A name list had been presented to Ethan. It was the list of employees who had been dismissed from the Northwood Corporation earlier today. "These people were all working for you, right? They were all fired for theft of business secrets. Do you think they can continue to mingle here in Capeton?"Cade's voice echoed in the spacious basement."These are just today's targets. There's going to be a second list coming tomorrow."Ethan panted. His grip on the list tightened. Despite the dim lighting, the words on the paper were reflected in his eyes. "All I was after was the money. Someone offered me five million to tamper with the project. Even if I continued to toil away at the Northwood Corporation for the rest of my life, I would never be able to make that much money. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Of course, I'd take the offer."He looked away from the name list and acted as if it had nothing to do with him."These people are just my colleagues. Whether the corporatio
The lethargic Selena opened her eyes. Upon opening them, she was greeted by the sight of a side profile too close to distinguish. All she could make out were their sideburns and a small patch of skin. She couldn't tell who they were. She let out an ear-piercing screech.The commotion nearly rendered Calista ears. She straightened up."Mom."Selena, now realizing that it was Calista, sighed in relief. She looked apologetic."I'm sorry. I just woke up. It's all a blur to me. I didn't mean to startle you.""Startle" was putting it lightly. She nearly scared the life out of her. Calista kept the thought to herself. Her scream alarmed Henry who was still smoking outside. The man scrambled in."What's going on?"Selena had a nightmare. She dreamt of a villa in the middle of spring. There was a garden full of blooming flowers. Sunshine bathed the green grass. In the center of it all was a chaise lounge. Someone was lying in it covered by a white fleece blanket. She had a book over
"How am I inferior to him?"Selena couldn't move. She was no different from a fish on the chopping block. All she could manage was closing her eyes. It was as they say, out of sight, out of mind. Behind her closed lids, she rolled her eyes.She was thinking about how amazing he was. Even the tallest point of the asylum wouldn't be able to contain his brilliance.Fletcher didn't wait for her to respond. He wasn't angry either. Instead, he reached for her phone that had been placed by the bedside table and pointed it at her face."Go on, give Henry a call. Tell him you're going on a business trip and that you'll be home in five days."His voice was soft."Stay with me for five days? It'll just be five days, Selen."By the end, he was outright pleading for her to agree.However, Selena knew that it was all an act to confuse her. The moment she showed any sign of being less compliant than he wanted, she would have no hope of reprieve."You should hand yourself in. You'll be treate
It was a man knocking on the window. He was tall; his height evident from the bent of his body. He wore a black hoodie with the hood covering the upper half of his face. A black mask covered the lower half.Calista's car was parked by a streetlamp. When he bent down to look in, the light beat down on his back, making his shadowed face appear much darker. He looked … like a ghost.Calista reached for the safety hammer in the compartment between the driver and passenger seats. Then, she held the pointed end toward the man while swiftly hitting the ignition button."It's me, Madam Calista. Calm down."The man hurriedly pulled down his mask and pressed his face up against the glass so she could see him better. "Don't go. I was sent by the boss."She was at a loss for words. He was the man who clamped her mouth shut back at the parking lot a while ago. He was one of Lucian's men, though she had long since forgotten his name.Relieved to see a familiar face, Calista finally eased u
Lucian was finally alone with Calista. He didn't want to continue discussing these unpleasant matters."Let Sett help you move."All he wanted was for her to pick up her essential items and leave the rest behind. They could always get her new ones. But, if he left a trail behind, there was a chance she would use it as an excuse to move out again. Calista gave it some thought."Alright."Since she was currently "on vacation", she didn't have to report to work at the Northwood Corporation. There was no need for her to live in a business center where even getting on the subway required a struggle. It'll also keep Lucian from being distracted because of her.Now that he successfully convinced his wife to move back into their home, remarriage wasn't far off. Once they dealt with Kyros, he was going to take her to the City Hall to legalize their marriage lest more troubles arose. Then, they would address the matter of his nonexistent child. But if she were to get pregnant, it me
Calista moved back into the Everglade Manor. David had preserved the flowers in the parlor and placed them in the vacant room on the second floor to avoid triggering her. The servants had cleaned the manor inside and out and changed the bed sheets in anticipation of her return.As it was extremely late by then, Calista didn't have the energy to unpack the boxes of luggage she brought from her apartment. She had originally only planned on bringing her daily necessities. Everything including clothes were at her disposal at the manor. However, Sett insisted on packing everything.What was once a nice apartment had been turned upside down. Safe for the furniture that had been there from the start, everything had been taken to the dumpster downstairs.Calista hastily took a shower and climbed into bed.The next day, she was awakened by the ringing of her phone. Having slept late the previous night, she was so tired that she could barely open her eyes. Her thoughts were muddled."He
However, Cade was extremely busy. The call lasted for all but two seconds."He told you to stay put at the Everglade Manor."How could Calista possibly stay put in a situation like this? Even if she wanted to stay, she had to know that Lucian was safe. The news was flooded with reports of his disappearance. She felt ill at ease without first learning if this was his or Kyros' plan.Calista got dressed. The moment she set foot outside, she ran into Paul. He let out a sigh of relief to see her well.After he learned of the goings-on with the Lancaster Group, he rushed to her apartment. However, after knocking on the door for a long time and receiving no response, he considered calling her. Yet, he was afraid she hadn't seen the news yet. Since she wasn't at her apartment, he thought of trying his luck at the Everglade Manor. Unexpectedly, he encountered Calista just as she was about to leave. He couldn't help but feel relieved. If he arrived a minute later …"I'm going to see
Lucian's answer tormented him. The masterpiece Kyros had been so proud of had been a lie from the start. He had been played for a fool."Given your state, why did you refuse to compromise?"Lucian had been on the verge of dying and was struggling to speak. Coupled with prolonged sleep deprivation, his mental state had teetered on the edge of collapse.Brice had mentioned that Lucian's mental state at the time was ideal for hypnosis. Resisting would mean enduring pain multiplied by a thousandfold. An average person wouldn't be able to withstand that. It would be akin to someone taking a chisel to their brain.So, when Brice told Kyros that Lucian had become an entirely different person, he readily believed the doctor. Even if he were to show cracks, he could rely on himself to patch him back up."I didn't want her to cry," Lucian said.He wasn't certain whether or not Calista would cry upon discovering that he didn't remember her. But, the mere possibility prevented him from for
Fabian said, "Mr. Ackerman was taken away by the Office of Inspector General this morning. Madam Cameron and the Bark family are reportedly the ones responsible."The Carter Group hadn't broken any laws, nor had they been financially entangled with the Ackermans for over a decade. Still, the long-standing ties between the two families ran deep. If Victor Ackerman had skeletons in his closet, Cade would have a hard time avoiding the fallout.Cade propped his hand against his cheek. "What about my wife?""Madam Cameron…" Fabian had to steel himself to answer Cade. "Madam Cameron left the country. She applied for a long-term visa."Even with reporters hounding him, that sentence rang loud and clear in Cade's ears.A long silence stretched before he let out a quiet, bitter laugh.He had never realized how much Cameron had orchestrated behind his back. The Ackermans or the media could trip him up for now, but her betrayal cut deeper. Every move had been calculated.And the most absur
Cade crossed the room as Cameron, already seated, leaned her cheek against her hand, skimming the menu. "Want a drink?" she asked casually.His heart skipped a beat.Cameron's appearance radiated deliberate perfection. From her flawlessly styled hair and expertly applied makeup to her impeccable outfit and carefully chosen accessories, every detail was considered. Even her expensive "Allure" perfume hinted at a desire to captivate.A private dining room meant for couples with only spouses in each other's company…Given the setup, sharing a drink seemed like an implicit invitation.Cade pressed his lips into a line, trying to ignore the rising curve of a smile. "Sure," he replied, his tone deceptively even. "We'll start with two bottles of Magnolia's Pulpit," Cameron said.Cade choked on his water, coughing as he asked, "Seriously?"Who would start a date with such a strong distilled spirit? With two bottles, no less.Cameron propped up her chin and raised an eyebrow. "Is that
Cameron stared at her screen, where Gale had just sent a single word. "Ready." Her lips curled up involuntarily.Cade noticed the smile. He didn't know who she was messaging, but it irritated him for some reason. After a long pause, he exhaled slowly and asked, "What if the Ackermans refuse to settle?"Cameron didn't bother to answer. She knew Violet and Victor would soon be in hot water, so she hadn't considered the aftermath. However, to Cade, her silence only confirmed his assumptions—she was reckless, unprepared, and acting purely on emotion. He clenched his jaw and finally stopped holding his breath. Then, suddenly, he pulled the car over with a sharp twist of the wheel. "Did you think it through before turning yourself in? What if the psych evaluation comes back clean, and the Ackermans insist on pressing charges? What then? You hurt Mirabelle badly. You think you'll have it easy in prison with the way they dote on her?" In contrast to Cade's exasperation, Cameron remaine
With Cade covering Cameron's mouth, there was no chance for her pointed words to offend anyone in the room. His palm was cool to the touch. It was a sensation she disliked. So, she couldn't help but tilt her head.When Cade noticed her movements, he gently stroked her cheek as if he were calming a child who was throwing a tantrum.Victor spent years in a position of authority, giving him an air of unspoken authority. His gaze hardened, and his lips pressed into a firm line as he watched Cade. "Cade, don't jeopardize the long-standing relationship between our families over a woman.""If that's how you see it." Cade glanced at the door. "Aren't you doing the same for a woman?"Victor snorted contemptuously. "How can a cheap girl who was merely adopted be worth anything compared to Mirabelle?""How is my daughter, a Yorksworth, worth any less than yours?" Blaire stood at the doorway as she took in the occupants of the home with her sharp gaze. She had been feeling restless ever sin
Mirabelle frowned. "Excuse me?"As soon as she finished speaking, Cameron walked up to her, grabbed her by her hair, and forcefully bent her over.Cameron held up the guest list Monica had sent her and shoved it in Mirabelle's face. "Call them. Tell them to be there by 3:00 p.m., or else…"She tightened her grip threateningly. "You can kiss this head of hair goodbye."Mirabelle pressed down on her scalp where it had been pulled, her voice distorted with pain when she spoke."Let go, Cameron! Are you out of your mind?""Didn't I tell you not to involve anyone else in our feud?""Can't take it anymore?"Mirabelle endured the pain of turning her head to flash a disdainful sneer at Cameron."This is just the appetizer. If you go against me, you'll eventually crawl out of Capeton with your tail between your legs. I'll call your business partner right now and pin the catastrophic failure of this event on you…"Seeing Mirabelle's condescending expression brought Cameron back to the
The kiss lifted the dark cloud that hung over Cade's mood over the past few days.The next day, as Fabian brought in documents for him to sign, Cade asked, "When is Cameron's show?"Fabian was taken aback for a split second but quickly replied. Fortunately, he was well-prepared and kept track of Cameron's events for the year in advance."Has the invitation been delivered?"Fabian swallowed, almost wanting to laugh to mock Cade. Given Cade's strained relationship with his wife, Cameron would sooner invite a dog than have him around. However, all Fabian could do was revel in Cade's misery in his mind while keeping a businesslike facade."It was probably already delivered. The front desk brought in a stack of mail yesterday. I haven't sorted it out yet."He had already sorted out the mail this morning. Everything had gone straight to the trash."Clear my schedule for the day. Make reservations at a restaurant for a celebratory dinner.""Yes, sir."On the day of the show, Monica
That was obviously an excuse to get Cade out of the picture. Knowing what Mirabelle had done to Cameron in the past, leaving the two of them alone was out of the question. Besides, it wasn't convenient for him to move the car, so he refused without a second thought."Get the attendant—"However, Cameron cut him off before he could finish."Ms. Ackerman is a guest. You should fulfill her requests if she has any."Cade cast her a cold glance. "Shut up." Why should he dance to Mirabelle's tune?Cameron stared at him. "Run along."He gritted his teeth as rage crossed his face. After a brief pause, he sneered and turned to leave. As soon as the door shut behind him, Mirabelle's calm expression slipped. "Did you make me come here just to show off how much you two love each other?""You call that love? I think we have different definitions of what 'love' is then. He's nothing more than…" Cameron's fingers lightly traced the cup's rim as she smirked and said, "A lap dog.""You fu
Cameron crossed her arms over her chest and gave the bouquet in Cade's hands a nonchalant glance."What are you trying to pull, Mr. Carter?""Fabian said it was Women's Day today.""So what?"There was silence all around. The sound of soothing music could be heard through the door. Cade was silent for a while. "We're not getting a divorce, Cameron."It was the same old topic that Cameron had grown too weary of. She turned around and felt for the cigarette box on the table. There was already a layer of cigarette butts in the ashtray next to it. Judging by the color of the lipstick marks, more than half of them were hers.Cade frowned. He clearly disapproved of her smoking but kept himself from stopping her.Smoke curled from between her lips. The flickering embers of the cigarette reflected in her eyes, softening her indifferent gaze. Through the thin haze, Cameron's lips curled into a wide, unrestrained smile. Every time she smiled in this way, it always filled Cade with a
Cade began unbuckling his belt as he spoke. When it came to this sort of thing, men often had a strong sense of competition, especially in the presence of a woman they were interested in."Such a dark atmosphere isn't right for our situation."Cameron didn't like him to begin. In such a dark atmosphere, there was no telling what kind of grotesque creature she might imagine him to be. It would be strange if she felt attraction for him.She leveled a steady stare at him. Cade's shirt was half undone, showing his tense muscles underneath. Under the influence of alcohol, his skin took on a faint reddish hue. There was a heart-pounding tension in the air as if something was about to ignite. Occasionally, his slightly heavy breaths could be heard."You haven't been working out recently, have you?" Cameron asked.Cade was confused.Cameron pressed her hand against his chest, right below his ribs, and gave it a little push. After a moment, she commented, "Your muscles are a little soft