Andrew looked at the blonde woman in a vibrant yellow bikini, who had called out to him.With a teasing smile, the woman leaned toward him.“You only visit once a month now. Are our services not up to your standards?” she complained coyly.A lascivious glint sparkled in Andrew’s eyes, and he leaned in slightly, his arm sliding around the blonde’s waist. “How could that be? No one in the city can compare to your services.”The woman let out a laugh and leaned further, such that her br***s were now touching his arm.“Then why haven’t you visited lately?” she asked while drawing circles on his bare chest.Andrew’s smile shifted into a smug grin.He straightened slightly, his chest puffing out slightly. “I’m going to be the vice president soon,” he said arrogantly as if he’d already claimed the title. “Of course, I have to focus more on work.”The blonde’s eyes widened, and soon the others chimed in.“Woah!” the crowd exclaimed.“Congratulations, Mr. Elliot!”“I can’t believe we’re so luc
Like a thunderbolt, Elena stepped forward.“Andrew,” she said, her voice almost drowned by the noise in the room. “How could you do this to me?”Andrew’s throat lodged.He tried to stop her, but his entire body seemed to have frozen in its place.“I-It’s not what you think. I’m just… I got caught up. It was a mistake. All of this, it was—”“A mistake?” Elena’s voice cracked like a fragile glass. “How is this a mistake, Andrew? It’s a choice. One that you’ve been making repeatedly.”“I trusted you,” Elena continued, the hurt in her voice turning into anger. “I gave you everything. I stood by your side and supported you when you wanted to climb higher. And you repay me by humiliating me like this?”Sensing a shift in the story, the reporters turned their attention to Elena.The cameras clicked furiously, trying to capture this turn of events.“Mrs. Elliot, how do you feel about discovering your husband’s affair in such a public manner?” one of them shouted, their microphone aimed at Ele
‘You should be an actress.’The text message read.The corner of Elena’s mouth twitched as she glanced at the message.She did not reply and shoved the phone into her bag.“Thanks for today. I owe you a big one.” She finally turned to meet Julia’s gaze, who had climbed in beside her.Julia waved a dismissive hand.“No need for the formalities. Just stop treating yourself like a stunt double next time.” She gestured toward the bandage.Elena chuckled softly but did not answer.The road stretched out before her, but Elena remained unmoving.The battle was far from over, but the first strike had landed, and it had landed hard.———The phone on the counter buzzed, cutting through the eerie silence.But no one reached for it.The screen on the phone lit up again, each notification a reminder of the nightmare that had taken place in their lives.‘Elliot family heir Andrew Elliot accused of abuse and infidelity.’‘Rich second-generation heir involved in prostitution.’The headline flashed ac
Elena’s breath hitched, and her heart pounded in her chest.She had barely made it outside, and trouble had already found her.Her gaze flickered around, hoping to see an escape, but the entire street was lined with guards.Every instinct screamed for Elena to turn around and run.But she couldn’t.Lucas wasn’t in town.She was alone.Hence, she couldn’t be rash.Swallowing hard, Elena exhaled, steeling herself for what was to come.She nodded to the guard, and the car door opened.Elena didn’t look at the driver.She didn’t need to.She knew where they were going.And the thought made her stomach twist.It wasn’t until the car slowed that she looked out the window and saw the familiar silhouette of the building that had once been her life.As she walked, the servants whispered among themselves, as if she were a traitor.Elena stepped into the study and sensed the tension in the air.Her eyes flicked from one figure to the next in one uneasy glance.Behind the large mahogany desk, Ric
The sudden intensity in his words took Thomas aback.“… Well, after all, it’s a misunderstanding. If she drops the lawsuit, everything will calm down. We’ll be able to move forward.”Lucas’ expression hardened as he slowly recounted.“If I remember correctly, it was Andrew who had an affair and was charged with domestic abuse. He was also caught running an illegal business. I don’t understand—why do you want Elena to apologize?”“That’s not true. The police conducted a thorough investigation. Andrew does not have a share in that business. He only went there in a moment of… folly. As for the domestic charges, it’s just a tiff between the couple.” Thomas explained.“A tiff? Really? Domestic abuse is just a ‘tiff’ in your eyes, Grandpa?” Lucas’ voice was laced with scorn as he looked at him in disbelief.“You’re just trying to put all the blame on someone else, aren’t you? Clear Andrew’s name, make Elena the scapegoat—whatever it takes to protect your precious family name.”He shook his
The room froze.“What did you just say?” Andrew’s head snapped toward her. “How dare you—”Lucas’s lips curved into a faint smile as he nodded. “Sure,”In one smooth, deliberate motion, he pulled Elena to his side.He didn’t even glance at Andrew as he addressed Thomas.“Grandfather,” Lucas said in a calm but unwavering tone, “You won’t mind if I take her away, right?”Thomas exhaled heavily, leaning back in his chair as if the weight of the family’s chaos had finally worn him down.He had always believed in control, in maintaining order and appearances.But now, faced with the undeniable determination in Lucas’s eyes, he relented.With a tired wave of his hand, he muttered, “Do as you see fit.”As Lucas and Elena disappeared through the doorway, Andrew’s face contorted in fury.“You think you can just take her?” he snarled, as he started toward the door.But before he could go any further, Samantha grabbed his arm and held him back.“Don’t,” she whispered, her voice filled with a quie
“I’m already past my retirement age and want to live the rest of my life in peace. Hence, as a token of my love for the future generations of the Elliot family, I have decided to gift 10% of the company’s shares to the first great-grandchild born into our family.”The promise of ten percent stunned everyone in the room.As Thomas laid out the offer, Samantha’s lips parted in shock, while Andrew became excited.Even Richard looked intrigued.Only Lucas’ handsome face darkened as he pieced together the situation.So that was it.All this time, he’d thought she was standing up for herself, for some shred of dignity. But it was only about the money.Andrew’s attitude immediately took a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree turn.He leaned over, his voice oozing with sweetness as he held Elena’s hand. “I know we’ve had some misunderstandings lately, but I promise I’ll do better, Elena. Let’s make this work.”Elena glanced at him.There was no warmth in her response as she nodded lightly.Samantha
Elena rushed into her room.She slammed the door shut with force and pressed her back against it.Her breath came ragged as she slid to the floor, pulling her knees to her chest.Burying her face in them, her shoulders trembled as the tears flew freely.She hated this.Hated how their words cut her, how her silence felt like surrender.But more than that, she hated herself for letting them see her crack.The sobs came harder, each one tearing from her throat.The room was silent, but inside her head, it was chaos, with no relief in sight.———The crackle of the bonfire sent sparks spiraling into the cool evening air.Laughter and the hum of casual conversation filled the atmosphere, but Elena felt anything but at ease.The heat of the fire was no match for the cold knot twisting in her stomach.She had tried to convince Andrew to skip the event, but he had insisted on coming.And now they were here, seated awkwardly among strangers.Elena’s eyes scanned the area nervously, hoping that
Four years later.The snow-covered peaks stretched endlessly, a breathtaking expanse of white under the pale winter sun.“Again!”Ethan laughed, his bright eyes gleaming with excitement.He was bundled in a white ski suit, his tiny gloved hands gripping the ski poles.Lucas crouched beside him, adjusting the boy’s stance with practiced ease.“Feet apart, shoulders steady,” he instructed, his deep voice laced with patience. “And don’t lean too far forward, or you’ll—”Before he could finish, Ethan pushed off, wobbling slightly as he slid down the gentle slope.“—fall,” Lucas muttered, shaking his head as Ethan toppled over into the soft snow.A giggle rang through the air as Ethan flopped onto his back, arms spread wide.As Ethan grew older, his features bore a striking resemblance to Lucas, except for his gorgeous dark blue
Isabella’s lips trembled. “I—I thought—”“You thought?” Helen’s voice cracked, a bitter laugh escaping her. “No, Isabella. You chose. You chose Mike. You chose yourself. And you threw Lucas away again.”Helen’s chest rose and fell with the force of her emotions.Looking at Isabella, she felt nothing but bitter disappointment.“We never blamed you,” Helen said. “Not when you lied about your death. Not when you left your son behind to fend for himself,” she continued, her voice cracking. “And this is how you repay us?”A choked sob escaped Isabella’s lips.She reached for Helen’s hand, but Helen took a step back.“You could’ve asked for help. You could’ve told anyone. But instead, you sold out your own family. Your own grandson.”Helen looked at Isabella with eyes full of grief.“D
“I have lived long enough to witness the rise and fall of generations, but tonight… tonight, I feel truly blessed. This child is not only the blood of our Evans family but the future that will carry our legacy forward.”He turned toward Lucas and reached out his aged hands.Lucas stepped forward, carefully handing Ethan over to his great-grandfather.Harold cradled the child with surprising gentleness, his usually stern eyes softening as he looked down at the tiny face.Under the watchful eyes of the entire Evans family and the influential guests present, Harold personally opened the ancient Evans family record book, an heirloom that had documented the bloodline for centuries.With a brush dipped in ink, Harold carefully wrote down the name Ethan Lucas Evans in bold strokes.The moment the ink touched the paper, it symbolized Ethan’s official entry into the Evans family tree, a position that no one could ever challen
He nudged Elena, who carefully handed the baby over.Everyone watched as Harold’s rough hands, once used to commanding empires and instilling fear, trembled slightly as they cradled the tiny life in his arms.The moment the child settled against him, Harold’s fury melted away.Helen stepped closer, her own hands clasped over her chest as she peered down at the baby. “Oh my God, he’s so handsome.”Harold’s eyes reddened once again.This was the blood of the Evans family…“Look at him,” Harold’s voice cracked. “He’s got the same sharp brows as Lucas when he was a baby.”Lucas’ eyes softened.The little one stirred slightly, his tiny hand clenching into a fist.A faint smile spread across Harold’s face as he gently patted the baby’s chest.“From this day onward,” Harold announced, his voice filled with pride a
ACE’s face immediately turned terrifying.“Winter.” He said warningly. “You’re not allowed to joke about that.”Her heart skipped a beat.No one knew better than her how scary this man was once he got angry.Wrapping her arms around his neck, she rubbed her face against his cheek. “All right, all right. Don’t be fierce.”ACE sighed helplessly.He could make world leaders shut up with a single glance, yet before this woman, he was always at the losing end.No matter how ruthless he was outside, when it came to Winter, he had no bottom line.He let her act coquettishly and turned around. “What do you want to eat?”Winter’s eyes instantly lit up.Her hubby was so good to her.She latched onto his arm without hesitation, her voice filled with excitement as she rattled off a long list of dishes.“…”Jayden, w
Lucas only smiled.Back when he resided in Country K, Lucas had found himself entangled with the Black Vipers, a ruthless underground syndicate known for their brutal dealings in the underworld.To survive and walk out alive, Lucas went undercover as Rocky.He played his role flawlessly, climbing their ranks, gaining their trust, and dismantling their core operations.By the time he left Country K, he thought he had completely destroyed them.Yet, fate proved him wrong.Like cockroaches that thrive in darkness, they waited for the right moment to resurface.Lucas knew their weaknesses.Their hideouts and the fractures in their foundation.The cops knew it, too.That’s why they came to him, not as a suspect, but as an asset.They needed someone who could infiltrate deep, someone with a personal stake in bringing the Black Vipers to their knees.And when the authorities realized the extent of his
Jayden Luxton strode toward them, his sharp gaze sweeping over the scene.Dressed in all black, he exuded the same air of danger and authority as Lucas, but his approach wasn’t hostile.Not this time.“Everything is ready.” He said, giving him a small nod.Behind him, the hospital staff rushed forward, quickly transferring Elena onto a stretcher.As the stretcher started moving, Elena’s fingers slipped from Lucas’.She stirred slightly, her fingers weakly grasping at his sleeve before her strength gave out.The sight nearly shattered him.The stretcher was wheeled straight into the emergency room, disappearing through the doors.The woman, who had been by Elena’s side the entire time, turned to Lucas. “I’ll take care of it.”Before she could enter the operating room, Jayden’s arm shot in front of her.Wariness flickered across his face.The
Elena’s pulse quickened. “What—”“Just do it.” His tone left no room for argument.Ten minutes later, a sharp, piercing scream resounds from inside the bedroom.The guards patrolling rushed inside, and what they saw blew their minds.Elena lay on the cold, hard floor, her body curled in on itself.A dark pool of blood spread beneath her, soaking through her dress.Her face contorted in agony, sweat beading along her forehead as she gasped for air.Before her stood Hunter with his fists clenched at his side.His usually sharp gaze was unfocused, drowning in a drunken stupor.One of the guards cursed under his breath. “What the hell did you do, Hunter?!”Hunter swayed slightly, his movements sluggish. “I just wanted to… wanted to hold her hands. But she wouldn’t let me.”“The baby…” Elena rasped, her lips trembling. &l
Elena’s face turned pale.“Don’t overdo it, Hunter. We can’t afford any accidents before the smuggling.” Reed reminded him.“Relax,” Hunter replied coolly.He grabbed Elena’s chin, his thumb dragging across her cheekbone as he tilted her face left, then right.“Damn. What a pretty face,” he mused, his tone almost appreciative. “That b***ard Lucas really lucked out, huh?”Elena pulled away her face from his grip and glared at him. “Don’t take his name from your filthy mouth.”Hunter sneered. “Touched a nerve, did I?”Elena’s glare was colder than ice.Hunter crouched before her, bringing his face level with hers. “I don’t have a good temper, woman.” Hunter continued, his voice slow, deliberate. “So, if you dare piss me off…”A cold metal suddenly touched Elena’s belly.