LOGINVictor glanced at the wall clock, which showed that it was lunchtime. He then closed the last folder in front of him and leaned back in his chair for a moment."It's lunchtime."Tara glanced at her wristwatch as well, then let out a quiet sigh. "There are still two more files.""They can wait."His tone remained as even as ever, but there was a firmness to it that left Tara no room to argue. Victor pointed toward a black lunch box that had been sitting in the corner of the desk the entire time."At least eat first."Tara let out a soft chuckle. In the end, she walked over to where she had placed her lunch box. She picked up the two lunch boxes she had brought from home that morning, then opened the lid of one of them.The warm aroma of rosemary and butter quickly filled the room, blending with the scent of freshly reheated grilled chicken—she had just warmed it in the electric food warmer available in the corner of her office. Beside it were creamy mashed potatoes, sautéed asparagus a
A moment later, his voice grew even quieter."And if that happens..." His eyes could no longer conceal the fear he had suppressed all this time. "She could destroy everything we've built."Leonard stared at Adrian for a long moment before finally letting out a harsh breath. "So now you're blaming Kara?"Adrian said nothing."That's what you mean, isn't it?" Leonard's voice began to rise. "This is all Kara's fault because she went to see Vivian?""I never said that.""But you're clearly thinking it, Adrian," Leonard hissed. His face was filled with anger that was slowly turning into disappointment."Do you have any idea how much Kara has sacrificed for you?" he shouted. "Have you forgotten how much she has suffered for the sake of your plan?"Every word that came out of Leonard's mouth made Adrian's jaw tighten even more. "She did all of that for the plan you created."Leonard pointed a finger at Adrian. "Don't you ever forget that.""I know!" Adrian shouted back just as loudly.His vo
A short while after his meeting with the lawyer ended, Leonard was finally granted permission to enter the holding cell. He walked in accompanied by two uniformed officers. His head was slightly bowed, and he struggled a little without the cane he so often relied on.The iron door slammed shut behind him with a heavy clang that echoed through the cramped room.Adrian sat in the corner with his elbows resting on his knees. His gaze was fixed blankly on the floor. His face looked far paler than it had when he had stepped out to meet with the lawyer and Kara during her visit.Leonard immediately stopped in his tracks. "What's wrong?"There was no answer, and that only made Leonard more suspicious. What on earth had happened?"Hey." Leonard sat down beside Adrian. "What's wrong? Aren't you going to say anything?"Adrian finally lifted his gaze and looked directly at Leonard. There was unmistakable distress in his eyes. "Kara."Leonard frowned. "What about Kara?""She ran into Vivian by ac
Leonard did not answer immediately."I can't simply abandon Kara," Adrian continued. "She's the mother of my child. No matter what happens, I will take responsibility for her. But I also can't give up the opportunity to become the CEO of Ashbourne."Leonard closed his eyes. His chest rose and fell as he struggled to contain his anger. In all the decades he had spent building the Valmont family, never once had he felt manipulated the way he did that day.Yet he also knew that Adrian was right. If the man truly became the CEO of Ashbourne, the Valmont family would benefit as well.Slowly...his anger began to give way to careful consideration. "Tell me, what's your plan?"Two days later—after meeting with the Valmont family—Adrian returned to the Ashbourne mansion with a little girl who clutched a worn rabbit doll tightly against her chest.Tara, who had just come downstairs, immediately stopped in her tracks. "Whose child is this?"Adrian gently stroked Liora's little head. "Her name i
That wedding day marked the beginning of five years of a life built on a lie.No one realized that from the very first day she wore the ring on her finger, Tara had never been Adrian's legal wife. Ironically, Tara was completely blinded. She loved Adrian with all her heart and believed that their marriage was the beginning of the future she had always dreamed of.That was why she gave him everything she had, without ever holding back even the slightest doubt.After joining Adrian's division, Tara became the person who understood the direction of Ashbourne's development better than anyone. Nearly every major project passed through her hands. She analyzed reports, refined strategies, identified gaps that the senior directors had never noticed, then handed all the results over to Adrian without ever asking for recognition.Every time a project succeeded, Adrian's name shone even brighter. Victor praised his son more and more often in front of the board of directors. "I was right to place
Adrian and Tara's relationship developed far more quickly than he had expected. Day by day, the distance between them grew smaller.Adrian was always there at just the right moment. Reminding Tara to eat whenever she became too absorbed in her work. Waiting until late at night after all the employees had gone home. Offering support every time Tara began to doubt her own abilities.Not once did Adrian behave excessively. It was precisely because of that that Tara felt comfortable around him. She began to believe that his care came from a place of genuine sincerity.Meanwhile, Adrian was simply carrying out the first step of the plan he had devised with Kara.Little by little, Tara found herself waiting for Adrian's message every morning. A smile would unconsciously appear on her face whenever his name lit up her phone screen. She gradually got used to telling him about the little things that happened throughout her day, something she had never done with anyone before.Without realizing
Ten minutes before Tara stepped into the center of the ballroom...Tara’s eyes widened in disbelief when the host confirmed the number displayed on the bidder’s panel.Sixty million.“Dad?”“Yes, Tara?” Victor smiled meaningfully at
“You... what?” Kara demanded, her voice rising before she could hide it.Adrian could only let out a slow breath. “Come on, why are you making such a fuss over something so small?”“Small?” Kara stared at him in disbelief. “Giving Tara a luxury apartment at Golden Palace, and you call that small?”
“How is she?” Tara asked.There was worry in her eyes—soft, aching, unmistakable. She stepped forward the moment the door to her room opened, as if she had been waiting for this exact second.Adrian paused, caught off guard. He hadn’t expected her to still be awake. He had assumed she’d gone to bed
Dinner that evening unfolded exactly as Tara had expected Kara was there too.Normally, Tara would have welcomed her sister’s presence with genuine warmth. Whenever their parents joined them, the house would feel livelier filled with conversation and laughter. Though often, those conversations revo







