The soft vibration of Sarah’s phone startled her out of her thoughts.She glanced at the screen, her breath catching when she saw the name: Margaret Windsor.Margaret was not just a dear friend but also the driving force behind Mountain Rose, the brand Sarah had poured her soul into.Though Margaret often remained in the shadows, her influence and unwavering support had been the cornerstone of Sarah’s career.With trembling fingers, Sarah swiped to answer. “Margaret,” she said, her voice hoarse from the emotional strain of the past days.“Sarah, my darling,” Margaret’s familiar, velvety British accent greeted her, tinged with concern. “I just heard the news. The Millers… I... I don’t know what to say.”The words hit Sarah like a wave, reopening the barely sealed wound.Her throat tightened as she fought to keep her emotions in check. “It’s... it’s been so hard, Margaret,” she admitted, her voice trembling. “They didn’t deserve any of this. They were like family to me.”“I know, love.
Sarah sat in the quiet corner of the study, staring at the phone in her hand.The familiar number flashing on the screen made her chest tighten.The Caldwell family.Her biological family.A part of her wanted to let the call go unanswered, but something, perhaps obligation or guilt, made her swipe to accept.“Hello?” she said, her voice neutral and guarded.“Sarah,” the voice of her biological mother, Eleanor Caldwell, came through the line, polished and formal as always. “We just heard the news. Is it true? About the Millers?”Sarah’s grip on the phone tightened.Her stomach churned at their sudden interest, their delayed call.The news had been everywhere for days, yet they had waited until now to reach out.“Yes,” she replied tersely. “It’s true.”A dramatic gasp echoed through the phone, followed by murmured voices in the background.Eleanor continued, “Oh, darling, I can’t believe this. Such a tragedy. The Millers... They were good people, weren’t they?”“They were family,” Sara
Alexander carried her to their bedroom, every step a reminder of the physical toll he was enduring.By the time he reached the bed, his breathing was labored, and sweat beaded his brow.Carefully, he lowered her onto the soft mattress, tucking the blankets around her.He sat down beside her, wincing as he stretched out his leg.For a moment, he simply watched her sleep.Her face, though marred by grief, held a quiet beauty that never failed to captivate him.He reached out to brush a strand of hair from her forehead, his touch light and reverent.“You don’t have to do this alone,” he whispered.She stirred again, her eyelids fluttering open.Her gaze found his, and a fresh wave of tears welled in her eyes.“I’m sorry,” she croaked. “I didn’t mean to...”“Don’t,” Alexander interrupted, his voice firm but gentle. “You have nothing to apologize for.”She reached for his hand, her fingers trembling. “I miss them so much.”“I know,” he said, his throat tight. “And I promise you, Sarah, I’l
The bathroom was a sprawling haven of luxury, with a spacious walk in shower, a deep soaking tub framed by marble, and a large vanity that gleamed under soft lighting.The scent of eucalyptus lingered faintly in the air, a calming aroma that Alexander had insisted on for the space.Sarah glanced around nervously as they stepped inside, still flustered from Alexander’s bold suggestion.“Relax,” he said with a mischievous grin as he reached for the shower controls. “I’m not plotting anything scandalous. Unless, of course, you’re hoping for scandal.”“Alexander!” she exclaimed, swatting his arm lightly, though a small smile played on her lips.He chuckled, adjusting the water temperature until steam began to rise. “What? Just trying to lighten the mood. You’ve been so tense lately.” He glanced at her, his expression softening. “You deserve to let go, Sarah. Even if it’s just for a little while.”She sighed, hugging herself as she leaned against the counter. “I know you’re right. It’s jus
When Sarah emerged, dressed in the outfit he’d chosen, Alexander’s expression softened. “Perfect,” he said simply, the admiration in his tone unmistakable.She flushed slightly, smoothing the sweater over her hips. “Thanks. You’ve got a decent sense of style, I’ll give you that.”“Decent?” he teased, offering her his arm. “Come on, let’s get you fed. Carter mentioned something about fresh croissants and a spread fit for royalty.”They walked together down the grand staircase, Alexander keeping his pace measured to accommodate both his leg and Sarah’s slower steps.The sunlight streaming through the massive windows bathed the estate in a golden glow, giving the impression of a new beginning.The dining room was already set for breakfast, with a variety of dishes laid out on the long table.Freshly baked pastries, sliced fruit, eggs, and smoked salmon were arranged artfully alongside steaming carafes of coffee and tea.Carter was waiting near the door, tablet in hand. “Good morning, sir
As the warmth of their laughter faded into the soft rustle of the garden breeze, Sarah leaned back on the bench, a wistful smile playing on her lips.She looked down at her hands, which rested in her lap, her fingers idly tracing invisible patterns on the fabric of her dress.“You’ve shared so much about your childhood,” she began, her voice tinged with a mix of nostalgia and sadness. “It only feels fair that I tell you about mine.”Alexander turned to her, his expression gentle but curious. “I’d like that,” he said simply, giving her the space to continue at her own pace.Sarah let out a soft breath, her gaze drifting toward the flowers swaying in the breeze. “Life with the Millers was... simple, but it was everything to me. They weren’t wealthy or influential, but they had so much love to give. I remember how warm the house always felt, how there was always laughter, even on the hardest days.”She smiled faintly, her eyes growing distant. “Mrs. Miller had this way of making even the
The bitterness in her voice gave way to a deep sadness as she continued. “It’s like... it’s like they didn’t matter to her. Like they were just a footnote in my life instead of the reason I even survived long enough to know who the Caldwells were.”Alexander’s grip on her hand tightened slightly, his frustration on her behalf evident. “The Millers mattered, Sarah. More than the Caldwells will ever understand. And you matter. Don’t let their indifference make you doubt that.”Sarah looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mix of gratitude and pain. “I just don’t understand how someone like Victoria can live so comfortably, so happily, while pretending all of this doesn’t exist. It’s not fair.”“It’s not,” Alexander agreed, his voice firm. “But that’s who she is, who they all are. They take the easy way out, ignoring anything that doesn’t fit their narrative. But you’re different, Sarah. You don’t run from the hard truths.”Sarah leaned into him again, “It’s just so exhausting, Alexander
As Beatrice Blake stormed out of the garden, her heels clicking with the sharp precision of her mood, she pulled her phone from her handbag.She scrolled through her contacts with an air of determination, pausing when the name “Cecilia” appeared on the screen.Her finger hovered for a moment, hesitation flickering in her eyes, but only briefly.Pressing the call button, she brought the phone to her ear.The line rang twice before a soft, melodic voice answered, tentative but warm. “Mrs. Blake? Is everything alright?”Beatrice’s expression softened slightly at the familiar voice, a wave of nostalgia washing over her. “Cecilia, dear, I hope I’m not disturbing you.”“Not at all,” Cecilia replied quickly. There was a pause before she added, her tone careful, “Is it Alexander? I’ve been trying to reach him since I heard about the accident. I... I couldn’t get through.”Beatrice exhaled, her grip tightening on the phone. “Yes, it’s Alexander. He’s fine, more than fine, really, considering e
The engines purred like caged beasts, vibrating through Sarah’s bones as she tightened her grip on the steering wheel.The adrenaline thrumming beneath her skin was intoxicating, familiar.She’d spent years trying to forget this feeling, this wild, unrestrained rush of power, but now, with Alexander’s voice in her ear and his car beside hers, she embraced it like an old lover.Through the comms, his voice was all smooth arrogance. “You sure you don’t want a head start, Sparrow? Might help take the sting off when you lose.”Sarah scoffed, rolling her shoulders. “That’s adorable. You really think you stand a chance against me?”Alexander chuckled. “Confidence is sexy. But overconfidence? Dangerous.”She grinned, revving the McLaren’s engine in response. “Wouldn’t be any fun if it wasn’t.”The floodlights bathed the stretch of road in a harsh glow, cutting through the dark sky.Out here, on Alexander’s private land, there were no interruptions, no prying eyes, just the vast, open road an
Sarah tilted her head, her smirk widening. “Are you afraid I’ll leave you in the dust, Mr. Blake?”Alexander let out a low chuckle. “Afraid? No.” His gaze flickered over her, amused and predatory. “But I do love watching you try.”Sarah threw the blankets off, standing up in one smooth motion. “Then let’s go,” she said, heading straight for the door.Alexander raised a brow. “Right now?”She glanced over her shoulder. “You backing out already?”His lips curled into a slow smirk. “Careful, Sparrow. You’re getting cocky.”Sarah shrugged, eyes gleaming with mischief. “You’d be too if you knew you were going to win.”Alexander huffed a quiet laugh and shook his head, pushing himself up from the bed. “Let’s see if you can back up that mouth of yours.”They made their way downstairs, the tension between them a mix of challenge and amusement.The moment they entered the garage, Sarah beelined for the sapphire blue McLaren she had driven earlier.Alexander watched her, amused. “Didn’t even he
Alexander shut his phone off and slipped it back into his pocket, exhaling slowly.His mind was still racing with everything he’d learned, but right now, there was something else he needed to handle, Sarah.She had conveniently feigned feeling under the weather earlier, right after spotting the police officer in the hall.She hadn’t been sick.She had been hiding.Suppressing a smirk, Alexander climbed the stairs, his steps steady and deliberate.He wasn’t angry, if anything, he was impressed.She had managed to outmaneuver him for years without him even realizing it. But that didn’t mean he’d let her off the hook so easily.Reaching their bedroom door, he pushed it open without knocking.Sarah was curled up in bed, the blankets pulled over her, the dim glow of a bedside lamp casting soft shadows across the room.She didn’t react immediately, but he knew she was awake.Alexander leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on her.“So,” he said casually, “you’re feeling
Earlier that day, Alexander’s mind was already abuzz with plans as he exited the underground base where Marcus was being held.His phone buzzed in his pocket just as he was sliding into the backseat of his car.Pulling it out, he noticed a message from his head of security.Security Alert: "Sir, we’ve identified something unusual about Mrs. Blake’s activity today. A fuller report is attached."Alexander frowned, quickly opening the attachment.The report detailed Sarah’s unusual behavior throughout the day, speeding through the city in his Sapphire blue McLaren, blowing past red lights, and the most surprising revelation of all: she had been at the underground racing scene years ago.The man had overheard Sarah and Seb's conversation.The next line of the report made his pulse quicken: "Based on her movements and the reactions of Seb, it appears that Mrs. Blake is none other than Sparrow, the underground street racer."For a moment, Alexander stared at his phone, utterly still.The wo
Meanwhile, Sarah, her adrenaline still pumping, smirked to herself as she sped through the city streets.She knew she’d made a statement, and the satisfaction of seeing them topple like dominoes was enough to lighten her mood, at least for the moment.“That’s for thinking you can mess with me,” she muttered under her breath, the wind whipping through her hair.As Sarah sped past yet another red light, she couldn’t help but feel a rebellious thrill coursing through her veins.The city blurred around her, the McLaren roaring like it owned the streets.By the time she reached the Blake residence, her heart was pounding, not from fear but from exhilaration.Pulling into the driveway, she stepped out, her heels clicking on the stone path as guards hurried to retrieve her bags from the car.But her confidence wavered the moment she stepped into the hall.Alexander was home. And not just home, he was seated on one of the couches, his sharp eyes focused on his phone, a stern faced traffic off
Darius tapped his fingers lightly against the leather steering wheel, his gaze momentarily drifting to the horizon before returning to the phone in his hand.The familiar voice on the other end of the line grounded him, carrying both the calm confidence and the gravity of their shared mission.“You’re sure about this approach?” Darius asked, his tone steady yet probing, a hint of concern underlying his words.“Gerald’s empire is a house of cards,” Alexander replied without hesitation. “All we need is Marcus to show us where the foundation lies. Once we hit that weak point, the whole thing will come crashing down. I need to be back in my position before that happens.”A heavy pause followed, one that seemed to speak volumes between them. It was the kind of silence born from years of working together, where words often felt unnecessary.“I trust your instincts, Blake,” Darius said finally, his voice carrying the weight of his faith in Alexander’s judgment. “Just make sure you watch your
He grabbed a nearby chair and sat down across from Marcus, leaning forward. "You're stalling. That's fine. Take your time, but know this, every second you waste, you're digging yourself a deeper grave. So start talking. What’s Gerald’s endgame? Why the sudden attack on me? What else is he planning? The Accident? Why?"Marcus hesitated, his eyes darting to Carter, who stood like a silent enforcer. Then back to Alexander, whose calm exterior only made him more intimidating.Finally, Marcus exhaled shakily. "Fine. You want the truth? Gerald has been running his own empire in the shadows, smuggling, blackmail, taking out anyone who gets in his way. You are the biggest person in his way."Alexander’s jaw clenched, fury simmering just beneath the surface. "And so he had to ambush me at the Millers?"Marcus nodded reluctantly. "He couldn’t risk it no more. And now... now he knows you’re coming after him. He’s already setting things in motion to take you down before you can touch him.""Like
Sarah’s grip on the steering wheel tightened as her thoughts spiraled.Her encounter with Seb had brought back memories she had locked away, memories of the life she lived before Alexander, before the Caldwells, before everything had changed.It was as if the sound of his voice had reignited a part of her she’d been desperately trying to forget.The McLaren roared through the city streets, its powerful engine echoing off the walls of skyscrapers.She was moving fast, too fast, zipping through intersections and leaving streaks of blue in her wake.Red lights flashed above her, but her mind was elsewhere, completely detached from the rules of the road.She hadn’t even realized she was running red lights until a jarring honk snapped her back to reality.Sarah glanced up just in time to see a taxi screeching to a halt inches from the McLaren’s rear bumper.Her heart raced, but she kept going, her thoughts louder than the warning blares of city traffic.The McLaren’s high tech dash flashed
As Seb watched the Sapphire Blue McLaren disappear down the bustling city street, the faint roar of its engine lingering in the air, a familiar mix of emotions surged within him.His jaw tightened, his hands slipping into his pockets as he leaned against a nearby lamppost.The memory of that night, the night Sarah, or rather, Sparrow, had humiliated him in front of the entire underground racing community, played in his mind like a relentless reel.He had been untouchable then, a trust fund heir with an ego as massive as his bank account.No one had dared to challenge him until she appeared, a dark horse with a car that seemed like an extension of her being.She hadn’t just won that race, she’d dismantled his pride, maneuvering through tight corners and dangerous straights with a precision that left him chasing shadows.Seb could still hear the taunts and cheers of the crowd, their disbelief at his defeat and their awe of the enigmatic Sparrow.That night had shaken his world, exposing