It was a battleground. Tension was in the air as cameras flashed quickly one after the other and reporters yelled questions. A high-stakes news conference had brought the families of Franklin and Harrington together in an attempt to "clear the air." However, this was actually a war. I sat calmly in the middle of it all, wearing a fitted white dress that made me appear in charge. Alex and Williams were on either side of me. Daniel and Marcel stood opposite us like warring generals. Sophia observed with the patience of a vulture, waiting for the right opportunity, while Margaret Harrington sat off to the side, her face inscrutable. I anticipated what would happen. The question wasn’t *if* they would attack but *how*—and if I was prepared to fight back. One of the journalists in the first row cried out, "Miss Lewis," in a harsh, questioning voice. **"According to recent rumours, your abrupt ascent in rank is a planned attempt to gain entry into the Harrington empire. Do you dispu
Freda sat frozen as the breaking news alert flashed across the screen.DANIEL HARRINGTON FILES PETITION TO CONTEST FRANKLIN-LEWIS CHILD’S CLAIM TO FAMILY LINEAGE.The air in the room thickened with tension. Every fibre of Freda’s being screamed in outrage. She clutched her stomach protectively, her mind racing.Williams paced furiously beside her. "This is war." His voice was low, laced with controlled fury.Grace stood by the door, her expression unreadable. "We need a strategy. Fast."Freda inhaled deeply, grounding herself. "He’s not just coming for me—he’s coming for our child."Williams nodded. "This indicates he’s even more perilous than we expected." Before any other words were exchanged, Grace's phone vibrated. She looked at the screen and let out a sigh. "You should check this out." She handed the tablet to Williams. The live broadcast showed a polished news anchor staring into the camera."Sources close to the Harrington family reveal that Freda Lewis—recently discovered t
Freda turned to face Sophia, her breath erratic. With every elaborate feature serving as a reminder of Sophia's authority, the lavish chamber in the Harrington mansion felt oppressive.Emma shifted next to her, her face etched with shame. She said, "I didn't know it was a setup."Freda's hands clinched. "What do you want, Sophia?"Sophia grinned more broadly. "A deal."Freda's eyes narrowed. "I don’t make deals with snakes."Sophia let out a slow, deliberate laugh. "You might want to think about it again. Because everything in your universe is going to fall apart after tonight."She pointed to the enormous wall-mounted television. A news conference was happening in real-time as the screen sprang to light.Cameras flashed around a woman who was standing on a platform. Blonde, elegant, and dressed in high-end textiles. In her arms was a child, a lad with black hair and sharp blue eyes.The woman said, "My name is Veronica Steele," in a silky voice. "And this is William Franklin’s son."
Freda sat with her hands on her tummy in the dark office. She felt as though the weight of Daniel's offer was suffocating her."Relinquish your claim, walk away from Williams, and your child will be safe."She had anticipated a dirty fight from Daniel, but this? She wasn't entirely ready for this degree of brutality.Marcel leaned back in his chair across from her, his face impassive as he watched her. "You knew it would come to this, didn’t you?"Freda's chin went up. "I was aware of Daniel's peril. However, I didn't anticipate him going this far.Marcel gave a shrug. "He's in a desperate situation. Desperate males also don't play fairly.Freda felt her heart race. She had been struggling to escape the mess the Harringtons had forced her into for weeks. She had to make a decision now.Her future.Williams.Her kid."Are you actually considering his deal?" Marcel looked at her intently and inquired.Freda felt a knot in her stomach. She was acting as though she was thinking about it.
Freda entered the Franklin estate with a flurry of emotions racing through her head, her heart hammering against her ribs. She stood on the brink of something even bigger—war—after risking everything to find the truth.Before she could even finish thinking, she sensed his presence.Williams stood by the window, his back to her and his silhouette clearly defined against the city lights. She felt the strain in his posture, but when he faced her, his turbulent blue eyes met hers, making her breath catch. "Where in the world have you been?" His voice was coarse and low, blending relief with anger. Freda remained silent. She was unable to.Rather, she took three swift steps to get closer to him before flinging herself into his arms.Williams grabbed her right away, holding on to her tightly as if he was worried she would vanish again.Whispering, "Freda," he pressed his warm breath to her temple. "You’re safe."Her eyes blazed with tears. "For now."She raised her chin as his fingertips
With her fingers clasped so firmly around the tablet that her knuckles turned white, Freda stood in the middle of her penthouse, staring at it.Everywhere you looked, you could see the news.Harrington Fraud or Heiress? Unbelievable DNA Findings Will Upend the Dynasty.Every media outlet reported on the scandal. All the politicians, businesspeople, and socialites had something to say.Conjecture. Charges. falsehoods.Freda took a deep breath.Williams was standing across from her, looking at his phone with a gloomy face and a clenched jaw."They’re trying to destroy you." He spoke quietly but with a controlled rage.Freda breathed out slowly. Daniel wants to replace me, while Margaret wants to delete me. They're collaborating, Williams. My claim to the Harrington empire is no longer the only issue here. Power—absolute power—is at issue here.He glanced in her direction. "Then we fight."Freda's mouth pushed shut. "How? If I'm not a Harrington by blood, according to the DNA test…""It
The moment weighed heavily on Freda's chest as she entered the Harrington estate. With its massive marble floors and tall chandeliers, the big hall was as frigid as the guests gathered around the long table.Margaret Harrington sat at the head, her face impassive, her hands neatly folded on the gleaming wood. Daniel was lounging in his chair to her right, grinning smugly. Marcel watched with thinly veiled enjoyment from the window, arms folded. The other members of the Harrington board sat rigidly, staring at the matriarch and Freda.With a loud thud, Freda set a heavy folder on the table.She whispered, "Enough lies," breaking the tense silence. "Enough scheming. This is coming to an end today.”Margaret raised her eyebrow, seeming to be amused. "Brave words, my love. However, I don't think we requested a family meeting."You didn’t," rejoined Freda. "But you don’t get to decide anymore."Daniel laughed. "Still pretending to be a Harrington, are we?"Freda paid him no attention. A de
Except for the steady ticking of the old clock on the wall, the room was quiet. Freda flipped over the pages of the private documents that Williams had handed her the previous evening while seated rigidly on the leather couch in his study. Her adoptive father was linked to Daniel's network by every word, signature, and financial transaction that was presented to her.Williams folded his arms and leaned on his desk, intently observing her response. He was unsure of how she would react to this heartbreaking realization.At last, Freda said in a hollow voice, "So." "My dad wasn't merely a pawn. He knew about it.”Williams nodded and let out a breath. “That’s how it looks.”Freda's hands shook and her jaw tightened as she stared at the papers. I had assumed all along that he was only a man in need of financial support. However, he deceived me. He voluntarily assisted the Harringtons in erasing me.Williams crouched in front of her as he approached. "Freda... I understand that this hurts,
The assurance of a new beginning and the remnants of history were highlighted in a soft golden glow as dawn broke over the vast estate. Freda situated herself at the brink of the balcony, looking out towards the horizon. Her mind was anchored by the constant noise of the waves hitting the jagged shore beneath. Weeks had gone by since the truth was uncovered to everyone. Despite being held responsible for her family's wrongdoings for several weeks, she continued to feel the weight of their decisions bearing down on her. Nevertheless, the atmosphere has shifted now. An alteration. A breath of optimism. The hush was interrupted by the gentle noise of footsteps trailing her. Williams stood there, both reassuring and authoritative. She was pulled back against his chest as his arms wrapped around her waist. He stated, "You're overthinking it." Smiling, she nestled into his embrace. "I can't prevent it." I constantly have thoughts. Nonetheless, you are right. I've been attempting to fix
The Harrington Estate was burning.From the war room’s shattered windows, Freda could see the inferno crawling across the eastern wing, smoke billowing like a signal to every rival who had ever watched the empire. Firefighters battled the blaze, but they were late—deliberately delayed, most likely by Selene and the faction loyal to Cassian’s legacy.Freda turned from the window, her face streaked with soot and determination.“The vault is waking up,” Grace said from the console. “Whatever Cassian programmed into Protocol Eclipse—it’s already executing.”“What happens if it finishes?” Elias asked, standing beside his sister.Grace’s voice was grim. “Everything Harrington collapses. The companies, the foundations, the inheritance. Our accounts, trusts, holdings—burned to digital ash. You won’t inherit a legacy. You’ll inherit ruin.”Williams reached for Freda’s hand. “There’s still time. If we access the core before the final phase, we can override it—but only if both of you enter the b
The room fell into absolute silence.Freda stood, stunned, unable to form words. Her gaze locked with the stranger at her door—no, not a stranger. Not anymore. His face wasn’t just familiar—it was known. Like a dream half-remembered, engraved deep into the soul.“I—” she started, but her throat tightened.The young man stepped into the room. His movements were careful, calculated, as though afraid the moment would shatter if he moved too quickly. He looked about her age—tall, lean, a quiet intensity behind gray eyes that mirrored Jonathan Harrington’s.“I’m sorry to just... show up like this,” he said quietly. “But my name is Elias Jonathan Harrington. And I think I’m your twin brother.”The name hit her like a hurricane. Elias Jonathan. Named after both their father and grandfather—an ironic twist if it weren’t so heartbreakingly true.“How did you find me?” Freda finally managed.He reached into his coat and pulled out a weathered letter. “This arrived for me on my twenty-third birt
The cold air in the Harrington vault bit at Freda’s skin, but she didn’t flinch. Her pulse thudded in her ears as Elias Harrington’s voice echoed through the speaker embedded in the granite walls.“You found the truth,” Elias said, his tone unreadable. “And now you’ll bleed for it.”Williams placed himself in front of Freda instinctively. “You’ve already taken enough. Let her go.”Alex stepped forward, fire in his voice. “You locked away a legacy—buried it underlies. But this ends here.”A soft buzz interrupted them—the massive vault doors groaned and clicked. They weren’t locked in anymore.Freda’s heart jumped. Was this a trap?The doors creaked open slowly, revealing a dim corridor beyond. At the far end, silhouetted in the light stood Elias Harrington—elegant, tall, cloaked in his signature charcoal suit. He looked like a shadow carved out of legacy and guilt.“You’re brave to come,” Elias said, voice reverberating with age and steel. “But bravery alone doesn’t make you worthy.”F
Freda’s breath caught in her throat as the control room plunged into darkness. The hum of machines died. The only sound was the frantic thump of her heartbeat—and the voice."We’ve only just begun."She reached for Williams instinctively, fingers finding his. His grip tightened, anchoring her. On her other side, Grace clicked a flashlight on, casting a beam through the stale air. Dust particles swirled like ghosts. The control panels flickered—faint static pulses, nothing operational.“What the hell was that?” Grace muttered, scanning the corners of the room. “This wasn’t part of Cassian’s theatrics.”Freda’s spine stiffened. “That voice... it wasn’t him. It was different. Younger. Calculated.”“System override,” a mechanical voice droned from a nearby panel. “Engaged. Level Four lockdown initiated. Harrington protocols activated.”Doors slammed shut around them.Williams cursed. “He’s locked us in.”“No.” Grace crouched by the panel, fingers flying across an auxiliary screen. “This i
The silence in the safe room was too loud. Freda's ears rang with the noise of her heart pounding in her ribcage. The voice had only just stopped, and she remained still, staring at the one who spoke. The words appeared to have gained a life of their own, resonating in her mind. "We've located her."Williams shifted to stand next to her, his stance rigid. "Who is it? "The prototype?" There was an intensity in his voice.With her stomach in knots, Freda nodded slowly. Although she had anticipated this day, the burden of it was nearly too much for her to handle. Her sister, the one born before her, the one designed to be the ideal representation of the Harrington legacy, was here now after her entire life had been a lie. She was coming for what Freda had put so much effort into creating.However, Freda couldn't simply stand by and watch everything happen. Not when she had all she had to fight for at her fingertips. With Williams at her side, no.Grace's clear, concentrated voice cut t
The voice from the other side of the line echoed in Freda's ear, causing her heart to race. The voice was calm and steady as it declared, "I was the initial prototype." "Yes, Freda, I do recall you." She remained perfectly still, the vial tightly gripped in her hand, as the surroundings seemed to fade away. Williams, who had just entered with a serious resolve, observed her complexion fade. "Who was that?" he demanded in a quiet voice.Freda didn't take her eyes from her phone's screen. The words were clear even if the voice was twisted, almost artificial. "Remember me? What do you mean?"Without hesitation, the voice on the other end responded. "I recall every detail. Freda, you and I are not that different. We have the same foundation, the same blood, and, regrettably, the same curse."Freda's fingers dug into the smooth phone as her hold tightened. "What are you discussing? Who are you?"The speaker went on, "I was born first, but you're the heir." The first test was me. The lea
The scream echoed down the marble corridors of the Harrington estate.By the time Freda, Williams, and Alex arrived, security had sealed the hallway. Selene’s door was flung open. Her bodyguard was unconscious. And inside—Selene stood frozen, pale and trembling, her silk robe stained with blood.But it wasn’t hers.A man lay sprawled at her feet, a bullet lodged in his chest, the syringe he’d brought rolling under the dresser.Alex knelt beside him. “Dead,” he confirmed. “A clean shot. Straight through the heart.”“Who fired?” Williams demanded, scanning the room.“I did.” Selene’s voice was hollow. “He was already halfway across the room before I woke. If I’d been a second slower…”She didn’t finish.Freda stepped forward, gripping Selene’s trembling shoulders. “Who was he?”Selene stared at the body. “His name was Darien. He trained with me under Cassian’s program years ago. We were children then. I thought he was dead.”Freda turned to Williams. “That means Cassian’s activated mor
For a moment, Freda couldn’t breathe.Jonathan Harrington—her father, the man she believed had died before she was old enough to remember—stood in the corridor, alive and real. His once-proud frame had thinned, his eyes bloodshot with years of torment, but the commanding presence remained.“Dad…” she whispered.Jonathan didn’t smile. He didn’t reach for her. Instead, he looked over her shoulder, where Williams, Alex, and Grace hovered just behind.“We can’t talk here,” Jonathan said, his voice low, urgent. “There are eyes everywhere.”Freda’s heart pounded, caught between disbelief and instinctive trust. She stepped forward.“Where have you been? Why—why now? And what do you mean Cassian’s not dead?”Jonathan’s gaze hardened.“Because he never died in that fire. It was staged.”Freda sat across from her father in a cold, concrete-walled room beneath one of the original Harrington estates—a place so off-grid it didn’t exist in any legal registry.Williams stood guard at the door, while