Just then, the grand double doors at the back of the hall swung open with a resounding boom, and a squad of grim-faced men marched in lockstep.They charged directly at Governor Glover, encircling him in a close semicircle and obstructing his path of escape. “What’s going on?” “How are these people?” The crowd erupted in a wave of confused murmuring and uneasy shuffling. The lead officer was a tall, imposing woman with sharp features and a no-nonsense demeanor. She delved her hand into her slack and flashed her badge. "Governor Michael Glover, you are under arrest for embezzlement of state funds, racketeering, and abuse of power as a public official," she stated in a voice that brooked no argument. A stunned, disbelieving silence fell over the luxurious hall as the gathered elite tried to process her words. Governor Glover's already flushed face turned an even deeper shade of crimson. His mouth opened and closed soundlessly a few times like a gasping fish before he finally sp
Kylie looked like she had been slapped across the face as the weight of reality finally penetrated her entitled bubble of denial. Her mouth worked furiously, but no sound came out. The tension in the grand hall thickened until it was almost a palpable force that blanketed the entire room. She took in the gathered elite sitting in shock and utterly dumbfounded by the unfolding events. Some looked faintly scandalized, others vaguely gleeful at watching the downfall of the arrogant Bolting family. President Bolting leaned back in his chair with a cold expression on his face as he watched the entire chaotic scene unfold without a shred of pity or remorse. The same could be said for Serena who felt nothing but seething contempt for the wicked trio.Kylie's mind raced desperately, trying to concoct any plan, no matter how far-fetched to save herself from the dire situation rapidly closing in around her. She decided her only glimmer of hope was to use the mayhem and pandemonium of the
"Hang on!" Serena's voice suddenly rang out.The sudden interruption caused a ripple of surprise to wash over the assembled crowd. Their hushed whispers instantly died away and their eyes swiveled towards the source of the faint yet stern voice.Serena rose elegantly from her seat and strode forward. Each step carried her closer to Kylie, and her prowling, almost predatory gait spoke volumes about the shift in power dynamics between the two women.The crowd's collective gaze followed her progress as she moved, drinking in every detail of her transformation. Gone was the broken, desperate woman they had recently seen splashed across the tabloids. In her place stood a vision of poise and self-assurance. Serena finally came to a halt directly before her former half-sister. The contrast between the two women couldn't have been more obvious. While Serena radiated confidence and power, Kylie looked small and diminished. Her once-impeccable appearance was now marred by smeared makeup an
"There is someone else of great importance, an individual who will be an integral part of the esteemed Gaard Corp moving forward - a woman who is none other than the CEO's wife."Another powerful wave of murmurs, excited whispers, and furious speculation washed over the crowd like a surging tide. The reporters and journalists allowed inside the lavish hall immediately began snapping photos and recording footage in a feverish frenzy, desperate to capture every tantalizing second of this highly anticipated unveiling for the world to bear witness."It can't be," one guest muttered in disbelief."Are they saying what I think they're saying?" another wondered aloud.Some of the attendees looked faintly disappointed. Their expressions were tinged with envy upon learning that the powerful, anonymous CEO behind one of the world's fastest-growing business empires was already married. They wondered just who the lucky woman could possibly be to have secured such an elite, coveted position as w
Knox's warm hand guided Serena into the awaiting limo. The plush leather seats enveloped her as she slid inside.A faint red glow bathed the opulent interior in an otherworldly ambiance.Serena's eyes struggled to adjust to the almost darkness.That's when she heard it. The unmistakable sounds of passion. Grunts and moans pierced the quietness.Serena's cheeks blazed. She instinctively turned toward the noise, squinting to make out anything in the shadows."Oh god," she whispered when she caught glimpses of writhing forms at the opposite end of the large limo.Was that Meredith?Serena quickly averted her gaze, embarrassment flooding through her.She hadn't expected... this.Her eyes darted around, desperate for somewhere safe to land.She was startled when she suddenly found Knox’s face mere inches from hers.Her breath caught in her throat. When had he gotten so close?His amber eyes gleamed in the low light, fixed intently on her lips."Knox," she breathed, barely audible.The air
One could practically taste the desire saturating every inch of the confined limo. It was like a bubbling cauldron of lust and want waiting to boil over at any second. The air was heavy with the heady aroma of arousal that permeated the vehicle. Serena could feel her heart pounding in her chest and her skin tingling with anticipation as she gazed at Knox through hooded eyes. She held his scorching gaze that promised pleasures untold once they were finally alone.However, a deafening bang suddenly ripped through the air, shattering the sensual atmosphere in an instant. The entire vehicle shuddered violently as the limo jerked forward with force. Knox’s muscular arms instinctively wrapped around Serena then pulled her against his broad chest.The front end of the limo rose up on its hinges, causing the tires to squeal against the asphalt before crashing back down with a sickening crunch. If not for his lightning-fast reflexes, Serena would've gone flying across the cabin like a ra
Knox just stared back at her silently. His expression remained cold but Serena could see the fury blazing in the depths of his eyes in an all-consuming wrath that burned hotter than the sun's core. "Answer me!" She cried, her voice rising in pitch as hysteria threatened to overwhelm her. Her throat burned, yet she didn't care. "Is my sister alive? Have you been lying to me this entire time?"Silence was all that met her.Serena's heart shattered into a million shards that instant. All the love and affection, the burning desire and passion she'd felt for Knox just...evaporated, dissipating like a wisp of smoke in the wind. Her own father's life was in danger for being held hostage by Knox's vile family, and the possibility that her supposedly dead twin sister was alive and kept prisoner by her own husband… the revelation of Mia being kept in the estate and cheating on her.... it was simply too much for her to process all at once. An overload of emotion threatened to drown her where
Serena's mind was a whirlwind of emotions spinning around in a frenetic storm that threatened to pull her apart from the inside out. Her sister Sirona, the other half of her soul whom she had mourned and suffered for year after torturous year, had been alive all along? She turned to Seven with desperation written in hard lines over her tear-stained cheeks as she struggled to keep her tears at bay. "Get me out of here," she rasped out. "Please...I can't...I can't be near him right now."The words tumbled from her lips in a frenetic whisper. The need to put distance between herself and this man who had so thoroughly shattered her reality burned through her veins. She had to get away, to escape the confines of this mental cage that had become a haunting remnant of their doomed relationship, lest she succumb to the storm of emotion threatening to drag her under completely.Seven gaze flickered between Serena and Knox uncertainly. "I'm not sure that's the best idea right now, Donna,"