Hunter had always been good at pretending. Outwardly, he was confident, suave, and self-assured, presenting the perfect image of a young man destined for greatness. But beneath that polished surface lay a deeply rooted insecurity that had haunted him since childhood. The absence of a father figure during his most formative years left a void that Hunter had desperately tried to fill with achievements, social validation, and eventually, business success.Even back in high school, Hunter had never truly fit in, despite his efforts to be part of the popular crowd. The jocks and socialites may have let him hang around, but it wasn’t because they valued him—it was because he was the smart kid who could help them pass exams and complete assignments. For them, Hunter was more of an accessory, useful only for his brains and resources. And for a time, Hunter convinced himself that proximity to popularity was enough to cover up the loneliness he felt inside.College wasn’t much different. He
The days had settled into a routine again at Lee Enterprises, but things were far from being the same between Hunter and Amelia. Ever since the incident where she collapsed and woke up in a panic, mumbling about things Hunter couldn’t quite piece together, something had shifted between them—something subtle, but undeniably present. Hunter found it increasingly difficult to maintain the professional distance he once upheld so strictly. Before, it had been easy to be stern, to demand perfection, and to keep things strictly business. But now, every time he felt frustration bubbling up, an image would flash in his mind—Amelia, lying on the office floor, clutching the file with frail hands. Her broken pleas echoed in his memory, words laced with fear and anguish that went beyond mere work stress. It made him hesitate, made him softer in ways he didn’t quite understand. He noticed things about her he hadn’t before—the faint shadow under her eyes that concealer couldn’t fully hide, the
The sun hung low in the sky, casting an orange hue over the sprawling estate as Patricia paced along the garden path. Her mind buzzed with thoughts of betrayal and loss of control. Her son, Williams, had left behind everything—the family business, the legacy, and the responsibilities she had painstakingly groomed him to take on. He was out there chasing dreams of adventure and exploration, while Hunter was now the only one left to manage the Lee family empire. It made Patricia’s blood boil. For years, Patricia had banked on Williams stepping up, ensuring that the family legacy would eventually be hers to control. With her husband Michael still overseas receiving treatment and her father-in-law James comfortably retired, the pressure had fallen on Hunter, something that infuriated her. Having grown up in a wealthy family, she knew just what it meant to have sole control over something. However, due to her gender, that opportunity was withdrawn from her. When she married into the L
Patricia sat in her dimly lit study, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the polished mahogany desk. The room was filled with the scent of freshly brewed coffee, but the bitter taste of resentment lingered in her mind. Weeks of scheming with Ava had led them to this point. The groundwork had been laid: whispers in the right ears, planted doubts in the minds of the board members, and calculated rumours designed to paint Hunter as a ruthless and manipulative leader. They were confident that the seeds they had sown would soon bear fruit. But Patricia couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling gnawing at her. For all their efforts, Hunter had yet to show any signs of cracking. Across town, Ava was busy playing her part. She had reconnected with some of Hunter’s old acquaintances from college and strategically let slip comments about how he was always distant, cold, and more interested in personal gain than genuine relationships. “He’s always been like that.” she would say with a practiced sigh,
Ava stood by the window of her luxury apartment, staring at the skyline with a smirk curling at the edge of her lips. It was clear her previous attempts to bring Hunter down and crawling back to her had failed miserably, thanks in no small part to that secretary of his, Amelia. But Ava wasn’t the type to back down easily. If Patricia’s schemes weren’t enough to shake Hunter’s control, then it was time for her to take matters into her own hands—directly. And this time, she wasn’t interested in ruining his reputation. No, she wanted to rekindle the flame that once existed between them, to pull him back into her grasp where he belonged. The plan was simple but effective: tamper with Hunter’s lunch order and let the drug do its work. She had timed it perfectly—Amelia would be on her usual afternoon break, leaving Hunter alone. It was now or never.Hunter’s day had been gruelling. He was swamped with meetings and reports, but he was used to the pressure. What caught him off guard was th
The day had started like any other, with the usual bustle of meetings, reports, and phone calls. Hunter was finally beginning to move past the paranoia that had lingered since the drugging incident two months ago. His grandfather James, and even his father Michael had both been furious when they found out what had happened, demanding tighter security and investigations. Even Patricia, who had never hidden her disdain for Hunter, had shown genuine shock when she heard the news. For a while, Hunter had ruled out the possibility of any family member being involved. But despite the lingering questions, things had finally started to settle down, and Hunter was slowly easing back into his normal routine. The office buzzed with activity as the day unfolded, and for a moment, it seemed like the shadow of the past was finally fading away. That is, until he heard the commotion outside his office. A loud cry echoed through the hallway, followed by the sound of frantic sobbing. Hunter frow
The next day, while Hunter was buried in reviewing some documents, his phone buzzed on his desk, jolting him out of his work. He glanced at the screen and saw a text from Ava: ‘I’m heading to the hospital now to confirm the pregnancy. The appointment is at 2 PM. I expect you to be there.’ Hunter stared at the message for a moment, his emotions a tangled mess. He didn’t want to believe Ava’s claims, but he knew he had to face this head-on. If she really was pregnant—and if the child was somehow his—then he needed to know for certain. He typed a quick reply: ‘I’ll be there.’ The next few hours passed in a blur. He tried to focus on his work, but his thoughts kept drifting to the appointment. By the time 1:30 PM rolled around, he couldn’t ignore the gnawing anxiety any longer. He grabbed his coat and told Amelia he was stepping out for a while. Her concerned eyes followed him as he left, but she didn’t ask any questions, sensing the gravity of whatever was weighing on him. W
Ava was meticulous when it came to planning her moves, and this was no different. She knew how to play her cards, and the game she was setting up with Hunter was no exception. Just a week after confirming her pregnancy, Ava discovered that the child was the result of a short-lived fling she’d had a couple of with some guy. Rather than letting this inconvenience derail her plans, she saw it as an opportunity to further tighten her grip on Hunter. Hunter had made it clear that he didn’t want anyone to know about the pregnancy until he was ready, but Ava had no intention of keeping that promise. She needed leverage, and what better way than to stir the pot before Hunter could even get his bearings? Ava sat in her spacious, meticulously decorated apartment, scrolling through her contacts until she landed on her mother’s number. She hesitated for a brief second, then hit dial. The phone barely rang twice before her mother picked up, her voice dripping with concern. “Ava, darling! Ho
Hunter paced his office, his brow furrowed and his phone clutched tightly in his hand. The soft glow of the desk lamp barely illuminated the room, casting long shadows on the walls. It had been two days since Amelia went missing, and every passing second felt like a heavy weight pressing down on him.Ethan leaned against the desk, his face a mirror of Hunter’s frustration. “I don’t understand,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “She wouldn’t just vanish like this. Amelia’s not impulsive.”Hunter stopped pacing, his dark eyes narrowing. “I know,” he replied sharply. “She’s always punctual. Always responsible. This isn’t like her.”“Have you heard from the police?” Ethan asked, his voice low but urgent.Hunter shook his head. “They’re working on it. But we’re not exactly their top priority. Missing persons cases take time—time we don’t have.”Ethan crossed his arms, his jaw tightening. “She’s my cousin, Mr. Lee. I can’t let anything happen to her. I’m not even sure how to call my
From the moment Hunter stepped into the company’s building, he felt that something was off. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary though, so he couldn’t understand why he was feeling this way. He made his way into his office, still trying to understand what was making him feel that way. Maybe it was the fact that he was yet to have his daily dose of caffeine or something.As he settled into his office chair and switched on his laptop to check his unread emails, his mind drifted off to the phone call with his parents the night before. As expected, his Dad was only getting better day by day. There was a certain glow to him and he was even thinking of starting physiotherapy. His mom was so happy when she was sharing about Michael’s progress with James and Hunter, you could literally feel the happiness in her voice as she and Michael took turns recalling several moments since they left for Michael’s treatment. Honestly, Hunter was glad that his father was getting better. That just mea
Amelia blinked, her eyes adjusting to the dim light as a figure stepped into the room. Her heart raced as she squinted, trying to make out the man’s face. She had already conjured the worst case scenario- that her ex had finally found her and was about to torture her. The man moved closer, and the faint glow from a small window high on the wall illuminated his features. She didn’t recognise him. Panic surged through her chest as the realization hit her: this wasn’t Steven, her obsessive ex. This man was a stranger. A sharp jolt of fear shook her out of her confused state. Who was this man? Why was she here? “Let me go!” Amelia’s voice cracked with desperation as she resumed struggling against her bindings. The ropes bit into her skin, tight and unforgiving. “Why am I here? What do you want from me?” The man stood in front of her, his expression neutral but slightly annoyed. He sighed loudly and then, with an exasperated tone, said, “Shut up, will you? I’m just doing my job.”
Ava sat in her spacious living room, her manicured fingers tapping impatiently against the armrest of her leather couch. She had expected chaos, a storm of judgment and pressure directed at Hunter, but what had followed was far from her plan. The media frenzy she had so carefully orchestrated had fallen apart within days. Articles had been mysteriously pulled, and apologies issued publicly. The buzz around Hunter’s alleged mistreatment of her was gone—replaced by whispers of her dishonesty. Her phone buzzed, and she stared at it with cold eyes. It was another message from her mother, full of concern and confusion. Her family was worried, asking why the media had retracted their story, why suddenly everyone was siding with Hunter. Ava tossed the phone onto the couch in frustration. She felt trapped—this wasn’t how things were supposed to go. She wanted Hunter to come running to her, desperate to fix things, willing to give in to her demands. But instead, it seemed like everything was
Ava was meticulous when it came to planning her moves, and this was no different. She knew how to play her cards, and the game she was setting up with Hunter was no exception. Just a week after confirming her pregnancy, Ava discovered that the child was the result of a short-lived fling she’d had a couple of with some guy. Rather than letting this inconvenience derail her plans, she saw it as an opportunity to further tighten her grip on Hunter. Hunter had made it clear that he didn’t want anyone to know about the pregnancy until he was ready, but Ava had no intention of keeping that promise. She needed leverage, and what better way than to stir the pot before Hunter could even get his bearings? Ava sat in her spacious, meticulously decorated apartment, scrolling through her contacts until she landed on her mother’s number. She hesitated for a brief second, then hit dial. The phone barely rang twice before her mother picked up, her voice dripping with concern. “Ava, darling! Ho
The next day, while Hunter was buried in reviewing some documents, his phone buzzed on his desk, jolting him out of his work. He glanced at the screen and saw a text from Ava: ‘I’m heading to the hospital now to confirm the pregnancy. The appointment is at 2 PM. I expect you to be there.’ Hunter stared at the message for a moment, his emotions a tangled mess. He didn’t want to believe Ava’s claims, but he knew he had to face this head-on. If she really was pregnant—and if the child was somehow his—then he needed to know for certain. He typed a quick reply: ‘I’ll be there.’ The next few hours passed in a blur. He tried to focus on his work, but his thoughts kept drifting to the appointment. By the time 1:30 PM rolled around, he couldn’t ignore the gnawing anxiety any longer. He grabbed his coat and told Amelia he was stepping out for a while. Her concerned eyes followed him as he left, but she didn’t ask any questions, sensing the gravity of whatever was weighing on him. W
The day had started like any other, with the usual bustle of meetings, reports, and phone calls. Hunter was finally beginning to move past the paranoia that had lingered since the drugging incident two months ago. His grandfather James, and even his father Michael had both been furious when they found out what had happened, demanding tighter security and investigations. Even Patricia, who had never hidden her disdain for Hunter, had shown genuine shock when she heard the news. For a while, Hunter had ruled out the possibility of any family member being involved. But despite the lingering questions, things had finally started to settle down, and Hunter was slowly easing back into his normal routine. The office buzzed with activity as the day unfolded, and for a moment, it seemed like the shadow of the past was finally fading away. That is, until he heard the commotion outside his office. A loud cry echoed through the hallway, followed by the sound of frantic sobbing. Hunter frow
Ava stood by the window of her luxury apartment, staring at the skyline with a smirk curling at the edge of her lips. It was clear her previous attempts to bring Hunter down and crawling back to her had failed miserably, thanks in no small part to that secretary of his, Amelia. But Ava wasn’t the type to back down easily. If Patricia’s schemes weren’t enough to shake Hunter’s control, then it was time for her to take matters into her own hands—directly. And this time, she wasn’t interested in ruining his reputation. No, she wanted to rekindle the flame that once existed between them, to pull him back into her grasp where he belonged. The plan was simple but effective: tamper with Hunter’s lunch order and let the drug do its work. She had timed it perfectly—Amelia would be on her usual afternoon break, leaving Hunter alone. It was now or never.Hunter’s day had been gruelling. He was swamped with meetings and reports, but he was used to the pressure. What caught him off guard was th
Patricia sat in her dimly lit study, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the polished mahogany desk. The room was filled with the scent of freshly brewed coffee, but the bitter taste of resentment lingered in her mind. Weeks of scheming with Ava had led them to this point. The groundwork had been laid: whispers in the right ears, planted doubts in the minds of the board members, and calculated rumours designed to paint Hunter as a ruthless and manipulative leader. They were confident that the seeds they had sown would soon bear fruit. But Patricia couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling gnawing at her. For all their efforts, Hunter had yet to show any signs of cracking. Across town, Ava was busy playing her part. She had reconnected with some of Hunter’s old acquaintances from college and strategically let slip comments about how he was always distant, cold, and more interested in personal gain than genuine relationships. “He’s always been like that.” she would say with a practiced sigh,