Seeking some tranquility, Alexander steps onto the drop cloth and settles in front of his unfinished painting of the snow-capped mountains that grace the horizon around his estate. As he lifts a brush to scrutinize it at eye level, he considers continuing his work on the landscape portrait. However, his attention is diverted by a lively chattering sound coming from another part of the courtyard.Rising from his seat, Alexander follows the path back toward the sprawling log mansion. With every step, the sounds grow clearer—sporadic bursts of laughter and joyful giggles echoing in the air. He halts, recognizing the voices. It's Jenny and Luther! He had explicitly warned her to keep away from him! Fuming with anger, Alexander advances toward them. As he rounds the corner, they come into full view. Concealed behind a tall bush, he witnesses Jenny tending to the windows while amusing his young son. Luther is laughing so hard that he's clutching his stomach and gasping for air between fits
He confessed to Nancy that his relationship with Sophie felt more like a fleeting encounter than anything serious; he simply enjoyed her company and appreciated her engaging conversational skills during his time in Paris. Nancy had always hoped that Alexander would open his heart to love after Nichola had passed away. Despite her encouragement for him to find someone meaningful, her efforts had proven fruitless.While he had never mentioned seeing Jenny with Luther, he had appreciated how well she interacted with his son, especially when she had acted quickly to save Luther from choking.A few days later, Miranda, Alexander's head of staff, rushed into his study, clearly flustered and anxious. She explained that Luther's maid, Cassandra, was gravely ill and unable to rise from bed that day. Cassandra had called for one of their trusted doctors to make a house call, opting against traveling into the city due to her condition. Miranda expressed concern that anyone could be followed, and
"Once upon a time..." Jenny began to read, and within moments, Luther fell softly asleep, his face serene and angelic. She closed the book and rose from her spot beside his bed, hurrying into the hallway. If she rushed, she'd have time to see if Melinda was able to procure the books she had requested from the library. Melinda was older and unfamiliar with many American titles, so occasionally she returned with novels Jenny had never heard of before. Yet, Jenny read them anyway, and sometimes they became her favorites.When she reached Melinda's office, her supervisor looked up, a furrow forming on her brow. "Sorry, honey," she said, tucking a pencil behind her ear. "Not today. I forgot the house car is up for maintenance. I'll be sure to grab them for tomorrow.""Oh," Jenny replied with a grin, "no worries! I still have half of one left. That should be enough for tonight."Before she could leave, Melinda raised a hand to stop her, tilting her head in curiosity. "Do you know when Alexa
Finally settling on a light pink charmeuse blouse adorned with a large matching bow at the neckline, Nancy carefully plucked it from her wardrobe and laid it thoughtfully on her bed. Taking a moment to reflect on what Melinda had just said, Nancy burst into laughter. "Luther? MY little Luther?" She gazed at Melinda as if the idea were absurd. "The same Luther who hides behind my legs whenever Macy greets us and offers a lollipop?" She laughed again, unable to shake the amusing image from her mind.Whenever she took Luther to the bookstore in town, they would stroll hand in hand through the aisles, lost in their own world. If anyone approached them, Luther would instantly close up, refusing to speak to anyone unfamiliar. Nancy would read short stories to him in the center of the bookstore, surrounded by bright, colorful benches, children's books, and various engaging activities. Once they had completed their outing and chosen their books, they would head to the cashier to check out.Ma
As the dinner table was finally cleared, Alexander sat patiently, waiting for dessert to be served. The evening had been entertaining, with Jenny and Luther dominating the conversation, happily chatting and exchanging jokes as if they were lifelong friends. Though Alexander typically occupied the head of the table, he had opted to sit across from them this time, with Nancy beside him. In five years, he had never moved from that spot during meals, never suggesting a switch even when it would have been more convenient to do so.Suddenly, cannolis dipped in chocolate and dusted with powdered sugar made their way to the table. Jenny inhaled sharply, exclaiming, "There's no way I can finish this after the dinner we just had!"Nancy leaned forward, prepared to offer Jenny a share of her dessert since she, too, felt stuffed from the ravioli they had just savored. To her surprise, Alexander unexpectedly sliced his cannoli in half."Here," Alexander said, picking up one half and presenting it
As she wandered through the house, she stopped in the kitchen to grab an apple before continuing her exploration. She paused to admire the portraits lining the walls. The most they had done to tidy this area was dust the photographs and ensure plastic covers were securely in place over the furniture. Running her hand along a table in the hallway, she admired the decorative pieces and pictures. At the end of the hallway, she turned a corner to discover a tall, intricately designed door adorned with gold embellishments. For a moment, she hesitated, wondering how Alexander would react if he found her wandering the unused part of the mansion. He had begun to trust her more, and she didn't want her curiosity to jeopardize that. Yet, if he was hiding a beast behind a rose under glass, she felt it was essential to know. She pushed open the door and stepped inside, immediately sensing a shift in the atmosphere. This section of the house felt like a museum; however, this room seemed frozen i
Nancy continued, reminiscing about their lives before the 'family business' came to dominate their existence. "We were a proud family raised in nobility, living a life of luxury and having everything we desired. We owned properties, businesses, a yacht, and several sports cars." She shrugged nonchalantly. "I would have given it all up just to have my husband back, to not be left a widow." She raised her arms, as if to express her uncertainty. "I met Alexander's father when we were very young, and we had known each other for nearly our entire lives. Our families collaborated closely, building relationships and partnerships in business. We vacationed together, amassed great wealth, but I suppose we drew the wrong kind of attention," she continued. "They killed him to seize his power. My husband was one of the most formidable men of that time, with politicians and judges eating out of his hand. He could go anywhere, be anyone, and everyone adored him." A small laugh escaped her lips at
"Sometimes," Nancy conceded, "but there's no way our children would have experienced such a fate. Alexander was vibrant and full of life as a boy, and Karla and I were the closest of friends. We knew they would grow up in loving households and eventually fall for each other. It wasn't so much an arranged marriage as it was a certainty that they were meant for one another." Jenny nodded in understanding as Nancy carefully set the photo frame back among the other pictures organized on the mantle. Dressed in a flowing basil-colored gown that swayed gracefully around her ankles, Nancy exuded elegance that beautifully highlighted her figure. "Karla and Rein," Nancy said, her voice trailing as memories washed over her. She stared at the picture as if Jenny didn't exist. "We never found their children. We suspect they were taken for ransom but were likely killed when no one could figure out how to contact someone for the money. We searched tirelessly for years, investing significant time a
One year later."Thank you for coming," the lawyer said, glancing down at his paperwork while adjusting his predictably dull brown suit. Alexander sat beside Jenny, comforting her with a squeeze of her hand. Both were dressed more formally than necessary for the occasion, as they had a significant event to attend afterward."I understand it's been nearly a year since the passing of Eduardo, Jessica, and Julius Swift. We appreciate your patience while we collaborated with the police and other authorities to settle the estate. We are now prepared to proceed with the distribution."Alexander offered Jenny a reassuring squeeze of her hand and exchanged a supportive glance before she turned her attention back to the lawyer, eager to hear what she stood to inherit from her parents."Eduardo Swift's will stated that his entire estate was to be passed on to his wife, Sharon. However, due to her absence during the initial sorting, the estate was set to enter the public domain. Fortunately, a r
As Alexander finally stepped into the room, he laid eyes on Jenny for the first time in days. Guilt had overwhelmed him, fearing she might not survive the attack. He was both shocked and awed by Jenny's bravery when she pushed him aside and took those bullets with such courage. Never before had he witnessed such an act of selflessness, especially from someone so close to him.Alexander replayed the day's events repeatedly, haunted by the memory of Jenny being shot three times by Jessica, who was supposed to be her sister. But then again, Alexander considered, no one in her adoptive family had truly been family to her, except perhaps her mother.He often wondered if he could have acted differently but always arrived at the same conclusion. Jenny was unpredictable—a trait he admired but which also made it difficult for him to protect her from those who wished her harm, particularly Bloody Sapphire and her adoptive family.He could never grasp their family dynamic. How could they treat h
Consciousness rushes back to Jenny like a tidal wave. It's as if she's awakened in the midst of a snowstorm, or as if her body is engulfed in flames. Every nerve in her body screams, reminding her she's alive. Alive.Once the initial flood of overwhelming sensations subsides, she begins to notice the details in the room. First, she feels a smooth, small hand in hers, then hears the rhythmic beeping of a heart monitor to her right. The scent of antiseptic fills the air, and she suddenly realizes her mouth is incredibly dry."Water?" she croaks, managing to pry her eyes open, finding Malia standing above her, her hand shaking in Jenny's."Oh my god," Malia exclaims, turning and shouting into the hallway. Jenny flinches back into the pillow, unable to catch all of what Malia says, but it results in a swarm of medical professionals entering, all looking perplexed. Jenny feels like joking about the gunshots being a surprise to her, too, but her dry mouth prevents her from speaking properly
"But—" Jenny began as Jessica lifted the gun toward her. She raised her hands in a gesture to halt Jessica. Her plan would fail miserably if Jessica shot her now, something she might actually do. Jenny glanced at Nancy and Luther, the guilt almost overwhelming. If they hadn't met her, they wouldn't be caught in this tragedy. Drawing a deep breath, she steadied herself."Let them go.""What?" Jessica said, her tears momentarily halting as unkempt hair fell across her shoulder. It was nothing like her usually impeccable style."Listen," Jenny urged, closing her eyes. "There's a safe behind that painting. It holds enough money to give you the life you dream of."Jenny had discovered the safe one day while cleaning and had hurried out to keep Alexander from knowing she saw it. She had once watched him access the safe, revealing stacks of cash and gold."If you release them," Jenny continued, sensing Jessica was listening intently. "I'll tell you the code. Alexander shared it with me in ca
Meanwhile, Jenny arrived back at the sprawling log mansion, which served as Alexander's secluded retreat for himself, his most trusted allies, his mother Nancy, and Luther. Her heart tightened with worry at the thought of innocent, defenseless Luther. It was her fault he was caught in this predicament. She needed to act quickly to save that precious boy; otherwise, nothing would ever be the same for anyone involved.She hurriedly stepped out of the car she had commandeered and sprinted along the path toward the mansion's entrance. Gazing up at the moon, she whispered a silent prayer for Luther, recalling the sparkle in his eyes and his sweet, warm smile, before stepping into whatever chaos awaited beyond those doors.A wave of dread washed over her as she entered. The mansion was littered with fallen guards. Moving quietly into the foyer, she navigated around Alexander's fallen crew, careful and respectful of the somber scene.A soft, choked sob emanated from the center of the mansion
"As soon as I'm done with work," Alexander had reassured him, wrapping Luther in a warm embrace. "I'll come right back. You and me, we'll go fishing, okay?"Luther nodded, hugged him tightly, and told him to enjoy his fishing trip. Alexander kissed his head, oblivious to the idea that someone might find Luther there. He reproached himself now for not fortifying security, knowing he had plenty of enemies. What had he said to Jenny about it?"People with a lot of enemies are usually crushed under that weight. People with a lot of enemies sometimes get set on fire."The vision of his home, his son, and his mother in flames filled him with blinding rage and anxiety. He shoved past a few allies in his haste, knowing he'd apologize later, once he knew Luther was safe. Few in the Dark Wolves, apart from Lemuel, Malia, and Dolf, even knew of his son. Rushing past Anton on a stretcher, Alexander couldn't focus on anyone other than Luther.He skidded to a halt in front of his SUV just as his ph
"Yeah," Alexander replies, moving behind the bar in search of a good bottle of whiskey. Lemuel settles onto one of the barstools. Meanwhile, their team continues rolling up bodies and taking them to the incinerator they had discovered—likely used by the Bloody Sapphire for disposing of their unwanted. It's a more discreet option than transporting truckloads of bodies to the river with dawn approaching."He must have caught wind," Alexander speculates, shaking his head as he pours their drinks. Even though the operation went as smoothly as planned, he can't shake the feeling that something is missing. He knows he won't rest until the head of this adversarial group is found and eliminated.Just then, Alexander spots a shadow moving stealthily through an upper area of the tavern he hadn't noticed before. Without a second thought, he raises his gun and fires, certain that none of their men would move with such secrecy. If they had discovered access to a concealed upper floor, they would h
The Bloody Sapphire were taken completely by surprise when Alexander and his team arrived at their location shortly after three in the morning. They had sent two men ahead to release poison gas into the tavern, with Lemuel assisting the team in fitting their sleek gas masks securely before they entered, allowing the gas time to disperse.Inside, nearly every man in the main area of the bar was found slumped over tables or crumpled on the floor. Alexander's team swiftly eliminated them with silenced bullets, avoiding any unnecessary delays. True to his promise, Alexander ensured the women were left unharmed. He noticed them collapsed over the men, some unconscious with a man's hand inappropriately placed.The women were carefully removed from the pile of bodies and moved to the side, where they were handcuffed to a radiator, in case any harbored loyalties to their group. After the situation was controlled, they planned to bring Jenny in to speak with them, hoping they would recognize h
Jenny catches a glimpse of Dolf and Julius still clashing across the room but disregards them as she lunges at her father's legs, knocking him down hard. She hears the sound of his chin hitting the ground along with a muffled curse before scrambling back on top of him. This time, she aims for his eyes, but he raises his forearms to block her fingers. A primal rage surges through her, a tidal wave of anger.As she lashes out, the memories of all he's put her through flood her mind: Julius's assault, the constant surveillance from the bodyguards, his refusal to believe her even when the truth was self-evident, blaming her for her mother's death, and punishing her by sending her to work for the Bloody Sapphire as if it were an appropriate response.Jenny rains down her fists and elbows upon him, aware that she's screaming but feeling disconnected from the sound escaping her throat. She feels like a whirlwind, a tornado, a storm poised to engulf him. She wants him to experience every ounc