Aiden began recounting the details, his voice steady but filled with urgency. “Earlier tonight, I noticed Bryden talking on the phone near the garden. It was suspicious, so I excused myself to go talk to him.”Lorenzo nodded, urging him to continue.“When I approached him, we accidentally collided. He shouted in pain and cursed, which seemed unusual. He quickly tried to cover it up, but I noticed he was favoring his arm. I asked him about it, and he brushed it off, claiming it was nothing.”“Did you see anything on his arm?” Lorenzo asked, leaning forward.“No, but his reaction was too strong for just a minor bump. I then mentioned to him, somewhat indirectly, about Silvana’s ordeal with the masked man. I wanted to see his reaction.”Lorenzo’s eyebrows shot up. “And what did he do?”Aiden continued, his voice tense. “He went pale, Grandfather. He tried to hide it, but I could see the fear in his eyes. He said he hoped the culprits would be caught, but it felt forced. When I mentioned
The nurse, realizing he was cornered, turned and bolted towards the door. The doctor immediately shouted for the security guards stationed outside Daniel’s room. “Stop that nurse! He’s an imposter!” the doctor yelled, his voice echoing down the corridor.The security guards sprang into action, chasing after the fleeing nurse. The doctor, meanwhile, rushed to Daniel’s bedside. He quickly checked the IV line, his heart sinking as he saw the syringe still attached. The substance had already entered Daniel’s bloodstream.“Get me a team here, stat!” the doctor shouted into the intercom. “We need to disconnect this IV now!”Within moments, a team of nurses and doctors arrived. They worked swiftly, disconnecting the IV and trying to stabilize Daniel. But it was clear that something was terribly wrong. Daniel began to convulse, his body jerking violently.“Hold him down!” the doctor ordered, his voice urgent. “We need to administer anti-convulsants, now!”The medical team fought to control t
The early morning light filtered through the heavy drapes of Zain’s bedroom, casting a soft glow across the luxurious space. The digital clock on his nightstand read 8:15 AM. Normally, Zain would be up and about by now, but after a week of relentless business meetings and dealing with family matters, he had decided to let himself sleep in. He had taken the extra precaution of disabling his alarm, savoring the rare opportunity for uninterrupted rest.However, his peace was shattered by the incessant ringing of his phone. The shrill sound cut through his dreams, dragging him back to the waking world. With a groan, he reached out blindly for the device, cursing under his breath for not putting it on silent or airplane mode.“Damn it,” he muttered, finally grabbing the phone and bringing it to his ear without checking the caller ID. “This better be good.”The voice on the other end was hurried and urgent. “Boss, it’s Sam. I just heard some news. Daniel’s dead. Someone injected him with a
Bryden moved quickly through the house, heading towards the safe hidden in the study. He knew his father kept a substantial amount of cash on hand for emergencies, and this certainly qualified. He paused at the door, taking a deep breath to steady himself before entering.He knelt by the bookshelf, pressing a hidden button that caused a panel to slide open, revealing the safe. He quickly dialed in the combination and pulled the door open. Stacks of bills lay neatly inside, and he grabbed several bundles, stuffing them into a bag.As he stood, he heard a soft knock on the door. Turning, he saw Marcus, his father’s trusted advisor, standing there.“Bryden,” Marcus greeted him with a nod. “I heard about what happened.”Bryden nodded curtly. “I’m taking care of it.”Marcus’s gaze was piercing. “You know this could bring a lot of heat on us, right?”“I know,” Bryden said, his voice steady. “But we don’t have a choice now. It’s done.”Marcus sighed, rubbing his temples. “Just be careful. We
Silvana shot him a determined look. “Aiden, I am not letting that chair make me lazy. I need to heal faster, and these crutches are part of that.”Aiden chuckled, throwing his hands up in playful surrender. “Alright, alright. You win. But don’t blame me if you get tired halfway and I have to carry you.”Silvana rolled her eyes, a smile tugging at her lips. “I wouldn’t mind that either,” she teased.As Aiden helped her down the porch steps, Zia’s excited voice cut through the air. “Daddy! Mommy! Wait for me!”They both turned to see Zia barreling towards them, her school bag bouncing on her back. She launched herself at Aiden, who caught her mid-air and spun her around.“Daddy, why are you taking Mommy somewhere without me?” Zia pouted, her big eyes filled with playful indignation.Silvana laughed, leaning on her crutches. “We were just about to go for a walk, sweetheart. Aiden was stalling so you could catch up.”Zia’s expression softened, and she giggled. “Okay, I forgive you both. B
Aiden watched her go, then turned to Silvana. “You seem more relaxed today. It’s good to see you smile again.”Silvana looked at him, her eyes soft. “It’s because of you, Aiden. And Zia. I don’t know what I would do without you both.”Aiden took her hand in his, squeezing gently. “You’re stronger than you think, Silvana. We’re just here to remind you of that.”Silvana leaned her head on his shoulder, a contented sigh escaping her lips. “I love you.”“I love you too,” Aiden replied, kissing the top of her head.Aiden turned to Silvana, his eyes filled with love. “Thank you for fighting, for healing, for being here with us.”Silvana smiled, her heart full. “Thank you for never leaving my side.”All the while, unknown to Aiden and Silvana, Amelia had been watching them from her room window. Her feelings were a whirlwind of emotions as she observed Zia’s every move of excitement. She wondered why she had let herself become so hardened, even towards her own daughter. Why had she allowed he
Amelia’s mind raced with ideas on how to rid herself of Silvana. Acting alone posed too much risk, but teaming up with someone as unscrupulous as she needed could increase her chances of success. She remembered the young man she had seen by the garden the other day. She had overheard his phone conversation and felt convinced that he harbored ill intentions. The idea excited her; she might just have found the perfect accomplice.The evening light filtered through the lace curtains of Amelia’s room as she paced, her thoughts becoming clearer and more calculated with each step. She replayed the scene from the garden in her mind. The man, rugged and edgy, was talking furtively on his phone, his eyes darting around as if he feared being watched. Amelia had been hidden behind a thick patch of roses, unseen and unnoticed.“He’s definitely up to something,” she muttered to herself. “And if he’s got his own agenda, maybe I can use that to my advantage.”She thought about Zia, her daughter, and
“What’s on your mind, Aiden?” Lorenzo asked, his voice gentle but firm.Aiden turned slowly, his face a mixture of anxiety and indecision. “I don’t know how to say it, Grandfather.”“Whatever it is, you can tell me,” Lorenzo encouraged, his eyes steady and reassuring.Aiden took a deep breath, his chest tightening as he prepared to reveal the burden he had been carrying. “While we were at the hospital, the doctor told me that Silvana is pregnant.”Lorenzo’s eyes widened with surprise, and a smile began to form on his lips. “That’s wonderful news, Aiden! But why do you look so troubled? This should be a joyous occasion. You should be thinking about how to speed up your marriage plans so that the child is honorably born.”Aiden’s gaze dropped to the floor, his hands clenching and unclenching nervously. “There’s more to it, Grandfather. The doctor also mentioned that there were signs of violence on Silvana’s body, as though someone tried to force themselves on her. When the doctor asked