Robert was on his way home when his thoughts drifted to Lily Lohan. He wondered how she was doing these days.Meanwhile, Lily herself was walking along the same route, her mind wholly consumed by work. The business struggles of the past few weeks weighed heavily on her shoulders. Every step she took seemed to bring another problem to the forefront of her mind, another question that needed answering, another decision that couldn't wait.The smoking, the occasional drinking, it had earned her a reputation. Countless people had called her a bad woman, whispered about her behind her back, judged her for her choices. But she didn't care what they thought. None of it mattered. Her world had narrowed to a single point of light: Jenna. As long as her daughter was happy and healthy, Lily could endure any insult, any judgment, any condemnation. She would gladly be called anything if it meant Jenna had a chance at a better life. In truth, she had stopped living for herself years

Watching her daughter cry so brokenly, Lily Lohan felt as though a knife were twisting in her chest. Her lips pressed into a tight, trembling line, the ache almost unbearable.She'd heard the whispers before. Plenty of people had called her a bad woman behind her back, the kind who smoked and drank and had no business raising a child. For a long time, she hadn't cared. As long as Jenna was happy, Lily could endure being branded however they pleased. But now, seeing her daughter sobbing because of her smoking, the realization hit harder than any insult ever had. Her choices weren't just hers anymore. They were shaping Jenna's world, too.Lily pulled Jenna into her arms, holding her close and stroking her hair with trembling fingers."Jenna, I promise you. I won't smoke anymore. Never again."Jenna sniffled and nodded against her mother's shoulder, her small body still shaking with quiet sobs."Come on," Lily said softly, brushing away her daughter's

"Boss, don't you think that was a little harsh?"Viper kept glancing in the rearview mirror at Lily in the backseat. Her expression was anything but normal. These two were too intense for words."Harsh?" Robert leaned back against the leather seat, his gaze distant. "I'm drawing out the potential buried inside her. Trust me on this. One day, at the very pinnacle of the business world in Armeria, a woman named Lily will carve her name into the summit. Once she rises, everyone else in this world will fade into insignificance by comparison."His voice dropped lower, carrying absolute conviction. "She's the woman I've chosen. Her destiny was never ordinary."Viper shifted uncomfortably in the driver's seat. "I just hope you know what you're doing. I can't even imagine how much she must hate you right now."The words hung in the air. Robert fell silent, as if something had lodged in his throat like a fishbone. He stared out the window without speaking f

When Lily Lohan returned to the villa that evening, she found Lindsay Butler sitting by the swimming pool, staring blankly at the moon.Jenna sat beside her, watching Lindsay with obvious concern."Mommy, you're back." Jenna hopped up and padded over to Lily, her voice dropping to a worried whisper. "Aunt Lindsay is sad."Lily reached down and gently ruffled her daughter's hair, smoothing the soft strands between her fingers. "Sweetheart, go inside and get ready for bed. I'll talk to Aunt Lindsay, okay?"Jenna nodded obediently, casting one last glance at Lindsay before padding back toward the villa. Her small silhouette disappeared through the sliding glass door.Lily knew exactly what was troubling Lindsay. She crossed the patio and sat beside her friend."So," Lily began quietly, her tone measured and knowing, "now that you know Jenna is Robert Depp's daughter, you're feeling pretty crushed, aren't you?"Lindsay's head snapped arou

A sharp burst of laughter erupted across the conference room. The sound was loud, unrestrained, almost mocking. Frankie's team couldn't contain themselves after hearing Robert's words. Ethan Cole in particular turned beet red from barely suppressed giggles before offering what she probably thought was helpful advice. "Mr. Depp, you don't need to bother reporting anything. Your team's performance today was a nice, round zero."Robert turned his gaze toward her, his expression devoid of warmth. "Is it your turn to speak?"The room transformed in an instant. The shift was palpable, visceral, like a tidal wave crashing down on everyone present. Robert's presence flooded the space, suffocating and absolute. The laughter died in their throats. Employees who'd been grinning moments ago now sat rigid in their chairs, eyes wide, not daring to breathe too loudly. Even Frankie gestured sharply at Elowen, signaling her to shut up. Fear had replaced arrogance on every face.