Chapter Seventeen Suddenly, the TV blared in the corner of the living room. The news anchor’s voice filled the air. “Breaking news: Hexagon Consortium has announced a $150 million contract awarded to a secret and private contractor. Speculation is rampant, but the identity remains unknown.” Everyone’s heads turned to the large flat screen television that cost about 230,000 dollars. For a second, Stella’s face twisted in confusion, but then she burst into laughter. “Oh, this is rich!” she sneered. “You think that’s you, Jasmine? You’re not a private contractor; you’re a joke! You hear that, Stefan ?” Stella turned, her laughter almost hysterical. “She really thinks she’s the big winner.” Stefan chuckled from the corner. “You? Fifty million? Don’t make me laugh, Jasmine. You’re nobody.” Jasmine clenched her fists, stepping forward, her face flushed with rage. “Shut up, Stella. You tore my contract—” Before she could finish, Henry stepped between them, grabbing Jasmine’s
Chapter Eighteen Damon stumbled into the house, his presence reeking of alcohol, holding a bottle of wine loosely in one hand. His shirt was wrinkled, and his hair disheveled. He looked around with bleary eyes, a lazy grin plastered on his face. “Well, well, well,” he slurred, swaggering toward them. “I’ve come to claim my wife. I hear there’s been a little bet, huh? Henry said he’d divorce you, Jasmine, if you didn’t get that contract.” He chuckled darkly. “Guess what? I’m here to pick you up. Let’s not waste any more time, darling.” Stella, sitting on the couch, burst into laughter. Her cruel, sharp laughter echoed through the room, adding fuel to the already tense atmosphere. “Oh, Damon, this is just too good!” she said, wiping away fake tears. “Imagine, Jasmine, thinking she could ever win a contract like that. How pathetic.” Jasmine stood up, her eyes blazing with fury. Her hands clenched into tight fists by her side. She stared at Damon with disgust. “Get
Chapter Nineteen Damon’s face twisted in anger as he straightened himself, refusing to back down. “Bow down? Over my dead body!” he snarled, glaring at Henry. “I’ll never bow down to a commoner like you, Knight!” Grandmother Woods, who had been watching in silence, suddenly struck the floor with her walking stick. The loud crack echoed through the room, making everyone jump. Her face was red with fury, her eyes narrowing at Damon. “You fool!” she shouted, her voice filled with authority. “I don’t care how rich or powerful you think you are. You swore on my ancestor’s name, in front of my late husband’s ashes, that you would honor this bet. You think you can walk away from that without consequence? You’ll bring a curse upon yourself and this family!” Damon’s eyes widened, but he quickly masked his fear with a sneer. “I’ll never bow to anyone. Not Henry. Not you. No one!” Grandmother Woods’ grip tightened on her stick. “As much as I hate that man,” she spat, pointin
Chapter Twenty Jasmine stood frozen, her heart pounding in her chest. The room was suffocating, and the weight of her family’s expectations pressed down on her like a ton of bricks. Jasper, her younger brother, stood tall and smug, his arms crossed over his chest, a cruel smile playing on his lips. “Over my dead body will you ever become the chairman of this family’s business!” Jasper sneered, stepping forward. “I’m the male heir, Jasmine. The only male. This business is mine by right.” Their mother, standing beside Jasper, nodded in agreement. Her cold gaze fell on Jasmine, and she spoke with a voice that cut like ice. “Jasper is right. You might be older than him by a year, but he is the first male child. That makes him the legal heir to the Woods family empire.” Jasmine felt the world spin around her. Her knees weakened, and for a moment, she thought she might collapse. How could her own mother say something so cruel? Didn’t she see how irresponsible Jasper was? Didn’t
Chapter Twenty One Jasmine stood in front of her mirror, her mind racing with thoughts of the impossible task ahead of her. The pressure was suffocating, but she knew she had no choice. She had to get the president of HEXAGON to attend the signing ceremony, or everything she had worked for would be taken away by her irresponsible brother, Jasper. She couldn’t let that happen. She carefully selected her outfit—a simple, elegant dress that wasn’t too flashy but still looked respectable. Before leaving, she grabbed a bottle of fine wine from the mansion’s wine cellar , a gesture of courtesy and appreciation. She hoped it would show respect to Zara, the vice president of HEXAGON, whom she had met briefly once before. Jasmine knew Zara had influence, and she needed her on her side. As she arrived at the towering glass building of the HEXAGON Consortium, Jasmine took a deep breath. This was her only shot, and failure was not an option. Inside the sleek lobby, a new secretary sat at
Chapter Twenty Two Late that night, long after Jasmine had gone to bed, Jasper and his mother crept silently down the dark hallway toward their grandmother’s room. The house was quiet, the only sound being the faint creak of the wooden floors beneath their feet. Jasper glanced over at his mother, who gave him a firm nod, urging him forward. They had a plan, and they needed to execute it perfectly. When they reached Grandmother Woods’ door, Jasper gently pushed it open. The room was dimly lit by the soft glow of a bedside lamp, casting long shadows across the walls. Grandmother Woods was sitting up in bed, her silver hair pinned neatly as always. She looked up from the book she was reading, her face calm, but there was a glint of curiosity in her eyes. “What are you two doing here at this hour?” she asked, her voice low but firm. Jasper exchanged a quick look with his mother before stepping forward. “Grandmother,” he began, his voice smooth, “we know the president of HEXAGON h
Chapter Twenty-Three Knight gently lifted Jasmine into his arms, carrying her bridal style as he left the chaotic scene behind them. She clung to him, her body weak and trembling, but she felt safe in his arms. His strong, muscular build made her feel like nothing could harm her as long as he was near. Her head rested against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, and for a moment, the storm swirling around her seemed to fade into the background. As they reached their room, he pushed the door open with his foot and carried her inside, setting her down gently on the bed. Jasmine watched silently as he walked toward the bathroom, turning on the shower. The sound of running water filled the room, and Knight came back, kneeling in front of her. "Let me take care of you," he said softly, his voice filled with tenderness. He began unbuttoning her dress with careful hands, his touch gentle and respectful. Jasmine didn’t say a word, simply watching him, overwhelmed by
Chapter Twenty Four The sales assistant glanced at Henry the moment he walked into the luxurious boutique. Her eyes trailed over his casual outfit—faded jeans, scuffed boots, and a simple black t-shirt. She rolled her eyes. He clearly didn't belong here. She watched him wander toward the luxury items, looking out of place against the sparkling displays of exclusivity. "You should find your way out once you see the price tags," she muttered under her breath, barely loud enough for her colleague to hear, who snickered quietly. Henry, however, seemed oblivious to the judging looks. He took his time, moving leisurely around the exquisite items on display—Hermès shoes, bags, clothes, sunglasses—a collection of beautiful masterpieces, each more luxurious than the last. Everything was carefully curated, designed to make anyone feel like royalty. But Henry didn’t feel overwhelmed or intimidated. He felt excited. He had a purpose. As he wandered, his eyes scanned the displays, searchin