Chapter 38 The Camden estate loomed quiet that Monday morning, its stone arches casting long shadows across the driveway. Rachel’s shoes crunched against the gravel as she approached the front door, her heart thumping harder with every step. It still felt surreal. Just last week, Chloe had told her about
Chapter 37 Monday mornings at StoneTech had their own rhythm—sharp, efficient, and relentless. The revolving glass doors spun nonstop as employees streamed in, coats still damp from the early drizzle outside. Phones rang from open offices, heels tapped across marble floors, and the faint smell of strong coffee clung to
Chapter 36 The apartment was unusually quiet for a Saturday evening. The faint hum of the fridge filled the space, mingling with the soft clatter of Bella folding laundry on the couch. Chloe sat curled at the other end, one leg tucked beneath her as she scrolled absentmindedly through her
Chapter 35 The supermarket buzzed with its usual Saturday rhythm—carts squeaking, children tugging at their parents for candy, the faint murmur of announcements overhead. Bella pushed her cart down the cereal aisle, one hand on the handle, the other scanning through a list she’d scribbled that morning. Beside her, Chloe
Chapter 34 As Chloe drove Bella home that evening after the days work, the car was silent. It was Chloe who broke the quiet. “So she began, her tone careful, “what are you planning to do about Raymond? He confessed to you, right p> Bella’s lips pressed into a thin
Chapter 33 After his confession, Raymond had carried his tray and left, knowing that staying would only make Bella uncomfortable. Just as he left, Chloe returned and took the seat opposite Bella. Bella pushed away her tray, her appetite gone completely. Her fork clinked against the plate, and Chloe glanced
Chapter 32 Bella sat in the cafeteria with her tray untouched, the sandwich in front of her going stale as she picked idly at the crust. Around her, the room buzzed with the midday rush — laughter, clinking cutlery, hurried conversations about deadlines and clients. But none of it reached
Chapter 31 Moments later, Timothy clung to Bella’s leg at the doorway, his little fingers wrapping around her skirt with surprising strength. His wide gray eyes shimmered with that familiar mix of innocence and reluctance that always made leaving him the hardest part of her mornings. “Do you have to
Chapter 30 “You’re getting heavy, champ,” she teased, bouncing him slightly on her hip. Timothy giggled, showing off the gap in his baby teeth. “I’m strong now! Strong like superheroes p> “Oh? Which one?” Bella asked, brushing his hair back. “Spider-Man,” he declared proudly. “But better, because Spider-Man doesn’t have
Chapter 29 The first rays of dawn slipped through the curtains, painting faint gold across the walls. Bella sat at the edge of the bed, staring at the streaks of light. She hadn’t slept much — tossing and turning, her mind replaying last night’s confrontation like a broken record. Every
Chapter 28 The drive back home was quiet, the kind of quiet that let Bella’s thoughts crowd and echo louder than the city noise outside. Raymond’s voice still lingered in her ears — that broken edge to his tone when he’d admitted his father had stripped him of everything, the
Chapter 27 The bar had grown quiet by the time Bella finally glanced up at the wall clock. The neon hands glowed against the dim backdrop, reminding her how late it had become. The noise that had filled the place hours ago had dwindled to a faint murmur, a few
Chapter 26 Bella was just setting Timothy’s dinner on the table, wanting to sit and eat with Chloe and Rachel when her phone buzzed across the counter. She wiped her hands and picked it up, her brows furrowing when she saw an unknown number flashing on the screen. “Who is
Chapter 25 As though to ward off any doubt both brothers had, Charles slid the file across to Jake. “This is the document for everything. I’ve signed it all p> Raymond shot to his feet, his hands trembling, his voice rising. “You can’t do this, Dad! All my life, I’ve
Chapter 24 The heavy oak doors of Charles Stones’ study swung open with a low groan, the familiar scent of polished wood and aged whiskey filling the air. It was a room that demanded silence, its walls lined with shelves of leather-bound books, a massive mahogany desk dominating the far
Chapter 23 Jake’s sleek black car purred into the wide circular driveway of the Stones’ estate, the headlights sweeping over the grand white-pillared mansion that had been home for generations. The air smelled faintly of pine and the faint trickle of the garden’s fountain echoed in the night. Raymond stepped
Chapter 22 The office always changed after work hours. During the day, StoneTech Solutions was alive with voices, heels striking across polished marble floors, phones ringing, and printers humming. But once the clock struck six, silence fell like a shroud. The long corridors grew still, lit only by strips of
Chapter 21 Bella let him go with a polite smile, then turned to Chloe as soon as he was out of earshot. “Okay. Spill. What’s going on between you and Raymond p> Chloe blinked innocently. “Nothing p> “Chloe,” Bella said flatly, crossing her arms. “You promised you’d tell me everything.
Chapter 20 The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, and Bella stepped out, adjusting her blazer as though it could somehow hold together the storm swirling in her chest. Lunch hour had arrived, but she didn’t feel hungry in the least. The nerves Jake had tangled her in
Chapter 19 Bella inhaled slowly, balancing the porcelain mug of steaming coffee on a small tray. Her hand trembled slightly, though she told herself it was only the heat of the drink. No, it wasn’t. It was him. Her first day had ended with her swearing to Chloe she’d endure,