Anthony pulled up to the grand entrance of the Riverside Hotel, his heart pounding with nervous anticipation. He'd rehearsed what he wanted to say to Vivienne at least a dozen times during the drive, but none of his practiced words felt quite right.He took a deep breath and stepped out of his car, straightening his jacket as he walked through the elegant lobby. The hotel staff greeted him with professional smiles, but he barely acknowledged them as he headed straight for the elevators.When he reached Vivienne's floor, he found her suite and knocked firmly on the door. His palms were sweating despite the cool air conditioning in the hallway.No answer.Anthony knocked again, harder this time. "Miss Ashford? It's Anthony Williams. I need to speak with you."Still nothing.He waited a full minute before knocking one more time, but the silence from inside the suite was absolute. Either she wasn't there, or she was deliberately ignoring him.Anthony's stomach sank. Had she already left f

Lucas’s hands clenched into fists so tight his knuckles turned white inside the cell. The small television mounted in the corner of the common area had been broadcasting the Sterling family scandal nonstop for hours, and every single update made his blood boil hotter. Lucas wanted to smash that television into a thousand pieces. He wanted to grab the smug news anchor by the throat and make him shut up. But all he could do was pace in his tiny cell, trapped behind bars while his entire world collapsed around him. His mother was arrested. The one person who had always protected him, always fought for him, always made sure he had everything he needed, was now locked up just like he was, maybe in an even worse situation than his own. "How am I supposed to get out of here now?" Lucas muttered to himself, running his hands through his hair in frustration. "Mom was working with lawyers, pulling strings, making deals. She was going to get me out within days. But now she's arrested too

Tessa pressed her phone against her ear as she tried calling Serena for the hundredth time. The call went straight to voicemail again, just like all the others."Damn it!" Tessa threw her phone onto the couch in frustration. "That bastard Michael must have taken her phone away."She looked around the destroyed living room, broken wine glasses still scattered across the floor from where John and his men had forcefully taken her daughter. The memory of watching them drag Serena away while she stood helpless made rage burn fresh in Tessa's chest."He can't just take her like that," Tessa muttered to herself, resuming her pacing. "They're not married yet. He has no legal right to hold her against her will. This is kidnapping, plain and simple."The front door opened suddenly, and Mr. Vance walked in carrying his briefcase. He stopped immediately when he saw the state of the living room and his wife's agitated expression."Tessa? What happened here?" Mr. Vance asked, his eyes sweeping over

Celia walked quickly down the dimly lit residential street, she was only a few blocks from home now, and the familiar sight of her neighborhood should have made her feel safer, but the uneasy feeling from the park still clung to her like a shadow.She glanced over her shoulder for what felt like the hundredth time, her eyes scanning the street behind her. A few people were scattered along the sidewalk, mostly residents returning home from work or evening errands. Nothing seemed out of place, but her instincts kept screaming that something was wrong.“You’re imagining things,” Celia muttered to herself, quickening her pace. "Just get home and you'll be fine."An elderly man she recognized as Mr. Bennett from two houses down was walking about twenty feet ahead of her, carrying a bag of groceries. The sight of her neighbor made some of the tension in Celia's shoulders ease slightly. She wasn't completely alone on this street.Celia focused on Mr. Bennett's shuffling gait, using his pres

The van pulled to a stop in front of a half-finished building complex on the outskirts of the city. The area was completely deserted, with construction equipment scattered around and not a single light visible in any direction.Brick opened the back doors of the van and gestured with his gun. "Get out. All of you."Celia and her parents climbed out shakily, their legs barely able to support them. Mrs. Greene kept one arm wrapped protectively around her daughter while Mr. Greene positioned himself slightly in front of both of them.The younger man grabbed a flashlight from the van and led the way toward the largest unfinished building. The concrete building stood against the night sky, with dark, empty windows facing them."Move," Brick commanded, prodding Mr. Greene forward with the barrel of his gun.They walked through the construction site, their footsteps crunching on gravel and scattered trash. Brick directed them to the center of what would probably become a large room. "Stop h