Dolt and Ham were almost salivating as they led Juliet into the security room. It had pale walls, a single table, and a chair, but mostly the room was empty. Dolt locked the heavy, reinforced door with a solid finality. The sound echoed in the small space, making the air feel suffocating. Juliet looked from one guard to the other. Her voice came out steady at first, even though her heart pounded. "Listen, I am the heiress of the Forbes family. You don't have to do this. I will pay you a thousand dollars each for letting me go right now." Dolt put on a hurt expression, though his eyes kept sliding down her body and lingering on the curve of her hips. "Do you think we are corrupt security personnel, ma'am? That we take the stealing of such a precious item lightly? And accept your bribe like common thieves and aid a criminal?" "Yeah," Ham agreed. He smirked and let his gaze trace the line of her waist and the swell of her chest. "The fact that you are offering a bribe only proves y

Juliet proudly walked out of the security room into the premium suits section, where Zendaya still held court, waiting for Jack. The manager was trapped there, too, fawning over the celebrity alongside her entourage. Juliet kept her head high, shoulders squared, as if the ordeal behind her had only sharpened her resolve and made her stand taller. Inside, a quiet pride swelled in her chest. Jack had come through when it counted most. On seeing Juliet, Zendaya burst into laughter. The sound rang sharp and mocking across the section, drawing every eye in the small group. "Look at this pathetic woman, doing her walk of shame with such an attitude." Juliet met the laughter with a steady gaze. She did not quicken her pace or drop her eyes. A small, defiant smile touched her lips as she continued forward without breaking stride. She would not give Zendaya the satisfaction of seeing any crack in her composure. Let the widow laugh. It would not last. The manager looked around for Dolt and

It was the day of the Forbes wedding. Even though the Forbes family had decided to make it a small affair, a few elite guests, celebrities, and top families were present.The Forbes Public Hall had been transformed with cascading white flowers from every archway, golden chandeliers casting a heavenly glow over the marble floors, and an orchestra playing gentle melodies.Guests in tailored suits and elegant gowns mingled with champagne flutes in hand, their conversations a low hum about the union between the Forbes heiress and her unconventional groom, some wondering how such a match had come to be.Near the entrance, in a pressed suit older than half the guests, the chauffeur Henry stood with the household staff. When the groom passed him in the corridor, the old man inclined his head one precise, practiced degree and murmured, "Young master." Jack met his eyes for half a second, and something settled between them for the second time. No one else heard it. No one else was meant to.At

Johnny Bowman's demands were simple. Juliet must come to meet him on his ship at sea. Since the Springfield Alliance was guarding the shores of Redmont City, he could not land. Frustrated, he had taken the Forbes ships hostage instead, holding the crew and valuable cargo as leverage to force the meeting he had been obsessed with for so long. In the small side room, the family members exchanged shocked glances as the reality of the hijacking sank in. "We can't send my daughter to that monster's ship," Juliet's father said, his voice rising with protective fury as he pushed back his chair and stood up, pacing the room with restless energy. "He's a dangerous man with a history of violence and obsession. Sending her there would be like handing her straight to a wolf. We have to find another way to resolve this without putting her in harm's way." "Think of the risks she's already faced today. We can't add to that by sending her straight into his grasp on some isolated ship where we hav

A sheer black veil was draped across the young woman's eyes, adding an intriguing layer of mystery and seduction. Johnny's mouth watered at the sight of her, his gaze raking over her form with open hunger, already picturing how the fabric would feel under his hands. "Look, Carl. There's Juliet. I can't wait to unwrap this premium package." Following closely behind her came a tall, muscular man with a steady, confident stride that showed no sign of fear despite the dozens of weapons aimed at him. It was Jack Hardy. The young woman slipped her arm through his, and together they walked forward across the deck towards where Johnny sat. The goons kept their weapons raised, tracking every movement with suspicious eyes. "Boss!" Carl said, his voice edged with surprise as he glanced between the approaching pair and his leader. "Did she bring her husband with her?" Johnny's expression twisted into a grimace, his fingers drumming impatiently on the arm of the throne. "Perhaps she brought