Chapter Fifty-Two“Sarah?” her mother pressed gently, pulling her close again. “Sweetheart, what happened? Tell us. Please.” The desperation in her voice was palpable. “I’m begging you.”But Sarah could only cry harder, wailing loudly, the intensity of her sobs shaking her entire body as her mother pulled her even closer, rocking her like a child.Jake Wilson stood frozen, watching the scene unfold. His fists balled at his sides, his face turning an angry shade of red as rage built inside him like pressure in a sealed container.“How dare Drake Hastings?” he snarled, his voice rising with each word. “I will teach him a lesson today! How dare he touch my sister?” He began pacing, seething with barely controlled fury. “You should have told us you were having a hard time, sister. You should have called us!”He moved toward the door, his stride aggressive. “Don’t worry, I’m going to deal with him right now. I’m going over there—”Sarah jerked her head up from her mother’s bosom, where Ms.

Chapter Fifty-FourCaleb Stone was wheeled down the long corridor in his wheelchair, guided by his personal maid. He sat comfortably enough, though his body still ached from his injuries. Different thoughts ran through his mind as they moved through the Stone mansion—thoughts about his position, his future, and his increasingly troublesome half-brother.They arrived at the front of Mr. Stone’s home office—a heavy oak door that commanded respect and fear in equal measure. The maid stepped forward and knocked once.No response.She knocked again, more firmly this time.“Come in,” a deep voice rumbled from within.The maid opened the door carefully and wheeled Caleb inside. The office was exactly as it always was—dark wood paneling, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, the scent of expensive cigars and old money. After positioning Caleb in front of the massive mahogany desk, the maid bowed slightly and walked out, closing the door behind her with a soft click.Mr. Stone didn’t look up immediate

Chapter Fifty-SixEthan Cole and Mr. Devine stepped out of the car in front of an imposing mansion that spoke of generations of accumulated wealth. DEVINE MANSION was inscribed in elegant script above the entrance—understated but unmistakable, the way truly old money preferred to announce itself.They walked through the grand entrance together, their footsteps echoing across the marble floors. Mr. Devine led the way through corridors lined with expensive artwork and antique furniture, finally arriving at his private home office.“I’ll be giving you all of the Chairman’s documents tonight,” Mr. Devine said as they walked. “His keys, the comprehensive map showing all his assets across the entire country, and critical information you’ll need to operate effectively.” He paused, glancing at Ethan. “Tomorrow morning, you’ll go to the Chairman’s company headquarters and officially take your place as the new Chairman and CEO. Tonight, messages will be sent to all employees so they’ll know who

Chapter Fifty-Eight Meanwhile, Ethan entered the Chairman’s office—now his office—and closed the massive double doors behind him. The space occupied an entire corner of the top floor, floor-to-ceiling windows offering panoramic views of Boston’s skyline.Pathetic," Ethan muttered under his breath, still thinking about Marcus Devine's entitled outburst in the corridor.Rebecca stood nearby, tablet in hand, waiting patiently for instructions with a professional composure. "Let's begin," Ethan said, moving behind the enormous mahogany desk and settling into the leather chair that had once belonged to the Chairman. The chair seemed to fit him perfectly, as if it had been waiting for him all along.Rebecca immediately sprang into action, her movements efficient and practiced. "I've gathered all the necessary documents and prepared comprehensive briefings on all the information you might need for your first week." She began placing thick folders and bound reports in front of Ethan, organi

Chapter Sixty“Sarah! Wait!” Drake called out, his voice echoing down the corridor as he rushed after her retreating figure. “Sarah, please! We need to talk!”Sarah heard him calling but didn’t slow down, her heels clicking steadily against the polished floor as she moved toward the elevator with determined strides.Drake ran faster, desperation lending him speed he didn’t normally possess. He couldn’t let her leave like this—not without securing his position first, not without ensuring she remained his access point to everything he needed.“Sarah, please! I’m sorry! For everything!” he shouted, his voice breaking slightly. He didn’t care who heard him now, didn’t care about the curious stares from employees passing by. “Just give me a chance to explain! Give us a chance to fix this!”His words carried the desperation of a drowning man reaching for a lifeline.Sarah finally stopped just before the elevator, her finger hovering over the call button. But she didn’t turn around. She stoo