Chapter 45: What Will I Gain from This Exchange? At this point, Joseph Lawrence raised his head and accused, "Which Cryptess? She has been off the network for almost a decade now. How can you contact her? Do you think if I could contact her, I would get you?" Everyone knew that Cryptess, after hacking into the most impossible system ever built and winning the "Queen of Hacking" title, went offline and never returned. Some rumors said she had died, while others said she got married and had a family – that she wanted a life away from the dark web. No one could locate where she was, nor any of her highly skilled hacker friends. Quickly, he responded, his chest rising and falling. "Cryptess is back online. She logged in recently, and I have her personal contact. We are friends online; she will do this," he admitted, his voice trembling. "Alright," Aiden scoffed coldly. He took to his feet, adjusting his tailored tie. Aiden's eyes narrowed, his earlier frustration fueli
Chapter 46: Dahlia is a devil in wolf's clothing! Upon arriving at the corridor that led to the room, Elsie's heart raced faster than before. Even her breathing was audible. It was a nature of hers to hyperventilate when nervous. That room may hold the secrets to all her unanswered questions. She may finally find out what was in that letter and what Dahlia was keeping in that room. Secretly, she stopped in her tracks. Elsie shut her eyes, taking in a deep breath and letting it out. It was an exercise her therapist had advised her to use when stressed or during moments of anxiety. Dahlia might have noticed as she looked over her shoulder to find the worker a few steps away. He was bent, tying his shoelace, and he was humming "Liberian Girl" by Michael Jackson. She rolled her eyes at the scene and continued walking. Hearing her footsteps, Elsie raised her head, stopping the tune. She jumped to her feet, feeling much better than before. She diligently
Chapter 47: Were you expecting someone else? "President, he is here!" Joseph Lawrence announced the arrival of Cryptess, a man with a pot belly and a thick white beard. He carried a sachet hanging over his shoulder, smiling eerily. "You are Cryptess?" Aiden, who was standing by the French window, swirled to find an old man staring at him. To everyone's knowledge, Cryptess was the goddess of the Darkweb. She was said to be drop-dead gorgeous, bewitching men at a mere glance, or incredibly ugly, with a face that scared her opponents. To their surprise, Cryptess was the man—an old man with a Santa beard? Could this be a disguise? "Yes, I am. Were you expecting someone else?" The old man belly laughed, caressing his stomach. He limped to the couch and began to set out his devices. This didn't amuse Aiden; his facial expression remained cold and void of emotions. Aiden kept his distance as the man carried out his magic. He soon breached the biotech wall.
Chapter 48: I won't let you move an inch towards him Soon, a black Maybach GLS drove into the compound, and Aiden strutted out in powerful steps. "Good evening, sir," he was welcomed by Jerry, who took the grey colored suitcase from him. Aiden's cold eyes scanned the environment for a while, then he glanced up at Jerry. "Where did you take my wife throughout the day?" Following in Aiden's footsteps, Jerry explained calmly, "We went to the spa, then went around the city for some time. The only thing that hindered us was the heavy traffic." Earlier, Elsie had ran into Jerry and begged him to cover for her. So, he did. "Okay," Aiden replied curtly. Suddenly, his legs were clamped by a little fellow. He glanced down to find his son Eldon, and he asked, crouching down, "How was your day?" "It was amazing, Daddy. Our school trip to the botanic garden and zoo was awesome. We took so many pictures. Did you know that the human race is said to have originated
Chapter 49; Do you have a plan? Dusky blues emerged, dotted with violet and fuchsia stars, like a juicy blend of wild berries freshly picked at dusk. The air was fresh, and a cold breeze blew across the busy streets of City B. On the first floor of a high-end restaurant, April, clad in an asymmetrical blue, skin-tight dress, sat across from Loretta Scott. Loretta, dressed in a powerful white designer suit, had shoulder-length, golden-blonde hair swept elegantly on her back. She had green, close-set eyes and full lips. Despite being in her early fifties, she was fit and could pass for someone in her forties. She was stunning with a beauty spot under her eyes. "What happened yesterday? Did everything go as planned?" Loretta asked. "Go as planned?" April clicked her tongue in distaste. "The second elder brother brought me home, and that grasshopper called him back." The condescension was dripping from her tone. "Grasshopper?" Loretta looked at April in question.
Chapter 50: Kill for me? "Indeed. Henry is quite the character. I jest, of course, when I say he would kill for you," she chuckled heartily, relishing in her own sense of triumph. Elsie struggled to contain her growing urge to burst into laughter. She found Trixson's lies utterly ridiculous. The Henry Rowan she knew was a self-centered pimp who wouldn't lift a finger to save her life. He only cared about drugs, women, and money. Nothing more! Lowering her gaze, Elsie smiled shyly. "Kill for me? I don't want him to do that." Observing Elsie's reaction, Trixson felt satisfied. She casually picked up the menu tablet, laughing. "Oh, honey! You're taking this too seriously, okay? I know what you need, and I'll provide it." "And what might that be?" Elsie wrinkled her delicate nose, struggling to comprehend Trixson's intentions amidst the changing circumstances. It was hard to keep track of what Trixson was thinking. A knowing smile spread across Trixson's fa
Chapter 51: You Aren't Family It was Elsie's turn as she implored, "What are you doing, sis? Don't you remember you have someone else to go to?" "Um... I..." Trixson stuttered. "Why are you stuttering, sis? Are you worried about your movie? I know you are. You always think too much. You would be just fine, okay? Let me get inside now, or you know Aiden has a short temper." With a sour look on her face, Trixson managed to lift her lips into a smile. She unwillingly sidestepped, letting Elsie hop in. The moment Elsie went in, the car doors automatically locked. She could still spot Trixson standing there as it stranded. Immediately, Elsie's eyes flashed with an idea. She unstrapped her seatbelt and scooted over to Aiden. This got his attention as he looked away from his documents to the beautiful woman in his presence. Her lips looked too tempting, and his eyes wandered through her cleavage. It wasn't revealing, yet it was inviting. To his surprise, s
Chapter 52:I will protect you "What?" Dahlia grimaced at the looks she got from her family. "I am only telling her the truth. When has the truth been bound in this house? Huh?" Grant Dale sent a withering glare and snapped, "Dahlia, shut up! Or go back to your room." "As always, everyone is taking the stranger's side and ganging up on me. I am so unfortunate!" Pushing her chair back with a loud shriek, Dahlia complained as she left the dining section. When she reached the corridor, a satisfied grin grew on her lips. "My plan worked. I got rid of that questioning, asking pest!" Back in the dining room, Grant and Everest Dale tried to comfort Elsie, who looked hurt. Grant said in a soothing voice, "Dear, you know how your aunt is, right? She has a faucet for a mouth that keeps running all day long." To this, Cécilia chuckled from her corner, finding it amusing that her mother's sharp tongue was compared to a faucet. She was the quiet member of the family.
Chapter Four: Mate?"The alpha male is not just a leader, but a guardian." - Unknown ___ In the torturing basement of the Crescent Moon Pack, a dungeon meant for defilers of the pack, the stench of blood and sweat filled the air. Kael and his beta, Lyra, strode in powerful strides towards the dungeon where the head witch was being kept. They had been successful in eradicating almost all the witches that had attacked them. "Why do you think the witches attacked us yesterday?" Lyra inquired softly, her voice echoing in the marble halls, as she pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. "What do you think?" Kael retorted, subtle anger lacing his voice. He glared at her as if she had asked him to bite off his finger and increased his steps. Ly
Chapter Three: Kaiya, are we going to die? "Werewolves are like the ocean, you can't control them, but you can learn to navigate their tides." - Unknown ___ Kaiya and Linda ran swiftly through the darkened forest, their feet pounding on the soft ground. Kaiya's heart raced, both from the physical exertion and the sheer terror of the situation. "Hurry, Linda! He's coming after us!" Kaiya yelled, glancing nervously over her shoulder. Linda's breath came in short gasps, and Kaiya could see the strain on her face. She knew her asthmatic friend was struggling to keep up the pace. Suddenly, a bone-chilling howl pierced the air, sending shivers down their spin
Chapter Two: I want to see you happy "The things that go bump in the night, are not always monsters, sometimes they are just lost souls." - Unknown ___ Surprisingly, the day wrapped up as if the awkward conversation with her boss had never happened. Kaiya had never been happy, so she took out Linda to a small restaurant by the town borders to celebrate. It was a dumb but necessary idea. In the restaurant, they sat in a garden-themed backyard awaiting the waiter to come and take their orders. Sitting across from each other, Linda smacked her pink-painted lips several times, her legs bouncing nonstop. She wore a bright smile which happened to complement the black skin-tight dress she was wearing.
Chapter One: The beginning "The supernatural is the natural, not yet understood." - Elbert Hubbard ___ In the beautiful city of Voldermont, known for the void icy cold river that encircled the town and its touristic caves and beautiful forest, the cold wind carried from the river swept into the window of a three-storey building, making everyone shiver. "Have you contacted the man for the new windows?" Linda Crowe, the best friend and five-year roommate of Kaiya, asked as the moment she arrived at Kaiya's cubicle. She placed a cup of hot coffee with no cream on the table. Linda, a twenty-three-year-old ebony lady with heavy curves and brown butt-length braids. "Huh?" Kaiya raised her celery-green eyes to meet her friend's darker
Author's AppreciationI started writing this earlier without this novel being finished, because I wanted to say something from the heart and not rushed. That doesn't mean my other appreciations are not from the heart. They are!You see, I have never been good with words and not always known how to respond to messages, emails, and so on. I am a freaking walking disaster, a one-woman circus clown kind of show, but I say this with much confidence: when I read a book and I laugh hard, feel hate, dislike, and cringe at moments which genuinely become a part of me, even if just for a time - it fills in my heart. I am overwhelmed by such talent to aid me grapple with my own emotions and go over every scene. Feeling satisfied and still wishing for more. Looking at you, Ashley Peston, you perfect angelic wordsmith.And I want that to be the same feeling my readers get from
Epilogue Elsie's POV Six months later. I got a call from the prison, concerning Trixson's plea to have me visit her. I should have said no. However, I needed to hear what she wanted to say. Trixson had been sentenced with a double life sentence for the murders she had been involved in. Boris had been given ten years for being an accomplice in Henry's homicide. Trixson had Boris sneak into the rehab disguised as an operating nurse and provided him the drugs Henry overdosed on. After this, Boris' conscience could not bear the burden of the secret. Hence, he came to me. He had to, after I provided him photos of Trixson and Director Lee's affair. All that helped take off the rose-colored glasses he wore aroun
Chapter 137: I have you Aiden stepped out of the prison gate, blinking in the bright sunlight. He had dreamed of this moment for what felt like an eternity, and yet, it still felt surreal. He was finally free. As he looked around, his eyes scanned the crowded streets, searching for a familiar face. And then, he saw her. Elsie stood out from the crowd, her flaming red hair shining like a flame. She wore a bright smile, and her eyes sparkled with tears, as she waved at him. Aiden's heart skipped a beat as he made his way towards her. Elsie still looked as beautiful as she did the first time he saw her at the Scott mansion. She wore a knee-length red dress that clung to her skin, exposing her heavy curves. As a result of the pregnancy, Elsie had gained weight, and her chest and ass had grown bigger too. She was
Chapter 136: Prison Life Aiden's POV The courtroom had been filled with a sense of tension and anticipation. The judge, a middle-aged woman with a stern expression, sat at the bench. I stood before her, my eyes fixed on Elsie, who had been crying non-stop. The prosecutor stood opposite me, arms crossed. The judge announced, "After careful consideration of the evidence and the severity of the crime, I hereby sentence you to 7 years in prison for withholding information and obstruction of justice in relation to the double homicide case." My eyes had widened for a brief moment, but I accepted the sentence with a nod. I knew I deserved this punishment for my actions. The judge continued, "While I acknowledge your cooperation with the authorities and your expression o
Chapter 135; Promise me Two months later. On the day of Aiden's trial, after he had refused to file for bail, Elsie kept Eldon entertained by playing Legos when Aunt Rina walked in. The little lad ran to hug Rina, and she kissed him on the cheek. "Aunt Rina, where have you been? I've missed you," he exclaimed, his dimples creeping up as he smiled. Leaning in, she explained in a sweet voice, "I was busy, boy. But I'm back now..." Elsie, leaning against the counter in the kitchen, found their encounter very cute. She sometimes envied Eldon's relationship with Rina. A huge grin curled up on Eldon's lips, and he raised his arms, shouting out of ecstasy, "Yay, we'll all play together!" "We will," Rina confirmed, nodding her head. She reached out to touch the boy's cheek and pinched it fondly. "You should go to your room and wait for me there while I talk to your mom." The kid threw his arms up in happiness, spread them wide like wings, and ran out, making plane