Aiden began recounting the details, his voice steady but filled with urgency. “Earlier tonight, I noticed Bryden talking on the phone near the garden. It was suspicious, so I excused myself to go talk to him.”Lorenzo nodded, urging him to continue.“When I approached him, we accidentally collided. He shouted in pain and cursed, which seemed unusual. He quickly tried to cover it up, but I noticed he was favoring his arm. I asked him about it, and he brushed it off, claiming it was nothing.”“Did you see anything on his arm?” Lorenzo asked, leaning forward.“No, but his reaction was too strong for just a minor bump. I then mentioned to him, somewhat indirectly, about Silvana’s ordeal with the masked man. I wanted to see his reaction.”Lorenzo’s eyebrows shot up. “And what did he do?”Aiden continued, his voice tense. “He went pale, Grandfather. He tried to hide it, but I could see the fear in his eyes. He said he hoped the culprits would be caught, but it felt forced. When I mentioned

The early morning light filtered through the heavy drapes of Zain’s bedroom, casting a soft glow across the luxurious space. The digital clock on his nightstand read 8:15 AM. Normally, Zain would be up and about by now, but after a week of relentless business meetings and dealing with family matters, he had decided to let himself sleep in. He had taken the extra precaution of disabling his alarm, savoring the rare opportunity for uninterrupted rest.However, his peace was shattered by the incessant ringing of his phone. The shrill sound cut through his dreams, dragging him back to the waking world. With a groan, he reached out blindly for the device, cursing under his breath for not putting it on silent or airplane mode.“Damn it,” he muttered, finally grabbing the phone and bringing it to his ear without checking the caller ID. “This better be good.”The voice on the other end was hurried and urgent. “Boss, it’s Sam. I just heard some news. Daniel’s dead. Someone injected him with a

Silvana shot him a determined look. “Aiden, I am not letting that chair make me lazy. I need to heal faster, and these crutches are part of that.”Aiden chuckled, throwing his hands up in playful surrender. “Alright, alright. You win. But don’t blame me if you get tired halfway and I have to carry you.”Silvana rolled her eyes, a smile tugging at her lips. “I wouldn’t mind that either,” she teased.As Aiden helped her down the porch steps, Zia’s excited voice cut through the air. “Daddy! Mommy! Wait for me!”They both turned to see Zia barreling towards them, her school bag bouncing on her back. She launched herself at Aiden, who caught her mid-air and spun her around.“Daddy, why are you taking Mommy somewhere without me?” Zia pouted, her big eyes filled with playful indignation.Silvana laughed, leaning on her crutches. “We were just about to go for a walk, sweetheart. Aiden was stalling so you could catch up.”Zia’s expression softened, and she giggled. “Okay, I forgive you both. B

Amelia’s mind raced with ideas on how to rid herself of Silvana. Acting alone posed too much risk, but teaming up with someone as unscrupulous as she needed could increase her chances of success. She remembered the young man she had seen by the garden the other day. She had overheard his phone conversation and felt convinced that he harbored ill intentions. The idea excited her; she might just have found the perfect accomplice.The evening light filtered through the lace curtains of Amelia’s room as she paced, her thoughts becoming clearer and more calculated with each step. She replayed the scene from the garden in her mind. The man, rugged and edgy, was talking furtively on his phone, his eyes darting around as if he feared being watched. Amelia had been hidden behind a thick patch of roses, unseen and unnoticed.“He’s definitely up to something,” she muttered to herself. “And if he’s got his own agenda, maybe I can use that to my advantage.”She thought about Zia, her daughter, and

“Don’t be sorry, it’s not your fault hun. I love you.” Aiden drew her close and patted her again.Silvana pulled back slightly, looking into his eyes. “But what if the baby isn’t yours?”Aiden’s heart ached at the pain in her voice. “We’ll deal with that if it comes to it. Right now, we need to focus on your health and well-being. We’ll take it one day at a time.”Silvana nodded, her tears still flowing but her expression softening slightly. “Thank you, Aiden. I don’t know what I would do without you.”“You’ll never have to find out,” he said, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “We’re in this together, Silvana. We’ll face whatever comes our way.”Aiden sat beside Silvana on the couch, his heart heavy with the weight of his next words. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves before speaking.“Silvana,” he began softly, taking her hand in his. “I’d like to ask a favour from you. I know this is difficult, but we will need to confirm the paternity of the baby.”Silvana’s