Rachel's fingers trembled as she stepped into the dim warehouse, the air thick with the odor of decayed wood and gasoline. Her heart pounded in her chest, a fear beat that intensified even more when she caught sight of her children. Daniella, Damian, and Dante were sitting together in a corner, their small hands bound up with rough ropes. Sobs streamed down their faces, muffled cries that pierced straight through Rachel's heart.A slow clap echoed across the warehouse, and Rachel whirled to see Sophia slouching against an old metal beam, a cruel smile twisting on her lips. Michael stood beside her, his cold eyes flashing with cruelty.Rachel gulped hard, trying to remain calm. "Please, let them go," she pleaded, her voice shattering. "They're only children."Sophia walked over to her, high heels clicking against the concrete floor. She reached out and slapped Rachel sharply on the face. The burning slap crossed Rachel's cheek, and she gasped, stepping back. Sophia was laughing, blue e
I woke up to the soft glow of dawn, the clock blinking 5 AM, my usual time to rise. My brown hair was a tangled mess, and I could feel my glasses slipping down my nose as I stretched. It was time to start my day, even if I felt like a sleep-deprived zombie.As I stumbled out of bed, I tripped over Mr. Whiskers, who was sprawled out like he owned the place. I couldn’t help but giggle as I scooped him up, cradling him against my chest. “You little scamp,” I whispered, pressing a kiss to his furry head. “You’re the real reason I’m up so early, aren’t you?”But as I cradled him, a familiar ache tugged at my heart. Memories I tried so hard to forget crept in, uninvited. Five years had passed since I handed him those divorce papers, and yet the pain felt fresh. I could still see his detached expression as he signed, the coldness in his eyes cutting deeper than I ever imagined.I had loved him completely, but now all I saw was darkness—his obsession with work and that woman, Victoria. She wa
Mia and Alex quickly gathered their things, and the excitement in the air was palpable. “I can’t believe we’re finally going out!” I said, a smile spreading across my face.As we stepped outside, the cool night air hit us, invigorating and full of promise. We hopped into Alex’s car, and he cranked up the music, filling the space with upbeat tracks that matched our energy.“Where are we going?” I asked, glancing at Mia, who was scrolling through her phone.“I found this place called The Pulse. It’s supposed to be incredible, and they have a great dance floor!” she replied, her eyes sparkling.“Sounds perfect!” I said, feeling the anticipation build.When we arrived, the club was already buzzing with people. The lights pulsed in time with the music, and I could feel the energy radiating from the crowd. We made our way inside, and I immediately felt the weight of the week lift off my shoulders.Mia led the way to the bar, ordering us drinks while Alex and I chatted about the night. “I st
I woke up, my eyes blinking at an unfamiliar ceiling. Panic surged through me as I tried to remember where I was and how I got there. My head throbbed, and my mouth felt like sandpaper. I attempted to sit up, but dizziness hit me hard, forcing me back down.Then I realized I was completely naked. My heart raced as I threw off the covers, frantically searching for my clothes. That’s when I saw him—a stranger lying next to me. His face was chiseled, his dark hair unfamiliar. My mind went blank.I didn’t want to think about who he was or what had happened. I just needed to get out of there. My eyes darted around the room, taking in the opulence and the huge windows. I spotted my purse on the nightstand and snatched it up, digging for my phone. It was dead, and I cursed under my breath.Without thinking, I grabbed my purse and bolted from the room, not stopping until I was outside the mansion. I flagged down a taxi, my heart pounding as I gave the driver my address, still reeling from the
Two months have passed since that night, and I’ve been completely absorbed in growing my company with Donna by my side. She’s been a lifesaver, expertly managing my chaotic schedule and ensuring everything stays on track. .But as we were pouring over the latest project details, trying to partner with Jocelynn & Harvey’s a reputable brand, a sudden wave of weakness washed over me. “Rachel, are you okay?” Donna asked, her voice laced with concern as she leaned closer, searching my eyes for answers.I shook my head, feeling disoriented. “I don’t know. I just feel… weak.”“Weak how? Like you’re coming down with something?” she pressed, her brow furrowed.“Yeah, maybe. I’ve been so stressed lately. I thought it was just fatigue,” I admitted, “You need to take a break. We can pause this for today,” she said, her tone firm yet caring.“No, I can’t. We have deadlines, and I don’t want to fall behind,” I replied, forcing a smile “Your health comes first, Rachel. Let’s reschedule and focus
After six intense years, I have transformed my company into a formidable competitor in the market and I can proudly say I have poured my heart and soul into this journey and I… my trail of thought was cut short when Donna barged into my office like she was on a mission from the fashion gods. “Rachel! You won’t believe this!”I barely looked up, squinting at the numbers. “Did you finally figure out how to use the coffee machine? Because I’m this close to hiring a barista.”“No! Even better! Mavericks & Co wants to partner with us!”My head shot up, my heart racing. “Mavericks? The ruthless empire of Ethan Grey? What do they want with us?” I couldn’t help but picture Ethan in that dark suit, with his piercing eyes and that cocky smile that made my stomach flip—mostly in a bad way.Donna shrugged, practically bouncing on her heels. “They’re looking for brands that share their uniqueness. They want an interview with the CEO of Elegance & Style!”“Great,” I said, rolling my eyes. “I can al
The next few weeks passed in a whirlwind of meetings and brainstorming sessions. Ethan and I interacted daily, and each encounter left me exhilarated yet anxious, with the knowledge of my secret lingering just beneath the surface. One afternoon, as we reviewed design concepts in his office, I felt the tension building. “Rachel, these sketches are... disappointing,” Ethan said, barely masking his disdain as he tossed one aside. “You can do better than this.” I blinked, taken aback. “Disappointing? I thought we agreed on a bold approach. These designs are fresh and innovative.” “Fresh? They’re just a rehash of trends. You’re playing it safe,” he snapped, leaning back in his chair, arms crossed. “If you want to compete at this level, you need to push boundaries, not reinforce them.” I clenched my jaw, feeling anger flare. “Excuse me? I put a lot of work into these designs. Just because they don’t fit your narrow vision doesn’t make them rubbish.” “Don’t take it personally,” he
The next morning, I woke up to the sounds of my kid’s laughter echoing through the apartment. Stretching and blinking away sleep, I smiled at the thought of a weekend free from work stress. As I brewed my coffee, my phone buzzed on the counter, pulling me back to reality.“Are you ready to tackle the office again?” came the message from Donna.I chuckled to myself and quickly typed back, “Actually, I’m taking a little time off this weekend. Need to recharge with the kids!”Moments later, my phone pinged again. “Nice! You deserve it! But if Ethan calls...”I rolled my eyes and typed, “I’ll ignore him! Unless it’s an emergency, I’m off the clock girl. He can wait!”Taking a sip of my coffee, I savoured the rich flavour. Just then, Dante came racing into the kitchen.“Mommy! Can we have pancakes?” he exclaimed, his wild curls bouncing as he jumped up and down.“Pancakes it is!” I replied with a grin. “How about we make them together?”Daniella peeked around the corner, her big brown eyes
Rachel's fingers trembled as she stepped into the dim warehouse, the air thick with the odor of decayed wood and gasoline. Her heart pounded in her chest, a fear beat that intensified even more when she caught sight of her children. Daniella, Damian, and Dante were sitting together in a corner, their small hands bound up with rough ropes. Sobs streamed down their faces, muffled cries that pierced straight through Rachel's heart.A slow clap echoed across the warehouse, and Rachel whirled to see Sophia slouching against an old metal beam, a cruel smile twisting on her lips. Michael stood beside her, his cold eyes flashing with cruelty.Rachel gulped hard, trying to remain calm. "Please, let them go," she pleaded, her voice shattering. "They're only children."Sophia walked over to her, high heels clicking against the concrete floor. She reached out and slapped Rachel sharply on the face. The burning slap crossed Rachel's cheek, and she gasped, stepping back. Sophia was laughing, blue e
The Maverick headquarters buzzed with activity, the air electric with anticipation. The live TV show was on, showing the company's latest creations to the world. Models glided along the runway, their movements smooth and confident, as the audience sat in complete attention.Rachel's heels clicked on the marble floor of the Maverick headquarters as she glanced at her phone. The live celebration was in progress, and she should have been at the center of it all, raising a glass to the company's latest success. But a sense of disquiet churned at her chest. Something was wrong.Her assistant, Donna, rushed toward her, breathless. "Rachel, there's a problem. The triplets. they're missing."Rachel's universe came to a standstill. "What?"Ethan and I were with our nanny at the event, but she turned around for a moment, and now they're missing."A sense of panic choked Rachel's throat. "Find them! Go through the security cameras. Now!"Donna couldn't respond in time before Rachel's phone buzze
The night air was thick with tension as Sophia sprinted down the dimly lit alleys, her heart racing in her chest. The flashing blue and red lights in the distance made her curse under her breath. "Damn it! That damned woman slipped through my fingers!" she growled, her face contorted in rage. Her hands trembled with rage as she pushed her tangled hair out of her face, her breath coming in short, angry gasps.Police were so near to catching her but due to the fire arm of the individuals working for her, she got away effortlessly. I knew that Rachel wouldn't keep her damn mouth closed.She reached her car, pulled the door open, and slid inside, her hands closing on the steering wheel like a vice, her knuckles whitening. She pounded her fist on the dashboard and let out a growl of frustration. "Rachel, you think you've won? You don't know what's coming next!" Her lips twisted in a sneer as she turned the engine over and peeled off into the night.She knew where she was headed—the police
I had barely caught my breath when I heard her approaching—the cold, hard clack of Sophia's high heels on wet pavement. I braced up, my heart pounding in my head. I knew what I was in for.Out of the shadows, Sophia emerged, her eyes glinting with venomous victory. "You think you could escape, Rachel?" she sneered, the voice cold as broken glass. I didn't have time to react before she was atop me. Her pale, manicured fingers locked onto my shoulders, and I was struck by a brutal blow.I thrashed about, my face completely in pain and terror as Sophia began to beat me. The blows landed with a sickening thud, and I felt the pain spreading across my body. "Your children will pay for this!" she screamed, her voice echoing off the cold walls. "They'll suffer just like you!"Tears obscured my vision as I pleaded on gasping breaths, "Please… stop… please, beg you…" I was raspy, panicked, but she went on mercilessly. Sophia's grin widened with every word spoken, and her sadistically burning e
I glared at my phone's illuminated screen, the thumping in my ears echoing with my heart rate. The headline blazed across the top in big bold letters:"Ethan Greenwood Engaged! Power Couple Takes Center Stage."My hands trembled involuntarily as I took in the news—Rachel Thompson, the woman I had worked so hard to destroy, was now engaged to Ethan. Anger and humiliation boiled within me, and before I even knew it, I'd snorted a fresh line of drugs that had been languishing in my bag.The overdose swept at me like a tidal wave. My vision swirled, and I couldn't bring myself to concentrate, but the acrid taste of failure and jealousy scorched my interior.I slammed my phone on the marble tabletop, my eyes blazing as I recalled every indignity. I had sacrificed everything for power and retribution, and now Ethan was parading his new engagement while I languished here.The bitter mix of chemicals only stoked my anger. I stumbled unsteadily, the room spinning around me, and staggered to th
The night was glowing with golden lights, soft music, and the post-glow of the Mavericks Fashion Walk. But despite the ovation and celebrations, Rachel just could not focus.Her heart kept racing from that evening's incidents—the sabotage try, the arrest of Michael, and the getaway by Sophia. Too much, all of that, but still, in between all that, Ethan had remained her rock.She stood on the edge of the stage, watching as Ethan addressed the media and the audience. His voice was firm, calm, but filled with command as he described what had happened, assuring them that Mavericks was stronger than ever.Rachel sighed softly. How does he always manage to be so calm?As Ethan continued, there was a soft rustling sound off the runway. Rachel's forehead creased in puzzlement.Then they appeared.Children, dressed in immaculate white, each of them with one red rose and one small envelope in hand.Rachel's breath caught in her throat.The children approached her individually, handing over the
The dimly lit hotel back hallway stank of stale carpet and cheap cologne. Rachel stood close to the cold wall, barely breathing as she listened in on the argument happening just down the hall."…We go to the Mavericks Fashion Walk tonight," Michael's deep voice growled, filled with barely controlled anger.Rachel's heart was thudding in her ears. What?!The plan is simple," Michael continued. "We create enough havoc to kill Ethan. Full-blown scandal. Sponsors drop out, investors lose their minds—his empire crumbles in an evening."A second voice—cunning, smooth—spoke. Sophia."And what do we do with Rachel?" she asked, poison in every syllable. "Are we finally ridding ourselves of her?"Rachel's feet left the floor.Michael hesitated for a moment before he said, "If she gets caught in the crossfire, that's on her."Rachel gulped a breath of air.Sophia laughed coldly. "Well, well… finally got some spine, Michael?" She paused, and then went on, "And what about security? You know Ethan
The perfume- and smoke-scented hotel room was shrouded in gloom, the atmosphere thick with tension. Sophia lay back on the velvet couch's rim, her perfectly manicured fingers trembling as she brought a minute pill to her lips. Closing her eyes, she swallowed it, following the bitter aftertaste with a swig of whiskey. Her blonde locks were disheveled, her otherwise flawless appearance marred by the dark smudges under her eyes.The knock on the door barely registered in her dazed mind, but when Michael stepped in, slamming the door behind him, she let out an irritated sigh. “You look like hell,” Michael muttered, scanning the room with distaste. “Smells like it too.” Sophia rolled her eyes and sank deeper into the couch. “You’re always such a gentleman, Michael.”Michael ignored her sarcasm, jaw clenched in frustration as he set a folder on the coffee table. "Our strategy is breaking down," he stated tightly. "Most employees in Emerald Designs want to quit. They're spooked. And the
The police station was unusually quiet for this hour of night, the fluorescent lights shining a cold glare over the tile floors. Ethan entered through the front door, his face as unyielding as stone, his presence commanding. The officers saluted him with respect and caution, knowing the weight his name carried.He hadn't wasted any time on formalities. "How's the case progressing?" His voice was low and gritted with annoyance. "And why, for goodness' sake, did the men you arrested suddenly end up dead?"One of the officers shifted uncomfortably. "We have no idea, Mr. Grayson. Nobody had seen them, and there were no signs of anything unusual."Ethan's jaw clenched. "How did they die?The officer hesitated before responding, “Their bodies have been sent for autopsy. We’ll have more details soon.” Ethan ran a hand through his hair, his frustration mounting. “I want to see the security footage.”Minutes ticked by, and he stood in front of a monitor, arms crossed as he watched the grainy