After the party, Olivia lay on the couch, her phone in her hand, her stomach pulsing with a dull, steady ache. She had taken her vitamins, the pain was still there. She had stopped telling people about it. She had stopped going to doctors. She had stopped hoping it would go away.The door opened.She sat up, dropped her phone on the cushion, pressed her hand against her stomach. Don walked in first, his face flushed, his eyes bright. Behind him, Agatha, Olivia's stepmother. Her father's second wife. The woman who had never looked at her without contempt.Agatha. had been at the party. Of course she had been at the party, she went everywhere. She knew everyone. She made sure no one forgot that she was a Vatican, even if she had married into the name."Don," Olivia said. "Mother."Agatha's smile was thin, cold. "Olivia. We need to talk."Olivia stood, her hand still pressed against her stomach, her face still pale. "I'm tired. Can it wait?"Agatha walked past her, sat on the chair

Olivia's hands dropped to her sides as she stood up. "Victor Kane? My stepmother? That's impossible!"Adam walked to the window, pulled the curtain aside, stared out at the dark street. His mind was racing, pieces clicking together."I've been looking for Victor Kane for weeks. A woman who controls the village. A woman who men like Logan fear." He turned, looked at her.Olivia shook her head. "Agatha married my father after my mother died. She was his secretary. She didn't come from money. She didn't have power. She couldn't be…." She stopped shaking her head.To Olivia, this doesn't make sense at all."She knew your father, which meant that she knew his business. And when he died, she stayed in control."Adam walked to the door, pulled it open. "Kai."Kai stepped in from the hallway, his phone in his hand, his face hard. "What's wrong?" He asked, his voice tinged with worry. "Agatha. Olivia's stepmother. What's her history?"Kai's eyes moved to Olivia, then back to Adam. "I didn

Adam sat there for a long time, his back against the wall, his hands on the floor, his breath slow. He does not fully understand this power. He did not know where it came from or why it had chosen him. He only knew that it was growing stronger, and overwhelming him.His phone buzzed, he pulled it from his pocket, and looked at the screen.“Agatha is on the move, she just left her house. Heading east.”It was from Kai. Adam stood, shoved the phone back into his pocket. He walked to the door, up the stairs, through the hallway, to his room. He pulled on a jacket, grabbed his keys, walked to the front door.Clara stood in the kitchen doorway, her arms crossed, her face pale. "Where are you going?""Out.""It's late.""I know."He walked out, closed the door behind him, stood on the porch for a moment, the air was cold. He walked to his car, climbed in, started the engine.His phone buzzed again, a message from Kai.“ She's at the old warehouse. The one on Fifth. I'm sending you the l

Inside the Vatican pharmaticuetical company the chairs were filled with men and women in expensive suits. Olivia sat at one end, her hands folded on the table, her face calm. Agatha sat at the other end, her back straight, her eyes filled with mischief. Don sat between them, his hands in his lap, his eyes on the table.Agatha stood, placed her palms flat on the table, looked at the board members one by one."My son, Don, is the right candidate to lead this company! He has the blood and the vision. Olivia has been absent, distracted, weak. She cannot lead. She should not lead."Olivia stood, her chair scraping against the floor. "I have not been absent, I have been working, building relationships, securing partnerships. Things this company needs to survive!" She yelled.Earlier this morning, she received a message from the board inviting her over for something urgent.To her suprised when she came, She saw Agatha creating a scene. "Partnerships?" Agatha let out a mocking laughter.

Chapter 140Adam walked out of Damon Webb's house and closed the door behind him. Adam walked to his car, climbed in.He pulled out his phone and dialed Kai."I have what we need. Webb will vote for Olivia. He doesn't have a choice."Kai's voice was low, steady. "Good, one down. Six to go."Adam rubbed his face. His eyes were tired. His body was tired. But his mind was not. "Who else is on her side?""Three board members are firmly with Olivia. Two are undecided. Agatha has Webb, that's it, for now."Adam started the engine, pulled away from the curb, drove down the dark street. "Keep watching her. I want to know who she meets, where she goes, what she says.""I will."Adam ended the call, drove home in silence, his eyes on the road, his mind on Agatha. She had been planning this for years. Building her network, buying her allies and most importantly, eliminating her enemies.Meanwhile, Agatha walked into her house, closed the door, leaned against it. Her body was tired, her mind wa