Penelope patted her neck, wincing as she coughed violently. Her throat burned from the pressure that had been there moments ago. She took deep, shaky breaths, willing herself to calm down. He was gone. She didn’t have to marry that strange man again. Relief flooded through her, but it was quickly overshadowed by unease.What did he mean by a pill?Her brows furrowed in thought. She had never heard of such a thing before. A pill that could prevent pain from being shared in a soul oath? It sounded too terrifying to be real. But if it was real, then she and Damien were in grave danger. Her father—or rather, the man she had called her father—would never let her go so easily. If that pill truly existed, he would find a way to get his hands on it. And if he did… Damien would suffer in ways she couldn’t even imagine.A chill ran down her spine.The dim candlelight flickered as the cold wind whistled through the small gaps in the window. She rubbed her arms absentmindedly, lost in her thought

"You really are Ethan Maverick’s wife," Asper sneered, amusement flickering in his eyes. "You've started commanding people too, I see. Interesting."Lauren glared at him, but he simply chuckled. "But even if Ethan arrives here now, all I have to do is press this button, and you're dead. Do you think your husband will reach this room before the lion tears you apart?"His voice carried a smug confidence, one that made Lauren’s stomach churn with unease. He had planned this well—too well. Even if Ethan did come for her, Asper would be alerted before he could get close.With deliberate slowness, Asper pushed the contract forward and gestured toward the seat opposite him."Sit," he ordered.Lauren didn’t move. Her eyes flickered toward the ceiling, where the hidden compartment loomed above her. The lion's low growl sent shivers down her spine."Close the ceiling," she demanded, her voice steady but laced with fear. "I can't think straight with that animal above my head."Asper arched a bro

"I... I will say everything! I will talk!" Jane Alex shouted hurriedly, her voice breaking in desperation.Ethan Maverick’s cold gaze settled on her, unreadable and unmoved. He remained seated in his chair, one leg crossed over the other, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest as if he had all the time in the world."Then start talking," he ordered, his tone void of emotion.Jane swallowed hard. Her throat felt dry, her body trembling with fear. She had spent years hiding the truth, doing everything in her power to bury the past, but now...She had no choice.Her daughter’s life was on the line."It was because your mother hurt me," she finally admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "You should have known... we are sisters from different fathers."Ethan’s expression darkened.His fingers stopped tapping. His brows furrowed slightly, but his face remained composed.Sisters?This information hadn’t appeared in his investigation. Someone had deliberately erased it. Som

Although the Henry family did not sense any immediate danger, an unsettling feeling lingered among them. Despite their outward composure, a deep sense of unease had taken root. They had been closely monitoring the recent events surrounding the other two families for weeks, fully aware of the unfortunate incidents that had befallen them. The Henrys knew that something was brewing, something far bigger than what had already occurred.Just last night, a shocking development sent waves of panic throughout Valeria’s business world—Stanley Corporation’s stock took a sudden and relentless plunge. The decline was so drastic and unexpected that it sent ripples of fear through the financial community. For years, Stanley Corporation had stood as an unshakable pillar in the business world, a powerhouse that many respected. Its stability had never been questioned, and its market value had always remained strong. So, for its stock to plummet so severely in just one night? It was nothing short of te

When Ethan arrived at Spring Estate, Lauren was just about to leave for work. As she stepped out of her car, ready to drive off, she caught sight of his familiar vehicle pulling into the driveway. Her brows furrowed in concern as she immediately halted her movements. Instead of getting into her car, she quickly walked toward him, her heels clicking against the pavement."Did something happen at work?" she asked the moment he stepped out of his car. Her eyes searched his face for any sign of distress.Ethan shook his head, a small reassuring smile playing on his lips. Without a word, he reached out and pulled her into a tight embrace. Lauren leaned into his warmth, enjoying the comfort his presence always brought her."How many scenes do you have left to film?" he asked after a moment, his tone unusually casual.Lauren pulled back slightly, her gaze shifting to his face. It wasn’t like Ethan to ask about her filming schedule. He had never been particularly fond of her acting career—not