Chapter 90The mansion felt emptier than ever, even with everyone inside. Olivia sat in the dimly lit living room, staring at the untouched cup of tea Ruth had placed before her hours ago. Christian hadn’t spoken to her since they returned from the failed rescue attempt at the warehouse. Not a single word, not even a glance in her direction. His silence was louder than any accusation could have been.From across the room, Ruth watched Olivia carefully. Her brows knit with concern. Josh entered, his laptop tucked under his arm. “Any updates?” Ruth asked softly.Josh shook his head, his expression grim. “No leads." The trail went cold after the warehouse. "I've got a few people digging into Elise’s connections, but...” He hesitated, glancing toward Christian, who stood by the window, his back to everyone.Olivia couldn’t take it anymore. She pushed herself up from the couch and crossed the room to meet him. “Christian,” she began, her voice small but steady. “We need to talk.”He didn’t
"Can we confirm that these are indeed the bodies of Matthew and Rosemary Mason?" the morgue attendant inquired of the young man standing before him. "Yes," the young man affirmed with a heavy heart. "Mr. Mason," another man called out as he entered the room. "There’s a social worker outside. She's here regarding Eunice."The young man hurriedly exited to meet the social worker. "Good afternoon. I’m Izzy Parker, the social worker assigned to Miss Eunice Mason," she introduced herself."Good morning. I’m Christian Mason, Eunice’s uncle," he replied tersely. "The family records indicate that you are Eunice's sole remaining relative. I just needed to confirm this with you," the social worker stated in a matter-of-fact tone. "Yes, that's correct. But where is Eunice?" Christian inquired urgently."I will be bringing Eunice on the day of the funeral, once you have set a date," she assured him."The funeral will take place in two days. Will I be able to see her then?" Christian pressed. "Yes,
“Mr. Mason, you came in to work today? You should have just stayed at home, at least until after the funeral”, one of the members of the executives stated as soon as he saw Christian enter the conference room.“Our share prices are dropping fast. Something needs to be done as soon as possible. If you were competent in your jobs, you would have found a way to at least stop the drop for now”, Christian said grimly as he got into his regular seat.Christian quickly discussed measures that would help the share prices hold up for the moment before leaving the company to go be with his niece at home. “Close the company for the rest of the week," he announced before leaving the company.————————————————————————————————————————————————-Olivia stood outside Mason’s mansion, her heartbeat increasing with every step she took. “This is a fresh start, a chance to leave the past behind and begin a new life”, she said trying to fill herself with determination before she went on to ring the bell.S
Before leaving the kitchen, he turned to her and said, “If you need anything, I’ll be in my office and tell me or John if she has any issues at all.” Naturally, Olivia answered. Olivia couldn’t get rid of the impression that Christian was more than just the aloof, cold façade he put on when he departed. She had caught a glimpse of a deep pool of feelings that he kept tightly bottled up, a vulnerability. It left her wondering about the true nature of the man behind the surface. She silently made it her new mission to bring uncle and niece closer to each other.In the evening, Olivia helped Eunice get to bed. The little girl moved slowly, had a pale complexion, and appeared exhausted. After pulling the blanket up to her chin, Olivia tucked her into the bed. Olivia muttered, “Goodnight, Eunice,” as she brushed a lock of hair off the girl’s forehead.Eunice’s eyes were wide open, looking at Olivia before quietly saying, “My mom used to kiss me on my forehead before bed." Olivia did not ha
A stifling silence fell over the room as the seriousness of Eunice’s words sank in. Christian’s face was filled with concern. His face darted between Olivia and Eunice. Olivia’s heart pounded in her chest, indicating fear running through her body.“Eunice, honey, are you sure about this?” Olivia asked gently, trying to keep her voice steady. Eunice nodded, her eyes looking into Olivia’s with fear. “I saw someone, Olivia. They were tall.”Christian’s expression turned serious. “We need to get to the bottom of this. Olivia, can you take Eunice to her room while I check security footage? “Sure thing, Mr. Mason”, Olivia nodded as she held Eunice. As they walked to Eunice’s room, Olivia turned to Olivia trying to reassure her, “Don’t worry, sweetie, we’ll find out who it was”.Eunice looked up to Olivia with her big eyes, “Do you think it was a ghost?” Olivia chuckled, “Well, I don’t think ghosts can open doors, but we’ll make sure to check for ghosts too, okay?”Meanwhile, Christian was
The arrival of Josh seemed to have brought a burst of energy into the gloomy mansion, that even Eunice’s face lit up so much. Christian’s cold face also had a small smile as he hugged Josh.“Hey, Josh. What brings you here?" Christian asked, his tone neutral.“I came here to see my baby girl. I also heard she now had a live-in nanny. "Good job," Josh answered in a somewhat playful manner.“This is my live-in nanny, Olivia. Olivia, this is Josh, Matthew’s best friend”, Christian introduced them to each other. Olivia noticed Josh’s sad expression as soon as Matthew was mentioned.“Hi. Nice to meet you," Olivia greeted. Josh quickly recovered his expression as he smiled at Olivia. “Oh, you’re very pretty!”“Thank you”, Olivia's cheeks turned bright red after his sudden compliment.The way you look, I don't think you're nosy like he said you were. Olivia glanced at Christian who was looking away inadvertently when she heard Josh's words.Josh’s arrival removed their attention from the sec
CHAPTER 6Josh looked around before smiling at Christian who was already standing in front of him. “I was patting Matthew. Just wanted to see if I’d feel his presence, but it looks like he’s not around."Christian turned to look at his brother’s grave, before putting on a sad smile.“You know, I keep regretting rejecting his offer to go to Ireland with me. He said he wanted to help out”, Josh said as his teary eyes looked at Christian pitifully. “I told him to stay back and let me manage my company matters by myself for once”.At this point, Josh had already burst into tears. Christian also could not hold on, so he pulled him for a hug as they both shed tears together.The two men returned to the mansion around lunch time. Olivia was in the dining room, feeding some chicken nuggets to Eunice.“Do you like them?" Olivia asked Eunice, who was happily nibbling on her chicken nuggets. “Yes, Olivia."Christian and Josh entered the dining room to find Eunice and Olivia eating their nuggets.
CHAPTER 7Unknown to Josh and Olivia, Christian saw them together. He looked at them and sighed before returning to his room.“Let’s go to the dining room to discuss this”, Josh said as he headed downstairs, Olivia following closely behind.“So, what’s the plan?" Olivia asked impatiently as they sat opposite each other."See..." Josh began. “Christian may seem like he’s unbearable to be around, but he is very cute and he adores his older brother very much. He used to love going to these relaxing events—like taking his brother on picnics, amusement parks, art museums and things he deemed to be fun”.He smiled before continuing, “So, I was thinking if we could get him to do that again, but with Eunice”.Olivia nodded in agreement with the idea. “That sounds like a plan. But Christian is not really friendly, I fear. How do we convince him?”Josh smiled, his face showing some mischief. “Have you forgotten that I’m here? Leave it to me. I’ll get him on board anyhow. Your own responsibility
Chapter 90The mansion felt emptier than ever, even with everyone inside. Olivia sat in the dimly lit living room, staring at the untouched cup of tea Ruth had placed before her hours ago. Christian hadn’t spoken to her since they returned from the failed rescue attempt at the warehouse. Not a single word, not even a glance in her direction. His silence was louder than any accusation could have been.From across the room, Ruth watched Olivia carefully. Her brows knit with concern. Josh entered, his laptop tucked under his arm. “Any updates?” Ruth asked softly.Josh shook his head, his expression grim. “No leads." The trail went cold after the warehouse. "I've got a few people digging into Elise’s connections, but...” He hesitated, glancing toward Christian, who stood by the window, his back to everyone.Olivia couldn’t take it anymore. She pushed herself up from the couch and crossed the room to meet him. “Christian,” she began, her voice small but steady. “We need to talk.”He didn’t
Chapter 89Olivia and Ruth were pacing around in the in the stifling atmosphere. Olivia sat on the edge of the couch, her hands twisting the scarf that had now become a cruel reminder of Eunice’s abduction. Ruth hovered nearby, her calming presence a balm Olivia desperately clung to. Meanwhile, Christian and Josh were locked in a flurry of activity, coordinating with law enforcement and private investigators. Every phone call, every lead, seemed to come up short.Olivia’s chest felt like it was being crushed under the weight of helplessness. Eunice is out there somewhere. Alone. Frightened. The thought nearly undid her. She forced herself to focus on Christian’s promise. He would move mountains to bring Eunice home. He had to.“We’ve got a lead,” Josh announced, though his tone lacked the confidence she had hoped for. “The car was spotted in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city. A team is already on the way.”Olivia bolted to her feet. “I’m coming with you.”Christian’s
Chapter 88There was a long, tense pause before Christian responded, his voice cold and clipped. “I’m on my way. Stay there and don’t let anyone leave until I get there.” Olivia ended the call, her mind racing. Who had taken Eunice, and how had they known enough to impersonate Christian? As fear churned in her chest, she forced herself to stay calm, knowing she needed to keep her head clear.Olivia quickly dialled Josh’s number, her hands trembling. He picked up almost immediately. “Olivia? What’s wrong?” Josh’s normally laid-back tone was laced with alarm. “Eunice... she’s gone,” Olivia said, barely able to keep her voice steady. “The teacher said someone who looked like me picked her up. Christian’s on his way, but I need you and Ruth to check if she somehow made it home.”“What?!” Josh barked, his disbelief evident. In the background, Olivia heard Ruth asking what was happening. “We’re on it,” Josh said firmly. “Stay calm. We’ll call you back as soon as we check the house.” Olivia
Chapter 87The sun rose over the Mason mansion, bathing its grand façade in golden light. Christian stood in the kitchen, dressed in a sharp navy suit, scanning through his emails on his phone while sipping his morning coffee. The distant sound of Eunice’s giggles echoed upstairs, followed by Olivia’s cheerful voice coaxing her to finish her breakfast.The excitement of the day was palpable. It was Parents’ Sports Day at Eunice’s school, and the young girl could barely contain her enthusiasm.“Uncle Christian! Olivia!” Eunice’s voice rang out as she bounded into the kitchen. She wore a bright yellow T-shirt with the school logo and black athletic shorts, her hair tied back in a ponytail that swayed as she moved.Christian smiled, setting down his coffee. “Ready for your big day, champ?”“More than ready!” Eunice grinned, clutching a water bottle and a small towel. “Are you coming with us?”Christian crouched to her level and brushed a stray strand of hair from her face. “I’ll drive yo
Chapter 86It was September already. Two months since Carey’s arrest and the end of their misery. The air was cool and filled with the faint scent of fall, signalling the start of a new chapter. Sunlight poured through the grand windows of the Mason mansion, casting a golden glow across the marble floors as the household stirred awake.Eunice’s excitement was infectious. She bounced down the stairs dressed in a neatly pressed uniform, her hair tied into two perfect braids adorned with small blue ribbons that matched her school colours. Her backpack was almost as big as she was, but the confident grin on her face made it seem like nothing could weigh her down.“Olivia! Uncle Christian! Are you ready yet?” Eunice called out, her voice echoing through the halls.“Someone’s excited,” Christian said, emerging from the kitchen with a cup of coffee in hand, dressed impeccably in his tailored suit. He ruffled Eunice’s hair playfully, earning a giggle.Olivia appeared moments later, balancing
Chapter 85The Mason mansion is suddenly alive with an air of celebration and gratitude, a stark contrast to the tensions that filled its halls for months until the day before. The soft glow of chandeliers reflected off the polished floors as Christian stood in the centre of the living room, his expression relaxed for the first time in what felt like forever.Olivia entered the room carrying a tray of champagne glasses and juice boxes. Her simple dress highlighted her elegance. Eunice trailed behind her, holding a plate of cookies, her face beaming with excitement.“Is everyone here yet?” Olivia asked as she set the tray down on the table.“Almost,” Christian replied, his gaze softening as it landed on her. “Josh just called. He and Ruth are on their way.”“Good,” Olivia said with a smile, glancing down at Eunice. “Go wash your hands before they get here, sweetheart.”Eunice nodded and hurried off, her footsteps echoing faintly in the distance.Minutes later, the doorbell rang, and Ch
Chapter 84Olivia perked up on the bed. “What good news? Is it about the recent happenings?" she asked eagerly.“Yes and no”, Christian said vaguely.“What do you mean by yes and no? Just choose one. Yes or no," she said, glaring at him.Christian sighed. “Josh didn’t say everything. He says he doesn’t want to jinx it, but when he confirms, he will tell me about it in the morning. We just need to wait."Olivia nodded in response, while Christina got on the bed and turned off the lights.The next morning, the first rays of sunlight spilled through the curtains of the master bedroom. Christian stirred, his arm resting protectively over Olivia as he blinked himself awake.Olivia lay beside him, still fast asleep, her features peaceful despite the storm they had faced. He watched her for a moment, marvelling at her resilience, before carefully slipping out of bed. He couldn’t afford to waste time—not with the opportunity they now had to strike back.Downstairs, Christian poured himself a
Chapter 83Time quickly rolled by, and it was already evening. The sun had already set on the other side of the city. Inside the Mason mansion, Olivia had just finished making some spaghetti. She stood by the kitchen window, watching Eunice play with her dolls in the dining room. Her earlier resolve to tell Christian about the phone call lingered in her mind, but the worry had begun to twist in her chest like a persistent ache.The sound of the front door opening broke her thoughts. Christian’s familiar stride echoed through the hall. He appeared in the kitchen doorway moments later, his tie loosened and a tired yet relieved look on his face.“Hey,” he greeted, his voice softening as his gaze landed on her. “Hey,” Olivia replied, brushing a stray curl off her face.Christian’s eyes shifted toward the patio. “She looks happy,” he said, nodding toward Eunice, whose laughter floated through the air.Olivia smiled faintly. “She had a good day. Her scrapbook is coming along. Glitter everyw
Chapter 82The dawn of a new week painted the Massachusetts skyline in hues of gold and rose. Inside the Mason estate, a tranquil scene unfolded. Olivia, with a gentle hum, prepared Eunice’s breakfast. The little girl, her usual sparkle dimmed by the post-graduation blues, was greeted with a plate of whimsical star-shaped pancakes. The sweet aroma of maple syrup filled the air, a comforting reminder of simpler times.Eunice’s eyes lit up, her frown melting away. She took a bite of the fluffy pancake, a smile spreading across her face. Olivia watched her daughter with a fond smile, relieved to see the return of her cheerful spirit. As they sat together, the warmth of the morning sun and the joy of a shared meal filled the room. It was a simple start to a new week, but it was a start filled with love and hope. Of course, threats from Carey and other unknown sources lurk behind the shadows somewhere.Christian entered the kitchen, already dressed in a sharp charcoal suit. He stopped to p