★★★★★The waiting area had quieted down as the hospital settled into the stillness of the late night. Rebecca sat stiffly, her gaze fixed on the floor as her mother dozed off in the chair beside her. Trevor, standing awkwardly nearby, cleared his throat.“Rebecca,” he began cautiously, his voice gentle but insistent. “Edward asked me to look after you while he’s away. You’ve been here all day. Why don’t you head home for a while? Rest. I’ll stay here and update you the moment anything happens.”Rebecca’s head snapped up, her eyes flashing with irritation. “Trevor, do I look like someone who can just rest while my father is in surgery? Fighting for his life?”Trevor opened his mouth to respond, but Rebecca cut him off, rising to her feet with an edge of fury. “I don’t care what Edward told you to do. You can stand here all night playing the loyal watchdog, but don’t you dare come to me with a request like that again. It’s insulting.”Trevor held up his hands in a placating gesture
★★★★★Rebecca stumbled into the dimly lit corridor of the hospital floor, her chest heaving as if every breath was a battle. The weight of what she’d overheard pressed down on her, suffocating and relentless. Her vision swam with worry, the bundle of thoughts in her head threatening to choke her entirely.When her gaze fell on the empty chair where her mother had been sitting earlier, panic gripped her."Mom?" Rebecca's voice was barely above a whisper, cracking under the strain of her emotions. Her pulse quickened as her eyes darted around the waiting area. The blanket that had been draped over her mother’s shoulders now lay crumpled on the chair.Rebecca clutched the back of the chair for support, her nails digging into the worn fabric. Where could she have gone?Rebecca's legs felt like lead as she sprinted toward the emergency ward, her heart pounding in her chest. The sound of her mother’s wailing pierced the air, a raw, unrelenting cry that sent chills down her spine. When
★★★★Veronica’s expression twisted into a sneer as she crossed her arms. "That’s utter nonsense. You’re telling me to believe what was said on a public stage, in front of people who barely know the whole story? Edward wouldn’t tie himself to someone like Rebecca. Her mother ruined the Harrington family! You think he’d forget that so easily?" She let out a bitter laugh, the disbelief in her voice thick.Her mother’s face hardened, her patience worn thin. “Veronica, enough,” she said sharply. “You’re clinging to this fantasy because you don’t want to face reality. Edward saved her in front of that crowd. That wasn’t a man acting on impulse—it was a man protecting someone he cares for deeply.”“That doesn’t mean they’re married,” Veronica snapped back.Her mother sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of her nose. “I should’ve never told you about the past. It’s made you obsessive. But denying the truth won’t change it. Edward and Rebecca might very well be husband and wife.”The room f
★★★★★"Where is Edward?" Rebecca asked anxiously, her voice trembling as she glanced around the room, her eyes darting from corner to corner. The silence weighed heavily on her, amplifying her unease. Edward had come with her, yet now he was nowhere to be seen.Ella hesitated, her gaze shifting to Imara before she responded hesitantly, "Umm... I believe he’s somewhere in the house." But her tone betrayed her uncertainty.Rebecca frowned, her nerves fraying as her worry deepened. Without another word, she stood abruptly, her movements tense, and hurried toward the stairs. The creak of each step echoed as she climbed, her pace quickening with each passing second."Rebecca, wait!" Imara called out, stepping forward to follow her.But before she could take another step, Ella grabbed her arm, halting her. "I don’t think you should follow her," Ella said firmly, her voice low but resolute.Imara turned to her, frowning. "Why not? She’s clearly—""Because she needs a moment," Ella int
★★★★★“What do you mean?” Rebecca asked, her brows knitting in confusion. The idea of Imara offering help in such an unconventional way caught her off guard.Imara stepped closer, her voice steady yet brimming with determination. “I mean, if there were cameras near where the accident happened—street surveillance, nearby buildings, anything—I can hack into them. I can find out what the cops won’t tell you or what someone else might try to hide. You deserve to know the truth, Rebecca. This is your father we’re talking about.”Rebecca studied her intently, weighing her words. “You… you can do that? Hack into security feeds?”Imara smirked faintly, tilting her head. “It’s not as hard as people think. And I’ve done it before, for less noble reasons,” she admitted, her tone tinged with irony. “But this? This is important. If you want answers, I can help you get them.”Rebecca’s confusion morphed into a flicker of hope, but her expression remained cautious. “If you can actually do this…
★★★★★As soon as Rebecca dropped Ella at her home, she pulled out her phone and dialled Edward’s number, her fingers drumming impatiently on the steering wheel. The line rang several times, but there was no answer. She frowned and tried again, this time calling Trevor instead.“Trevor,” she said the moment he picked up, “where’s Edward? He’s not answering my calls.”“He’s at a business meeting in a nearby town,” Trevor replied, his tone calm but curt.Rebecca sighed, her frustration barely masked. “Alright, thanks,” she said, ending the call.Beside her, Imara leaned back in the passenger seat, tearing open a packet of chewing gum. “You know,” she began casually, popping a piece into her mouth, “if you really want to know where Edward is, you could just track his live location instead of grilling his assistant.” She grinned as she started to chew, her tone playful yet suggestive.Rebecca turned to her, raising an eyebrow. “I don’t need to do that,” she replied with an awkward la
★★★★★★Edward’s voice cut through the tense air, sharp with frustration. “That’s exactly why I’m here, Grandfather. I want to know why you brought Connor back into this family. If you had it in your mind all along, why did you exile him in the first place?” His words flared with barely restrained anger, his eyes burning with betrayal.The older man paused, gripping his cane tightly. His own anger simmered beneath his otherwise composed exterior. “I can’t tell you,” he said firmly, his voice clipped. “And don’t push me, Edward. You won’t get the answers you’re looking for, not from me.”Edward let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “Then don’t come crying to me when I refuse to play nice with him. You’ve tied my hands, and I won’t be the one to untie them for your sake.” He spun on his heel, his footsteps heavy with suppressed rage as he headed for the door.Behind him, the grandfather turned slightly, his heart heavy. Watching Edward’s retreating figure, a pang of regret flashe
★★☆★Edward steadied his breath, sweat trickling down his temple as he wiped it away with the back of his hand. His heart pounded in rhythm with the tension in the air. The sun glinted off the silver gun in the distance once more, giving him a clear target. Without hesitation, he fired.The bullet hit its mark, and the figure behind the tree jerked back, falling out of sight. Edward’s satisfaction was short-lived. A sudden sharp crack tore through the air as another bullet whizzed past him, grazing his cheek and leaving a stinging warmth behind. He gritted his teeth against the pain, quickly ducking back behind the boundary wall.There’s more than one shooter, he thought grimly. His sharp instincts kicked in, calculating his next move. This wasn’t the time for hesitation.Rolling toward the hidden compartment beneath the boat’s deck, Edward popped open the latch and retrieved a sniper rifle. The familiar weight in his hands brought a sense of focus and control. He set up the snipe
★★★★★"I would like to know where I went wrong," Connor said after steadying his frayed nerves. His hands clenched at his sides, itching to lash out, but his curiosity for the flaw in his grand plan kept him rooted.Edward stepped slightly to the side, positioning Rebecca protectively beside him. His gaze bore into Connor with quiet intensity. "Your mistake?" he began, voice steady and deliberate. "It started the moment Grandfather insisted I give you an equal opportunity in the business. When I allowed you to take charge of the projects I owned, you thought you had won."Connor scoffed, though unease flickered in his eyes. "Then why did you let me control everything, even the Blue Heaven properties?"Edward's lips curved into a sharp, humourless smile. "Control? You own nothing, Connor. The papers you collected—stolen, actually—are all fakes. I orchestrated every move, letting you believe your schemes were succeeding. Why? Because I knew you had Grandfather imprisoned on that island.
★★★★★Imara’s face remained impassive, her tone cold and measured as she continued, "They weren’t going to stop the bond between you and Edward, especially after his accident. But they should have. My father is Mr. Harrington’s best friend; it only makes sense that they’d think of me for Edward. We’re equals, Rebecca. Same status, same world. You? You never belonged. Besides," she added, her eyes narrowing slightly, "Mr. Harrington and your mother were having an affair. Your relationship was a mistake from the beginning."Her words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. There wasn’t a flicker of remorse in her expression, as if she were narrating a mundane event instead of confessing to tearing lives apart.Rebecca’s breath hitched, disbelief etched into every feature of her tear-streaked face. "You’re fucking insane," she spat, her voice trembling with both rage and heartbreak. "I can’t believe it. At your age, you plotted something so cruel, so vile. You didn’t just ruin Edward’s life—y
★★★★★Connor stood there as if paralyzed, his eyes fixed on Edward’s lifeless body, the blood pooling beneath it. His face was a mask of shock, but he didn’t move or speak; he just stood frozen in that terrible moment.Imara, her face streaked with tears, whipped her head around to glare at him. "You bastard!" she shouted, her voice trembling with fury and despair. "You said you wouldn’t let anything happen to him! And now—now he’s not breathing! You betrayed me, didn’t you?"Connor’s head snapped up, his eyes narrowing as he glared at her, his voice low and cold. "Keep your mouth quiet," he said, the distaste in his tone unmistakable.Imara surged to her feet, her fists clenched as she marched toward him. "Don’t you dare tell me to keep quiet! You planned this, didn’t you? You knew this would happen! I stood by you. After all, I trusted you because I wanted to protect him—and you let this happen!"Connor’s expression darkened further, his jaw tightening as he took a threatening step
★★★★★Rebecca’s confession landed like a bomb in the room, silencing everyone in its wake. Edward’s face twisted in fury, his breathing ragged as he stepped back and reached behind him.In one fluid motion, he pulled out a gun, the metallic glint catching the faint light. His eyes were ablaze with unrestrained rage.“I shouldn’t have trusted you,” Edward growled, his voice low and venomous. “I shouldn’t have saved your face from public humiliation. You don’t deserve redemption. You deserve to die in the filth you’ve created.”Rebecca’s breath hitched, her bravado wavering as she took a step back. Connor instinctively moved to shield her, his hands raised in a plea.“Edward, stop!” Connor shouted, his voice edged with panic.Edward ignored him, his gaze fixed solely on Rebecca. “Your entire family ruined mine,” he snarled, his grip tightening on the gun. He raised it, the barrel now trained on Rebecca.Imara gasped, her heart pounding in terror as she instinctively stepped forward. “Ed
★★★★★“I didn’t know this place was so far from the town,” Imara said as she stepped out of the car, glancing around at the pitch-black surroundings. The faint crunch of gravel beneath her shoes was the only sound in the still night. Her arms crossed instinctively as a cool breeze brushed past.Edward closed the car door behind him and stepped forward, his eyes scanning the unlit house in the distance. “This is the place my father bought,” he said, his voice low but calm. “He used to bring us here when he wanted to escape the chaos of work… to relax with the family.”Imara tilted her head, her curiosity piqued as she followed his gaze to the looming structure. “It looks so isolated,” she remarked, her tone a mix of awe and unease. “No wonder it’s good for getting away.”Edward nodded, his expression darkening slightly as he noticed the lack of lighting around the house. “Connor should’ve turned on the lights,” he muttered, his voice edged with irritation. “It’s too quiet.”Imara stepp
★★★★“I know where they are,” Imara said hesitantly, her voice laced with reluctance. She withdrew her hand from Edward, her other hand fidgeting with the edge of her scarf. “Rebecca told me… but she made me promise not to tell you. She said, under no circumstances, should you know where she’s gone.” Her eyes briefly flickered back to Edward before darting away again. “But seeing you like this… feeling betrayed, struggling… I can’t keep it from you.”Edward leaned forward slightly, his intense gaze fixed on her. His expression softened for a brief moment, though the storm brewing in his eyes remained. “Thank you, Imara,” he said with a firm nod. “If it’s not too much trouble, I’d like you to come with me. It’ll be safer that way. I’ll send someone to keep an eye on your father.”Imara shook her head, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “No, you don’t need to worry about him. Father… he prefers being alone. He usually lies to make sure I won’t fuss over him.” She grabbed h
★★★★★"You were with Rebecca?" Edward’s voice cut through the air, sharp but measured, as he fixed his piercing gaze on Imara. His dark eyes searched hers, but Imara refused to meet his look, her attention darting around the room instead. Her restless fingers fiddled with the hem of her jacket, an obvious tell that something was off. Anyone watching them would have easily pegged this as a date gone sour.“Yes,” Imara finally said, her voice barely audible. She brought her hands to the table, but her eyes stayed glued to the surface, tracing invisible patterns on the polished wood. “She dropped Ella and me at our homes after dinner.”Edward leaned forward slightly, his brows knitting together, though his tone remained controlled. “Hmmm,” he murmured, his composure wavering as the edges of his frustration began to show. “Do you have any idea where she might be now? Or if she met anyone while you were with her?”Imara’s head shot up briefly, her lips parting as if to speak, but then she
★★★★★The first picture stopped Edward in his tracks, his gaze freezing on the screen. It was Rebecca, embracing Connor in the middle of the road. Her arms were wrapped around him, her expression soft.The next image was worse. Connor’s lips pressed against Rebecca’s neck, her eyes closed as if savouring the moment. They were in a car, the angle of the shot suggesting it had been taken from a deliberate distance.Edward’s blood boiled. His grip on the phone tightened until his knuckles turned white. He swallowed back the roar building in his chest, his mind spiralling into chaos. His fingers worked furiously, dialling Connor’s number.Out of reach.He growled under his breath and immediately tried Rebecca’s number. The same result.With a sharp exhale, Edward called Imara instead.“Edward?” Imara’s voice came through, calm and comforting as always. “What’s going on?”“Where are you?” Edward barked, his tone cutting through her pleasantries.“At home,” she replied cautiously. “Is there
★★★★★"You don’t have to lie to me," Edward hissed, his voice venomous, his nostrils flaring as he struggled to contain his rage. "I went deep, Mrs. Jonas—deep enough to uncover every detail. The resort, the night you spent with my father... everything. Each piece of evidence screams your name."Rebecca’s mother staggered backwards, her composure unravelling as a thread pulled too tight. Her legs buckled beneath her, and she collapsed to the ground, trembling. Tears streamed down her face as the weight of his words sank in. The sin she had buried, the one she had tried so desperately to forget, now loomed over her, undeniable and raw."Edward..." she whispered, her voice cracking. "It wasn’t... it wasn’t what you think.""Spare me the excuses," Edward snapped, his eyes ablaze with fury. "Do you have any idea what you did to my family? To my mother? You shattered her life, and for what? Your selfish desires?"Mrs Jonas covered her face with her hands; her sobs muffled but gut-wren