This is a world where wealth and power hide dark secrets. Rico Blackwood, heir to a powerful legacy, is caught between family expectations, forbidden love, and an engagement that threatens to destroy everything he holds dear. While his two younger sisters bring more drama to his life, his fiancée, Catherine, harbors secrets of her own. Meanwhile, Sophia, Rico's lost love, whom he was forced to abandon while she was pregnant, faces a series of attacks due to her connection with him. Her constant escapes set off a chain reaction, who gives her this updates? Melissa Reynolds, a relentless journalist, finds herself entangled in a web of deceit and dangerous truths, her investigations uncover not only corruption but also a series of threats to her life. Her mission becomes personal; she must prove to the world that truth is worth every risk. This is a tale of ambition, love, and survival, where every choice has consequences, and nothing is as it seems.
View MoreChapter 60: New Beginning, Old ShadowsFifteen years had passed, and the world had moved on. The city still played with power, its undercurrents of corruption as strong as ever. The names that ruled it, Blackwood and the Hawthorne had not faded, only grown more ruthless.And among them, hidden in plain sight, was a girl who had no idea she was part of that world.Rachel Smith.Or, as she had once been called Zira.She didn’t remember the name. She didn’t remember much of anything from the life she’d left behind.But some things, even forgotten, never truly disappeared.***The Smith's Household: Two Sisters, Two RealitiesThe Smith's were a good family. At least, that’s what everyone believed.And in some ways, it was true. They weren’t cruel. They didn’t raise their voices, didn’t hit, didn’t mistreat her.But love?That was different.Rachel sat at the dinner table, the warm glow of the chandelier above them casting soft light over the polished mahogany. The smell of roasted chicken
Chapter 59: Before A New Era.The world had shifted, but the game? The game was still the same, power, secrets, and survival. Only this time, the rules were different.Some won. Some lost. And some? They simply waited for their next move, it took years but it never ended.***Evelyn’s Unfinished BusinessEvelyn Hawthorne sat in her dim lit office, her fingers tapping against the polished wood of her desk. The city skyline stretched beyond the floor to ceiling windows, a reminder of everything she had built… and everything she had yet to destroy.Dominic, her right hand, stood by the door, watching her closely. “We have a problem,” he said.She exhaled slowly, swirling the whiskey in her glass. “I don’t like problems, Dominic.”“This one won’t go away.” he saidEvelyn arched a brow. “Alison Roman?”“She disappeared.” he answered Silence."Isn't that suppose to be Alexis and Alex job?" She fired back, staring at him.Evelyn didn’t react right away, but the weight in the room changed. D
Chapter 58: Shadows and ReckoningsThe night was thick with tension. Evelyn Hawthorne sat in her car, the soft hum of the engine filling the silence. Across the street, the remnants of the burned warehouse still smoldered, sending wisps of smoke curling into the dark sky. Her men were scattered, stationed at vantage points, waiting for movement.And then it came.A black SUV, tinted windows, slow and cautious, pulled up near the alleyway. Someone had come to investigate the aftermath of her destruction. Evelyn smiled coldly.“Finally,” she murmured.Dominic, her enforcer, leaned forward. “Want us to move in?” he askedEvelyn held up a hand. “No. Not yet. Let them think they’re safe, I also want to see who it is.”She watched as a figure stepped out of the SUV, their figure obstructed by shadows. They stood still for a moment, surveying the damage, then pulled out a phone. Whoever they were, they were making a call.Evelyn’s fingers drummed against her armrest. “Find out who they’re ca
Chapter 57: Resilience and Confessions.The night air smelled of smoke and destruction. The fire raged, licking at the sky as the old warehouse collapsed in on itself. Evelyn Hawthorne stood a safe distance away, her face illuminated by the flickering flames, eyes cold and calculating.Her men moved like shadows around her, efficient, ruthless. This was just the beginning. Whoever had taken over Alex Montgomery’s empire had hidden well, but Evelyn wasn’t one to play guessing games. She’d draw them out the old-fashioned way, by making them bleed, This wasn't a fight for her children as she had instructed them to watch and learn how it is done.One of her men, a tall enforcer named Dominic, stepped closer. “The fire will take care of any evidence. We hit three of their locations tonight. Their operation is falling apart Ma.” he aaidEvelyn took a slow breath, the scent of burning metal sharp in the air. “Good,” she murmured then smiled, “Now we wait.” she replied.If the new leader was
Chapter 56: The Edge of TruthEvelyn’s Hunt for the RebelThe air inside the warehouse was thick with the smell of gasoline and old blood. The dim light from the overhead bulb cast long shadows on the concrete floor, where a man knelt, hands tied behind his back, his breathing coming in short gasps.Evelyn Hawthorne sat across from him, one leg crossed over the other, a glass of whiskey in her hand as she took her time mixing the amber liquid, her expression unreadable."You know why you’re here," she said finally. Her voice was soft, almost gentle, but the weight behind it made the man flinch."I ... I don’t know anything," he stammered, shaking his head. Blood trickled from a cut on his cheek, his eye already swelling shut.Evelyn sighed. "That’s disappointing." She tilted her head, watching him like a cat watching a wounded mouse. "You worked for Alex Montgomery. You took his orders, followed his commands and now, someone else is giving those orders in his name, All I want to know
Chapter 55: Shadows and SilenceSophia Pressures ValeThe pain hadn’t faded. Every movement sent a sharp sting through Sophia’s shoulder, but she gritted her teeth and ignored it. She had survived worse.She sat up on the couch, her body stiff from days of rest. The safe house was dim, the faint scent of antiseptic hanging in the air. She had been stitched up, cleaned, and kept breathing.But none of that mattered.Across from her, Vale sat with his legs stretched out, his phone in hand. He was too calm. Too comfortable."You look good for someone who almost died," Vale remarked without looking up.Sophia scowled. "And you look too relaxed for someone who still hasn’t found what I need." She saidVale smirked, finally setting his phone down. "You’re welcome, by the way. I did save your life." He retorted.Sophia ignored the remark. "Tell me what you found please?." She beggedVale stretched his arms over his head, yawning. "You’re not even going to let me enjoy this moment?" He giggle
Chapter 54: A Past That Won’t Stay BuriedSophia Wakes UpThe first thing Sophia felt was pain, sharp, deep, and unforgiving pain. It dragged her up from the heavy darkness, pulling her toward consciousness like a weight pressing against her chest. She let out a slow, shaky breath, feeling her body protest at the slightest movement.Then she heard footsteps.Her eyes fluttered open, and the dim glow of a bedside lamp made her squint her eyes. She wasn’t in the motel anymore. The air smelled sterile, the walls bare. A safe house? A hospital?She shifted, and pain flared through her shoulder, making her suck in a sharp breath."You're awake." He said That voice. She knew it. Calm, unreadable.Sophia turned her head slowly. Vale was standing near the window, arms crossed, his face half hidden in the shadows."You’re lucky I was keeping an eye on you," he said, walking toward her. "Otherwise, you'd be dead."Sophia swallowed, her throat dry. "Where… am I?" She asked."Somewhere safe," Va
Chapter 53: Lost and Not FoundSophia sat on the edge of the motel bed, scrolling mindlessly through her phone. Her hands trembled slightly as she searched for any news about Grace. It had been days, and she hadn’t heard from her mother. That wasn’t like her. Grace always found a way to check in, even if it was just a short message.Her stomach twisted with unease. She typed "Grace Silverton" into the search bar, praying for something, anything, to ease her fears.The first headline made her breath hitch.LOCAL WOMAN FOUND DEAD IN APARTMENT. SUSPECTED FOUL PLAY.Sophia's vision blurred as she clicked on the article."Grace Silverton, 58, was found dead in her apartment late last night. Authorities suspect foul play, though details remain unclear. Sources indicate that Holloway had no known enemies, and investigators are working to determine the cause of the attack."The phone slipped from her hands and hit the floor with a dull thud. Her breath came in short gasps, her chest tightenin
Chapter 52: A Mother’s FarewellThe dim light of the evening filtered through the curtains of Grace’s new small apartment. She sat at the worn wooden table, staring at a photograph of Sophia and Zira. Her hands trembled as she traced their faces with her fingers, tears falling onto the glossy surface. The weight of the decision to leave Zira at the orphanage crushed her, but she knew it was the only way to protect her granddaughter.Grace sighed, her voice barely a whisper. “Sophia, if only you could see what I’ve done. I hope one day you’ll understand.”The sound of a creaking floorboard snapped her out of her thoughts. She froze, her heart racing. The apartment was supposed to be empty. Her hand instinctively reached for the knife she had kept under the table for protection.“Who’s there?” she called out, her voice trembling but firm.Silence.Her mind raced. Could they have found her? She had tried to stay off the radar, changing her routines and avoiding contact with anyone who mi
Chapter 1: SHATTERED DREAMS:Sophia's eyes wouldn’t leave the TV screen, with each sound the clock made her breath became sharper and shorter. Rico Blackwood, the man she loved, stood confidently beside his fiancée, Catherine Lionel, in social ranking the Lionel family, comes closely behind the Blackwood’s. The news anchor's mouth kept moving, but Sophia’s mind had already checked out, unable to process the words."How could he? Why would he?" she whispered, tears flowed down her face.Her mind raced back to their last encounter, the way his eyes sparkled when he was with her, the gentle touch of his hands on hers and all the promises. Had it all been a lie? She thought.Sophia picked up her phone with trembling hands and called Rico, she did not know if she felt anger, pain, or betrayal, it was a rage of emotion."Hey Sophia," Rico said as soon as he answered the call, unaware of what was happening."You're getting married?" Sophia spat out, trying to contain her rage, the tears kept...
Welcome to GoodNovel world of fiction. If you like this novel, or you are an idealist hoping to explore a perfect world, and also want to become an original novel author online to increase income, you can join our family to read or create various types of books, such as romance novel, epic reading, werewolf novel, fantasy novel, history novel and so on. If you are a reader, high quality novels can be selected here. If you are an author, you can obtain more inspiration from others to create more brilliant works, what's more, your works on our platform will catch more attention and win more admiration from readers.
Comments