Lewis's eyes glowed with anger as he glared over Gracia, he just couldn't take it, he knew his sister was smart, he decided to inject fear into her. It scared her away from investigating further. So, he went to her and held her tightly.Gracia, flinched clearly not expecting Lewis's action. She tried to remove her hand but his grip on her arm tightened. "You're just a nosy little thing, aren't you? Can’t you mind your own business? Well, let me tell you something, Gracia. You're playing with fire. And you’re going to get burned if you're not careful. I am warning you because you are my sister. Don't come in here and undermine my hard work."Gracia's smile never wobbled. "Oh I'm shaking in my boots, Lewis. But you know what?? I'm not going to back down. I know something is off, and I'm going to find out what it is."Lewis sneered. "You're just jealous because I'm successful and you're not. You're trying to bring me down because of your insecurities."Gracia chuckled. "You're so predic
Gracia sat in the police station, she still couldn't go home. her heart was still racing from the attack. As she gave her statement to the police, she also filed a report as it was the first step to her safety. Gracia still couldn't get over the trauma, she was still shaking in fear, wondering what could've happened to her if the police hadn't intervened.She had no idea why she was attacked if it was an act of violence or just for an unknown reason. She didn't know what the attacker meant by the words he said to her earlier.Just as she was finishing up at the station, her phone rang. It was her father, Michael. "Gracia, where are you? I've been trying to reach you all day, why weren't you picking up?" he asked, sounding so concerned and impatient.Gracia hesitated for a while before speaking up . "I'm at the police station, Dad. I had a bit of a run-in with someone," she said, trying to downplay the incident.Mr. Michael's voice was sharp with concern. "What happened? Are you okay?
After much thinking, Gracia finally fell asleep, her mind was tired from the traumatic experience she had. But her sleep was not so peaceful, she had dreams filled with scary images of the attack and Hugo's warning.She dreamt of running away from someone, her heart was beating so fast. She heard the sound of tires screeching and people chasing her. Then, she saw Hugo's face, he had a mean stare. He whispered his warning again, "Your brother Lewis is playing with fire , and if I can’t get to him,you're next."Gracia woke up with her heart racing. She lay in bed, catching her breath and trying to calm down. But the dream came back, again and again, like a bad movie playing in her mind.She tossed and turned, her sheets tangled around her legs. Fear and worry filled her mind. Who was Hugo? What did he want from her? What had Lewis done to make him angry? And what’s her business in all of it?As the night went on, Gracia's sleep got worse. She had only slept for a few minutes, then woke
"Hey, what's going on here?" Michael, their father asked, with a firm but concerned voice. "What are you two arguing about?"Gracia turned to her parents, her eyes still locked on Lewis. "He's lying to me, Mom and Dad. He's hiding something, and I know it."Lewis shook his head, his smirk still in place. "I'm not hiding anything, Gracia. You're just being paranoid.""Paranoid?" Gracia's voice rose in frustration. "You're the one who's always sneaking around, lying about where you've been. You're the one who's got our parents worried sick. And now this guy Hugo shows up, threatening me all because of you! And you say I’m being paranoid? Don't you dare try to spin this, Lewis. I know you’re not telling the truth."Lewis rolled his eyes. "You're just exaggerating, Gracia. I'm not involved in anything. And Hugo's just some crazy guy who's stalking you. That’s if you’re telling the truth because I don’t know what you’re talking about."Their mother, Eloise, stepped forward, looking cursor
As the days went by, Lewis continued with his work and his daily routine, avoiding any further quarrels with Gracia. Gracia, on the other hand, couldn't just stop feeling that her brother was hiding something from her.She tried to focus on her own life, spending time with her friends and chasing her interests, but the suspicion remained in the back of her mind that she couldn't easily forget about her attack.Despite their strained relationship, Gracia and Lewis tried to act as if everything was alright, living in the same house and eating their meals together. But the tension between them was visible, and their parents grew concerned about the rift in their relationship.Gracia's parents tried to reconcile them, encouraging Lewis to open up to his sister if there was anything and reassuring Gracia that everything was going to be alright and the police were doing their work so she shouldn’t worry herself.“Lewis, I know you've maintained that you knew nothing about your sister’s atta
Gracia took a deep breath and lobbed into her story. “Sir, I came here to find out how the case is going. Do you have any leads? Is there any progress so far?” She told the police chief she was here to know if they had any lead on Hugo about Lewis's strange behavior, and she also talked about her own research she has been conducting. Officer John listened intently, his eyes never leaving hers.When she finished, he nodded. "Well we’ve been doing our own search too and we still don’t have any lead on him yet,” he said. "Don’t worry Gracia, I need you to know we’re trying everything in our power to get to the bottom of this and to find Hugo. We are not relenting and soon we will get our answers. Trust me. "Gracia nodded, she was reluctant but relieved. At least they were making an effort. But she was scared, feeling that something might happen to her. “But, I'm scared. This guy literally threatened my life. He almost hurt me. How am I going to continue living my life knowing fully well
“I’ve been out running some errands, is there a problem?” Gracia asked, gazing at me.Lewis nodded, with an unreadable expression. “Well, I’ve been trying to reach you all day. I needed your help with something, that's all.”Gracia raised an eyebrow, “what is it that you need my help with?”Lewis shook his head “Don't worry it can wait, I’ll talk to you later.” he answered back as he walked through the door and entered the mansion.Gracia watched as Lewis walked into the mansion, and her curiosity rose. What did he need her help with? And why was he not being straightforward? She followed him into the living room, determined to get some answers from him."Lewis, what's going on?" she asked, trying to keep her tone light. "You're being really mysterious, is everything okay?”Lewis sighed, running his hands through his hair. "It's nothing, Gracia. I just need to take care of some stuff, that's all. It’s nothing to worry about."Gracia raised an eyebrow. "Some stuff? That's really not he
As the first light of dawn crept into her room, Gracia woke up feeling fresh and new. She stretched her arms and legs, yawned widely, and sat up in bed, running her fingers through her hair. The soft morning light shone on her face, making her skin look warm and happy.She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and smiled, feeling happy and relaxed. Her bedroom was quiet and peaceful, Gracia felt grateful for the new day, and she knew it was going to be a great one.She threw off the blanket and got out of bed, feeling the soft carpet beneath her feet. She walked to the window and pulled back the curtains, letting in more of the beautiful morning light. The world outside was waking up, and Gracia felt like she was a part of it.Outside her window, the sun was shining warmly. Gracia saw a colorful world coming to life. Birds singing happy songs, and a gentle wind blowing through the beautiful garden, making their leaves rustle softly. She smiled, feeling thankful for this brand new day and al
With the Stephenson Company fully back on top and leading in the business world, Harvey felt it was finally time to take a break from the city. The months of hard work, the intense focus on rebuilding the company, and the stress of dealing with betrayals had left him exhausted. He knew he needed to step away, to clear his mind and have fun. He also wanted to reward his sister Nadia for all her support and encouragement throughout the difficult times. A vacation seemed like the perfect idea.Harvey and Nadia decided on the Maldives, it was a tropical paradise known for its stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and luxurious resorts. It was the perfect place to loosen up and enjoy a well-deserved break. The decision made, they dove into preparations with excitement.Nadia took charge of the logistics, making sure everything was perfect for their trip. “We’re going to do this right, Harvey,” she said, grinning as she browsed through different resorts online. “No expense spared. We’ve e
For the first time in a long while, Harvey decided to take a day off. He needed it after all the stress he had been under.The Stephenson Company was running smoothly, the employees were now doing their jobs very well, all the recent crisis had been successfully managed. Harvey felt he deserved a break, a chance to relax and recharge. He spent the morning at home, catching up on some reading and enjoying a leisurely breakfast. It felt good to slow down and take a moment to breathe.Around noon, his sister Nadia came back home from a date, carrying a bag filled with lunch from their favorite deli. She was always a breath of fresh air, full of energy and good humor.“Look at you, Mr. CEO, taking a day off,” Nadia teased as she entered the kitchen. “I never thought I’d see this day.”Harvey laughed. “Even CEOs need a break sometimes,” he replied, taking the bag from her and setting it on the counter. “Besides, I thought it would be nice to spend some time with my big sister.”Nadia grinn
Finally, the day came for the unveiling of the monument. Harvey and Nadia decided to keep the ceremony small and intimate, inviting only close friends, associates, and a few trusted colleagues from the Stephenson Company. They wanted this to be a personal moment, a chance to meditate and remember their parents in a meaningful way. As the sun shone over the park, everything looked magical, Harvey stepped forward to give his speech. He looked around at the faces of those he cared about, feeling a deep sense of gratitude for their presence and support. “Thank you all for being here today,” Harvey began, his voice filled with emotion. “This monument is more than just a tribute to our parents. It’s a reminder of the values they instilled in us. the importance of kindness, integrity, and hard work. They taught us to always strive for the best, to be fair and just, and to never forget where we came from.” He paused, taking a deep breath. “I know they’re not here with us today, at least n
Harvey felt a sense of calm he hadn’t experienced in years. The Stephenson Company was growing again, stronger than ever after the madness they had faced. Investors kept pouring in, new projects were being launched, and there was a new sense of willingness to work and energy among his employees.After months of indecision and hard work, Harvey could finally breathe a sigh of relief. He had protected his company and guided it back to the top. Now, he felt it was time to turn his attention to something deeply personal. By honoring his parents, who had been his guiding light throughout his journey.That evening, after another successful day at the office, Harvey returned home. The house was warm and welcoming and was filled with the comforting aroma of dinner cooking. Nadia, was in the kitchen preparing their meal, humming softly to herself.Harvey watched her for a moment, feeling a deep sense of gratitude for her presence in his life. She had been his rock, supporting him through every
After dealing with the betrayals that had nearly torn the Stephenson Company apart, Harvey knew that he also had a few other jobs to do. He understood that to truly protect the company and move forward, he needed to focus on two main areas: maintaining data security and rebuilding trust and morale among his employees. The recent events had left the staff feeling shaken and vulnerable, and Harvey figured out that he had to revive their confidence in the company and in each other.The first step Harvey took was to organize a series of internal seminars on data security and confidentiality. He wanted every employee to understand the importance of protecting company information and to learn how to recognize any likely hazards. Harvey brought in top cybersecurity experts to lead these sessions of training, making sure that the training was both thorough and engaging.The first seminar was held in the company’s main conference room, which was filled with employees who were eager to learn an
Harvey understood that now was not the time to rest on his laurels. After successfully dealing with the threats that had nearly destroyed his company, he felt the need to shore up every weakness and vulnerability within the Stephenson Company.The recent and past betrayals had left him very cautious, and he was so eager to protect his business from any future sabotage. There could be no room for error; he would leave nothing to chance.Sitting in his office, Harvey made a list of what he would be looking into. First on the list was conducting a thorough assessment of all employees. He knew that trust was a fragile thing, easily broken and difficult to repair. While he believed most of his employees were loyal, he couldn't afford to take any risks again. Every employee would be investigated, starting with the newest hires, Lily and Peter.Harvey called his secretary, Carla, into his office. She was a sharp, efficient woman who had been with the company for years and was one of the few
Mr. Michael Anderson sat on a battered old chair in the corner of his uncompleted building, staring blankly at the crumbling walls around him. The place felt more like a ruin than a home, it reminded him how far his life had fallen apart.The roof was unfinished, with sections covered only by tarps that flapped in the wind. The concrete floors were cold, and the walls were bare, just exposed brick and mortar. Outside, the sun was shining, but inside, it felt as if the darkness had already settled in.His wife sat sadly across from him on an old mattress, her face was swollen and tired. They hadn’t spoken much in days; there wasn’t much to say anymore. Every conversation seemed to lead back to the same painful topics. their son Lewis’s arrest and imprisonment, their financial situation, and the unbearable weight of guilt and regret that hung over them were overwhelming.Gracia was still in the psychiatric hospital. Her condition had worsened over the past few months. Michael knew they
Meanwhile, Harvey was sitting in his office, calm and composed. He knew the police would come knocking soon. He had expected it. After all, Hugo would try to drag him down with him, just like a drowning man grabs onto anything to stay afloat. But Harvey was also prepared. He had erased every bit of evidence, every communication that could link him to the illegal deal. He had covered his tracks meticulously.When the police arrived at Harvey’s office later that day, he was ready. They asked him to come down to the station for questioning, and he agreed without hesitation. He knew that the best defense was to appear cooperative, and innocent.At the station, they led Harvey into a different interrogation room. The detectives from earlier sat across from him, their expressions were serious but slightly stumped.“Mr. Harvey, thank you for coming in,” the first detective said. “We just have a few questions about your involvement with Hugo Bennett and Lewis Anderson.”“Of course,” Harvey re
Hugo had thought he was in the clear. He had played his part perfectly, setting up Lewis for the illegal ammunition deal, and may have gone free. Everything had gone according to Harvey’s plan, or so he thought. The police had arrested Lewis, and Hugo believed he would walk away with his freedom intact. But Hugo underestimated Harvey. He had no idea that Harvey had set him up from the very beginning.It all came crashing down when the police showed up at Hugo’s door early one morning. He was still in bed, with his eyes barely open, when he heard the loud, insistent knock, he was Startled, so he jumped up and threw on a robe, hurrying to the door with a squeezed brow wondering who it might be. As soon as he opened it, he found himself face-to-face with several stern-looking police officers.“Hugo Bennett?” one of them asked, in a firm and cold voice.“Yes, that’s me,” Hugo replied, as his heart began to pound. “What’s going on?”“You’re under arrest for conspiracy to commit illegal act