For a moment, no one moved. Then, Eleanor scrambled for the remote control, her fingers fumbling. She pointed it at the television, and the screen flickered to life. There, in high definition, was a podium flanked by corporate banners. And standing at it, microphone in hand, was Amelia.She was luminous. Dressed in a sharp, tailored navy-blue dress, her hair styled in an elegant chignon, she looked every inch the conquering hero. Confidence radiated from her smile as she fielded questions from a bank of journalists, her answers crisp and intelligent.“...and we believe this listing will not only fuel our next phase of growth but also solidify our commitment to transparency and shareholder value…” Amelia’s voice, clear and commanding, filled the silent living room.Eleanor Coote’s humiliation evaporated, replaced by a pride so potent it was almost dizzying. She straightened her spine, a true queen reclaiming her throne.“Oh, Eleanor!” Beatrice gasped, her voice full of genuine awe now

The morning light that streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Coote mansion was unforgiving. It illuminated every speck of dust on the grand piano, gleamed off the sterile marble floors, and exposed the weary lines on Leo’s face as he sat on the oversized living room sofa. He hadn’t slept. The video played on a loop behind his eyes, a silent, brutal film that had stolen the night from him. The lavish dinner he’d prepared sat congealed and forgotten in the dinning table, a monument to his own foolish hope.The click of the front door was sharp in the morning quiet. Amelia stood there, silhouetted against the light. She looked every bit the corporate queen returning from her conquest, still wearing the powerful, tailored dress from the night before, though it was now slightly rumpled. In her hand, she carried her heels, and there was a lingering aura of champagne and expensive cigar smoke that clung to her. She didn’t look at him, not really. Her eyes scanned the room,

The city air felt different the moment Leo stepped outside the Coote mansion gates. It was no longer the suffocating atmosphere of a gilded cage, but something colder, sharper, and strangely liberating. Leo's eyes reddened with fury and betrayal, his heart screamed in pain. He walked without a destination, the crisp morning breeze doing little to clear the bitter residue from his confrontation. The signed divorce agreement felt like a lead weight in the inner pocket of his jacket. He had spent years building a fortress of quiet patience around his heart, and in one morning, Amelia had torn it down with the casual cruelty. His phone vibrated, a persistent buzz against his chest. He thought about ignoring it, letting the world fade away. “Hey Boss,” Olivia’s voice was bright, efficient. “Just updating you. The transfer of the Aether Ventures shares is nearly complete. The lawyers are dotting the i’s. In two days, right after she rings the bell, the entire package will be ready. It’

The silence in the hotel room stretched, thick and heavy. Leo studied the woman before him. Her answer hung in the air, a stark contradiction to everything else about her. Even sitting on the edge of a hotel bed, weakened and draped in a borrowed robe, she carried herself with an innate grace. Her posture was straight, her hands, though trembling slightly, were elegantly slender with well-kept nails. Her features were finely carved, and her eyes, despite their current distress, held a clarity and intelligence that spoke of education and refinement. This was not someone born into hardship or accustomed to life on the streets. She had the aura of a queen. Seeing the clear doubt in his eyes, she offered a weak, bitter smile. It was a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “You’re wondering how someone like me ends up with nowhere to go,” she said, her voice low. She took a shaky breath, as if steeling herself to recite a painful epitaph. “My name is Elara. Elara Parkinson. Until a mont

The echo of Eleanor’s shriek seemed to hang in the plush hallway long after the sound had faded. Elara stumbled back, her shoulder smarting from the impact, but before she could even process the shock, a steadying hand was on her arm. Leo had moved with a quiet, fluid speed, positioning himself slightly in front of her, a human shield against his mother-in-law’s venom.“That’s enough, Eleanor,” Leo said, his voice low and dangerously calm. It wasn’t a plea; it was a command. “There is nothing improper between us. Your theatrics are unnecessary.”Eleanor let out a derisive snort, her eyes blazing with contempt. “Nothing improper? And yet you bring her to a hotel penthouse? Do you take me for a fool?”Elara, her heart hammering but her voice steady, found her courage. “He brought me here to see the apartment. To offer me a place to stay. It’s not what you’re implying.”For a moment, Eleanor just stared at her. Then, a slow, condescending smile spread across her face, followed by a pe