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Chapter 243
Gregg’s palms were slick with sweat. The icy air from the air conditioner blew directly at him, yet his shirt clung to his skin as though he stood under the hot sun. He sat stiffly on the edge of the chair before the Italian man he secretly worked for, Ricci. Ricci’s broad mahogany desk stared at the ashtray filled with half-burnt cigarettes. The pungent smell of tobacco clung to the air like a curse.Ricci leaned back in his chair, a massive cigar perched between his fingers, smoke swirling slowly around his head like a misty crown. His piercing eyes, cold and unblinking, bored into Gregg.The silence stretched, heavy, suffocating. Gregg’s throat tightened as Ricci took another long drag, exhaled slowly, and said nothing.“Si… Sinore Ricci,” Gregg finally stammered, his voice cracking under pressure. “I—uh—I’m sorry I’m showing up now, sir. I should have come earlier but—”Ricci’s hand shot up, halting him mid-sentence. His voice, low and calm but deadly, sliced through the air.“It
Chapter 242
Natalia chuckled bitterly, the sound hollow. She gave a slow, sarcastic clap, her expression cutting. “Yeah, yeah. It’s always about what you can get from people. Always by using me.”Thelma’s eyes widened in sudden outrage. “No, you—”“Enough.” Natalia’s tone dropped, sharp and steady like glass under pressure. “You always go to extreme lengths to use me to get what you want.” Her eyes burned, but her voice stayed calm. “The last time, you did a terrible thing to Taylor just because of greed and selfishness. Nothing good can come out of you.”Her words hit like cold water.Thelma froze, her mouth parting, eyes searching Natalia’s face as though hoping she’d take the words back.But Natalia didn’t.Instead, she exhaled deeply, the kind of exhale that carried years of frustration and silent pain. Then, with the calmness of someone too tired to fight, she turned away. Her footsteps were soft but steady as she walked toward her room, her mother’s words echoing behind her like a wound she
Chapter 241
Natalia stepped back into the house, her heels clicking lightly against the tiled floor. But just as she turned toward the living room, she stopped dead in her tracks.There, on the rug, her mother and sister were knee-deep in the boxes of gifts Heath had brought. Bright fabrics, designer perfumes, expensive wines, and golden-wrapped boxes filled the space. Laughter echoed between them.“Oh my goodness, Joyce, look at this one!” Thelma gasped, holding up a shimmering scarf. “This fabric alone could buy a whole shop.”Joyce giggled, running her hands over a crystal vase. “Mother, he even brought imported wine and chocolates! He’s such a gentleman.”Thelma turned, smiling dreamily. “I told you. It would be amazing if we could have a relationship with the Grover family. Heath is a gem.”“True, Mother,” Joyce agreed, clutching one of the gift boxes to her chest. “The Grovers are a big deal. Heath’s so thoughtful too. I mean, who visits a friend’s family with this much? He did all this to
Chapter 240
Natalia’s tires crunched softly against the paved driveway as she pulled into her house after a long day’s work. The streetlamps outside threw pale streaks across her windshield, the faint hum of the car’s engine the only sound in the quiet evening. She exhaled, shutting off the ignition and leaning back against the seat for a moment, her shoulders slumping in quiet exhaustion.Her fingers brushed over her handbag on the passenger seat. She reached for it but paused, her thoughts drifting unbidden to Nathan.A deep breath escaped her lips. Should I… go see him? she wondered, her eyes momentarily softening.She sat still, staring at the steering wheel, torn between logic and emotion. “Shouldn’t I have stopped by his house to get the food containers I used to bring dinner for him last night?” she muttered, half to herself, half to the night air. Her hand lifted to check her wristwatch. “It’s just past seven… not that late.”She frowned, hesitating as her fingers brushed the car key agai
Chapter 239
Braxton gave a slow nod, the kind that said he’d heard and internalized every instruction. “Understood,” he murmured, voice low and sure. He straightened, palms flat on his knees for a heartbeat, then rose, the movement soft and rehearsed. “Other than having the mechanisms for Nathan’s death prepared,” he added, leaning in a fraction, “I’m already digging his grave.”Heath’s smile sharpened into something almost approving, then the expression cooled. He folded his hands on the desk and watched Braxton with an appraising gaze. “Impressive,” he said, and the single word carried approval like a benediction. But the smile didn’t last. A tightening around his mouth told Braxton the rest of the thought hadn’t gone away.“What’s wrong?” Braxton asked, sensing the change and stepping closer, curiosity and hunger braided in his tone.Heath ground his teeth just briefly and the sound was small but hard. “Two days ago,” he said, measured, “that insolent fool—Nathan—earned another promotion at D
Chapter 238
Leo hesitated the tiniest of seconds, as if weighing whether to argue for the hotel he’d suggested, then gave a stiff nod. He slung the luggage over his shoulder and moved toward the hallway, every step measured, every breath controlled.Alaric followed, cloak-like and undeniable, his presence a shadow swallowing the light. He moved with the immaculate calm of a ruler confident he had set every piece in place. Amelia watched them go down the hallway, the sword sheathed again, the echo of Alaric’s cane, a metronome marking the way she had been ordered to live.She let out a sound that was half sigh, half sob, but she kept it low. The room felt suddenly cavernous and cold. She had the photograph folded in her palm like contraband; its edges bit into her skin.When the footsteps faded, when the door clicked softly behind them, she turned away, her breathing heavy in despair and petrification.After showing Alaric his room, Leo made his way back downstairs, his footsteps quiet against the
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