Sarah reached over and placed a hand on Raven’s arm.“It’s fine,” she murmured.Raven’s fingers flexed against the steering wheel.She clearly didn’t agree, but after a long moment, she gave a short nod.Sarah turned back to the officer, her voice firm. “Alright. We’ll cooperate.”Slowly, she unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out of the car.Raven followed, her movements precise, controlled. Even though she hadn’t drawn a weapon, there was something about the way she carried herself that made the officers hesitate.As if they knew deep down that they weren’t just dealing with ordinary women.“Your keys,” the second officer said, holding out his hand to Raven.She raised an eyebrow but said nothing, slipping the McLaren’s keys into his palm.Sarah glanced around. There were only two officers present, but she knew better than to think they were alone. More were likely stationed nearby, watching, waiting.Raven stood close, her presence a quiet but undeniable shield.“This is bullshit,”
The tension in the boardroom had reached its peak, the air thick with unspoken threats and veiled warnings.Alexander had spent the last hour going back and forth with Gerald, neither of them willing to back down.But he had wasted enough time.Straightening in his wheelchair, he adjusted the cuffs of his suit with deliberate precision before shooting Gerald one last cold glance. “You’ve dragged this on long enough,” he said icily. “But make no mistake, Uncle, your time is running out.”Gerald smirked, leaning back in his chair. “We’ll see about that.”Alexander didn’t give him the satisfaction of a response. With a sharp turn, he wheeled out of the boardroom, his expression unreadable as the directors exchanged uneasy glances behind him.The moment he entered his office, his phone buzzed in his pocket.He fished it out, glancing at the caller ID, Raven.His jaw tightened as he answered. “Talk.”“She’s been arrested,” Raven’s voice came through, calm but edged with urgency.The words
The grand ballroom of the Caldwell Estate glittered under the glow of crystal chandeliers, and the air was thick with the scent of champagne, designer perfumes, and the murmur of high society.Everywhere she looked, Sarah Miller saw faces turned not to her, but to the dazzling figure just steps ahead.Victoria Reed, the girl everyone believed was Eleanor and Richard Caldwell's daughter, moved through the crowd with the ease of someone who knew she belonged.Her dress, a sleek midnight blue silk that fit her like it was made for her alone, shimmered with every step.The Caldwell name was attached to her life, to her past, to her future, or at least, it had been until three months ago.In stark contrast, Sarah stood beside her countryside mother, Mary, in a modest cream colored dress that felt wrong against the opulence surrounding her.The dress was too simple, too plain, a stark reminder that she’d only just learned to navigate the chaos of a city’s department store, let alone the hig
The Caldwell mansion was a vast estate filled with secrets, and tonight, Sarah felt like an intruder in its endless halls.She hadn’t meant to stumble upon the Caldwell family archives, she was only searching for a quiet space away from the prying eyes of staff and, especially, Victoria. But the narrow door she opened in the library led to a winding staircase, and curiosity drew her down into a dim, chilly basement room.Shelves stretched along the walls, filled with family history, photo albums, news clippings, and stacks of papers yellowed with age.Sarah ran her fingers over the smooth leather covers of albums and cases.She wondered if anyone had been down here in years.After flipping through a few albums and faded letters, she found a folder of news clippings that caught her eye.These were not the grand, society pages that celebrated family philanthropy or prestigious achievements. These articles covered... scandal.The faded clippings bore headlines that seemed at odds with th
Few days later, Eleanor Caldwell’s footsteps echoed sharply against the marble floor of her study as she paced, her anger spiraling.She tightened her grip on her phone, unable to tear her eyes from the blaring headlines that flashed accusations, mockery, and speculation with every scroll."Socialite Scandal: Victoria Caldwell’s Secret Fling Caught on Camera!""Perfect Heiress or Perfect Disaster? Victoria Caldwell’s Latest Entanglement Raises Eyebrows"The photographs left little to the imagination, Victoria, in a sleek dress, entwined with a man unmistakably familiar to those who kept tabs on high society romances.Victoria's ex boyfriend, a notorious playboy with an appetite for risk, and an unrepentant grin on his face.They were pictured just outside a bar, oblivious to the camera’s gaze, Victoria’s hand resting on his chest, the implication clear.It was an unforgivable slip, one Eleanor knew could easily incite even the family’s closest allies to pull back, or worse, to whisper
Eleanor and Richard Caldwell read through the impeccably printed letter resting on the table between them.Gold embossed on ivory paper, it was from the Blake family, the wealthiest and most influential family in the city.Their son, Alexander Blake, though recently confined to a wheelchair, was still hailed as the most eligible bachelor.The letter's formality masked what was truly an opportunity, a marriage proposal that could secure the Caldwells’ reputation, possibly even repair the damage caused by Victoria’s recent scandal.“This could be the answer we’ve been waiting for,” Eleanor murmured, her gaze intense as she scanned the letter for the third time. “It would bring stability to our name. Imagine... the Caldwells united with the Blakes.”Richard, seated across from her, nodded with a sigh of relief.The stress of recent weeks had deepened the lines on his face, and the prospect of finally securing Victoria's future, and the family’s reputation, brought a glimmer of hope to hi
Eleanor hesitated before answering, the slightest crack in her voice betraying a hint of pity. “It’s a lot to ask of her, Richard. She’s only just begun to adjust here.”“Adjust?” he repeated, sounding almost amused. “This is her adjustment. She was born into this life, Eleanor, and maybe… maybe this is her true calling. We owe her parents nothing but gratitude for raising her well. Now, she must learn to fulfill the role she was meant to play.”In the silence that followed, Sarah’s hands shook, her grip on the doorframe tightening as she felt the sting of tears she refused to let fall.Her life, a transaction, a fix to save a family she’d only recently met.She’d known her place here was tenuous, yet hearing it spoken so coldly laid bare the isolation she’d felt ever since stepping into the Caldwell world.Then, Eleanor’s sigh reached her again, softer now, almost resigned. “And what if Sarah refuses?”“She won’t,” Richard said, his tone dismissive, as if he’d never even considered t
The Past.St. Mary’s Hospital was quiet in the early hours, the hum of fluorescent lights echoing through stark white corridors as nurses shuffled from one room to the next.Outside, the first hints of dawn struggled against the heavy clouds, casting a pale glow through the windows.Inside the maternity ward, Nurse Evelyn Harper leaned against the counter, fighting a wave of exhaustion.She had been on her feet for nearly sixteen hours, her second double shift this week, and the weight of it pressed into her bones.She closed her eyes briefly, massaging her temples. Just one more check, she thought.One last round, and then she could rest.The nursery lay behind a large glass window where two tiny newborns, each wrapped in soft pink blankets, slept soundly.A little card with their names and times of birth rested on the foot of each crib.Evelyn glanced at the chart and made her way into the nursery, her steps heavy but practiced.She picked up the baby in the first crib, glancing at
The tension in the boardroom had reached its peak, the air thick with unspoken threats and veiled warnings.Alexander had spent the last hour going back and forth with Gerald, neither of them willing to back down.But he had wasted enough time.Straightening in his wheelchair, he adjusted the cuffs of his suit with deliberate precision before shooting Gerald one last cold glance. “You’ve dragged this on long enough,” he said icily. “But make no mistake, Uncle, your time is running out.”Gerald smirked, leaning back in his chair. “We’ll see about that.”Alexander didn’t give him the satisfaction of a response. With a sharp turn, he wheeled out of the boardroom, his expression unreadable as the directors exchanged uneasy glances behind him.The moment he entered his office, his phone buzzed in his pocket.He fished it out, glancing at the caller ID, Raven.His jaw tightened as he answered. “Talk.”“She’s been arrested,” Raven’s voice came through, calm but edged with urgency.The words
Sarah reached over and placed a hand on Raven’s arm.“It’s fine,” she murmured.Raven’s fingers flexed against the steering wheel.She clearly didn’t agree, but after a long moment, she gave a short nod.Sarah turned back to the officer, her voice firm. “Alright. We’ll cooperate.”Slowly, she unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out of the car.Raven followed, her movements precise, controlled. Even though she hadn’t drawn a weapon, there was something about the way she carried herself that made the officers hesitate.As if they knew deep down that they weren’t just dealing with ordinary women.“Your keys,” the second officer said, holding out his hand to Raven.She raised an eyebrow but said nothing, slipping the McLaren’s keys into his palm.Sarah glanced around. There were only two officers present, but she knew better than to think they were alone. More were likely stationed nearby, watching, waiting.Raven stood close, her presence a quiet but undeniable shield.“This is bullshit,”
Raven hesitated, her jaw tightening. For a split second, Sarah saw something flicker across her face, pain, regret, something deeper than words could explain.But then, just as quickly, it was gone.“I had my reasons.”Sarah had no idea why, but something about that answer made her trust Raven more than if she had given a rehearsed response.She exhaled slowly, nodding. “Alright, then. Welcome to the chaos that is my life.”Raven’s lips lifted into an almost smirk. “Don’t worry, Mrs. Blake. I specialize in chaos.”Sarah let out a small laugh, shaking her head. “Well, you’ve come to the right place then.”Raven moved swiftly, drove her car around the McLaren into the house and asked Sarah to step down.Stepping around the front of the McLaren, she slid into the driver’s seat with practiced ease.Sarah barely had time to blink before the woman had adjusted the mirrors, opened the passenger seat for her, started the engine, and pulled out onto the road as if she had been driving for her
Meanwhile, inside the Blake Group's towering skyscraper, the tension in the boardroom was thick enough to cut with a knife.Alexander, seated in his wheelchair, exuded an icy authority that countered Gerald’s smug confidence.They had been going back and forth for nearly an hour, each man refusing to yield an inch.Gerald wanted to strip him of control, to reduce him to a mere figurehead, but Alexander had built too much, fought too hard to let that happen.“You seem very confident in your little schemes, Uncle,” Alexander drawled, his voice deceptively calm, but his steel blue gaze was piercing. “But tell me, when has taking something from me ever ended well for you?”Gerald smirked, adjusting the gold cufflinks on his sleeve. “Confidence is one thing, Alexander. Reality is another.”Alexander let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “Reality?” He leaned forward, his fingers tapping against the mahogany table. “Let’s talk about reality. The reality where you had me shot and still fai
Meanwhile, as these thoughts consumed him, Liam found himself at a high end bar in downtown Manhattan, whiskey in hand, the low hum of music surrounding him.A brunette with a body that could turn heads slid into the seat next to him, her sultry smile laced with invitation.“Mind if I join you?” she purred, running manicured fingers along the rim of her martini glass.Liam barely glanced at her.He had done this before. Tried to force himself to feel something, anything, for someone else.She placed a hand on his forearm, leaning in slightly.That’s when it happened.The instant wave of disgust that rolled through him.He pulled back as if burned, jaw tightening as he exhaled sharply. “Not interested.”The woman blinked, clearly taken aback by his cold dismissal. But Liam didn’t care.He threw back the rest of his whiskey and signaled for the bill.Enough was enough.He wasn’t going to lie to himself anymore.Sarah Miller,Sarah Blake, was the only woman who had ever made him feel this
A little while later, freshly showered and dressed in a comfortable yet stylish ensemble, Sarah made her way downstairs.The scent of fresh coffee filled the air, mingling with the faint aroma of breakfast.She stepped into the grand living area, spotting two of Alexander’s men stationed near the entrance.“Where’s Alexander?” she asked, running a hand through her still damp hair.One of the guards, a tall, broad shouldered man, inclined his head respectfully. “He left for the office earlier this morning, Mrs. Blake.”Sarah blinked. “The office?”“Yes, ma’am. The Blake Group headquarters.”Sarah scoffed, crossing her arms. “And he didn’t bother waking me up?”He hesitated. “Mr. Blake instructed us not to disturb you.”Sarah let out an irritated sigh, throwing her hands up. “Of course he did! That man wears me out to the point of exhaustion and then just sneaks off like some kind of business ninja?”The guards wisely remained silent.Sarah placed a hand on her hip, muttering under her
Gerald’s eyes darkened, but before he could respond, Alexander turned his attention to the rest of the board.“I built this company alongside my father before any of you had a say in its future. I bled for this empire, sacrificed more than any of you could ever understand. And you think I’ll sit back while you try to erase me?” He scoffed. “Think again.”A thick silence followed, the weight of his words pressing against every individual in the room.Then, in a voice sharp as a blade, Alexander added, “Remove me from my position, and I promise you this, you won’t just be dealing with a man in a wheelchair. You’ll be dealing with the one person in this company who knows exactly where all the skeletons are buried.”A flicker of unease passed through a few directors’ expressions.Gerald narrowed his eyes, his fingers tightening around the edge of the table. “Is that a threat?”Alexander’s smirk was slow, deliberate. “No, Uncle. It’s a warning.”For the first time that morning, Gerald had
Gerald adjusted the cuffs of his crisp suit, his sharp eyes scanning the well manicured gardens of his estate as his convoy prepared for departure.He exhaled slowly, suppressing the anger that simmered beneath his carefully constructed facade.Marcus’s capture had thrown a wrench in his operations, and now, with Alexander likely moving against him, he needed to reinforce his control before cracks formed in his empire.He stepped out of his grand foyer, the clicking of his polished shoes echoing as he descended the steps toward his awaiting car.His security detail moved like shadows around him, silent, precise, lethal.Their presence was a necessity, now more than ever.“Any new word from the men at the Blake residence?” Gerald asked, sliding into the back seat of his armored vehicle.The door shut with a heavy thud, enclosing him in a bubble of calculated power.One of his top enforcers, sat in the passenger seat ahead of him, his dark eyes meeting Gerald’s in the rearview mirror. “
The younger officer shifted uncomfortably. “Sir, we...”“You have no evidence,” Alexander interrupted coldly. “No footage. No proof. Just the word of two women who have every reason to want to harm my wife. So tell me, officers, what exactly gives you the authority to drag her out of bed for something you can’t even substantiate?”The older officer cleared his throat again, clearly choosing his words carefully. “This is just procedure, Mr. Blake. If Mrs. Blake cooperates, it will make things easier...”“I don’t think you understand,” Alexander said, taking a slow step forward.The power in his presence was suffocating, his dark eyes cutting into them with an intensity that left no room for argument. “There will be no cooperation because there is no case. If you have a legitimate warrant, you can present it to my lawyers. Until then, this conversation is over.”His words were final, leaving no room for debate.The officers exchanged a glance, both clearly unnerved by the sheer force of