Agatha POV:Sitting in Dad’s giant office, I felt the weight of the world pressing down on me. The past few weeks had been a crazy blur – lawsuits, reporters hounding me, and problems at work that pushed me to my limit.Richards Inc.’s collapse had sent shockwaves through everything. With Nathan’s company falling apart, everyone was pointing fingers at NexGen, at my family. They accused us of spying and dirty tricks, and I was constantly fighting fires and trying to make us look good.And then, just when I thought things couldn't get worse, a new threat popped up. A mysterious investor from Xing Enterprises wanted to buy a big chunk of NexGen. It was terrifying – what would that mean for my family’s company, for our future?I sighed, drumming my fingers on Dad's big, fancy desk. “This is a mess, Dad. A total mess.”My dad, Aldo De Rossi, always calm and in control, looked at me thoughtfully. “It’s… complicated, Agatha. But we’ve been through tough times before, and we’ll get th
Agatha POV:I sat across from Charles in Dad’s fancy office, the weight of our new “partnership” heavy in the air. My gut churned with a feeling of unease that wouldn’t go away, no matter how much I tried to tell myself everything was okay.“So, Charles,” I started, keeping my voice calm and steady. “What’s the plan? How do we deal with this Xing Enterprises situation?”Charles leaned forward, his elbows on the shiny desk.“Well, Agatha, I’ve been doing some… deep research on Xing Enterprises. And I’ve found some… interesting things.”I raised an eyebrow, curious in spite of my doubts. “Go on.”“It seems Xing Enterprises has been making some… shady deals lately. Deals that, if everyone knew about them, could ruin them.”A chill ran down my spine. “Shady deals? What are you saying, Charles?”He held up his hand, looking serious. “Now, now, Agatha, don’t get me wrong – I’m not saying your family did anything wrong. But Xing Enterprises… they have a reputation for being… dirty in thei
Agatha’s POV:Days blurred into weeks, a chaotic jumble of meetings and strategic planning. The potential alliance between Campbell Enterprises and NexGen felt like a giant, complicated dance, with me stuck in the middle trying to please both my father and Charles. And all the while, a tiny voice inside my head whispered, "What about what you want, Agatha?"But it was hard to even think about what I wanted with Nathan’s shadow still looming over everything. He was like a stubborn weed in my perfectly manicured garden, popping up again and again no matter how hard I tried to pull him out.I couldn't shake the memory of him showing up at my house, his eyes pleading, his voice raw with regret as he begged for another chance. It had shaken me, made me doubt my decision to push him away. Had I been too harsh? Was there still a chance for us, even after everything?Those thoughts battled with the very different feelings Charles stirred in me. His smooth charm and constant attention wer
Agatha’s POV:I stared at my computer screen, my reflection staring back at me – a woman with dark circles under her eyes and a frown etched on her forehead. agatha POV:Exhaustion tugged at me, but sleep was a distant dream these days.The Xing Enterprises threat loomed over everything. Charles and Dad were working nonstop, trying to find a way to stop them from taking over NexGen. Charles was… intense. He was always around, offering help, advice, and those lingering touches that sent shivers down my spine.But after his stunt with the ring, a part of me held back. Could I really trust him? He said all the right things, but his methods… sometimes they felt a little too ruthless, too calculated.My phone buzzed, pulling me from my thoughts. It was an email from… Nathan. My heart skipped a beat. Why was he contacting me?I clicked on the email, my fingers trembling slightly. It was short, the subject line simply reading: “Something you need to know.”My breath caught in my throat a
Nathan’s POV:My finger hovered over the send button, a bead of sweat trickling down my temple. The email draft felt dangerous, like a ticking bomb. Sending it would blow up any chance of fixing things with my dad, and maybe even destroy Richards Inc.What am I doing? Am I really going to betray my own company?But the memory of seeing Agatha at the De Rossi mansion, the hurt in her eyes, the way Charles loomed over her like he owned her… it ignited a desperate fire inside me.I can’t let them hurt her. I have to do something. Even if it costs me everything.I couldn’t let Xing Enterprises destroy her family’s legacy. Not when I knew Agatha was their target. Not when I held the power to stop them.This isn’t about winning her back, I told myself, but a part of me knew that was a lie. It’s about doing what’s right. About being the man she deserves.Taking a shaky breath, I closed my eyes and clicked “send.”Regret hit me like a punch to the gut. What have I done? I’d just thrown a
Agatha’s POV:"Agatha?" His voice, rough with surprise, sent a shiver down my spine. "God, he is delusional," I thought, rolling my eyes. Did Nathan really think a single phone call could erase everything, fix the giant mess he'd made?I took a deep breath, forcing my voice to stay calm and cool. Time to put on my professional mask. "Yes, Nathan, it’s me," I said. "I apologize for calling so late.”“You can call me anytime you like,” he said, his voice softer now, sending a warmth through me that I quickly pushed away.Don't fall for it, Agatha. Remember what he did. I reminded myself. I couldn't let my guard down, not even for a second.“Isn’t Camille in the room?” I asked, my voice hardening.“Please, Nathan, I’m not playing your games. Respect your fiancée, and respect me.”It felt strange, a little hypocritical, to be the one demanding respect for his fiancée, but the thought of them together, in his bed, made my stomach twist.“She’s… asleep,” he mumbled.“Right,” I said, not
Charles’ POV:I strolled into Aldo's office, a confident smile plastered on my face. Agatha was waiting, her brow furrowed as she studied some documents spread across the massive mahogany desk. The morning light filtering through the window illuminated her hair, turning it into a halo of golden fire.“She's even more beautiful when she's focused.”I thought, my chest tightening with a longing that surprised even me."Good morning, my love," I greeted her, my voice smooth and warm.She looked up, her expression guarded. "Charles. I didn't realize you were coming today."Her voice was cool, distant. My smile faltered slightly. Something was off."Is everything alright, Agatha?" I asked, concern lacing my voice. "You seem… troubled."She sighed, those deep, mesmerizing eyes clouded with a sadness that twisted my gut. "It's nothing, just… a lot on my mind."I knew instantly. Nathan. She'd talked to him. A surge of jealousy, hot and possessive, flooded through me.That bastard. Even when
Agatha’s POVThe conference room buzzed with nervous energy. Lawyers shuffled papers, advisors whispered in hushed tones, and Dad paced back and forth, his phone glued to his ear. The weight of the situation pressed down on me, heavy and suffocating.We were on the verge of exposing Xing Enterprises’s dirty tricks, but a knot of unease twisted in my gut. It wasn’t just the risk to NexGen, to my family’s legacy. It was Charles.He was the architect of this whole plan, the mastermind behind our counterattack. His brilliance, his ruthless efficiency, had both impressed and scared me. He’d been my rock, my protector, during these turbulent weeks. His presence, always reassuring, had filled a void I hadn’t even realized existed.But a shadow of doubt, a nagging whisper of suspicion, lingered in the back of my mind.His methods, sometimes, felt too brutal, too calculating. And his past, shrouded in secrecy, remained a mystery I couldn’t quite unlock.“Agatha, are you ready?” Charles’s vo
Charles POV:The taste of Agatha’s lips, a bittersweet mix of tears and uncertainty, lingered, a phantom sensation against my own. The air in the hospital room crackled with tension, thick and heavy with unspoken words, unresolved emotions.Nathan’s presence, a ghost I thought I’d banished, hung over us, a shadow tainting the intimacy I craved. His eyes, those that mirrored my own hunger for Agatha, were a constant, irritating reminder of the past, of the bond they shared—a bond I was determined to sever, once and for all.I forced a smile, my hand lingering on Agatha's cheek, a possessive gesture meant to stake my claim, to ward off any lingering hopes Nathan might harbor.“Are you feeling better now?” I asked, my voice a carefully modulated murmur.Agatha’s gaze, usually so sharp, so focused, was clouded with confusion, her eyes darting between me and Nathan, a silent plea in their depths.“I’m… I’m not a critical patient, Charles,” she said, her voice a shaky whisper, her hand fl
Agatha POV:My head throbbed, a dull, insistent ache that pulsed in time with the rhythmic beeping of a machine I couldn't quite place. I blinked, my eyes fluttering open, the harsh fluorescent lights of… a hospital room? … stinging my vision. Disoriented, I tried to sit up, a wave of dizziness washing over me, forcing me back against the starched white pillows.“Whoa, easy there.” A gentle hand pressed against my shoulder. “Just take it easy, Ms. De Rossi. You’re safe now.”A doctor, a young woman with kind eyes and a warm smile, stood beside my bed, a stethoscope dangling from her neck.“What… what happened?” I asked, my voice a raspy whisper, my throat dry and scratchy. “Where… where am I?”“You’re in the hospital, Ms. De Rossi,” she explained patiently. “You fainted in the cafeteria. Don’t worry, it’s nothing serious. Just exhaustion and… well, it seems you haven’t been taking very good care of yourself lately.”Fainted? The cafeteria… Nathan. Camille's baby…The memories of
Agatha POV:The smell of stale coffee and antiseptic hung in the air, a strange mix of comfort and despair. I sat across from Charles, the plastic table a flimsy barrier between us, a bouquet of lilies wilting beside my untouched grilled cheese sandwich. He’d insisted on bringing me here, to this dingy little café across the street from the hospital, after catching me crying in the cafeteria.The news of Camille's baby, of Nathan’s daughter being born with a heart defect, had hit me harder than I expected. It wasn't jealousy, not exactly. It was more like… a painful echo of my own losses, a reminder of the fragility of life, of the dreams that could be shattered in an instant.And then there was the guilt, a gnawing ache in my chest, the constant reminder that I was somehow responsible for this whole mess, for the tangled web of pain and betrayal that had ensnared us all."Agatha, you barely touched your food," Charles said, his voice laced with concern, his blue eyes searching mi
Charles POV:The sight of Nathan Richards slumped on the hospital floor, his shoulders shaking, his face buried in his hands, should have filled me with satisfaction. This was what I’d been working towards, wasn’t it? To break him, to strip him of everything – his company, his family, his pride. To expose him as the weak, selfish fool he truly was.But as I stood there, watching him crumble, a strange, unexpected emotion flickered within me. It wasn’t pity, not exactly. It was more like… a hollow ache, a recognition of a shared humanity I’d long forgotten.The hallway was empty, the usual bustle of nurses and visitors absent in this quiet corner, the only sound Nathan's ragged breaths and the faint hum of the vending machine down the hall.I walked towards him, my footsteps echoing on the floor. He didn't look up, his body curled in on itself, a picture of defeat. I remembered a different Nathan, the arrogant, cocky kid who'd ruled the hallways of our prep school, the charismatic
Nathan POV:I burst through the door of Camille’s hospital room, sweat dripping down my face, my chest heaving. The sterile smell of the place, usually a calming scent, only fueled the rage that was burning inside me.“Nathan? What… what are you doing here?” Camille’s voice was a mix of surprise and… was that disgust?“What the hell do you think I’m doing here?” I snarled, the words exploding out of me. “Our daughter was just born, and you… you just walk out, leaving me with nothing but a stupid note?”I was a mess. My hair was a mess, my clothes were wrinkled, and my face probably looked like I’d been through hell. But I didn’t care. I was furious. Camille had left me, announced to the world she was raising our kid alone, and I’d almost missed the birth of my own daughter because of it.“You look awful, Nathan,” Camille said, her voice flat, cold. She looked me up and down, her lip curling in a sneer.“Thanks,” I muttered, the anger turning inward, leaving a bitter taste in my m
Charles POV:I watched Agatha across the hospital cafeteria, my chest tightening at the sight of her slumped figure, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs. It should have been a moment of victory, a confirmation that my plan to break Nathan and Agatha was working. But a strange ache pulsed in my chest, a feeling that had nothing to do with winning and everything to do with… her pain.Damn it, Agatha. Why do you have to make this so complicated?I knew what had happened. Overheard Nathan’s assistant gushing on the phone about the birth of his child.“The Richards family is officially cursed!” she'd whispered, barely able to contain her glee. “The poor thing was born with some… problems. It’s really sad, but the grandparents are already talking about disowning her. You know how they are about the Richards’ bloodline.”She'd cleared her throat then, her voice back to its usual professional tone, completely oblivious to my presence.It was a cruel twist of fate, a tragedy for a child
Agatha POV:The hospital air felt heavy, thick with the smell of antiseptic and a quiet kind of panic. Every beep of a machine, every muffled cry from somewhere down the hall, every hurried whisper from the nurses, made the fear inside me grow stronger.Dad was still unconscious. The only sign he was alive was the steady rhythm of the ventilator. His face, usually so full of life, looked pale and weak. The worry lines were etched deep into his skin.I had been praying that he’d wake up. I clung to the hope that his strong will, his fighting spirit, would pull him through. But the doctor’s words, even though he tried to be gentle, kept echoing in my mind: "Critical condition." It was a constant reminder that Dad was hanging on by a thread.I was exhausted. My eyelids feel heavy, my head dizzy. I needed coffee, something to keep me going, to keep the darkness away.As I walked down the long hallway towards the cafeteria, I saw him. Charles.He was arguing with the receptionist, hi
Charles POV:“It’s been a whole day, Jasmine! Not a single call, not a text. Nothing!” I paced my office like a caged lion, my phone clutched in my hand. “Something’s definitely off.”Jasmine sighed on the other end of the line, that long-suffering sound I’d gotten used to over the years. It always made me smile, even when I was irritated.“Charles, you’re acting like a lovesick teenager,” she said, her voice a mix of amusement and exasperation.“It’s been one day. One very stressful day, I might add. Her dad is in the hospital! She probably has other things on her mind besides your… performance.”“But we were… intimate.” I lowered my voice, a smug grin spreading across my face even though I knew she couldn't see it. “Last night. After… you know, the whole Richards mess.”“You slept with her?” Jasmine’s voice was sharp, like she’d just tasted something sour. “Charles, are you serious? The woman’s father is practically dying, and you thought that was the right time to jump her bon
Agatha POV:The silk sheets clung to my bare skin, still warm from the heat of our bodies, the scent of Charles’s cologne a lingering reminder of the night we’d just spent… entangled. My heart thumped against my ribs, a frantic drum solo against the silence of his bedroom.My mind replayed the events of the previous night, a confusing mix of shock, anger, fear, and a desire I hadn't expected.It all started after Charles had punched Nathan, his fury terrifying, his possessiveness almost suffocating. Seeing Nathan’s face, bruised and bloodied, had twisted something inside me, a mix of anger at Nathan, fear of Charles, and a desperate yearning for… something I couldn't name.And then, Charles, his anger fading as quickly as it appeared, had turned to me, his eyes filled with a tenderness that felt both genuine and calculated.“Let me take care of you, Agatha,” he’d murmured, his voice a low rumble that sent shivers down my spine.He'd led me upstairs, his hand a gentle pressure on my