Ronald nodded sagely. “It’s a tale as old as time, Madam CEO. Your sister is growing up and prioritizing her love life. The horror!”“I said shut up!” Perseia shrieked, her voice high and tight. Her face instantly flushed a vibrant, angry red once more. She grabbed a rolled-up blueprint from her desk, momentarily forgetting her CEO composure, and hurled it weakly at Ronald, utterly defeated by their teasing and her own embarrassment.Harry leaned against the drafting table, crossing his arms and shaking his head with mock pity. “Perseia, you really need to get used to the idea that your sister is dating someone who isn’t you. It happens.”“Yuck!” Perseia gagged. “Why are you saying it like I want to date my sister?”Ronald nodded sagely, ignoring Harry. “It’s time to expand your horizons, boss. The sister slot is taken.”Perseia stiffened, drawing herself to her full height, her expression shifting from embarrassed pique to stiff, reluctant pride.“Engaged?” Harry sputtered, pushin

Persis stared intensely at her phone screen.The mapping software confirmed the trajectory of Frank and Harold’s convoy, a direct line toward the highly secured Damon Family compound.“This is insane,” she whispered.She switched the surveillance feed from the static building camera to the tracker she had hidden on Frank’s vehicle. The small green dot crawled across the digital map.She needed to follow them, anticipate their move, and coordinate with Thomas.Ring.Ring.Her phone vibrated violently, cutting the live feed and replacing it with an incoming call.Persis’s frown deepened.The caller ID flashed an internal office number—Perseia’s executive line. Beneath it: Ms. Lynn.'Why is Lynn calling me?'Perseia never used her secretary for personal matters. If she wanted Persis, she’d call directly or send Thomas.For Lynn to be the one reaching out meant this came from Perseia’s corporate world, and it wasn’t minor.Tedmond unconscious beside her, Frank and Harold on the move, and

The ride was agonizingly fast, bumpy, and silent, broken only by the low rumble of the SUV's engine and Persis’s strained breathing. Her arms were held tight behind her back; she couldn’t be sure if they were tied or simply held by the iron grip of the man sitting beside her. Attempts to speak and demand answers were made, but the heavy fabric bag pulled immediately over her head after the abduction had rendered her efforts useless and terrifyingly disorienting.The smell of stale leather and sweat filled the confines of the vehicle, pressing down on her growing panic. Focusing on the motion, she tried to discern their trajectory, but the constant turning and high speeds made it impossible to get any sense of direction. A realization dawned: they were definitely leaving the city.Suddenly, the vehicle slowed, the tires crunching on what sounded like gravel or a rough driveway. The SUV came to an abrupt, final stop.The rear door next to her was pulled open. “Out,” a gruff voice

Persis couldn’t understand where the misunderstanding had come from, nor did she know that Kyle was aware Tedmond was engaged to a Damon. He had only mentioned being engaged, not the name or family.“They were quite agitated,” Perseia continued, observing her sister like a scientist examining an experiment. “It seems Tedmond isn’t picking up his phone, nor is he answering texts, and they had absolutely no idea where he lived. Naturally, they assumed his soon-to-be Damon wife could help them.”The humiliation of the kidnapping, the condescension over the meal, all faded against this sudden, massive intrusion into her private life.Persis felt a wave of sickening dread.She had no idea they thought that way, and she would never want them to—simply because she and Tedmond were engaged and would one day be married.Perseia leaned across the desk, eyes cold as polished stone.“Tell me, Persis. Are you and Tedmond running around the city telling people—people like Kyle and Melody—that I am

Gerald’s chest heaved.For a moment, the fury drained from his face, replaced by something rawer—fear.“I didn’t say Tedmond came for me,” he snarled at last. “I forced him to move.”Harold stopped pacing.Slowly, he turned back. “Explain.”Gerald laughed bitterly. “Kyle. I took Kyle with me. Thought he’d be useful leverage if things went wrong.” His fingers clenched white around the armrests. “Before I even left the lodge, I gave orders. I told my men to keep Kyle’s house under constant watch. Anyone who went near it—anyone—was to be grabbed. No questions.”Harold’s eyes darkened. “You used Kyle as bait.”“Yes!” Gerald snapped. “Tedmond is obsessed with that boy. I knew he wouldn’t stay away if Kyle disappeared.” His voice dropped, venomous. “And it worked.”Silence pressed in.Gerald swallowed. “Someone came. Quiet. Too clean. They took the person my men grabbed… and the guards who tried to intervene. All of them. Gone.”Harold’s jaw tightened. “You didn’t tell me that part.”“I did