Evan reached the living room first and stopped dead in his tracks. “Marga…” he breathed, his voice filled with shock.Marga hurried past him, her eyes widening in horror as she saw her mother lying on the floor, her face pale, her breathing shallow. “Mama!” she cried, rushing to her side, dropping to her knees. She gently shook her mother’s shoulder, panic surging through her veins. “Mama, can you hear me?”Her mother’s eyelids fluttered, but she didn’t respond. Her body felt limp and fragile under Marga’s touch, and a wave of fear swept over her. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked up at Evan, her voice breaking. “Evan, we need to get her to the hospital… now!”Evan didn’t hesitate. He bent down, carefully lifting Marga’s mother into his arms. “I’ve got her,” he said, his tone calm but firm. “Let’s go.”They moved quickly, Marga rushing to grab her mother’s purse and the car keys. Her hands trembled as she opened the front door, leading the way to Evan’s car parked in the drive

3 days later..The setting sun cast long shadows across the living room, its warm light filtering through the lace curtains. Marga’s home, though modest, now felt like a sanctuary, a cocoon where the struggle of recent days could slowly recede into the background. Marga busied herself preparing a light dinner for her mother, a task that brought both comfort and distraction.Her mother, seated in an armchair by the window, looked out at the garden with a serene expression. The vibrant colors of the blooming flowers seemed to reflect her own gradual return to health. Liam, who had taken over some of the household chores, was in the kitchen, humming softly to himself as he arranged the food.Marga walked over to her mother, a tray of soup in her hands. “How are you feeling now, Mom? Is there anything else you need?”Her mother turned her gaze to Marga, her eyes soft but tired. “I’m doing better, dear. The soup smells wonderful. I’m just grateful to be home.”Marga settled the tray on the

Marga’s heart skipped a beat. She stared at the message in disbelief, her mind racing with a mixture of surprise and concern. The sum was staggering, far beyond what she had anticipated. She knew Evan’s intentions were likely rooted in love and support, but the amount felt overwhelming.She quickly composed a response:“Evan, I just saw your message. I’m grateful for your support, but this amount is far too much. I don’t want to involve money in our relationship or make it feel like a transaction. I appreciate your generosity, but I hope you can understand where I’m coming from.”She hesitated before hitting send, unsure of how her message would be received. Her fingers hovered over the screen as she waited for Evan’s reply, her heart pounding with apprehension.The response came almost immediately:“Marga, I understand your feelings, and I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortabl

Evan sat in his sleek car, his mind replaying the conversation with Elias. The urgency in Elias's voice, the fear for his brother's safety, had struck a chord in him. He knew Elias to be a loyal ally, someone who had always been by his side through thick and thin. If Elias's brother was truly innocent, then extending his help was the right thing to do.His thoughts briefly flicked back to the looming board meeting that required his immediate attention. But he brushed it aside; some things were more important. "I’ll arrange the money," he said, his voice steady with resolve. "But I need you to keep me updated on the progress. Make sure every dollar is used wisely. I’ll send the funds over within the hour."Relief flooded Elias’s voice. "Thank you, Boss. I’ll keep you posted. I appreciate this more than you know."Evan ended the call, feeling the weight of the decision he had just made. He turned to Andrea, who stood in the doorway, her face a mask of uncertainty. He could sense the hop

Connor’s voice was tense, cutting through the hum of Evan's car engine. “I found out who’s behind this. Leo Carter hired a group called ‘Combats.’ They're mercenaries with a reputation for… unconventional methods.”Evan's grip tightened on the steering wheel. “Combats? What do they do?”Connor hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “They're specialists in remote sabotage. They can plant bombs from a distance, dropping them in from drones or even throwing them into position with precision. They’ve been known to pull off hits like this for money—or revenge.”Evan’s heartbeat quickened. “Why would Leo hire them? What’s he after?”“I’m not sure yet,” Connor admitted. “But I have a contact who dealt with them before. He told me the Combats don’t just work for money; they’re about making statements. If Leo hired them, he might be trying to send a message—something personal.”Evan glanced at the rearview mirror, spotting the flashing lights of police cars in the distance. “Keep digging, Co