Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Rise From Betrayal: Kabanata 91 - Kabanata 100

The Laurent Gala looked exactly like a company celebrating fifty years of success. Crystal chandeliers cast golden light across the ballroom while floor-to-ceiling windows revealed the city skyline beyond. Historical displays lined the venue, showcasing Laurent Enterprises’ journey from a modest office to an international corporation. Photographs captured five decades of milestones. The company’s first employees. Its earliest contracts. Moments that had shaped an empire. A live orchestra played near the center of the room as servers moved through the crowd carrying champagne and elegant hors d’oeuvres. Investors mingled with executives. Industry leaders exchanged greetings with longtime business partners. For one evening, hundreds of guests had gathered to celebrate Laurent Enterprises. And judging by the atmosphe

The Laurent Gala continued exactly as planned. Which, according to Stephanie Laurent, qualified as a minor miracle. Music drifted through the ballroom. Champagne glasses clinked softly. Investors mingled with executives while old friends reunited beneath crystal chandeliers and fifty years of Laurent history. For the first time all evening, Stephanie wasn’t actively preventing a catastrophe. A rare achievement. One she clearly didn’t trust. Emma spotted her cousin near the edge of the ballroom staring suspiciously at absolutely nothing. As though waiting for disaster to emerge from behind a decorative plant. “She looks nervous.” Maya followed her gaze. “That’s because everything is going well.” “That’s supposed to make her nervous?” “It’s Stephanie.” “Good point.” Nearby, Adr

The restroom was empty. Quiet. Far away from the music and applause filling the ballroom beyond the door. Emma stood motionless in front of the sink. For several seconds she simply stared at her reflection. Then her vision blurred. And the tears came. Not gracefully. Not silently. Years of grief crashing through cracks she hadn’t realized still existed. She covered her mouth with one hand. Trying to stop the sound. Failing. Because all she could see was the photograph. Her father. Looking up at her. Not at the camera. Not at the crowd. Just her. As though she had been the most important thing in the world. And if that had been true— What happened? The questio

Emma left before sunrise. Rowan was still asleep. One arm stretched across the empty side of the bed while the city remained wrapped in darkness beyond the apartment windows. For several moments she stood beside the doorway simply watching him. The previous evening replayed endlessly inside her head. The gala. Victor. The photographs. The stories. The look on Edward’s face whenever Violet appeared on the screen. Nothing about it made sense. For years Emma had believed she understood exactly what happened after her mother’s death. Believed she understood her father. Believed she understood herself. Now she wasn’t certain of any of it. And somehow that uncertainty felt worse than anger. At least anger was familiar. This was

Silence settled between them. Not an uncomfortable silence. Not anymore. It was the silence that came after a storm. After truths had finally been dragged into the light. Emma sat motionless. Her hands rested in her lap. Her eyes burned. Across from her, Edward looked older than she had ever seen him. Not because of his illness. Not because of the grey in his hair. Because for the first time in his life, he wasn’t hiding. There was nothing left to hide behind. No excuses. No distance. No walls. Only truth. For several moments neither spoke. Then Emma finally broke the silence. “What about Adrian and Stephanie?” Edward looked up. The question clearly surprised him. Emma swallowed hard. Her throat felt tight. “If looking at me hurt so much…” Her voice trembled. “If I reminded you of Mom…” She forced herself to continue. “Then why didn’t it hurt with them?” The question hung in the air. Heavy. Painful. Necessary. Emma felt