2025-08-06 01:49:39
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Chapter 23 — Business and Blood
Angela pushed open the door to Tom’s house without bothering to knock. The place reeked of whiskey and frustration. She found him in the living room, slouched on the couch, a half-empty bottle of liquor in his hand, and the television playing some sports channel neither of them cared about.She didn’t bother with pleasantries. Instead, she stormed across the room and slammed her hand against the coffee table with a loud thud.“What makes you think you can pull down Don Alaric?” she snapped.Tom didn’t flinch. He took a slow sip from his glass and looked at her from beneath his furrowed brow. “Watch your tone, Angela,” he said coldly. “And your actions. I’m not in the mood today.”Angela crossed her arms and sneered. “Neither am I.”For a moment, silence simmered between them like a kettle on the verge of boiling over.Tom sat up slowly, rolling his neck like he was trying to stretch out the weight of his current reality. “How did your meeting go?” he asked. “With the woman I sent you
Chapter 22: A little romance
The clock on the wall ticked past noon, but Hermosa hadn’t moved from her bed. The curtains were drawn halfway, letting in just enough light to keep the room from drowning in gloom. Her throat still felt sore, and her body ached faintly with the remnants of fever. She had called the office that morning, her voice hoarse, informing them she wouldn’t be coming in due to illness. She hadn’t expected a response, certainly not the kind that came knocking at her door now.A soft knock interrupted her daze.“Yes?” she called out, her voice rasping slightly.One of the maids entered, balancing a medium-sized brown box, a bouquet of fresh tulips and daisies, and a smaller gift-wrapped box that unmistakably carried the scent of rich, imported chocolate.“These just arrived for you, Miss Hermosa,” the maid said with a curious smile, placing the items on her bed.Hermosa blinked in surprise. The packaging was elegant and thoughtful. She reached first for the card attached to the bouquet, her fing
Chapter 21 – Shifting Shadows
Hermosa sat at the edge of her bed, still dressed in yesterday’s clothes, her phone clenched in her hand like a lifeline she didn’t know how to cut.A soft knock tapped against the door before Bella stepped in, arms crossed, a knowing look in her eyes.“You called him last night,” Bella said plainly, walking over and sitting beside her. “I saw your call log when I picked up your phone to turn off your alarm.”Hermosa stiffened, her jaw tightening. “So, you’re checking my call logs now?”Bella raised her hands innocently. “I wasn’t snooping. I just saw it.”Hermosa looked away. “It’s not a big deal.”Bella gave a small laugh and pulled Hermosa into a side hug. “It is. And it’s okay. I know why you called him.”Hermosa didn’t respond, her eyes fixed on the floor.Bella continued gently, “He reminds you of Andre.”Hermosa flinched but didn’t deny it.“But they’re not the same,” Bella said, tightening her grip around her friend. “You need to get that into your head. Andre’s gone. You have
Chapter 20 – Night Watch
The soft glow from Bella’s laptop cast shifting shadows across the walls of the control room. Hermosa leaned in toward the CCTV monitors, her heart racing as the grainy images flickered. “There,” she whispered, pointing at a dark silhouette just beyond the iron gate.On screen, a figure stood still, head tilted as if listening. Then the person started gliding sideways, pacing slowly back and forth. Rain earlier that evening had dampened the driveway, puddles glistened in the low lamplight.Hermosa’s chest tightened. “Who is that?” she murmured.Bella closed the laptop but kept her eyes fixed on the screen. “Calm down. It’s a guard shift, someone checking the perimeter. Probably late.”Hermosa shook her head, frowning. “It’s too one-pointed. Someone staying in one spot, watching the gate.”Bella's phone buzzed. She checked the time. “Okay. I’ll go check the back. You go upstairs. Stay with your father.”Hermosa reached for her phone on the table. Heat tingled through her fingers. She h
Chapter 19 – Shadows of Truth
The late afternoon sun filtered through the tall windows of Don Alaric’s study, casting golden streaks across the polished mahogany floor. The scent of cigars lingered in the air, faint but unmistakable. Valerie stood by the bar cart, pouring herself a glass of sparkling water, while Don Alaric sat behind his desk, a contemplative look etched onto his face.She glanced at him as she took a sip. “You didn’t eat much at lunch,” she said. “That’s rare for you.”“I wasn’t hungry,” he replied flatly, his eyes focused on a small photograph on his desk, a weathered image of a young woman holding a baby. Hermosa and Andre Jr., from years ago.Valerie set her glass down. “She’s getting to you, isn’t she?”Alaric didn’t respond. Instead, he leaned back in his chair and exhaled slowly. “She asked him to take off the mask.”Valerie raised a brow. “You knew she would. She was bound to get curious.”There was a knock at the door.“Come in,” Alaric called.The door creaked open, and the man who had
Chapter 18 – Shadows and Suspicions
Bella stepped out of her car, her eyes scanning the quiet estate. The early morning sun cast long shadows across the driveway, and the air was still, almost too still. She clutched her handbag tightly as she made her way to the front door, her heels clicking softly against the stones.Hermosa opened the door before Bella could even knock. Her face was pale, her eyes guarded, and there was a tension in her shoulders that immediately set Bella on edge.“You look like hell,” Bella said gently, stepping inside.“I feel worse,” Hermosa replied. “Come in.”They moved into the sitting room. Hermosa offered tea, but Bella declined, settling on the velvet couch instead.“I came early because I couldn’t sleep,” Bella admitted. “Too much racing through my mind. I haven’t stopped thinking about our last conversation... about Andre. About the evidence. Everything is finally beginning to make sense. I feel like we’re this close.” She pinched two fingers together.Hermosa didn’t respond immediately.
