Sebastian walked into the living room, his heart pounding with a mix of anger and confusion. His mother, Mrs. Rojas, sat on an elegant chaise lounge, flipping through the pages of a glossy magazine, looking every bit the picture of calm sophistication. But Sebastian knew better. He had seen the truth behind her poised facade.“Mother,” he began, his voice steady but laced with intensity. “We need to talk.”Mrs. Rojas glanced up from her magazine, her perfectly manicured eyebrows arching in mild surprise. “What is it, Sebastian?” she asked, her tone deceptively sweet.Sebastian clenched his fists, taking a deep breath to steady himself. “Why do you hate the Alfred family so much? Why are you always looking for ways to bring them down?”Mrs. Rojas’s expression didn’t change; she set the magazine aside with deliberate slowness. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, her voice cool and dismissive.“Stop pretending!” Sebastian’s voice rose, filled with frustration. “I know abo
The sun was beginning to set as David and Katherine pulled into the grocery store parking lot. David turned off the engine and looked at Katherine with a mixture of concern and determination.“I’ll be quick,” he assured her. “You just stay here and keep a low profile. We’ll be in and out in no time.”Katherine nodded, though anxiety churned in her stomach. “I’ll be fine. Just hurry, okay?”David squeezed her hand before stepping out of the car and heading into the store. Katherine watched him go, then settled back in her seat, trying to calm her nerves. She turned on the radio, letting the soft music fill the car. For a few moments, she allowed herself to relax, closing her eyes and letting the tension slip away.A sudden crash shattered her brief respite. Her eyes flew open in time to see the glass of the driver’s side window splintering inward. Instinctively, she raised her arms to shield her face, feeling the sting of tiny glass shards against her skin.When she looked up, a hulkin
Lillian sat on the couch, her arm wrapped protectively around Katie as they watched cartoons together. Katie clutched her doll, her innocent eyes glued to the screen. Lillian tried to keep her focus on the colorful animation, but her mind kept wandering back to the events of the past few days. Her family was unraveling, and Katherine’s plea for help echoed in her mind. She wished she could help Katherine, but how? How can she get the book from the cops?Suddenly, the cheerful cartoon was interrupted by a breaking news alert. The stern face of a news anchor filled the screen. “We have breaking news. Earlier today, there was a violent incident at a local grocery store. Witnesses reported a man attacking a woman in the parking lot. The woman has been identified as Katherine Alfred, who is currently wanted by the police for questioning in connection with several murders in her family. Eyewitnesses say she managed to escape with the help of an unidentified man.” A shaky video taken by a
The conference room was a blend of modern sophistication and old-world charm, with its high ceilings, mahogany table, and leather chairs. The air buzzed with anticipation as board members settled into their seats, murmuring amongst themselves. The annual business party for the partnership between the Alfred and Rojas Alvaro families was a long-standing tradition, and this year it was fraught with more tension than usual.At the head of the table, the chairman, an elderly man with a kind but authoritative demeanor, stood up and tapped a glass to call for attention. The room gradually fell silent.“With gladness, I shall start this meeting,” he began, his voice echoing slightly in the large room. “I have an important announcement regarding our upcoming annual business party. After much deliberation and consultation with the board, I have decided to reinstate the Alfred family. They will be participating in this year’s event. And please no one should mention their previous misconceptions
Lillian and Mr. Alfred entered the secluded area of the diner, their footsteps echoing softly against the tiled floor. They chose a table tucked away in a corner, where they could speak freely without fear of being overheard. They settled into their seats, anticipation hanging thick in the air as they waited for Katherine and David to arrive.A few minutes later, Katherine and David walked in, their expressions a mix of fear and urgency. They made their way to the table where Lillian and Mr. Alfred sat, taking a seat opposite them."Thank you for coming," Katherine said, her voice trembling slightly. She couldn't get over the fact that she had done a lot of terrible things to her family and still had the guts to look them in the face.Lillian exchanged a glance with her father, noting the tension that lingered between them like a heavy fog. She couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that filled her from within, a silent reminder of the weight on them, they had to act fast and if th
The grand estate was a flurry of activity as preparations for the annual business party got underway. The grounds were transformed with elegant decorations, twinkling lights, and beautifully set tables. Inside the grand ballroom, staff bustled about, ensuring every detail was perfect. Mrs. Rojas, overseeing some of the arrangements, kept a watchful eye on everything, but her mind was elsewhere.She stepped aside to a secluded corner and dialed the number of the muscular man with tattoos. He picked up on the first ring."Have you found Katherine?" she asked, her voice sharp with impatience.The man sighed. "I haven't seen her since the grocery store incident. She's gone to ground. But don't worry, I'll find her.""You'd better," Mrs. Rojas hissed. "I need her gone before this party. Fail me again, and you'll regret it."As she hung up, Mrs. Rojas spotted Mr. Alfred approaching. Her lip curled into a sneer. She couldn't resist taking a jab at him."Mr. Alfred," she called out loudly, d
The evening of the annual business party was in full swing. Soft music played in the background as various business partnership members greeted each other, enjoying the lavish setting. Mr. Alfred and Lillian had meticulously set up their plan, hoping to finally expose Mrs. Rojas. Katherine, hiding in a discreet corner, was ready to play the recording of Mrs. Rojas admitting to trying to kill her. Mrs. Rojas moved through the crowd with a wide smile, exuding confidence as she greeted the members of the partnership. Lillian couldn't shake the feeling that Mrs. Rojas had something up her sleeve. She signaled her father, making him aware of her suspicions. "I'll be right back, Dad," Lillian whispered, stepping out of the venue to look for Sebastian. As she walked down the dimly lit hallway, she suddenly came face-to-face with the muscular man she had seen with Mrs. Rojas before. Before she could react, he grabbed her arm, pulling her out of the hallway towards his car. "Let me go!"
Lillian’s eyes fluttered open, a sharp pain shooting through her head as she struggled to orient herself. She realized with growing horror that she was tied to a chair in the middle of a dusty, dimly lit living room. Panic surged through her as she tested her bonds, finding them unforgiving and tight. “Help! Somebody, help me!” she screamed, her voice echoing off the cracked walls. But there was no response, only the eerie silence of the abandoned house.Minutes later, she heard the ominous sound of footsteps approaching. Her heart raced as she strained to see who was coming. The door creaked open, and Mrs. Rojas walked in, her face twisted into a cruel smile, followed by the muscular, tattooed man who had abducted her.“Mrs. Rojas!” Lillian shouted, desperation in her voice. “Please, let me go!”Mrs. Rojas laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. “Oh, Lillian, I warned you not to interfere. But you just couldn’t help yourself, could you? And now, look where your meddling has brought you.”T
Katie sat at the cafeteria table, a tray of untouched food in front of her, as she excitedly recounted the details of her date with Andrew to Nora. "And then, at the end of the night, he asked me to be his girlfriend," Katie said, her cheeks flushing with happiness. Nora’s jaw dropped. “You’re kidding me!” she exclaimed, shaking her head in disbelief. “Andrew? The Andrew who’s been teasing you all this time?” Katie nodded, her eyes sparkling. “I know it sounds crazy, but he was really sweet. He told me he’s been thinking about me a lot.” Nora still looked skeptical. “I don’t know, Katie. Are you sure about this? He’s always been kind of a jerk.” Katie opened her mouth to respond, but before she could say anything, Andrew appeared beside their table. He slid into the seat next to Katie, casually draping his arm around the back of her chair. “Hey, ladies,” he said, giving them a charming smile. Nora’s eyes widened, and she glanced between Katie and Andrew, still trying to process w
As the night wore on, Andrew and Katie drove back to her house in a serene, comfortable silence. The moonlight bathed the streets in a soft glow, and the only sounds were the gentle hum of the car and their intertwined thoughts about the evening.When they pulled up in front of Katie’s house, Andrew turned off the engine and looked at her with a seriousness that made her heart skip a beat.“Katie,” he began, his voice steady but filled with emotion, “I know what I want, and what I want is you. I don’t want to play any games or pretend anymore. Will you be my girlfriend?”Katie felt her heart swell with emotion. The words she had longed to hear were finally spoken. She looked into his eyes, seeing sincerity and vulnerability. “Yes, Andrew,” she said softly, a radiant smile spreading across her face. “I’d love to be your girlfriend.”Andrew’s face lit up with happiness, and he leaned in, capturing her lips in a tender, heartfelt kiss. It was a kiss full of promise and new beginnings, an
Katie stood in front of her mirror, smoothing out the creases in her red shoulder-length dress. The fabric shimmered slightly under the soft light of her bedroom, and she couldn’t help but smile at her reflection. Her hair straightened to perfection, cascaded down her back. She added a touch of mascara and lip gloss, then stepped back to admire her handiwork. Satisfied, she grabbed her small clutch and took a deep breath. As she descended the stairs, she saw Lillian in the kitchen, feeding Kat. Lillian glanced up and her eyes widened with surprise. “Wow, Katie, you look stunning! Where are you off to?” Katie paused, feeling a bit nervous. “I’m going out with Andrew. He asked me on a date.” Lillian’s surprise deepened. “Andrew? When did you start hanging out with him?” Katie shrugged, trying to play it cool. “We’ve been talking more lately. He’s not as bad as I thought.” Lillian raised an eyebrow but smiled. “Well, have fun. Just be careful, okay? Don't forget to come back on time
Mandy stormed down the hallway, her anger bubbling just beneath the surface. One of her loyal minions, Jessica, had just informed her that Andrew and Katie were seen together in the school café. Mandy bit her lower lip, the taste of betrayal sharp on her tongue as she hurried toward the café.In the school café, Katie and Andrew were deep in conversation, oblivious to the storm approaching. They laughed and shared stories, the bond between them growing stronger with each passing moment. Andrew reached out to tuck a stray lock of Katie's hair behind her ear, a tender gesture that did not go unnoticed by the few students lingering nearby.Mandy burst through the doors of the café, her eyes immediately locking onto the couple. "Andrew!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the room. The café fell silent as all eyes turned to her. "I can't believe you're hanging out with a girl like her."Andrew looked up, his expression hardening. "Mandy, so what's wrong with that?" he asked, trying to
As Andrew and Katie sat side by side on the front steps, the evening air cool and crisp, they found themselves talking more openly than they ever had before. The tension that had filled the dinner conversation began to dissipate, replaced by a tentative curiosity about each other.Andrew turned to Katie, his expression earnest. "You know, Katie, apart from the contract, I don’t see it as such a bad thing, getting married to someone like you. You’re cute, smart, and pretty amazing."Katie laughed, a light sound that eased the remaining tension between them. "You think I’m cute? Really? Coming from the guy who’s been mean to me since day one?"Andrew shrugged, a sheepish smile on his face. "I know I’ve been a jerk, and I’m sorry about that. The truth is, I liked you from the start, but I didn’t want to show it. You’re different from the other girls I’ve met, and I didn’t know how to handle it. So, I ended up acting like an idiot."Katie’s smile softened. "I thought you hated me. The fir
Sebastian and Lillian sat in the Turner’s opulent living room, the tension palpable as they broached the sensitive subject. Mr. Turner, a tall man with a stern face, leaned back in his chair, while Mrs. Turner, a refined woman with a composed demeanor, sat beside him, her hands folded neatly in her lap.Sebastian took a deep breath, glancing at Lillian for support. "We need to discuss the business contract between Katie and Andrew," he began. "Katie found out about it from Andrew, and she's not taking it well. She won't talk to us, and we need to figure out a way to handle this situation. Is there any possibility of terminating the contract?"Mr. Turner sighed deeply, his expression unyielding. "The contract is still fresh. Terminating it would mean losing twice the profit according to the agreement. Our companies would suffer significant losses. I understand your concern, but this contract is binding."Lillian's eyes were pleading as she leaned forward. "But Katie is against it, we t
Nora jogged to catch up with Katie, who was walking briskly down the hallway, her face flushed with frustration. "Katie, wait up!" Nora called, finally reaching her. "Hey, about Andrew standing up for you... I think it's kinda sweet."Katie's eyes flashed with annoyance. "What's the point, Nora? I just want to be left alone." She quickened her pace, trying to escape the conversation.As Katie continued down the hall, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. People were staring at her, more than usual. She had always managed to fly under the radar, blending into the background. But today, it felt like she was under a spotlight.She passed two girls standing by their lockers, who whispered something to each other and then shot her angry glares. Katie frowned, her heart beginning to pound with anxiety. When she finally reached her locker, the reason for the stares became painfully clear.A note was taped to her locker, written in bold, mocking letters: **"She's married to A
Sebastian walked through the front door, his mind preoccupied with the usual work stress, but his heart heavy with worry about Katie. The second he entered, Lillian met him in the hallway, her face etched with concern."Honey, we seriously need to talk," she began, her voice barely concealing the anxiety, "Katie found out about the contract. Andrew told her everything."Sebastian's face fell. "What? How did he find out?"Lillian shook her head. "I don't know, but Katie won't talk to me. She didn't eat breakfast, and she refused to let me take her to school this morning. I knew something like this would happen. This is exactly why I was against that business contract."Sebastian sighed deeply, rubbing his temples. "I'll talk to her. We'll fix this."He walked upstairs, each step feeling heavier than the last. When he reached Katie's bedroom door, he knocked softly. "Katie, it's Dad. Can we talk?"There was no response. He knocked again, a little louder. Finally, the door opened a crack
Katie finished tucking Kat and Tristan into their beds, giving each a kiss on the forehead before softly closing their doors. She headed to her own room, looking forward to some peace and quiet. As she flicked on the light, she froze in shock. Andrew was sitting on her bed, casually flipping through one of her novels."What the hell are you doing here?" she hissed, quickly closing the door behind her to avoid waking her siblings or alerting her parents. "You need to leave before my parents see you."Andrew looked up, an amused smirk playing on his lips. "Nice to see you too, Katie," he said, leaning back against her pillows as if he belonged there.Katie stormed over, snatching the book from his hands. "Don't touch my stuff," she snapped.Andrew laughed, making himself more comfortable. "Relax, Katie. I came here to see you, I couldn't sleep. I keep thinking about you and the fact that you'll soon be my wife."Katie’s eyes widened in disbelief before she let out a sarcastic laugh. "Yo