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
Agatha POV:Sleep was a luxury I couldn't afford. Every time I closed my eyes, Charles’s face would swim into view – his warm smile, his reassuring touch, those intense blue eyes that seemed to see right through me. But then, the image would twist, morphing into a shadowy figure with a hidden agenda, his words laced with deceit.Shady dealings… Xing Enterprises… Denies Allegations.The words from the article about his past echoed in my mind, a relentless, haunting refrain.I couldn't ignore it anymore. I had to confront him.“Charles, we need to talk.” My voice was tight, my hand trembling slightly as I held the phone to my ear.At the first hour in the morning, he was in my office, looking even more handsome than usual in the daylight. His tailored suit emphasized his broad shoulders, his brown eyes filled with concern.Part of me, the part that craved his touch, his reassurance, wanted to forget about the article, about my doubts. But the other part, the part that had been hurt, b
Agatha POV:The restaurant Charles chose was breathtaking. Floor-to-ceiling windows showcased the glittering cityscape, the soft jazz music created a romantic ambiance, and the air hummed with a quiet elegance that made me feel both out of place and strangely excited.But my stomach churned with a nervous energy that had nothing to do with the fancy setting or the exquisite menu. Charles, oblivious to my internal turmoil, was the picture of charm. He poured me a glass of champagne, his hand brushing mine, sending a shiver down my spine."Relax, Agatha," he said, his blue eyes sparkling with warmth. "You’re wound tighter than a drum. Enjoy the evening, let me take care of you."I tried to smile, to let his charm wash over me, but a knot of apprehension tightened in my chest. How could I relax when so much was at stake? When the man sitting across from me, the man I was falling for, might be playing a game I didn't even understand?"I'm fine, Charles," I said, forcing my voice to sound
Agatha POV:The air in Charles's car crackled with tension. We were driving away from the restaurant, but the encounter with James lingered between us, heavy and unsettling. Charles’s jaw was clenched, his hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles were white. I could practically feel the anger radiating off him, and while a part of me was grateful for his protective instincts, a bigger part felt… uneasy.He pulled onto a quiet side street, the city lights blurring through the rain-streaked windows. He turned to me, his brown eyes intense, his hand reaching out to cup my cheek.“Agatha,” he said, his voice a low rumble. “I’m sorry about that… scene back there. Wei is dangerous. Obsessed with you. I won’t let him hurt you, I promise.”His thumb brushed against my lips, sending a shiver down my spine. His touch was electric, making my heart beat faster.I wanted to lean into him, to let his warmth chase away the chill of fear that had settled over me. But a voice in
Charles’ POV:Agatha's rejection stung. I watched her disappear into her Mansion, her silhouette swallowed by the dimly lit hallway, a cold knot of anger tightening in my gut.“I need some time. Alone.” Her words echoed in my head, a slap in the face.I slammed my fist against the steering wheel. I'd been so close, so sure of myself. Everything was going according to plan. I'd saved her family's company, exposed Xing, positioned myself as her protector, the only man she could rely on.And still, she hesitates. Still, she doubts me. Because of him.Nathan. The ghost of Agatha’s past, haunting our present, a constant reminder of everything I wasn't. He was reckless, impulsive, a walking disaster. And yet, Agatha couldn't seem to shake him loose, couldn't resist the pull of their shared history.I'll erase him from her memory, Agatha. I'll make you forget he ever existed. The thought was fierce, possessive, a reflection of the growing obsession that consumed me.I drove back to my pe
Agatha POV:The ballroom was stuffy and loud, but all the chatter and fancy clothes faded away when my eyes met Nathan's across the room. He looked out of place by the bar, his tie loose and his shoulders slumped with this sadness that made my heart hurt.Even after everything – the way he hurt me, the disaster of our marriage – part of me still cared. Seeing him so lost and alone tugged at me in a way I couldn't ignore.Then Charles was there, standing next to him like some shiny, perfect opposite. He was all confidence and power, a stark difference to Nathan's weary look. I watched from afar, my heart pounding, as Charles leaned in to talk, his words too quiet to hear. But I could feel the tension between them, like an electric shock.Nathan's jaw tightened, his whole body stiffening like a trapped animal. He glanced at me for a split second, and I swear I saw desperation in his eyes, maybe even a plea for help.Charles stood up straight, a smug smile playing on his lips. He cau
Camille POV:The silence in our bedroom pressed against me like a physical weight. Nathan sat at his desk, hunched over a mountain of paperwork, his brow furrowed, jaw clenched so tight I could see the muscle jumping beneath his skin. The lamplight cast long, harsh shadows across his face, making him look years older than he was.My hand rested on my swollen belly, a wave of nausea washing over me. It wasn’t just morning sickness this time. It was a deeper unease, a growing knot of anxiety that tightened with every silent hour we spent under the same roof.Ever since the Xing Enterprises mess, since his grand gesture of "sacrifice" as the news had dubbed it, a chasm had opened between us. He was a ghost haunting our own home, his thoughts a million miles away, always circling back to Agatha.He doesn't love me. He never really did. The thought, sharp and painful, pricked at the fragile bubble of denial I'd been clinging to.He had chosen me, hadn't he? He’d asked me to marry him
Charles POV:"Are you telling me there's nothing? No credit card pings? No ATM withdrawals? No signal from his burner phone? He didn't just evaporate, Thompson!"I slammed my hand down on the polished surface of my desk, the sound sharp in the otherwise silent office.The penthouse felt less like a sanctuary and more like a cage, the walls closing in, amplifying the frantic pounding in my chest."Sir, we're tracking every lead," Thompson's voice crackled through the speakerphone, calm, infuriatingly professional."But Richards went dark. Completely off-grid after leaving the hospital that day. No financial activity, no traceable communication."
Agatha POV:FlashbackThe bathroom floor felt cold beneath my knees. Another negative pregnancy test lay stark white on the tiles.Hope, that fragile butterfly, had fluttered its wings for two long weeks, only to crash and burn again. Tears stung my eyes, hot and familiar."Aggie?" Nathan's voice came from the doorway. He stood there, already dressed in one of his perfect suits, impatience etched on his handsome face. "Are you ready? We're going to be late for the brunch."I quickly wiped my eyes, scrambling to my feet, hiding the test behind my back."Almost," I choked out, forcing a smile that felt like broken glass. "Just… touching up my makeup."
Agatha POV:Unexpected. That was one word for it.Catastrophic felt more accurate.I stared blankly at the pamphlet on prenatal vitamins she pressed into my hand. It felt heavy, alien, like an artifact from another dimension. Charles’s baby. The thought slammed into me, stealing the air from my lungs, making the room spin.Somehow, I managed to navigate the elevator, the lobby, the revolving doors, moving like an automaton. The city noise hit me as I stumbled onto the sidewalk, I needed… I needed Lena. My fingers fumbled with my phone, slick with a nervous sweat I hadn’t realized was there.Her name swam in my contacts list. I pressed call, my brea
Charles POV:The city lights, usually a comforting panorama from my penthouse windows, felt like accusing eyes tonight. Each twinkling point of light was a reminder of the precariousness of my position, the crumbling foundation of my carefully constructed world. And Agatha… she wasn’t here. Not anymore."Damn it, Richards," I muttered, swirling the amber liquid in my glass, the ice clinking a discordant rhythm against the silence. I hadn't even bothered to turn on any music. What was the point?Nathan's disappearance had thrown everything into chaos. One moment, he was a broken, defeated man, a ghost haunting the edges of Agatha's life. The next, he was… gone. Vanished.And the vultures were circling.The
Agatha POV:The walls of the conference room seemed to spin around me, the voices of the board members fading into a distant, muffled hum. I gripped the edge of the table, my knuckles turning white, my body swaying precariously."Ms. De Rossi, are you alright?" Sarah's voice, sharp with concern, cut through the fog in my brain."I… I just need a moment," I stammered, my voice a shaky whisper, my hand reaching up to my forehead, trying to steady myself, to push back the wave of dizziness that threatened to overwhelm me.But it was no use. The room tilted, the faces around the table blurring, the floor rushing up to meet me. And then, darkness.I woke up to the insistent beeping of a machine, the scent of antiseptic stinging my
Agatha POV:My office at NexGen felt alien, cold. The sleek, modern furniture, the panoramic city view – it all seemed to mock the turmoil churning inside me.The space, once a symbol of my ambition, my newfound power, now felt like a cage.The memory of that confrontation, of Charles standing right where I was, his carefully constructed mask of concern cracking to reveal the anger, the possessiveness beneath… it replayed in my mind, a chilling loop.The documents, spread across this desk, the evidence of his betrayal…I ran a hand over the smooth surface of my desk, as if I could physically feel the re
Nathan POV:A price. Of course. There was always a price."What price, Manuel?" I asked, my voice a low growl, my hand tightening into a fist, my mind racing, calculating, weighing the risks against the potential rewards.He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of ambition and… something else. Something darker. Something… dangerous."Let’s just say… a partnership, Señor Richards,” he said, his voice a smooth, persuasive hum. “A mutually beneficial arrangement. You help me… and I help you. We both get what we want.”“And what is it you want, Manuel?” I asked, my voice a challenge, my gaze unwavering
Nathan POV:"Another one, Señor Richards?"The voice, soft and accented, barely registered over the roaring in my ears. I looked up, blinking, trying to focus on the man standing before me.It was Manuel. Aldo De Rossi’s assistant. What the hell was he doing here? And how did he even find me?"Sure," I mumbled, pushing my empty glass across the rough, concrete surface. "Why the hell not?"The 'bar' was a joke. A couple of crates stacked on top of each other in the corner of this abandoned warehouse, a pathetic collection of half-empty bottles its only sto
Charles POV:"Get me Thompson on the line. Now!"My voice, usually a smooth instrument of persuasion, was a ragged bark, echoing through the sterile emptiness of my office.I paced, the expensive Persian rug a blur beneath my feet, my hands clenched into fists, my mind a chaotic storm of anger, fear, and a desperate, gnawing need for control.Agatha.Her face, her voice, her rejection… It was a relentless loop playing in my head, a constant reminder of my failure, my… vulnerability.She knew. Somehow, she knew. About Xing, about the manipulations, about… everything.And she'd thrown me out. Dismissed me