Next morning...Dr. Thorne gently rotated Zoe's right wrist under the bright morning sunlight streaming into the Villa's dining room.He ran his thumbs over her smooth, flawless skin. There was no swelling. No bruising. The bad fracture from three days ago had vanished as if it had never existed."I didn't need the heavy white thing anymore," Zoe said brightly, swinging her legs under the chair. She took a bite of her toast. "It was super itchy. And my arm didn't hurt."Sarah stood on the opposite side of the marble table, holding her coffee cup with both hands. She still couldn't wrap her mind around it."But she broke it off herself, Doctor," Sarah pressed, her voice full of disbelief. "She shattered the plaster to dust. And yesterday afternoon, I watched her lift a solid oak bookshelf with one hand. A piece of furniture I couldn't even push."Luke walked into the dining room, buttoning the jacket of a custom-tailored navy blue suit. The dark fabric and crisp white shirt made him lo

The polished marble floors of the Zenith Beauty lobby clicked sharply under Sarah's heels.She held Zoe's hand as they walked through the busy ground-floor atrium. Zoe's head was tilted all the way back. Her wide eyes scanned the towering glass ceilings and the sleek indoor waterfalls. She gripped her mother's hand tightly—the same hand that had been inside a heavy plaster cast just twenty-four hours ago."It's so big," Zoe whispered in awe."It is," Sarah smiled gently, guiding her toward the private executive elevators. "And you get to hang out in my office today."A floor manager holding a digital clipboard hurried over. He stepped neatly around a decorative plant to intercept them."Madam CEO," the manager greeted, offering a quick, respectful nod to both Sarah and Luke. "The overnight shift finished perfectly. The distribution trucks are rolling out right now. We are fully on schedule for the regional deliveries."Sarah let out a quiet breath of relief.They had actually done it.

"I sent him packing," Luke said quietly. "Because Marcus hired the Cobra Syndicate to kidnap you."His voice was calm and steady, delivering the truth without any hesitation.Sarah stopped breathing. Her fingers gripped the edge of her seat. "What?""They tracked this car," Luke continued, merging smoothly into the next lane. "They thought you were in the passenger seat. On the way to the docks yesterday morning, three armored trucks boxed us in on a back road. They had shotguns and machine guns."A sick jolt of fear hit Sarah's chest. Her mind flashed to Chloe."Oh my god," Sarah whispered, her hand flying to her mouth. "Chloe was with you. Were they going to...""The gang boss wanted to drag me out and break my legs," Luke said quietly. "He planned to use me as bait to get you out of the Zenith Beauty tower."Sarah felt physically ill. While she had been standing in a safe boardroom talking with Vincent Frost, her husband and her young assistant had been staring down the barrels of

The yellow city cab rolled to a stop outside the tall iron gates of the Quinn Family Estate.Sarah paid the driver and stepped out onto the familiar pavement. The cab drove off, leaving her alone in the quiet late morning heat.She looked up at the huge property. It felt different today. The wide, neat lawns were empty. The luxury cars that usually lined the circular driveway were gone. The unpaid maids, cooks, and guards had all fled the moment the Patriarch died.The only people left were two security guards in cheap, dark uniforms with the Zenith Commercial Bank logo. They stood by the small entrance gate.Sarah walked up to them."I need to get a few personal things from the attic," Sarah told the guards, pulling out her ID. "I won't be long."The guards checked her name against a digital list. Finding no restrictions, the taller guard nodded and buzzed the iron gate open.Sarah walked up the long driveway and pushed the heavy front doors open.Fifty yards away, tucked under the s

"Thank you, Julian," Sarah said, keeping her tone polite but firm. "But I have a cab coming. And... I'm married now. I have a daughter."Julian's easy smile froze.The words hit him like a punch. Seven years ago, Sarah had turned down many rich men just to be with him. He had always assumed she would be waiting. He had assumed she still only had him in her heart.He quickly forced his warm smile back, hiding the sudden sting of rejection. But inside, the warmth was gone.Married.Julian's mind shifted into a cold, calculating gear. Whoever this husband was, Julian decided right then that the man was a temporary problem. An obstacle that could be bought out, ruined, or simply removed."I see," Julian murmured smoothly, hiding his dark thoughts. "Congratulations, Sarah. Truly."A yellow city cab pulled up to the curb right on time. Sarah had booked the ride on her phone the moment she left the attic."It was good to see you, Julian," Sarah said quickly.She didn't wait for a response. S