Alex listened to the whispers circulating around him, a determined glint in his eyes. He wasn’t about to let them go unchallenged.Anastasia, on the other hand, heard the murmurs but remained unruffled. Material wealth meant little to her; she had plenty of it. What truly mattered was the genuine affection and potential she saw in Alex. That was worth more than any amount of money.Standing proudly before the crowd, Alex rose from his kneeling position and embraced Anastasia. With a confident smile, he declared:“I know you’re a Stewart, Anastasia, but I have a special gift for you—a car. It will be delivered by closing time today.”Anastasia’s eyes widened in surprise. She couldn’t believe Alex could afford such a gift. To her,
The evening of the second day arrived with an air of anticipation. Anastasia was eager to introduce Alex to her family. To her, relationships weren’t casual; they were a path to marriage. If she was serious about someone, her family had to know him.When she told Alex about her intentions, his initial reaction was reluctance. It wasn’t that he didn’t see a future with her—he did, deeply—but he was all too aware of the Stewarts’ status. They would want more for their daughter than what he appeared to offer. The weight of his secret identity pressed on him, but he felt an inexplicable need to keep it hidden for now.Yet, his love for Anastasia was stronger than his reservations. “I’ll go with you,” he finally said, the words carrying a mixture of resolve and unease.When Anastasia heard his agreement, she lit up with joy. Later that night, they arrived at the Stewart Mansion, a grand edifice that exuded wealth and power. As they walked into the grand dining hall, Anastasia noticed that
“No!” Anastasia's voice cut through the tension like a knife.“I will not break up with Alex. I love him, and I know he loves me too.” Her tone was firm, and she locked eyes with Nancy, unflinching.Nancy's face twisted with rage. “How dare you disobey my orders?” she roared.A heavy silence fell over the room. Everyone’s faces were etched with fear, anticipating Nancy’s next move. But Alex remained calm, his expression unchanged. He knew what was coming. Nancy was about to punish Anastasia for standing by him, and he was determined to make it right. Despite what she was about to lose, he was eager to show her that choosing him wasn’t a mistake.“All your shares in the Stewart Empire are hereby seized. You will no longer receive dividends until you break up with this worthless man.” Nancy’s words hit like a sledgehammer.Nancy expected Anastasia to crumble, to beg for forgiveness. But instead, “If that’s what you want, so be it!” Anastasia’s voice was steady as she gripped Alex's ha
Receiving this order from Alex, Ava obeyed immediately.The following morning, Nancy Stewart was jolted awake by a faint, persistent knocking on her bedroom door. Her secretary entered, holding a ringing cellphone.“Ma’am, you have a call.”Nancy’s irritation was evident. “Who’s calling at this early hour? Let it ring. The call can wait.” She turned to go back to sleep, but the secretary persisted.“Ma’am, it’s from the Sebastian Southlake Corporation.”Nancy’s eyes snapped open. The Sebastian Southlake Corporation had never reached out to her first. She was always the one initiating contact, often enduring a series of frustrating follow-ups to get a response. To receive a call from them at such an early hour was both unusual and alarming.Curiosity overpowered her annoyance. She leaped out of bed, grabbed the cellphone from her secretary, and said, “Hello, Nancy Stewart speaking.”“Mrs. Stewart, this is to inform you that the president of Sebastian Southlake Corporation has directed
While 911 had been called, the paramedics arrived promptly, lifting Harry onto their stretcher and rushing him to the hospital.With Harry taken care of, the general manager wasted no time in taking charge of the board meeting. The meeting had to continue, despite the C.E.O’s sudden hospitalization.“Although the C.E.O has been rushed to the hospital, we all know we cannot adjourn this meeting,” the general manager began, his tone firm and resolute. “Stewart Empire must still compete for the project manager position at Sebastian Southlake Corporation. Therefore, we will be sending the project manager of St. Patrick Digital Company to apply for this role.”The board members nodded in agreement, signaling their unanimous support for the general manager’s decision.***The next day, at Sebastian Southlake Corporation, representatives from St. Patrick Digital Company and Stewart Empire sat in the reception area, awaiting their interviews. They were not alone—other representatives from vari
Daniel chuckled, but the sound felt hollow, forced. He stepped aside, letting them pass to claim their seats, masking the growing tension beneath his calm demeanor.As he was about to lower himself into his seat, a well-dressed man in a sharp suit appeared from the elevator. His voice rang out, cutting through the air, “Mr. Daniel Stewart, please come in.”Daniel froze for a second, glancing over at Anastasia with a smirk that barely concealed his arrogance. Straightening his suit, he stood tall, radiating the confidence of a man who believed his name alone could open any door. With another smirk, he strode towards the office.As he entered, the first thing Daniel noticed was that the man who’d summoned him wasn’t the one doing the interview. Instead, sitting behind the desk was a different man—older, with glasses perched on the edge of his nose and dressed in a dull gray suit. He barely acknowledged Daniel’s presence, engrossed in whatever he was typing on his computer. Not even a gl
As Anastasia stepped into the office and settled into her chair, she felt a wave of nervous anticipation wash over her. The interviewer, still focused on his computer screen, hadn’t even acknowledged her presence yet. His silence was unnerving. Without a glance, he stretched out his hand across the desk and said coldly,“Your CV, ma’am?”She quickly handed it over, her heart pounding as his fingers brushed the paper. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, as his eyes landed on her name, something shifted. His indifferent expression faltered, replaced by a spark of recognition.He had received explicit instructions from the vice president herself: reject any applicant from the Stewart Empire, except for one—Anastasia Stewart.Realizing who was
Arriving at the Stewart Mansion, Anastasia felt a strange hollowness in the air. It was unsettling—too quiet for a place that was usually buzzing with life. She realized, with a sinking feeling, that it was just her and Nancy. No one else from the family was around, only the housekeepers and the ever-watchful secretary. Not even her cousin, Daniel, was in sight. She sighed softly, her fingers brushing the cool surface of the dining table as she sat down to wait for Nancy to appear.The announcement of her arrival must have reached Nancy by now. Anastasia imagined her grandmother getting ready upstairs, mentally preparing for what was sure to be another heated conversation about Alex. With a heavy heart, she gazed at the rich surroundings and the elegance that had shaped her childhood. But today, it all felt distant.Upstairs, Nancy was indeed prepared, both physically and mentally. Her wrinkled hands moved methodically as she put on her jewelry, each piece symbolizing years of hard-ea
The day before, Daniel had meticulously planned every detail. He had ordered a specific set of glassware, ensuring they were delivered directly to his chemist contact. "If anything goes wrong, the hooker can take the fall for it," he had concluded smugly, sharing his plan with Nancy.Nancy, as calculating as ever, nodded in agreement. “Let’s make sure this is foolproof. The less we leave to chance, the better.”Now, as the commotion unfolded in the house, Nancy’s smirk betrayed her satisfaction. Everything was falling into place. She pulled out her phone and dialed 911, her tone dripping with urgency.“Hello? Yes, there’s been an attempted murder. I think I know who did it,” she said, casting a sharp glance toward Veronica, who was nervously pacing in a far corner of the house.Before hanging up, Nancy made sure to add, “Please hurry. The suspect might try to flee.” She snapped her phone shut and turned to her other grandchildren, her voice sharp and commanding.“Make sure she doesn’t
Daniel stood by the upstairs window, a glass of wine in hand, his gaze fixed on Alex, Anastasia, and Antony outside. His posture was casual, but his smirk betrayed the calculated mind of a man waiting for chaos to unfold.He swirled the wine before taking a deep gulp. “I should have known he couldn’t pull it off,” he muttered under his breath.A sudden shout from below caught his attention. “Fuck!” The voice carried up through the house.Daniel smirked again, his amusement turning to irritation as he overheard their heated exchange. “That idiot just keeps running his mouth,” he said aloud, his voice laced with disdain.Moments later, he saw Alex leave the group and head toward the house. Daniel stepped back from the window, his smirk deepening.The house was eerily silent. The partygoers were all outside, basking in the perfect night, oblivious to the brewing storm.“Daniel!” Alex’s voice echoed through the empty halls as he entered.Daniel didn’t respond. The house was vast, a maze o
Inside the boutique, she stepped out of the changing room, her reflection in the mirror catching her eye. The dress hugged her body in all the right places, the rich fabric gleaming under the soft lights. She took a deep breath, adjusting the neckline before stepping out.Daniel, lounging on a stool, barely glanced up at first. His fingers tapped rhythmically on his phone, scrolling through his feed. But as the click of her heels echoed across the tiled floor, his attention snapped to her. His eyes widened, and he slowly set his phone down on the counter.“Wow,” he murmured, rising to his feet. His gaze traveled from her head to toe, lingering appreciatively. “That dress—it’s perfect. You look incredible.”She twirled lightly, letting the hem of the dress flare out. “You think so?” she asked coyly, her lips curling into a small, teasing smile.“Think so?” Daniel took a step closer, his voice lowering. “You look like you just stepped out of a fashion magazine.”His words made her cheek
Daniel cleared his throat, the weight of his words pressing down on him. “I have a confession.” His face shifted into a sombre expression, the gravity of what he was about to say consuming him. He wanted them to believe him, to take him seriously.“Now that our family has united once more,” he continued, pausing for a brief moment as he scanned the faces in the room, “I believe it’s time I come clean to us all.”He bowed slightly, as though remorse for a long-hidden truth overwhelmed him. A silence filled the room. No one spoke. The family members exchanged confused, questioning looks, and for a long beat, no one moved.Then, finally, Daniel spoke again, his voice filled with finality. “I am married.” The words hung in the air like a bomb, detonating a sharp, collective gasp that reverberated throughout the room.“What?” Everyone exclaimed at once, their voices full of disbelief.Daniel was old enough to be married, but everyone knew him as the man who never took relationships serious
Discussing the plan with Nancy, her eyes widened with excitement. “Let’s do it!” she said firmly to Daniel. They exchanged cunning smirks, their resolve evident. Without wasting any time, Nancy picked up her phone and dialled Juliet’s number. “My child,” Nancy began, her voice soft and deliberate, “I need to apologise to everyone—please come to the family villa this evening. Bring your daughter and her husband. I must apologise to them in person.” Her voice trembled, a masterful performance of guilt and sincerity. “Mother, are you serious?” Juliet asked, her tone cautious. “Yes, Juliet. I’ve wronged too many people, and it’s time I made amends,” Nancy replied, her voice almost cracking with emotion. “Alright, Mother. We’ll be there,” Juliet agreed, though scepticism lingered in her voice. Nancy ended the call and turned to Daniel. “Everything is set. Make sure the house is ready. By the end of tonight, the pieces will be where we need them.” Daniel nodded, a sly grin spreading
The first light of morning came like an unwelcome friend. Daniel had not slept throughout the night. He sat in his home bar, thinking about what to say to Antony to convince him to return to Anastasia’s life.He knew that, back in the day, Anastasia was the first to like Antony. Antony, on the other hand, genuinely loved Anastasia. But due to reasons far beyond their control, they could not have a relationship. So convincing him to do something ill-minded against Anastasia might be hard.“What if I told him Anastasia confessed to me again? Though she is married, she wanted out of her marriage?” he thought to himself, then shook his head.“That won’t work!” he muttered, knowing full well that Antony, though unmarried, respected the sanctity of marriage and wouldn’t want to be the devil that destroyed one.Daniel gulped down his glass of wine suddenly. He slowly paced to the glassy wall and stared at the view of the city.“This is harder than I thought,” he said to himself.Suddenly, hi
The atmosphere in the car was suffocating, thick with tension and unspoken grievances.Daniel stared out the window, his face stony, while Nancy kept her gaze fixed ahead, her lips pressed into a thin, disapproving line. Beside her, Juliet shifted uncomfortably, casting furtive glances between her mother and Daniel. Anastasia’s hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles pale against the dark leather.It was silence that screamed. The hum of the engine felt louder than it should, each second stretching unbearably.Finally, Nancy broke the stillness, her voice sharp and laced with disdain. “Are you sure that... poor thing is the president of Sebastian Southlake Corporation?”Anastasia’s grip tightened further, her nails pressing into her palms. The disrespect in Nancy’s tone was a match dangerously close to a powder keg. Anastasia inhaled sharply, her voice bristling with suppressed anger. “You won’t—”“Yes, Mother. He is.” Juliet’s voice sliced through the growing tension,
The urgency in the redhead’s voice stopped Alex in his tracks. Behind him, Anastasia, Johnson, and Juliet halted as well, exchanging cautious glances but staying silent.“Do you promise to get me out of the country?” the redhead pressed, her voice trembling. “Do you promise to keep me alive?”Alex turned slowly, his expression unreadable. Instead of answering, he approached her cell with deliberate steps, the faint echo of his shoes against the cement filling the tense silence. The cold, dimly lit corridor smelled of damp stone and metal, oppressive in its weight.He knelt before the iron bars, gripping one tightly. His knuckles whitened, but his voice was calm. “I’m Alexander Sebastian, president of the Sebastian Southlake Corporation. I have money, influence, and power that extend far beyond this country. If you cooperate and tell me what I need to know, I can ensure your safety.”The redhead hesitated. Her fingers hovered over the bars, then curled around them as if seeking stabilit
Anastasia, Alex, Johnson, and Juliet walked through the cold, sterile hallways of the police station, their faces a mix of determination and unease. They demanded to speak with Nancy and Daniel.The officer on duty hesitated before leading them to the holding cells. The clang of keys echoed, the doors groaning open to reveal Nancy and Daniel sitting on separate benches, eyes full of disdain. Neither rose to greet their visitors.Juliet was the first to speak, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and heartbreak. She gripped the bars of Nancy's cell tightly. "Mum?" she called softly, her voice cracking. "Why’d you do it?" Her eyes, brimming with unshed tears, locked with Nancy’s, pleading for an answer.Nancy turned her head away, her response nothing more than a groan of indifference.“Mum, please!" Juliet pressed, her voice cracking. "We’re here to help you. Just... tell us why."Nancy said nothing, her stubborn silence sharper than any words.Johnson, stepped forward, resting a cal