Wilfreda’s pulse hammered in her chest as she stared at the pendant glowing faintly within the wooden box. The air in the basement felt heavier now, as though the very walls leaned closer, listening.Her mother’s words echoed in her head: “One of three.”Her mouth was dry. “So you’ve been keeping this… thing hidden all these years? Why? To protect me—or to control me?”Helsin’s lips pressed into a thin line, her usually cold eyes betraying a flicker of something deeper. “You think this was about control? Wilfreda, I’ve lied to you, yes, but not for the reasons you imagine. If people knew what you carried in your veins—what this pendant could awaken—you wouldn’t have survived to stand here.”"Mom..." Wilfreda called out in frustration. "I still don't understand any of what you're saying yet."Helsin drew in a long, shaky breath, as the weight of all that she had kept for so long pressed heavily on her chest, and for a moment, she wondered if she would even find the strength to continue

Gary was seated at the table in his private suite in the Stannins' mansion, sleeves rolled up, tie loosened and with his eyes fixed on the thickest of the files—the Acherlands file. He had spent the entire night waiting for the faintest call from Miss Yara Grey that the O' Connor's were bidding higher than $800 million.But just as he had expected, the O' Connors were not ready to take such a risk themselves, especially not after they had just spent $400 million in saving Regal motors from the Bernards.The news had gone everywhere, and according to what he had heard, many of the O' Connor's board members weren't happy with the decision of Chance to buy a company that was clearly sinking in debts just because of his girlfriend.Gary was still in his deep thoughts when a light touch landed on his shoulder. Firm and deliberate.Gary didn’t need to turn. He already knew who it was.“How’s the bid with the Acherlands going?” Brenda’s voice came low, almost purring, though edged with the

Chloe had not been able to get the night in which she had Chance had crossed the line out of her mind. No matter how many times she tried to focus on something else, the memories came back, unrelenting. The way Chance had looked at her, the vulnerability in his voice when he whispered I love you, the trembling in his hands as if she were the only thing keeping him from breaking apart completely. And then the kiss that had spiraled into something deeper, something that had consumed them both until neither of them could stop.She had given herself to him. Completely.And though her heart still thundered at the thought, a strange cocktail of fear and exhilaration ran through her veins.So when Wilfreda strolled into the courtyard that morning, her dark curls bouncing as she adjusted the strap of her satchel, Chloe’s resolve broke. She had kept this secret for only a day, and already it felt too heavy to carry alone.“Wilfreda,” Chloe called softly, walking up to her.Wilfreda turned, ey

With a raised nose as if he was about to sniff the air for something intangible, he turned away and walked straight to the car. Isaiah watched as the man acted as if he was nothing but a mere nobody, a nonentity that was not deserving of air. Oh if only he knew just who the person he was acting as a snub to was.When the visitors got into their cars and drove away, leaving just Anthony and his son behind, the old silver haired man's face grew from the look of seriousness that he had masked himself with to a look of relief. He sighed loudly, and his shoulders lowered, almost as though he had been carrying a large burden on him for such a long time now."Who are they?" Isaiah asked. "Business associates and some friends of my wife" Anthony replied briskly. "They don't know what good they have done for me leaving my house. Now what I need to is face my wife."Isaiah noted the grave tone with which he said the last words....Mr. Lawrence stood just outside of the rest room when a young

The atmosphere around Capitol Hill was unlike anything Chloe or anyone had ever seen. The flags of the United States fluttered proudly against the crisp January air, while a sea of citizens stretched as far as the eye could see, their faces alive with history in the making. Cameras rolled from every angle, drones buzzed overhead capturing sweeping aerial shots, and the sharp silhouettes of security snipers perched on rooftops silently reminded everyone of the gravity of the day.Julia stood at the podium, her hand just withdrawn from the Bible where she had taken the oath of office. She was now officially the first female President of the United States. The cheers that erupted at that declaration nearly rattled the marble pillars of the Capitol.She raised her hand for silence, her expression calm and commanding. And when she began to speak, her voice carried, firm yet warm, across the plaza and into millions of homes watching live.“Today is proof that resilience prevails,” she bega