rld around her. She moved like a shadow, her presence almost ghostly. Concerned friends began calling, their voices thick with worry, but i

erate to revive the spark they once knew in her. But Ariel remained distant, cloaked in a silence so heav

ed nothing more than a faint, polite smile and the occasional nod, a mask of gratitude that barely concealed the

with fear, immediately suspecting something darker stirring beneath her daughter's calm exterior. But her father, with a gentle hand on her shoulder,

tment, perhaps. Without hesitation, she grabbed a beer, twisted off the cap, and downed it in one long, practiced gulp. It did nothing to dull the ache in her chest. W

ghter shared with Victor, fleeting smiles, stolen touches that once felt like sal

The Denir family. That insufferable, self-important clan. The same family that had unleashed a foo

ed the drawer, and pulled out a photograph. His gaze locked onto the image, and his eyes hardened, dark with a deep,

a knock interru

ed instantly, replaced with

n," said a f

see Samuel standi

coming to an end if you're gre

from one of the top five richest families in the country. Treating some

ply, his eyes giv

ace. "Why don't you hand her over to me and sti

lked around his desk until he stood directly in front of Sa

. "For all the influence your family claims to have, you're still stuck in

smirk f

ed, eyes narrowed. "Why don't you try convincing the higher-ups to give her to

, his voice now a whi

luffer. Now get

ing. He turned on his heel and stormed out, his pr

g. He carefully tucked the photograph away, his expression unreadable. There was no need for him to prepare an esc

were relocated to a higher floor. As a result, Damon's office retained certain priviliges namely, a concealed staircase that led directly outside, bypass

ng reports of their endless business successes. Still, she managed to uncover a few names, members of the elusive family. She picked up her small notebook a