AT THE BARMira hurried down the hallway, her phone still clutched tightly in her hand. The news she had just seen online was spreading quickly, and she knew her sister would react the moment she heard it.She pushed open the door to the parlor.Lisa was sitting elegantly on the velvet couch, scrolling through her tablet with a bored expression, while their mother, Mrs. Stone sat across from her with a cup of tea, reading through some documents. “Mira, why are you running like that?” Mrs. Stone asked calmly without looking up.“You need to see this,” Mira said, walking quickly toward them.Lisa raised an eyebrow lazily. “What’s so urgent?”Mira placed the phone in front of them and turned the screen around and on it was a trending headline.“NEXAGEN HEIR IVANA SET TO MARRY JAMIE.”The article included pictures of Jamie and Ivana smiling together during a press conference earlier that morning.

IS THIS A TRAP?Mira unlocked the car and glanced at her.“You’re really okay?”Lisa hesitated for a moment, then she smiled. “Of course.”But as they drove away into the night, Lisa’s thoughts remained fixed on one disturbing question.Why was her mother secretly meeting Jamie?____MANUEL'S VILLA Manuel had just stepped out of the bathroom and was halfway through dressing. His shirt hung loosely over one shoulder while he adjusted the cuff of his trousers in no hurry.Suddenly, a knock sounded on the door and Manuel glanced toward it.“Yes?”“It’s me,” Laura’s voice came from the other side.A smile tugged at his lips. “Come in.”The door opened gently, and Laura stepped inside. She was already dressed for the day, her hair neatly tied back, a folder and envelope in her hand.She closed the door behind her and began walking toward him. “Good morning,

PLAN AGAINST PLANImmediately, they began opening drawers and scanning files. Laura moved quickly between cabinets, reading documents, contracts, reports, but they found nothing.She checked digital records and lots more, but she couldn't find a thing. Nothing reasonable and it frustrated her more than anything.Martins scanned data on one of the computers. “No suspicious transfers,” he muttered.Laura frowned slightly. “That doesn’t make sense.”Tommy wasn’t stupid. If he had something planned for the wedding, it had to be hidden somewhere.They moved to another department, then another, but every file they opened looked perfectly clean.Laura leaned against a desk for a moment, thinking.“This place is spotless,” Martins said quietly.“Exactly,” Laura replied.He looked at her. “You think they cleaned it?”Laura nodded slowly. “Or moved it.”They continued searching, but it

AT THE BOUTIQUE The woman stood there politely, hands folded in front of her. “Good evening, Miss Laura,” she said gently. “I came to ask if you would like your dinner served now.”Laura blinked as the excitement that had rushed through her faded just as quickly as it came.“Oh…” she said softly and she shook her head. “No, I’m not hungry.”The maid nodded respectfully. “Very well, miss.”Laura smiled at her. “Thank you.”The maid bowed her head slightly and walked away.Laura stood there for a few seconds, staring down the hallway, before she slowly closed the door.She returned to her bed and sat down again.Even though it wasn’t Manuel at the door, the feeling in her heart didn’t leave.She lay down gently and pulled the blanket over herself.*****THE STONE'S APARTMENT Lisa stood in front of the mirror in her room, adjusting the strap of her top. Her reflection

ETHAN, WHO'S SHE?Mira watched the two of them, clearly amused. “Wow,” she muttered under her breath, but she quickly held her hand over her mouth.Just then, a voice broke through. “Ethan, baby.”Lisa’s smile faded immediately she heard that and she turned.A woman walked toward them, with a bold smile on her face. She stopped beside their table, her eyes moving between them.Then she looked at Ethan. “Is this the friend you told me about?” she asked.Ethan stood up calmly as he stepped closer to her, then, without hesitation, he kissed her.He pulled back slightly and nodded.“Yes.”Lisa froze the moment Ethan leaned in and kissed the woman and everything inside her went still.Just seconds ago, she had been smiling and she thought she felt safe with him, but now it was all gone.The butterflies in her belly was gone as her fingers tightened slowly around the glass she was holding.Her chest felt tight and heavy watching the two love birds display in front of her.Mira, sitting besi