The silence between them stretched, thick and charged, a thread pulled so taut it might snap. A breeze drifted through the open balcony doors, carrying the scent of rain and something heavier something that lingered between them like an unspoken challenge.Elowen exhaled slowly, letting her fingers trail along the rim of her teacup, her movements deliberate. A slow, knowing smile curled at the corners of her lips.“Well, well,” she murmured, voice smooth as silk. “Looks like we have a lot to discuss.”Across from her, Maria leaned back in the armchair, draping one leg over the other with lazy confidence. The dim light of the chandelier cast a soft glow over her sharp cheekbones, but there was a flicker in her eyes something bitter, something that hadn’t quite settled.“Oh,” Maria said, her smirk deepening, “you have no idea.”Elowen tilted her head, watching, waiting. The weight of the past pressed between them, thick as honey, slow as a storm rolling in.Maria exhaled, her fingers ti
The silence stretched between them, thick with an unspoken agreement.Elowen leaned back, crossing one long leg over the other, her fingers toying with the rim of her teacup. A slow, knowing smile curled her lips. “We’ll make him think you signed over your wealth. I’ll have a fake will prepared, and you’ll hand it to him. The moment he thinks he owns everything, he’ll toss you aside maybe even demand a divorce. He’ll believe he’s won.”Maria swallowed, her heart drumming against her ribs. “And then?”Elowen’s smile sharpened into something wicked.“Then, we’ll watch Caspian make a complete fool of himself.”Maria let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Her pulse steadied. “Is that a deal, then?” she asked, holding out her hand.Elowen studied her, those cool, calculating eyes stripping Maria down to her very bones. Then, slowly, she reached out and clasped Maria’s hand. “It’s a deal.”Maria exhaled.Elowen leaned forward, her voice smooth as silk. “Tomorrow, I’ll send yo
The night air in Dolan Village was still, disturbed only by the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant hum of cicadas. A makeshift stage stood in the village square, its wooden planks illuminated by portable floodlights. The villagers, dressed in simple clothes, gathered in clusters, curious but indifferent to the event being streamed live across the world.For them, this wasn’t a spectacle it was an unfamiliar affair happening in their backyard. But for the online audience, it was war.Comment Section:Jeremy’s about to crush this so-called competition. The guy’s a legend!You mean an overrated fraud. Sylvaine is about to eat him alive!If Sylvaine is that good, why hasn’t she signed with a label?Maybe because she refuses to sell out. She’s rejected industry contracts before.Douglas, leaning against a camera rig, scrolled through the comments, his lips twitching into a smirk. The internet was already ablaze with fan wars, but tonight, the real drama would unfold. He straighten
Jeremy’s voice wavered mid-verse. A sharp, almost imperceptible shift rippled through the production crew. Camera operators exchanged nervous glances, the stage director’s fingers flew over his tablet, and the moderators huddled near their laptops, whispering frantically.Something was wrong.The villagers, unfamiliar with Jeremy’s status, sensed the sudden unease but had no idea why. Their murmurs grew louder, confused yet intrigued.Sylvaine, arms crossed, watched with quiet amusement.Jeremy’s fingers clenched around the microphone. His gaze flickered toward the teleprompter, then to the audience. They were still clapping, still smiling, still oblivious. But beyond the stage, online, something was unraveling.His team scrambled behind the cameras, their hushed voices thick with panic. But it was too late. The internet had already spoken.Caspian lounged on his leather couch, a glass of whiskey swirling lazily in his hand, the golden liquid catching the dim light of his penthouse. T
Elowen swirled the wine in her glass, watching the deep red liquid catch the dim light of her penthouse. The city skyline stretched beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, glowing with late-night life. But her mind was elsewhere on the chaos unfolding online.She refreshed the page on her laptop, the screen illuminating her sharp smirk."Wow, I’m so disappointed in Jeremy.""I loved him, but he's a thief?""Of course, G Group is covering for him. His daddy’s a lawyer figures.""Poor Daniel. He was robbed blind in that company."Elowen exhaled in satisfaction and leaned back against the plush velvet of her couch. Her plan was unfolding beautifully.Then her phone rang.She didn’t need to check the caller ID. The timing was too perfect. Mr. Douglas.“Elowen.” His voice was sharp, cutting straight to the point. “I see what you’re doing. You really want to destroy G Group?”Elowen let out a soft laugh, standing up and walking toward the window. The night breeze brushed through her silk robe,
A shrill ring cut through the early morning silence, jarring Elowen from sleep. She groaned, stretching her arms lazily as her fingers fumbled across the bed in search of her phone. The king-sized mattress felt too large, too empty, a stark contrast to the warmth of her tangled sheets.She squinted at the screen Lysander.Pressing the phone to her ear, she mumbled, “Hey…” Her voice was thick with sleep.“Still in bed?” Lysander’s deep chuckle came through the receiver. “Sorry for waking you.”Elowen pushed herself up, rubbing her eyes. The soft glow of dawn filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting long shadows over the sleek, modern furniture of her penthouse. “It’s fine,” she murmured. “I needed to wake up anyway.”“Have you checked online?” Lysander’s tone shifted, suddenly sharp. “The Emmanuelle file you posted it?”Elowen blinked, her sluggish mind snapping to attention. “Oh,” she said, kicking off the covers and swinging her legs over the edge of the bed. The cold m
Caspian’s fingers tightened around his phone, the plastic and metal casing creaking under the pressure. His breath came in ragged bursts, his pulse hammering like a war drum against his ribs. The screen still glowed with the damning headlines, the betrayal bleeding across every news site.EXPOSED: EMMANUELLE CONFESSES TO G GROUP FRAUDCaspian Reed Under Fire: Board Members Call for Urgent VoteHis grip slackened, and the phone slipped from his fingers, crashing against the marble floor. The impact splintered the screen, but Caspian didn’t care. His lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile.“Elowen,” he murmured, the name a poison on his tongue.She thought she could take him down?His jaw clenched as his fury rose like a storm. She has no idea what’s coming.Caspian stalked across the room, his movements sharp and deliberate. He yanked open his closet, grabbing the first suit that met his fingers. The charcoal fabric slipped over his shoulders like armor, the crisp scent of expensive
The boardroom had never been this silent.Caspian stood at the head of the table, his fingers pressing into the polished wood, his breathing sharp and ragged. He should have seen this coming. He should have known the moment the whispers started, the moment the shareholders’ glares turned colder than ice.His heart pounded against his ribs, but he refused to show weakness.Instead, he smirked. A slow, dangerous curve of his lips.“You’ll regret this,” he murmured, his voice like the edge of a knife. “Before nightfall, you’ll come begging me. Voting me out was the worst mistake of your lives this company belongs to me.”Andrew, the man he once trusted, leaned back in his chair, arms folded. Calm. Unbothered. His stare held no fear.“You’re wrong,” Andrew said. He tilted his head slightly, studying Caspian like a predator watching prey. “It belongs to Elowen. It always has.”The air thickened.A ringing noise filled Caspian’s ears. He barely heard the whispers that spread through the roo
Lysander gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white as he sped down the narrow, unpaved road. The engine’s low growl barely masked the storm brewing inside him. The headlights cut through the thick darkness, illuminating the overgrown bushes that lined the path to his family’s old hideout.His hideout.Now overrun by the very woman who once swore she loved him.He should have killed Calista when he had the chance.The thought burned through his mind as he cut the engine a few feet away from the compound. Silence. The night was still, but Lysander knew better. She’d have men posted everywhere.He slid out of the car, moving like a shadow. The bulletproof vest felt snug against his chest as he unholstered his silenced pistol. His eyes scanned the area two guards at the entrance, standing stiff, their breath visible in the cold night air.Lysander exhaled slowly.Two bullets. Two bodies.They crumpled without a sound.He stepped over them, slipping inside through the creaky d
The room was silent.Thick. Suffocating.But Elowen didn't flinch. Instead, she did something that made Calista pause.She smiled.Cold. Unyielding.And when she spoke, her voice was steel.“Then I hope you’re ready.”A flicker of hesitation flashed in Calista’s eyes.“Because I don’t plan on dying today.”Calista's laughter rang through the dimly lit room, sharp and full of venom. Her heels clicked against the concrete floor as she stepped out of the shadows, finally revealing herself.Elowen’s head throbbed, warm blood trickling down her face. The ropes bit into her wrists, cutting off circulation, but she refused to let the pain show.Calista crouched before her, tilting her head like a predator studying its prey.“You always were full of fight.” Her fingers clamped onto Elowen’s jaw, nails digging into her skin. She squeezed tight, unforgiving. “But let me make one thing clear.”She leaned in, her breath hot against Elowen’s ear.“You don’t get to win.”Elowen gritted her teeth, b
“I miss it already,” Seraphina sighed, her fingers trailing along the cold glass of the car window. The city lights blurred past, casting golden reflections over the darkened streets.“Me too,” Elowen murmured, her hands tightening on the wheel.The road stretched ahead, slick with rain, the faint hum of tires the only sound between them. The night felt calm, almost too calm—Then came the headlights.Blinding. Fast. Barreling straight toward them.A truck.No time. No space.BANG.The impact slammed into them with bone-shattering force. The seatbelt bit into Elowen’s chest as the car was sent skidding, tires screeching against asphalt. Metal groaned, twisting under the weight of the collision.Glass exploded.The world spun flipping, rolling, tumbling.CRASH.Then silence.Thick. Suffocating.A metallic scent filled Elowen’s nose blood. Gasoline. Smoke curled in the air.Somewhere, a phone buzzed.Seraphina.“Are you there? Elowen, answer me!” Seraphina’s voice was sharp, frantic.No
Sunlight streamed through the sheer curtains, warming Elowen’s skin as she shifted beneath the covers. A lazy yawn escaped her lips, her body protesting against the idea of leaving the comfort of sleep. Just five more minutes…A shadow fell over her.Her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the light only to find Lysander perched at the edge of her bed, watching her.She jerked upright. “Lysander? What the hell—”“Good morning.” His voice was smooth, teasing, like he had been waiting for her reaction.Her gaze flickered around, confirming she was indeed in her own bedroom. The realization did nothing to soothe her racing heart. She narrowed her eyes at him. “Don’t tell me you spent the night in my room?”Lysander leaned in slightly, his presence filling the space between them. “Is that how you greet someone in the morning?” His fingers ghosted through her tousled hair, making her stomach flip.Elowen swallowed. “Good morning.” The words came out breathy, uncertain.Lysander sat back, cro
Elowen’s pulse hammered in her ears as Mrs. Martha’s words echoed in the dimly lit room."I’m going to kill her right in front of you."The woman said it so casually, like she was discussing dinner plans.Elowen’s fingers curled into fists.Mrs. Martha leaned closer, smirking. "Then, I’ll erase Zephyr’s memory. And we’ll all pretend this never happened."A laugh slipped past Elowen’s lips low, cold, unnatural.Mrs. Martha’s smirk faltered. "Something funny?"Elowen tilted her head, her gaze locking onto the woman’s with unsettling calm. "You’re right about one thing, Martha."Martha’s brow arched in amusement."You’re good at eliminating problems."Elowen’s eyes turned to steel. "Too bad you never realized you’re mine."A flicker of confusion crossed Mrs. Martha’s face before Elowen moved.The gunshot shattered the silence.Martha’s smirk didn’t even have time to fade before the bullet slammed into her skull. Blood splattered across the cracked concrete walls as she crumpled, her body
Elowen’s grip tightened on the steering wheel as she stared at the blinking red dot on her phone screen. The tracker had stopped moving. An abandoned building deep in the forest. Her gut twisted. That’s where Seraphina is.She took a steady breath and killed the engine. The line of black SUVs behind her followed suit, their headlights cutting through the thick fog. The air smelled damp, the scent of pine mixing with something metallic something off.As Elowen stepped out of her Lamborghini Aventador, a dozen guards followed, moving with sharp precision. Their black suits blended with the night, silent shadows awaiting orders. Her pulse was steady, but beneath it, rage simmered."Surround the building," she commanded, her voice low but firm.The men split instantly, disappearing into the darkness, their training evident in the way they moved no wasted steps, no hesitation.Elowen adjusted the gun holster beneath her coat. She wouldn’t leave without Seraphina.With a flick of her wrist,
Elowen’s heels clicked against the marble floor as she paced in her office, her mind racing. Her hands trembled slightly as she clenched her phone, her heartbeat thrumming in her ears. Seraphina was in danger. And if there was one thing Elowen couldn’t stand, it was feeling helpless.She took a deep breath and dialed Lysander’s number.The call barely rang twice before he answered. "I was just about to call you," he said, his voice carrying its usual smoothness.Elowen forced a smirk. "Yeah? But I called first.""Touché, my love," he teased, but there was an edge to his voice, like he sensed something was wrong."I need your help," she said, dropping all pretenses.A pause. Then, "What do you need?"Elowen swallowed hard, gripping the edge of her desk. "The full force of your guards."Another pause. She could hear Lysander shifting, the rustling of papers being pushed aside. "Why?""My friend has been taken by her own mother."Lysander let out a low, frustrated sigh. "Seraphina?""Yes
Elowen stood slowly, the quiet scrape of her chair against the floor the only sound in the room. She smoothed her hands over her dress, then crossed the space between them with graceful precision. Settling into the chair across from Seraphina and Zephyr, she crossed her legs, her sharp gaze never leaving them.She had never asked Seraphina about her mother. It wasn’t out of disinterest far from it. She had respected her friend’s choice to never speak of the woman. But now, hearing Zephyr's words, a chill crept down her spine.She folded her hands in her lap. "Why would her mother want her dead?" Her voice was calm, but the steel underneath was unmistakable.Zephyr leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his fingers interlocked. He let out a slow breath, his jaw tightening as he spoke. "From what I’ve uncovered, Seraphina’s mother never wanted her in the first place. She only married her father for his wealth, and children weren’t part of the deal. She was a spy planted by the
The early morning sun filtered through the glass walls of Elowen’s office, casting soft golden streaks across the sleek mahogany desk. She adjusted her posture in her chair, fingers gliding over the keyboard as she lost herself in the work on her screen.A knock at the door pulled her out of her thoughts. She glanced up, momentarily disoriented before shifting her focus toward the doorway.Andrew stepped in, bowing slightly. "Ma'am, you have a visitor."Elowen frowned. "A visitor?" She hadn't been expecting anyone."She says she’s your friend," Andrew replied.Curiosity flickered in her eyes. "Let her in."Andrew bowed again and exited. Moments later, the familiar figure of Seraphina stepped through the door. Dressed in a stylish yet casual ensemble, she radiated confidence as she took in the space around her.Elowen's lips curled into a smile as she shut her laptop. "You should be at the villa, not here," she said, a playful reprimand in her tone.Seraphina rolled her eyes as she san