Nancy did not expect this. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, trailing down her temples. Her plan had been flawless—or so she thought.Anastasia was supposed to be blamed, humiliated, and torn apart by public opinion. That would’ve created the perfect storm of scandal: trending topics, media interviews, and the perfect marketing for their company. But now the tide had turned, and she found herself in the crosshairs.Daniel, on the other hand, had his heart pounding against his chest. He rubbed his sweaty palms on his trousers and glanced nervously around the grand hall. In his mind, he had already celebrated the success of his scheme. He imagined the profits flowing into the Stewart Empire and basking in their triumph. Now, faced with the grim reality, his thoughts spiraled into panic.His eyes darted toward the exits. "I need to get out of here." His fingers twitched at the thought of bolting, but the uniformed officers blocking the hall’s entrances sent a chill down his spine.T
Outside the wedding venue, chaos erupted as Nancy and Daniel were shoved into a police van. The crowd watched in stunned silence, murmurs of disbelief spreading among the guests. Nancy, ever defiant, struggled against the officers.“Unhand me! Do you know who I am?” she barked, her voice shrill.“Save it for the court,” the officer replied coldly, slamming the van door shut.In another van, the redhead sat quietly, her eyes darting to the officers outside as they secured the convoy. She glanced at her trembling hands, guilt and fear clashing within her. The years she had spent evading consequences now seemed to crash down on her all at once.As the police vehicles roared to life, Anastasia stood at the wedding hall’s entrance, watching them leave. Alex gently placed a hand on her shoulder.“They’re gone,” he said softly, his voice steady.Anastasia nodded but didn’t speak. Her emotions churned—a mix of relief, anger, and disbelief at how close she had come to losing everything on h
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 ca
"Does he really think she’ll stay with a loser like him?"The voice cut through the chatter in the hallway, pulling every student’s attention. Alex Carter, walking slowly by his locker, felt the words sting more than the usual sneers and pokes from his classmates. His gaze was fixed on the classroom door ahead, ignoring the taunts and whispers as best as he could."I heard she’s dating the poor loser," another voice chimed in, laced with disdain. "But it didn’t stop Noah from proposing to her."Alex's heart skipped a beat. The “poor loser” could only mean him. His curiosity got the better of him, and instead of entering the classroom, he turned toward the other hallway, where the noise was growing louder.“Say yes! Say yes! Say yes!” The chant echoed through the corridor as Alex pushed his way through the crowd, trying to catch a glimpse of what was happening. When he reached the front, his worst fear materialized before his eyes.“Yes, I will be your girlfriend, Noah.” Janet’s voice
The case of students from upper-status families bullying those from lower-status families was so prevalent at Auguston Comprehensive College that not a week went by without an incident. Today was no different for Noah and Alex.Noah, with his arrogant smirk, couldn’t believe Alex had the nerve to call him a riffraff. This wasn’t just a word—it was a challenge. He had to make Alex pay or risk losing the respect he commanded from the other students.“Battle! Battle! Battle!” The chants echoed through the hallway, growing louder with each passing second. Noah rolled up his sleeves, ready to pummel Alex into the ground. He knew he was stronger and wealthier, and he had the crowd behind him. Victory seemed inevitable.Alex’s heart pounded like a drum in his chest. He knew this was a suicide mission—taking on someone like Noah, who had money and power, was foolish. But Alex couldn’t back down. He wouldn’t let this spoiled brat strip him of his dignity.“Ahhhhh!” Noah charged toward Alex, fi
Alex’s vision was hazy as he slowly regained consciousness. The world around him was a blur of shapes and colors, but gradually, everything came into focus. He was lying in bed with an IV drip attached to his arm. The sterile smell and white sheets told him all he needed to know—he was in a hospital. Confusion washed over him, and he voiced the question burning in his mind.“How did I get here?” His voice was hoarse and strained from the effort of speaking.He tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through his body, forcing him back down. Just then, a soft, calm voice broke the silence.“Trust me, Mr. Carter, you need to rest for a few more hours before we can be sure there won’t be any complications.”Alex turned his head slightly, wincing as he did. His eyes settled on the figure of a woman in a white lab coat. She walked toward him, revealing herself fully—a doctor with striking blue eyes and red hair, holding a syringe filled with some liquid.“How do you feel now, Mr. Carter?” Sh
The pain seared through Alex’s body, relentless and all-consuming, but it lasted only a few agonizing minutes. He thrashed around the room, his limbs moving as if controlled by some unseen force, as though something foreign was crawling beneath his skin. Then, as suddenly as it began, it stopped. His body went still and unnervingly calm, like the surface of a pond after a storm. But inside, everything was different.Even before the ring had shot onto his finger, Alex had sensed something peculiar about it. Lying on the floor, it pulsed with an eerie energy, almost as if it were alive. The moment the ring attached itself to him, a shiver ran down his spine, as though it whispered secrets that only his soul could understand. His eyes darkened, his sclera consumed by a pitch-black void, and suddenly, his reality shifted.He was no longer in his run-down apartment. Instead, he found himself in a hospital ward, standing unnoticed in a corner. He watched as a couple, radiant with joy, cradl
Alex stared at his fingers, captivated by the transformation unfolding before his eyes. His nails, once ragged and chipped, now gleamed with an almost supernatural cleanliness. His skin, which had been dull and worn from years of hardship, now shimmered with a vibrant glow, radiating health and vitality. It was as though he were witnessing a miracle—his body rejuvenating right before his eyes."What is happening to me?" he whispered, a mixture of awe and fear tingling in his voice.A strange, almost electric sensation pulsed inside his head, a warmth spreading through his skull. In an instant, it was as if a veil had been lifted—memories that had once been hazy and distant now came rushing back with vivid clarity, as though they had occurred only yesterday. He could recall every detail of his past with newfound sharpness, each memory playing out like a scene in a movie.Simultaneously, he felt his bones growing stronger, the frailty that had plagued him for so long vanishing as if it