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
"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, 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
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
The Harrington estate's enormous ballroom glistened with golden light, the chandeliers bathing the tastefully attired guests in a cosy warmth. For the time being, at least, the family's long-standing tension had finally subsided. It was a celebration tonight.Freda waited at the door, watching the scene unfold. Still, everything seemed unreal. They had almost been destroyed in the conflict with Marcel and Sophia, but they had won. Freda had finally accepted her role in the Harrington family's history, while Williams had strengthened his control over Franklin Enterprises.They could finally breathe now that they were surrounded by important individuals.Williams showed up beside her and extended his arm. The words "you look stunning," he whispered.Freda grinned as she sensed the warmth in his eyes. "And you clean up well yourself, Mr. Franklin."He grinned. "Shall we?"A gentle tune came from the string quartet in the corner as they moved ahead. There was a lot of laughter as waiters
As Freda perched by the expansive bay window in their penthouse in Manhattan, she noticed the shimmering lights of the distant city. A soft jazz tune played in the background, harmonizing with the sporadic sound of Williams typing at his desk. The burden of past occurrences still pressed down on her, but tonight, for the first time in ages, she felt a peacefulness that was nearly total. "Lost in thought?" Despite the silence, Williams' voice could be heard.As she spun around, she noticed him propped up in the doorway, his expression kind but inquisitive. He wore a simple white dress shirt with his sleeves rolled up, and he seemed to be less like the distant millionaire everyone knew and more like the man she had recently fallen for. She confessed that she was "simply reflecting on everything." He crossed the room and settled down on the couch beside her. "And by everything, you mean Nathaniel?"She let out a sigh. I am Nathaniel. To Margaret. In all of this, where do I stand?
Freda was absorbed in the lights below as she leaned against the sleek glass balcony railing. The city spread out in front of her, brilliant and teeming with opportunities. But a heaviness settled in her chest as she watched the world fly by.Williams poured two glasses of whisky behind her. He had been silent, the contemplative quietness that reflected her own taking the place of his normal passion."You’re thinking about Nathaniel, aren’t you?" Freda didn't look back as she requested."Not just him." Williams offered her a glass after sipping from his. "I'm weighing everything we've built—and the sacrifices we've endured to arrive at this moment." Freda took a slow long sip of the drink, enjoying the warmth as it went down her throat. She whispered, "The price of power," and placed the glass on the brink. Williams moved to stand next to her, staring at the skyline. "Power isn't the only factor. It's what we had to give up to obtain it.With Nathaniel's homecoming and the Harringt
Despite the fact that her heartbeat was pounding in her ears, Freda continued to stare at Nathaniel across the conference table. As his offer remained in the air, it was replete with threats that were not expressed.By aligning herself with him, she would be able to keep her dreams alive. If you refused, he would make sure that everything that she and Williams had constructed fell apart before it even had a chance to maintain its stability.On the other hand, there was one thing that Nathaniel did not comprehend.The moment had arrived for Freda Lewis, or more precisely, Freda Harrington, to yield to the desires of those in power. She advanced carefully and intentionally, her eyes locked on Nathaniel's. "I believe you've committed one significant error, Nathaniel." He gave a smirk. "And what’s that?""You assume I’m afraid of losing everything."Just a little bit, Nathaniel's smirk began to waver away.With a tone that was both serene and harsh, Freda stood. For everything that I ha
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