Andrew's fists clenched at his sides, fury simmering just beneath the surface. But he stops, remembering why he's here. Why he's a lived in son in-law. He shifts his gaze back to Burke, standing there like an artist basking in stolen moments as he enjoys Lizzy's admiration. Lizzy's adoration is so easy, triggered by the smallest gestures. “So easily swayed by crumbs,” Andrew thinks. But wait, if she reacts like this to Burke's lies, what would she do if she knew the— “Hey!” Lizzy's voice cut through his thoughts, snapping him back to reality. She lowers her tone, so Burke couldn't hear but the contempt remains thick in her words as she continually berates him. “I'll be heading to the Cooperation with Mr Burke. No need for you to take me,” she says, adjusting her purse with exaggerated grace. “Go home. The laundry won't do itself after all, and I expect dinner ready when I return.” She pauses, narrowing her eyes. “Honestly, after three years of freeloading under our roof, the

The leather seat molds around Andrew's frame like a throne. The world beyond the tinted glass flickers with city light, but inside, silence rules—broken only by the hum of the engine and the faint tap of shoe soles in the mat. “So,” Mason starts. His master has been awfully quiet, but he knows better. Inside that head of his, he knows he's calculating. “What's next now that you're back?” He asks, handing him a kit with one hand. After a second thought, Andrew reaches to take it. Unlike the last time, when he left it, this time he is going to wipe everything that concerns Lizzy out of his life. Mason had seen earlier, how his lips were bleeding. These people dared to lay their filthy hands on his master. ‘Don't they fear death?’ he thinks. Based on that premise, he presses further, hands gripping the steering a little too tight. “Should we teach that woman a lesson?” Ever since that first time, he has been itching to teach that family a lesson! His master is like his father and th

Valencia remains confidently sure the vote will fall in her favor, just as it always has. Men like Diego enjoy suffering; even when she approached him with an offer to collaborate, he outrightly rejected her without pause. If he chooses poverty, that's his burden. But for her? She chooses power. And that's why she does whatever it takes. Besides, a good number of directors in this room already wear her leash. So there's no chance in hell that she's losing. Even though Mr Diego knows the odds are against him, he still agrees to the vote. He believes that one day, justice would be served to Valencia. The vote starts and in no time, it comes to an end. But to his greatest surprise, it is almost a draw, something that hasn't happened before. But then, his surprise turns into loss when his eyes catch Valencia's triumphant smirk. “I already told you Mr Diego.” Valencia says. “If I wasn't leading well, why did I have so many votes?” she asks daringly, challenging him and making a mental

“You're okay dear? You don't look too good, and you're not eating.” Liliana asks her daughter, Lizzy as they dine on the table. Different kinds of delicacies are spread on the table, but it looks untouched. “Yes, I'm fine, Mom,” Lizzy replies, glancing over at the food. For some reason, she can't bring herself to eat it. Maybe it's because she's grown used to Andrew's cooking, his distinct touch, the way each flavor lingers after savoring it. Now, the chef's dish tastes bland in comparison, lacking the warmth and finesse she's unknowingly come to crave. She picks up the napkin and dabs at her mouth, silently scolding herself. Andrew is like a parasite, a relentless leech who clung to her skin. She should be celebrating her freedom now that he's finally out of her life. She now has Burke, and things are going the way she wants in life. Sure, the gifts he gives her don't match the luxury and quality of that one outfit she wore to the Billion Pub Cooperation, but at least, he buys

There is a pause at the other end so much that Liliana thinks the call has been disconnected. On the other end, Wilton Edner is stiff like a man who is tied and ready to be shot. His eyes dart to the security cameras above his office door, and even though he's not at the offer, the paranoia hasn't left. He has heard, even though he didn't experience it first hand, the day the owner came… the air in Verizon changed. No one who was there dared to speak of it. He had called in sick that morning—a twist of fate that sparked him from the silent storm that descended. That day, all phones were confiscated. Every image that was taken was deleted by burly looking men that smell like death. Some say the phones were crushed right there on the floor with their boots. Others whisper that those who tried to look too closely now wished they hadn't… even Valencia, even at this point, there has been no whispers of her name—because she's nowhere to be found. Wilton swallows hard. “Madame McCalls…