HALE MANSIONThe moment Elsa and her family left the Hale Mansion, the warmth that had been lingering in the air vanished.Kaitlin's smile disappeared instantly.She slowly turned toward Levi."What exactly do you have to say for yourself?"Her tone was calm, but everyone in the room knew that was far more dangerous than shouting.William sighed and sat down.Leonard followed suit.Levi remained standing."I know I once told you that if a contract marriage was necessary, then use it to get a woman you wouldn't regret marrying," Kaitlin continued. "But it was your responsibility to keep her and tell her the truth. You knew there was an agreement, yet you kept so much from her. Expecting she wouldn't find out?"Levi rubbed his temple."The contract was supposed to make her feel secure. I was involved with an outsider, so naturally I was expected to pay the penalty. I thought it would stop her from leaving if she one day felt pressured."Kaitlin stared at him."And did it?"Levi remained

The very next day, Bianca arrived at Julian's residence.His home was located in one of the city's most exclusive districts—a luxurious two-story apartment that balanced elegance with restraint. Marble floors stretched beneath her feet, floor-to-ceiling windows bathed the interior in natural light, and every piece of furniture seemed carefully selected to communicate one thing:Money.The kind that didn't need to announce itself.Unlike most visitors, Bianca didn't wait to be invited in.She walked through the doors as though she owned the place.Confident.Proud.Unbothered.Making her way directly to the minibar, she poured herself a drink before dropping onto one of the living room sofas."Julian!" she called.She grabbed the remote and switched on the television.A few moments later, Julian emerged from his study.The moment he saw her, his expression darkened.Without a word, he walked over and sat on the sofa opposite her.Bianca smiled."Salve!"Julian said nothing.She tilted

The second half of the year in San Francisco was always beautiful.Summer had long passed, leaving behind gentler sunshine and cooler temperatures. Crisp breezes drifted in from the bay, carrying the scent of saltwater through the city streets. The skies remained mostly clear, painted in soft shades of blue during the day and brilliant streaks of orange and gold each evening. Trees lining the roads had begun changing color, adding touches of amber and crimson to the landscape, while the city's famous hills looked even more picturesque beneath the calm autumn light.It was the kind of weather that made people slow down and enjoy life.And while the city buzzed with drama, gossip, rivalries, and scandals, one person had finally managed to put his life back together.Tommy.For the first time in years, Tommy wasn't obsessing over Levi or Elsa.He wasn't chasing after things that no longer belonged to him.Instead, he worked his shifts at Grand Pacific Quay Mall, saved every dollar he cou

The following morning arrived bright and clear.San Francisco woke beneath a sky painted in soft blue, with gentle autumn sunlight spilling across the city. A cool breeze drifted inland from the bay, carrying the scent of saltwater through the streets. The sidewalks were busy with commuters, cafés hummed with conversation, and traffic rolled steadily through the city as another day began.For most people, it was simply another day.For Claire Wynn, however, it was the first day she had felt remotely human in nearly a week.The bruises left by Levi's men were finally beginning to fade. Her body still ached whenever she moved too quickly, but at least she could walk without wincing every few steps.Living alone had forced her to recover without help.No friends.No family.No one checking in on her.So after running out of food, she had no choice but to leave her apartment and buy groceries herself.A few hours later, grocery bags hanging from both hands, Claire stepped out of a superma

The moment Julian stepped out of Claire's apartment building, the pleasant expression he had worn inside vanished completely.The cool evening breeze brushed past him as he descended the steps and stopped beside the curb. Taking a deep breath, he pulled out his phone and made a call.The line connected almost immediately."Take the apartment back," he said coldly. "And make sure she has no way of tracing anything back to us. Keep an eye on her too. If she starts running her mouth about anything she knows, I want to hear about it first."He paused before adding,"And one more thing."The person on the other end waited."Spread word quietly that Elsa Hale is trying to sell her shares in Hale Group. Then send someone to approach her. I don't care how much it costs. Offer her a deal she can't refuse."His gaze hardened."I want those shares. By any means necessary."Without waiting for a reply, he ended the call.A black luxury sedan pulled up in front of him moments later.Julian slid in