Chapter 80 The city wasn’t the same as Montclair. It was denser, built in glass and steel that reflected the late-afternoon sky in hard lines. From the thirty-second floor, traffic moved below in steady lanes, stopping and starting at clean intersections. Arianne stood by the conference room window while the
Chapter 83 The summit ended quietly, as expected. By the next morning, a brief summary circulated among the participating companies. It listed the main topics and little else — no names attached, no quotes, no commentary on who performed well. Franz arrived at Rochefort Group’s headquarters before eight. The executive
Chapter 79 The conversation did not continue right after Nate spoke. The private room stayed quiet, but the silence felt calm. It hung in the air at the table, suggesting understanding instead of disagreement. No one hurried to break the pause. Julian was the one who eventually spoke up. He
Chapter 82 The capital strategy summit was held on the upper floors of a private financial institute overlooking Montclair’s older banking district. The building still carried its old stone exterior, but inside everything had been stripped down and rebuilt in glass and steel. Only a small circle had been invited.
Chapter 78 “It must have been tough for you, Franz,” Nate said as he watched Franz finish his drink. The low table between them had several half-empty glasses, with water rings forming on the surface. “I’m surprised you haven’t left the showbiz industry yet p> Franz glanced at him without
Chapter 81 Franz thought that calling Arianne every morning would be enough to assure the twins that she would return. There were only two days left, and she had already told them she would be home on schedule. When Lily came down alone for breakfast without her younger twin, Franz
Chapter 77 Three days after Arianne left, the house felt less chaotic, but it still wasn’t back to its normal routine. Franz stood at the foot of the twins’ beds and realized that just having a routine wasn’t enough to get them to cooperate. Lily brushed her teeth without being
Chapter 80 The city wasn’t the same as Montclair. It was denser, built in glass and steel that reflected the late-afternoon sky in hard lines. From the thirty-second floor, traffic moved below in steady lanes, stopping and starting at clean intersections. Arianne stood by the conference room window while the
Chapter 76 Arianne had already informed the twins about her one-week overseas trip. She had thought that informing them ahead of time would give her and Franz enough time to reassure the children that she wouldn’t disappear without a word. Lily seemed to understand that it was work-related, but Leo
Chapter 79 The conversation did not continue right after Nate spoke. The private room stayed quiet, but the silence felt calm. It hung in the air at the table, suggesting understanding instead of disagreement. No one hurried to break the pause. Julian was the one who eventually spoke up. He
Chapter 78 “It must have been tough for you, Franz,” Nate said as he watched Franz finish his drink. The low table between them had several half-empty glasses, with water rings forming on the surface. “I’m surprised you haven’t left the showbiz industry yet p> Franz glanced at him without
Chapter 75 The morning arrived in peace. The estate moved as it always did. Silent footsteps along polished corridors, porcelain placed at the breakfast table, doors opened and closed without sound. Nothing in the house suggested a power shift would take place before noon. Arianne descended the stairs in a
Chapter 77 Three days after Arianne left, the house felt less chaotic, but it still wasn’t back to its normal routine. Franz stood at the foot of the twins’ beds and realized that just having a routine wasn’t enough to get them to cooperate. Lily brushed her teeth without being
Chapter 74 “Arianne was very observant even as a child,” Aunt Estella continued, her hands resting loosely on her lap. “She learned things by observing those people around her. She knew how to count numbers at the age of one. At two, she already mastered the alphabet. By the age
Chapter 76 Arianne had already informed the twins about her one-week overseas trip. She had thought that informing them ahead of time would give her and Franz enough time to reassure the children that she wouldn’t disappear without a word. Lily seemed to understand that it was work-related, but Leo
Chapter 73 Arianne returned home with Gio right on time that evening. However, it was obvious to Franz that something might have happened during her visit with the Conway family. She was unusually silent this time; her responses to the twins’ questions were short, and when dinner was over, she
Chapter 75 The morning arrived in peace. The estate moved as it always did. Silent footsteps along polished corridors, porcelain placed at the breakfast table, doors opened and closed without sound. Nothing in the house suggested a power shift would take place before noon. Arianne descended the stairs in a
Chapter 72 The vote removed Gabriel Summers from executive authority, but it did not remove his name. His elderly father regained authority once again to pacify the investors’ demands. For two weeks, Gabriel held the title of chairman while auditors took over his offices. They duplicated documents and froze accounts
Chapter 74 “Arianne was very observant even as a child,” Aunt Estella continued, her hands resting loosely on her lap. “She learned things by observing those people around her. She knew how to count numbers at the age of one. At two, she already mastered the alphabet. By the age
Chapter 71 The lawyer began by stating dates. The study looked the same as it always did when the family wanted control to be noticed. Evelyn sat behind the wide desk, facing the tall windows that looked out over the east lawn. Yosef stood near the glass, with his hands