Conor stepped out of the car, his eyes scanning the nearly deserted parking lot of the Cochan Mall. The once-bustling shopping center, now a shadow of its former self, stood as a reminder of the past. His past.He could still remember the days when the mall was alive with activity, shoppers streaming in and out of stores, children laughing as they ran through the halls, avoiding their parents, and the constant hum of life. But now, it was quiet, almost eerily so.Parker, ever vigilant, was by his side, his eyes scanning the area as they walked toward the entrance. “Feels like a ghost town,” Parker commented, his voice low.Conor nodded. “Yeah, it does. But Zelgan Dries is still here, and that’s what matters today.”The familiar sound of the glass doors sliding open greeted them as they entered. The interior of the mall was dimly lit, with only a few shops still open. Most of the storefronts were dark, their once-bright signs now dull and lifeless.The echoes of their footsteps were th
The car pulled away from the nearly deserted Cochan Mall, the image of the empty corridors and shuttered stores still fresh in Conor's mind.Parker drove in silence, sensing Conor's deep thoughts as they left the area behind. The drive was quiet, with only the hum of the engine filling the space between them.Conor leaned back in his seat, his thoughts spinning in different directions. The encounter with Zelgan had stirred up more than just memories of the past; it had rekindled an idea that had been simmering in the back of his mind for a while now.The Cochan Mall was a shadow of its former self, a relic of a time when things were simpler, before betrayal and heartbreak had left their mark on his life.It was time to make a move.“Parker, I’m going to make a call,” Conor said, breaking the silence as he pulled out his phone. Parker nodded, his focus on the road.Conor scrolled through his contacts until he found the name he was looking for: Abbie Wiess, his trusted investment adviso
“Parker, drop me off at the park,” Conor said suddenly, making a decision. “I need to clear my head.”Parker nodded without question and turned the car toward the park. A few minutes later, they arrived at the park’s entrance. Conor stepped out of the car, taking a deep breath of the fresh air. He needed this—time to think, to order his thoughts, and to plan his next moves.“I’ll be close by,” Parker said, his tone indicating he understood the need for solitude but was still on duty.Conor nodded in acknowledgment, then began walking down the winding path through the park. The trees provided a natural canopy, their leaves rustling softly in the breeze. The serenity of the surroundings was a stark contrast to the storm brewing in his mind.As he walked, Conor mentally sorted through the problems he needed to address, each one a piece of the complex puzzle he was trying to solve.First, there was the situation with the Cochan Mall. He had no idea if Jessica’s parents would even consider
Conor sat in his office, staring out the window at the bustling city of Jinstain below. The view was stunning, but today, his mind was far from the skyscrapers and streets. Instead, he was focused on Kerrigan—how to reach her, how to bridge the distance between them, and how to show her what she meant to him despite being 11 hours away.He’d always been a man of action, solving problems head-on. But matters of the heart were different, more delicate. He needed a plan, something thoughtful that would remind Kerrigan of their connection, even from afar. But where to start? He wasn’t exactly known for his romantic gestures.As the idea took root, he grabbed his phone and quickly sent messages to three women whose opinions he valued: Kaylee, his efficient and ever-reliable secretary; Abbie Wiess, his sharp investment advisor; and Tina Bennett, the savvy real estate broker who always knew how to get things done. If anyone could help him navigate this unfamiliar territory, it was them.Less
Kerrigan sat at her desk, the morning stack of reports already preparing to tip over. She was barely a few weeks into Conor’s absence, but it felt like months had passed.The weight of managing the company, while fending off the advances of Kelan and the Prince on top of the underhanded machinations of the board, had long since turned her into a husk of her old self.She sighed deeply as Natalie entered, carrying the usual stack of mail and a tablet displaying the latest headlines. Her assistant moved with the efficiency Kerrigan had come to rely on, placing the pile of envelopes on the desk before showing her the headline."More news about the prince, I’m afraid," Natalie said, her voice laced with a mixture of irritation and concern.Kerrigan glanced at the headline on the screen: "Prince Khalid of Surret Arrives in Velyki: Plans to Strengthen Ties with Countess Lokir over Lunch?."A groan escaped her lips. "We should introduce him to Kelan. The two would get along."Natalie raised
Kerrigan sat at her desk hours later, the morning’s tension still weighing heavily on her as she tried to focus on the work at hand. The journal, with its mysterious inscription and the apple blossom, rested on the corner of her desk where she could glance at it from time to time.She had spent the better part of the morning poring over documents, pretending she was trying to wrap her head around the mess Kelan was causing, but all she was managing was to distract herself from the turmoil of her emotions.Just as she managed to find some semblance of focus, the door to her office burst open, and Kelan Benedict strode in as if he owned the place. Kerrigan’s heart sank at the sight of him, his broad shoulders filling the doorway, his confident smirk practically daring her to protest his presence.“Kerrigan, my dear,” Kelan announced grandly, as if he were addressing a ballroom full of admirers instead of a single, very unimpressed woman. “I’ve come to sweep you off your feet!”She barel
Kerrigan sat at her desk, her pen hovering over the first page of the journal. The words Dear Conor stared back at her, and for a moment, she felt paralyzed. She didn’t know where to start or what she wanted to say. Her emotions were a tangled web, and sorting through them seemed like an impossible task.She took a deep breath, trying to steady her thoughts. The day had been exhausting, and the lunch with Prince Khalid had left her feeling even more conflicted. His charm and poise had been undeniable, but the underlying implications of his attention weighed heavily on her. She knew what he wanted, what the Duke hoped for, and what everyone around her seemed to expect. But what did she want?Her thoughts drifted back to Conor, to the way he had always been there for her, supporting her through everything. And yet, now, he was gone—back to Jinstain, back to his life. She had told herself it was for the best, that they needed the distance, but the empty space he left behind felt like a v
The next few days passed in a blur. Kerrigan’s days were filled with meetings, strategy sessions, and the ever-present weight of Dragon Corporation’s future pressing on her shoulders. Yet, amidst the chaos, she found solace in the leather-bound journal that had become her most trusted confidant.Each night, after the long hours at the office, Kerrigan would retreat to her private quarters, and under the soft glow of a single lamp, she would pour her thoughts into the journal.She wasn’t ready to share it—those words, those emotions, were still too raw—but the act of writing was a release she hadn’t realized she needed.The journal had become a lifeline, a place where she could talk to Conor, express her fears, her doubts, and her longing, without the pressure of his immediate response.She still wondered who had sent the journal, but for now, the mystery was less important than the comfort it brought. It was a space for her to sort her thoughts, to face her vulnerabilities, and to fee