Aiden's heart raced. “Are you saying he might have been responsible?”Jasper shook his head. “Not directly, but he was connected to the engineer who was supposed to oversee the final checks. That engineer disappeared shortly after the crash.”Silvana gasped. “This is huge, Aiden. What are you going to do?”“I need to confront Mark,” he said, determination hardening his resolve. “He has answers, and I’m going to get them.”Two months had passed since the attack, and Aiden had fully recovered. Life had resumed its frenetic pace, with meetings, reports, and countless responsibilities. Yet, one thought constantly gnawed at him: finding the truth about his parents’ crash.One evening, he was going through old records in his study when his phone rang. It was his private investigator, Jasper.“I’m still looking into Mark’s connections, Aiden, but there’s nothing concrete yet. He’s good at covering his tracks.”Frustration bubbled up inside him. “Keep digging, Jasper. There has to be somethin
The intel Jasper gathered was as clear as it was distressing: Zia had been moved out of the country. The urgency of the situation demanded swift action, so Aiden decided to utilize the family’s private jet for the operation. Silvana, who had been his steadfast companion through this ordeal, insisted on joining the rescue mission. “Aiden, I’m coming with you. You need all the support you can get,” Silvana said, her eyes blazing with determination. “No, Silvana,” he replied, trying to keep his voice firm despite the turmoil inside. “It’s too dangerous. If anything happened to you, I wouldn’t be able to bear it.” She grabbed his arm, her grip surprisingly strong. “Aiden, I’m not a helpless damsel. I can help. I want to help.” He looked at her, the worry etched into her features, but he shook his head. “Please, Silvana. I need you safe. If something happens to me, you need to be here to look after Zia when we bring her back.” She reluctantly agreed, her eyes glistening with unshed te
“We’ll find them, Grandfather,” she said with unwavering determination. “I know we will.” Her resolve was a beacon of hope, even in the darkest moments. And it was that hope that kept everyone going. On the island, their situation was growing dire. Food was scarce, and the constant threat of the elements wore them down. But giving up wasn’t an option. “We have to keep going,” Aiden told Jasper one evening as they huddled around a makeshift fire. “Zia’s counting on us.” Jasper nodded, his face gaunt and tired but resolute. “We’ll make it, Aiden. We have to.” Finally, after what felt like an eternity, a plane appeared on the horizon. The signal fire had been spotted. Rescue was imminent. As the rescue team arrived, relief washed over Aiden. They were saved. But the ordeal wasn’t over yet. They still had to find Zia. Back home, the news of their survival spread quickly. Silvana was the first to reach Aiden, tears streaming down her face. “Aiden! Thank God you’re safe!” she cried,
At the Reyes family house, Amelia couldn’t shake the shock that struck her at the mall the other day. “Who could have imagined that someone so beggarly could come from such a great family of wealth,” she murmured to herself, still reeling. Regret gnawed at her. If only she had treated Aiden better when she had the chance, or at least been kinder to their daughter Zia. Perhaps Aiden might have considered letting her back into his life for Zia’s sake. But now, that opportunity was lost.A knock on her door interrupted her thoughts. It was her Aunt Bella, her expression serious.“Amelia, your father has requested to see you. The whole family is gathered in the central living room for a meeting.”Grudgingly, Amelia dragged herself out of her room and made her way to the meeting. The central living room was filled with the Reyes family. Her father, Alex Reyes, stood at the head of the room, a look of concern on his face. Her mother, Ruby, sat beside him, looking worried. Her cousin, Liam,
“Blaise,” she moaned, “don’t stop.”He smiled, his lips trailing down her neck. “I have no intention of stopping, Amelia.”They moved together in the confined space, their touches growing more intimate and their breaths coming faster. Amelia felt the last of her nervousness melt away, replaced by a fierce need for him.“Blaise,” she whispered, “I need you... now.”He responded by pulling her closer, his hands deftly unbuttoning her blouse and pushing it aside. She did the same with his shirt, their clothes becoming a tangle on the car seat. As their skin pressed together, Amelia felt a rush of warmth and desire.“Amelia,” Blaise breathed, “you’re incredible.”She smiled, her fingers tracing the muscles of his chest. “You make me feel incredible, Blaise.”They continued exploring each other, their touches growing more urgent. Blaise’s hands moved to her hips, guiding her as they pressed even closer. Amelia’s heart pounded, every sensation heightened by the thrill of their clandestine e
Later that evening, Amelia returned home, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. She found her father in his study, pouring over financial reports. He looked up as she entered.“Amelia, did you talk to Blaise?” Alex asked, hope flickering in his eyes.“Yes, I did,” Amelia replied, her voice strained. “His father is willing to invest, but there’s a condition. Blaise and I have to get married right away.”Alex’s eyes widened. “Married? But that’s wonderful news! This could save our company, besides, you two were already engaged before Aiden came along.”Amelia shook her head. “But Dad, I can’t believe Blaise would allow his father to impose such a condition. It feels wrong.”“Amelia, sometimes we have to make sacrifices for the greater good,” Alex said gently. “If marrying Blaise can secure our family’s future, then maybe it’s worth considering.”Torn between her chemistry with Blaise, her desire for Aiden’s new wealth and the feeling of being manipulated, Amelia spent a sleepless night cont
“It’s from the hospital, Amelia. Your results are ready and have been sent to your email,” Ruby said.“Can you check them on the desktop, Mom?” Amelia asked, her voice barely above a whisper.“Of course,” Ruby replied, heading over to the computer. She logged into Amelia’s email and opened the message from the hospital. Her eyes scanned the document, and she gasped.“Amelia, you’re eight weeks pregnant!” Ruby exclaimed.Amelia’s eyes widened in shock. “What? How is that possible?”Ruby moved back to her daughter’s side. “Who’s responsible for this, Amelia?”“Blaise, of course,” Amelia replied, still trying to process the news.A glint of excitement appeared in Ruby’s eyes as an idea began to form. “Amelia, this could be the turnaround we need.”Amelia looked at her mother, confused. “What do you mean?”Ruby sat down beside her daughter, her expression serious. “Since only we know that the baby belongs to Blaise, we can change the narrative in our favor.”Amelia frowned. “How would we
The next day, Aiden arrived at the Reyes family house promptly at four o’clock. As he stepped out of his car, he noticed the unusual warmth of the reception. The staff greeted him with smiles and polite nods, an unexpected change from their previous coldness towards him. Aiden reminded himself of Lorenzo’s warning and remained on high alert.He was ushered to the living room where Amelia met him, her face a mask of concern. “Thank you for coming, Aiden.”Aiden nodded curtly. “Let’s get this over with. What do you need to tell me?”Amelia took a deep breath, visibly steeling herself. “I’m pregnant, Aiden. And... the baby is yours.”The words hit Aiden like a punch to the gut. “What? How can that be? As far as I know, we only had sex once and Zia was a result of that intimacy. You had since abhorred my presence, so how come I am the father?”Amelia’s eyes pleaded with him to believe her. “Remember one of those nights that you came into my room drunk, asking that we find a way to work th
Aiden turned to Silvana, who was watching with a soft smile. "And for you," he said, walking over to her and enveloping her in a warm hug. Silvana teased him, her eyes twinkling. "I hope you brought me cookies too, or I might just cry." Aiden laughed, pulling out a bag of freshly extracted fruit juices and some snacks. "I’ve got something even better." Silvana's smile widened as she took the bag. "Good for you," she said, playfully nudging him. "You know how to keep a girl happy." They all laughed together, the tension of the past few days momentarily forgotten. They headed inside, the mansion's grandeur welcoming them as they settled in for dinner. The dining room was warm and enchanting, with soft candlelight and the rich aroma of roasted vegetables and seasoned meats. The long, elegant table was adorned with their favorite dishes, carefully prepared to bring comfort. As they sat down, Zia’s face was alight with excitement. "Daddy, guess what happened at school today!" Zia's v
As the call disconnected, Aiden felt the familiar pressure of stress weighing heavily on his mind. He pushed himself up from his chair, hoping that a brief break might help clear his thoughts. He walked purposefully out of his office and onto the balcony, his steps echoing lightly on the polished floor.The office balcony offered a stunning view of the city, a mosaic of lights and movement. Aiden inhaled deeply, the crisp air filling his lungs. The architectural beauty of the building he was in, with its intricate designs and modern touches, was a small solace amidst the turmoil of the past days.He gazed out at the sprawling cityscape, taking in the bustling streets below and the towering skyscrapers that reached for the sky. The fresh air and the scenic view provided a momentary escape from the chaos that had surrounded him. He allowed himself a few moments of peace, letting the calmness wash over him.After a while, Aiden turned to head back inside, but something caught his eye. A
Zain’s face twisted with frustration. “please do, thank you. I’ll have to find other ways too. I can’t just let him rot in jail.”“Do what you must Zain. At this point, anything is better than nothing. I’ll take my leave now.”Both men shared a handshake, and Zain watched the Lawyer head for the door.Zain reached for his phone, his hand trembling slightly with a mix of anger and desperation. It was time to pull every string he had.Zain dialed the number of his old friend, Senator Marshall, a man with considerable influence. The phone rang twice before a smooth, familiar voice answered.“Marshall speaking.”“Senator, it’s Zain Romanov. I need a favor,” Zain began, trying to keep his voice steady.“Zain, it’s been a while. What can I do for you?” Marshall’s tone was friendly, but Zain could sense the underlying caution.“My son, Bryden, has been arrested. I need you to use your influence to get him out. The situation looks bad, but I know you can help.”There was a long pause on the o
For a moment, there was only the sound of their heavy breathing, the aftermath of their heated encounter settling around them. Aiden’s mind slowly began to clear, the weight of what had just happened pressing down on him.Amelia, sensing his return to reality, pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “See?” she whispered. “You still want me, Aiden, you always have, and I do too. You know how to make my body tremble right at your feet.”Aiden’s heart ached with conflicting emotions. He knew he had betrayed Silvana whom he truly loved, and yet he couldn’t deny the powerful pull Amelia still had over him. His mind was a maelstrom of guilt and desire, leaving him adrift in a sea of confusion.Amelia’s voice broke through his thoughts, a seductive promise in her tone. “You don’t have to choose, Aiden. We can keep this between us. No one has to know.”Aiden was not planning on telling anyone, especially as it could hurt Silvana so much. He knew he had done wrong, but he could not deny that his body
“We were married for five years, Aiden,” she murmured, leaning closer, her breath warm against his ear. “You just met Silvana. She can’t possibly know you the way I do. I know you love exploring my body, you love it when you bend me over, or have my legs hung on your shoulders.”Aiden’s resolve was crumbling, piece by piece, under the weight of her words and the relentless onslaught of desire. For as long as he could remember, for the past five years of his life as husband to Amelia, there was no day he did not worship her body. He had never seen a woman as beautiful as she was until he met her. How could he forget all the things she made him love when they made love or had random sex, especially during her pregnancy with Zia.Aiden could not deny it, Amelia had a body he had known too well. The curves, the bends, everything. It was for this reason it killed him more than treating him like trash when she went around sleeping with anyone who wasn’t him. She knew how to make him beg he
“Amelia, please stop,” he said, his voice strained. She ignored him, her movements growing more frantic. “I can’t... I can’t do this alone,” she cried. “I need... I need...” Aiden moved closer, his heart pounding. He wanted to comfort her, to help her, but he was torn between his love for Silvana and his desire to alleviate her suffering. “Amelia, let me help you.” Her eyes locked onto his, filled with a mixture of desperation and hope. “You can’t help me, Aiden. Not in the way I need.” Aiden reached out, his hand trembling, and gently took her hand in his. “I can try. Please, let me try.” Amelia’s body shook with sobs as she leaned into him. Aiden had plans only on holding her close and comforting her that way, but before he knew it, his tongue was in her mouth, searching it’s depth. As his hand rested in between her legs, it dawned on Aiden that he was about to do more than he should have. He knew he no longer loved Amelia as much as he did some years back, not with Silvana i
“Mr. Romanov, we have a warrant to bring Bryden in for questioning regarding his possible involvement in Daniel’s death,” one of the officers stated, handing Zain the official document.Zain’s face flushed with anger. “This is preposterous! My son has nothing to do with any of this. I will not allow you to take him.”“Sir, we are just doing our job. Please do not obstruct justice,” the other officer replied calmly, unperturbed by Zain’s outburst.Realizing that his influence was failing to sway the officers, Zain watched helplessly as they proceeded to handcuff Bryden and escort him out of the mansion. Bryden’s expression was a mix of fear and resignation as he was led away.Once the officers were out of sight, Zain hurriedly pulled out his phone and called his lawyer, pacing the length of the living room. “This is unacceptable. Bryden has been arrested. I need you to do whatever it takes to get him out,” he barked into the phone.After ending the call with his lawyer, Zain dialed Pat
Sam scribbled down notes, his mind piecing together the events. “Mr. Benson, a person was murdered, and your car was seen near the scene. We’re trying to find the culprit, and it seems your car might be involved.”Carl’s eyes widened. “Murdered? My God... I had no idea.”Sam leaned forward, his tone reassuring. “Don’t worry. As long as you cooperate, you’ll be fine. Do you remember anything else? Anything that might help us identify this man?”Carl seemed to hesitate, then his eyes lit up with a sudden recollection. “Wait, there is something. When he tried to grab my car keys, we struggled a bit. I managed to hit him on his left arm, and he winced in pain. It looked like he had a pretty bad wound there.”Sam noted this down with keen interest. “That’s very helpful, Mr. Benson. Thank you. If you think of anything else, no matter how small, please let me know.”Carl nodded, looking relieved to have contributed something useful. “I will, Mr. Larson. I just hope they catch whoever did thi
“I saw the email come in,” Sam replied. “I was about to call you, actually. We’ve managed to trace the engineer who disappeared after your parents’ crash. He’s been living in the Caribbean under a new identity.”Aiden’s pulse quickened. “Are you sure it’s him?”“Positive. We’ve verified his identity through multiple sources. I wanted to confirm with you before involving the local authorities.”“Do it,” Aiden said decisively. “And also run a check on the plate number from the footage. We need to know who owns that car.”“On it,” Sam replied, his tone crisp with determination.The next day, Aiden’s phone buzzed early in the morning. It was Sam, and his voice carried a note of urgency.“Aiden, we’ve got him. The engineer, Dan, has been arrested and is currently in custody.”“That’s great news,” Aiden said, feeling a mix of relief and tension. “What about the interrogation?”“It’s just started. I’ll keep you updated,” Sam promised.Hours crawled by as Aiden paced his study, the weight of