I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my uniform. My body still ached from the fight with Ethan, but I pushed through the pain. I needed to focus on the task Fiona had given me. The promise of money was tempting, especially after the humiliation I had faced. I glanced at the crumpled bills in my pocket, thinking about how I could use the money to pay my tuition and maybe even buy a few things I needed.But the memory of Irene lingered in my mind. She had helped me when I was down, and her smile made me feel seen. I didn't know why I kept thinking about her, especially after all the trouble Elena, Linda, and Fiona had caused me. I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts.Now was not the time for distractions. I had to figure out how to retrieve the safe Fiona wanted.I took a deep breath, grabbed my backpack, and headed out of my small apartment, ready to face the day.The sun was bright, and students were everywhere, chatting and laughing. It was hard for me to believe that jus

My heart thudded faster as I waited to see who it was. The thought of Aunt Camilla finding me hiding behind the curtain nearly made my heart stop. I was now a stranger to the Carter family, with no link to them anymore.I heard the sound of the electronic lock beeping, and the door finally opened.I froze when I saw who walked in.Eric.A lot of thoughts immediately ran through my mind.What was Eric looking for? Did he know about the safe all along?I watched him carefully as he glanced at the top of the shelf. He closed the door behind him and then walked out a few moments later.I knew it was my time to act.I quickly brought out my backpack and carefully hid the safe inside it.I slowly opened the door and checked the hallway to make sure no one was around.Then I stealthily walked through the corridor, following the same path I had used to enter.Once I was outside the mansion, I let out a deep sigh of relief and immediately flagged down a taxi to take me home.I felt elated.I w

I leaned forward, my eyes steady and serious, as I gave Fiona the passcode. Fiona's confidence wavered for a second, a look of doubt flickering across her face. She never expected me, the guy she thought she could control, to know something so valuable."Try it," I said calmly, leaning back against the old sofa.Fiona approached the safe, her fingers tapping out the numbers I gave her. The lock beeped, and then, with a soft click, the safe opened. Fiona’s eyes widened in surprise. She couldn’t hide the shock from her face as she pulled out a stack of documents."What is all this?" she demanded, her voice filled with disbelief. She had expected the safe to hold something more meaningful than what she was staring at. But these documents seemed important.I stood up, keeping my gaze fixed on her. "It’s everything your family wanted to hide. All the dirty secrets, the deals that could ruin them if they got out. You think you have control, Fiona, but maybe you never did. Grandpa was wise e

I went through the video, and I felt teary. I had always thought I was alone. A nobody. After Marcus left the school, I had been alone without friends. The thought that the Carter family was going to be my solitude was all I could think of, but then everything went south with the death of my grandfather. The video wasn't saying much about who my father was or why he was killed, but I was the sole heir to the vast properties of the Carter family. I removed the USB and kept it safe in my pocket. This was a life changer for me; the thought of leading the Carter family was no joke. I knew I couldn't trust anybody at a time like this, not even Eric. I had seen him enter Camilla's room for the same safe I had come to carry. I picked up my phone, and a message popped up. A smile appeared on my lips, thinking it was Irene, but it slowly faded away when I saw it was Fiona. "She knows." The message was short and brief. "Who knows?" I said, dropping the phone to my bed. I needed to get to sc

"Where is it?" A voice shouted at me. The clanging sound and the lamp light in my front were making my eyes hurt."It hurts," I said slowly, not sure what my captors wanted from me. I remembered I had gotten a text message from Marcus telling me to meet him at the school field. I opened my eyes wide again; the situation was dawning on me."Where am I?" I shouted at the strange, dark figure seated in front of me."I don't think it would be any good to ask me any questions. I do the asking, and you tell me what I need to know," the voice replied."Ethan, is that you? Release me right now!" I shouted in anger, and the voice laughed again."Do you think this is some child's place? You are going to tell me what I need to know, or you won't leave here alive." The voice sounded mean this time."You are bluffing!" I shouted at him, and the electric wire tied to the armchair zapped me."Yee!" I let out a voice of pain."Somebody help me!" I yelled even more as the current flashed some light at