Oliver paced the plush carpeting of his study, gaze darting regularly to the mantel clock. Clara should have returned from her meeting with Ethan by now. Each minute she remained absent, his unease grew. Finally, approaching footsteps and murmured voices signaled Clara's return. Oliver hurried to the front hall, relief washing over him as he saw his wife and daughter removing their coats, both appearing unharmed."Thank God, you're back. I've been worried sick," Oliver said, enfolding Clara in an embrace. "Did everything go alright? What did that snake say?"Clara's smile seemed strained. "Let's discuss it over tea. It was...quite a conversation."Soon seated around the parlor coffee table, Clara recounted the meeting in detail for Oliver and Sophia's benefit. Ethan's offer of financial aid in exchange for the family's cooperation, the apparent olive branch. Oliver's scowl deepened with each new revelation. "I knew it. This so-called 'truce' is just another ruse to lure us into comp

In the predawn darkness, Maya crept from Ethan's bed where he still slept, the ghost of a smile on his lips. She shuddered, imagining what ruthless new schemes spawned such happy dreams for him. Shrugging on a robe, she tiptoed downstairs to unfold the day's newspaper. Her heart jolted seeing the headline splashed across the front page. "Scandal Rocks Society Wedding of the Year" blared the massive print, below the incriminating photo Clara had provided. Despite bracing herself, the lurid public spectacle still sent shame flaming through Maya.Heavy footsteps made her whirl around, hiding the paper behind her back. But it was too late. Ethan's blazing stare went straight to the concealed headline before locking onto her face. His expression promised murder."Give it to me," he commanded, deadly soft. When Maya hesitated, he snatched the paper from her grasp, features contorting with each damning word. "Who did this?" he finally snarled. "The Waltons? Carnegie?" His wild gaze bored i

Sophia felt like her heart was going to burst from the intensity of the emotions that she was feeling. "Philip...!" She said again. She couldn't find the words to say as her thoughts got chocked up in her head. At this point. Clara had realised that the person who just called Sophia was indeed Philip. She felt an emotional turmoil in her chest. Clara's brain spun into thought rapidly. This call could mean many things at this moment; it was likely that Philip had recovered from his illness and was back. Then he probably heard reports about what was happening to the Walton family and to Sophia specifically. If he had learned that her parents were disowning her, then it might not be too good a situation. Sophia had been the only reason that they came to know Philip in the first place. And given the background of his family, it was very possible that he was the only one who could have them from the mess they were in. A plan quickly formed in Clara's mind. "Let me speak to him." She

Sophia watched as Philip slept like a baby. Then she got up, wore her clothes and stepped out of the room. "Did you do it?" Clara was sitting not too far, watching like a hawk and asking whY had transpired between Sophia and Philip. "Yes." Sophia was disgusted but she responded curtly. The situation had changed in just a few hours. Her parents had been chasing her out and now, they were once again depending on her. "Good." Clara nodded approvingly. "Your father is on his way. I've called him back." She said. Sophia flinched a bit before she calmed down. These past few days had been terrifying for her. She had come to fear her father like a ghost and now the fear was actually almost ingrained in her bones that she had paled at the mention of him returning. But now, things had changed. Sophia was still a proud person in her own right. "I don't care if he comes back or not." Sophia hissed and walked away, leaving her mother dumbfounded. Clara couldn't blame Sophia. She only grit

The next morning, Ethan called Andrew. "Good morning, Young master." Andrew greeted. "Good morning."Ethan twirled the steaming cup of coffee in his hands with a relaxed expression on his face. Andrew waited patiently "Yesterday, you only told me about Philip. What about the Waltons?" He asked. "You want to know about the Waltons sir?" Andrew asked. "Of course." Ethan replied. "I can only know how to respond if I know what has happened already."Andrew heaved with a sigh. He understood that what Ethan was saying was the truth. "Sophia went to your office when you were in vacation." Andrew said. Ethan scoffed. "It's clear what she wants; she wants me to withdraw the case because she made an advertisement of herself."Ethan was referring to the video that Sophia made and posted on the internet. He had told her what she needed to do if she wanted to make him withdraw the case but she did as she wished and expected that Ethan would comply. "Yes, young master." Andrew replied. "Tha