Adrian leaned back in his chair, the gentle hum of his private jet filling the cabin as he watched Grace flipping through a travel magazine. Her smile lit up the room, and he couldn’t help but feel grateful for her presence in his life. After all they’d been through—family betrayals, false accusations, and near-catastrophic events—they finally had a moment to breathe.“Diani beaches,” Adrian said, savoring the name. “I hear it’s paradise on Earth.”Grace chuckled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “It certainly looks like it. White sandy beaches, turquoise waters, and nothing but peace and quiet. Exactly what we need.”Adrian reached out, taking her hand in his. “It’s long overdue. You’ve stood by me through everything, Grace. This is my way of giving us the honeymoon we missed and showing you how much you mean to me.”Grace squeezed his hand, her voice soft. “You’ve already shown me, Adrian. But I won’t say no to a few days of spoiling.”As the plane soared through the clouds,
The aftermath of Vanessa's scheme left Adrian and Grace’s relationship shaken. Grace was furious, not just at Vanessa, but at Adrian for what she saw as his inability to handle his past properly. The thought of Vanessa disrupting their peace yet again was too much for her to bear.Back in their villa, Grace paced the room, her arms crossed. Adrian sat on the edge of the bed, his head in his hands, his voice weary."Grace, please," he pleaded. "You have to believe me. I didn’t know she would follow us here. I’ve been doing everything I can to get rid of her."Grace stopped and turned, her eyes blazing with anger. "That’s exactly the problem, Adrian! You didn’t know! How could you not anticipate this? After everything she’s done, how could you let your guard down?"Adrian stood, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "I didn’t let my guard down, Grace. I can’t control what Vanessa does! She’s obsessed—""And you’re letting her obsession ruin us!" Grace interrupted, her voice br
Grace nodded, her worry evident. "What kind of issue?"Adrian quickly scanned the details. The message revealed that a major security breach had occurred. Confidential project files were compromised, and it appeared to be an insider job. Worse, the stolen data had the potential to jeopardize a deal Adrian had been negotiating with an elite international partner—a collaboration poised to cement Giga Tech’s position as an industry leader."I need to go," Adrian said, his voice laced with determination. "This could undo everything we've worked for."Grace placed her hand over his. "Do what you need to do. I'll be here when you’re done."Adrian drove straight to the Giga Tech headquarters, his mind racing with possibilities. When he arrived, Olivia was already waiting for him in the conference room, a large screen displaying a map of the company’s server activity.“We’ve traced the breach to a suspicious login from one of our mid-level employees,” Olivia began, pointing to the screen. “Bu
The peace Adrian and Grace finally earned felt like a treasure hard-won, and it was worth every moment of celebration. After all the storms they had weathered—the schemes, betrayals, and heartbreak—this calm was something neither of them would take for granted.Adrian planned a grand evening to mark this turning point in their lives. He rented an exclusive rooftop venue overlooking the city skyline, adorned with soft lights, cascading floral arrangements, and a live orchestra playing their favorite songs. It was an intimate affair, meant only for their closest friends and a few trusted allies who had stood by them through the chaos.As Grace walked into the venue, her eyes widened at the sight before her. “Adrian…this is incredible,” she whispered, her voice laced with awe.Adrian smiled, taking her hand. “Not as incredible as you. You deserve the world, Grace, and this is just the beginning.”The evening was filled with laughter and warmth. Their friends raised toasts to their resili
Sarah’s obsession took a dark and twisted turn as she concocted a desperate plan to drive a wedge between Adrian and Grace. She was willing to go to any lengths to make Adrian see Grace as a threat to his happiness and shift his attention toward herself.Sarah carefully orchestrated her plan over several weeks. She began by subtly planting doubts about Grace’s loyalty in Adrian’s mind. During meetings or casual conversations, she’d drop seemingly harmless remarks.“I heard Grace is working late these days,” Sarah said casually one afternoon. “It must be tough managing everything. I hope she’s not overburdening herself... or you.”Adrian would brush it off, but the seed was planted. Sarah knew it wasn’t enough, though. To truly succeed, she needed something dramatic.Sarah’s obsession took a dark and twisted turn as she concocted a desperate plan to drive a wedge between Adrian and Grace. She was willing to go to any lengths to make Adrian see Grace as a threat to his happiness and shi
Grace sat alone in her apartment, her eyes puffy and red from crying. The disbelief and hurt that Adrian had chosen to believe Sarah over her cut deeper than she could have imagined. She replayed the confrontation over and over in her mind, each moment twisting the knife of betrayal further into her heart.“How could he?” she whispered to herself, her voice trembling. “After everything we’ve been through… how could he not trust me?”Her phone buzzed on the table. It was Adrian, calling again. She stared at the screen, her emotions torn between answering and letting it ring out. Finally, she picked up, her voice cold.“What do you want, Adrian?”“Grace, please. We need to talk,” Adrian said, his tone firm but not apologetic. “I don’t like how things ended earlier.”Grace let out a bitter laugh. “You don’t like how things ended? Try being the one accused and slapped in front of your fiancé, only for him to take the side of the woman who’s been trying to destroy her.”“Grace, that’s not
Adrian stumbled into his apartment in the dead of night, his thoughts a jumbled mess of emotions. The confrontation between Grace and Sarah had left him torn. He poured himself another drink, hoping it would drown the voices in his head."Could Grace really be lying? But Sarah… Sarah wouldn’t do something so vile, would she?" Adrian muttered to himself, downing his glass.Hours later, with bottles strewn across the table, Adrian collapsed onto his bed, too intoxicated to notice anything around him.Meanwhile, Sarah stood outside his apartment, her lips curling into a wicked smile. She had followed him from the bar, knowing this was the perfect opportunity to execute her plan.She let herself in quietly, carrying a small overnight bag. Inside were props for her scheme—a bottle of perfume Grace often wore, a silk scarf, and a phone ready to capture the moment.Adrian barely stirred when Sarah climbed onto the bed beside him. She lay down next to him, draping the scarf across her shoulde
Adrian sat alone in his office, the silence of the room amplifying the weight of his thoughts. The documents on his desk remained untouched, his focus entirely elsewhere. His mind replayed every decision that had led to this point—every moment he had chosen to trust Sarah over Grace.He slammed his fist on the desk, rattling the crystal glass of water beside him. “What was I thinking?” he muttered bitterly. “How could I have been so blind?”He leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes as the memories came flooding back. Grace’s tearful face when she pleaded with him to believe her. The anger in her voice when she called him out for siding with Sarah. And the worst part—the cold realization in her eyes as she decided she had no choice but to walk away.Adrian ran his hands through his hair, his heart heavy with regret. Grace had stood by him through the darkest times of his life. She had believed in him when no one else did, supported him when even his own family turned against him. A
Margaret paced back and forth in her lavish bedroom, her hands clenched into fists. She hadn’t expected Benson to react so strongly, he had always trusted her, always done as she said. But now, he was slipping away, and she couldn’t afford that. Not when she was so close to securing everything.She took a deep breath and sat on the edge of her bed, her mind racing. She needed to regain control. If Benson turned against her, she’d lose everything she had fought for. And Derrick? That fool was getting greedier by the day.Margaret grabbed her phone and dialed Derrick’s number. He picked up almost immediately, his voice laced with irritation.“What do you want, Margaret?”She smiled coldly. “To make you an offer.”There was a pause before Derrick let out a low chuckle. “An offer? You must be desperate.”Margaret’s smile didn’t falter. “Listen, Derrick. You and I both know we need each other. If you keep your mouth shut about Benson’s true parentage, I’ll make sure you get a fair share of
Benson’s blood boiled as Derrick turned to leave, the smirk still playing on his lips. His entire life had been a lie, and now the man who was supposed to be his father was treating him like a mere business transaction. The anger he had been holding in finally exploded.“You think you can just walk away after dropping that bombshell?” Benson snarled, stepping toward Derrick. “You let me grow up thinking I was William’s son, and now you want to blackmail us for money? You abandoned me! You never once tried to be my father!”Derrick scoffed, turning back to face him. “Oh, spare me the theatrics, Benson. You had a better life under William than you ever would have had with me. I did you a favor.”Benson’s fists clenched. “A favor? You let me live a lie! Do you have any idea what it’s like to think you belong somewhere, only to find out you were never meant to be there in the first place?”Derrick rolled his eyes. “You’re acting like a child. Grow up, Benson. Life isn’t fair.”That was th
Margaret and Benson had barely spent a day mourning before their greed took over. With Mr. Williams gone, they wasted no time in discussing how to divide his vast empire.Sitting in the grand living room of the Williams estate, Margaret leaned back in her chair with a triumphant smirk. “Now that he’s gone, it’s time to claim what’s rightfully ours,” she said, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest. “Benson, my dear, we will split the business equally. We have worked too hard to let Adrian take everything.”Benson nodded eagerly, his eyes gleaming with ambition. “Finally, we don’t have to sneak around anymore. Everything will be under our control. Adrian can fight all he wants, but we have already won.”Their conversation was interrupted by an unexpected visitor, Mr. Williams’ lawyer. The moment he stepped in, the air grew tense. He had rushed over as soon as he heard about Williams’ death, but not to pay respects. He had his own selfish motives.“Margaret,” he greeted, his to
Adrian’s phone buzzed incessantly as he stood outside his father’s ICU room, his heart torn between his concern for his father and the urgent call from his company. He answered reluctantly, his voice clipped.“What is it?” he snapped.The voice on the other end sounded frantic. “Sir, there’s been a breach in our security system. Sensitive files have been accessed, and we suspect it’s sabotage.”Adrian’s jaw tightened. This was the worst possible time for such chaos, but he couldn’t ignore the call. His father had taught him to be a vigilant leader, and he wouldn’t let the company suffer because of his personal struggles.“I’ll be there shortly,” he said, ending the call. With a quick glance at the ICU door, he muttered, “Hang in there, Dad. I’ll fix this and be back soon.”Margaret and Benson, who had been hovering nearby, watched him leave with a mixture of relief and wariness.“Finally, he’s gone,” Margaret hissed under her breath, turning to Benson. “But what if he finds a way to b
Margaret’s fingers tightened around her glass as she listened to the lawyer’s words. She’d always known him to be smooth, calculating, but this—this was a different side of him, one she hadn’t expected.“You’re asking about the shares now?” The lawyer’s voice was low and insistent, laced with a touch of greed that made Margaret’s skin crawl. “What’s in it for me? If the old man doesn’t wake up—what happens to the property? The business?”Margaret’s face hardened, and her lips curled into a thin, controlled smile. “You’ll get what you were promised. But that’s after we’re done with Adrian. I’m the one who will inherit everything. Not you.”The lawyer leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing in response to her cold tone. “We both know you can’t handle it on your own. You need someone with influence and power. The kind of power that comes with—”“Enough,” Margaret snapped, her voice rising slightly. She slammed her glass onto the table, and the lawyer faltered for a moment. “This was
Benson paced the room anxiously, his mind racing. Margaret sat in her plush armchair, her face painted with a mix of frustration and dread. The walls of her luxurious bedroom felt more like a prison as they contemplated their next move.“We have no choice, Margaret,” Benson said, his voice low but insistent. “If we wait for him to make Adrian the heir officially, we’re done. Everything he’s built, everything we’ve worked for, will be his. And you and I—what will we have left?”Margaret leaned back, her fingers pressed against her temple. “You think I don’t know that?” she snapped. “But killing him? That’s a step too far. People will ask questions. Adrian will ask questions.”Benson smirked bitterly. “Questions won’t matter if there’s no clear heir. Without a finalized will, the entire estate will be in legal limbo. That gives us time to take control—either by manipulating the board or ensuring Adrian can’t fight back.”Margaret’s silence spoke volumes. Benson crouched down beside her,
Mr. Williams sat in the grand library of the family mansion, surrounded by walls lined with centuries-old books. The soft glow of the evening sun poured in through the large windows, casting a golden hue over the room. He held a cigar in one hand, his other hand resting on a folder filled with reports about Adrian’s recent achievements. His lips curled into a satisfied smile as he thought about his son.For years, Mr. Williams had doubted if any of his children could truly handle the weight of the family legacy. He had worked tirelessly to build the Williams empire, turning it into one of the most powerful conglomerates in the country. But he had always worried that the next generation might squander what he had built.Margaret and Benson, though ambitious, had shown their true colors. Their endless scheming and underhanded tactics made it clear they cared more about personal gain than the family’s future. But Adrian... Adrian was different. Despite all the challenges and betrayals he
Margaret, Adrian’s stepmother, had always played the role of the gracious and doting matriarch in public. Behind closed doors, however, she was calculating and ruthless, a woman who had spent years resenting Adrian for being the rightful heir to the family fortune. Her own son, Benson, had always been her pride, and she believed it was his birthright to inherit the wealth and power Adrian now held.Sitting in her private lounge, Margaret gazed out the window with a glass of bourbon in hand. Benson sat across from her, flipping through a folder of financial documents and scowling.“Mother,” Benson said, slamming the folder shut, “this isn’t working fast enough. Adrian is resilient, and as long as he still has his company, he’ll always bounce back.”Margaret turned to him, her expression sharp. “Then we’ll have to hit him where it hurts most. If we can’t outmaneuver him, we’ll destroy him.”Benson frowned. “How? We’ve tried isolating him from allies, planting rumors, and even sabotaging
The following days were filled with an unsettling silence between Grace and Adrian. He had given her space as she requested, but that didn’t mean he had given up. Grace could feel his lingering presence in the house, the way his eyes followed her when they crossed paths, full of emotions he refused to voice. It made her chest tighten, but she couldn’t bring herself to talk to him just yet. She wasn’t ready.Meanwhile, Max remained close, offering quiet support without pushing her. He had always been good at that—knowing when to speak and when to simply be there. She met him a few times for coffee, their conversations light but comforting. Max never pressured her, never told her what to do, but Grace could see the hope in his eyes. He wanted her to see him—not just as a friend, but as the man who had always loved her.But Grace wasn’t sure she was ready to accept that.One evening, as she sat on the balcony, staring out at the city lights, Adrian stepped outside and joined her. He didn