CHAPTER TWOThe sterile scent of hospital disinfectant hung heavy in the air, assaulting her senses as she slowly regained consciousness. She squinted against the searing light that filtered through her closed eyelids, attempting to make sense of her surroundings. The room was shrouded in an eerie silence, punctuated only by the rhythmic cadence of her own breathing and the incessant beeping emanating from some unknown source nearby.A strange heaviness gripped her body, every limb seemingly laden with lead. Panic began to claw its way into her chest as she desperately tried to will her sluggish muscles into motion. She longed to take control, to grasp some semblance of reality and understand her predicament.With immense effort, she forced her eyelids open, blinking against the blinding brightness. Confusion danced across her consciousness as her gaze swept over the bland green and gray hues that adorned the hospital room. An intravenous drip was connected to her wrist, silently admi
Preview"Can you act" he asked I nodded remembering my high school days " a little""That's all I need" ****************Baffled by the enigmatic expressions that danced across Mr. Devon's face, she couldn't help but wonder what he was concealing. Her ability to decipher people had always been a bit shaky, but after navigating the complex web of experiences with him, she had become more astute.In this tense moment, Mr. Devon seemed on the verge of retracting whatever favor he intended to request. Her curiosity piqued as he finally broke the silence, uttering a name that sent a ripple of recognition through her memory."Dario, Dario Simpson," he queried, and she nodded in response. Memories of distant high school days flooded back, recalling snippets of Dario Simpson's name frequently mentioned among her friends. "Dario Simpson, the heir to the Simpson enterprise," she confirmed.Mr. Devon let out an audible sigh, as if her acknowledgment had already fulfilled half of his re
CHAPTER FOURCatherine couldn't help but steal a glance at herself in the mirror, and she was left awestruck by the transformation. Melanie, the makeup artist, had truly outdone herself. The girl who stared back at Catherine wasn't her; it was Caitlyn Smoak, a persona she had reluctantly assumed for this grand deception."You look pretty, ma'am," Melanie complimented with a warm smile.Catherine nodded in appreciation, still coming to terms with her new appearance. Mr. Devan had orchestrated everything with utmost secrecy. Only he, Dr. Kirk, and Melanie were privy to her true identity. He had enlisted the help of a private investigator to gather information about Caitlyn Smoak, providing her with the semblance of a genuine background.Despite her compliance with this elaborate plan, doubts nagged at the back of her mind. Caitlyn Smoak came from a powerful family, and she was well-known. If anyone were to uncover her deception, Catherine shuddered to think of the consequences – orange
CHAPTER FIVECatherine's life had been irrevocably transformed since her fateful encounter with Mr. Devan. It was as if she had stepped out of the pages of a rags-to-riches fairy tale. The threadbare clothing she once wore had been replaced by a wardrobe filled with luxurious attire, accompanied by bags and shoes that whispered of opulence. Her palate had transitioned from the blandness of stale foods to the exquisite flavors of mouth-watering delicacies. She was no longer the invisible soul navigating the crowded streets; she was treated with a level of reverence that exceeded her wildest dreams. It was as though the wheels of fortune had shifted in her favor, casting her into a realm of unimaginable splendor.During the car ride with Mr. Devan, an unexpected sense of serenity enveloped Catherine. To her astonishment, the presence of this powerful and enigmatic man did not overwhelm her as she had initially feared. Instead, it was as if he had assumed the role of the father figure sh
CHAPTER SIX"You have to make it."Tears streamed down her cheeks as she locked eyes with the person before her, their hazel eyes pleading desperately. Her own eyes mirrored that plea. She didn't want to leave."I..."The heavy footsteps drew closer, and she glanced anxiously over her shoulder."Let's go; we can make it," she pleaded through her tears."Run," came the voice in a whisper.And then, the sound of a gunshot.She jolted awake, sweat coating her forehead, and her breaths coming in ragged gasps. Her wide eyes frantically scanned her surroundings until they landed on a crouched figure beside her. Relief washed over her, and her eyes slowly returned to their normal size. The frantic fear in her gaze was replaced by confusion.Her brows furrowed. "What are you doing?"Hayden chuckled guiltily as she stood upright. "I'm usually not this clumsy, and I don't know what happened. It just happ
CHAPTER SEVENAfter leaving Zephyr, they headed to the hospital, with Catherine stealing occasional glances at Mr. Devan to check on his well-being. Despite the fact that they had left the source of his worry behind, she could still see the troubled expression etched on his face. As they drove along, she found herself growing increasingly concerned about what might be troubling him so deeply. She had always known him to be a strong and capable person, but seeing him like this made her wonder what could be causing him such distress."What's wrong?" She asked getting his attention. "Ronnie and Theo is coming back, shouldn't you be happy?"He held my gaze for a while before averting it. "Yeah, I suppose." He looked out of the window before continuing, "But Theo and Ronnie's return might ruin everything we've planned.""How?" She asked getting confused."Ronald, Dario, and Theodore had been inseparable since birth. Growing up together as cous
CHAPTER EIGHT Catherine's thoughts drifted back to the hospital encounter with Ron. She couldn't shake off the sensation of electricity that coursed through her body when their fingers brushed against each other. It was an unfamiliar feeling, but one that left her mesmerized. She couldn't help but wonder if Ron had felt the same spark that she did.Despite their brief exchange of words, Catherine found Ron's presence calming. She couldn't quite put her finger on why she felt so relaxed and comfortable in his company. As she sat next to him, she had to resist the urge to steal glances in his direction, not wanting to be caught staring.Catherine couldn't help but notice the charming and authoritative aura that surrounded Ron, making him a truly beautiful man. Her heartbeat quickened at the thought of him, realizing that no one had ever had that kind of impact on her before, not even Matt.But as soon as the thought of Matt crossed her mind, Catherine felt her stomach twist in disgust.
CHAPTER NINE Catherine's racing thoughts were a chaotic whirlwind, a tempestuous storm of emotions colliding within her. In an astonishing twist, Ron had revealed himself as Ronnie! She couldn't fathom how she had overlooked such an unmistakable clue. The implications of this revelation were staggering, and Catherine grappled with the surreal notion that the person she had grown fond of was, in fact, the brother of her sham fiancé.As she sat there, her eyes locked on Ronnie with a bewildered expression that mirrored his own, a palpable tension hung in the air. His departure, punctuated by the terse declaration, "I'll be back," left Catherine in a state of suspended uncertainty. She bit her trembling lip, her gaze still fixated on the empty space he had occupied, her mind swirling with a torrent of unanswered questions.Amidst the bewildering silence, Grandma's curious voice broke the spell, "What happened to Ronnie?" Her inquiry lingered, a beacon of opportunity in the sea of confus