Chapter 84 084 LAYING sprawled on the wide expanse of his bed was Adrian, one arm tucked beneath his head, the other holding his phone above his face. The screen glowed faintly in the dimness of the room, and there she was- Hazel. His daughter’s bright smile filled the frame,

Chapter 83 083 +25 Bonus 083 ADRIAN sat behind his polished mahogany desk, his eyes skimming through the papers in front of him for what seemed like the tenth time that morning. The numbers looked blurred, words danced out of place, and nothing seemed to make sense. He set the

Chapter 82 082 +25 Bonus 082 NIGHT had fallen, but Amelia’s bedroom was alive with the soft glow of her tablet and scattered documents strewn across the bed. She sat upright against the headboard, her phone pressed to her ear. “Rex, I will need the numbers for Satin and Sage’s

Chapter 81 +25 Bonus 081 THE house held a golden hush, the kind that fell between lunch and the deepening afternoon, when light pooled in the corners and even the dust motes seemed to breathe slower. Amelia sat heavy on the couch, one arm draped over her bump, the other

Chapter 80 080 Claire crawled forward on her knees, clutching at Amelia’s dress desperately *Sis, please, I’m sorry,” she wept. “I regret it, I regret everything, I didn’t think it would go this far. I was stupid, jealous, blind Please, forgive me p> Amelia pulled back, staring down at her

Chapter 79 079 …Present Day… THE room was thick with silence, only pierced by Claire’s sobbing. Her shoulders trembled as though she carried the weight of an avalanche, her palms pressed against her wet face. Amelia stood frozen, her chest heaving, eyes red not from tears but from the storm

Chapter 78 078 +25 Bonus 078 …Flashback… CLAIRE climbed the acacia as the light leaned golden, camera strap snug across her shoulder. The reserve below was a slow thrum of life, distant bellows, a scatter of hooves, the hollow cough of birds. She was given permission to climb; the ranger

Chapter 77 077 +25 Bonus 077 AMELIA had just placed the phone gently on the table, her conversation with Dorian about flower deliveries still lingering in her thoughts. She exhaled, rubbing her lower back, when the sound of footsteps in the hallway drew her attention. Her eyes brightened instantly as

Chapter 76 076 +25 Bonus The doctor raised her hand gently. “Mrs. Leonard, I understand your frustration, but please, this is a hospital office, not your home. I will need you both to remain calm. Please p> “Calm?” Clara’s laugh was sharp, bitter. “You want me to be calm while

Chapter 75 075 $25 Bonus 075 THE air inside the small hospital office was unusually tense. The hum of the air conditioner and the faint clicking of the doctor’s keyboard filled the silence. Leonard sat hunched forward, his cough rattling his chest, while his wife, Clara, leaned back with her

Chapter 74 074 +25 Bonus 074 THE hospital room smelled faintly of antiseptic and lemon; pale blue walls, a single window with blinds half drawn, a metal tray on a trolley, and the soft beep of monitors somewhere down the corridor. A plastic chair sat opposite the bed, and on

Chapter 73 073 +25 Bonus 073 THE door to Dr. Felicia Granger’s office clicked shut as Amelia and her mother stepped in, guided by the nurse. The office was neat, its pale cream walls adorned with framed certificates, a family photo, and a shelf stacked with medical journals. The faint

Chapter 72 072 +25 Bonus 072 ADRIAN’S phone buzzed, vibrating against his thigh as his hand quickly slid into his pocket. Pulling it out, he glanced at the screen, and immediately, his lips curved into a wide, involuntary smile. Vivian noticed, pausing mid-sip of her wine. Her brow furrowed. “Who

Chapter 71 071 SATURDAY crept on slowly, the kind of morning that seemed endless. Adrian had been awake since dawn, yet he made no move to get out of bed. Instead, he laid sprawled comfortably against the headboard, head sunk into the pillows, one hand lazily propped beneath his head,

Chapter 70 070 $25 Bonus THE afternoon sun filtered through the tall windows, casting streaks of light across the living room. Vivian stood near the couch, arms crossed, her face flushed with anger. Adrian lounged lazily on the armchair, his expression unreadable, a faint trace of irritation playing on his

Chapter 69 069 AMELIA was seated on the cozy couch in her living room, her pregnancy bump beautifully rounded and glowing. Hazel sat beside her, small hands carefully patting and poking at the bump, her eyes wide with curiosity and excitement. “Baby brother or baby sister, Mommy?” Hazel asked, tilting

Chapter 68 068 +25 Bonus THE usual hum of chatter and laughter filled the boys’ favorite hangout, the dim lights casting a relaxed glow across the polished wooden tables. Adrian, Jakes, and Leonard were seated at a corner table, drinks in hand, the clatter of glasses and muffled music providing

Chapter 67 067 AS soon as Adrian left the house the next morning, Vivian waited a beat, listening to the front door click shout behind him. No time to waste. She slid onto her dresser stool, phone in hand, staring into the mirror, her reflection calm but her mind racing.

Chapter 66 066 THE night air outside seemed calm, but inside the mansion, a storm was quietly brewing. Adrian had arrived. home earlier than usual, and for a while, everything seemed perfect. Dinner had been a quiet, intimate affair, candles flickering softly on the dining table, the clinking of cutlery

Chapter 65 065 +25 Bonus 065 THE door knob turned with a soft click, and the door swung open. Adrian stepped in, moving with his usual casual, careless air, completely ignoring the pregnant woman seated on the bed. His hands fumbled with the buttons of his crisp white shirt, the