2024-10-06 21:51:09
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374. Ordinary Magic
It had been a long time since Van had truly slept in.But that morning, wrapped in a cocoon of soft sheets and the faint scent of lavender from Ivy’s pillow, he let himself drift in and out of sleep, his arm slung around her waist, her back pressed against his chest. The soft hum of the ceiling fan, the occasional cooing from the baby monitor —it was the background music to a life that had finally settled into harmony.When he finally opened his eyes, Ivy was already awake.She lay still in his arms, reading a book with one hand and gently stroking her belly with the other. The light from the window spilled across her profile like a painting. Her dark curls framed her face, and she looked content, like someone who had fought her battles and won.Van kissed her bare shoulder.“Good morning,” he murmured, his voice still husky from sleep.She smiled without looking up. “You slept like a rock.”“I haven’t slept like that in years.”“That’s because you used to sleep with a mind full of wa
373. Baby Shower Of Love
Macy had never looked more radiant.She stood in the middle of the Everest family mansion’s garden, dressed in a flowing cream maternity gown that caught the breeze like a sail. Her baby bump, full and round, was cradled by both hands as she turned to welcome yet another guest with her signature bright smile.“Come in, come in! Grab a drink! The mocktail bar is over there— blame the baby for the lack of champagne!”The garden had been transformed for the baby shower. Twinkling fairy lights strung through the trees, fresh flower arrangements in pastel shades, tables covered with white linen and topped with tiny teddy bear centerpieces. A harpist played softly near the hedges, and laughter echoed from every corner of the estate.Ivy arrived with Van and the kids in tow, her own growing baby bump now clearly visible. As they stepped onto the stone path lined with balloons and welcome signs, Ivy paused to take it all in.“This is so… Macy,” she murmured.Van looked at her, smiling. “Remin
372. The Season Of Peace.
Andrew didn’t say goodbye.He simply left a note on the long oak table in the Everest dining room, folded neatly beside his untouched morning coffee.“Gone for a long vacation. Don’t wait up. —A.”Van stared at it for a long time.There was no anger in his chest. No triumph, either. Just a quiet, cool breeze of closure. Andrew had always been too proud to admit defeat. But this wasn’t defeat— not really. It was acknowledgment.Van had chosen the hard road: truth, transparency, reconciliation. And somehow, through all of it, he hadn’t just survived. He had thrived.The company was no longer just stable —it was soaring.The Everest Enterprises had launched its most successful philanthropic initiative yet, an educational fund for underprivileged youth, inspired by Ivy’s early work as a teacher. Investor confidence was high, international deals were blossoming, and Van’s public reputation had shifted dramatically in recent months. Even board members who had once doubted him were singing h
371. Face To Face
The meeting was set for noon, on neutral ground.Van chose the rooftop garden of the Harlan Hotel —a private venue with limited access, unobstructed views of the city skyline, and just enough elegance to keep things civil. No guards, no weapons, no assistants. That was the condition Durand had sent back through his anonymous channel.Van agreed —but he wasn’t going in blind.His assistant had eyes on every corner. Surveillance was tight, backups positioned nearby. But the real defense Van carried with him wasn’t a team. It was resolve.This confrontation had been building for months. Maybe even years. A slow boil that had turned into something dangerous and necessary.And Van was ready.When the elevator doors opened at the top of the hotel, he stepped out alone.The rooftop was almost empty. Just a few polished stone benches, some planters of lavender and olive trees swaying in the breeze, and one man seated near the edge, facing away from him.Van walked forward, measured and calm,
370. A Letter From The Past
The air inside Andrew’s private suite at the Everest family mansion felt heavier than usual.It wasn’t the decor— sleek and masculine with polished wood, leather chairs, and floor to ceiling windows. Nor was it the absence of staff. It was the silence. The kind that stretched taut between two people who had known each other too long to pretend.Van had told no one he was coming.He arrived just before dinner, unannounced, a simple knock against the thick mahogany door.Andrew opened it wearing a blazer and no tie, his usual half smirk firmly in place.“Well,” he said. “Look who finally made time for his big brother.”Van stepped in without responding.Andrew let the door swing closed behind them, then poured two glasses of brandy, offering one without a word.Van didn’t touch it.“Long day?” Andrew asked casually.Van took a breath. “Why were you meeting with Felix Durand?”The question cut through the room like glass.Andrew paused mid sip.Then, as if nothing had happened, he walked
369. The Final Name
Van had faced a lot of things in his life, and it didn't get any better after he took over as CEO —corporate takeovers, legal battles, betrayals that carved scars deep under the surface —but nothing unnerved him quite like silence before a storm.That was what this felt like.He stood alone in his top floor office, the lights of the city blinking like distant stars beyond the glass. Below him, the headquarters of Everest Enterprises buzzed with quiet activity, but up here it was still. Intentionally so.The photo from the anonymous email lay on his desk, printed out and annotated with time stamps. Felix Durand. Confirmed in the city. Walking freely. Unbothered. A ghost among the living.Van leaned over the desk, arms braced, jaw tight.He’d brought his assistant in that morning and told her the truth. Not all of it— but enough.Enough for her to know what was at stake.Enough for her to run background on Durand’s movements, financials, and any surveillance that could help build a pict
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