Dante knelt down to carefully straighten up Daisy’s rumpled uniform. “Which is the way to Headmistress Albright’s office?” He asked sharply at a teacher who was leading students out the main door.“Right this way, sir,” the teacher said shakily and lead him through the grand halls.Inside the office, Headmistress Albright stood up from her chair as they entered. “Dr. Vance, thank you for coming. We deeply regret this incident.”“Regret is just a starting point, Headmistress,” Dante replied calmly but his voice was firm, and gently, he guided Daisy forward. “Look at her. This how she came out of her classroom today. And this,” he said, as he held up the broken chain, “was a custom-made gold and silver pendant. It is not missing. A student named Jasper Lockwood assaulted her, stole her pendant, and verbally abused her. I want the pendant returned, and I want that student disciplined. If your school can not provide a safe environment free from bullies, I will have no choice but to withdr

The executive office was filled with silence, and it was broken only by the faint buzz of the city that is forty stories below. Dante Vance, CEO of Vertex Pharmaceuticals, stood in front of the huge glass, staring at the busy street, but his mind was occupied with the memory of his daughter’s heartbroken voice from the car ride home.“Daddy….I think maybe Jasper was right about Mummy.”The words had hit hard on the chest, but he had forced himself to respond with a father’s duty, not a man’s bitterness. “You should not say things like that, sweetheart. Your mummy will always be your mummy,” he had said, with the lie tasting so bitter on his tongue for he desperately wanted to agree, to validate her pain and protect her from the woman who had caused it. But to encourage a child to cut that bond entirely? It would have broken something pure inside her. So he made a silent vow to himself, as he watched the city’s bustling activities, to be her protector and fortress. He would protect Dai

“The Q3 projections are not just disappointing, they are a testament to a systemic failure in your department’s forecasting model,” Clara stated loudly and immediately the buzz in the boardroom died down. Then she scanned the faces of her senior staff sternly, leaving no room for argument. “I want a revised, and more importantly, a realistic forecast on my desk by—”The door to the boardroom opened suddenly and her personal assistant, Lena, hurried in with a pale expression on her face, and Clara turned to look at her with her eyes blazing.“What is the meaning of this?” Clara snapped angrily. “You know better than to interrupt me during a quarterly review. This had better be a matter of corporate life or death.”Lena flinched in fear and folded her hands together pleadingly, “My most sincere apologies, Madam CEO. But….there is a gentleman waiting for you in your office. He insisted on seeing you immediately. He said to tell you his name is Mr. Lockwood….your fiancé.”The anger in Cla

A heavy silence filled the hall after Daisy’s declaration, and it was so absolute that the clinking of cutlery from a faraway table sounded like a crash. Clara’s face, once filled with rage, went slack totally, with disbelief.“What did you say to me?” Clara whispered, with her voice trembling with so much anger that it was barely audible.Daisy, filled with little rage of her own, did not stammer or shake. She looked up at Clara and repeated defiantly, “I said I do not love you anymore. You are not my mummy.”Clara’s composure shattered. Then she pointed a shaking accusatory finger at Dante, and screamed shrilly, “You! You did this! You vile, pathetic snake! This is exactly what you threatened at the hospital! You said you would turn her against me! You have filled her head with your poisonous lies!”Dante shook his head and tightened his grip on Daisy. Then he replied in a low tone, which was a huge contrast to her hysterical screams. “I told you not to create a scene, Clara. Look a

The penthouse atmosphere was filled with quiet ambition. Mason stood in front of the window, his whole form reflecting the city lights, with Peter and two sharply dressed agents seated behind him. “Report,” Mason commanded without bothering to turn around.One of the agents, the man with severe haircut named Adler, cleared his throat and said loudly, “Sir. Regarding the Gable acquisition. He has agreed to sell….but only half of his holdings.”Mason turned around sharply, and lost all his cool composure. “Half? Why?” He snarled. “I was clear. I need his entire stake.”Adler shifted in his seat and said nervously, “The investor still has reservations. He wishes to retain half so his youngest son can inherit a portion of the legacy. He is…sentimental.”“Sentiment is a luxury for the weak,” Mason scoffed and waved his hand dismissively, “Half a stake is useless to me. It will not grant me the leverage I require. I need all of it.”Peer leaned forward with his fingers steepled together an