Chapter 30 “I want Creed Tech,” Amara said. The words fell like heavy stones into a deep well. The room went silent. The smiles on the faces of the Creed family didn’t just fade; they froze. “The company?” Seb stammered, his face turning a sickly shade of grey. “Why would

Chapter 29 In the shadows, Julian leaned against a cold pillar, his thumb hovering over a screen. He had the files, the bank trails, and the sworn statements ready for a judge, but this moment wasn’t for a courtroom. It was for her. He watched her, remembering the girl from

Chapter 28 The silence that followed was different this time. It wasn’t just shock; it was the sound of a grave being dug. Amara looked at Seb, her eyes two cold, dark pools of memory. “I called you,” she said, her voice a ghostly whisper that filled every corner of

Chapter 27 The air in the room died. Amara stood at the side of the hall, her face a mask of cold stone. She looked at the man she thought she knew, and her voice was a low, steady blade. “She was there all this while, wasn’t she?” she asked.

Chapter 26 Amara slipped into the guest room and shut the door softly behind her, her chest rising too fast, too shallow. Her fingers trembled as she reached for the latch. Footsteps were closing in. There was no time. Amara’s eyes darted and landed on a waitress in the room

Chapter 25 Sebastian’s thoughts were cut short by his mother’s sharp voice. “I allowed you to come tonight so you could keep an eye on Sebastian,” Madam Creed said coolly, not bothering to lower her voice. Elara stiffened. “Don’t let him sneak off to look for Amara,” Madam Creed continued.

Chapter 24 His fingers flew across the keyboard as he logged into the mansion’s internal server, heart pounding so loudly it drowned out the silence. He scrolled. Back. Further back. To the exact date Amara disappeared. Nothing. The folders were empty. His breath hitched. And then it hit him. The

Chapter 23 While Seb was out scouring the city for a ghost, Elara was busy building her kingdom within the walls of the Creed mansion. She sat in the center of the grand hall, surrounded by plush toys, playing with little Seren. To any outsider, it looked like a picture

Chapter 22 In the elegant sunroom of the Pedro estate, Amara’s mother, Madam Pedro, fanned out a series of profiles like a deck of high-stakes cards. “Amara, look at these young men. Talented, handsome, and I’ve personally vetted their backgrounds,” her mother insisted. “Their character is spotless. I’m thinking of

Chapter 21 Julian pulled a sleek leather notebook from his bag, the professional click of his pen grounding the moment. He waited until the taillights of Elara’s car vanished around the corner before looking back at Amara. “Focus on me, Amara,” he said, his voice a calm anchor. “If we’re

Chapter 20 The heavy rain from the night before had finally cleared, leaving the afternoon washed in a soft, golden glow. For Amara, stepping into the cozy warmth of the cafe felt like the first breath of fresh air after a long suffocation. Julian was already there. He sat by

Chapter 19 Julian drove through the winding roads that led to the Piers estate in the southern part of Verenza, the late afternoon light fading into a soft glow. The atmosphere inside the car was thick it was a quiet ride. Julian understood what Amara was going through and avoided

Chapter 18 The three of them gathered around Elara. Sebastian, hovering protectively, his mother beaming, Seren smiling wide, celebrating a future that had no room for Amara. He felt no guilt at that moment or any hesitation. No memory of the woman who had sacrificed everything, the woman he promised

Chapter 17 Sebastian was in the kitchen, sleeves rolled up, quietly cooking, moving on instinct, muscle memory built from years of doing this for Amara. The soup simmered gently, filling the house with a familiar warmth that no longer felt earned. In the living room, Seren sat curled up with

Chapter 16 Sebastian is still trying to get in touch with Amara. The number you dialed is currently unavailable. Sebastian froze. He stared at the screen as it had betrayed him. His thumb hovered, then pressed redial. The number you dialed is currently unavailable. “No… no, no.” His voice came

Chapter 15 The heavy silence of the Creed mansion was shattered by the sharp, rhythmic pounding of the police at the front door. Sebastian opened it, his brow furrowed in confusion, only to find two grim-faced officers standing on his porch. “We are looking for Elara Langford,” the lead officer

Chapter 14 The atmosphere inside the Creed mansion was sickeningly domestic. Golden light from the chandelier bounced off the silver cutlery, casting a warm glow over a scene that felt like a desecration of everything Amara had built there. “The noodles are here,” the maid said, her voice tight with

Chapter 13 The moment of recognition flickered in Seb’s eyes like a dying candle, but the shadow of doubt was quicker. He shook his head, his hand tightening on the car door. It’s impossible, he reasoned with himself. Amara is sedated. I just left her side at the hospital less

Chapter 12 Darkness wasn’t just the absence of light, it was the smell of damp burlap and the taste of salt. Amara clawed at consciousness, her mind a fractured mirror. When she tried to gasp, her breath hit a wall of coarse fabric. A gag was knotted tight behind her

Chapter 11 “Come in,” Amara said, her voice barely a whisper as the doctor entered the room. “Mrs. Creed, you called for me?” the doctor asked, looking over her charts. “My stomach… it feels weird,” Amara said, clutching the thin hospital blanket. “Am I sick? Is it the medication from