Cassie sat in her car outside the small gallery where Valerie used to work, now boarded up and deserted. She had been contemplating whether she had the courage to do whatever she intended to do for more than twenty minutes. She did not have the time to wait for confirmation, nor did she want to watch her life unravel.As she held onto the steering wheel, her thoughts were racing, recalling the picture Nicholas had given her. There was nothing wrong with Valerie's narrative, but there was no denying the boy's likeness to him. Why did Valerie wait more than ten years to bring this to light if she was so worried about her son's welfare?She kept her arrival a secret from Nicholas. Cassie needed to hear Valerie's side of the story without any intervention, but he would have insisted on taking care of it himself. She had to face the woman and find out for herself what was going on.As she got to the small townhouse where Valerie now lived, she took a deep breath and smoothed her jacket bef
Nicholas and Cassie felt like they were under a thick cloud on the morning of the paternity test results. Tension tightened Nicholas' jaw as he sat at the breakfast table, hardly touching his coffee. Cassie, across from him, took turns looking at the clock and him.Neither had slept well the previous evening. The mysterious passage from the unidentified source had become ingrained in their thoughts, leading them to doubt everything. By "The boy is only part of the story," “what did they mean?"Finally breaking the silence, Nicholas remarked, "I keep thinking this is all a nightmare." "That it will be gone the moment I wake up."Reaching across the table, Cassie covered his hand with hers. "We'll deal with whatever comes up together."His face softened somewhat as he looked into her eyes. "You've persevered through everything. I don't know how you're managing.”She smiled slightly and replied, "I have no choice." "We've come too far to be destroyed by something like this."They were bo
Nicholas's home office was filled with floor-to-ceiling windows that let in the morning sun, which gave the room a golden glow. Deep in contemplation, a vision building in his thoughts, Nicholas stood beside his desk. Although the last several weeks had been taxing, they had also given him a deep insight: his background, his hardships, and his victories were all moving him in the direction of something greater.Cassie entered with two cups of coffee in tow, her demeanor gentle and soothing. She smiled teasingly and remarked, "You've been standing there for fifteen minutes." "What's happening in your brilliant mind?"With a serious yet enthusiastic gaze, Nicholas turned to face her. He accepted the coffee she offered and started, "I've been thinking." "After everything we've experienced—the lies, the scandals, the never-ending struggles—I don't want my accomplishments to define my legacy.” “What we can produce is what I want it to be about.”Cassie raised an inquisitive eyebrow. "I'm p
Cassie was excited and nervous as she entered the Nicholas Scott and Cassie Hart’s Horizon Foundation's recently built headquarters. The streamlined structure, a beautiful combination of glass and natural wood, symbolized the three main goals of their worldwide initiative: accessibility, sustainability, and innovation. The staff welcomed her heartily as she walked past the bustling open-concept office. It was still weird to take on a role she had previously avoided, but she now wore it with pride."Morning, Mrs. Scott," a cheerful intern with a tray of coffee cups said.Cassie grinned. "Good morning! And call me Cassie."She had always aimed to create an atmosphere of transparency and respect for all. This was the result of both of their dreams, not simply Nicholas's or hers. Even so, Cassie felt the burden of her increasing obligations despite how rewarding they were.A group of people waited for her in the meeting room. The launch of their first international project—an effort to in
Cassie and Nicholas entered the morning strategy meeting at the Horizon Foundation headquarters, humming with activity. A dozen tense-looking team members surrounded the huge conference table. A string of divisive headlines appeared one after the other on the wall-mounted screen:"The Nicholas-Scott Initiative Is Met with Industry Reaction.""Is it recklessness or revolution? Critics Point to the Foundation's Audacious Plans"The Death of Tradition: A Controversial Vision by Nicholas Scott Initiates Discussion"Cassie's gut twisted as she looked at Nicholas. This was not merely resistance but a concerted assault by influential figures from the business and artistic sectors.Cassie noticed the glint of annoyance in Nicholas' eyes as he sat at the head of the table, projecting a composed authority. "All right," he said in a measured tone. "Let's begin with the apparent. Who is responsible for this, and what is their ultimate goal?"Cassie's assistant, Lily, uncomfortably cleared her thr
A loud shout came from upstairs, breaking the morning's peaceful hum. Cassie was startled from her seat at the kitchen island and almost spilled her coffee.She scowled as she said, "That's Emma."Nicholas nodded as he sipped his espresso and looked through his tablet's emails. As another shout came, he added, "And that would be Ethan.”By the time the twins were five, their unique personalities were becoming more noticeable by the day. Emma was constantly breaking boundaries with her curious intellect and brave demeanor. Sensitive and creative, Ethan liked to spend hours drawing or making up stories. Although they were two parts of a whole that balanced one another out, their differences had recently caused more strife than peace.Nicholas said, putting down his cappuccino, "I'll take care of it."Cassie extended her hand. "Nope. You ended up meditating for an hour the last time you went in. I will. You remain here and consume all of your coffee.Cassie discovered the twins in their
The aroma of Cassie's meticulously tended garden and freshly brewed coffee filled the early air. Nicholas was studying a proposal for the next stage of their project while seated on the patio with his tablet leaning on the table. Carrying two steaming mugs, Cassie exited the house with her hair pulled back into a loose braid. With a gentle smile, she placed one down in front of him.She settled into the chair opposite him and remarked, "You've been at it since dawn."Leaning back, he sipped his coffee. "Cass, we're close. The following five centers might open in a year if we can secure funding from the global art consortium.”Excitement glistened in her eyes. "I'm amazed at how far this has progressed—from a single vision to a whole movement."Nicholas's phone buzzed on the table before he could reply. His brows knitted at the name that flashed on the screen."Who is it?” Observing his look, Cassie inquired."It's Elena."Cassie stopped. "Elena Russo?"Slowly, Nicholas nodded. It had
With the gentle glow of the early light coming in through his home office's windows, Nicholas reclined on the edge of his desk. As he read the thorough report the private investigator had brought earlier that morning, his mind raced with questions.There was more to Elena Russo than met the eye.According to the investigation, there were covert financial transactions with shell companies, contacts with powerful people who had been outspoken opponents of the initiative, and a relationship with a consulting business notorious for undermining charitable endeavors. Every page depicted dishonesty and trickery.With her arms crossed over her chest, Cassie walked into the room. “Have you read the report? “ Her voice was tight with anxiety as she inquired.Nicholas's jaw tightened as he nodded. "It's worse than I anticipated.” Cass has been playing both sides."What made her do this? Cassie pulled up a chair next to him and inquired."It could be anything—power, leverage, retaliation," he ans
Nicholas Scott's business was founded on honesty, foresight, and an unwavering determination to build a sustainable future. But Derek Langston's well-planned smear campaign destroyed his reputation in just a few weeks.The media had been relentless, and accusations of financial malfeasance were featured in the headlines. Partners left, investors paused, and even the public, who had previously been captivated by Nicholas's environmentally conscious vision, started to doubt him.However, Nicholas didn't allow other people to control his destiny.That was going to change tonight.Nicholas was in his home office with his top executives and son, Ethan, reviewing the most recent discoveries. Ethan had been crucial in exposing Langston's façade weaknesses and had inherited his father's keen business sense."Dad, this is it," Ethan informed him, tapping his laptop screen. "Derek's been funneling money through a web of offshore accounts. It's textbook money laundering, and he's been covering h
Nicholas sat in his private office, staring at the phone, Derek Langston's last words still echoing in his mind. "You don't know what's going to take place next." He felt a chill run through him. Derek was too familiar to him. The man's threats weren't baseless.With a strained attitude, Cassie walked inside the room. "I just hung up with Julia on the phone. Although the media is still quite active, public opinion is shifting back in your favor.Nicholas let out a sigh and put the phone down. “That's excellent. Derek won't be deterred, though. This was only his first tactic.”Cassie folded her arms. "After that, we must be prepared for whatever comes next."David Clarke, Nicholas's assistant, called as if on cue. He was put on speaker by Nicholas."We have a problem, sir."Nicholas gave his temple a rub. "Now what?"David spoke in a somber tone. "Someone just breached our company's servers. Private documents were viewed.Cassie's gaze expanded. "Who do we know?"David paused. "We id
It was a tidal wave of a storm.Nicholas Scott was scrolling through his phone in his office as a deluge of remarks, tweets, and news pieces arrived. The headlines were filled with accusations, portraying his company as unethical, exploitative, and crooked. The public outrage was increasing by the second, and the story appeared to have been picked up by every news outlet.With an expression that was a mixture of disbelief and rage, Layla rushed into the room. "Nicholas, have you seen this? They're saying you've been using offshore accounts to evade taxes and manipulating stock prices!"He put his phone down and let out a deep exhale. "I've seen it."His thoughts were immediately racing, trying to figure out where the leak might have come from. He had been making sure his business dealings were ethical for years. Someone had planned this attack to take him down, so it wasn't just any strike."This isn't just a smear campaign," Layla went on, pacing the room. "It's detailed. They have f
Sitting in her art studio, Cassie Scott gazed at the blank canvas. The air was filled with the familiar smell of oil paint and turpentine, which is typically reassuring. However, it felt oppressive today.The brush seemed heavy and unfamiliar in her fingers, as though she had forgotten how to handle it correctly.She hadn't painted anything for herself in weeks. She spent her days organizing exhibitions, teaching aspiring artists, and helping students on their artistic paths. She had pushed them to find their voices and supported them.However, she had lost her own in the process.She waited for the recognizable burst of inspiration as she pressed the brush's bristles on the canvas.Nothing arrived.With a harsh exhale, Cassie threw the brush on the table.What's the matter with me?This was the hardest she had ever struggled. Her passion and escape had always been art. But now she was just frustrated as she stared at the blank canvas.And anxiety.Cassie stood in front of her mentors
Nicholas Scott looked out at the skyline from his glass-walled office, high above New York City. Below, everything went according to its normal rhythm: buildings shining in the afternoon sun, cars honking, and people hurrying.However, anarchy was developing inside Scott Enterprises.His company was under siege. It had begun quietly, with a few unfavorable headlines and rumors of scandal. Then, it blew up into a major crisis.Breaking: Is Nicholas Scott's Eco-Initiative a Scam? Terra Vision is under fire.”Examiners looking into "unethical” business practices—TERRA VISION STOCK PLUMMETS.Nicholas's jaw tightened. Every one of the charges was false.And he was fully aware of its perpetrator. Langley, Victor.An old ghost. He once had a crush on a businessman. He had returned with a vengeance.Nicholas moved away from the window and spoke to his head of security, Daniel Reeves, and his public relations strategist, Cynthia Lawson, his eyes glimmering with icy resolve."Explain the comple
Emma and Ethan Scott, twins, have lived their whole lives in the shadow of grandeur. Expectations were always high because their mother was Cassie Scott, and their father was Nicholas Scott. Being "the billionaire's children" was never enough for them, they had spent countless hours creating their legacies.At this point, they were about to prove themselves.Emma had recently finished her first solo painting show in Paris, continuing her mother's artistic legacy. Critics hailed her art as "the fresh new voice of modern impressionism."The tech-savvy twin, Ethan, was preparing for something even more significant.Ethan spent the previous two years creating a ground-breaking artificial intelligence program to make cities more effective, sustainable, and climate change-adaptable. His biggest test came today, even though his business, Scott Tech Innovations, has been making headway in the tech sector.If he is successful, he will introduce investors, engineers, and world leaders to his AI
With the floor-to-ceiling windows of Scott Enterprises' headquarters framing his shadow, Nicholas Scott stood at the front of the spacious conference room. Behind him, the skyline of New York reminded him of his progress and future goals.Anticipation permeated the atmosphere. His senior executives, board members, and investors, who had faith in his leadership, were seated before him. Today, however, was different. He was starting a revolution today, not merely announcing another business milestone.Behind him, the enormous LED screen flashed to life, revealing the audacious new moniker of his most recent endeavor:The room echoed with gasps.Before he spoke, Nicholas inhaled steadily. "The future is this. This is what we left behind.”He looked around, reading the faces of those present, some interested, some doubtful, and others opposed. That was anticipated. Upending an industry had a price."As we enter a new era, accountability will become as crucial to business as profitability.
Cassie has always thought that people may change people's lives. Hers, for sure, had been altered. From an early child drawing on napkins in her mother's café to a world-renowned artist, she has led a colorful, passionate, and inventive life. However, something has changed recently.She continued to enjoy painting because she could express stories with her brushstrokes that words could not. However, a voice inside her had been urging her to do more for months.As soon as Emma entered her studio with a big envelope in her hand, the whisper became a loud shout.Emma, barely controlling her joy, added, "Mom." "This arrived just now. The Global Art Initiative is its source.”As Cassie brushed paint off her hands, she arched an eyebrow. "The International Art Project?"Emma virtually bounced on her feet as she nodded. "They want you to coach Ghanaian new talents! This six-month program in Kumasi works with exceptionally brilliant students from disadvantaged backgrounds. They are providing
Nicholas Scott has outmaneuvered vicious adversaries, negotiated billion-dollar agreements, and established empires. However, when he sat in his home office and gazed at the business plan, he experienced a strange feeling: uncertainty.Neither a competition, an investor, nor even an old buddy made the idea.His son gave it to him.Ethan made a daring, audacious, and ambitious pitch. A sustainable energy technology firm aims to eliminate intermediaries and make renewable energy available to everyone by delivering off-grid solar solutions to underprivileged regions.It was an innovative concept with the potential to change the industry.It was risky, though.Nicholas was aware of the harshness of the energy industry. Ethan might lose power if he chose the wrong investors. His reputation would suffer if the technology failed.However...Never before had Nicholas been so pleased with his kid.Holding a cup of tea, Cassie came into the office. She could tell exactly what her spouse was thi