As she reread the mysterious message, Freda stood outside the Harrington mansion, her heart racing. The weight of everything she had learnt was pressing down on her, and the night air was heavy with tension. She hadn't even told Williams she was coming.Who was the sender? And what was the truth they had to tell?She inhaled deeply before pushing open the imposing iron gates.Freda walked into the hauntingly still estate. Above her, the opulent chandeliers flickered, illuminating the marble flooring with lengthy shadows. Cloaked in darkness, a figure stood at the far end of the passageway.Freda's pulse accelerated."Who are you?" Her voice was forceful as she requested.Stepping into the light was the figure. The man was older, with blue eyes that were alert despite the lines of age on his face.His voice was firm as he said, "My name is Richard Langston." "Your father used to trust me the most as an advisor."Freda gasped for air. "My dad? Do you mean Robert Harrington?"Langston ga
Takeover of the Boardroom.The boardroom tension in Harrington was oppressive. With her fingers pushed together, Freda sat at the head of the table and looked at the faces of the executives she was going to remove. She had grown numb from the stress of the previous weeks—the FBI raid, the secrets, the betrayals. The cautious woman who had stumbled into fortune was no longer her. Now that she was a Harrington, she was prepared to behave as such.On the opposite side of the room, Margaret sat and watched, her face unreadable. But Marcel appeared to have swallowed a lemon. He was aware that his power was ebbing away from him.Freda stated calmly but firmly, "Let's get to it." "I'm here to make sure that the Harrington empire takes a new turn."There were a few whispers among the board members, but nobody ventured to openly oppose her.Mr. Calloway, one of the older guys, cleared his throat. "Miss Lewis, how do you plan to accomplish that?"Freda gave a chilly, piercing smile. "By removin
Williams' jaw clenched as he held the phone more tightly. "Who is this?"The line died.Freda's heart pounded as she watched him. "What were they saying?"Williams let out a loud sigh and met her gaze. "They believe they have already won, whoever it was."James moved forward. “We need to move now. If the Harrington heir is walking into the light, it suggests someone’s been planning this for a long time.”Freda gave a nod. “Then we don’t give them the advantage.”But before they could take another step, a knock rang across the room. A staff member cautiously took a look inside.With caution, she said, "Miss Lewis," looking at Williams. "Your folks are present. They want to talk to you.Freda stopped.her parents through adoption.Williams didn't say anything, but his eyes flitted with worry. Rather, he nodded slightly, a quiet reminder that he was with her.Freda took a deep breath and moved on.In the large hall, her adopted parents appeared smaller than she recalledclenched. Her moth
"Do you trust him?"As he and Freda left the darkened study where Daniel had just shared his alleged intelligence, Williams' voice was quiet and tinged with mistrust.With a groan, Freda clutched the folder Daniel had given her. As if the weight of its contents were pressing down on her chest, it felt heavier than paper should."No," she said in a steady voice that was almost audible above a whisper. However, I have faith that he wants to live. And aiding us now is essential to his survival."Williams' jaw tightened as he let out a quick sigh. "I don’t like it.""Neither do I," said Freda. Her free hand brushed the polished oak railing as she came to a stop in the hallway. "But if this is real if Daniel actually gave us something useful… it could be the final piece we need to take Sophia down for good."Williams took a step forward, grounding her with his warmth. "Then let’s make sure it’s real before we bet everything on it."The sharp clack of heels reverberated along the hallway be
The space between them was thick with unspoken words. The weight of betrayal continued to hum in the boardroom, but Freda had had enough of it.She turned to Williams and spoke in a measured, icy tone. "I need the truth if we're going to make this right. Everything.Williams' shoulders tensed as he let out a breath and combed his hair. "I took the action I believed would keep us safe."She gave a headshake. "No. You took the action you believed would keep you safe.He wasn't prepared for how hard the words hit him. However, the boardroom doors flew open before he could react. Strolling in, a man in a sharp gray suit demanded attention.Adrian tensed. Sophia’s smirk faltered.Freda's eyes narrowed. "Who are you in the hell?"The man’s gaze settled on her. “I believe I’m the answer to your problems.”Sophia scoffed. “You’re interrupting a private meeting.”The man barely acknowledged her. He slid a folder onto the table and opened it. Inside were documents—legal contracts, financial rec
Unspoken words weighed heavily on the air between them. Williams was sitting in their private suite, stroking the lip of his whiskey glass with his fingers, across from Freda. The soothing crackle of the fireplace offered little relief from the tension lingering between them. Freda was the first to speak. "Do you regret it?" Her tone was lower than she had intended, but it was hard to overlook the seriousness of the inquiry.Williams raised his head, emotion dark in his blue eyes. "Regret what?""Everything," she said to herself. "Opening your world to me. defending me. losing everything as a result of my actions."With a quick exhale, Williams put his glass down harder than he should have. "You didn't cause me to lose anything, Freda. I took decisions, hazardous and dangerous, but they were mine. And I would do it once more.She looked for a weakness in his resolve on his face. "Even right now? after everything we've experienced."His voice grew softer, but his jaw tightened. "Espec
"Hello, little sister."Freda's throat tightened each breath. The man in the doorway had Jonathan Harrington's piercing eyes, the same commanding demeanor that caused people to back off. He wasn't Jonathan, though. He was a different person. Someone who has recently destroyed everything she believed to be true.She took a deep breath. "Who are you?"The man grinned slowly but assuredly. "Daniel Harrington."Her heart was racing. Daniel. The name was both familiar and alien."You're lying," she murmured in a trembling voice.He laughed. "Am I?"Williams took a defensive stance and moved front of her. "Why are you here?"Daniel glanced at him and then back at Freda. "I have arrived to claim what is justly mine." Our father bequeathed us a heritage. "You're not the only one entitled to it, little sister." Freda clenched her hands into tight fists. "If that's the case, why are you only arriving now?" Daniel's smile faded. "Because Margaret ensured that I also vanished. There were other
With Daniel's remarks still lingering in the air, Freda stood motionless."He was not only complicit in the cover-up of your adoption. It was him who made the suggestion."Every look in the room weighed heavily on her. The cameras continued to record. The murmurs were becoming more intense. Williams gripped the podium more firmly.Williams stated, "We'll address these allegations privately," in a harsh but restrained manner.Daniel grinned slowly and knowingly. "Obviously. But doesn't the truth always surface?"Daniel held out his hands in a faux surrender as security stepped in. "I'm going to go. For the time being." He gave Freda a wink and moved away. "But sister, you’ll want to hear what I have to say next."Then, leaving mayhem in his wake, he turned and left.Later on in the evening, Harrington PenthouseFreda's thoughts were racing as she paced the living room. She had spent years sorting out the lies about her history, but now everything was in jeopardy due to another revelati
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