Chapter 270 No. Absolutely not. This was Eliana’s doing. That girl—her so-called daughter—had slithered back into their lives like a ghost that refused to stay buried. Before Eliana, Rafael had been fragile. Isolated. Conveniently vulnerable. A problem, yes, but a manageable one. Mirabel had seen to that personally. She’d tried
Chapter 269 As the sun slipped behind the serrated peaks of the Adirondacks, the retreat transformed. Daylight gave way to firelight, and the immaculate calm of the mountains was replaced by the low, indulgent hum of men who owned too much and feared too little. Flames licked the edges of
Chapter 268 Charles rose slowly from the bed, every movement deliberate, as if standing too fast might shatter what little restraint he had left. The lantern’s warm glow caught in his silver hair, throwing long, jagged shadows across his sharp features—shadows that made him look older, harder, and far more
Chapter 267 Beneath the vast central hall tent, where crystal chandeliers glittered like constellations caught mid-fall, Mirabel Vexley stood very, very still—an impressive feat, considering she felt like she was being slowly flayed by a hundred curious stares. The air buzzed with expensive perfume, champagne fumes, and the kind of
Chapter 266 Morning arrived gently, sunlight seeping through the tent’s fabric walls like a warm secret. Birds sang overhead, their cheerful notes blending with the distant, muffled hum of conference staff already bustling about—voices, footsteps, the clink of glassware. The world was waking up, whether anyone felt ready or not.
Chapter 265 The pavilion lights dimmed as the welcome dinner wrapped up, the evening dissolving into the soft clink of abandoned wine glasses and the low hum of satisfied, overfed conversations. Somewhere behind them, laughter lingered; ahead, the mountain night breathed cool and sharp, smelling of pine needles, damp earth,
Chapter 264 Rafael let out a low, delighted chuckle, steel-grey eyes glinting behind his sunglasses. “See? Even the children are in on it. This isn’t a hike—it’s a hostile takeover with trail mix. By the time we reach the end, someone’s company will have been quietly acquired over granola bars
Chapter 263 The tent was opulent enough to forget it had any business calling itself “outdoorsy.” Billowing white fabric walls trapped the afternoon sunlight and softened it into something warm and golden, like the world had been filtered through expensive champagne. At the center of it all, Eliana lay sprawled
Chapter 262 “Mrs. Vexley, you look absolutely radiant—congratulations on the baby,” gushed a woman in pearls paired with suspiciously casual sneakers. Her smile was too bright, too practiced. “I’m Sophia Lang, Quantum Tech. We’d love to host you both at our gala next month p> Another man slid into the
Chapter 261 The morning sun hovered lazily over the jagged peaks of the Adirondacks, spilling gold across an exclusive mountain lodge that looked less like a retreat and more like a well-kept secret for people who’d never heard the word budget. Helicopters thudded overhead, rotors chopping through the crisp air
Chapter 260 In the sprawling penthouse that overlooked the glittering skyline of the city, Jason Asher paced like a caged lion, his golden-boy charm cracking under the weight of his own regrets. It was a week before the much-anticipated tech conference in the Adirondacks, and the air in his lavish
Chapter 259 Hours later, beneath a crisp afternoon sky, the sleek jet waited at the private airstrip like a promise wrapped in chrome. The engines hummed softly as the group boarded, the scent of fuel and polished leather hanging in the air. Eliana barely noticed any of it. She slept
Chapter 258 In the muted stillness of her father’s hospital room, Eliana Bennett stared down at her phone like it had personally betrayed her. The message glowed on the screen—cruel, deliberate, and far too confident: Enjoy pretending you’re safe with Rafael. This happiness you’re clinging to? It’s borrowed time. When
Chapter 257 Inside, the hospital room felt like a quiet, mechanical purgatory—soft lights humming overhead, machines chirping and beeping like they were having a private conversation no one else was invited to. Frank Bennett lay still in the narrow bed, his once-broad shoulders diminished beneath stiff white sheets, the coma
Chapter 256 Morning light spilled through the tall windows of the Vexley townhouse like liquid gold, stretching lazily across the expansive living room. Eliana Bennett lay curled on the plush velvet sofa, one hand resting on the gentle curve of her six-month-pregnant belly while the other scrolled absently through her
Chapter 255 The drive to the upscale mall passed in a haze of easy banter, the kind that made time stretch and shrink all at once. “So, sir,” James said from the front seat, catching Rafael’s reflection in the rearview mirror, “any particular stores in mind? Or are we bravely
Chapter 254 “Oh, Rafael Eliana Bennett whispered, her voice soft and tender as she cupped his face, her thumbs gently brushing away the tears that had escaped his grey eyes. She leaned in closer, her honey eyes wide with a mix of surprise and affection. “Don’t cry p> But the
Chapter 253 Rafael Vexley paused, hovering over her, his grey eyes sparkling with triumph and something deeper—adoration. “Does that mean p> She caught her breath, her cheeks flushed, her heart pounding not just from the laughter but from the way he looked at her, like she was the center of
Chapter 252 Silence settled between them—not the brittle kind that snapped with resentment, but the dense, humming sort that pressed against the skin, weighted with everything neither of them was quite brave enough to say out loud. Rafael Vexley lay beside Eliana, one arm tucked beneath his head, the other
Chapter 251 “Eliana could slip,” Bianca continued smoothly. “Lose her footing. Tragic. Unfortunate. No witnesses, no suspicion. Just grief… and opportunity p> The silence that followed was thick. Then Sarai’s lips parted into a slow, dangerous smile. That did it. Her possessiveness surged, old jealousy roaring back to life. Ever