Cap. 42“Where are you? Everyone involved has already been gathered, except the one person you asked to keep confidential. Will you resolve this today?”“Where are they?”“At the service base on the outskirts of the city, at that ranch you know so well.”“Then keep them there. I won’t be able to go today.” He informed, watching Bayer discreetly, leaning to the side.“But isn’t the workday over?” He asked curiously.“Yes, but right now… I’m watching someone.”“Are you really that smitten with this woman?” He smiled, skeptical. “They say that after the first night, virgin guys want to spend their entire lives with the woman who took their virginity.” He mocked, laughing from the other side of the line.“Are you crazy? How could a guy like me be a virgin? Besides, I’m here because she’s handling Dimon’s case, and in less than a week, she’ll face the court with some accusations. I want you to get all the evidence we have filed away. She has little time to authenticate the evidence I’m goi
Chapter 43: "Interest in What?""Certainly, she is a very interesting woman," he said, smiling as if harboring a secret."I imagine how sad she must be... losing her sister in such a cruel way," Valmont sighed, pensively. Despite his words, both men kept their eyes fixed on each other while discreetly observing Lavinia, who shifted slightly, adjusting herself on the seat, still asleep.The rest of the trip passed in silence. Zen continued studying Lavinia with an almost hypnotic intensity; she seemed deeply asleep, oblivious to the attention she was attracting. Slowly, he ran the tip of his fingers along the soft curve of her cheekbone. An involuntary smile appeared on his lips as he admired every detail, as if he were gazing at a unique work of art, the most beautiful his eyes had ever seen.So immersed was he in his contemplation that he almost didn’t notice Valmont’s attentive gaze, observing him with an inscrutable expression, as if deciphering the thoughts behind every gesture."
Cap. 44: Without Humanity?"Ah, sure!" she replied, stammering slightly. "But I just woke up, and I haven’t prepared anything for breakfast yet..." she said, glancing around the room as if searching for something suspicious or out of place."First rule: enter the house. Second rule: assess the environment without drawing attention. Third rule: settle in and do a clean job," he thought, mentally revisiting the protocol that guided his actions. He never imagined that this girl would be the gateway to his next mission."It’s fine, I didn’t come for breakfast. I just wanted to see you and talk. I know the loss was very painful, and I couldn’t help but care about you, knowing you’re the sister of someone who meant so much to me," he replied, trying to soften the atmosphere with his presence."Yeah... it’s been really hard," she sighed, struggling to find the right words but unable to truly express how she felt. He noticed that she was making an effort to appear normal."Why don’t you wait
Chapter 45: Unprotected Girl?Zen arrived a bit later, finding her trying to cover the tear in her skirt, holding the fabric tightly as she walked toward the elevator.“What am I going to do now?” she muttered under her breath, pressing the elevator button quickly, praying no one would see her in this state.“What happened to you?” Zen asked, making her freeze. She shut her eyes and forced a smile, even though her face was red with embarrassment.“Looks like I need to buy better clothes. Hopefully, with this salary, I can afford some nice things,” she said nervously, biting her lower lip as she stared at the elevator panel.“Come with me,” he said suddenly, grabbing her arm.“What are you doing?”“I’m taking you to buy a new outfit. How can you walk in like this?” he asked, his concern evident. Lavínia averted her eyes, feeling even more flustered in the moment.“I’m not going anywhere right now. Do you think you own the company? I have a schedule to stick to!” she snapped, anxious.“
Cap. 46: "Did I Just Meet Mrs. Bayer?""He’s probably drowning in debt to look good for you," Zara smiled."Where is he? I want to return this blazer," Lavínia said, uncomfortable."Why don’t you give him a chance? He seems much more mature than any older man I’ve ever met.""For God’s sake, we have nothing in common!""He’s very promising, let’s admit it, huh?""I don’t know... It’s weird, you know... After getting married, the only man I was with was Evandro, and...""He never treated you the way you deserve. Honestly, he didn’t even care to protect or take care of you like this guy does. Let’s admit it—you’re shaken, aren’t you?" Zara asked with a cynical smile."Don’t be fooled; they’re all the same. The moment he finds out who I am, he’ll definitely want to bargain over me.""Only in bed," Zara joked as Lavínia walked out, holding the blazer against her chest.While they headed home with Samuel, Zen took a taxi to the rehabilitation center where his parents worked.He was well-kn
Chapter 47: "Is This Your New Home?"Lavínia woke up earlier than usual, got ready, and left without informing Zara or Samuel. She couldn't take the car either, so she called a taxi and headed out. She went to a neighborhood she already knew a little."Drive a bit slower," she requested while analyzing the area carefully until she spotted Zen. He was already dressed and walking in the opposite direction of her car. "Stop the car, please," she said softly, then crouched down so he wouldn't see her.She kept her eyes on him, noticing he was spinning a key on his finger until he stopped in front of a house and went inside."Looks like he’s not doing so bad now," she sighed, looking around. The house had no more furniture; everything had been cleared out during the same night while everyone was asleep."Not doing so bad?" Lavínia said as she entered, leaving him stunned as she curiously surveyed the place."You?" he murmured, narrowing his eyes as if he were dreaming at an inopportune mom
Cap. 48: SuspeitosLavínia waited outside, unable to contain her anxiety. After all... what had he managed to get? She couldn't help but smile skeptically, thinking he was trying to take advantage of something."Are you ready?" he asked, stepping off the porch and showing her the brown envelope, just as the gate to the neighboring house opened, and an elderly woman hunched over appeared."Good morning, sir..." she said in a slow voice, approaching the two of them. "What happened to the girl who lived in this house until yesterday?" she asked, and Zen's Adam's apple bobbed aggressively, but he quickly composed himself."Ah... the young lady who lost her sister in a tragedy?""You know her, I saw you at her house twice.""Yes, yes. After her sister's death, she wanted to move out and sell the house, you know... It was expected that she wouldn't want to stay in this neighborhood, in the same house she lived in with her sister.""But how is that possible?" the woman asked, outraged. "She
Chapter 49: The Case Will Be Won"Where did you buy these suits? They’re really nice, tailor-made, and... so intricate," she commented, examining them."My friend bought them at a thrift store.""The thirty-thousand-dollar watch too?" she asked with irony in her tone."The truth is, it’s all borrowed. Do you think I would have these things? He’s happy that I’m in such an important company and said appearance mattered, so he lent them to me.""What is he? A billionaire?""Yeah... I think so." He pressed his lips together, shrugging."And he still talks about me? Because I benefit from my rich friend?""He didn’t give me these things, he lent them to me. But I don’t live off of him; I still work and take care of my stuff. Besides... I thought you were interested in reading the documents I managed to obtain.""Of course!" she confirmed, sitting on the bed and pulling out the evidence from the envelope, tossing them onto the bed. At first glance, Lavínia was speechless when she saw everyt
Chapter 102: The Worst Enemy Has a Name and a Surname“What happened there doesn’t matter anymore as long as I’m fine,” Lavínia stated firmly.“Even so… I know that meeting wasn’t planned for either of you, but you know what’s even stranger? Mr. Romanov never told his son who Lavínia Bayer really is. He literally still has no idea who you are. It’s like he did this on purpose,” Samuel observed, intrigued.“What could be going on? I think, as a precaution, you should tell him the truth,” Zara suggested, worried about the situation.“That guy… Zen or Cedrick, whatever his name is, has nothing to do with me anymore, and we have no reason to speak to each other,” she said sharply, making it clear she didn’t want to discuss the matter any further.“Okay…” Samuel sighed, thoughtful as he glanced around the mansion. “We need to keep this completely secret for now. No one can know you’re living here,” he warned, as if an important thought had just crossed his mind.Meanwhile, Valmont was on h
Chapter 101 – A Mysterious Move"A special dinner is being announced. Mr. Romanov is throwing a party to celebrate his son's engagement, and it looks like I received an invitation too," Lavínia commented dispassionately, showing the email on her phone to her friends."Are you kidding? Why are they doing everything so fast?" Zara asked, surprised.Samuel approached and sat down next to them, curious. "Are you planning to attend this event?" he asked, looking at Lavínia."Where has he been? Has he returned to Alpha Corp?" Lavínia inquired, referring to Romanov."From what I've heard, he's been going in as if nothing happened," Samuel informed."That's strange. I thought he would never set foot in Alpha Corp again," Zara commented."So did I. When he returns, are you going to fire him?" Samuel asked Lavínia."He doesn’t know that I’m Mrs. Bayer. If he wants to leave, he can do it on his own. But if he stays, he’ll have plenty of reasons to walk out. I don’t care what he does anymore. I n
Chapter 100 – A Hidden Truth"When were you planning to tell me what’s going on?" Samuel asked, his voice filled with reproach as he opened the envelope containing their medical exams."I wasn’t hiding anything, I was going to tell you..." Zara muttered, her head lowered, drawing a worried look from Lavínia."What’s happening with Zara? And why did you decide to return to the city so quickly?" Lavínia questioned, her voice edged with surprise and anger."Because this is the best place for both of you. In our old town, there aren’t doctors equipped to handle your delicate conditions. When I took Zara to the doctor, I found out that she’s been treating a brain tumor for a year. It doesn’t seem to be progressing, but she still needs treatment to prevent it from turning malignant. But she’s been hiding it and hasn’t been undergoing treatment for an entire year. What do you think is going to happen?" Samuel directed the question at Zara, who looked away, unable to hold back her tears."Zar
Chapter 99: The Unspoken TruthZara stumbled backward, startled, and the jar shattered on the floor, its sharp sound echoing through the kitchen. The light flickered on, revealing a chaotic scene: glass shards scattered everywhere and Zara, pale. Samuel rushed toward her, concern etched on his face.“Don’t move,” he ordered, his voice firm, cutting through the silence. His eyes scanned the floor, assessing the extent of the disaster. The shards of glass sparkled under the light, like tiny malevolent stars.With careful movements, Samuel approached Zara, avoiding the glass fragments.“What are you doing?” she asked, her voice trembling. His proximity made her nervous, yet comforted her at the same time.He carefully picked her up, feeling the lightness of her body. The sensation of holding her in his arms was strangely familiar. He placed her gently on the cold marble table.“How can you be so careless?” he scolded, his voice softer than the tone he’d used before. His eyes shifted to t
Chapter 98 - The Secrets We Hide“We need to go back now!” Zara hurriedly warned. Lavínia, calm, continued getting ready as if nothing important was happening.“Go back? Being here feels so good,” she sighed, indifferent, her eyes focused on the mirror.“God… I can’t believe we did this!” Zara threw herself onto the bed, covering her face with her hands. The guilt and shame consumed her.“What are you talking about?” Lavínia asked, not understanding her friend's reaction.“Didn’t you realize what we were doing?” Zara asked, incredulous. Lavínia’s expression, however, was one of genuine confusion. “Samuel, we didn’t even care that he was a man. How many times has he seen you without clothes?”“Oh… many times, I think,” Lavínia sighed, as if recalling a distant memory. “He’s like my bodyguard. Although at first, I did it on purpose, it was a test to see if he was really focused on his work and took it seriously. And he managed to earn his place and rise in his career, becoming one of t
Chapter 97: Confessions and Revelations“How come? I didn’t see anyone.” Zara stopped, incredulous.“Are you sure?” he asked, a tone of irony in his voice, fixing his gaze on her as he stood in front of her with his arms crossed, his muscles accentuated by his short-sleeve cotton shirt with a small opening at the collar.“Yes, normally you always disappear when there’s a woman around, but I haven’t seen anyone these days.”“Oh... you haven’t seen any women?” he asked with sarcasm.“No!”“It could be, maybe I’m walking around with an angel. She’s as beautiful as one.” he sighed, while Zara kept her attention on his subtle smile, not realizing who he was referring to. Zara crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.“Who?” she sighed, placing a hand on her chest as if feeling her heartbeat quicken.“You’re so slow, I haven’t been seeing other women because I’ve been seeing one already, and she tends to put her foot in my face.” Samuel averted his gaze as though hiding something.
Chapter 96: The Unseen Secrets"Finally, you got out of that crazy department, huh?" Cintia said enthusiastically, guiding him into the room."Is this where I'll stay?" he asked, his voice laced with a mix of surprise and distrust. After all, why such a big and well-equipped room for him, all of a sudden? The room was spacious, with modern furniture and a stunning view of the city."Considering your specialization, you should've taken over this room a long time ago. We have a list of staff to attend to during your off hours as well. I'll warn you, the employees who work directly with Bayer are the most demanding. They become machines, I believe there's not one who doesn’t cause problems that could lead to stress or even a heart attack.""This woman seems really troublesome," he commented indifferently, though a strange sense of unease stirred inside him."You don’t know her?" she asked, eyeing him curiously."Not really," he replied, his gaze distant."Bayer really chose to hide well,
Cap. 95: The Love I SoughtWhen Cedrick opened his eyes, darkness enveloped him like a cloak. The smell of mold and dust was suffocating, mixed with a faint odor of metal that made him nauseous. He tried to get up, but a sharp pain ran through his back, making him groan. The walls seemed to move, shadows dancing in a macabre ballet. Where was he? What had happened?The memory of the argument with Romanov and the needle being driven into his arm came rushing back. A wave of panic surged through him. He was trapped.His father had taken him to the worst place. The image of Romanov smiling, with that look of triumph, appeared in his mind, sending a shiver down his spine, as his childhood memories came flooding back, taking shape in that filthy place.With difficulty, he managed to crawl to the door. His hands trembled as he tried to open the rusted doorknob. With each attempt, fear grew. The door wouldn’t budge. He started banging loudly, screaming for help, but his cries were lost in th
Chapter 94: A Web of Deceit"Are you already like this? Have you met his mother? What is she like?" Lavinia asked."She only gave us a room, thinking we were a couple. We were super uncomfortable, no bed, and she gave us a mattress to sleep on the floor. He didn't deny it, just smiled. His mom is so sweet, she treated me so well." Zara sighed, filled with nostalgia."That's good. I never met his mother, actually, I never even knew anything about his family in the years we've worked together. But I know he has a lot of emotional baggage; a lot happened to him while he was working for the state as a soldier." Lavinia said with anticipation."Ah... I know, he's always out having fun and dating different women, but what's funny is that it seems like he's trying to suppress something inside him." Zara observed, thoughtful. That vulnerable side of Samuel intrigued her."Maybe..." Lavinia commented, deep in thought. "You can use this time at his mother's boarding house to learn more about hi