“No, I have never had direct contact with him.”The officer nodded and jotted something down.They were in the gazebo, where the general had suggested the questioning take place. They had all agreed the station would attract unwanted attention, so Adrian invited Seraphina over after telling her the police had a few questions. The two officers arrived just in time to see the whole family there with Seraphina, like they were an unbreakable unit.Seraphina had thought she would be alone with the officers in a room for it.Instead, when she arrived, the general had simply said, “We'll do this together as a family.”Then Caroline had nodded and slung an arm around her to lead her to the gazebo.Adrian sat to her right, Caroline to her left, and the general sat in a wicker chair directly opposite the officers.One could see how starstruck the officers were when they arrived.“Thank you for your service to the nation, sir,” was uttered more than once, with bows, before they finally remembe

The next day, twilight draped the Jenkins estate in soft shades of lavender and deep blue as guests began to arrive.The main floors of the main house were sealed off by soldiers standing at attention.Still, the external ballroom used for the event rivalled those of the top hotels in Aurion.Guests’ eyes widened in awe and admiration as they took in the sprawling estate, so massive that they couldn't see its ends from any vantage point.Uniformed valets expertly guided cars to the gigantic parking area reserved for the guests.Everything was in strict precision.“As expected of a military home,” a guest whispered to another as one of the hostesses guided them into the ballroom.The massive ballroom glowed beneath glittering crystal chandeliers, their golden light spilling through towering French doors left wide open to the gardens.Ivory drapes swayed gently in the evening breeze, carrying the sweet fragrance of blooming roses and jasmine.Elegant arrangements of white roses, champag

“Fucking bastard!”Daniel growled in frustration as he stumbled slightly down the darkened hallway.He had left home without a driver simply because he didn't want anyone to snitch on him.The club he had gone to was not one known to the respectable in Aurion.It was an underground club for a reason.Its hardcore music and sex-themed atmosphere were exactly what he needed at that moment.That fucking shot haunted him.Daniel wouldn't admit it to anyone even if a gun was held to his head, but that moment had stayed with him.It was bad enough that he had passed out from the sheer fright of the shot, but the terror had stayed with him.It followed him into sweat-soaked nightmares, and reality wasn't any better.The clips and memes were brutal.The mockery was worse than the Riverine scandal.Public anger Daniel could dismiss.Their taunts he hated.Especially since most of them dubbed him a coward.He hated that label more than anything.He had tried.Oh, he had tried to flush out whoev

“All this because of her?” Vivian grumbled as she saw the calibre of exotic cars lining the guests’ parking lot.Helena lowered her tone as she whispered to her, “Relax, my dear. The bigger the audience, the greater her shame will be later. Don't you think?”Seeing the logic, Vivian brightened slightly.She straightened her hair plume and turned slightly towards the lady beside her. “Stay close and only act on my signal.”The lady's head remained bent as she responded, “Understood, Ms Vale.”“What's the holdup?” Geoffrey said when he looked back and saw them lingering behind. “Helena, the invitation card.”Helena glanced at the no-nonsense security men at the entrance.She quenched the slight unease that stirred. Then she pretended to search for it in her bag.Geoffrey was already in front of the security men at this point.Confidently, he greeted, “Good evening, gentlemen. My wife is just getting our…”He glanced back to see Helena still rifling through her bag.A frown settled on hi

The Vales were pushed aside by the long entourage following the governor.At the massive doors, only the gift bearers and two aides followed him in.His armed security men spread out outside.After all, it was an affront for a guest to bring arms into a general's home.Another hostess stepped out even before the Vales had fully straightened.She had already received her instructions. Her gaze was fixed sharply on the Vales as she stood aside quietly.“You see how even the governor regarded us, right?” Helena said caustically. “You should know to do the sensible thing now and let us in.”“The sensible thing