LOGINThomas sighed in annoyance as he read a message from his father. He had just told him to come to the family house. He closed for the day, reluctantly, and drove to the mansion. The closer he got to the house the louder the music, laughter and voices of people got. ‘What the hell is going on in there,’ he hissed, stepping out of his car. “Here he is....the birthday boy!” his mother shouted, and the room erupted in applause and cheers. “I completely forgot I’m thirty-two today,” he sighed, rubbing a hand down his face, and began greeting well-wishers. But then he noticed, aside from his long distance aunties and uncles, the only other guests were the Hales. And staring at him, with open admiration was the Hales’ second daughter, Lydia Hale.‘Better not be what I’m thinking,’ Thomas thought, eyeing Lydia with disgust. He picked up the knife and cut his cake like he was being forced to do so, then bolted upstairs his old room.“Thomas!!” His mother's voice jolted him awake from h
Mr. Smith lay almost lifeless on the bed, an oxygen mask covering his nose, an IV dripping slowly into his vein. His wife sat beside him, eyes heavy and weary from lack of sleep. “Mom,” Sophia called from the doorway. “The family doctor is here.” Mrs. Evangeline nodded once and Sophia stepped aside for a female doctor to enter. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Sterling,” the doctor greeted, setting her bag down. Mrs. Evangeline only nodded, her throat was too heavy to utter words. The doctor moved to Mr. Smith's side, placed a stethoscope on his chest and listened to his heartbeat. She nodded twice, then pulled the earpieces out of her ear, and turned to Mrs. Evangeline. “His heartbeat is getting better. In no time, he will be alright. The nurse will be here to continue his treatment.” She said firmly. “Thank you, doctor,” Mrs. Evangeline managed to say. Sophia escorted the doctor out, then came right back. She sat gently on the edge of the bed, facing her mother in the chair. “We need t
“Ma’am, someone is spying on you!” Robert's voice was low. Ashley's brow furrowed. “Spy?” She leaned forward, fear growing within her. “By who?"“I don't know yet,” Robert exhaled, rubbing his hand over his face. “I tried finding out, but they're professional.”Agnes shot to her feet. “You’re a professional too, Robert. You should have tracked them.” In just a week, Agnes had become the only person Ashley trusted. She was the only person who knew everything. She knew about Thomas already, about the fake death....about the inheritance. Just in seven days, Agnes had supported Ashley to build the organization. All furniture needed and office equipment were already in place. To top it all, staff had been hired. A few started immediately and the rest would resume after the official launch. Stars Shelter started running faster than anyone could imagine. Agnes didn't stop there. She bought Ashley a car, rented her an apartment, hired bodyguards, and a professional hacker for her.“I tri
“What do you mean Audrey requested her inheritance be transferred to a charity organization?” Mr. Smith's eyes burned with anger. Ethan avoided his gaze, his fingers tapping the table nervously while Mr. Smith fumed. “You should have called the family before letting her sign this,” Ryan spat, pushing the document away in disgust. Mr. Smith couldn't calm down. The chair suddenly felt too hot for his buttocks. His brain just wanted him to stand, pace, slam his fists on Ethan's desk and yell.“Dad please, calm down. Remember you're hypertensive.” Ryan said, stepping in front of his father. Ethan cleared his throat. “Smith, your late father wrote in his will that Audrey had the right to give her inheritance to any charity organization of her choice. The only time you can take control of her inheritance is if she dies. And she willed it before she died. Her 40% share will be transferred to Stars Shelter charity organization in a month….” His voice stopped when Ryan slammed his fist on
Finally, they walked slowly back to where their cars were parked.Halfway there, Mr. Smith stopped and turned to Ryan. “Fix a meeting with Ethan and John,” he said, his voice cold. “Audrey's gone. We can't mourn her forever, or the company will collapse.”He looked up to the sky for half a second. “My father wouldn't rest in heaven if I let his legacy fall apart because I was grieving.”Ryan was quiet, listening carefully. Mr. Smith continued, “To make things easier, we’ll sell Audrey’s shares to Ekcell, my new company.” Ryan frowned. “But dad.... There's no reason to bring Lucas back into this. There's no Audrey for him to marry anymore. Why sell to the company his father co-founded? Why not your own company, SS limited company?”Mr. Smith didn't say a word. He just stood there, his eyes distant. Finally, he said, “We’ll settle that later. Everyone in the car.” The journey back to the mansion was a quiet one.Fifteen minutes in, Mr. Smith's head snapped up from his phone and t
Audrey woke up early before anyone could. After getting dressed, she moved to the drawer, pulling out the things she couldn't leave behind. She fit them into a small box, closing it slowly, to avoid noise that might wake anyone up. She slipped out of the house on tiptoe, the door closing gently behind her. At the gate, she stopped and took a final look at her father's house. “Maybe, when I make something of myself, they’d want me back.” She whispered, her voice shaking.A taxi was already waiting for her, she wiped her cheeks and entered it. “Drive,” she said. Audrey’s eyes couldn't stop shedding tears, and she didn't bother wiping them. Her heart was shattered- her father now loved money and title over her. And all of these started after Sophia was adopted. The taxi finally came to a stop in front of a building, sitting alone in the area. Audrey paid the driver and alighted. The front door creaked open before she reached the door knob. Attorney Ethan emerged, his eyes darting
Just when the MC was about to wrap up the Valentine's party program, a whisper rippled through the crowd that Thomas Whiteson had arrived. He knew he couldn't conclude the program without acknowledging Thomas Whiteson. This wasn't the first time he'd handled the High-End's party, so he knew Thomas
“I'm in,” Audrey replied almost immediately. “Great one. I’ll get the contract ready by tomorrow for you to sign. Make sure to read through this time,” Thomas said with a small smile, prompting a laugh from Audrey. But her smiles vanished abruptly immediately Thomas' expression turned serious. “T
The next voice that jerked Audrey out of her shocked reverie was that of strangers.Her eyes met Lucas’ gaze- a handsome, well-built young man in a perfectly ironed tailored suit and a neatly groomed beard, which added to his sharp look. Sophia's gaze lingered on him, ‘oh mine,’ she was lost in a
Audrey brushed off the uneasiness she felt from her family's sudden display of affection. She attributed their initial attitudes to what had transpired between her and Sophia before she ran away from home. Sophia had taken over her room, replaced the pink decor with a cold blue tone that she wasn







