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 clean, frigid air in the mortuary was oppressive. Freda remained motionless, her fists clenched, gazing at Emma's white sheeted, lifeless body. She felt the pressure of the moment, anger and loss mingling.For years, Emma had been a pain in her side because she was envious, spiteful, and easily swayed. Ultimately, though, she had attempted to atone by placing herself in the line of an assassin's bullet intended for Freda. And she is gone now.Williams was standing next to her, a solid, comforting presence. His palm gently touched hers, grounding her, but he said nothing.James Whitmore came in with an extremely serious expression. He held an envelope out, sealed. The location of this was Emma's flat. She left it for you.Freda took it after hesitating. She tore it open with shaking fingers. Inside was a hurriedly scrawled letter with spots of dirty ink.I'm probably dead, Freda, if you're reading this. I need you to know the truth, even though I don't deserve your forgiveness. It
The courtroom was full. With their cameras flashing, reporters lined the back, documenting every anxious moment. Officially, the fight for the Harrington legacy had started.Freda sat next to Eleanor Carter, her well-known lawyer who had a reputation for winning cases that seemed impossible. Williams sat opposite her, his presence a quiet but effective support system. Daniel and Margaret sat across the room with their own legal team, their faces unreadable.The room fell silent when the judge walked in."We're in session now," the bailiff declared.As the judge looked over the opening paperwork, Freda's heart was racing.For the first time, the judge addressed her formally, saying, "Miss Harrington." You assert that Margaret Harrington illegally withheld your inheritance and that you are the legitimate owner of the late Jonathan Harrington's estate. Is that right?Freda got up and spoke steadily. "Yes, Your Honor."Richard Vaughn, Margaret's seasoned attorney, grinned. As he mocked he
Freda sat with her fingers tapping frantically on the desk in the dimly lighted Franklin estate office. With rumours of treachery, dangers around every turn, and a power struggle that was becoming more and more savage every day, the outer world was in disarray. Williams was thinking deeply as he stood by the window, his keen eyes sweeping the metropolitan skyline.After a tense moment, Williams finally replied, "I don't trust him."Freda let out a sigh. "I don't either. However, we must ascertain his true objectives.The door opened before Williams could reply, and Marcel Franklin walked in as if he owned the place. He was wearing his trademark smirk, which was equally full of confidence and conceit.Marcel slipped into the chair across from Freda and drewled, "Ah, lovebirds." "You seem to have received my message."Williams' arms were folded. "You requested to meet. Hurry up.Marcel laughed, totally unconcerned. "Directly to work? Alright. The bargain is that I can assist you in
Freda stirred in an unfamiliar room featuring a lofty ceiling and the soft glow of candlelight. She remained alive even with the persistent pain in her side that recalled the memories of the warehouse ambush. She glanced over and noticed Williams dozing in a chair beside the bed, his hand still holding hers, with the scent of antiseptic hanging in the air. He seemed exhausted, worry marked on his face even as he slumbered. His eyes instantly opened when she tightened his fingers. "Freda," he exhaled, his face flushed with relief.She forced a feeble smile. "We succeeded."Williams kissed her knuckles and nodded. We arrived at Alex's safehouse. The doctor sewed you up, but you lost a lot of blood. You really frightened me. She pushed past the discomfort and let out a deep exhale. "Where is Alex?"Williams felt a shadow move across his face. He went to handle Daniel's apprehension. On suspicion of fraud, the police arrested him.Freda blinked. "Hold on... Is Daniel in detention?Will
Freda's thoughts were slow, her body inert, and she floated between light and dark. She fought to bring herself back to reality, the stinging sting in her side burning. Her nose was flooded with the smell of iron—blood. Her blood.A voice.Muffled and distant."She's still alive?"Grace was the one.Freda opened her eyes, her heart racing in her ears. Overhead, the dim light of a chandelier shimmered. By the door, she noticed the blurred silhouette of Grace walking back and forth with a phone pressed to her ear. "I did my share." However, we're having trouble. Someone’s coming.”A pause. Then a curse.Freda felt pain in her stomach as she tried to shift. Fear gripped her heart as she clenched her teeth. Grace turned, her expression twisting in frustration as she knelt beside Freda. "When you had the opportunity, you really ought to have left."Freda clenched her jaw and smiled slyly. That's what's the matter with me. I don't go. Grace's eyes glinted with a mix of emotions—frustrati
Freda's POV."Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"With my heart pounding loudly in my ears, I gripped the Bible tighter. The courtroom waited in silence."I do," I firmly stated.The magistrate gave a nod. "You may proceed."Margaret Harrington sat with her lawyers across from me, her face unreadable and icy. Marcel was at her side, his grin scarcely concealed.I inhaled deeply. "The evidence in front of you, Your Honor, demonstrates that Margaret Harrington falsified documents in order to conceal my identity. She made sure I had no claim to the Harrington riches by arranging for my adoption."Margaret's voice was harsh but seductive as she leaned forward. "Ms. Lewis, or should I say, Miss Harrington, do you have proof of these wild accusations?"A muscle in my jaw tensed. My lawyer gave me a folder as I turned to face him. I raised it. "These are signed affidavits from the doctor who falsified my birth records and the lawyer who processed the
Margaret's comments were still reverberating in my mind."You’re not a Harrington by blood."I lost my breath as their weight smashed my chest. The audience remained quiet as they awaited my response. Williams’ grasp on my hand intensified, but I felt like I was floating…disconnected from reality.Charlotte stepped forward and spoke in a steady yet tremulous voice. "That is untrue."Margaret chuckled quietly. "Is it? Charlotte, you were always sentimental. However, facts are indifferent to feelings.”Charlotte didn't flinch. Instead, she extracted a sealed packet from her purse. “I expected this from you, Margaret. That's why I was ready.”Margaret paused her grin.Charlotte looked at me, her eyes beseeching. "Listen to me, Freda. A Harrington is what you are. And I can demonstrate it.”My heart was racing. "How?"She gave the envelope to me. "The DNA result that verifies you are my daughter is inside. By blood, a Harrington.”I opened it hesitantly, my hands shaking. I looked over th
Today there was a change in the air in the magnificent Harrington estate. An anxious expectation had taken the place of the tension that had once choked its corridors. Members of the Harrington and Franklin families, as well as important allies, came together in one room for the first time in years, not as adversaries but in the hopes of healing old wounds.Freda was standing next to Williams, holding his hand and reassuring him quietly. Her biological father, Jonathan Harrington, was seated on the other side of the room with an expression that was hard to interpret. The powerful matriarch Margaret Harrington occupied the head of the table, her eyes revealing an uncommon instance of vulnerability despite her steadfast royal bearing. Alex Harrington, Freda's secret supporter, remained composed on one side, his presence an unspoken promise of assistance. Between them all hung the burden of history.It was Margaret who spoke first. "We've let this family be divided for too long." She sp
Freda, holding Williams' arm, whispered, "She knew we’d come," as they observed Margaret Harrington from the other side of the exclusive club.Williams remained motionless, his body tense but his face unreadable. She desires for us to see her. to be aware that she continues to play this game."Margaret whispered something to the man she was talking to, and he nodded. Then she rose gracefully and vanished through a side door without looking back at them.Freda's heartbeat accelerated. "We need to follow her."Williams put a firm hand on her lower back and let out a sharp exhale. "Yes, we will. But not carelessly.The man who had been watching from the bar, James Whitmore, came over to them. "My men are already pursuing her. We'll be aware of her destination before she even moves in."Freda forced herself to take a deep breath and nodded. She had been reacting for too long. It was time to make a calculated move."Then let’s figure out our next step," she replied.An hour later, Williams
"I didn’t come here to negotiate."As he moved forward, Alex's voice broke the ice. His piercing gaze fell on Victor Langston.He went on, "I came to end this," and placed a thick envelope on the table.Freda crossed her arms. "And what exactly is that?"Alex looked at her knowingly. "Everything's missing pieces. He looked at Margaret and said, "—proof that Victor here has been funnelling company money to dismantle the Harrington empire from within—the last of the offshore accounts, the secret investors pulling the strings, and—"There was silence in the room.Victor's expression grew gloomy. "You don’t know what you’re talking about."Williams bent over. "Oh, I think he does."Picking up the envelope, Elijah looked through the papers. He had a sardonic grin. "This is sufficient to start criminal investigations and compel resignations. You're finished, Victor."Victor balled his fists. His once-unflinching haughtiness wavered with doubt. He looked at Margaret. "This is your doing, isn
Freda stood with her fingers clenched into her hand at the edge of the Harrington estate's grand hall. She felt the weight of history, the ghosts of the past whispering inside the elaborate walls. Regardless of the outcome, the fight for supremacy ended tonight. Williams' face was unintelligible as he tinkled with his cufflinks across the room. He had supported her through the chaos, but now they were walking into a fire neither of them could fully predict. Margaret sat at the long table, her bearing dignified despite a storm raging beneath her placid face. Her instincts for survival were sharper than ever, and she was a trapped woman. She went pale when she saw the proof Elijah had provided, but she quickly recovered her composure. Margaret said, "You expect me to betray the Council," in a smooth but tense voice.Freda looked directly into her eyes. "You have no other option. They will first destroy you if you don't."Margaret's mouth twisted. "And what makes you think I won’t jus
Freda stared at the small drive in Williams’ hand. The weight of James’ words settled heavily between them.The Harrington Council. A hidden force controlling everything from the shadows.Williams exhaled sharply, slipping the drive into his pocket. “If what James says is true, we’re fighting something much bigger than Margaret.”Alex crossed his arms. “Then we need to be smart. They’ve controlled things for decades. If we make one wrong move, they’ll wipe us out before we know what hit us.”Freda nodded. “We can’t let fear stop us. If they’ve been manipulating the Harrington empire all along, we need to dismantle them—completely.”Williams glanced at James. “And you? What’s your next move?”James hesitated. “I can’t stay.” He looked at Freda. “They’ll come for me first. If I disappear, they’ll assume I’m dead. That’ll buy you time.”Williams clenched his jaw. “You’re running.”James didn’t deny it. “I’ve done enough damage. This is the only way I can fix it.” He turned to Freda. “Use
"What we need is here."Alex's remarks made Freda gasp for air. Her fingers were shaking a little as she held the flash drive he had put in her palm. This tiny gadget could totally ruin Margaret's schemes.Williams's eyes were keen as he leaned closer. "Are you certain this is all there is to it?"Alex gave a nod. "Jonathan's ledger. Every transaction. Every secret deal. It confirms everything we suspected—and more.”Freda took a swallow. “So, what do we do now?”Williams exchanged a look with Alex before turning to her. “We expose her.”Freda felt sick to her stomach. Exposing Margaret meant more than just stopping her schemes—it meant bringing down the last remnant of the Harrington power structure.They met in a private suite at one of Williams’ properties—neutral ground. Margaret sat across from them, her expression unreadable, a glint of amusement in her eyes.“You’ve been busy,” she murmured, sipping her tea. “But tell me, Freda, what exactly do you think you’ve won?”Freda sli
Beyond the glass walls of Freda and Williams' new office, the metropolitan skyline glittered in the night air, which was thick with the smell of rain. Every square inch of it was theirs. A tribute to their perseverance and fortitude. Their future.But the claws of the past were still there.Freda flipped through legal documents as seated behind a gorgeous wooden desk. She no longer identified with the Harrington name, but it was more difficult than she had thought to rid it of its perversion. With his hands in his pockets and his piercing eyes focused on the city below, Williams stood by the window.He whispered to her, "They won't let us walk away that easily."Freda let out a breath. "I understand. However, we don't require their consent."Williams grinned. "I adore that about you."The intercom buzzed before Freda could answer. Grace's voice came through with a crack."Someone has come to visit you. He claims that it is urgent.Freda scowled. "Who is it?"A pause occurred. Then "Al
Like an indestructible storm cloud, the weight of Jonathan's remarks continued to hang in the atmosphere. Williams silently let Freda know she wasn't alone by tightening his hold around her waist. But the truth was oppressive—a new, dark force threatened their tranquility just when they believed they were free.Freda straightened her shoulders and looked directly into Jonathan's eyes. "Then tell me all about it. Who are they?"Jonathan's fingers clenched into fists as he paused. The Harringtons are what they are now because of them. Strong, invincible, and merciless. They erased me as I attempted to leave. But you—" his eyes darkened, his voice wavered. "There was no reason for you to exist. They view you as a threat now that you have taken control of the empire, even though your mother concealed you to keep you safe."Williams gave a chilly laugh. They do, of course. And I take it that these are the ones that supported Sophia?Jonathan gave a nod. "Like the rest of us, she was a pawn
As they crouched there in the darkened hiding place, Freda gripped Williams' hand tighter. They had a plan. Everything would change in the next 24 hours, including Sophia's demise, her father's fate, and their own future. But fear tore at her from the inside out. Williams had always been shrewd and prepared to risk everything for the people he cared about. The stakes were different this time, though. This was a personal matter, not merely a matter of business or retaliation. With her words hardly audible above a whisper, Freda acknowledged, "I still don't like this." Williams faced her, his eyes fixed on hers. "I understand. However, it's the only option. "He was right, and she detested it. While Sophia held Jonathan Harrington, James and Alex stood by the monitors, studying the facility's security layout. Alex stated, "She'll be anticipating backup." "We have to make sure she thinks you're alone when you walk in." James nodded. "We have an insider connection. Someone w