Claire looked aghast. How could Victor want to speak to a woman who carried out the ultimate betrayal? Carol gave up the coordinates of the Thanatos mine to Victor's enemies. Monolith could never have completed their weapon if she hadn't given in.The startling fact was she did it to save her rotten, undeserving family, who, in return, left her to die.Because of Carol's selfish and foolish actions, a spectacular man like Victor was going to die. If it were up to Claire, she would file a manslaughter case against her.Right now, she could only prevent the traitor from coming near the man. "But Victor… She-""Yeah, I know. Listen to me—Claire, Haley, and Julia. Return to Regal Rock and await my return. I will be discharged from the hospital shortly and be there in a few hours. I heard that the NWO members have planned a return party for me. Although, to be accurate, I'd say it would be more of a farewell party."Claire burst into tears again and raced out of the room, unable to control
Stonegate Cemetery was a low-key graveyard in suburban Springfield where the middle-class and lower families buried their dead. It was characterized by small gravestones, tall grass, and overgrown hedges. The place was also where the Damone ancestors lay.A crowd gathered around a freshly prepared grave. The morning had seen a light drizzle, and moisture still clung to the soil and the mourners' umbrellas.The coffin was slowly lowered into the grave, and the attending priest said his prayers. He ended the session on a high note, urging Victor's loved ones to move on.It was a peaceful, closed-casket funeral. Therefore, the mourners could not see Victor's face. However, the priest urged them to say their final words to him.Haley B was the first to step forward. Her face was covered in a netted veil to prevent ordinary people from recognizing her. The last thing they needed was a crowd of fans disrupting the funeral."Victor… I never imagined I'd outlive someone like you…" Haley said,
Carol inadvertently took Rose's hand to get to her feet. The latter wiped the stains off her dress with a handkerchief. "What are you doing on the ground? Hunting for treasure?" she teased.Carol offered no reply. Rose was never good at humor anyway."Why are you dressed like a widow?" she asked curiously, eyeing her depressing attire.Carol didn't answer that question as well. Instead, she turned to her twin sister and looked into her brown doe eyes. Why was she helping her? Weren't they supposed to be enemies?The two beauties stood face to face, regarding each other awkwardly. If it weren't for their contrasting dresses and an inch difference in height, a bystander would consider them identical doppelgängers."I can find my way out of the cemetery," Carol finally said, breaking eye contact. She pried Rose's helping hands off herself and began walking towards the car.Her twin sister sighed and accompanied her. "Wait… I need to talk to you about something…""Have you also come to ex
A week passed after the startling discovery that Carol was carrying Victor’s child. She was incredulous that one sexual encounter with him would impregnate her. Parents often had to try several times before they succeeded in conception.However, she conducted detailed tests at the hospital to be 100% sure. All of them yielded positive results.The implications of Carol’s discovery send her into a tizzy. She spent a week contemplating them. It was without doubt that she wanted to give birth. She would love the baby more than anything else in the world.Abortion was out of the question. However, several questions cropped up in Carol’s mind. Should she raise the baby as Victor’s offspring under his name? Would society believe it to be true? If they did believe her, would they extend support or condemn her?Soon after, Carol received an invitation to attend a gathering at the Damone house. Curiously, she read the letter to find out the occasion. It was Victor’s reading of the last will an
The Damone House's driveway was packed with Rolls Royces, Lamborghinis, BMWs, and other luxury vehicles. The police had cordoned off the entire block, and parking was extended for a quarter mile on either side.A crowd of wealthy people gathered outside, but only a few chosen ones were allowed inside. People wondered what the hell was happening with an ordinary family.Inside the Damone House, the library room was packed to the fill. Guests included Claire Holt, Rose Atelier, Haley B, and other celebrities. The following families were present: Bolton, Baron, Johnson, Krasinki, Ribald, Cormorant, and all other major business groups of Springfield.The secret was out; Victor Damone was the deceased Chairman of the mighty Rapids Project. Over the last year, the fifty-billion-dollar project had expanded to two hundred billion, shocking the industry worldwide. It was a global phenomenon at this point, and after the Chairman's death, hungry crows had come to roost.Victor's grandfather Edga
Haley B came forward with staggering steps. It appeared she was drunk. Elsa's associate approached her and handed over a velvet-lined box.Haley snatched the gift roughly and opened it. She stared at the ornament for several seconds. "Where is the seventh gem? There are only six here.""Since Mr. Damone was carrying it on his person during the terrorist attack, it is possible one of the gems was destroyed."Haley scoffed and walked away, settling on a couch with a glass of scotch. She seemed determined to drown her sorrows in liquor.Elsa waited for a moment before resuming the reading of Victor's will. "To Claire Holt, I trust the Chairperson position of the Springfield Rapids Project. Moving forward, her decisions will be law as far as the project is concerned."Audible gasps and grumbling protests broke out in the crowd. Claire dabbed her eyes with a tissue and stepped forward. "I accept the position.""How could Victor give away the top post to Claire when there are many senior b
Martha's revelation caused a furor in the crowd of guests."What? Victor Damone got a woman pregnant?""Victor never mentioned it to anyone!""Is this lady lying?""Is she trying to profit from the city hero's death?""Shame on her! A divorcee like her shouldn't be allowed in this gathering!"Carol covered her face immediately, overcome with utter humiliation. She wished she'd just disappear from the world.What had her mother done? Carol never wanted to reveal her pregnancy to the public and had planned to raise the child by herself. She should have tutored Ruth to keep her mouth shut.Edgar Damone, who had been silent all along, rose from his fireplace couch. He slowly approached the gathering and stopped by Carol. His face was a mixture of tumultuous emotion."Is this true?" he asked the beauty. "Are you carrying Victor's child?"Carol lowered her hands to reveal a teary face. She opened her mouth to speak but was suddenly overcome by sobs. In the end, the young woman nodded to ans
Pete was dozing heavily in his chair in the security booth. He was over sixty-five years old but had refused to go into retirement. To be fair, nobody else wanted his job.StoneGate cemetery was a low-key tract of land where the plebes of Springfield buried their dead. Thorny bushes, weeds, and cracked gravestones were the best scenic view.The grave keeper’s salary was a few hundred dollars a month, but Pete was content. Ever since his son died in the Pacific World War and was buried at this location, he decided to watch over the graves till his last breath.People gossiped that Stonegate Cemetery was haunted, but Pete saw nothing go bump in the night over the last thirty years. That was going to change very soon.Thud! Crack! Crunch! The sound of boots and metals against soil and gravel woke Pete up. He fluttered open his eyelids and peered into the night. The old man could see movement, and he froze.Pete’s eyes focused on three shadows looming over a distant grave. Ghosts?! Was it