Ashton sat in the quiet of his living room, the shadows from the evening sun as the sun was beginning it's descent to set made creative long lines across the hardwood floor. He sighed as he sank deeper into the leather chair, his thoughts were swirling from one place to the other. The house, though spacious and elegant, felt more like a museum to his past life—silent and sterile. For years, Ashton knew he had built walls around himself, prioritizing work, reputation, and duty above all else. But now, as he stared out of the large windows that overlooked the city, he realized something fundamental had shifted in him. He could sense it. He could feel it. He felt guilty, of course. Asking the Coopers for help wasn’t something he had ever imagined doing. Their influence had been instrumental in keeping the wolves at bay. Without their pull, the legal battles, the whispers, the relentless attacks from people like Rebecca would have consumed him entirely. But relying on them, especially El

Ashton sat alone in his house, the stillness of the somewhat quiet night was broken only by the rhythmic ticking of the grandfather clock in the living room. The peacefulness should have soothed him, but instead, it filled him with an unease of some sort which he simply couldn't shake off. The conversation with Elizabeth earlier that day, their laughter over delicious Korean ramen, and then tge heartwarming chat with Angel that followed had settled him briefly, but now, with the dark shadows of night creeping in, it was indeed a different kind of tension that had settled in his chest.His mind wandered back to all the complications that awaited for him—Rebecca, Theron, Myles all of them—and how they’d managed through time to weave their way back into his life. The calm from earlier seemed distant now. He got up from his couch and poured himself a glass of water as he hoped that the cool liquid would clear his head at least. Ding-dong.The

The great and grand ballroom of the LeFontaine Hotel was abuzz with so much and lots of activity as business elites from across the globe gathered for one of the year’s most prestigious events—the International Business Leaders’ Conference. The elegant and of course, expensive as shit crystal chandeliers sparkled above, it made up an elegant glow over the room as well-dressed men and women mingled to network for business. They discussed everything from market trends to groundbreaking innovations. Everyone was seen with someone, getting to know each other. You could say that this was the way in which business men and women socialized; at eloquent balls like these. Ashton Pearce stood near the entrance, he adjusted the cuffs of his tailored to size charcoal suit. His sharp and surprisingly confident eyes swept across the room as he felt a rare feeling of ease settle within him. This usually wasn't him, he had to admit but strangely he was comfortable. He wasn't fidgeting or shit. For t

The sound of the soft hum of Ashton Pearce's estate at night was as peaceful as the day had been. The chirping crickets in the nearby gardens and the faint rustle of the wind through the Ashwagandha fields created an atmosphere of somewhat quietness and serenity. Ashton leaned against the railing of his porch,he held a glass of wine in his hand as he watched the moonlight bathe his empire. He felt the calmness seep into his bones, an absolute feeling of completeness he hadn’t known in years.This was the life, his subconscious told him. But something felt off. Despite the tranquility surrounding him, there was a weight in the air—a quiet foreboding that he couldn't just shake off. Perhaps it was the nerves about his upcoming proposal to Elizabeth, or maybe it was the realization that even at the peak of success, there were still uncertainties in life. Ashton sipped his wine while he tried to shake off the feeling.He didn't know what it was but he sensed something. He heard the soft

The sound of the soft hum of Ashton Pearce's estate at night was as peaceful as the day had been. The chirping crickets in the nearby gardens and the faint rustle of the wind through the Ashwagandha fields created an atmosphere of somewhat quietness and serenity. Ashton leaned against the railing of his porch,he held a glass of wine in his hand as he watched the moonlight bathe his empire. He felt the calmness seep into his bones, an absolute feeling of completeness he hadn’t known in years.This was the life, his subconscious told him. But something felt off. Despite the tranquility surrounding him, there was a weight in the air—a quiet foreboding that he couldn't just shake off. Perhaps it was the nerves about his upcoming proposal to Elizabeth, or maybe it was the realization that even at the peak of success, there were still uncertainties in life. Ashton sipped his wine while he tried to shake off the feeling.He didn't know what it was but he sensed something. He heard the soft