Leander flinched at Richard’s response before declaring, “Oh, alright. No problem. I won’t impose on you an apology. His voice hardened. “But I guess I’m justified in not integrating myself into your family because I’m not ready to do so.” Aria’s gaze dropped, unable to meet his eyes. “Don’t do that, Leander. It’s just... complicated.” Leander’s expression was twisted with scorn. “Complicated, huh? You abandoned me without a word, and now you call it complicated?” Richard’s jaw tightened, and his face flushed with indignation. “Leander, we don’t owe you an explanation.” Leander’s eyes narrowed with unyielding resolve. “Alright then. If you won’t apologize, I’ll take that as my cue to leave. But remember this—I won’t forget what you all did. I won’t forgive it.” Aria reached out, her voice trembling. “Leander, please—” Leander cut her off, his tone as cold as steel. “No, Mrs. Hawthorne. I’ve heard enough. You had your chance.” Turning to Vivian, who stood frozen, eyes wide with

With composure regained, Leander started the car and set off, determined to locate Lindsey. But no matter how hard he tried, she was nowhere to be found. The sense of failure weighed heavily on him, leaving him anxious and deeply troubled. Leander could hardly believe the drama unfolding around him. “Something must have gone wrong,” he muttered, his expression a mix of disbelief and confusion. Gripping the steering wheel, Leander’s knuckles turned white as he pressed harder on the accelerator. His mind raced with thoughts of what had just happened. The gravity of the situation pressed down on him, making it difficult to breathe. He had seen Lindsey upset before, but never like this. Her pale, stricken face replayed in his mind, alongside the damning photos—those haunting images looping endlessly in his thoughts. How could this have happened? How had he let it happen? A wave of nausea hit Leander, forcing him to pull over. He gasped for air, his heart pounding in his chest. With a f

Wyatt’s expression tightened with concern as he leaned forward. “Lindsey, please,” he urged, his tone sharp. “It would help if you could tell us who sent you those photos.” Lindsey met his gaze, hesitating before shaking her head, her brows knitting together in a mix of confusion and caution. “I’ll tell you later. For now, it’s safer if I keep it to myself, especially since you look so eager to find out.” Leander’s frustration bubbled over, and he couldn’t hold back. “Lindsey,” he shot back, his voice hardening as he locked eyes with her. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll find out the truth myself if I have to.” Lindsey’s eyes slightly widened, but she remained firm, her silence saying a lot as the tension escalated. “Till that day comes, goodbye!” Leander stood up, his chair scraping against the floor as he pushed it back. The finality in his tone left no room for argument. Her face held a blend of regret, anger, and something unsaid as she watched him. Without uttering a single word

Sophia sat at the dining table, savoring the rich flavors of the meal. She laughed while chatting with the former female mayor of Etherium City, Mrs. Anderson, and a few close friends. “Wow, this roast is delicious,” Mrs. Anderson said, taking a bite. “You must share the recipe with me, Sophia.” “I’d be happy to,” Sophia replied, smiling. “It’s one of my favorites.” Laughter and conversation filled the room as they enjoyed their meal. The TV in the corner was tuned to a news channel, but it played softly in the background, barely noticed. Suddenly, the tone of the newscaster’s voice changed. “We have breaking news coming in. Reports and eyewitnesses are confirming the tragic incident that the son of the owner of Veritas Conglomerates, Leander Goldstein, has been shot dead at the train station. His body was taken by unknown gunmen before security could intervene.” Sophia’s fork froze mid-air. Her eyes widened in shock as she heard the news. The room seemed to spin around her. “No…

The news of Leander's death shattered Brianna. She had been weeping bitterly since she heard the tragic news. She couldn’t believe the story that Leander had been shot while trying to save Camila. On the edge of her bed, she felt a mixture of grief and anger. She couldn’t help but think about their time together on campus—their outings, the fun they had, and even the day they argued about Leander wanting to buy Ethereum University. But what truly broke her was the memory of their last meeting—the day Leander kissed her for the first time. The tears she had been holding back finally overwhelmed her. Just then, a knock interrupted her thoughts. Startled, Brianna looked up, tears still in her eyes. “Who’s there?” “It’s Ava,” came the reply. Before Brianna could respond, the door slowly creaked open, and Ava appeared in the doorway. “Brianna, what's wrong?” Ava, concerned, asked as she noticed the tears streaming down Brianna’s face. “I need to know that you're okay.” Briann