2024-10-24 18:15:30
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376. Echoes Of Yesterday
The morning had started out just like the rest.Sunlight filtered in through the gauzy curtains of Van’s office as he leaned back in his chair, reviewing a quarterly report on one of their new international ventures. A fresh cup of coffee sat beside him, untouched, and soft music played from the speaker tucked near the window.It was the kind of morning that usually gave him a sense of peace— productivity without pressure, progress without urgency.But that day, a single name shattered the calm.“Sir,” his receptionist, Maya, said gently through the intercom, “A woman is asking to see you, she said her name is Bianca Hartley. She's waiting in the lobby.”Van froze.The name alone hit like a gust of cold air through an open door.Bianca.It had been a long time since he last saw her in person. The last encounter had ended quietly — but she was from a chapter in his life that he had shut down and never planned to open ever again. He was glad when she moved to another city, and Van had m
375. Quiet Joy
The sound of rain tapping gently on the windows filled the Everest mansion that Saturday morning, a soft lullaby that wrapped the house in comfort. It was the kind of morning that invited slowness— the kind where plans dissolved and people lingered a little longer under warm blankets.Van had woken up first, unusually early for a weekend, and instead of slipping out of bed like he usually did, he stayed. He turned toward Ivy, watching the gentle rise and fall of her breathing. Her curls were wild, fanned out over her pillow, her hand resting protectively on the soft curve of her belly.In the months since the baby shower, time had flowed with an easy rhythm. No big upheavals. No secrets lurking in corners. Just laughter over breakfast, lazy Sunday picnics in the backyard, and bedtime stories that always ended with the twins asking for “just one more.”Van placed a soft kiss on Ivy’s forehead before quietly slipping out of bed and heading down to the kitchen.The kitchen had a lived in
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,
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