The air was heavy with tension as Michael’s sleek black car pulled up to the imposing gates of the Morgan mansion. He had to be careful as he seemed to be exposing himself more often, bringing more danger to him. The guard stationed at the entrance barely had time to react before Michael’s men subdued him, opening the gates with swift precision. Michael stepped out of the car, his expression cold and unreadable, his sharp suit catching the moonlight. He adjusted his cuffs calmly as if the night’s events were nothing out of the ordinary. “Stay here,” he instructed adams and the others. “I’ll handle this myself.” “But, sir—” Adams began, concern evident in his tone. Michael’s piercing glare silenced him. “I said, stay.” With that, he strode up the marble steps of the mansion, his footsteps echoing ominously. Inside, the house was eerily quiet, the grandeur of the lavish interior doing nothing to soften the storm brewing in Michael’s chest Mr. Morgan was in his study, sipping on
Evelyn stirred awake, her eyelids fluttering as she adjusted to the dim lighting of the room. A dull, persistent throbbing radiated from the side of her head, a reminder of the chaos that had led her here. The memory of the accident and the kidnapping that followed was still vivid in her mind—the cold hands that had gripped her, the muffled cries for help. Everything had spiraled so fast. She hadn’t had time to process it all until now.With a soft groan, she pushed herself upright, her hands gripping the silky sheets beneath her. The bed was absurdly large and far more luxurious than anything she had ever imagined for herself. Her gaze flitted around the room, taking in the sheer opulence of her surroundings. High ceilings with ornate molding, plush furniture adorned with gold accents, and a chandelier that cast soft, warm light across the space—it was the kind of life she had only seen in magazines.She swung her legs over the edge of the bed, her bare feet brushing against the cool
Morning Light and ChoicesEvelyn stirred as the soft warmth of sunlight kissed her face, filtering through the open window. The golden rays danced across the room, casting delicate patterns onto the walls and the polished floor. She blinked slowly, her mind a haze of half-remembered dreams and lingering tension from the previous night. The weight of her new reality pressed against her chest, but for a moment, she let herself bask in the light.Sitting up, Evelyn stretched, the silky sheets sliding from her shoulders. Her gaze fell on the exquisite gown draped carefully over a nearby chair. It was breathtaking—a deep crimson dress with delicate gold embroidery tracing patterns along the hem and bodice. The fabric shimmered faintly in the morning light, exuding elegance and power.Before she could rise to examine it, the door opened, and the maids entered, their presence as quiet as a whisper. Behind them, Artemis followed, her fiery red hair swept into a sleek bun. She wore a black but
I sank onto my worn-out bed, feeling the ache deep in my bones. After cleaning the mansion for the third time today alongside the other maids, I could hardly keep my eyes open. My stepmother, always ready to find another speck of dust, didn't seem to care that I, too, was Mr Dean Morgan's daughter. To her, I was only a maid's daughter—a reminder of the scandal she'd rather forget. My mother was once a maid here, but then she and my father crossed a line, and I was the result.When I was born, my mother threatened to go to the press. She was ready to bring the truth to the world if he didn't acknowledge me. So he took me in, reluctantly. But days later, my mother vanished, as if she'd never existed at all.Growing up here was anything but normal. I went to school, but even there, Diane and her friends made my life miserable. Diane, my beautiful, cruel half-sister with her long black hair, green eyes that sparkled with mischief, and a body that looked sculpted by an artist. She was set
"Diane, please," my father said, turning to her with desperation. "This is the only way we can save the company. Without this… without him… we're finished. The company can't even stand another week. I don't have any money left to pay my staff. The complaints are piling up. But if this man invests in our company… if he just says yes, he'll save us."He sounded defeated, worn thin from nights of worry and the crushing realization that everything he'd built was at risk of crumbling. My heart ached watching him, but it was Diane's response that brought another layer of tension into the room.Step-mom didn't hesitate to voice her disgust. "Dale, are you suggesting that Diane marry some crippled man? There are plenty of men out there who'd take care of her, who would invest in the company without a marriage tied to it. Someone other than… him."She glanced at the lawyer, Mr. Adams, who'd been sitting stiffly at the end of the table, clearly uncomfortable with the rising argument. My stepmot
The next morning, the mansion was nearly eerily silent. I woke up and moved through my usual routine with mechanical precision: a long, hot bath, the soft scent of lavender filling the air, before I dressed and settled in for a quiet breakfast. Of course, I ate it in my room; being the "mid-daughter" meant there was no place for me at the formal dining table anymore. I couldn't exactly join the staff in their quarters, either, and I certainly didn't belong with my family at the polished, pristine dining hall. Not that it mattered—no one was even there. The silence that wrapped around the house felt more oppressive than peaceful.Charles was long gone, his cars no longer parked in the driveway, and a strange sense of satisfaction swirled in my chest. Diane had locked herself away, undoubtedly brooding in her room, and my stepmother was likely doing the same—either fuming over her daughter's ruined plans or concocting a new scheme. My father's anger seemed to have burned itself out, and
Charles had said, "Let's go to the hospital," and for a moment, I froze. The hesitation was instant, sharp.Why would I go see my father? The man who had barely acknowledged me as his daughter? The man who had always put Diane first, while I was left as an afterthought? It didn't make sense, and yet…he was my father. No matter what he had done, no matter how much he had hurt me, that bond was undeniable."Fine," I muttered finally, though the word felt heavy on my tongue.Charles waited patiently, but I wasn't about to leave looking like this. "Give me a minute," I said before heading to my tiny, cluttered room. Quickly, I changed into something less embarrassing. My reflection in the cracked mirror looked…decent enough.By the time I made it downstairs, Charles was waiting by his brand-new Mercedes, looking every bit the golden child. Without a word, I slipped into the passenger seat, and we drove off.As we pulled into the hospital parking lot less than thirty minutes later, the air
After I signed the contract, my head was still boiling, wondering if I had just made the best decision of my life or the worst. I knew it had to be one of the two, and I could only hope it was the positive one.A knock came on my door. When I opened it, it was the same maid who had delivered the stack of files to me earlier. She said she'd been sent to collect the file and check if I'd signed it. I nodded and handed it over to her. She hesitated, studying me for a moment."Are you okay? Are you good, Evelyn?" she asked, her voice soft with concern.I forced a smile. "Yes, I'm good. No problem.""Why are you signing this? Is there something wrong?" she pressed.I placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder and gave it a light rub. "I'm fine, I promise. It's just… something."She seemed to understand more than I was willing to admit because, without another word, she pulled me into a hug. "It's all going to be fine," she said quietly.That was what I needed. I had no idea how much I needed
Morning Light and ChoicesEvelyn stirred as the soft warmth of sunlight kissed her face, filtering through the open window. The golden rays danced across the room, casting delicate patterns onto the walls and the polished floor. She blinked slowly, her mind a haze of half-remembered dreams and lingering tension from the previous night. The weight of her new reality pressed against her chest, but for a moment, she let herself bask in the light.Sitting up, Evelyn stretched, the silky sheets sliding from her shoulders. Her gaze fell on the exquisite gown draped carefully over a nearby chair. It was breathtaking—a deep crimson dress with delicate gold embroidery tracing patterns along the hem and bodice. The fabric shimmered faintly in the morning light, exuding elegance and power.Before she could rise to examine it, the door opened, and the maids entered, their presence as quiet as a whisper. Behind them, Artemis followed, her fiery red hair swept into a sleek bun. She wore a black but
Evelyn stirred awake, her eyelids fluttering as she adjusted to the dim lighting of the room. A dull, persistent throbbing radiated from the side of her head, a reminder of the chaos that had led her here. The memory of the accident and the kidnapping that followed was still vivid in her mind—the cold hands that had gripped her, the muffled cries for help. Everything had spiraled so fast. She hadn’t had time to process it all until now.With a soft groan, she pushed herself upright, her hands gripping the silky sheets beneath her. The bed was absurdly large and far more luxurious than anything she had ever imagined for herself. Her gaze flitted around the room, taking in the sheer opulence of her surroundings. High ceilings with ornate molding, plush furniture adorned with gold accents, and a chandelier that cast soft, warm light across the space—it was the kind of life she had only seen in magazines.She swung her legs over the edge of the bed, her bare feet brushing against the cool
The air was heavy with tension as Michael’s sleek black car pulled up to the imposing gates of the Morgan mansion. He had to be careful as he seemed to be exposing himself more often, bringing more danger to him. The guard stationed at the entrance barely had time to react before Michael’s men subdued him, opening the gates with swift precision. Michael stepped out of the car, his expression cold and unreadable, his sharp suit catching the moonlight. He adjusted his cuffs calmly as if the night’s events were nothing out of the ordinary. “Stay here,” he instructed adams and the others. “I’ll handle this myself.” “But, sir—” Adams began, concern evident in his tone. Michael’s piercing glare silenced him. “I said, stay.” With that, he strode up the marble steps of the mansion, his footsteps echoing ominously. Inside, the house was eerily quiet, the grandeur of the lavish interior doing nothing to soften the storm brewing in Michael’s chest Mr. Morgan was in his study, sipping on
The chaotic aftermath of Evelyn's rescue was palpable as Michael’s team worked quickly to secure the area. Evelyn was unconscious, her wrists bruised from the tight ropes that had bound her. Michael knelt beside her, his jaw clenched as he gently lifted her into his arms. "She’s breathing,” Adams said, his voice calm despite the tension in the air. “But she needs medical attention immediately.” Michael’s nod was curt. “We’re taking her home. Get the medic on standby.” The team moved with precision, clearing the scene and ensuring no trace of their involvement remained. Michael carried Evelyn to the waiting SUV, his grip protective as though shielding her from the world. The car ride back was tense, the silence broken only by the hum of the engine. Evelyn stirred slightly in his arms, her eyes fluttering open for a brief moment. “Michael…” she whispered, her voice faint. “I’m here,” he said softly, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. “You’re safe now.” Her lips move
Before Michael sat at the table, his fingers lightly tapping against the polished oak surface. Diane’s voice dripped with an odd mix of apology and desperation as she spoke, though Michael barely acknowledged her. His focus, sharp as ever, was split between her words and the unsettling sensation that something wasn’t right. Evelyn’s absence weighed on him, and the tension in his gut refused to ease. “Michael,” Diane began, her tone soft and coaxing. “I didn’t know. I swear, I didn’t. When I left, it wasn’t because I didn’t want to marry you. It was because I thought…” She hesitated, wringing her hands nervously. “People were saying you were… crippled. That you couldn’t even leave your estate. Everyone was gossiping.” Michael’s gaze shifted to her, his expression unreadable. “And you believed them?” he asked, his voice calm but laced with quiet disdain. Diane flinched under the weight of his words. “I didn’t mean to. I was young, Michael. I panicked. I didn’t know what to do.” S
Evelyn’s head throbbed as she regained consciousness, her vision blurry. The cold leather seat beneath her and the hum of the car engine told her she was being transported somewhere. Panic surged through her veins as she tried to move, but her hands were tightly bound behind her back. The faint, metallic taste of blood lingered in her mouth, a cruel reminder of the hand that had grabbed and silenced her earlier.“Stay still,” a gruff voice ordered from the front seat, his tone menacing. “You don’t want to make this worse for yourself.”Evelyn clenched her fists, trying to suppress the rising fear. Her mind raced as she pieced together what had just happened. She had been dragged out of the Morgan mansion, shoved into this car, and now she was at the mercy of strangers with bad intentions. But why? What did they want from her?The car sped through the streets, its tires screeching as it turned sharply. Evelyn glanced out the window, but the tinted glass obscured her view. She could fee
"Evelyn go upstairs," Mr. Morgan's voice broke through the silence, his tone commanding. "I need to speak with Diane and Mr. Volkov alone."Evelyn’s stomach churned at the mention of Volkov—another man of power, another link in the chain that she could never escape. She looked at Michael, her gaze desperate, pleading for some sign that everything would be okay.Michael met her eyes, his expression softening for the briefest moment. With a subtle nod, he leaned in slightly, his voice low but reassuring. “Don’t worry. I’m here. Just go upstairs. I’ll be right behind you.”She didn’t trust her voice as she stood up. The last thing she wanted was to leave Michael’s side, to walk away from the only person who had given her some semblance of comfort. But she had no choice. Her father had spoken, and her place was no longer at the table with them.As Evelyn made her way toward the stairs, the heavy silence of the room pressing in on her, she couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something
Evelyn’s heart raced as Michael drove them toward the Morgan Mansion, her thoughts spiraling into chaos. The weight of what Michael had said hung heavily in the air, suffocating her with each passing minute. Diane’s return meant a return to her old life, the life she had desperately tried to escape. The mansion, her father, the expectations—it all felt like a prison. She had thought that after signing the contract, she would have some semblance of control over her life. But now it was clear that she was just another pawn in a game she didn’t understand. Her father, who had once promised her that she would be free, was now ready to replace her with Diane. It felt like all the walls she had built around herself were crumbling, and she was powerless to stop it. As the car pulled up to the mansion, Evelyn’s stomach twisted with anxiety. The grand estate loomed in front of her, its cold, imposing structure a constant reminder of everything she had tried to leave behind. She didn’t want
The morning sun filtered softly through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the bed. Evelyn stirred, still disoriented from the previous night’s events. Her mind was a jumble of confusion, anger, and something else—something she couldn’t quite name. She hadn’t expected to wake up like this, in this grand bed, with Michael’s presence looming over her.And there he was. Sitting on the edge of a stool, freshly emerged from the bathroom, his damp hair still falling loosely around his face. He was naked, his body sculpted and defined, a living, breathing testament to perfection. His eyes met hers, dark and intense, and for a moment, Evelyn felt a strange flutter in her chest. He didn’t speak immediately, just gazed at her with that enigmatic, seductive look that left her breathless. The air between them was thick, oppressive, and she could almost taste the tension.He reached down, slowly wiping the stool in a deliberate motion, as if to remind her of his control, of his presence in h