Absently, Cassie flipped through the documents on her desk while she sat in her office at the art center. Since last night, the picture of Nicholas with his father and the message from the unidentified phone have been gnawing at her. Despite Nicholas's assurances, uncertainty now hung over her mind like a storm cloud.She looked at her phone for the fifth time, wanting to face him right now. Instead, she pulled the phone away and sighed in frustration. Clarity, not impatience, was what she needed.She murmured to herself, "Focus," and returned to reviewing the grant applications.However, the door creaked open before she could move far. Her helper, Marcy, took a tentative look inside.“Someone is here to visit you, Cassie. According to her, it's urgent.”"Who?"She refused to reveal her identity. Stated that you should listen to her and that it concerns Nicholas Scott.Even though Cassie's stomach sank, she made herself calm. "Take her in."Shortly after, a tall, elegant woman in her
Standing in the nursery, Cassie felt the physical impact of her decision bearing down on her. Her phone still had the video paused on the scene where Nicholas shook hands with the man whose name had been in the news for years. The image seemed to mock her and forced her to reconsider everything she had assumed about her husband. Nicholas sat on the living room couch, his head buried in his hands. She could feel the tension radiating from him even from the opposite side of the house.He hadn't pressured her, but he had known something wasn't right when she had entered the room with the folder. Still, her heart thumped painfully in her chest as she went down the steps. She couldn't let the uncertainty control her any longer, even though she had no idea how this conversation would proceed.When she walked into the room, Nicholas's expression was reserved as he looked up. "Cassie," he said quietly, "we must speak.""We do," she said in a hurried voice. With the video file still open, she
The chilly dread that filled Nicholas's chest was not lessened by the early sunlight that streamed through the heavy drapes of the main bedroom. His phone buzzed constantly on the bedside table, its screen lit up with missed calls, messages via text, and news notifications. Cassie sat stiffly on the edge of the bed, holding a cup of coffee she hadn't sipped yet.She didn't require notifications to be aware of what was going on, even though her phone was thankfully muted and silent. The air's tension said a thousand words."Isn't it out now?” Nicholas questioned in a raspy, low voice.Cassie avoided eye contact with him. Rather, she nodded and placed the unfinished drink on the nightstand. At 6 a.m., the story broke. There are headlines everywhere.Reaching for his phone, Nicholas browsed the newsfeed. The first headline took him aback:"Shocking Disclosures of Illicit Dealings and Cover-Ups Shake the Scott Empire"He quickly glanced at another headline."Nicholas Scott: The Multimil
Nicholas sat in his study and gazed at his laptop's screen. The cursor blinked at him, anticipating that he would type the words that would change his life. The words would not come as his hand lingered over the keyboard.He was in shock after Cassie's disclosure the previous evening. He was being destroyed by his father, Charles, and his uncle, Richard. It was nearly too much to take in. However, the video was truthful.No business controversy could ever really capture the depth of the betrayal."Are you Nicholas?” Cassie's voice interrupted his train of thought.He turned to see her standing in the doorway with a determined yet worried expression on her face.Silently, he said, "I called Rachel." "At noon, the press conference is scheduled. I will take this issue head-on.With her arms folded across her chest for protection, Cassie took a step closer. "What will you say, then?"Nicholas retorted, "I will expose them." "Everything. Everything comes out, including my father, Richard,
Gazing at her wedding ring, Cassie sat on the edge of the bed. The once lovely emblem of a life she had grudgingly accepted now weighed heavily on her finger, serving as a continual reminder of the shaky basis upon which her marriage to Nicholas had been based.Absently, she twirled the band while doubt and desire swirled in her mind. To keep her and the babies safe, Nicholas had put everything on the line to break off contact with his family. She was unable to reject the love it seemed to symbolize or the fortitude it required.Was it sufficient, though?The realization of how far they had gone and how far they still had to go made her heart hurt.Cassie withdrew to her art center later that morning. It served as her haven, where she could find comfort in the thriving creative environment and the bustle of artists at work. The artwork on the walls, created by her artists, served as a buffer against the outside world's chaos.However, Nicholas's shadow was still present."Mrs. Scott?"
As Cassie got out of the car, the soft hum of the countryside filled the air. A tranquil retreat from the turmoil of their life, the expansive estate in front of her was magnificent. Wildflowers waved in the light wind, dotted with endless rolling hills. The late afternoon sunlight shone on the ivy-covered walls of a beautiful yet elegant stone cottage in the middle of the land. Cassie took a long breath and allowed the calm to fill her.It stood in sharp contrast to the city's constant cacophony and the storm of media attention. However, the burden of her unresolved feelings persisted despite this calm.With his hands in his pockets, Nicholas materialized by her side. He seemed uncertain as if he wasn't certain she had stayed in the car long enough to come with him.He whispered, "I thought you might like it," watching her expression for a response. "I wanted to move us away from everything and give us some space."With an unreadable expression, Cassie turned to face him. "It's stun
Golden rays fell on the hardwood floorboards of the cottage as the gentle morning light streamed through the windows. Thoughts swirled like the stormy sea as Cassie prepared coffee by the counter. Nicholas had risen early to answer a call in the adjacent room. It reminded her of the guy she had first met—unrelenting, uncompromising, yet fiercely protective—when she heard his steady, low voice, calm but demanding.She looked at her phone, which had a blank screen and no notifications, as the coffee maker hissed to life. There was a silent desire in her heart that she was unable to completely express. She kept thinking about what Nicholas had said the previous evening: "I'll fight for us, for our family."She wished to have faith in him. No, she had to trust him.Her thoughts were interrupted by the creak of the floorboards. Cassie turned to see Nicholas enter the room with a fatigued yet determined smile on his face and a slightly rumpled shirt. The sight of her caused him to hesitate,
Only Cassie's hard breathing and the steady beeping of the monitors disturbed the calm buzz of the hospital room. She gripped the bed's edge with one hand while the other firmly held Nicholas's. Her hair was wet with perspiration, her face was hot, and her look was one of both anguish and resolve.Sitting next to her, Nicholas's normally calm expression broke down as he observed her go through contraction after contraction. Knowing that there was nothing he could do but remain at her side, his heart tightened with each moan and harsh gasp.He said, "You're doing fantastic," as he brushed a moist lock of hair from her forehead.Cassie glared at him, yet a small smile flickered over her lips. It's easy for you to say that you're not the right person. Ready to divide in two.His eyes showed his anxiety, yet he laughed uneasily. "You make a valid point. However, you are the strongest person I've ever met. You can do this.”Cassie leaned over as another contraction struck, unleashing a how
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
There was a buzz around the Scott estate that had nothing to do with charity galas or business meetings. The stirring of transformation was something more intimate, more personal.Once intertwined as kids, Ethan and Emma were now on opposite sides of their pathways, ready to make their way in life.While enjoying her morning tea on the balcony, Cassie observed her children, who are now young adults, as they navigated their aspirations.With her fiery inventiveness, Emma had decided to follow in her mother's creative footsteps. At the same time, Ethan, who was always meticulous and exact, had immersed himself in the realm of science and innovation.Despite their shared heritage and blood, they were very different twins.Cassie smiled at herself.After putting down his coffee cup, Nicholas joined her and planted a kiss on her temple. He whispered, "They're growing too quickly."Cassie let out a sigh. "I understand. They were racing around the home, covered in dirt and paint, and it seem
A thousand golden lights glistened in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's grand ballroom. The tastefully attired guests were bathed in a gentle glow from the chandeliers, and the gentle sounds of a classical orchestra blended with their chatter and laughter. In keeping with the milestone being commemorated—the tenth anniversary of the Scott-Hart Initiative—the air was filled with the aroma of vintage champagne and fresh roses.With her fingers delicately brushing the rim of her champagne flute, Cassie stood close to the tall glass windows. She observed how the program changed the lives of many who had previously just dreamed—young artists, struggling business owners, and ambitious philanthropists—and how they now confidently strode through the room.Her eyes strayed over the ballroom before settling on Ethan and Emma, who brought her incredible pride.Emma's eyes glimmered with joy as she discussed her most recent exhibition in Florence during a heated conversation with a well-known art