Warm light from the evening fell on the hotel when Marriane stopped the sleek black car in front of the grand hotel. She turned to Ariane, who had been sitting quietly all along beside her and now frowned with a creased forehead."What is it, Ariane?" Marriane asked softly but probing.Ariane shook her head, forcing a smile. "Nothing, Mom. I'm fine."Marriane narrowed her eyes slightly as she picked that something was amiss. "If you wish to share anything, feel free to."Ariane clasped and unclasped the seat belt tightly. "I said it's nothing, Mom," she said, trying to modulate her voice.Marriane let out a sigh and held her eyes on her daughter a second longer before she opened the car door. "Alright, but remember, I'm here if you need me."As Marriane walked inside the hotel, she clicked her shoes against the pavement and Ariane unwittingly released the breath she was holding. She got out of the car fast and ran towards the trunk. Her heart was pounding.She opened the boot to find
Marriane drove through the city streets, her mind racing as fast as the car beneath her. It was dark, and the night was light only from the streetlamps, flickering as she went by them. The grip on the steering wheel tightened, her knuckles white. She just had to know what Clarke wanted and had to do it now.But when she reached the car park, it was ominously quiet. The lot was practically empty; the few cars that were around were strewn about like lost antiquities. She parked the car in one spot, turned off the engine, and stepped out of the car, the cool night air brushing against her skin.Clarke stood near the edge of the filthy lot, his body outlined by the dull light like a shadow. Mariann squinted her eyes, pupils lessening in diameter, as she walked closer, her heels tapping the ground in individual thunks of the blistering asphalt."I thought we agreed no more meetings," she snapped, voice chillingly low. "What the hell are you doing here?"Clarke lifted his hands into the air
Stephen stood there, eyes riveted to Victor, as his mind grappled with what he was seeing. The man who should be lying in his grave was living, breathing, and everything was changed because of that fact.Victor advanced a step closer; his face was impassive. "You look like you've seen a ghost, Stephen."Stephen swallowed hard, trying to find his voice. "I thought. Charles.he killed youIt was a low soft chuckle, almost amused, from Victor. "That was the plan, Stephen. It was the only way to fool Clarke."---**Flashback**Victor was in a dim room with his only light a barely flickering bulb, which exposed the place above his head. In front of him sat Charles, who slowly hunched over toward Victor while speaking in a low, drawn voice, "You just have to pretend like you are dead, Victor. Pretend and fool Clarke into thinking that you are out of the way."Victor raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. "I expected as much from Clarke, but what's in it for you, Charles?"Charles le
The morning filtered through the penthouse windows. Pieces of modern furniture smothered with the same warm hue. She was already dressed in a silk-tied suit which complemented her form. She moved briskly inside the penthouse living room; she balanced her bag around her shoulder and checked the slim clock on one side of the wall. Maybe Ariane must have been in her room or maybe still asleep. She sighed, raising her card from the table of glasses."Just in case you need anything, Ariane, my card's on the table!" she called out, briskly determined but keeping her distance."Okay, Mom!" came the muffled reply from within, and Marriane nodded at the sound, glad enough for a small response. She didn't have time to stand there much longer; the empire needed her presence, and she was already running late."Bye!" she added, more on formalities than a real attempt at a conversation. It had her barely blink before she steamed off toward the elevator.The door opened and Mariamne confronted the h
For a moment, Ariane's mind went blank, and she was seized by fear. She was feeling Yuna's grip tightening on her arm but could not understand how to wriggle out. His eyes were sharp, and it was obvious that the manager expected his way to be explained."I. we. ," said Ariane, struggling.The manager flicked his gaze to Yuna and something seemed to shift within his expression. His eyes narrowed slightly, as if he was trying to piece it together.Yuna swallowed hard, stepping forward slightly. "We were just—"The manager widened her eyes in surprise as recognition flooded them Yuna's face. A slow, almost sad smile crossed his face as he glanced between her and Ariane. He knew what they were trying to do."You're trying to leave, aren't you?" he said, his voice calm yet edged with the weight of what he was supposed to do.Ariane's heart raced. "Please," she whispered, desperation thick in her voice. "We need to find out what happened to my dad." The expression on the manager's face see
Enoch was frozen, the phone still clutched a little too hard in his ear, though the call had long since ended. He blinked, his eyes fluttering shut as he digested the tornado of emotions suddenly stirred up by that sound of Victor's voice. He hadn't heard from his little brother in so many years, and for good reason. Victor was that kind of trouble which never went away quietly."Well, isn't this just great," Enoch muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair. He leaned back against the wall, staring at the ceiling as though it could give him some clarity. There was none to be found. All he could do was to attempt to untangle the mess Victor was going to drag him into.He exhaled an audible sigh and pushed off from the wall, walking back to his desk. He sat down and blew out a breath, frustrated. He hated the fact that Victor was alive, and more so, that he reached out to him now, of all times. His life had already been in a heap of turmoil without his brother adding to the pi
Ariane and Yuna stood at the intimidating gates of the prison before them; through the imaure stone, a sense of foreboding crept up on them. Ariane turned her expression to Yuna, her forehead deeply furrowed with confusion. "What are we doing here?" she asks low, but edged with concern.Yuna said nothing immediately. Her eyes were focused at the prison, her mind racing. This was where they locked up her father. The thought struck her heart, dulling all of Ariane's words, making her feel the pinch of the circumstances weighing hard on her."Ariane?" she broke into her thoughts. "What are we doing here?Yuna jerked herself out of the daze and grimaced one of those 'pretend' smiles. "Well, I heard Mr. Charles talking about his brother working here," she lied to cover her real reason.Ariane frowned, being able to perceive that something wasn't quite like how she was saying, but disregarded it. "Okay, no problem. Let's go inside."Yuna nodded reluctantly, her feet moving forward though he
Stephen eyed the cop a moment. Confusion swam in his eyes. "I need to speak with Ju Won alone," Stephen said, firm but polite. The cop hesitated before nodding. "You've got a few minutes," he replied, stepping out of the cell and closing the door behind him with a heavy thud. Ju Won squinted at Stephen, trying to place him. "Who are you?" he asked, suspicion in his voice. Stephen reached up and carefully peeled off the fake mustache and beard. Ju Won's eyes widened in recognition. "Stephen?" he gasped, then his voice bloomed in amazement. "I thought you were gone for good." "It's a long story," Stephen replied, his voice low. "But I need your help." "How?" Confusion was on Ju Won's face. "I'm sorry, supremo. But what could you possibly need from me?" Stephen drew closer, dropping his voice to hush. "I need knowledge about Clarke. I know he's the person behind all this, and I need to stop him." Ju Won blinked in surprise. "Clarke? You're going after him?" Stephen nodde