In the predawn darkness, Maya crept from Ethan's bed where he still slept, the ghost of a smile on his lips. She shuddered, imagining what ruthless new schemes spawned such happy dreams for him. Shrugging on a robe, she tiptoed downstairs to unfold the day's newspaper. Her heart jolted seeing the headline splashed across the front page. "Scandal Rocks Society Wedding of the Year" blared the massive print, below the incriminating photo Clara had provided. Despite bracing herself, the lurid public spectacle still sent shame flaming through Maya.Heavy footsteps made her whirl around, hiding the paper behind her back. But it was too late. Ethan's blazing stare went straight to the concealed headline before locking onto her face. His expression promised murder."Give it to me," he commanded, deadly soft. When Maya hesitated, he snatched the paper from her grasp, features contorting with each damning word. "Who did this?" he finally snarled. "The Waltons? Carnegie?" His wild gaze bored i
A slow, wolfish smile spread across Ethan’s face. “Is that so? I imagine the IRS will be very interested to learn about these creative accounting practices.”“There’s more, sir,” Andrew said eagerly. “I took the liberty of hiring private investigators to look into the Waltons’ personal affairs. It seems both daughters are living lavish lifestyles well beyond the family’s legal means.”He slid a file folder across the desk. Ethan opened it and rifled through photos of a stunning brunette in designer outfits posing on yachts and at exclusive nightclubs. “Sophia Walton,” Andrew explained. “She’s the younger daughter. A real troublemaker, according to our investigators. Drunk driving charges, drug use, assault allegations from domestic staff. All swept under the rug. Ethan's smile widened, eyes glinting. This insolent girl sounded like the perfect pressure point."Excellent work, Andrew. We're going to pay Ms. Walton a little visit. Time to teach her some respect."Andrew nodded eagerly
Sophia felt like her heart was going to burst from the intensity of the emotions that she was feeling. "Philip...!" She said again. She couldn't find the words to say as her thoughts got chocked up in her head. At this point. Clara had realised that the person who just called Sophia was indeed Philip. She felt an emotional turmoil in her chest. Clara's brain spun into thought rapidly. This call could mean many things at this moment; it was likely that Philip had recovered from his illness and was back. Then he probably heard reports about what was happening to the Walton family and to Sophia specifically. If he had learned that her parents were disowning her, then it might not be too good a situation. Sophia had been the only reason that they came to know Philip in the first place. And given the background of his family, it was very possible that he was the only one who could have them from the mess they were in. A plan quickly formed in Clara's mind. "Let me speak to him." She
Sophia fumbled to catch the phone that her mother flung at her. She looked at Clara with confusion."What do you mean I'm not going anywhere?" Sophia asked carefully. Clara rolled her eyes. "Isn't it obvious? Now that Philip is back and willing to help us, you better make sure you keep him happy. We need his support."Sophia clenched her fists, outrage burning inside her chest. "You were just telling me to get out! And now you want me to stay and seduce Philip?"Clara scoffed. "Don't be so dramatic. I only said those things because I was angry with you. But now Philip is back, so clearly it's best if you stick around." Sophia shook her head in disbelief. "Unbelievable. You really have no shame at all.""Watch your tone with me, young lady," Clara snapped. "In case you've forgotten, you're the one who got us into this mess in the first place. So you better do as I say if you want to fix it."Sophia bit her tongue to prevent an angry outburst. As much as she hated to admit it, her mot
Sophia watched as Philip slept like a baby. Then she got up, wore her clothes and stepped out of the room. "Did you do it?" Clara was sitting not too far, watching like a hawk and asking whY had transpired between Sophia and Philip. "Yes." Sophia was disgusted but she responded curtly. The situation had changed in just a few hours. Her parents had been chasing her out and now, they were once again depending on her. "Good." Clara nodded approvingly. "Your father is on his way. I've called him back." She said. Sophia flinched a bit before she calmed down. These past few days had been terrifying for her. She had come to fear her father like a ghost and now the fear was actually almost ingrained in her bones that she had paled at the mention of him returning. But now, things had changed. Sophia was still a proud person in her own right. "I don't care if he comes back or not." Sophia hissed and walked away, leaving her mother dumbfounded. Clara couldn't blame Sophia. She only grit
The next morning, Ethan called Andrew. "Good morning, Young master." Andrew greeted. "Good morning."Ethan twirled the steaming cup of coffee in his hands with a relaxed expression on his face. Andrew waited patiently "Yesterday, you only told me about Philip. What about the Waltons?" He asked. "You want to know about the Waltons sir?" Andrew asked. "Of course." Ethan replied. "I can only know how to respond if I know what has happened already."Andrew heaved with a sigh. He understood that what Ethan was saying was the truth. "Sophia went to your office when you were in vacation." Andrew said. Ethan scoffed. "It's clear what she wants; she wants me to withdraw the case because she made an advertisement of herself."Ethan was referring to the video that Sophia made and posted on the internet. He had told her what she needed to do if she wanted to make him withdraw the case but she did as she wished and expected that Ethan would comply. "Yes, young master." Andrew replied. "Tha
The next morning, Ethan called Andrew. "Good morning, Young master." Andrew greeted. "Good morning."Ethan twirled the steaming cup of coffee in his hands with a relaxed expression on his face. Andrew waited patiently "Yesterday, you only told me about Philip. What about the Waltons?" He asked. "You want to know about the Waltons sir?" Andrew asked. "Of course." Ethan replied. "I can only know how to respond if I know what has happened already."Andrew heaved with a sigh. He understood that what Ethan was saying was the truth. "Sophia went to your office when you were in vacation." Andrew said. Ethan scoffed. "It's clear what she wants; she wants me to withdraw the case because she made an advertisement of herself."Ethan was referring to the video that Sophia made and posted on the internet. He had told her what she needed to do if she wanted to make him withdraw the case but she did as she wished and expected that Ethan would comply. "Yes, young master." Andrew replied. "Tha
The next morning, Ethan called Andrew. "Good morning, Young master." Andrew greeted. "Good morning."Ethan twirled the steaming cup of coffee in his hands with a relaxed expression on his face. Andrew waited patiently "Yesterday, you only told me about Philip. What about the Waltons?" He asked. "You want to know about the Waltons sir?" Andrew asked. "Of course." Ethan replied. "I can only know how to respond if I know what has happened already."Andrew heaved with a sigh. He understood that what Ethan was saying was the truth. "Sophia went to your office when you were in vacation." Andrew said. Ethan scoffed. "It's clear what she wants; she wants me to withdraw the case because she made an advertisement of herself."Ethan was referring to the video that Sophia made and posted on the internet. He had told her what she needed to do if she wanted to make him withdraw the case but she did as she wished and expected that Ethan would comply. "Yes, young master." Andrew replied. "Tha