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