Masuk(Stefan)I spend the entire evening thinking about everything.About Rita. About us.No matter how hard I try to push the thoughts away, they keep coming back, echoing through my head.“It was just a fling.”“Don’t think I’d ever want anything to do with you.”My chest tightens.As night settles over the city, I lie in bed, forcing my eyes shut, hoping sleep will finally rescue me.Seconds pass. Then minutes. Eventually, hours.Nothing works.With a frustrated sigh, I throw the duvet aside and walk out of my room.I stop at the drink stand and pour myself a glass.In one swallow, it’s gone.The burn slides down my throat, briefly distracting me.I pour another.Then another.Soon, the alcohol begins to cloud my thoughts.Good.Maybe now I can stop thinking about her.My slippers scrape against the floor as I make my way to the couch, drink still in hand.Then my eyes drift to the small clock sitting on the side table.A bitter scoff escapes me.I guess I won’t be able to stop thinkin
(Rita)“You’re home late.”My aunt’s voice greets me the moment I step into the apartment.I nod once, kicking off my shoes into the corner.“Yeah. Had a few drinks with some friends.”“Friends?”Her eyebrows lift, and I don’t need her to explain why.Just a few years ago, I barely spoke to anyone. Even throughout university, I mostly kept to myself. So hearing me casually mention friends sounds unbelievable.My eyes widen.Well…I let out a quiet breath.“Aunt, I did have a friend back then, you know.” I roll my eyes.“Exactly,” she replies with a knowing smile. “A friend.”“And she has other friends.”“Hmmm.”“You don’t have to worry.” I walk farther into the living room. “I’m not the timid Rita everyone used to know anymore. Her friends aren’t going to bully me or anything.”I shrug.“She just invited all of us out because she’s leaving the country soon.”“Oh?” My aunt follows behind me, surprise flashing across her face.“Yeah.”I sink onto the couch and pull off my socks with a l
(Maya)“How’s it going?” I ask as I slide into Kelvin’s car. “Have you been able to find who posted it?”He shakes his head.“No.”“What?”My voice rises instantly.“How much longer do you need? You told me tracking an IP address would be easy. It’s been over three days, Kelvin, and you still haven’t found anything?”A dry laugh escapes me.“It’s usually easy,” he says. “But…”“But what?” I snap, running an irritated hand through my hair. “I don’t care how difficult it is. I need you to find whoever posted it. I want to know who’s behind all this.”He studies me for a moment before leaning back against his seat.“Why are you so desperate to find the poster?” he asks. “Shouldn’t you be celebrating? Whoever did this accomplished exactly what you’ve always wanted.”His lips curl.“They created a rift between Rayner and Amara.”“And why should I celebrate?”I scoff.“Someone else beat me to my own game, and you expect me to be happy?”My mind flashes back to the post.The picture. That pa
(Kelvin)My eyes stay glued to the screen, my fingers moving quickly across the keyboard while the words from earlier replay over and over in my head.A voice echoes in my mind.“This is the right time.”“Buy up the Sinclair Group’s stocks.”“Once you secure over thirty percent, you’ll have enough control to take back the Sinclair Hospitality Division… what rightfully belonged to your mother.”My jaw tightens.One purchase after another goes through.The numbers keep climbing.I can’t afford to miss this opportunity.The Sinclair stocks have fallen even further than expected. If I move fast enough, I can secure a significant stake before anyone realizes what’s happening.And when that happens…They’ll finally pay for everything they did to me.To my mother. My family.“Kelvin.”The voice slices straight through my thoughts.I freeze.My stomach drops.Rita.She’s walking toward me.“What are you doing?” she asks with a puzzled smile. “Didn’t you even notice I was standing here?”My pu
(Rita)“Did you hear? Sir Rayner’s former PA is actually the Roosevelts’ only daughter. And they were having an affair.”The whispers drift past me as I walk through the lobby.Every pair of eyes turns.Some stare. Some point. Some don’t even bother lowering their voices.They question. They judge. And gossip.I close my eyes for the briefest second.God…I never imagined there would come a day when I’d completely lose my composure at work.Without thinking twice, I march straight toward the group standing by the side.Before any of them can react, I snatch the phone from one woman’s hand and slam it onto the marble floor.The sharp crack echoes through the lobby.Gasps explode around us.Someone screams.Everyone freezes.But I don’t. I stare straight at the woman.“So,” I say calmly, “what was it you were saying again?”She storms toward me, shoving past the colleagues trying to stop her.“Did you just smash my phone?”“Yes.”I fold my arms.“And what exactly are you going to do abo
(Amara)I step into the living room beside Lillian.The moment we walk in, every conversation dies.Everyone freezes, their eyes snapping toward us as though we’ve interrupted something sacred.“Amara.” My mother walks toward us, her gaze moving between Lillian and me. “You and Lillian went out together?”“Not really,” Lillian answers before I can. “I actually ran into her at the hospital, so we decided to come back together.”My fingers curl tightly.Hospital.She said it so casually.As though I hadn’t specifically asked her not to mention where we’d met.Then, almost immediately, her eyes widen.She turns to me with an apologetic look.But it’s too late.The damage has already been done.Now they’ll ask questions.Now they’ll want answers I can’t give.“Hospital?” Mom repeats, confusion filling her voice. She quickly reaches for my hand. “Amara… what’s wrong? Are you sick? Is something happening?”I slowly pull my hand away.“No, Mom. I’m fine. You don’t have to worry.”“What do yo
(Rayner)“You’re in my room.”Stefan’s voice drifts behind me as I adjust my cufflinks.“Why?” I turn to face him. “Is there something you’re hiding that you don’t want me to see?”The question leaves me, and I watch something flicker across his face before he quickly schools his expression. A scof
(Amara)A soft groan slips from my lips as I wake.“Argh…”I curl into the bed and squeeze my eyes shut.What the—Then the memories hit.Fast.My entire body stills.My eyes snap to the space beside me.Empty.No Rayner.No one.For a second, my breath catches.Then I sit up slowly, dragging my kn
(Stefan)The name flashing on my screen catches my attention again as I struggle to steady myself.Rita.I wonder why she’s calling at this hour, but I should probably answer.Excusing myself from Rayner, I stagger away even though I can barely hold myself upright. I make it to the side of the hote
(Amara)We finally arrive at the hotel and are led straight to my room.“This will be your room for the next three days, ma’am,” Martha says, handing me the key card.I stare down at it for a moment.“I’m having a room to myself?”The words leave my mouth before I can stop them.She nods.“Yes.”Im







