Chapter 125 The sunlight streamed weakly through the hotel curtains, painting the room in soft golden hues. Sofia’s eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, she didn’t remember where she was—or what had happened the night before. Her head throbbed with the dull ache of alcohol lingering in her system and the emotional intensity of last night.Her gaze wandered across the room and landed on Nikolai, who was awake, sitting on the edge of the chair across the room. His posture was casual, but his piercing eyes followed her every move, a faint smirk playing on his lips.“Morning,” he said, his voice low, teasing, but somehow tinged with satisfaction.Sofia froze, heat rushing to her cheeks. The memories of the morning—the closeness, the way he had kissed her—flooded back, and she felt her stomach twist in a mixture of embarrassment and something she refused to name.“I—I should go,” she stammered, hastily swinging her legs out of bed.Nikolai chuckled softly. “Go? Already? But earlier thi

The first light of Monday morning spilled over the city skyline, illuminating the sleek glass façade of Whitewater Corporation. The building stood tall, polished, and intimidating, a concrete reflection of the empire that had been built over decades. Inside, the office buzzed with the usual hum of Monday activity—phones ringing, computers whirring, interns rushing down corridors, and employees navigating their way through the first meeting schedules of the week. Andrea Konstanio walked through the lobby with a calm, purposeful stride. It had been weeks since the chaos surrounding the Georgiu scandal, the shareholder battle, and the family crises, and he had finally been able to return to his position at Whitewater. He had never been one to enjoy sitting idle, and the thought of returning to the rhythm of work, the flow of projects, and the feeling of control over his responsibilities gave him a strange sense of peace. Maria, who had guided him through much of his internship, had call

The lunchroom was buzzing with the usual midday energy laughter, clattering trays, and the faint hum of casual office chatter. For most of the interns, it was a chance to relax, recharge, and gossip a little away from the eyes of managers and executives.Laura sat at one of the long tables with a group of fellow interns. She kept her tray mostly untouched, but her ears were perked up, picking up on the conversation that had grown louder and more animated as Andrea’s name came up.“Honestly,” one intern said, twirling a strand of hair around her finger, “I didn’t realize just how good Andrea is as a leader. He’s… brilliant. Calm, strategic, decisive… and yet he listens to everyone. I mean, I’ve never worked with someone so competent and still so approachable.”Another intern leaned in, whispering conspiratorially, “And to think he’s rich. I mean, come on if I had known Andrea was a Whitewater heir back when he was interning, I would’ve done everything to be his friend. He’s like… the f

Chapter 132After Laura returned to her seat, dusting reluctantly as Andrea watched, he finally cleared his throat. The morning light had strengthened, casting long shadows across the office, but Andrea’s expression remained focused, calm, and authoritative—a reminder that work came first.“Alright, everyone,” he said, finally addressing the rest of the team. Laura’s presence lingered at the edge of his mind, but he pushed the distraction aside. “We have a lot to accomplish this week. I’m assigning tasks based on priorities, skill sets, and deadlines. Listen carefully and take notes.”Gracie, who had been observing quietly, nodded. She had come along to support Andrea’s leadership team, but also to monitor workflow and ensure the project milestones stayed on track. She noticed Laura shifting subtly in her seat, glancing occasionally at Andrea—but Andrea’s eyes remained on the board of tasks he had pulled up on his laptop.Andrea clicked a few keys, bringing up a project tracker on the

Gracie and Andrea announced their engagement.The week leading to the engagement was full of excitement—at least for Gracie and Andrea.Together, they chose a simple and elegant engagement ceremony at the Astor family garden. Andrea wanted something intimate, surrounded only by family, close friends, and key staff from both companies. Gracie wanted something warm, not extravagant. Something that felt like them.The news spread quickly through the office and across the business world:Andrea Konstanio and Gracie Astor were officially getting engaged.Most people congratulated them.But not everyone was happy.Not Laura.When the announcement was made, Laura sat frozen at her desk. The interns cheered and gossiped around her, but their voices sounded muffled, like she was underwater.“They’re perfect together.”“She’s so lucky to marry Andrea.”“Their wedding is going to be legendary!”Every word stabbed Laura in the chest.Her fingers curled into tight fists. Her mind spiraled into dar