Chloe sat between Rose and the cold metal chair, her fingers laced so tightly with her aunt’s that her knuckles had turned pale. Rose didn’t comment on it as she simply held on just as firmly. She could feel the tremor in Chloe’s hand, the nervous rhythm in her breathing, the way her shoulders kept rising and falling too quickly.Of course she was nervous. Anyone would be. But for Chloe… this was different.Meeting the man you had never seen, not once, since the day you were born. Meeting him for the very first time not in a home, not in a park, not at a family gathering, but in Fort-Tight, one of the most notorious maximum-security prisons in the world… It did something sharp to a person.The waiting area felt colder than usual. Sterile tiles. Harsh fluorescent lights. The echo of guards’ footsteps in the hallway. Every sound seemed distant yet overwhelming at the same time.Chloe swallowed hard and tightened her grip on Rose’s hand again.“You’re okay,” Rose whispered softly, her th

The door creaked open slowly, and both Emma and Jennifer straightened as Vera Williams, the new Chief Interior Designer at the Robins Holdings stepped in looking sharp and smart.She had only joined the company a few days ago, but she carried herself like she’d been there for years—calm, confident, sharply observant.“Good morning, ma’am,” Vera said politely, offering a respectful nod. She held out a slim folder with the company’s gold-embossed seal. “I brought the approved project budget for the upcoming event. The board requested that it be reviewed immediately.”Emma blinked and quickly composed herself. She had no idea a new project had passed through the table of the board as she had been too busy with concerns for her marriage and most especially the recent wonderful encounter with Ethan.“Oh—yes, of course.” She reached for the file. “Thank you, Vera.”Vera nodded. “If there’s anything you’d like me to adjust, do let me know.”Jennifer shot Emma a raised eyebrow—the universal W

By the time Ethan pulled into the underground parking lot of the Wirtkov penthouse, the weight he carried felt twice as heavy. He had decided not to go home straight just so he could at least bring himself to reconsider and accept the promise he had made to Chloe earlier.Even if he didn't want to admit it, something in him kept whispering to him that he shouldnn't have promised Chloe that he'd help her in ensuring that her father was released from Fort-tight.He too, have served in Fort-Tight and he knew that the kind of men who served there were no ordianry men. And it only takes the strongest of men to survive that place.As strong as he was, the five years spent in Fort-Tight were some of the worst moments of his life, and now, hearing that Frank had been there for over twenty years was enough reason to make him feel unsettled within.It takes a man od sheer will and strength to survive Fort-Tight for just a year. And to survive for over twenty years, such a man could be termed as

Frank followed the others out of the cell block that Sunday morning, his mind still floating between disbelief and a strange new warmth he hadn’t felt in decades.Mass at the Fort-Tight prison cathedral was the only hour of the week where the world felt slightly less cruel. The chapel was old, its wooden benches cracked, the crucifix faded and chipped, but to the inmates, it felt like a breath of air from outside the walls.At least, this was the only place where they all felt less judged and much accepted. Many of the inmates who practiced the Christian faith usually made it a habit of inviting other cell members to come worship with them.Frank, had not really been a faith practicising individual. As far as he was concerned, life was just the way it is, and only the gullible ones would be praying to some 'god" as he usually termed it to come and save themm.But that had not always been the case. As a matter of fact, Frank was born in a Christain home into a catholic family. He spent

Ethan stared at her, and for a fleeting moment, felt this peace that came with being with that one person that really mattered. Just then, Emma's phone buzzed and it was a call from the chief hostess of the meeting of the various presidents.She glanced at the screen and sighed.“It’s the chief hostess,” she muttered. “Let me just take this. Two minutes.”Ethan nodded, watching her step a few feet away into the hallway.He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, trying to push away the unsettling feeling rising in his chest. Every part of him felt wired and restless like something was spiraling toward him, and he wasn’t ready for it.“Good evening, ma’am.” Emma answered the call.The voice on the other end was loud enough that Ethan could faintly hear the agitated tone.“Yes… I got your message,” Emma replied politely. “No, I haven’t changed my mind.”She paused, listening. “Yes, I understand the importance of the event.”Her voice hardened slightly. “But tomorrow is my wedding. And I