Charles POV:The phone felt heavy in my hand, the smooth surface slick with a cold sweat that had nothing to do with the humid air. Richards’s voice, desperate and raw, echoed in my mind, a discordant note in the carefully orchestrated symphony of my life.“Campbell. It’s Richards. We need to talk. It’s about Agatha. And James Wei. I know everything.”Everything? What did he mean by that? How much did he know?My carefully constructed plans, the intricate web I’d woven around Agatha, were they about to unravel?Panic, cold and sharp, clawed at the edges of my composure. I forced it down, replacing it with a mask of calm indifference.“Richards,” I said, my voice smooth, controlled, a stark contrast to the frantic beating of my heart. “What a… pleasant surprise. To what do I owe this unexpected call?”“Don’t play coy with me, Campbell,” he snarled, his voice a low growl, laced with a desperation that sent a shiver down my spine.“I know about James. About what he did. About what you’
Charles POV:The boardroom buzzed with the low murmur of hushed conversations, the clinking of champagne flutes, and the scratching of pens against crisp, expensive paper.The air thrummed with a potent mix of relief, anticipation, and the subtle undercurrent of rivalry that always permeated these high-stakes gatherings.We’d done it. The partnership between Campbell Enterprises and NexGen was official. Signed, sealed, and delivered.My gaze drifted to Agatha, who was standing across the room, accepting congratulations from a gaggle of board members and investors.She looked radiant, her emerald green dress a vibrant splash of color against the muted tones of the boardroom.Her smile was dazzling, her laughter a melodic counterpoint to the dull hum of business chatter.But even from across the room, I could see the shadows in her eyes, the lingering sadness that clung to her like a second skin.The weight of her father’s illness, the messy drama with Nathan, and now the added pressure
Agatha POV:The salty air whipped through my hair, carrying with it the rhythmic roar of the ocean. We were strolling along the beach, hand in hand, the setting sun painting the sky in hues of orange, pink, and purple. It was magical, a scene ripped straight from a movie, and a stark contrast to the sterile hospital rooms and tense board meetings that had consumed my life lately.Charles had been true to his word. He’d whisked me away on a spontaneous getaway, a much-needed escape from the pressures of NexGen, the lingering shadow of Nathan, and the ever-present questions surrounding James.He’d rented a secluded beach house, a cozy haven nestled among the dunes, with panoramic ocean views and the sound of crashing waves as a constant lullaby.“Remember the last time we were at the beach together?” he asked, his thumb stroking the back of my hand, a touch that sent shivers down my spine.A laugh escaped my lips, a light, carefree sound I hadn’t realized I was capable of making anymo
Charles POV:"Pathetic, isn't he?"Councilman Hayes's words, laced with disdain, cut through the polite murmur of the charity gala. I didn't need to turn to know who he was referring to.I followed his gaze across the room, a wry smile playing on my lips. Nathan Richards, the once-mighty heir to the Richards empire, was a shadow of his former self. He stood alone by the bar, his usually impeccable suit rumpled, his tie loosened, his hair disheveled, his gaze fixed on Agatha with a desperate, almost predatory intensity.He looked like a caged animal, pacing back and forth, his eyes darting around the room, a mixture of anger, frustration, and a raw, exposed vulnerability that was almost… painful to watch."He's losing it, Charles," Hayes continued, his voice a low, conspiratorial murmur. "The company's in shambles, his family's turning against him, and now… this."He gestured towards Nathan with a subtle nod of his head."Publicly begging his ex-wife to take him back? It's… embarrass
Nathan POV:The music was too loud, the laughter too bright, the champagne too bitter.Each clink of a glass, each polite chuckle, each congratulatory pat on Agatha’s back felt like a punch to my gut.I stood in the shadows, a ghost at this opulent feast, watching the life I’d thrown away unfold before my eyes.And there she was, the center of it all, radiant in a black dress that clung to every curve.Agatha.My Agatha.Laughing, smiling, her eyes sparkling with a joy that was no longer meant for me.And Charles. Always Charles.He stood beside her, a constant presence, his hand resting a little too comfortably on the small of her back, his smile a little too intimate, his gaze a little too possessive.He was a serpent, slithering his way into her life, whispering poison in her ear, blinding her with his charm and carefully constructed lies.Each time he touched her, a fresh wave of rage, hot and thick, washed over me, threatening to drown me in its intensity.Each time she laughed a
Agatha POV:The cool night air was a welcome balm against my heated skin, a stark contrast to the stifling atmosphere of the ballroom.The charity gala, a whirlwind of forced smiles, polite conversations, and the clinking of champagne glasses, had left me feeling drained, emotionally exhausted.I leaned against the railing of the terrace, the cold metal a grounding presence beneath my fingertips.I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath, trying to find a moment of peace, a sliver of clarity amidst the storm raging within me.The partnership with Campbell Enterprises was a success, a strategic victory that had secured NexGen’s future, or at least, bought us some time.But the triumph felt hollow, overshadowed by the personal turmoil that seemed to follow me like a shadow.Nathan’s desperate attempts to win me back, Charles’s increasingly possessive behavior, James’s cryptic warnings, and now Camille’s raw vulnerability and unexpected kindness – it was all too much, a tangled web of emoti
Nathan POV:I stood outside Aldo De Rossi’s hospital room, my hand hovering over the door handle, my resolve wavering.What was I doing here?Did I really think that facing Agatha’s father, the man I’d wronged, the man whose company I’d nearly destroyed, would somehow make things right?Agatha’s words, spoken weeks ago in the sterile confines of the hospital cafeteria, echoed in my mind: “You think this… ‘noble sacrifice’ makes everything okay? You think it erases everything else, everything you’ve done?”She was right.My actions, my desperate attempt to sabotage Xing Enterprises, to protect NexGen, to protect her… it didn’t erase the past.It didn’t change the fact that I’d betrayed her, hurt her, thrown away our marriage like it was nothing.But I had to try.I had to do something. Not for her, not anymore. But for myself. To prove to myself that I wasn't the same selfish, arrogant bastard I used to be.Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door and stepped inside.The room was d
Agatha POV:“You’ve been awfully quiet, my dear. Something on your mind?”Dad’s voice, though weakened by his illness, still held its familiar sharpness, cutting through the silence that had settled between us.He was propped up in his hospital bed, looking frail against the crisp white sheets, but his gaze was as perceptive as ever.I forced a smile, my fingers tracing the edge of the worn, get-well card on his bedside table.“Just thinking about NexGen, Dad. The board meeting next week…”“Ah, the sharks are circling,” he said, a dry chuckle rumbling in his chest. “Don’t you worry about them, Agatha. You’ll handle them. You’re a De Rossi.”“I know, Dad. But it’s a lot. And with you here…” My voice trailed off, the unspoken fear hanging heavy in the air. The fear of losing him, of facing this battle alone.He reac
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