Emily To ensure her safety, Willow had to be brought back to the hospital so Dr. Vanderbilt could recheck her a week after she developed an allergy. Dr. Ethan Vanderbilt appeared in the hallway, prompting me to realize that my small bag had been left in his father's clinic. Requesting his assistance, I asked if Willow could stay with him since the clinic was in the neighboring building and I needed to go up to the third floor. Upon returning, my smile faded as I saw Dr. Ethan talking to none other than Bronn Martin at the end of the hallway. Shit! I gasped and quickly walked toward them. Casually greeting Ethan, I deliberately ignored Bronn's intense stare. "Thank you, Ethan!" I smiled at him. I was grateful that he and Willow got along well. We've met several times at Sarah and Philip Cornell's large villa in Serenity Pines Estates, and he's been kind to my daughter since her allergy. "You mentioned heading to Serenity Pines after this, right?" Ethan asked. "Why don't I take y
Sarah Due to the growing team and the need for more space, an office was rented near Luminary Production's building. With my team expanding, this move was essential. Along with Emily, Amir provided me with two more assistants: Sophia, a sharp-witted woman in her early thirties with a background in marketing, and Mike, a finance expert around my age. None of my staff knows that I'm pregnant. I'd managed to keep it a secret within the people in Serenity Pines, even from Emily. After discussing some business matters, I decided to ask Emily about her relationship with Bronn. "I have a meeting with Bronn this afternoon to discuss some details about the LoveLogic app," I informed Emily as she sipped her coffee while I nursed a glass of calcium-rich milk, a new addition to my routine. Mentioning Bronn, I noticed a look of sadness in Emily's eyes. "Did something happen between the two of you?" I asked curiously. "I saw Mr. Martin at the hospital when I took Willow for a check-up. He
Bronn Emily and I were tense as the car made its way to her apartment. My chest churned with anticipation and resentment. Sarah's words from earlier echoed in my mind, reminding me that I had no right to question Emily's decisions. Given our complicated past, doing so would be selfish and hypocritical. When the car stopped in front of an apartment, I gave Robert an order. "Please leave me and Emily alone," I said firmly. "Certainly, Mr. Martin," Robert replied with a nod, his professional demeanor unwavering as he smoothly exited the vehicle, leaving Emily and me alone in the suddenly claustrophobic backseat. Emily's voice, tinged with nervousness, broke the silence. "What are your plans, Mr. Martin?" I inhaled deeply, the scent of her familiar perfume—a delicate mix of jasmine and vanilla—momentarily distracting me. "I just want to understand why you got pregnant," I began. "When we met at the hospital, why did you let me believe you and Ethan were together?" Emily's fist clen
Sarah For several months now, I've been residing at Serenity Pines Estate. Standing before the full-length mirror inside the wardrobe, I observe my growing belly. At 24 weeks pregnant, my belly is a prominent dome, growing more pronounced daily. I noticed Philip leaning casually against the door, a soft smile playing on his lips, making me feel cherished. "So sexy!" he exclaimed. I can't help but pout, my insecurities bubbling to the surface. "You don't find me ugly?" I asked curiously. "Not at all," he assured me, crossing the room with long strides. His strong arms encircled me from behind, placing a tender kiss on my temple. "You are more beautiful than ever," he muttered. His words tickled my heart, spreading warmth through my chest. But there's a playful glint in his eye as he added, "What if I did find you unattractive?" "Nothing… I've experienced worse. It's nothing if you find me unattractive." The thought hurt, bringing back memories of past rejections and insecurities
Sarah "What happened?" I asked Alex. My heart pounded in my chest, and I tasted the salt of my tears as they streamed down my face. Alex placed a comforting hand on my shoulder before continuing, sending a shock through my very core. "Madam Cornell," he began, his voice low and somber, "she... she took her own life in prison this afternoon." A gasp escaped my lips as my hand flew to my mouth. My mind went blank. "W-what?" I stammered, my mouth agape. "That's why, Madam Sarah… Please… the Boss needs you now more than ever." A thousand questions raced through my mind for Alex, many things to say, but I chose to keep them to myself. Taking a deep, shaky breath, I steeled myself and entered the imposing building. Inside, I found Philip. In his hand was a crystal tumbler, half-filled with his favorite 30-year-old scotch. The amber liquid cast a warm glow, starkly contrasting the cold tension that filled the room. "Philip, I was also shocked that Josh did that to me. Please, you hav
Philip The streetlights blurred as I stared out the car window, my mind a whirlwind of emotions on the way back to Serenity Pines. I had just come from the police station, where I met my father, who had a grim look throughout the process. My mother died in prison. The news of my mother's suicide in prison hit me like a physical blow. Even though she had become a bad person, Madam Cornell was still my mother. It pained me to think she had managed to hurt Sarah. Dad had taken on the grim responsibility of identifying and claiming Mom's body. My mind was in chaos as the car approached Serenity Pines. It must have been around one in the morning, and Sarah was probably curled on the bed. I checked my phone and saw a message from her, which had been sent hours ago. Sarah: Is everything alright, Philip? My throat tightened. No, nothing was alright. I decided to tell Sarah the truth in person, so I didn't respond to her message. Besides, she was likely asleep by now. I got out of the
Philip Ethan's brow furrowed as he contemplated our conversation. After a moment of silence, he spoke, his voice laced with confusion. "But I always thought you had already met Mariano." "That's what I thought, too, Ethan. But now, I'm not so sure. I'm Luminary Productions' President, and the man I've always met is probably an actor hired by the real Mariano. Everyone thinks I've met the real him, but I'm starting to doubt if that person was real either." An image of Mariano flashed in my mind—a distinguished man in a business suit, always with a cigar between his fingers. The scent of expensive tobacco seemed to linger in my memory. I'm genuinely confused, or perhaps the real Mariano has been manipulating my understanding. "Now that I think about what you said, you met Mariano during your first marriage with Sarah. There's a possibility he was keeping a close eye on you because of Sarah," Ethan commented. I nodded slowly, pieces starting to fall into place. "And Madam Olsen, I
Philip The battle between Josh and me will take place in the middle of the sea, two kilometers from the island's shore. It's called a Viper Turf War. The battleground is an engineering marvel—a square platform made of thick hydro foam, built to float and move with the ocean's waves. It's anchored to the seabed and operated by a high-tech remote system, but its real challenge comes from the relentless strength of the waves. Crates line the sides, containing either weapons or nothing at all. I know Mariano is sick! And the money he'd earn from this battle is no small amount. Maybe it’s foolish, or maybe I’m just determined, but I’ll do this to escape this mess, just like Josh! It’s just a bonus that I want to hurt him for the stolen kiss he gave my wife. Now, I'm even more suspicious that Mariano is doing this because of Sarah. That man wants to see me dead! The time is thirty minutes to seven in the evening. Besides the waves, the approaching darkness would make an already dangero