The sleek black car glided through the city streets as Oliver stared out of the window, lost in his thoughts, until Bill broke the silence."Oliver, we need to talk about something," Bill said, his eyes focused on the road.Oliver turned to look at him, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "What's going on?" He asked in a husky tone. Bill took a deep breath before diving into the unsettling story that seemed to be flying around. "It's about Elina and Gerald. Seems like trouble is brewing."Elina and Gerald? Was there ever a moment of peace with those two? Oliver raised an eyebrow, concern etching lines on his forehead. "Trouble? What happened?"Bill recounted the situation, describing how Gerald had forcefully taken control of Manuel's company and was now holding Elina hostage. Oliver's jaw tightened as he processed the gravity of the situation."Not to mention, Manuel Harper was the sick lad's father. How fucking surprising is that?""Gerald? The same guy who used to be a mere pawn in t

A strange wave of anxiety reverberated through her bones as she stood by the door. The open icon pasted on the door wasn't enough reason for Elina to knock. The anxiety was eating her up from the inside, yet this step was necessary in the course of returning her peace of mind.After a while, Elina knocked, and a voice came from the other side of the door, ushering her in. This therapist was one of her closest friend's recommendations, and Elina planned to get the best out of it. The last couple of months had been a spiral from one traumatic experience to another. It had sucked her dry. The nightmares were consistent, but she couldn't leave. Her safety was dandling, and her father's foes would stop at nothing to use her as an avenue to punish him. There was no escaping it.Just as Gerald had done, there would be many more. And Elina wasn't ready for it. She needed to heal and become stronger. Quietly, she walked into the brown, furnished office where a man sat at the end of the room,

The plush carpet muffled Michael's footsteps as he approached Oliver's office. Oliver's secretary eyed him with suspicion as he tried to make his way through without a prior appointment. Michael's attempts to charm her were met with skepticism until he resorted to some arguments that eventually persuaded her to announce his presence.With a stern-faced security guard walking behind him, Michael entered Oliver's office. The atmosphere was tense, and Oliver scrutinized him with a raised eyebrow, diverting his attention from the pile of files sitting on his desk.Michael extended a hand. "Oliver, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm John Reynolds, a lawyer. I've been following your career closely, and I believe I can be an invaluable asset to you." Oliver remained skeptical, eyeing Michael's outstretched hand before reluctantly shaking it. Who was this dude?Oliver had never seen him or heard of him. "What makes you think I need a lawyer?""Well, Oliver, let me show you." Michael placed fi

The restaurant buzzed with a low hum of chattering and soft music as Michael and Elina sat across from each other. Elina's eyes sparkled with a glint of excitement, wearing a wide grin that showed how happy she was to be with him."I'm really glad we could do this, Michael. I've been looking forward to it," Elina said, her voice filled with warmth. "And I think I'm getting better, thanks to you. I found love in my therapist!"Michael, keeping up a facade, nodded, forcing a smile. He seemed to dislike her the more he spent time with her."Me too, Elina. It's nice to spend some time together," He responded blandly.As they divulged into casual conversation, Elina couldn't hide her enthusiasm, sharing stories about her life and experiences as the daughter of Viktor Grey, while Michael, on the other hand, couldn't wait to get out of there.Halfway through the date, Michael took a deep breath, his gaze avoiding Elina's eyes. "Elina, there's something I need to tell you."Her excitement tur

The next day, Michael welcomed Rosa into his apartment, attempting to create any semblance of normalcy just so he had her tangled in his webs. She'd be of so much good to him if he played his cards right.Laughter echoed in the room as they shared stories and jokes, not to mention the frequent kisses Rosa gave him, which was even more confirmation that he had her. Michael couldn't help but feel excitement rumble in his stomach— the price of a job well done.As they settled on the couch, Rosa's smile faded into a more sober expression. "Michael, I can't help but feel guilty about Elina. I'm betraying her trust, and it hurts me. Do you know we've been friends for so long? I can't help but feel like I should tell her the truth, you know…about us."Michael, his eyes searching hers, reassured her, "Rosa, we're doing what we have to do. Elina will be fine, and in the end, it will all make sense. But I don't think it'd be a good idea to tell her now," He lied. "When it's the right time, I'll