Novels by SHSA

Chapter 486SANTORINI – ELLEN’S PLANThe small villa trembled with tension as Ellen threw clothes into a weathered duffel bag. Her hands shook with each movement—whether from fear or fury, even she couldn’t tell. Outside, the Aegean shimmered beneath the harsh midday sun, serene and blameless in its beauty. Inside, chaos."Lana, we have to go now," Ellen hissed, snapping the zipper closed. She looked up. Lana stood in the doorway, arms folded, jaw locked.“I’m not running,” Lana said, her voice like tempered steel.Ellen stepped closer, desperation rising like bile. “He knows. Theo’s compromised. That message from Gregor confirms it. If we stay, we’re handing ourselves over.”Lana’s eyes flashed with fury. “You think I’ll abandon Kai’s work because of a threat? You taught me better.”Ellen exhaled sharply, pushing her palm against her temple. “This isn’t idealism, Lana. This is survival. You don’t know what Theo’s capable of.”“I know exactly what he’s capable of.” Lana’s voice droppe

Chapter 485Emerald Falls – Gregor’s StakeoutThe cliffs above Emerald Falls were bathed in twilight, the setting sun casting long shadows across the coastal cliffs. Below, the waves hissed against jagged stone like secrets being whispered to the earth. A single, battered sedan sat hidden beneath a canopy of pine, engine cold, windows dark.Inside, Gregor crouched behind the steering wheel, a grizzled silhouette in a worn trench coat. His beard was trimmed short, gray peppering his temples. His face — lined by years in covert surveillance — betrayed no emotion as he adjusted his binoculars, trained on a small marina at the edge of the cliffs.Santorini. Or rather, the safe harbor just beyond it. Remote, quiet, and — until recently — insignificant.Through his binoculars, Gregor locked onto two men.Theo. Cap pulled low. Nervous energy coiled in his frame.And across from him, unmistakably — Kai.Gregor’s jaw tightened.Kai was supposed to be dead. At least that was what the files clai

Chapter 484Carter Comb – Liam’s FrustrationThe high-rise office of Carter Comb gleamed with ruthless precision. Glass walls. Leather accents. Every surface screamed control.Liam stood near the panoramic window, his hands clenched behind his back. The city stretched before him, but his focus burned inward — seething.Behind him, sprawled in a designer chair like it belonged to him by birthright, was Jaxon Carter — tousled hair, sunglasses still on indoors, a grin playing on his lips.“You missed the vote,” Liam said, voice a whisper barely concealing fury.Jaxon didn't look up. “Did I?”“I needed your vote on the restructuring,” Liam snapped. “You promised you’d show. Instead, I get excuses and a silent seat.”Jaxon shrugged, thumbing through messages on his phone. “Board meetings are performative. You knew the outcome.”“You were the outcome.”Another buzz. Another smile.“Who’s texting you?” Liam asked, eyes narrowing.Jaxon showed him the screen without hesitation.Milly Graves.

Chapter 483EMC Office – James’s BreakthroughThe glow from Ana’s tablet cast a blue sheen across her face, sharp and focused. Beside her, James paced like a panther trapped in glass, his tension mounting with every unreadable glyph on the decrypted email.“Try the 256-bit key with the alpha-salt sequence,” he said, voice taut.Ana’s fingers flew over the screen, her brow furrowed, ponytail swaying each time she leaned forward. “Already tried that. This isn’t basic protocol. Morris used multi-layered encryption.”James leaned over, eyes narrowing at the screen. The email flickered — first gibberish, then a sudden flood of text. Ana gasped.> FROM: MorrisTO: WilliamsSUBJECT: Crash ProtocolDirective Confirmed:Frame: ERIC LI — Internal Server FaultTimestamp: 23:59:59Layered decoy file to be planted under “Security Backup-17.”Ana flagged as accessory.Liam to initiate fallout strategy.Quote: “Let them scramble. By the time the servers go dark, our hands will be clean. Carl’s repor

Chapter 482EMC HR – Kate’s SchemeThe overhead lights hummed in EMC’s HR department, casting a pale glow over rows of sterile cubicles. Kate Carl sat hunched at her desk, her eyes sharp behind square-rimmed glasses. Her pen moved with practiced precision across the forged report — a damning performance review bearing Ana's name.The scent of lavender from her desk diffuser did little to mask the acidic ink or the bitterness curling in her gut. Each stroke of the pen felt like revenge in motion.> “Not a team player. Poor time management. Potential security concern.”The last phrase was underlined twice. The perfect red flag.Justification was easy. Ana had too much influence. Too much access. And she was beginning to ask questions — the kind that drew unwanted attention. Kate’s plan wasn’t personal. It was survival.But then came the unmistakable sound: heels — sharp, deliberate — clicking on the polished floor.Alisha.Kate didn’t look up immediately. She didn’t have to. The rhythm

Chapter 481 EMC Boardroom – James’s Probe The lights in the EMC boardroom hummed softly overhead, casting a pale blue glow over the minimalist furnishings and the polished walnut table. James leaned over the digital display, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the edge. The image of a data flow chart blinked in red—Morris’s name highlighted like a warning flare. “Eric,” James said tightly, not looking up. “We’ve got a trace—backdoor traffic routed through one of Morris’s deprecated credentials.” Eric adjusted his tie, as though the silk might stiffen his backbone. He frowned. “That doesn’t make sense. Morris has been with us fifteen years. If he was planning something—” “He is planning something,” James cut in, finally meeting Eric’s eyes. “Or he already did.” The tension between them buzzed, barely contained by the sleek glass walls of the room. Eric ran a hand down his face, then stepped back, trying to process. “Sterling is as loyal as they come. He was cleared last quarter

Chapter 426: Kate’s Visit to SkyCareKate Carl decided to visit skycare and see if Williams could help even in his hospital bed. He has always helped them in the past, and she thought he would this time around too.She arrived at SkyCare Medical Center, stepping out of her black luxury sedan with a deep breath. The hospital’s glass facade gleamed under the afternoon sun, giving it an air of sterility and wealth. Inside, the lobby was spacious, the scent of antiseptic hanging in the air as nurses moved briskly from one station to another. The soft hum of conversations between patients, doctors, and visitors created a low, almost soothing background noise.Kate, dressed elegantly in a beige coat over a fitted dress, approached the reception desk with her usual poised demeanor. The receptionist, a young woman in a crisp uniform, looked up with a professional smile.“Good afternoon. How may I help you?”“I’m here to see Williams Jesse,” Kate said smoothly.The receptionist glanced at her

Chapter 34In the dark hallway, Valentina pressed her back against the cold stone wall, her heart pounding in her chest. The deep silence of the mansion surrounded her, broken only by the muffled sounds of the conversation coming from Diego’s study. She had been in the bedroom when the men entered, and unable to resist, she had tiptoed silently to the door to listen in.Though she hadn’t heard much of the conversation—her position had been precarious and the voices low—the part that had caught her off guard made her blood run cold. Javier had suggested hiring the best hackers in the world to break into Alejandro’s casino since the fire attack wasn’t successful, and Valentina’s mind had skipped at the thought.She didn’t know Alejandro personally, but from the little she’d gathered, he seemed like a young, innocent man who luckily won her husband’s scam lottery.Yet here was Diego, her husband, plotting to destroy him piece by piece. She couldn’t stand the thought of Diego manipulating

Chapter 33The night was cloaked in a veil of restless clouds, the soft hum of distant crickets the only sound outside Diego’s sprawling mansion. Inside, the warm glow of chandeliers illuminated a room thick with tension. The mahogany table in Diego’s private study bore marks of age and power, much like the man who sat at its head.The thick smell of cigars mingled with the faint tang of spilled whiskey, curling through the opulent study like a specter of power. A half-empty wine bottle stood forgotten on the table, next to a silver tray dusted with the remnants of cocaine. The grand chandelier above cast flickering light, illuminating the tension etched into every corner of the room.Diego lounged in his leather armchair, a cigarette smoldering between his fingers. His dark eyes, sharp as a hawk’s, bore into the men seated before him. On the table, a glass of Malbec swirled lazily in his other hand, the deep red liquid glinting in the light. He didn’t need to speak; the silence was s

Chapter 32Later That AfternoonThe golden rays of the afternoon sun streamed through the large windows of Alejandro’s mansion as the doorbell echoed throughout the luxurious halls. James, the butler, shuffled to the entrance, opening the door to reveal two women—Amy Johnson and Judy Miller.Amy wore a simple floral dress that flattered her petite frame, while Judy was dressed in bold designer clothing, her oversized sunglasses perched arrogantly on her head.“Welcome, ladies,” Mr. James said with a polite nod, stepping aside to let them in.Amy gasped, her eyes widening as she took in the grandeur of the mansion's new interior that Sophia had had made. “Oh my gosh, Judy, look at this place! It’s like something out of a movie!” she whispered excitedly.Judy rolled her eyes, stepping inside with a smirk. “Calm down, Amy. It’s not like you’re moving in. You’ll embarrass yourself, as usual.”Amy flushed but ignored the jab, too enamored by the sparkling chandeliers and marble floors to c

Chapter 31He left the gym and headed straight for Theo’s office. Pushing open the door, he found Theo reviewing the updated security plans.“Got a minute?” Miguel asked, shutting the door behind him.“Sure,” Theo said, leaning back in his chair. “What’s up?”Miguel crossed his arms, pacing slightly. “It’s about Sophia and that so-called gym instructor of hers, Oscar.”Theo raised an eyebrow. “What about them?”“I just saw them in the gym. The way they were interacting—too close, too familiar. He told her he missed her after the ‘kidnapping.’ It’s odd, Theo. He’s supposed to be her trainer, not her confidant.”Theo frowned. “You think there’s something going on between them?”Miguel stopped pacing, his expression serious. “I don’t just think it—I know it. And we need to keep a closer eye on them. There’s something about Oscar that doesn’t add up. He’s disrespectful to staff, acts entitled, and now he’s cozying up to Sophia.”Theo nodded thoughtfully. “Do you want me to escalate this?

Chapter 30The next day was a Sunday. It was a bright morning, and the mansion grounds were bustling with activity. The new gardener was trimming hedges, while a few maids hurried about their chores. At the gate, Martin, the elderly gateman, was performing his usual duties, meticulously inspecting everyone entering and leaving.A sleek, black car pulled up at the gate, and Oscar stepped out. Dressed in an expensive tracksuit and sunglasses, he looked around with a smug expression. He gestured impatiently at Martin, his tone sharp.“Hurry up, old man! Do you want me to stand here all day?” Oscar snapped, leaning against the car. “Open the gate already!”Martin, used to dealing with difficult people, remained calm but couldn’t hide the slight frown forming on his face. “I’m just doing my job, sir. Could you please confirm your identity?”Oscar scoffed, pulling off his sunglasses. “I’m Sophia’s gym instructor. She’s expecting me. Now stop wasting my time and open the gate!”Martin nodded