The grand Robinson estate loomed ahead as the car rolled to a stop in the circular driveway. Klarisse barely had time to process the nerves bubbling in her chest before the front door swung open, revealing Bronson and Angela Robinson standing side by side. Their faces, set with stern disapproval, matched the tension in the air. Alan and Kareen Fowls were just behind them, their expressions no less forbidding. Alexander groaned under his breath. “Here we go,” he muttered. Klarisse shot him a warning glance, silently urging him to hold his tongue. The moment they stepped into the opulent foyer, the scolding began. “Do you two have any idea what you’ve done?” Bronson’s voice boomed, echoing against the high ceilings. “Disappearing for days without a word!” Angela chimed in, her tone sharp with worry. “Do you understand the risks you’ve taken?” Kareen stepped forward, her voice softer but no less chastising. “What if someone had found out where you were? What if you’d been attacked?”
The soft click of the door closing behind them echoed louder in Klarisse’s ears than she thought possible. She stood frozen near the entrance of the Robinson estate’s grand master bedroom, her pulse quickening with every passing second. Alexander, standing a few feet away near the bed, seemed equally tense. Neither of them spoke as the reality of the situation sank in. It had been a long, grueling day. Dinner had been a formal affair, filled with polite conversation and carefully concealed tension. Klarisse had thought that after her and Alexander’s begrudging agreement to “try” fulfilling their parents' ultimatum, she could at least retreat to the privacy of her room to process everything. But no. Their parents had other ideas. “We’ve decided,” Angela had said with a tone that brooked no argument, “that from now on, the two of you will share a bedroom. It’s the only way to ensure there are no doubts about your union. Appearances must be maintained at all costs.” “Think of it as
The soft glow of the morning sun filtered through the heavy curtains of the master bedroom, casting a warm light over the room. Klarisse stirred, feeling the plush sheets beneath her as she slowly came to consciousness. Her mind was still hazy from sleep, and for a moment, she forgot where she was. Then, she felt it—a solid warmth draped across her. Her eyes snapped open, and she found herself nestled in Alexander's arms. One of his arms was wrapped around her waist, while his other hand rested lightly on her shoulder. His steady breathing tickled the back of her neck, and she could feel the even rise and fall of his chest against her back. Her first instinct was to freeze. *What on earth...? * She stared at the ornate ceiling, her heart racing. She didn’t dare move, afraid of waking him. A million thoughts rushed through her mind. She tried to piece together how this had happened. They’d gone to bed on opposite sides, carefully maintaining their "boundaries." But now... *Did he
When Klarisse finally came out of the bathroom, Alex was not there anymore. Her phone chimed and she quickly picked it up and saw Alex's message. “Had my bath in my own room.”Klarisse caught herself smiling on the reflection on the mirror. She imagined Alex in the shower.She messaged him back saying to meet him at breakfast.By the time Klarisse made her way to the dining room, the table was already set. A lavish spread of freshly baked croissants, fluffy scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, and a vibrant assortment of fruits awaited her. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, mingling with the soft hum of the estate's morning activity. Alexander was already seated, dressed in crisp white shirt and dark slacks, looking as composed as ever. He had a cup of coffee in hand, his focus on the tablet in front of him. The slight furrow in his brow suggested he was reading something important—or at least pretending to, Klarisse thought. "Good morning," she greeted, her voice calm as
After breakfast, Klarisse hesitated for a moment before gathering her courage to ask Alexander. "Do you mind if I drop by the café before the meeting? I need to check on things and talk to Allie." Alexander looked up from his phone, his brow lifting slightly. "Sure. I’ll come with you." She blinked in surprise, momentarily taken aback. "You don’t have to. It’s just a quick stop. I’ll only be a few minutes." He shrugged, slipping his phone into his pocket. "I don’t mind. I’ll wait for you there. Besides, it beats sitting around the estate doing nothing until the meeting." Klarisse hesitated again, unsure how to feel about his offer. The idea of him sitting in her café felt strange, almost too... domestic. "Alright," she said finally, a small smile tugging at her lips. "But I mean it—you don’t have to help. Just... sit and have some coffee." "Deal," Alex replied, a faint smirk playing on his lips. ---When they arrived at the café, Klarisse felt a wave of relief wash over her. Thi
The towering Robinson Enterprise building loomed ahead as Alexander parked the car in the underground garage. Klarisse adjusted her blazer nervously, her mind buzzing with their parents’ instructions. She glanced at Alexander, who wore his usual calm mask, though she could see the faint tension in his jawline. As they stepped into the elevator, their silence spoke volumes. Klarisse thought of the weight this deal carried—not just for the Robinsons and Fowls, but for their precarious position as newlyweds navigating this complex web of alliances. When the elevator doors opened on the executive floor, Bronson Robinson and Alan Fowls were already waiting for them, both men dressed impeccably in dark suits that radiated authority. Angela and Kareen stood nearby, their expressions poised but watchful. “You’re both late,” Bronson said curtly, checking his watch. “Traffic,” Alexander replied evenly. Bronson nodded toward the conference room at the end of the hall. “This is an important
The private restaurant was opulent, its walls adorned with golden accents and muted lighting that gave the room a warm, intimate glow. A long table in the center of the room was set with pristine white linens, crystal glasses, and fine china. It was a space designed for exclusivity, and tonight, it hosted the newly solidified alliance between the Robinsons and the Fowls. Klarisse adjusted the hem of her dress as she entered the room with Alexander by her side. The tension from the earlier meeting with Valentin Marconi had faded, replaced by a lightheartedness she rarely associated with gatherings like this. Both families seemed at ease, the weight of their successful negotiation paving the way for a moment of camaraderie. “Here they are,” Bronson said, raising his glass in a welcoming gesture as Alexander and Klarisse joined the table. “The future of our families.” Alan smiled as he stood to pour drinks. “A deal well-negotiated deserves a proper celebration. Let’s toast to our part
The soft rays of morning sunlight filtered through the heavy curtains of the master bedroom, casting a golden glow on the room. Klarisse sat up abruptly, her head pounding and her heart racing. The familiar room around her did little to quell her panic as she realized she was wearing only a silk robe. Her clothes from the previous evening were nowhere in sight. She pressed her fingers to her temples, trying to piece together the scattered fragments of last night’s celebration. The wine, the toasts, the laughter—all vivid and yet blurry at the same time. Her stomach churned with a mix of embarrassment and worry as the glaring question loomed: *How did I end up here, like this? * Her mind raced, but her body remained frozen, her hands clutching the edge of the robe as if it were the only anchor she had in a sea of uncertainty. Then, the door creaked open. Alexander entered, holding a tray of food—toast, scrambled eggs, and a steaming cup of coffee. He was dressed casually, his shirt
Two weeks after the proposal, the Robinson estate was a whirlwind of activity again—not for another battle or family council, but something far more nerve-wracking for Artemis Robinson:**Planning a wedding.**“Tell me again why we can’t just elope?” Artemis muttered, leaning against the edge of his desk in the west wing study. He was flipping through a thick leather-bound wedding planning book that Allie had left on his desk, a pencil tucked behind his ear like a reluctant student.“Because I want to walk down an aisle and make someone cry,” Allie called out as she entered, two sets of color swatches fanned in her hands. “And Klarisse’s dad *will* cry if I ask him to walk me down. I want that.”Artemis paused, setting the book down. “You’re really asking Alan and Kareen to give you away?”Allie walked over and plopped the swatches in front of him, her smile a little more tender this time. “I don’t have parents of my own, Artemis. But Klarisse’s mom and dad… they’ve always treated me
It started with a text.“Dinner at the Robinson estate. Mandatory.” — Artemis.Klarisse had laughed reading it. Artemis had never been one for flowery messages. But something in the tone—something just a little too smug, too deliberately vague—had her raising an eyebrow.So when the black cars began arriving at the estate that evening, one by one, the anticipation was palpable.Klarisse and Alex were already waiting in the garden courtyard when Artemis and Allie arrived. The warm sunset cast an amber glow over the Robinson mansion’s elegant architecture. The old stone walls seemed to welcome the peace that had finally returned after months of chaos.Allie looked radiant, though she tried to pretend she wasn’t glowing. Klarisse didn’t miss the way she kept fiddling with her hand, trying to act casual as her fingers grazed a very new, very obvious ring.Klarisse’s jaw dropped. “Is that—?”“Oh my God,” Kareen gasped from behind, having just stepped onto the patio with Alan right beside h
The quiet of the chapel was sacred.Not in the religious sense—though the carved stone walls and flickering candles held a solemn grace—but in the way it held time still. Like the universe, for once, had exhaled and let the moment stretch.Allie stepped inside, heart pounding. The heavy wooden doors shut gently behind her, and she was alone with Artemis. No guards. No family. No chaos. Just them, in this sanctuary of silence and light.Artemis turned as she entered, his hands momentarily tightening around the envelope he still held. He looked nervous—not the kind of nervous that came from fear, but the trembling tension of someone who had planned something down to the smallest detail and still hoped it would be enough.“Allie,” he breathed, almost like a prayer.She smiled, soft and shaky, her heels clicking faintly on the stone floor as she approached him. “You’ve been busy,” she said, eyes flitting over the candlelit chapel.“You deserve something beautiful,” Artemis said. “And quie
Two months may not have healed everything, but it had settled the waves—enough for the dust to breathe, for wounds to scab, and for hearts to begin beating steady again.Allie stood barefoot in the garden courtyard of the Fowl estate, the spring sun painting soft gold across her face. A breeze brushed through her hair, lifting strands and carrying the scent of fresh blooms—lavender, jasmine, and roses that Kareen had insisted on planting just outside the kitchen patio. It was peaceful here, almost deceivingly so.And yet, something tugged at her nerves.She couldn’t name it, but she could feel it—the prickle at the back of her neck, the way Artemis had been a little too quiet lately. Not distant, just… thoughtful. Intentional. Secretive, in the kind of way that made her stomach flip.“Allie?”Kareen’s voice pulled her back. Allie turned to see Klarisse’s mother walking across the stones with a tray of lemon tea and fresh fruit.“You’ve been out here for over an hour,” Kareen said gent
Two months had passed since the bloodied dusk that marked the end of Luca Marconi’s reign.The world had not paused for mourning.It moved on, rebuilding and reshaping itself, as Artemis knew it always would. The Council of Five held steady, each family returning to a new rhythm, with silence taking the place of war drums—for now.But amidst this calm after the storm, Artemis found himself tangled in a far more intimate battle: one of the heart.It was early evening when Artemis entered the private terrace of the Robinson estate, where Alexander now resided with Klarisse and the twins. The sky was streaked in soft golds and violet hues, the sea whispering beyond the hedges. Artemis was dressed with effortless elegance—dark tailored slacks, rolled-up sleeves, his usual severity slightly softened by something deeper, more thoughtful.Alexander was already there, sitting with a tumbler of scotch in hand, staring absently at the view. He glanced up, a small smirk tugging at the corner of
The silence that enveloped the Robinson mansion was a stark contrast to the chaos that had once filled its walls. The events that had transpired in the last few weeks had left their mark on everyone—physically, emotionally, and mentally. Klarisse, still recovering from her ordeal, had found solace in the comfort of her family, but a lingering tension remained between her and Alexander. The love they once shared had been tested in ways neither of them could have foreseen.As Klarisse sat on the couch in the drawing room, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of a teacup, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was still broken between her and Alexander. She knew he had made the choice to save Maxine, but the wound it had caused—her heart still ached from it.Klarisse had spent a lot of time in her own thoughts, trying to piece together the confusion that had clouded her mind ever since the rescue. She understood why he had saved Maxine first, but it didn’t stop the feeling o
The Robinson Mansion stood tall, its grandeur undeniable against the backdrop of the fading afternoon light. The vast marble pillars at the entrance gleamed under the sun, and the soft hum of the fountain echoed through the front yard. It was a place of opulence and power, but for Klarisse, it felt like something else entirely—a place that once held love, hope, and dreams, now tainted by pain and loss. But as the car carrying her, Alexander, and the twins slowly made its way up the long driveway, she couldn’t help but feel a sliver of something else too: a possibility for renewal.Klarisse looked out the window, her eyes wandering over the familiar yet distant landscape. She had spent the last several weeks in a haze of uncertainty, shuttling between the Fowl mansion and the safety of her own mind, trying to piece together the shattered fragments of her life. The twins, Lucas and Liana, had been a constant source of strength, but it hadn’t been easy. The mansion had once felt like hom
The sunlight filtered through the windows of the Fowl Estate, casting a warm, golden glow across the quiet halls. Birds chirped in the garden beyond the veranda, but the house inside was subdued—a careful silence, the kind that comes after a storm. The kind that waited.Klarisse sat near the window of the guest room she’d been staying in, a blanket draped over her lap, her hands gently wrapped around a porcelain teacup. Though her wounds had begun to heal, there was a deep ache still resting behind her ribs. She had moved little over the past few days. Her body was fragile, but her soul felt even more so.The soft patter of little feet came before the door creaked open. Lucas and Liana peeked in, holding hands. Their eyes lit up as they saw her.“Mommy,” Liana whispered.“Come in, babies,” Klarisse smiled faintly, holding her arms out. The twins ran to her, snuggling into her embrace. Lucas leaned against her side while Liana curled up in her lap.It was moments like this that reminde
The grand hall of the old Venetian villa bore the weight of generations. Marble pillars cast long shadows across the ornate floor as whispers rose and fell beneath the chandelier’s crystal glow. Seated around the long obsidian table were the most powerful leaders of the criminal underworld—an uneasy gathering of legacy, power, and lingering tension.The air was thick with quiet anticipation. The Robinsons. The Fowls. The Czerkovs. The Valens. The Santori Syndicate. These were the names that commanded fear and respect in both the legal and illegal realms of global enterprise. But now, with Luca Marconi gone and the balance of power shaken, this gathering held more at stake than ever.The seat at the head of the table remained empty.Bronson Robinson sat stone-faced near the center, with Alan Fowl seated beside him. Both patriarchs bore the weariness of recent weeks—nearly losing their children, their grandchildren, and decades of carefully held alliances. Klarisse was still recovering,