The door clicked shut behind them, sealing them away from the chaos downstairs.Adrian lowered Crystal gently onto the edge of the bed, his touch surprisingly careful. Crystal tried to focus on anything but the pain searing through her leg, but it was impossible. The burn throbbed, and she bit down on her lip to keep from wincing too much.Adrian crouched in front of her, reaching for the small medical kit he had pulled from the drawer. Unlike before, his face wasn’t unreadable—it was softer now, the tension in his features replaced by something else. Guilt.“I’m sorry,” he murmured, unscrewing a bottle of antiseptic.Crystal blinked, startled by his tone.“I’m sorry I had to put you in all of this,” Adrian continued, dipping a piece of cotton into the liquid. “But it’ll be over soon.”There was determination in his voice, firm yet gentle.Crystal’s brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”Adrian hesitated. “When the time is right… I’ll tell you.”Something about the way he said it sent a
The dim glow of the bedside lamp cast long shadows across Olivia’s room, but she hardly noticed. Her grip tightened around her phone as she dialed the investigator’s number again.Ring.No answer.Her nails tapped impatiently against the nightstand. She had called at least five times already, and still—nothing.Ring.No answer.A deep scowl settled on her face as she inhaled sharply, frustration bubbling in her chest. How dare he ignore her? She paid him well, expected results, and now he was nowhere to be found?Ring.Still nothing.With a sharp growl, she threw her phone onto the bed, pacing furiously. This wasn’t like him. He had always been efficient, reliable. But ever since that strange phone call, ever since she heard the fear in his voice, something had shifted.She raked a hand through her hair, trying to suppress the anger rising in her throat."This is ridiculous," she muttered, snatching up her phone once more.One last time.She dialed again, her jaw clenched, her foot ta
The air in the grand living room remained heavy with an eerie silence. The only sound was the faint ticking of the antique clock on the wall.The tall man adjusted his suit before clearing his throat. “Christian, I presume?”Christian gave a small nod, his expression unreadable.The man extended a firm hand. “I’m Robert… Ilda’s father.”Christian shook his hand, his mind quickly piecing things together. So, this was the man who had abandoned Ilda all those years ago. His eyes flickered toward Olivia, but she had already looked away, avoiding Robert’s gaze as if the mere sight of him was unbearable.Ilda let out a low chuckle, arms still folded. “What brings you here if I may ask?” Her smile was sharp, edged with something dangerously close to amusement, but her eyes carried none.Robert sighed and pulled out a small stack of papers from his jacket. “Look at these,” he said, handing them to her. “I’ve been ill for years. I didn’t run away, Ilda. I could never leave my family behind. Yo
The morning light filtered through the grand windows of the mansion, casting long, golden rays across the polished floors. The faint hum of activity could be heard from the kitchen as the chefs prepared breakfast.Ilda stood by the mirror in the hallway, adjusting the collar of her fitted dress. A triumphant smile curved on her lips. Today was the beginning of something new.Downstairs, Olivia sat at the dining table, scrolling through her phone, her other hand idly stirring a cup of tea. The soft clinking of the spoon against the porcelain was the only sound until footsteps echoed from the staircase.Christian appeared, neatly dressed in a tailored suit, his expression calm as he approached the table. He greeted Olivia with a brief nod. “Good morning, Mom.”Olivia glanced up and gave a half-hearted smile. “Morning, Christian.”Ilda entered right after, looking effortlessly stylish yet professional. Christian’s gaze softened as he saw her. As Christian sat down, he called one of the
Olivia froze, her lips pressed into a thin line as Robert’s words sank in. “Old friend?” she hissed, her tone thick with resentment. “You must be delusional.”Robert smirked, stepping closer, his rugged face now more visible under the soft light streaming through the hallway. His once sharp features had grown slightly worn with age, but his piercing gaze remained the same intense and almost teasing. “Come on, Liv,” he whispered, his deep voice holding a familiar warmth. “Is that how you welcome your old flame?”Olivia's breath hitched, and for a moment, memories surged like a tidal wave late-night whispers, hidden glances, his rough hands tracing her skin when they thought no one was watching. She clenched her fists, pushing those thoughts away. “Don’t you dare,” she warned, her voice trembling.Robert’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “You still look beautiful when you’re angry,” he murmured, reaching out as if to touch her face. Olivia took a quick step back, her heartbeat hammer
The ride to the office was smooth, but Ilda’s mind raced with a thousand thoughts. Dressed impeccably in a tailored beige blouse tucked into a dark pencil skirt, her long hair flowing gracefully down her back, she couldn’t help but admire her reflection in the car’s side mirror. The corners of her lips curled up with satisfaction. Finally, this was her moment walking into Christian’s company as his woman and the second boss.He barely spoke throughout the drive, his attention on some documents on his tablet. Ilda stole occasional glances at him, wondering if he even noticed how stunning she looked. When they finally pulled up at the towering glass building, she felt her heart beat faster. Christian stepped out first, and before Ilda could open her door, the security guard rushed forward, pulling it open for her with a polite bow.As she stepped out, Ilda adjusted her blouse, keeping her head high. Ilda relished the admiration or was it curiosity? in their eyes. She didn’t care. Tod
The house was unusually quiet. Crystal sat alone in the living room, curled up on the plush, oversized couch. The faint hum of the TV was the only sound breaking the silence. She absentmindedly flipped through channels until the news caught her attention."Breaking News: The prestigious Blake Corporation has appointed Miss Ilda as the Vice President of Operations. CEO Christian Blake expressed his confidence in her abilities during a press conference earlier today..."Crystal's hands tightened around the remote. A rush of emotions overwhelmed her, and without thinking, she switched off the TV, tossing the remote onto the couch."Why can’t they just leave me alone...?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "They’re far away, but I still suffer from the pain."Just then, the door creaked open. Adrian stepped in, carrying a small bag from the hospital. His face looked weary, dark circles shadowing his eyes, but he stopped when he saw Crystal's distressed face."Hey," he greeted softly, rem
A heavy silence lingered between them, both afraid to break the moment. Adrian’s heartbeat echoed in her ear, steady and reassuring, and for a brief second, it felt like nothing else in the world mattered.Crystal finally spoke, her voice muffled against his chest. “Why are you so kind to me?”Adrian pulled back slightly, just enough to look into her eyes, his fingers still lightly grazing her shoulders. A hint of vulnerability crossed his face. “Because you deserve kindness, Crystal. You’ve been through so much... and I just want to see you smile again.”A soft smile tugged at the corners of her lips, but it quickly faded. “Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever find happiness.”He cupped her face gently, his thumb tracing the line of her cheekbone. “You will. I promise. And I’ll be right here to make sure of it.”A tear slipped down her cheek, and Adrian brushed it away, his gaze never leaving hers. Without thinking, she leaned into his touch, feeling her chest tighten with an emotion she
The clock chimed softly from the corner of the Blake mansion’s expansive hallway as the evening shadows crept longer against the marble floor. The soft glow from the crystal chandelier bounced off the glassware neatly arranged on the dining table, where Robert and Ilda sat, casually picking at their dinner. A few maids shuffled quietly in the background, pouring drinks and ensuring everything was in perfect order.Ilda, dressed in a sleek satin wrap dress that shimmered under the light, twirled her fork with a distant smirk playing at the corner of her lips. She leaned in closer to Robert, who was telling her something in a hushed tone, a glass of wine in his hand.Just then—SLAM!The front door burst open with a thunderous bang, echoing like a gunshot across the hall.Everyone froze.Robert’s hand paused mid-air, his fork hovering just above his plate. Ilda sat up straight instantly, the smirk on her face vanishing. Even the maids stilled, casting each other uncertain glances.Heavy
The evening sun cast a golden hue across the Blake residence, but inside, the atmosphere was far from warm.Olivia sat stiffly on the edge of the living room couch, her eyes scanning the floor as if searching for answers buried in the tile. A cup of untouched tea rested on the table before her, steam long gone cold.Robert walked in quietly, his shirt sleeves rolled up, a calm look plastered across his face. He took a deep breath and sat beside her.“I spoke to Ilda,” he began, gently, almost too gently. “She promised she won't do anything with that footage. She said she only wanted to scare you.”Olivia’s eyes didn’t move from the floor. Her lips tightened slightly, then parted. “You believe her?”Robert exhaled. “Olivia, she’s carrying Christian’s child. She's just... emotional. All that energy—she doesn’t know how to control it. But she gave me her word.”That was the wrong thing to say.Olivia’s head snapped toward him, her eyes suddenly sharp, searching his face for any hint of d
The sun barely pierced through the cloudy sky as Christian’s black car rolled into the private company garage. The tires came to a silent halt, and the door opened smoothly with the help of a security guard. Christian stepped out—his face carved in stone. The sharp cut of his black suit echoed authority, but his eyes were dim, as if weighed down by something heavier than fatigue.He adjusted the cuff of his shirt mechanically, his gold wristwatch flashing briefly under the dull morning light. His walk was brisk and deliberate. The moment he entered the building, the atmosphere changed."Good morning, sir," a few employees greeted with half-smiles and nervous nods.He didn’t respond, just a stiff nod of acknowledgment. The elevator ride up was silent, the digital floor numbers blinking one by one until he arrived at the top.His secretary rose immediately from her desk. "Mr. John is waiting for you inside, sir."Christian gave a slight nod and walked into his office.John stood by the
The sky had already started to turn amber as evening rolled in. Crystal had spent nearly the whole day quietly in the house, replaying childhood memories in her mind like soft music. The moment she whispered, “Can’t believe I’m one year older today,” she had no idea her words would set something in motion.Now, the house was unusually quiet. She had spent most of the afternoon alone, her eyes occasionally drifting to the clock. Adrian hadn’t returned since morning. Even the workers seemed oddly silent. A part of her had tried to shake off the earlier disappointment, but it lingered. Maybe he really forgot, she thought.Just as she stood up to go upstairs and call it a day, there was a gentle knock on her room door.“Ma’am,” one of the housekeepers said with a warm smile, “please, come with me.”Crystal blinked, confused. “Where to?”“Please, ma’am. Just follow.”With hesitant steps, Crystal followed the woman out of the house and into the garage. But the moment the large doors slowly
The morning sunlight spilled through the tall curtains, casting golden beams over the room as Crystal slowly blinked herself awake. The sheets felt warm, and the air held a rare kind of peace. For a moment, she lay still, listening to the birds chirping just outside the window and the faint swish of tree branches swaying in the wind.Then, memories began to surface—soft, delicate ones wrapped in laughter and love.Her mother’s voice, singing in the kitchen while baking her favorite cake…Her father’s off-key birthday song every single year, just to make her laugh…The handmade birthday cards with little drawings…The feeling of being home.A faint smile curved Crystal’s lips as her fingers brushed against her small baby bump. She whispered gently to herself, her voice light as air, “I can’t believe I’m one year older today…”She let out a soft sigh, blinking away the sting that threatened to cloud her eyes. Just as she turned her face to the window again, the door clicked open. She tu
Christian’s heart dropped. “My mother’s?”John nodded, eyes narrowing. “But it doesn’t make sense. The IP address was rerouted. Someone used a cloaked protocol to imitate her clearance. These aren’t random hacks. They were executed from within your company’s network. Someone with access... and knowledge of your system.”Christian’s fists tightened. “Who was the last person to log in under that clearance?”“Here,” John pointed, eyes scanning the string of data on his screen. “This transaction… it was executed using Olivia’s executive clearance.”Christian’s heart pounded. “My mother’s?”John gave a tight nod, his brows drawn together in concern. “Yes. But something’s not adding up. The IP address was rerouted. There was a cloaking protocol that used advanced stuff. It made it appear like Olivia logged in herself, but the location pinged internally from your company’s main server.”Christian’s fists balled at his sides. “So you’re saying it’s someone inside.”“Exactly. Someone with both
The soft glow from the vanity mirror lit Ilda’s room in a warm hue as she gently brushed her hair. She ran her hand down the sides of her body, her eyes locking on her slightly rounded belly reflected in the mirror. A quiet sigh escaped her lips.“I can’t believe I’m looking all big already,” she muttered, pulling back slightly and examining her figure. “This child is really putting on some weight on me.” She smiled a little to herself.Just then, two soft knocks came at her door.She blinked, rolling her eyes. “Oh, this chef in this house—always making me eat more because I’m pregnant. I just don’t understand them.” She muttered under her breath, standing from the stool with a reluctant stretch.She walked over to the door, flipping a strand of hair behind her ear just as she opened it—and froze.Standing there was Robert.His face was unreadable. Not angry, not cold, just... tight. Quietly serious.Ilda’s hand instinctively moved to close the door, but he placed his palm gently agai
The soft rays of the morning sun filtered through the sheer white curtains of the spacious bedroom. The room was wrapped in quiet warmth, touched by the scent of freshly baked bread and sizzling eggs. Crystal stirred gently beneath the plush duvet, the satin sheets brushing against her skin. She opened her eyes slowly—just in time to see Adrian walk in with a large silver tray in his hands.“Good morning, sunshine,” he said with a smile, his voice thick with warmth.Crystal blinked at the tray in surprise. “Adrian…?”On the tray was an exotic breakfast—perfectly poached eggs, warm croissants, crispy bacon, a bowl of mixed berries, a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, and a side of honey-drizzled pancakes. The meal was arranged so beautifully it could have been served in a five-star hotel.“You didn’t have to do all this,” she murmured, sitting up as he placed the tray gently on her lap.“I wanted to,” he replied softly, sitting beside her on the bed. “You deserve to be pampered,
The house was eerily quiet as Olivia stormed down the hallway, her heels clicking against the polished marble floors, each step echoing in the emptiness. Her mind was racing, the fury inside her growing with every thought of Ilda’s audacity. She had just witnessed that woman mocking her, mocking her family, and she couldn’t take it anymore. Her fingers curled into fists, and she gritted her teeth as she walked faster, her breath sharp with anger.Just as she rounded the corner, her mind still clouded with rage, she suddenly collided with someone hard.“Ugh!” Olivia gasped, stumbling backward, but strong hands caught her, pulling her back before she could fall. She looked up, her face flushed with frustration, only to be met with a calm, unreadable gaze.“Robert…” she muttered, irritated, not even realizing it was him she had run into.His grip loosened, but he didn’t let go entirely. “Olivia, are you alright?” he asked, his voice low and surprisingly gentle, a stark contrast to her bu