Charles ran straight into Hailey on his way back to Sadie’s room. Thanks to Emmy and her kindergarten-level shenanigans, what was supposed to be a five-minute pharmacy run had turned into a thirty-minute circus.“Is Big sis around now?” Hailey asked, rubbing sleep out of her eyes like she was about to nap all over again.“Yes. A bit late, though.” Charles shoved the pain reliever into his back pocket before she spotted it. “She knocked on my door when she got back. Woke me up.”Hailey yawned. “Let me go say hello to her.”Hello? That was the last thing Sadie needed right now—her baby sister barging in to see her looking like she got dragged through hell and back. One wrong glance and Hailey would start panicking, then Grandma would find out, and then Charles might as well light the whole neighborhood on fire because everyone would know.“What about your classes? Won’t you be late?” he asked quickly, stepping into her path like a human blo

“Man, I’mma be blunt with you—fact that we got along—”“Who said we got along?” Charles interrupted.“I don’t give a shit what you think about our relationship, but if you have any plan of doing something creepy with Sadie, drop it right now.”Charles shook his head slowly. Thomas was a lost cause. “You hungry?”“This isn’t a joking matter,” Thomas snapped.“I didn’t say it was,” Charles replied, resuming his walk to the kitchen. “But your words so far…they come from the place of hunger.”“She could’ve gotten married to Cox—”“Went to settle some scores with the guy who did shit to my brother,” Charles blurted, cutting him off.Thomas froze for a second but continued: “Outside New York?”“I’ll appreciate it if we let this topic slide,” Charles muttered, cold but firm. He needed space, and Thomas needed to understand that.Thomas didn’t push. As much as he knew Charles wouldn’t admit it, bringin

“You sure you’re okay with whatever I want?” he asked, eyes unreadable. “No complaints later.”Lauren chuckled darkly. “I’m not asking for a single penny.” Inside, she was screaming—she’d die for him, give everything, even ruin someone else, if it made him happy.“I’ll give it two days. After that, no excuses. No asking me for anything. I’ll involve my lawyer if I have to.”Lauren glanced at him. His face…perfectly beautiful in that stoic way, the kind shaped by a life without love. And she wanted—needed—to be the one to fill that emptiness.“What do you think about this?” she asked.“What?” he replied, barely looking at her.“One of the girls I hang out with is in love with her cousin. Blood cousin. Think she can marry him?”“Stop hanging with idiots, Lauren. Those girls are drunk half the time; they don’t even know what they’re doing.”Lauren took a heavy puff of her cigarette, coughing violently, lungs burning. He didn’t even glance at her, just smoked on.“You’ll become like them

Lauren dangled the camera in front of Andrew’s face. He reached for it, eager, but she drew it back at the last second, giving him a cold, condescending smile.“Ma’am… trust me,” Andrew stammered, almost swearing an oath. “I won’t make a mistake this time. I’m good—very good—at taking pictures. About last time, I swear, I didn’t know Charles had already messed with the settings. If I did, I never would’ve gone to Sadie—”“You talk too much,” Lauren cut in, her tone like a knife.Andrew immediately bowed his head as though standing before a goddess. His voice trembled. “I’m sorry, ma’am.”She studied him for a moment. Pathetic. Weak. But useful. That was all she needed. Beauty had always made men crumble, but money—money made them obedient.“He’ll be here in thirty minutes or less,” Lauren said evenly. “I shouldn’t trust you with this. But…” She tilted her head, calculating. “You seem like the type who knows when to keep his mouth shut. Especially since you already have beef with Charl

Charles strode back into the sitting room. Andrew was already tiptoeing toward the exit, trying to slip out unnoticed. The moment he saw Charles, he froze. His stomach dropped. He hadn’t even considered the possibility that Charles would be smart enough to bring someone else along.Charles shot him a look of pure disgust.“Maybe consider a career in adult films,” he said flatly.“Sir, I swear—I had no hand in this. It was all Miss Lauren’s idea,” Andrew babbled, his voice shaking. “I was just following the script. I don’t even know what she wanted to do with the pictures, I swear!”“I keep running into you, and every time it pisses me off,” Charles said, taking a slow, deliberate step toward him.Andrew stumbled back. His knees gave way, and he hit the floor hard, scrambling like a cornered animal.“Get out before I change my mind,” Charles muttered.Andrew didn’t wait for a second chance. He bolted, swearing under his b