Novels by SHSA

Chapter 420: Alive?Liam Carter was leaning casually against the doorframe, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.He had been watching the fight.Observing.Calculating.And now, he had chosen the perfect moment to interrupt.Liam’s smirk was slight, but there was amusement in his eyes. “Well, well,” he drawled, his voice smooth. “I knew you had a personal vendetta, but I didn’t think you’d go for it this quickly.”Kai’s grip on the dagger didn’t loosen. His breathing was steady, but his anger was still boiling beneath the surface.“This isn’t your concern.” His voice was cold, sharp.Liam chuckled softly. “Oh, but it is. Everything that happens in this company is my concern now.”Williams coughed weakly, blood dripping from his mouth as he tried to push himself up.Kai’s hand twitched, but before he could make another move, Liam straightened, his eyes darkening just slightly. “That’s enough, Kai.”It wasn’t a suggestion.It was a command.And for the first time, Kai hesitated.Bec

Chapter 419: The Shadow behind himAs soon as they left Liam’s executive office Lina walked beside Kai, her eyes flickering over the sleek office layout of EMC. The company was undeniably impressive—modern, efficient, and filled with professionals who looked like they had their entire lives figured out.Yet here she was, a former college dropout, now working in the corporate world among men like Liam Carter and Kai Nakamura. Mysterious. Dangerous. Powerful.She exhaled softly and adjusted the strap of her handbag. “So,” she finally said, glancing at Kai. “What exactly is my job here? Because as far as I know, I have no official title, no formal role, and no one’s given me a job description.”Kai smirked, hands tucked into his pockets as he walked. “You assist me. That’s your job.”Lina raised a brow. “Assist you how? Like your personal secretary? Your bodyguard? Your emotional support human?”Kai chuckled, shaking his head. “You wish. I don’t need emotional support.”Lina snorted. “Ri

Chapter 418: A secret between usAs soon as the meeting ended, Alisha had barely settled back into her office when her phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID—Mrs. Jenkins.Taking a deep breath, she answered. “Good afternoon, ma’am.”“Alisha,” Mrs. Jenkins’ voice came through, calm but firm. “I need you in my office immediately.”Alisha’s stomach twisted slightly. Had something gone wrong during the meeting? She quickly grabbed a notepad and made her way to the HR Director’s office.Inside, Mrs. Jenkins was seated behind her desk, reviewing documents. She looked up and gestured for Alisha to sit.“You’ve been chosen to show Liam Carter around the company,” she stated, setting the papers aside.Alisha blinked, surprised. “Me?”“Yes. Since you oversee the junior staff and know the company well, it makes sense.”Alisha hesitated, unsure how to respond. She wasn’t nervous about the task itself, but why hadn’t Liam told her about this whole acquisition before today? They had been secretly

Chapter 417: The meetingThe atmosphere in the boardroom was thick with tension. The long mahogany table, polished to a shine, was occupied by the most powerful figures at EMC. At the head sat Mr. Sterling, his sharp eyes scanning the room as if he could bend the situation to his will by sheer force. Across from him sat Liam Carter, relaxed but in full control, his presence commanding attention.Eric Wood, standing at the front of the room, cleared his throat. His fingers clutched the stack of documents in his hands, but despite his professional demeanor, there was something off about him—something weighed down by an invisible force.“As you all know, we are here to finalize the acquisition deal,” Eric said, his voice steady but lacking its usual authority. “Liam Carter has made an offer to purchase fifty percent of EMC, and after thorough discussions, we have decided to proceed with this agreement as it meets the company’s and the government’s requirements.”The murmurs started almos

Chapter 416: A Morning of SurprisesThe morning sun spilled through the curtains, casting soft golden light across Alisha Carl’s bedroom. She lay still for a moment, her body relaxed beneath the sheets, when her phone vibrated on the nightstand.Blinking against the light, she reached for it, her lips curving into a slow smile when she saw the name on the screen. Liam Carter.She answered, bringing the phone to her ear.“Good morning, stranger.”His deep, smooth voice greeted her. “Morning, beautiful. Hope I’m not waking you.”Alisha stretched lazily, still curled up in bed. “Not really. I was about to get up.”“Liar. You sound too comfortable.”She smirked. “Maybe.”A soft chuckle rumbled through the speaker. “Did you sleep well?”“Mmm… kind of.”“Bad dreams?”“No, just… thinking too much.”Liam hesitated, then his voice dropped slightly. “About what?”She bit her lip, debating whether to tell him. But instead, she dodged. “Nothing important.”“Lies.”Alisha sighed. “Fine. I was thin

Chapter 415The Wood residence in Diamondville was silent except for the ticking of the clock on the wall. The usually cozy living room, filled with soft lighting and warm-colored furniture, felt suffocating under the weight of frustration and desperation. A storm was brewing, not outside, but within the hearts of the people gathered there.Eric Wood sat on the edge of the couch, his hands clasped together, eyes fixed on the coffee table as if searching for answers within its polished surface. Beside him, his wife Mary leaned back against the cushions, her arm wrapped around Gwen Greene, who sat stiffly, her fingers tightly gripping the fabric of her jeans. Her red-rimmed eyes were proof of the battle she had been fighting—one that she was losing.James Wane stood near the window, his arms crossed, his sharp gaze observing the street outside as if expecting trouble at any moment. Unlike the others, he wasn’t drowning in emotions. He was thinking, calculating, waiting for the right mom

Chapter 34In the dark hallway, Valentina pressed her back against the cold stone wall, her heart pounding in her chest. The deep silence of the mansion surrounded her, broken only by the muffled sounds of the conversation coming from Diego’s study. She had been in the bedroom when the men entered, and unable to resist, she had tiptoed silently to the door to listen in.Though she hadn’t heard much of the conversation—her position had been precarious and the voices low—the part that had caught her off guard made her blood run cold. Javier had suggested hiring the best hackers in the world to break into Alejandro’s casino since the fire attack wasn’t successful, and Valentina’s mind had skipped at the thought.She didn’t know Alejandro personally, but from the little she’d gathered, he seemed like a young, innocent man who luckily won her husband’s scam lottery.Yet here was Diego, her husband, plotting to destroy him piece by piece. She couldn’t stand the thought of Diego manipulating

Chapter 33The night was cloaked in a veil of restless clouds, the soft hum of distant crickets the only sound outside Diego’s sprawling mansion. Inside, the warm glow of chandeliers illuminated a room thick with tension. The mahogany table in Diego’s private study bore marks of age and power, much like the man who sat at its head.The thick smell of cigars mingled with the faint tang of spilled whiskey, curling through the opulent study like a specter of power. A half-empty wine bottle stood forgotten on the table, next to a silver tray dusted with the remnants of cocaine. The grand chandelier above cast flickering light, illuminating the tension etched into every corner of the room.Diego lounged in his leather armchair, a cigarette smoldering between his fingers. His dark eyes, sharp as a hawk’s, bore into the men seated before him. On the table, a glass of Malbec swirled lazily in his other hand, the deep red liquid glinting in the light. He didn’t need to speak; the silence was s

Chapter 32Later That AfternoonThe golden rays of the afternoon sun streamed through the large windows of Alejandro’s mansion as the doorbell echoed throughout the luxurious halls. James, the butler, shuffled to the entrance, opening the door to reveal two women—Amy Johnson and Judy Miller.Amy wore a simple floral dress that flattered her petite frame, while Judy was dressed in bold designer clothing, her oversized sunglasses perched arrogantly on her head.“Welcome, ladies,” Mr. James said with a polite nod, stepping aside to let them in.Amy gasped, her eyes widening as she took in the grandeur of the mansion's new interior that Sophia had had made. “Oh my gosh, Judy, look at this place! It’s like something out of a movie!” she whispered excitedly.Judy rolled her eyes, stepping inside with a smirk. “Calm down, Amy. It’s not like you’re moving in. You’ll embarrass yourself, as usual.”Amy flushed but ignored the jab, too enamored by the sparkling chandeliers and marble floors to c

Chapter 31He left the gym and headed straight for Theo’s office. Pushing open the door, he found Theo reviewing the updated security plans.“Got a minute?” Miguel asked, shutting the door behind him.“Sure,” Theo said, leaning back in his chair. “What’s up?”Miguel crossed his arms, pacing slightly. “It’s about Sophia and that so-called gym instructor of hers, Oscar.”Theo raised an eyebrow. “What about them?”“I just saw them in the gym. The way they were interacting—too close, too familiar. He told her he missed her after the ‘kidnapping.’ It’s odd, Theo. He’s supposed to be her trainer, not her confidant.”Theo frowned. “You think there’s something going on between them?”Miguel stopped pacing, his expression serious. “I don’t just think it—I know it. And we need to keep a closer eye on them. There’s something about Oscar that doesn’t add up. He’s disrespectful to staff, acts entitled, and now he’s cozying up to Sophia.”Theo nodded thoughtfully. “Do you want me to escalate this?

Chapter 30The next day was a Sunday. It was a bright morning, and the mansion grounds were bustling with activity. The new gardener was trimming hedges, while a few maids hurried about their chores. At the gate, Martin, the elderly gateman, was performing his usual duties, meticulously inspecting everyone entering and leaving.A sleek, black car pulled up at the gate, and Oscar stepped out. Dressed in an expensive tracksuit and sunglasses, he looked around with a smug expression. He gestured impatiently at Martin, his tone sharp.“Hurry up, old man! Do you want me to stand here all day?” Oscar snapped, leaning against the car. “Open the gate already!”Martin, used to dealing with difficult people, remained calm but couldn’t hide the slight frown forming on his face. “I’m just doing my job, sir. Could you please confirm your identity?”Oscar scoffed, pulling off his sunglasses. “I’m Sophia’s gym instructor. She’s expecting me. Now stop wasting my time and open the gate!”Martin nodded

Chapter 29Nathan and Jackson left Jackson's room with purposeful strides, their conversation still buzzing in their minds. The tension was palpable as they navigated the winding corridors of Alejandro’s mansion.“Where could he be right now?” Nathan said, his tone edged with frustration.Jackson, clutching his laptop, shrugged. “Theo’s always moving around. Let’s check his room.”They turned down the hall and knocked on Theo’s door. After a few moments of silence, Nathan tried the handle, but the room was empty.“Not here,” Jackson muttered, glancing around.Nathan sighed. “Let’s try the gym. He’s been in there a lot lately.”The two made their way downstairs to the gym. The faint sound of weights clinking and rhythmic grunts echoed down the hall as they approached. Inside, they found Jake Turner, shirtless and dripping with sweat, in the middle of a vigorous set of pull-ups.Jake noticed them in the mirror and smirked. “What’s up, nerds?” he said, dropping down from the bar and grab