2026-03-27 03:15:48THE HIDDEN LEDGER
Manuel sat at his large desk, reviewing the latest reports Laura had brought in. The files were stacked neatly.Suddenly, his phone vibrated sharply against the desk. He picked it up, seeing Martins’ name flashing on the screen.“Sir, I've been trying to reach Ms. Laura.” Martins said immediately, urgency heavy in his voice, “I think you’ll want to see this.”“Go on,” Manuel replied, leaning back slightly in his chair.Martins exp
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Chapter 178
TROUBLE AT THE OFFICE Laura noticed. “Are you not going to pick that?” she asked.“No,” he said, not averting his gaze from her.She looked at him for a while, then she cleared her throat. “Nexagen is already going down,” she said.Manuel’s eyes shifted slightly.“News is spreading fast,” she continued. “Investors are pulling out. The board is panicking.”He didn’t interrupt, he just stared into space, listening.“This is the best time,” she added. Laura leaned slightly forward. “We should press further while Tommy is weak.”“I have to find out what he has been up to,” Manuel said, his voice low but firm. He walked over to the window, one hand in his pocket, the other resting lightly on the table beside him. His eyes were not on Laura. They were outside, far away, like he was already thinking ten steps ahead. “That brat might be plotting something still.”Laura stood a few steps away from him
Chapter 177
TEMPTED BY YOU“Are you serious right now?” Lisa snapped as her voice broke.She didn’t think twice as her hand moved.She hit the phone hard against the table.Mira flinched a little and she leaned forward quickly. “Lisa.” she said softly, reaching out to tap her arm.“Calm down, okay? Maybe…”“Don’t tell me to calm down!” Lisa snapped immediately, jerking her arm away. Her eyes were already red.Mira paused. She hadn’t expected that reaction.Lisa stood up suddenly as the chair behind her shifted slightly.“He’s not picking my calls,” Lisa said, her voice shaking now, but still filled with anger. “After everything, he’s just ignoring me?”“Maybe he’s just…” Mira started again.“I said don’t!” Lisa cut in again, louder this time, her hands were trembling now.Without saying anything else, Lisa grabbed her bag, she had forgotten to take it upstairs.“I’m out of here,” she
Chapter 176
THE STORM BEFORE THEMTHE STONE'S APARTMENT The door opened slowly as the Stones returned back to their house after a long day, after the whole drama at Ivana and Jamie's wedding.They were wearing sad faces, dragging their feet as though the world had ended. Lisa stepped in first. Her heels didn’t click the way they usually did. Today, the sound was dull. Her shoulders were slightly bent and her face looked drained, like everything that happened at the wedding had taken something out of her.Behind her, Mira came in quietly, closing the door with care. Mrs Stone followed last.For a few seconds, nobody said anything to each other. They all sat for a while in the living room, looking in a particular direction, except for Lisa who was pacing with both hands on her waist.Just then, she stopped pacing and walked straight to the empty chair in the living room and dropped into it.Mrs Stone shifted in her chair, holding her chest like she was trying to calm her breathing.Mira stood up
Chapter 175
PLAYING WITH FIREManuel carried Laura into the room and placed her gently on the bed. The mattress sank a little under her weight and for a moment, she didn’t say anything, she just stared at him.There was something different in her eyes, something he wasn’t used to seeing.“Wait here,” Manuel said quietly. “I’m coming.”Laura watched him as he turned and walked out. The door closed behind him, leaving the room quiet again. She let out a slow breath, her fingers lightly touching her neck where the bullet had grazed. It stung, but it wasn’t anything she couldn’t handle. Still, the way he reacted earlier stayed in her mind.A few minutes later, the door opened again and Manuel walked in, holding a first aid kit.He didn’t say much. He just walked straight to her and sat beside her on the bed. He opened the kit and brought out what he needed. “Sit still,” he said.Laura didn’t argue this time, she stayed quiet as he leaned closer.His fingers were careful, more careful than she expe
Chapter 174
IN HIS ARMSManuel brought Laura out of the car just as the engine went quiet.Laura steadied herself the moment her feet touched the ground.“I’m okay,” she said, brushing off his hold lightly, as if what had happened was nothing more than an inconvenience. “It’s just a scratch.”Her voice was calm, but Manuel still didn't respond.“Boss…” Laura called, when she saw that he wasn't listening to her.His eyes moved to her neck. The blood had slowed, but it hadn’t stopped completely. A thin line of red traced down her skin. It wasn’t deep, but it was enough to remind him how close it had been.“I said I’m fine,” Laura added, this time with a smile, as though trying to regain control of the situation. “You don’t have to…”She didn’t finish and in one swift motion, Manuel bent slightly and scooped her into his arms again, effortless.Laura froze in his arms. For someone who had faced armed men without flinching, who had walked through blood and chaos with a steady heartbeat, this…. this,
Chapter 173
HE BROKE ME Ivana stood there for a moment, still trying to understand what just happened.Her arms were still half raised from when she tried to hold Jamie. “Babe…?” she called after him. Her voice was softer than it was when he came in, but there was no answer.She turned quickly toward the stairs. “Jamie!” she called again, louder this time, but he already went inside and wasn't answering her.The sound of his door upstairs shutting echoed faintly and that was it. He was gone.Ivana stood still for a few seconds, trying to figure out why Jamie acted the way he did, but she couldn't.Then she started pacing again, back and forth. Her heels were hitting the floor sharply as she moved about, whispering to herself.Her hands moved through her hair, then dropped and then crossed over her chest. She didn’t even know what to do with herself.“This is not happening… this is not happening…” she muttered under her breath, her breathing was uneven and her chest tight.It was all over the new
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