جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 110

Michael's POVAs I was thinking about yesterday's fight, I heard Sophia's footsteps coming down the stairs.She was dressed for work, in a dark blue dress that hugged her waist, the one I always liked. Her brown hair was tied in a bun, but a few loose strands fell over her face. She didn't look at me when she entered the kitchen."I'm going to stop by my apartment first," she said, her voice cold and flat. Her hands rummaged through her bag, looking for her keys. "Em asked me to bring a coat and some documents to the hospital. After that, I'm going straight to work."I slammed my cup down hard on the table. Coffee splashed out. "So you're really going to accept that position." My voice came out harsh.She finally looked at me. Her eyes were slightly puffy, clearly a sign she had cried during the night. "Michael, I don't want to talk about this. Not now."I stood up and crossed the kitchen, stopping between her and the door. Her soft perfume, of white flowers, reached me. It was the s

Sophia's POV The next morning, I was back in my – now former – office, facing the strange task of packing up the life of the senior marketing manager who had settled within those four walls.I took a deep breath, looking at the empty boxes on the floor, the already half-bare desk. Every item I picked up to pack was a memory.The pen Irina gave me two months ago? Went straight into the trash. But the photo of Emma and me laughing... that one I wrapped carefully, as if I could protect it from the world.My head wouldn't stop. CEO. The word echoed, but now it sounded more like a threat than a promotion.The ringing of my cell phone cut through the heavy silence. The name "Michael" lit up the screen. A mix of relief and guilt tightened my chest."Michael," I said, trying to keep my voice light."Love. How's the... move going?"His voice was tired, the forced cordiality masking the tension from our argument and the financial catastrophe I still didn't fully grasp."Haven't really started

Richard Pierce's POVI was listening to everything. The bug I placed on Irina transmitted every sound from that distant office with such clarity that I could perfectly imagine the scene.I heard the sound of boxes being dragged, Sophia's ragged breathing, and then, the slap. A sharp, hard slap that echoed in my earpiece.At that moment, my hand, holding a glass of whiskey, paused mid-air. A smile of pure satisfaction spread across my face. Her anger was even greater than I had expected. Perfect.But what came next was even better. A heavy silence, and then the trembling voice of my golden goose, almost without strength, asking:"My grandmother?"That simple question, filled with shock and emotion, was the missing piece of my puzzle. I turned off the audio. The silence that followed was the best thing I had ever heard. I leaned back in my leather chair, my throne, from where I command everything."And now, Eleanor," I whispered, blowing smoke from my imported cigar, "it's only a matter

Emma's POV "You?" My voice came out as a whisper, my eyes wide with disbelief. "It can't be! Wait, you're the... the..."The fake nurse pulled off the blonde wig, revealing short brown hair, and wiped part of the crude makeup from his face with the back of his hand.He was breathing a little fast, as if he had run here."Patrick. Patrick Richard," he said, his voice low and slightly embarrassed, so different from the disguise he had presented. "It's me, yes. Sorry for the appearance... it was the best I could think of."My brain, still recovering from its own labyrinths, made a faint connection. "Yes, the guy my mother doesn't want to see even if he were painted," I said, a small, involuntary smile forming on my lips, despite the absurd situation.My hand went instinctively to my hair, trying to tidy it.He made a pleading gesture with his hands. "Please, don't shout or make a noise. I... I wanted so much to see you that I ended up having this crazy idea."He took a quick look at th

Sophia's POV The room seemed to spin and I lost my balance, my legs feeling weak. I needed to hold onto the desk to keep from falling."This can't be true," I said, my voice so low it was barely audible. I tried to smile, but it was a trembling, forced smile. "Is this some kind of sick joke?"Irina didn't blink. "I don't joke about these things, Miss Morgan. If you don't believe me..." She pushed a DVD across the desk until it was in front of me. "...it's all here. Eleanor Morgan is your grandmother."Suddenly, everything started to make sense in my head. Michael's secrets, the papers I found in Alexander's office, the strange way Richard Pierce always looked at me... Everything fell into place at once, and the revelation was so strong it felt like I'd been punched."Richard and you... You all knew!" My voice began to rise, and an intense anger spread throughout my body. "YOU ALL HID THIS FROM ME!""Miss Morgan, I know this is a shock," said Irina, remaining calm, as if she were com