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From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 143. The Restaurant
Bianca stormed into the restaurant, her eyes scanning the room for the familiar face. She spotted him sitting alone by the window, sipping a drink. He beared only a little resemblance to the man she knew for all those years. It was still hard for Bianca to believe that he was the man she would have been married to. Her heart racing, she marched towards him."It's been a while."Van looked up, a blank expression on his face as his eyes locking onto Bianca's. For a moment, he just stared at her, wondering what she wanted and how she even knew where he was. "Bianca," Van said, his voice calm and collected. "What brings you here?""You know exactly why I'm here," she replied in a cold and unfriendly tone. "I do?""I hope you're not getting any ideas running around in that head of yours, what happened was a huge mistake, and it won't repeat itself. So don't go thinking you're special or anything like that."Van was almost certain he knew what she was talking about but he didn't want to
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 144. Bianca
"Wake up! You insolent daughter. How can you even be sleeping so comfortably at such a time?"Bianca heard the nagging voice of her mother from her sleep, but thinking it was just another day with her mother complaining about everything as usual, she turned the other way and ignored her. "I can't believe I was so unlucky and ended up with such a failure for a daughter." The angered woman went on. "Oh my goodness, where did I go wrong? What sin from my past life could be so great that I had to be punished for it this much? If I knew you would turn out to be such a huge disappointmemt, I would have never had you."Bianca couldn't take it any longer. "Mother, what is it now?" She said as she slowly sat up, rubbing her eyes in an attempt to ward off sleepiness. "Oh so now you ask me that. I thought you were going to ignore me all day and keep sleeping for the rest of your life. Then again, maybe it won't be such a bad idea, since that seems to be the only thing you can do without mista
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 145. The Lawsuit
Margaret Wilson sat in her lawyer's office, her eyes blazing with determination. "I want to sue my granddaughter," she said, her voice firm.Her lawyer, Mr. Jenkins, looked up from the papers on his desk. "Ivy? But Ma'am, she's your family. Are you sure you want to take this route?"Margaret nodded. "I'm positive. Ivy has been mismanaging the company, making reckless decisions that are putting our future at risk. I've tried talking to her, but she won't listen." That was a lie and she knew it. She just hated the way Van spoke to her the other day. How dare someone so beneath her speak to her in such a bold manner?And Ivy didn't say or do anything about it. Instead she kept insisting that she wasn't going back home because she had started her family with him. Mr. Jenkins sighed. "I understand your concerns, Ma'am. But a lawsuit is a serious step. Are you prepared for the consequences? This isn't just a simple meeting, you will be taking Ivy, your granddaughter, to court. There's no
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 146. Trial Begins
The day of the trial finally arrived, and the courtroom was buzzing with anticipation. Margaret and Ivy sat on opposite sides of the room, their lawyers by their sides. The judge, a wise and experienced jurist, entered the room and took his seat.The courtroom fell silent as the judge began to speak. "This court is now in session. The case before us is Margaret vs. Ivy, a dispute over the leadership and management of JK Enterprises. Let's begin with the opening statements."Mr. Jenkins, Margaret's lawyer, stood before the court, his voice confident and clear. "Your Honor, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, my client, Margaret, has brought this lawsuit against her granddaughter, Ivy Wilson, because of Ivy's gross mismanagement of JK Enterprises. We will show that Ivy has made reckless decisions, ignored sound advice, and put the company's future at risk."Ms. Rodriguez, Ivy's lawyer, hired by Van smiled, her eyes shining with determination. "Your honor that's a lie, my client has done a
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 147. A Surprising Offer
Margaret sat in her room, staring out the window as she thought about what Ivy said. To her, Ivy was her only family, and she also didn't like fighting with her, but Margaret couldn't just let it go like that, she needed to teach her a lesson.Just as she was thinking about what to do, her phone rang. It was her lawyer, Mr. Jenkins."Ma'am, I've been thinking about the case, and if it's alrigjt with you, I'd like to make a suggestion." He said."Oh? And what's that?""Why don't we settle the case?""What?!""Hear me out. Rather than demanding that Ivy give up her position, why don't we petition for one? Say, the second in command, or maybe a seat on the board of directors. That way, you will have influence in the company, and you can partake in decision making.""What if I don't want to do it that way?""I understand how you must feel ma'am, but see, the trial is going to be expensive and time-consuming. And even if we win, there's no guarantee that Ivy will actually step down as CEO.
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 148. A Seat At The Table
The meeting between Margaret, Ivy, and their lawyers took place in a large conference room. The tension in the room was as clear as day as they sat down at the table.Ms. Rodriguez smiled, trying to break the ice. "Let's get started, shall we? We have a lot to discuss."Mr. Jenkins nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, let's get down to business."The negotiations were intense, with both sides arguing over the terms of the agreement. Margaret wanted a guarantee that she would have a significant say in the company's decisions, while Ivy was determined to maintain her independence as CEO.After hours of discussion, they finally reached a compromise. Margaret would take a seat on the board, but she would not have veto power over Ivy's decisions.As they signed the agreement, Ivy felt a sense of relief wash over her. She had avoided a lengthy and costly trial, and she had maintained her position as CEO.Margaret, on the other hand, was less than thrilled. She had wanted more control over
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 149. A New Challenge
"You're not going to ask me about the video circulating online?""What do you want me to say? Were you expecting me to call you and demand for an explanation?"It had been a whole month and Moses had not called or texted Bianca. She didn't really have a problem with it because she had been busy trying to get Van's attention, but with the way things were going, she realized that she might end up losing the life of luxury she wanted. "Moses, I know what it might look like–""Just stop, okay? I don't want to hear it. Prepare yourself, our wedding is in the next two weeks.""What?""I'll send you the location later today. Make sure you make the necessary preparations.""I don't understand, wedding? You didn't even tell me anything before.""Well I'm telling you now!""How long have you been planning this? Wha– does your family know about it? And what about mine?""We had a meeting a week ago and everything has been finalized. Your mother said she's going to help you in choosing your dress
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 150. Unlikely Alliance
"Mother, how dare you?""Excuse me?""What gave you the audacity to go ahead and plan my wedding without my knowledge?""Since you were determined on making a fool of yourself and tarnishing the name I had spent years building, I thought the only logical thing to do would be to marry you off. Consider yourself lucky that the Wilson family still decided to accept you. I'd say it's pretty obvious that Moses doesn't have the slightest of feelings for you, but as a sensible business man, he has put thought into the benefits to be gained from a union between our two families. My own daughter who stands to gain a whole lot more can't even think straight. Rather than looking forward, she's still choosing to remain in the past, hung up over that useless boy.""But mother, I told you that Van is already in a better place in life. He's getting rich and–""Then prove it!! Stop jeopardizing my future just because you think he already has a few bucks in his account!""Your future?""Yes! At this
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187. The Hospital
Red and blue lights swirled through the rain-slicked street as the ambulance doors slammed shut. The metallic tang of blood lingered in the air, mixing with smoke and the acrid scent of ash. Firefighters and paramedics moved with urgent purpose, guiding Van and Ivy to the emergency vehicle. Ivy clung to consciousness, her body trembling, her breaths shallow. Van held her hand tightly, his shirt soaked in blood that wasn’t hers. His lips were pale, but his focus never left her face.“Ivy, stay with me,” he whispered. “You’re okay. You’re going to be okay.”Only when the paramedics began to cut open his shirt did Van glance down and notice the dark crimson stain spreading across his back and shoulder. The pain, which had been dulled by adrenaline and fear, now surged forward like a crashing wave.“You’ve been shot,” one of the paramedics said with a jolt of alarm. “Sir, we need to get you stabilized— you're losing blood fast.”Van blinked at him, confused for a moment. Shot? He hadn’t e
186. The Fire
When Ivy heard the first round of gunshots, she felt like her heart had stopped. A cold, paralyzing dread wrapped itself around her chest, making it hard to breathe. She knew she was supposed to run or at least try to hide, but her fear kept her rooted in place, her legs frozen, her mind screaming but her body refusing to respond.She saw Anae fall—her body jerking back with the impact, then crumpling lifelessly to the ground. Blood spread out beneath her like ink on paper. Ivy wanted to scream, to run to her, to do something—anything—but her limbs betrayed her. Tears streamed down her cheeks, silent and hot, blurring her vision. Her entire body trembled as the horror unfolded before her.She was afraid—more afraid than she had ever been. She had always known the risks, knew that pushing for the truth, for answers, would make her enemies among the higher-ups. But she had never truly considered what the consequences might look like. Not like this. Not in gunfire and bloodshed. Not in A
185. Set Up
It was obvious Anae was skeptical about helping them—Van could see it in her eyes, in the stiffness in her shoulders, in the way her fingers hovered near the concealed blade on her hip. Maybe she thought they’d been sent by the company to find out what she knew—and eliminate her, once and for all.But something about Van made her hesitate. Something about the way he stood, not too close, not too far. The way he spoke—not pushing, not demanding. And his eyes… they didn’t carry the coldness of a corporate enforcer. They held a kind of warmth Anae hadn’t seen in a long time. It made her want to trust him, even if her instincts screamed otherwise.Not only was he attractive—his perfectly lined jaw, the softness of his expression, the kind of eyes that looked like they'd seen too much—but he also had a way with words. He didn’t speak like someone trying to convince her. He spoke like someone who understood. After being isolated from people for so long, Anae found herself aching to feel hum
184. Anae II
The road to Albany was long and uneventful, and the silence in the car grew heavier with every mile they drove. Ivy couldn’t stop thinking about the name Anae Voss. There was something haunting about it—sharp and distant, like a forgotten memory trying to claw its way back.They arrived on the edge of the city just after ten AM, when the streets had started coming alive slowly. Van had a location: a converted warehouse on the outskirts, near the old rail yards. The neighborhood looked half-forgotten—graffiti-covered brick walls, boarded-up storefronts, old industrial fences rusting under the weight of years.“She's in there?” Ivy asked, eyeing the building.“She was, forty-eight hours ago,” Van said. “No guarantees. But according to the result of the extensive research we did, someone’s living off-grid inside.”Elias shifted uncomfortably. “She won’t like being found.”“Then let’s not give her a reason to shoot first,” Ivy muttered.They approached cautiously, parking a block away and
183. Anae
The hours crawled by.The city outside Van’s office never really slept, but up here on the twelfth floor, it felt like time was holding its breath. The room had settled into a heavy, anxious quiet. Van worked at one of his monitors, his face lit in ghostly blue. Ivy sat near Elias, trying to keep her mind from spiraling.She kept thinking about that moment in the car, the way the SUV had clung to their tail like a shadow. She thought about her aunt, about what might have happened if they hadn’t realized they were being followed. And she kept hearing Van’s words in her head:You have to assume they might have weapons.She hadn’t told her aunt anything. And now she couldn’t. Not until she knew it was safe. If it would ever be safe again.Elias had dozed off briefly, but his sleep was shallow and restless. He stirred often, his lips moving with unheard words. Ivy watched him, her heart aching. He looked younger like this. Softer. The fear and guilt stripped away for just a moment.Van br
182. More Secrets
“What?” Ivy thought she didn't hear him correctly. “It's okay. It's safe.” That was the only explanation he gave as he grabbed his jacket and headed out. They drove down the highway for a while before he swirled off to a street that Ivy had never been to. She thought about about saying something to lighten up the mood but eventually decided against it. They drove through the unfamiliar neighborhood for about thirty minutes before he parked in front of a simple looking building. On the door of the building, a ‘keep away’ sign was hanged, but of course it didn't keep Van from pushing the foor open. It was stark, utilitarian, but something about it felt like a bunker. A safe haven in a war zone.The three of them walked in, with Van leading. Seated on the couch was a dark skinned man with a cigarette in his mouth. “You weren’t followed?” he asked immediately.“I don’t think so,” Van said. “I was very careful on the way.”The man nodded, ushering them inside. “Lock the door behind
181. A Mafia Lord?
The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, revealing a dimly lit corridor lined with glass-walled offices. Van’s was at the end, a deep black door keeping the contents behind it a mystery. Elias was the one who knocked on the door and when Ivy saw the person who opened it, her face contorted into a frown. The lady standing before her was dressed in a black fitted mini dress that outlined the curves and edges of her body well. In Ivy's opinion, the dress was much too short and too revealing to wear to work, so she concluded that she wasn't a staff. “Are you coming in?” She asked and Ivy realized she had been staring. Smiling politely, she walked into the large office with Elias following right behind her. It didn't take long before she spotted Van, he stood by window with his back turned to them. Even without seeing his face, it wasn't hard to tell that Van was a very attractive man. He was on the phone, and judging by the way he was waving his arm around, Ivy suspected that h
180. The Chase
The headlights behind them hadn’t wavered for miles. Ivy tightened her grip on the steering wheel, trying to keep her breathing steady as she turned onto a quieter side street. The car behind them turned too. Her heart skipped. Once could be coincidence. Twice… She stole a glance at the rearview mirror. The vehicle maintained a steady distance, close enough to keep them in sight, far enough not to alarm casual onlookers.“Elias, I think we’re being followed,” she said quietly. Elias immediately snapped his head toward her. “What?”“I think they’ve been on us since the main highway. I tried to shake them a few turns back, but they’re still there.” she explained. His face drained of color. He ran a hand through his hair, fingers trembling. “It’s them. It has to be. Ivy, if they catch us—”“They won’t,” she said firmly, although her voice cracked on the last word. She pulled the car over and let a black SUV speed past—only to have it slow down a block ahead and pull over too. Confirmed
179. Missing
Moses sat in his office, the steady ticking of the antique clock on the wall matching the rhythm of his thoughts. He stared at the documents sprawled across his desk, none of which made any sense anymore. The Hartley meeting had been a disaster—he didn't expect things to escalate that much. But he wasn't even botherd that much by it, what he was more concerned about was the fact that since that day, Bianca had disappeared from his life like a ghost retreating into the shadows.He hadn’t seen her. He hadn’t heard from her. Not a call. Not a text. Not even one of those curt voice notes she used to send when she was annoyed with him but still too fond to stay silent. The silence was deafening, and more than anything, it was suspicious.Bianca’s parents, especially her mother, were not ones to sit back and allow things to fall apart without putting up a fight. If her mother hadn't already tried to "talk sense into her,"as she would put it,then the world had surely turned upside down."Wha