G****e Maps, making sure she was heading in the right direction, the thought of seeing Jerry made her grimace. He made her skin crawl with the way he stared at her—like h
Chapter 93“Gosh! My phone has been ringing nonstop, it’s quite frustrating,” Lilly said with her voice sounds like she just yelled, tossing her phone onto the couch in a rare outburst.Ray glanced up from his stack of documents, surprised by her sudden display of anger. He had never seen her showing any emotions, except for the moments when they were intimate. Normally, Lilly was composed, almost detached, but seeing her express real frustration made her seem more human—more relatable. He found it cute and sexy. This was the woman carrying his child, and that realization stirred something deep in him. Their baby was already having an effect on her, and he loved watching her change, becoming more raw and vulnerable."It's Anderson, isn't it?" Ray asked, though he already knew the answer. He set his papers aside and moved closer to her. Lilly sighed heavily, rubbing her temples. “Yes, the press. And board members. Andresin. Everyone’s got something to say, and it’s exhausting.”It had
“She was poisoned. Now, who are you?” the voice answered before shooting back a question.Liliana’s thoughts raced as she tried to make sense of the voice’s revelation. Poisoned? Her? The concept didn’t fit the narrative she had assumed—this body, Liliana’s body, was supposed to be impervious to toxins.“She was poisoned by her family,” the voice repeated with cold certainty, as if the explanation were simple and unquestionable.Liliana’s fists clenched, anger surging. “That’s impossible,” she hissed aloud, her voice trembling. “This body has built-in resistances. It’s practically untouchable unless…”She trailed off, dread creeping in as the horrifying possibility dawned on her. “Unless it’s self-destruction,” she whispered. “The pill.”“What pill?” the voice asked sharply, curiosity lacing its tone.Liliana’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Just forget it,” she snapped, unwilling to give the voice more ammunition. She shifted the topic quickly. “Have you dealt with the Andersons yet
Ray gazed at her face, hoping to see his old Lily, but the one standing before him seemed guarded and unwilling to open up."I'm really okay," Lily said, though she couldn't convince him. It like seemed annoying or threaten him, triggering the body thief. She must truly love him.Ray nodded in understanding before asking. “Can I take my bath?“ he felt uncertain about his next move. If she didn't want him to bath, then so be it. What mattered most was her health, well-being, and safety. Even his own discomfort was insignificant and could be ignored at any time.Lilly couldn't help but smile hearing what he said: "You must really love her."‘Her’ what her, why is she referring to herself as a third person’ Ray thought.“I love you” he said Ever since their conversation at the hospital, he couldn't shake off the feeling that this woman might be different. It was as if she had some kind of personality disorder, like two people were living inside her or two personalities were at war.‘He
“Aww, cutie pie, you shouldn’t dare me like that. I dare—and I will.”The words left her lips with a teasing smirk, but before she could relish her triumph, a sharp, searing pain erupted in her head. Her body jolted violently, like an unseen force had reached into her core and seized control. She gasped, her eyes widening in panic as her limbs shook uncontrollably.It felt like her skull was being split apart.‘You need to know your limits and behave yourself, or I will send you back to wherever you came from,’ a cold, sinister voice boomed inside her mind. The sound reverberated like hammer blows, each word driving shards of pain deeper into her brain.“No!” Liliana choked out, clutching her head as her body convulsed.“Lilly—Lilly! Lilly, please look at me! Open your eyes! Are you okay?” Ray’s voice cracked, frantic as he knelt by the bed, gripping her trembling shoulders. His calm composure shattered like glass.One moment, she had been teasing him, and now she was violently shakin
It had been two hours since the heads of the kidnappers inexplicably exploded in the torture room—something impossible, something unimaginable to mankind.Like, how the hell do people’s heads just blow up like they’re firecrackers?Whoever was after his baby girl’s life wasn’t ordinary. Ray was sure of one thing: his wife knew more than she was letting on. Her psychologist was coming over tomorrow, and he could only hope she would open up to him. This new version of her was terrifying in ways he couldn’t put into words. She had taken down six hefty men as if they were toddlers.It didn’t add up.Looking at her past self—the woman she used to be—she had always seemed weak and harmless just emotionless, someone who didn’t even know how to throw a punch. The investigation into her past showed nothing about her having fighting skills. Nothing.Before leaving, Ray had instructed Damon to contact a team of forensic pathologist to perform an autopsy. He needed answers. Anything. With that do
Back in the Lab“This is bad. Very bad,” Grey muttered to himself, tapping frantically at the keys on his laptop.He stared at the monitor in disbelief. The system was back online.“What… how…?” he stammered, his eyes wide with horror. He had been trying to deactivate the radiation sequence—he was sure of it.The screen flickered. A new message appeared, bold and cold:“COMMAND OVERRIDDEN. OPERATION EXECUTED.”Grey’s breath hitched. His trembling fingers hovered uselessly over the keyboard. Whatever had happened, it was far beyond his comprehension. The hackers had reached into their system like ghosts.Before he could process the full extent of the failure, the lab door slammed open.Matt stormed in, his face flushed red with anger. “What the hell just happened, Grey?” he barked, his voice sharp enough to cut steel.“I—I disabled it!” Grey stammered, jabbing a finger at the monitor as if to defend himself. “I swear I deactivated the sequence! Someone else—” His voice broke off, his h
The warehouse was cloaked in darkness, its oppressive silence broken only by the steady drip of water from a corroded pipe. The stench of rust, mildew, and blood lingered in the air, a nauseating prelude to the carnage within.Six men sat bound to metal chairs in a grim row, their heads slumped forward in exhaustion. The metallic bands around their foreheads hummed faintly, the only sound betraying the deathtrap concealed within.Jerry paced the room, his boots clanking against the concrete floor as he barked orders to his underlings. “Clip their tongues,” he snarled, his voice sharp and commanding. “Make sure they can’t bite down and die on their terms. These bastards don’t deserve an easy way out.”A sinister grin played on his lips as he turned back toward the men. Their battered faces showed defiance even in their broken state. Jerry liked it when they resisted—it made breaking them all the more satisfying.But then, something changed.A faint flicker of red danced across the meta
Matt’s pulse quickened as he stared at the footage. The “pet,” the most prized creation of their master, was not supposed to care. Her emotions—or lack thereof—were engineered to perfection, ensuring blind loyalty and unwavering execution of orders. Yet there she was, her face flickering with a softness he had never seen before, an almost protective rage as she shielded one of their captured men.Grey turned the screen toward him, rewinding to the critical moment. “See that? Right there,” he said, pointing at the pixelated image. The pet, with her fluid movements and deadly precision, should have eliminated the threat without hesitation. Instead, she had hesitated, even turning her weapon on their own operatives to protect the man.“This is no malfunction,” Grey continued, his voice shaky. “Something inside her is… waking up.”Matt rubbed his temples, his mind racing. He needed to contain this before the boss found out. Any sign of imperfection in his creations was not tolerated, and
“The Manchester family has them,” a tall man with curly hair muttered, his voice tense.The man seated in the center of the room barely moved, his presence radiating authority. Lounging back in his oversized leather chair like a king surveying his domain, he lifted his gaze to the curly-haired man, his expression sharp with disdain.“And what does my pet have to do with them?” His deep voice rumbled through the room like distant thunder. “Do they even know who they’re messing with?” he fired, each word cutting like a blade.Matt, the curly-haired man, flinched slightly but held his ground. The tension in the room was palpable, the air heavy with unspoken consequences.The boss’s jaw tightened, his gaze darkening as he processed the implications. The Manchester family. Their meddling was not part of the plan. They were powerful, yes—but so was he. “What are they trying to achieve by getting involved?” he muttered, almost to himself.Matt cleared his throat, knowing he had to answer car
“Who are you?” Lilly turned abruptly to Ray, sitting beside her in the private jet. Her voice was sharp, almost accusing.Ray blinked, startled. Since takeoff, she’d barely acknowledged his presence, staring out the window or resting her head back like he didn’t exist. Why the sudden question?“I didn’t say anything,” he replied carefully, his brow furrowing when her intense gaze didn’t waver.‘I’m in your mind, dummy.’What the hell? Lilly flinched. Did that voice just call me a dummy?‘Yes, I did. And you still haven’t answered my question.’ The voice was colder this time, almost impatient.‘Body thief,’ Lilly shot back in her mind, defiance surging. If she wanted to play games, fine—she wasn’t backing down.‘The fact that you’re calling me that means you already know who I am,’ the voice retorted smoothly. ‘I have no memory of you, but clearly, you remember me.’‘Duh! Of course, I do,’ Lilly fired, sarcasm dripping from her thoughts. ‘I’m the one in charge of this body now. But bef