Lena returned home to the vast, empty mansion, once filled with warmth and life. Her family was gone, the household staff dismissed, leaving only a hollow shell of the place she used to know. The house itself was now collateral under the company’s assets, with everything inside tagged for repossession. In a few days, it would be sealed off and auctioned to repay their debts.
She didn’t have the energy to pack. Instead, she went straight to her bed, lying down and staring blankly at the ceiling. She kept thinking back to last month when her parents had celebrated her twenty-sixth birthday. They had carefully planned every detail of the party: floral arrangements, balloons, creating a dreamy atmosphere. She wore a custom black satin gown with a delicate strap and 3D white feathers adorning it. One of her gifts that night was a set of jewelry with aquamarine gems, the same color as her eyes—a necklace, along with a pair of platinum earrings set with diamonds and pear-shaped aquamarine stones. Her mother had fastened the necklace for her, saying, “Aquamarine is the birthstone for March, a symbol of youth, health, and optimism. I hope your life will be filled with the same.” Even her usually distant older brother had surprised her with a two-tiered castle cake, one that hit her right in the heart. She’d jokingly asked her friend Diya, “How did my brother know exactly what I’d like? Did you give him a hint?” Diya just smiled, “Whoever thought of it doesn’t matter. You’re the star today. As long as you’re happy, that’s all that counts.” But a week ago, her family had vanished like a passing breeze. Lena draped an arm over her eyes. She was exhausted, but sleep wouldn’t come. The events from that day played over and over in her mind. She’d been in bed when a maid had rushed in, looking alarmed, telling her to go to the front door. There, she found several officials, stern-faced and in formal suits. “Miss Lena Carrington, as the legal representative of Carrington Group, we’re here to inform you that all assets in your family’s name will be seized for liquidation, including this residence.” Lena’s brow furrowed. “Excuse me, but there must be a mistake…” Anticipating her response, the official raised his ID and showed her the seizure order. His voice echoed through the mansion, and the staff stopped their work, instinctively gathering by the door. Lena’s vision blurred slightly. She forced herself to focus on the paper in front of her—it was indeed her family’s company name on the document. Her mind went blank. “I… Let me call my parents.” She rushed into her room, grabbing her phone, her hands shaking. A horrible feeling gnawed at her, but she kept telling herself it was fine. She just needed to call her parents, and they’d handle it. But the only response was, “The number you’ve dialed is currently unavailable.” She ran back out and leaned over the railing, calling out to the housekeepers, “Did any of you see my parents today? Did they say where they were going?” Her voice trembled, unaware that it had become fragile, like a glass window in a storm, close to shattering. The five housekeepers exchanged uneasy glances. After a pause, one of them said, “I haven’t seen them today.” “Me neither.” “I didn’t see them after dinner last night.” Lena’s face turned ashen. This couldn’t be happening… it just couldn’t… Her heart pounded as she ran to her parents’ room. The sound of her footsteps was heavy as she made her way there. Privacy and manners no longer mattered; she flung open the door, causing the curtains to ripple. The room appeared untouched. She opened the wardrobe; most of their clothes were still there, but the glass case that held her mother’s designer handbags was missing some of the most valuable pieces. She opened the jewelry cabinet and found the safe—it was empty. Her brother’s room was the same… She sank to the floor, feeling like her soul had been wrenched away. Just then, she heard footsteps approaching on the stairs. “Sorry for the intrusion, Miss, but we need to begin our work,” the lead official said politely, while his colleagues started affixing seals throughout the house. Priceless vases, paintings, statues—each item was now marked. She realized that everything her parents had left behind was too difficult to take with them. Her parents and brother had planned their escape well in advance; she just hadn’t been part of the plan. Her temples throbbed painfully. She suddenly recalled the official’s opening words, “As the legal representative of the Carrington Group…” She scrambled to her feet. “I need to clarify something. I am not the legal representative. My parents are.” The man frowned. “The company transferred legal ownership a month ago. You are now the sole responsible party.” What? Her stomach lurched. Her face went pale, her eyes wide with disbelief, before her gaze dropped to the floor. She remembered how, on her birthday, her father had asked her to sign some papers, saying that since she was older, he wanted her more involved in the business and that these documents would increase her influence. She had trusted him, signing without question, assuming it was a gift. Looking back now… Nearly everything in the house was registered under the company’s name for tax benefits, except for the aquamarine jewelry set, which was in her name. That was one of the few possessions that wouldn’t be seized. Her bank accounts were frozen, the car and house confiscated, and she was given one week to vacate. Her first thought was to contact her friend. After settling final payments for the staff, she took her jewelry and hurried to Diya’s house. Their homes were close, so she hadn’t called ahead, thinking she’d find either Diya or her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Whitmore. Fidgeting nervously outside their door, Lena bit her nails until a housekeeper came out. “Sorry, Miss, but Miss Diya isn’t home.” “Oh, no worries. Are Mr. and Mrs. Whitmore here?” “They’re out as well, I’m afraid.” Lena’s heart sank. “Out? Do you know when they’ll be back? It’s urgent.” The housekeeper looked uncomfortable, her gaze shifting. “I… I don’t know.” “Oh… well, please tell them I stopped by when they return.” Lena lowered her head and turned away, hiding her expression behind her hair. Back at home, she finally got a message from Diya. “I’m so sorry, Lena. You must be feeling terrible. I wish I could be there with you… but my parents won’t let me contact you…” News of her family’s financial downfall had spread like wildfire. Lena didn’t blame the Whitmores for wanting to protect their daughter. But she still needed help, so she texted Diya back, “Diya, is there any chance you could lend me a little money? I can give you my birthday jewelry as collateral.” Diya replied, “Oh no, I couldn’t possibly take that jewelry from you. It’s too meaningful to you. I’ll see how much I can pull together, but it won’t be a lot.” Lena typed, “It doesn’t matter. Thank you so much, Diya.”After waiting three days, Diya finally responded, saying her family was monitoring her bank account closely, and she could only send a few ten thousand dollars to Lena.It was just enough for Lena to pay the final wages to the maids, gardener, and driver, with nothing left over for herself. Money wasn’t even the main issue now; she urgently needed a skilled lawyer and some connections to help her. After some thought, she realized her ex-fiancé was her best option—at least he might remember their past relationship. But it was worse than she expected; he only humiliated her.With no news of her family, she couldn’t just sit and do nothing.“That lady up there doesn’t have an invitation,” someone pointed out as Lena stood outside a private cocktail party, trying to slip in with an older couple. She was dressed well enough to look the part, so the security guard at the door hadn’t immediately suspected she wasn’t with them.“Just my luck,” Lena muttered under her breath. When one of the g
“Uncle Tom, how much farther do we have to go?” Lena lifted her skirt slightly as she followed Tom out of the main hall, down a long corridor that became more and more isolated with each step. Her ill-fitting heels chafed painfully against the back of her heels, turning each step into pure agony.“Just a bit further; the person I’m introducing you to is right over there,” Tom replied, his tone now vastly different from the friendly one of fifteen minutes earlier, as if afraid she’d turn and leave.They passed a few steps and arrived at a door with elaborate decorations. The doorman swung it open, and sounds seeped through the gap, eerily reminiscent of the kind she’d heard at the club a few days earlier.—“Boss, it seems Miss Carrington has left the main hall,” Alaric’s assistant whispered by his side.“Good. As long as she knows how to get home.”“It looks like she didn’t head home, though. I think she went off somewhere else with someone.”Alaric paused, frowning slightly. “Somewhe
Lena and Tom turned toward the sound. Alaric stood at the other end of the corridor, his face expressionless, with only an assistant beside him. Lena’s hand, which had been hovering near her high heel, instinctively moved away. Tom cleared his throat, releasing her as he stood up, trying to look casual. "Alaric, what are you doing here?" he asked, his mouth twitching up into a forced smile, causing his mustache to lift with it. Alaric's gaze was dark, and he didn’t answer, striding toward them with his tall frame and repeating what he’d said earlier, "What you just did wasn’t very appropriate, was it?" Tom froze, a faint blush creeping onto his face. "It was just…an accident, really.” Alaric’s stare unsettled him, and Tom decided not to dwell on why Alaric was even standing up for Lena. He only knew he was up against someone who could be both powerful and unpredictable. Stumbling over his words, Tom said, "O
This would be Lena’s last day at the villa. The next morning, she packed a few clothes and essentials into a suitcase, dressed herself in a formal business suit, styled her hair neatly in a half-updo, and put on a pair of comfortable white shoes. She wore no flashy jewelry, but her look was sharp and professional. "Ms. Carrington, how do you feel about everything right now?" "Your employees are facing layoffs and unpaid wages—will you take full responsibility for them?" "Why are you here alone? Where is your family?" "What are your current assets? Will your personal wealth be used to repay the company’s debts?" The reporters' questions were blunt and relentless. They had been camped outside her villa since early morning, with even more swarming outside her company building. Flashbulbs flashed continuously as financial and entertainment journalists all vied for a comment. Even some small creditors and clients
"What's got her so stressed? Is she really wandering the rooftop just because she can't have pretty clothes and bags?" "Haha, you guys are brutal." "I'm heading to the scene now. Anyone coming?" "Count me in—anyone else want to team up?" "Don't bother. She’s not actually going to jump; she’s just looking for sympathy." "Is it really okay to rub salt in someone's wounds like that?" ... The online comments were relentless, and the things people said were too harsh for Lena to ignore. She rolled up her sleeves, adjusted her posture, and her fingers flew over the keyboard. "I'm really sorry for hogging public resources. Rest assured, I have no intention of taking my own life—past, present, or future. Also, if someone truly had suicidal thoughts, those making snide remarks would only be complicit. Please watch what you say, and have a great weekend." Lena switched off her screen and set her phone face down. She didn't care what else people might say; she’d spoken her mind
After staying at the hotel for a week, Lena rented an apartment and was checking out of the hotel. “We look forward to your next visit!” The receptionist politely handed Lena her credit card back. It was a new hotel—not perfect in terms of amenities but with excellent service. She’d had a good experience these past few days. “Wait, it’s you again? Why are you stalking me?” Lena’s smile vanished, replaced with a defensive glare. “Hey, lady, who’s got the time to stalk you?” The guy replied with a smirk, two buttons undone on his shirt, revealing a hint of muscle. “Then what are you doing here?” she asked, eyeing him with suspicion. “This hotel’s mine. Why wouldn’t I be here?” “Yours?” Lena couldn’t believe it. This hotel belonged to Alaric? He grinned proudly. “A little pre-birthday gift for next month. What do you thi
Lena's apartment wasn’t big, but it had the advantage of tight front desk security, keeping journalists away so she could have a little peace. At least, that’s what she thought—A call interrupted the quiet. It was from an unknown international number, most likely a scam, so she didn’t answer. But two minutes later, the same number called again. When it almost went to voicemail, curiosity got the better of her, and she answered.“Lena... it’s me, your mom…”Lena’s hand slipped, and the phone tumbled onto the carpet, spinning as her mind went blank, buzzing in shock. After several seconds, her vision slowly focused. With trembling hands, she picked up the phone, put it on speaker, and set it on the floor. She sat down, hugging her knees, dreading what she might hear, yet unable to turn away.“Lena, are you still there?” Her mother’s voice was gentle, “You must be so tired lately; it must have been so hard. Your dad and I didn’t want to le
Lena had a headache. She had no idea how to deal with cryptocurrencies—she was completely clueless in that area.Just then, her phone chimed. She picked it up and saw a message from “The Weakling”: “Want to meet up today?” She remembered that she hadn’t contacted Alaric since they last met at his hotel. She replied, “Address?”Lena returned to the same hotel. Zayn was already waiting in the lobby and escorted her upstairs to a suite. “Please have a seat. The boss will be here in five minutes after his meeting,” he said. Lena nodded, and Zayn left the room.The suite was spacious, with a full wall of floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the river. It had been a long time since Lena had taken a moment to enjoy the view. The city felt somewhat unfamiliar to her now, and she stared out, momentarily lost in thought.She didn’t even notice when someone entered the room.Alaric walked in to see her standing by the window, her graceful silhouette
Lena stayed at Alaric’s home for a few days, spending a surprisingly pleasant Christmas and New Year with his family.Since Alaric was still recovering from his injuries and couldn’t go out much, they welcomed the last night of the year in his garden—counting down to midnight while setting off fireworks.The garden was adorned with golden string lights wrapped around the trees, gently swaying in the night breeze. The twinkling lights resembled scattered stars, casting a warm glow over the flower beds, where vibrant hellebores were still in full bloom, bringing life to the winter night.As the countdown on the television echoed through the air, Lena clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, and silently made a New Year’s wish.She ho
Twelve hours on a plane had taken them from the sweltering heat back to a city blanketed in snow.Alaric had already received a reply from his grandmother, Isla, telling them to head straight to the house."Your house? Won't your mom not want to see me?" Lena asked, skeptical.Alaric shrugged. "No idea. Whatever method Grandma used to convince her, it worked."After landing, the family driver picked them up."But if you don’t feel comfortable going, I can ask the driver to bring Grandma out instead. I booked a restaurant before, and I haven’t canceled it yet.""
On Christmas Eve night, this country, surrounded by the sea, welcomed the festive cheer. The sound of church bells and street carols intertwined as the moist evening breeze drifted in.Before the shops closed, Lena stepped out to buy some essentials nearby. Alaric said he’d take care of dinner, so she didn’t have to worry.But while passing a charming boutique, she decided to get into the holiday spirit and bought some gingerbread along with two treats—a pair of Christmas Santas made from strawberries.Clutching her treats, she headed back to the hospital. Remembering the call with Elise and the report that had just come out, she asked Alaric as she entered his room, "You must be happy now, right?"She didn’t notice the dimmed lights inside.
"Whoa! Lena, you’re crazy—this is true love!" Elise didn’t care that she was in the middle of a date on Christmas Eve; as soon as she saw the trending news, she immediately made an international call to Lena."The whole world knows now—you and Alaric are officially the ‘golden couple’!"Her tone was so exaggerated, as if she had never heard of this before.In reality, when Lena was waiting to board her flight to Singapore, she had a feeling that she might be spotted by reporters. So, to be ahead of the news, she had proactively told Elise that she and Alaric were officially together.Elise had always suspected that there was something going on between them, so back then, her reac
This doubt was resolved in no time.A young woman’s figure emerged from the patient room, and when she looked up, she was surprised to see Lena."This is Emma, the fund financial advisor from Ridley’s investment side," Zayn introduced.He hadn’t realized they’d already met.Though everyone was surprised to see each other here, they quickly resumed their usual expressions. Lena greeted her,"Hi Emma, are you here on a business trip too?""Ah, yes, I arrived a few days ago to handle a merger case, and I’m here to spend Christmas as well—my family is in town," Emma explained after a moment’s thought.Then she added,"Keaton told me that Alaric ended up in the hospital an
Lena shook off Daisy’s words with a forceful gesture, taking a deep sniff as she pushed open the revolving door of the building.A blast of cold wind hit her—much chillier than she’d imagined. Snowflakes settled on the tips of her hair and on her scarf, giving the impression that she was draped in a delicate layer of white gauze.When she looked up to snap a photo with her phone, fresh snow landed on her cheeks and melted instantly from her body heat.After sending the photo to Alaric, thinking he should be calling any minute, she decided to wait for his call out on the street.But two minutes passed, then five, and she still hadn’t received any call from him. Alaric was always punctual.
In Lena’s eyes, Daisy was never the traditional kind of mother.Maybe it was because she’d always been fiercely independent. When Alaric’s grandparents—Daisy’s own parents—transformed their trading company into a real estate business, Daisy poured a lot of effort into Winfield.She and her husband were married through a family alliance, and at the time, the company was just getting started. Daisy needed a husband who could help support her career. In other words, she was willing to sacrifice even her marriage for her career without complaint.That mindset even extended to how she raised her son—as if nurturing a business.In that respect, Lena felt Daisy was somewhat similar t
They were busy until late into the night when, all of a sudden, Alaric got a burst of inspiration and impulsively suggested booking tickets somewhere so that they could go on a day trip together tomorrow—since it was the weekend.But Lena stopped him. She didn’t want the hassle of going back and forth on the same day, so she proposed that they wait a couple of weeks and then take advantage of the few days off over Christmas to go out together.Alaric asked, "Do you want to check out that little island in Queensland, or should we go skiing up north?""Either’s fine," Lena replied with a smile.As long as she’s with him, anywhere works. They still have plenty of time.On Sunday morning,
“You’re so unfair, using your strength against me,” she huffed, glaring at him with puffed cheeks.Alaric braced one hand against the bed, half-lidding his eyes as he looked down at her, his other hand pressing firmly against her waist.The next second, the world flipped. In a swift motion, he reversed their positions.“See? Now I’m not the one overpowering you,” he teased, his voice rich with amusement.Lena was momentarily stunned by his effortless maneuvering. Her ears flushed pink as she sputtered, “You… you could be even more shameless, you know that?”Meant as a retort, but Alaric, ever the troublemaker, smirked. “Oh? Really?”His voice dipped into a low, honeyed rasp. “Then how about you take the lead tonight?”Before he even finished speaking, his hand had already slid down, tracing along the delicate curve of her back. His fingers glided across her skin, leaving behind a trail of tingling warmth.Lena’s breath hitched again. As Alaric’s wicked smirk deepened, she pressed her