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From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 155. Shocking Revelation
Ivy listened intently as Emily explained what she had discovered. "It turns out this isn't the first time madam Wilson will be embezzling funds from the company. The first time it started was a month after you left work. Now at first glance it looked like she was probably using it to fund her lavish lifestyle, but after after I dug deeper, I realized that it was more than that. It appears that she's funding someone or something. I don't know who the other party is yet, but I'm certain madam Wilson has been funding that party, and it has always been a huge amount of money."Ivy's heart tightened as she listened to Emily's explanation. What was going on? And why was it that whenever she felt like she was getting closer to the bottom of everything, a new mystery would just arise and ruin everything? It was really frustrating. "Madam Ivy, there's more.""Please go on.""It's about your CFO, Alex. How well do you trust him?""Alex?" What was she getting at? "What did he do?""While I wa
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 156. Hidden Agenda
Ivy and Van worked tirelessly to uncover the truth about Margaret's involvement in Ivy's grandfather's death. They spent countless hours poring over documents, interviewing witnesses, and following up on leads.As they dug deeper, Ivy began to realize that her family's company was involved in some shady dealings. There were whispers of embezzlement, bribery, and even murder.Ivy's eyes widened as she read through a particularly damning document. "Van, look at this," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.Van leaned over her shoulder, his eyes scanning the page. "What is it?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.Ivy pointed to a paragraph highlighted in yellow. "It says here that Margaret was involved in a plot to sabotage a rival company. And it looks like she was willing to do whatever it took to get ahead."Van's eyes narrowed, his face set in a determined expression. "We need to take this to the authorities," he said. "Margaret needs to be held accountable for her actions.
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 157. Web Of Deceit
Ivy's team worked tirelessly to uncover the truth behind the sinister plot. They scoured the company's records, interviewed employees, and followed up on leads.But despite their best efforts, Ivy couldn't shake the feeling that they were missing something. She had a nagging sense that there was a traitor in their midst, someone who was feeding information to the enemy.Ivy's eyes narrowed as she thought about the possibilities. Who could it be? Someone on her team? A colleague? Or maybe even someone closer to her?As she pondered the question, Ivy's phone rang. It was Emily, her trusted friend and confidant."Ivy, I need to talk to you about something," Emily said, her voice low and serious.Ivy's heart skipped a beat. What did Emily want to talk about?"What is it, Emily?" Ivy asked, her voice cautious.Emily hesitated before speaking. "I think I know who the traitor is, Ivy."Ivy's eyes widened in shock. Who was it?"Who?" Ivy demanded.Emily took a deep breath before speaking. "It
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 158. A Difficult Decision
Ivy sat in her office, staring at the wall as she tried to process her emotions. She was torn between her anger and hurt over Van's betrayal, and her desire to forgive him and move forward.As she sat there, Ivy's mind wandered back to the early days of their relationship. She had loved Van with all her heart, and she had thought that he felt the same way.But now, Ivy wasn't so sure. Van's betrayal had made her question everything, and she didn't know if she could ever trust him again.Just as Ivy was starting to feel overwhelmed, Emily walked into the office."Hey, Ivy, how's it going?" Emily asked, noticing the look of distress on Ivy's face.Ivy sighed, rubbing her temples. "I don't know, Emily. I'm torn. Part of me wants to forgive Van and try to move forward, but another part of me wants to end our relationship and walk away."Emily nodded, her expression understanding. "I know it's not an easy decision, Ivy. But you need to think about what's best for you."Ivy nodded, taking a
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 159. A Thorny Path
Ivy and Van spent the rest of the day talking and working through their issues. They discussed the embezzlement, Margaret's betrayal, and Van's role in it all.It was a difficult and emotional conversation, but Ivy was determined to work through their problems and rebuild their relationship.As the sun began to set, Ivy and Van decided to take a break and get some dinner. They went to a quiet restaurant near Ivy's office, where they sat down at a table and tried to relax.But despite their best efforts, the tension between them was still palpable. Ivy couldn't help but think about Van's betrayal, and Van couldn't help but feel guilty and ashamed.As they ate their dinner, Ivy brought up the topic of Margaret. "Van, what are we going to do about Margaret?" she asked, her voice firm.Van hesitated before speaking. "I don't know, Ivy. I know she's your grandmother, but she's also a criminal. She needs to be held accountable for what she's done."Ivy nodded, her mind racing. She knew that
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 160. A New Lead
Ivy's eyes scanned the office, taking in the scene before her. The room was in disarray, with papers scattered everywhere and furniture overturned.Rachel stood beside her, looking worried. "I'm so sorry, Ivy. I feel like I should have done something to prevent this."Ivy shook her head. "It's not your fault, Rachel. This is Margaret's doing. She's trying to intimidate me."Van 's voice was firm. "We won't let her get away with it. We'll find a way to stop her."Ivy nodded, her mind racing. She knew that she had to take action, and fast.As they began to clean up the office, Ivy's phone rang. She answered it, and a voice spoke on the other end."Ivy, you're getting close to the truth. Meet me at the old warehouse at 5pm if you want to know what's really going on."The voice hung up, leaving Ivy staring at her phone in confusion."What is it?" Van asked, noticing the look on Ivy's face.Ivy hesitated before speaking. "I just got a mysterious phone call. The person wants me to meet the
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 161. A Deep Connection
Ivy's eyes were fixed on Emily's face, her mind racing with the implications of what Emily had just told her. Richard Langley, one of the city's most powerful businessmen, was connected to Margaret's embezzlement scheme."What do you mean?" Ivy asked, her voice firm.Emily hesitated before speaking. "I've been going through some financial records, and I found a transaction between Margaret's company and Langley's company. It looks like they're working together."Ivy's eyes narrowed, her mind racing. This was a major breakthrough. If they could prove that Langley was involved in the embezzlement scheme, they might be able to take him down.But as Ivy thought about it, she realized that it wouldn't be easy. Langley was a powerful man with a lot of connections. He would stop at nothing to protect himself."We need to be careful," Ivy said, her voice firm. "Langley is not someone to be trifled with."Emily nodded, her expression serious. "I know. But I think we have a good chance of takin
From Prison Bars To Gold Bars. 162. Family Betrayal
Ivy's eyes locked onto Langley's, her heart racing with anticipation. What did he have that she would do anything to protect?Langley smiled, a sly smile spreading across his face. "You'll do anything to protect your family's company, won't you, Ivy?" he said.Ivy's eyes narrowed, her mind racing. What was Langley talking about?But before she could respond, Langley dropped another bombshell. "I have evidence that your family's company is involved in the embezzlement scheme," he said.Ivy's eyes widened in shock, her heart racing with fear. What was Langley talking about? Her family's company was not involved in the embezzlement scheme.But Langley just smiled, a triumphant smile spreading across his face. "I have documents, Ivy. Documents that prove your family's company is involved in the scheme."Ivy's eyes narrowed, her mind racing. This was a lie. Her family's company was not involved in the embezzlement scheme.But as she looked at Langley, Ivy saw something that made her blood
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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
178. Elias
Flashback Two years earlier.The rain had been relentless that night—cold, insistent, and loud enough to mask the sound of approaching footsteps.Elias Grant stood alone in his office at JK Enterprises, the screen of his laptop casting a soft glow across his face. Financial reports, transaction logs, security footage timestamps—all of it laid bare in front of him. He had finally seen enough.He had been CFO for six years. Long enough to earn the family's trust, long enough to know which stones not to turn. But curiosity was a dangerous thing.Especially in a family like the Wilsons.The numbers hadn’t added up for months. Offshore payments disguised as consulting fees. A Cayman shell company with a fake board. Richard Wilson’s name never appeared directly—but his fingerprints were all over the transactions.Elias had started to put together a private dossier. He never told Ivy. Not yet. She was too close, too vulnerable. And he didn’t trust the board—or anyone else.That night, he co
