Emma walked into the Harper estate quietly, her bag heavy on her shoulder. She dropped it near the door and sighed deeply. Tara immediately appeared from the kitchen, smirking. “Well, look who finally decided to come home. Heard about Titan Global today?”Emma raised an eyebrow, trying to ignore the familiar sting. “I did my work, that’s why I’m late.”“Oh, don’t act so serious,” Tara replied, stepping closer. “You’re panicking, aren’t you? The stocks are down, investors are nervous… your little empire is crumbling, and nobody is here to save you.”Emma’s jaw tightened. “Tara, I don’t need commentary from you.”Tara chuckled, not stopping. “I’m just saying what everyone’s thinking. You can’t always rely on people, you know, maybe it’s time you realize that.”At that moment, Margaret stepped in, frowning sharply. “Tara, enough. Must you always make everything about yourself?”Victoria, who had been reading the newspaper in the lounge, chimed in. “Yes, Tara. Some of us are trying to ma

Emma sat in her car for a long moment after parking, her hands resting on the steering wheel. She stared straight ahead, her jaw tight. She had not slept properly in days, and every decision lately felt like swallowing glass. Still, she opened the car door and stepped out.The building in front of her was one Ethan used often for meetings. Clean, expensive, and quiet. She adjusted her blazer and walked inside.The receptionist looked up. “Good afternoon.”“I’m here to see Ethan,” Emma said. Her voice was calm, even though her chest felt tight.The receptionist checked the screen. “He’s in a meeting.”Emma nodded. “I’ll wait.”She moved toward the seating area near the private lounge, her heels clicking softly on the floor. As she rounded the corner, she slowed.She heard voices and she recognized one immediately.It was her cousin, Tara.Emma stopped without thinking. She stood half-hidden by the wall, her body going still on its own. She hadn’t planned to spy, but now she couldn’t mo

Emma waited in the car longer than she should have. She had parked across the street from the building Ethan worked out of, her hands resting on the steering wheel, her eyes fixed on the glass doors ahead. People walked in and out freely, she watched life moving normally, while hers felt like it was being dragged apart piece by piece.She checked her phone again. There was no new messages or missed calls. She exhaled slowly, pushed the door open, and stepped out.Inside, the lobby was quiet but tense. The kind of place where money decided who mattered, she swallowed hard and walked up to the front desk.“I’m here to see Ethan,” she said.The receptionist smiled politely. “Do you have an appointment?”Emma paused for half a second. “Tell him Emma Harper is here.”The receptionist hesitated, then picked up the phone. She spoke softly, nodded once, then looked back at Emma. “You can go up. Floor seventeen.”Emma nodded and walked toward the elevators.The ride up felt longer than it sho

The noise outside Harper Construction was impossible to ignore.Emma stood behind the glass doors on the ground floor, her phone clenched in her hand, staring at the chaos happening just behind the security barricades. Cameras flashed nonstop and shouts filled the whole place.“Emma Harper! Over here!”“Is Harper Construction collapsing?”“Did Titan Global pull out completely? It seems you’re now alone, who’ll help you?”The last question made her jaw tighten. Security had already locked the doors and two guards stood firmly in front, their expressions tense.“We can’t let you step out like this, ma’am,” one of them said. “It’s not safe.”Emma nodded slowly, not trusting her voice. Her chest felt tight. This wasn’t just bad press, this was panic.Behind her, some employees whispered in groups. Harper Construction’s name was everywhere now, dragged into the same storm as Titan Global.She turned away from the doors and walked toward the elevator, every step felt heavy.Inside her offic

Emma pushed her food around her plate without eating. The dining room was full, yet it felt heavy, like everyone was waiting for something to happen.Mark sat two seats away from her, relaxed with his sleeves rolled up and a glass of water untouched. He had arrived earlier in the evening, already seated by the time Emma came down. That alone had unsettled her. Mark never came early.Victoria noticed first. “Emma, you haven’t eaten anything.”“I’m not hungry,” Emma replied, still staring at her plate.Tara scoffed lightly. “She’s been like that all week. I’m sure it’s work stress.”Mark finally looked at Emma properly. His gaze was calm and observant. “Rough days at the office?”Emma lifted her head. “Something like that.”Margaret cleared her throat. “Mark just got back into town this morning. He thought he’d stop by.”Emma nodded politely. “Welcome back.”“Thank you,” Mark said. “It’s been a while.”Tara smiled, leaning back in her chair. “I told him he picked the perfect time. So mu