2025-12-17 23:47:21
Previous Chapter
Latest Chapter
ONE HUNDRED–EIGHTEEN: THE TUESDAY SECRET
The next morning came too quickly.Elsa woke up to the quiet stillness of the room—one that felt heavier than usual. The side of the bed beside her was empty, cold. Levi had already left, just like every other day.Routine– Normal. And yet, nothing felt normal anymore.She stared at the ceiling for a while, unmoving, her thoughts replaying everything from the day before. Harley’s careless words. The mention of Claire. The confirmation of those Tuesday meetings.Her chest tightened.It wasn’t just suspicion anymore. It was something sharper. Something that refused to be ignored.With a quiet sigh, Elsa got out of bed, got dressed, and left the mansion without much thought. Sitting there any longer, surrounded by silence and unanswered questions, felt suffocating.She needed space.She needed distraction.And somehow, her mind led her to the one place she had control over—her restaurant.---The Aurelian Restaurant was alive as always—staff moving efficiently, soft chatter filling the a
ONE HUNDRED– SEVENTEEN: THE SPACE BETWEEN THEM
Elsa drove herself to Eli's house.The entire ride, her mind refused to stay still. Thoughts overlapped, collided, rewound, replayed. Harley’s words. The receptionist’s confusion. Vennesa’s lie. The stranger’s smirk. Claire’s name—again and again, like a needle scratching the same spot in her mind.Every piece, on its own, could be dismissed.But together?They formed something she didn’t want to name.By the time she pulled into her brother’s driveway, she still hadn’t decided what she believed—but she knew she couldn’t sit alone with it.She needed somewhere… normal.Someone… hers.ELI’S HOME“Hey, Els!” Iris greeted warmly the moment she stepped in.Elsa forced a smile. “Hi, Iris… hey, Aiden!”The little boy came running, arms wide, laughter bright. Elsa’s expression softened instantly as she bent to scoop him into a hug.“There’s my favorite little man,” she murmured, pressing a kiss to his hair.“To be Elsa Hale must be tough, huh?” Iris teased as she led her toward the living ro
ONE HUNDRED – SIXTEEN: THE GIFT AND THE CRACK
Levi didn’t question it further.Whatever Elsa had meant the night before—whatever quiet determination had lit her eyes when she said “I’ll handle it”—he let it pass. Work consumed him as always, and anything outside of strategy, expansion, and control rarely held his attention for long.But Elsa hadn’t been speaking lightly. And unlike Levi, she didn’t forget.HALE GROUPThe next morning, the Hale Group headquarters looked nothing like it usually did.From early hours, a convoy of trucks rolled in one after another, each packed to capacity. Large boxes were carefully unloaded and arranged across the company’s expansive lobby, drawing attention from every corner of the building.At first, employees watched from a distance—curious.Then word spread.And within minutes, the lobby was filled.Staff from every department began pouring in—finance, marketing, operations, legal—people who rarely had reason to leave their floors now gathered together, whispering, pointing, speculating.“What’
ONE HUNDRED – FIFTEEN: WHISPERS
A few days after the buzz surrounding the Pyramid began to settle, life slowly returned to its usual rhythm—at least on the surface.For Elsa, that meant sometimes going back to the one place where titles, rankings, and social power meant nothing to her The hospital.HALE HOSPITAL – PRIVATE WARD“The good news is… we caught the infection in time.”Elsa’s voice was calm and reassuring as she stood at the foot of the hospital bed. The teenage girl lying there looked pale but stable, her parents flanking her on both sides, anxiety written all over their faces. A nurse stood just behind Elsa, quietly attentive.“From the blood tests and scans,” Elsa continued, flipping through the report, “it’s pyelonephritis—a kidney infection. But there’s no sign of severe inflammation yet, which is very good.”A breath of relief escaped the parents almost at once.“Really, doctor?” the mother asked, her voice trembling slightly. “We were told it might be chronic…”Elsa gave a soft, understanding smile
ONE HUNDRED – FOURTEEN: A STAGE OF POWER
The next week arrived almost too quickly, carrying with it clear skies, warm light, and an unusual electricity that seemed to hum through the city. Social circles buzzed louder than ever, invitations flew, and gatherings became more extravagant. But among all the chatter, one thing stood above the rest—The Pyramid.More specifically… the Circle.The reason for the heightened excitement was simple: the newly ranked Circle members were meeting officially for the first time under Elsa Hale’s leadership—and unlike the past, this wasn’t going to be a quiet, closed-door gathering.Elsa had turned it into an event.Since the meeting was scheduled to take place at her restaurant, The Aurelian, word had somehow reached the press. Cameras lined the entrance, flashing lights reflecting off polished cars and designer heels. What was once a casual, almost secretive meet-up among elite women had now transformed into something grand—a spectacle.A statement.One by one, the Circle members arrived,
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN: QUIET AFTER THE STORM
HOURS LATERLevi returned much later than expected.By then, the Hale mansion had settled into its usual evening rhythm—soft lights, quiet conversations, and the distant sound of laughter from the cinema room where the children were gathered.Downstairs, Kaitlin, William, Leonard and Elsa, waited in the living room, their attention drifting toward the entrance the moment the doors opened.Levi stepped in.Calm. Composed. Unreadable.If not for the faint stiffness in his movements, no one would have guessed anything had happened.The room fell silent.He glanced around briefly, acknowledging their presence, then said simply—“I’ll take a shower and come down for dinner.”No explanation. No elaboration.And just like that, he walked past them and headed upstairs.Elsa watched him go, then turned to the others. William lifted a shoulder, Kaitlin exhaled softly, Leonard gave a small shrug.That was Levi.THEIR BEDROOMSteam curled faintly in the air as Levi stepped out of the bathroom, a
You may also like
The Indestructible Alexander
Adam Aksara112.8K viewsRevenge of the Abandoned Heir
wounded_warrior127.9K viewsRise Of The Student Billionaire
Dragon Sly227.4K viewsThe Lowly Son in Law is Quadrillionaire
Riku Ormstrom94.6K viewsMelting The IceQueen CEO
Solomon3.0K viewsThe Heir's Revenge
Great Heights 1.0K viewsThe Enigma Called Greg
Dorchester80 viewsThe Son-in-Law Who Was the God of War
Christina Wilder689 views