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 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 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 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 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 103 – The Mystery of Mrs. Bayer"I don’t know anything about her illness, if she had any signs that she might develop it… She’s going to have to start doing tests. This disease is too cruel," Samuel commented with concern."I'm scared..." Zara murmured."Lavinia doesn’t help. This way, we won’t be able to protect her from anything," Samuel grumbled, lost in thought."What are you planning to do?""I'm going to investigate why she’s still married to Bowen and why she refuses to divorce him. It’s impossible that she still loves that man. And if she did, why would she have gotten involved with Zen? She’s not like that," he murmured, deep in thought.At Alpha Corp, Zen was now trying in every way possible to find out who Mrs. Bayer was. With every employee directed to him, with every interview, he slipped Mrs. Bayer into the conversation."How has it been working alongside Mrs. Bayer?" he asked one of the senior attorneys who worked near Lavinia Bayer. He was surprised to discover
Chapter 104 – A Long Story"Are you okay?" Zen asked, extending a handkerchief and carefully wiping the corner of Cintia’s lips."Heavens... This is going to be so much fun," Cintia remarked, her gaze fixed on the trio entering the restaurant."What are you talking about?" He turned, facing the trio. His eyes met Lavínia’s for a few seconds before he quickly looked away, as if indifferent."Looks like I won’t be having a peaceful lunch in this restaurant," she commented, turning back to her plate and stabbing her fork into the food with boredom."You let trivial things like this affect your appetite? I’m starving," he said indifferently, enjoying his meal while Cintia simply observed.Lavínia, on the other hand, remained still, watching them from afar."So? I never thought we’d run into them this quickly," Zara commented, keeping her gaze on Lavínia, who seemed unaware of her presence."Should we go to another restaurant?" Samuel suggested to Lavínia, but she just shrugged and headed
Chapter 105 – A New Problem Arises“Are you taking bets or something?” Zen asked darkly as he stood up abruptly, startling everyone around him.“We’re not mocking you, it’s just that—”“You’re right. If you want, you can bet, but if I were you, I’d get out of this company.” He muttered, his voice laced with frustration.“So, are you leaving then?” one of the lawyers asked, curiosity in their tone.“I haven’t found what I’m looking for yet,” Zen replied before walking away with firm steps.He headed upstairs. The moment he entered, it was as if the place had turned into complete chaos. Boxes were stacked in every corner, and prosecutors rushed back and forth, flipping through documents, trying to organize the mess.“Oh… Lavínia’s assistant has arrived!” one of the men announced with an ironic smile.“Ah, great. Assistant Obedon, we need you to take these boxes to the storage room, if possible, right now. We’re in the middle of reorganizing. With Bayer taking ownership of Dimon Enterpri
Chapter 112: The Storm Unleashed"Just close your eyes and pretend you're asleep," Mery whispered to the boy trembling beside her, clinging to her as if she could shield him from the world."Is he going to hit you because of that woman?" his voice came out shaky as he buried his face in her chest."Don't worry, it's nothing that hasn't happened before," Mery forced a smile, but the fear in her eyes was as evident as the sound of heavy footsteps echoing down the corridor, drawing closer.The door burst open, and the room seemed to shrink under the overwhelming presence of Romanov, followed by a small entourage. Jenner stormed in right after, dramatically pointing at the woman lying on the bed."This woman hit me!" she accused, her voice laced with false indignation.Mery remained motionless, eyes shut, breath held, feigning deep sleep."How could she have attacked you?" Romanov asked, crossing his arms and fixing Jenner with a cold stare. "She's under the effects of sedatives.""You th
Chapter 111 – The Poison of BetrayalShe stealthily followed the door to the room, approaching carefully until she heard a child’s cry for help:“Please, leave my older brother alone!”“What are you doing, Jenner?” Lavínia asked as she entered the room, shocked by the scene.“Please! She wants to hurt my brother!” the boy cried, clutching Jenner’s dress, but she pushed him away with a rough gesture.“Stay away from me! I’m not doing anything! I just want my fiancé back!” Jenner shouted, moving toward Zen, who lay sprawled on the floor, struggling to keep his eyes open.On the bed, a woman who had seemed to be asleep began to stir, groggy, trying to understand the commotion around her.“Jenner, what did you do to him?” Lavínia demanded, moving closer to Zen. He was trying to sit up but was so disoriented that he could barely move.“Nothing much! You all need to stop interfering in our lives! For your information, he’s my fiancé! And you…” Jenner’s eyes burned with fury as she pointed a
Chapter 110 – Hidden TensionsLavínia grew more anxious with each passing minute of the dance, especially with Romanov’s hands on her. Her tension built up until Samuel approached them.“I believe I can steal our hostess for a dance, right?” Samuel asked with a polite smile.Lavínia nodded subtly, smiling discreetly as she stepped away from Romanov, leaving him frustrated. He was forced to release her, well aware of the numerous eyes watching them at the party.“Thank you...” Lavínia sighed softly as Samuel led her across the ballroom.“He still seems to be in love with you,” Samuel teased, casting a quick glance at Romanov.“We’ve been at a different level for a long time. The only thing he could possibly want for me now is death.”“You might not be wrong. Still... you’ve drawn quite a bit of attention.”“Yes. I need you to help me with something before everyone finds out who I really am.”“Most of them already know. The one who doesn’t is your lover,” Samuel remarked seriously, lean
Chapter 109 – A Dangerous Dance"I didn't just see it. When you went upstairs, I followed you and even covered for you when you entered the room with that woman.""What do you mean?" he asked, confused."Your father wanted to know where you were going and told me to go up and keep an eye on you. Let's just say he wants me to tie you down at any cost, and I wouldn’t mind trying. He even suggests that I should get pregnant as soon as possible. What do you think?""Is that what you want?" he asked, his gaze sharp."Actually, the night you spent with Lavínia was with me. And he hopes I managed to get pregnant that night.""What are you up to?""You owe me a night and a baby," Jenner said with a defiant look."I don't owe you anything. After all, you shouldn't have covered for me.""And caused a scandal? What you did before this wedding doesn't matter, but I really want to marry you. And not just because of my parents' pressure anymore," she confessed."Jenner... I told you, I have no eyes
Chapter 108 - A Masked PresenceLavínia didn’t get a look at the car, just like Samuel, who seemed indifferent to knowing who was living in the mansion next door."Why are you so interested in knowing who it is? Are you wondering if it’s some rich young guy?" Samuel asked, drawing her gaze, which showed no reaction."Are you implying that I’m after a rich man? That doesn’t make any sense." Zara retorted, her voice laced with irony."Why are you two even arguing?" Lavínia asked, confused, noticing the tension between them. They quickly changed the subject to cover it up.There was still half an hour before the party when Zen arrived at the Romanov mansion. The living room had only a few guests, so he sat down on the couch, leaning back with a discreet groan of pain."Is Jenner here already?" he asked Valmont, who was standing nearby, observing the room."She’ll arrive with her parents. There will be quite a few important people here tonight, and your identity won’t be a secret to the m
Chapter 107: The Unexpected Rescue.He ended the call, throwing his phone onto the sink with more force than necessary. Then, he composed himself, the white t-shirt clinging to his body, and left the office, forgetting the button-up shirt he had tossed into the sink. He had no idea how much time had passed, but the feeling of emptiness was strange. He put on his blazer, adjusting it over his shoulders, and headed for the elevator.When he reached the parking lot, Valmont was waiting, leaning against his car, his expression impassive.“What are you doing? Making sure I don’t run away?” Zen asked, irony evident in his voice.“You know, I’m responsible for making sure you fulfill your missions. And your obligation right now is to attend your engagement party,” Valmont replied, fixing his gaze toward the elevator, where three people had just stepped out. Zen turned to look at them.“Looks like wherever I go, she’ll be there,” he murmured, averting his gaze. “At least I won’t see her at th
Chapter 106 - The Weight of Secrets"We really have quite a situation here," Zara commented, turning her attention to the outside through the glass, a mischievous smile on her lips. When she noticed Lavínia clearing her throat in discomfort, she turned to her friend."What are you talking about?" Lavínia asked, pretending not to have heard, but her eyes couldn't hide her curiosity."I get it... I totally get it. How could he use you and now be engaged to someone else?" Zara remarked, her gaze fixed on Zen, who was distracted by his phone."You too?" Lavínia asked skeptically, trying to disguise the jealousy consuming her. "He didn't use me. After all, I’m the married one here, as far as I know. Go over there and make him do something else," she ordered, trying to sound indifferent, though the tension in her voice was evident."Why? It’s been so long since we had a... you know, a distraction? The girls could use a break like this, and what better than to just look and..." Zara trailed
Chapter 105 – A New Problem Arises“Are you taking bets or something?” Zen asked darkly as he stood up abruptly, startling everyone around him.“We’re not mocking you, it’s just that—”“You’re right. If you want, you can bet, but if I were you, I’d get out of this company.” He muttered, his voice laced with frustration.“So, are you leaving then?” one of the lawyers asked, curiosity in their tone.“I haven’t found what I’m looking for yet,” Zen replied before walking away with firm steps.He headed upstairs. The moment he entered, it was as if the place had turned into complete chaos. Boxes were stacked in every corner, and prosecutors rushed back and forth, flipping through documents, trying to organize the mess.“Oh… Lavínia’s assistant has arrived!” one of the men announced with an ironic smile.“Ah, great. Assistant Obedon, we need you to take these boxes to the storage room, if possible, right now. We’re in the middle of reorganizing. With Bayer taking ownership of Dimon Enterpri
Chapter 104 – A Long Story"Are you okay?" Zen asked, extending a handkerchief and carefully wiping the corner of Cintia’s lips."Heavens... This is going to be so much fun," Cintia remarked, her gaze fixed on the trio entering the restaurant."What are you talking about?" He turned, facing the trio. His eyes met Lavínia’s for a few seconds before he quickly looked away, as if indifferent."Looks like I won’t be having a peaceful lunch in this restaurant," she commented, turning back to her plate and stabbing her fork into the food with boredom."You let trivial things like this affect your appetite? I’m starving," he said indifferently, enjoying his meal while Cintia simply observed.Lavínia, on the other hand, remained still, watching them from afar."So? I never thought we’d run into them this quickly," Zara commented, keeping her gaze on Lavínia, who seemed unaware of her presence."Should we go to another restaurant?" Samuel suggested to Lavínia, but she just shrugged and headed