Chapter 376 He waved one hand dismissively. “I’ve done extensive research on him, by the way. Very thorough research. And I have to tell you honestly, Cora – I couldn’t find anything. Nothing impressive. Nothing that would suggest he is the kind of man who could offer you the life
Chapter 375 He gestured toward the chair across from his desk with an almost hospitable sweep of his hand. “So why don’t we have a proper conversation now? Why don’t we sit down like two intelligent people and let me tell you clearly and specifically what it is that I
Chapter 374 He watched her face carefully as he continued. “Your father’s brother’s son. Your cousin.” He said the words with quiet, deliberate weight. “Forced women to get Numerous abortions, Cora. Numerous. And I have documentation of every single one.” The air in the warehouse seemed to thicken. “And your
Chapter 373 At that moment, the anger that had been simmering beneath Cora’s composed exterior finally broke through the surface completely, and she fixed Lovi with a look that was sharp enough to cut glass. “What does that have to do with anything?” she said, her voice low and tight
Chapter 372 Lovi watched her for a long moment without speaking, taking in every detail – her posture, her expression, the way she held herself even in a situation that was clearly designed to unsettle her. And then, satisfied that she had come alone and that everything was proceeding exactly
Chapter 371 Lovi was seated in the exact location he had specified to Cora when he sent her the coordinates earlier – the place where he had insisted, in no uncertain terms, that she needed to meet him if she wanted to prevent the disaster he had been threatening to
Chapter 370 “Well, no problem then,” Sandra said, her voice steadier now, carrying the quiet relief of someone who had just been told they weren’t going to have to carry an impossible burden entirely alone. “I will do exactly as you’ve said. I’ll move forward with the contract and I’ll
Chapter 369 On the other end of the line, Cora had gone very quiet. But it was not the quiet of someone who had lost interest or who was distracted by the other things competing for her attention. It was the quiet of someone whose mind had just snagged on
Chapter 368 There was a perceptible shift in the quality of the silence on Cora’s end of the line – subtle, but Sandra knew her well enough to recognize it. “A contract?” Cora repeated, and her voice had taken on a new quality now – measured but genuinely curious, the
Chapter 367 Her mind was spinning now, no longer disciplined and focused the way it had been in Richard’s father’s presence, but racing wildly through a hundred different concerns and complications all at once. The timeline was insane. The expectations were impossibly high. The consequences of failure had been laid
Chapter 366 Sandra held very still. “You have just agreed to take on a responsibility that is greater than anything you have ever agreed to before in your life,” he continued, his eyes never leaving hers. “And with that responsibility comes a standard of accountability that matches its size exactly.”
Chapter 365 Sandra, who had been nodding along with increasing enthusiasm throughout his speech, straightened her spine and opened her mouth to respond with what she clearly intended to be a reassuring and professional commitment. “Of course, sir, absolutely. I completely understand what you’re asking for, and I will try
Chapter 364 At that moment, she sat up with renewed purpose, her earlier declaration about not having a picture clearly already giving way to the practical and determined side of her personality that never stayed idle for long when there was a problem to be solved. “Actually,” she said, reaching
Chapter 363 Penelope’s clapped hands had come to rest against her chest now, pressed there by the sheer thrill of the revelation, and her face was glowing with the kind of radiant excitement that only the prospect of something truly spectacular could produce in her. “Oh my goodness,” she breathed,
Chapter 362 At that moment, Richard’s eyebrows lifted slightly and he turned his head briefly toward Penelope with an expression that communicated clearly that his father had just said something worth paying serious attention to. Penelope, who had been hanging on every fragment of the conversation she could piece together,
Chapter 361 His voice hardened further. “I want you to hear me clearly, Richard. I would rather lose my life than stand by and watch my family be humiliated and disgraced in front of a guest of that caliber. I would give everything before I allowed something like that to
Chapter 360 Finally, he found his voice again. “Well, Father,” he said quietly, the sincerity in his tone unmistakable, “it is very clear that you are enormously excited about this, and rightfully so. I can hear it in every word you’re saying, and honestly I understand why.” He paused briefly.
Chapter 359 There was a brief pause filled with the kind of dramatic weight that only a father who knew he was about to deliver life-changing news could create. “But today – today of all days, son – he literally sent word that he has accepted. That he is going
Chapter 358 Richard drummed his fingers on the steering wheel thoughtfully for a moment before responding. “You know what, that might actually be exactly it,” he said, nodding slowly as the idea took shape. “Maybe that’s her entire plan – she’s going to go and literally purchase an invitation from
Chapter 357 Lovi read through the message twice, savoring every single word like a fine meal, his smile growing wider and more satisfied with each pass. “Absolutely right,” he said aloud, nodding his head slowly with the air of a king surveying his conquered territory. “You have absolutely no other