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Outsmarting The Devil
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2024-12-21 05:57:33
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THE ABANDONED CHILD BECOMES THE BILLIONAIRES ONLY HEIR.   Shadows in the Dark
Chapter 18: Shadows in the DarkSophia leaned back in her seat, her hands trembling as the train took off along the tracks. Her cheap, oversized hoodie hid her face, and the fake glasses balanced on her nose added an extra layer to her disguise. She kept her head down holding tightly the worn out backpack that carried everything she had left, some cash, a burner phone, and a new identity.Her new passport bore the name âEva Grant.â It felt strange, almost foreign, but it was the only alternative.She glanced through the window at the passing scenery, her reflection faint against the glass. The weight of leaving Zira behind on her mind but she pushed the ache down. She had made her choice. It was the only way to keep her daughter safe, âsafety over feelingsâ she mutteredA man two rows down shifted in his seat, his eyes darting frequently to her direction. Sophiaâs pulse was building up. Was he following her? She couldnât be sure.âCalm down,â she whispered under her breath, forcing he
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-12-22THE ABANDONED CHILD BECOMES THE BILLIONAIRES ONLY HEIR.   Deadly Moves
Chapter 19: Deadly MovesSophia sat at the edge of the bed in yet another run down motel, holding her burner phone like it was her lifeline. She had moved twice since the train ride, each time more convinced she was being followed. The last bus stop had nearly sent her into a panic attack, when a man in a leather jacket stood too close, pretending to check his phone, She didnât wait to find out if it was a coincidence.Now, in the dim light of the motel room, she tried to focus. The fake ID was still intact, but her nerves werenât. She couldnât shake the feeling that someone was watching and following her.Her phone buzzed, and she flinched. It was a text from the contact who had set up her new identity:âNo signs of a trail so far. Lay low, will update.âSophia exhaled and forced herself to believe it. She had to, for Ziraâs sake. But just as she set the phone down, a car engine rumbled outside, too close, too slow. She peeked through the curtains and saw a black SUV parked near the
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-12-23THE ABANDONED CHILD BECOMES THE BILLIONAIRES ONLY HEIR.   Hidden Moves
Chapter 20: Hidden MovesMelissa sat in her hideout; she has been there for two weeks, her fingers traced the edges of a photograph, it was a picture from her last trip, one of the few things she could remember before all the present chaos, But the constant death threats had worn her out, and she knew it was time to vanish, at least for a while. She couldnât keep running with a target on her back. The Hawthornes were closing in, and Evelyn wasnât the type to let anyone slip away, not twice, she has been lucky the first time.She picked up her phone, and dialed Emma's number, she waited for the line to connect, her assistant answered on the third ring, her voice filled with concern."Melissa, is everything okay? I haven't heard from you in days, sorry itâs been two weeks." She said"Iâm fine, just, I need to disappear for a while," Melissa said, trying to sound calm, "Youâll be the only one who knows where Iâm going, I canât risk anyone tracking me down, not right now."Emma paused, cl
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-12-24THE ABANDONED CHILD BECOMES THE BILLIONAIRES ONLY HEIR.   Dangerous Paths
Chapter 21: Dangerous PathsMelissa sat at the edge of the worn out chair, staring at the map spread across her coffee table. The safe house was small, barely enough space to breathe, but it would have to do even though the walls felt too close, but that was better than the alternative, being out in the open.Her phone buzzed again, another message from Emma."Are you sure about this? Youâre not even safe there." It readMelissa sighed and typed back quickly."I need time to think, Emma. I canât keep running blind; I would eventually get myself killed."She set the phone down and traced the red circles on the map. The Hawthornes werenât just closing in, they were moving faster than she expected. Evelyn wasnât splaying nice anymore she was sending a message. The men who trailed her last week werenât random; they were professionals.Melissa pulled out a small flash drive from her pocket, the one thing she got as she risked her life. She hadnât had time to go through it yet, but the file
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-12-25THE ABANDONED CHILD BECOMES THE BILLIONAIRES ONLY HEIR.   Breaking Points
Chapter 22: Breaking PointsMelissa leaned against her cracked kitchen counter, her fingers clutched the phone. The line had gone dead moments ago, but her heart still pounded in fear. Emma would deliver the message, she had to. Rico needed to know how close he was to stepping into the same trap Lydia couldnât escape.But Melissa wasnât sure if the warning would be enough. Rico has showed that he wasnât the type to back down.The safe house felt smaller tonight, its shadows stretching longer than usual. She forced herself to breathe, pushing back the weight pressing against her ribs. She couldnât afford to fall apart now. Not with everything sheâd seen in those files.The screen of her laptop blinked again, showing the last transaction, the listed date was only three days earlier, money had exchanged hands, large sums moving through shell companies tied to both the Hawthornes and Alex. Melissaâs name appeared under âliabilities.â Her stomach knotted.A sharp knock at the door snapped
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-12-26THE ABANDONED CHILD BECOMES THE BILLIONAIRES ONLY HEIR.   Shattered Trust
Chapter 23: Shattered TrustMelissa stood at the edge of the abandoned church yard, her pulse increasing as shadows stretched along the cracked pavement. She held unto the pepper spray in her pocket, her nerves tingling. Rico was late.She hated waiting; it gave her too much time to think, too much time to doubt.The old wooden door creaked open, and Rico stepped inside, his physique against the dim light. Melissaâs fingers twitched. He looked too calm, too steady. That only made her more uneasy.âDid you come alone?â she asked, stepping back.âYes,â Rico said his voice low but steady. âYou didnât give me much choice.âMelissaâs eyes narrowed. âI donât trust you completely at this point.ââGood,â Rico said, stepping closer. âBecause I donât trust anyone at the moment.âMelissa swallowed hard. His words cut sharper than she expected. She had hoped heâd be softer, desperate for answers. But this Rico, this sharp, calculating version, reminded her too much of the people who had tried to
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-12-27THE ABANDONED CHILD BECOMES THE BILLIONAIRES ONLY HEIR.   More Trouble
Chapter 24: More TroubleMelissa stood outside the poorly lit cafÃĐ, her eyes moving around toward the entrance as if expecting trouble. Rico had insisted on meeting her here again, but the longer she waited, the more uneasy she felt. The encounter in the abandoned church had left her shaken, Ricoâs grief, his anger, and the undeniable guilt in his eyes still lingered in her mind.The door creaked open, and Melissa tensed up, but it wasnât Rico who stepped inside.Her breath caught. âJustinâ she saidHe looked different, sharper, and older, as if the weight of the world had settled on his shoulders. But the eyes were the same, piercing and unreadable.âMelissa.â His voice was low, steady.She stepped back instinctively. âWhat are you doing here?â she askedâRelax.â He raised his hands. âI just want to talk.ââHow do you know I was supposed to be here?â she askedâI kind of eavesdropped on Rico, I am sorryâ he saidâI donât have anything to say to you.â She turned, but he caught her wr
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-12-28THE ABANDONED CHILD BECOMES THE BILLIONAIRES ONLY HEIR.   One Step Ahead
Chapter 25: One Step AheadMelissa leaned against Ricoâs car, her arms crossed as Justin paced about in the parking lot. The night air felt heavier than usual, these past few months had taking a toll on her but today felt heavier, she didnât trust Justin, but for now, she had to tolerate him as she also tried to believe that he means well.âWe need answers,â Rico said, breaking the tense silence. âJustin, start talking.âJustin stopped pacing and looked at them. âThe Blackwoodâs, the Hawthornes, and Alex Montgomery, theyâre tangled in this mess deeper than you realize.âMelissa scoffed. âWe already know that. Give us something we can actually use.âJustinâs jaw tightened. âIâve been working for the Blackwoodâs for months now, watching their moves, gathering Intel. But what you donât know is that Evelyn Hawthorne is already planning something bigger. Sheâs tired of waiting for Alex to clean up his mess.âMelissaâs eyes narrowed. âBigger? Like what?âJustin hesitated, but Rico stepped f
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2024-12-29
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THE ABANDONED CHILD BECOMES THE BILLIONAIRES ONLY HEIR.   The Game Shifts
Chapter 65: The Game ShiftsRicoâs CounterattackThe Blackwood estate was silent in the early morning, but inside Ricoâs office, the tension was thick. Raymond sat across from his father, his fingers tapping against the polished wood desk as he waited. The scandal surrounding Ricoâs Dubai deal had exploded overnight, and the investors were already asking questions.âI knew Adrian would try something,â Raymond muttered. âBut I didnât expect him to come after you Dad.âRico leaned back, eyes unreadable. âThis isnât just Adrian, this is Evelyn, his just a child, he wouldn't dare"Raymond frowned. âYouâre sure?âRico smirked. âAdrian might be smart, but heâs a child like you. This attack? Itâs too calculated. Evelyn knows exactly where to hit.â He tossed a folder onto the desk. âYou want so bad to be involved in adult dealings here you are we need to respond, and fast.âRaymond picked it up, flipping through the details of Ricoâs plan. He exhaled slowly. âThis is risky dad.âRicoâs expres
THE ABANDONED CHILD BECOMES THE BILLIONAIRES ONLY HEIR.   A Dangerous Game
Chapter 64: A Dangerous GameRaymondâs Next StepThe night air was cool, but Raymond barely noticed it as he pulled up to the location Camila had sent him. It was an upscale lounge, discreet enough to keep conversations private but exclusive enough that anyone inside knew they were dealing with power.Camila was already seated in a booth at the far end, sipping on a glass of wine. She looked completely at ease, but Raymond knew better. Camila was always calculating, always one step ahead.âYou took your time,â she said, not bothering to look up as he slid into the seat across from her.Raymond leaned back, arms crossed. âI wasnât sure if this was a setup.âShe smirked. âIf I wanted you destroyed, I wouldnât be so obvious about it.âRaymond exhaled sharply. âThen what do you want?âCamila tapped her nails against the glass. âYouâre in a mess, and I have a way out for you.âHe narrowed his eyes. âAnd what would that be?âShe leaned forward slightly, her voice lowering. âYouâre not the o
THE ABANDONED CHILD BECOMES THE BILLIONAIRES ONLY HEIR.   A Battle has began
Chapter 63: A Battle has began.Raymond In TroubleThe Blackwood name had weight, until it didnât, Raymond was the reason why the Blackwood name began to sink gradually.Raymond had spent the night in a holding cell, the cold metal bench beneath him doing nothing to soothe his rage. The moment the police raided the party, he knew he had been set up, but it didnât matter. The flashing cameras, the whispers, the humiliation, all of it had happened so fast. And now, the headlines were everywhere."Blackwood Heir Busted in Drug Scandal!""Raymond Blackwood: Reckless or Ruined?"The door to the holding cell creaked open, and in walked his father, Rico Blackwood. He wasnât angry. No, Rico was worse than that. He was disappointed.Raymond stood immediately, trying to salvage some dignity. âDad, Iâ he started before he was interruptedRico raised a hand, silencing him. âDonât.â His voice was like steel, cold and final. He turned to the officer behind him. âRelease him.â he said with a voice o
THE ABANDONED CHILD BECOMES THE BILLIONAIRES ONLY HEIR.   The Seeds of War
Chapter 62: The Seeds of WarThe Weight of ConsequencesRaymond Blackwood had never known restraint. His entire life had been a series of privileges, expensive cars, exclusive clubs, and unlimited access to wealth. But now, standing outside St. Augustineâs Academy, waiting for a driver that would never come, he realized just how much had changed overnight.His bank cards were useless. His friends, once so eager to be around him, had suddenly become ghosts. Even Rosalie, usually his partner in crime, seemed distant.âLetâs just go home,â she muttered, adjusting the sunglasses on her face to hide the bruise Adrian Hawthorne had left.Raymond clenched his fists. âIâm not going anywhere without a plan.âHis pride wouldnât allow him to simply accept Ricoâs punishment.As if on cue, a sleek black car pulled up beside them. The window rolled down, revealing a girl around their age. Her dark brown eyes gleamed with amusement, her black hair styled in effortless waves.âRaymond Blackwood,â she
THE ABANDONED CHILD BECOMES THE BILLIONAIRES ONLY HEIR.   One Good, Two Bad.
Chapter 61: One Good, Two Bad.Rachel sat at the farthest corner of the school library, her fingers flipping through the pages of a thick textbook. The familiar scent of old paper and ink filled the air, a quiet comfort in the otherwise chaotic world of high school.She didnât mind being alone.It was easier this way.People at St. Augustineâs Academy, one of the cityâs most elite private schools werenât cruel to her, but they werenât friendly either. She was neither rich enough to be admired nor outgoing enough to be noticed. The other students barely acknowledged her presence, as if she were part of the furniture.Rachel had stopped trying to fit in years ago.âClass, before we begin, I want to acknowledge something,â Mr. Grayson, their economics teacher, said as he entered. He was one of the few teachers who actually noticed her.He turned to face the class. âWe had a round of mock exams last week, and the highest scorer as usual where a number of kids but someone had given a large
THE ABANDONED CHILD BECOMES THE BILLIONAIRES ONLY HEIR.   New Beginning, Old Shadows
Chapter 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 didnât remember the name. She didnât remember much of anything from the life sheâd 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, thatâs what everyone believed.And in some ways, it was true. They werenât cruel. They didnât raise their voices, didnât hit, didnât 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
THE ABANDONED CHILD BECOMES THE BILLIONAIRES ONLY HEIR.   Before A New Era.
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.***Evelynâs 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 builtâĶ and everything she had yet to destroy.Dominic, her right hand, stood by the door, watching her closely. âWe have a problem,â he said.She exhaled slowly, swirling the whiskey in her glass. âI donât like problems, Dominic.ââThis one wonât go away.â he saidEvelyn arched a brow. âAlison Roman?ââShe disappeared.â he answered Silence."Isn't that suppose to be Alexis and Alex job?" She fired back, staring at him.Evelyn didnât react right away, but the weight in the room changed. D
THE ABANDONED CHILD BECOMES THE BILLIONAIRES ONLY HEIR.   Shadows and Reckonings
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.âFinally,â she murmured.Dominic, her enforcer, leaned forward. âWant us to move in?â he askedEvelyn held up a hand. âNo. Not yet. Let them think theyâre safe, I also want to see who it is.âShe 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.Evelynâs fingers drummed against her armrest. âFind out who theyâre ca
THE ABANDONED CHILD BECOMES THE BILLIONAIRES ONLY HEIR.   Resilience and Confessions.
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 Montgomeryâs empire had hidden well, but Evelyn wasnât one to play guessing games. Sheâd 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. âThe fire will take care of any evidence. We hit three of their locations tonight. Their operation is falling apart Ma.â he aaidEvelyn took a slow breath, the scent of burning metal sharp in the air. âGood,â she murmured then smiled, âNow we wait.â she replied.If the new leader was
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