Grant's brows tightened, a flicker of astonishment surfacing in his dark, brooding eyes. He had assumed Nigel's sudden appearance in the board meeting and his decision to bring Bella into the fold were calculated moves-a carefully laid trap to force him out of the president's seat.
He had prepared for resistance and crafted a thousand countermeasures. Yet, against all expectations, the transition had been seamless. No obstacles. No opposition.
Gregory was equally stunned, though this oue was precisely what he had hoped for.
Grant, who stood before him now, was no longer just his son. He was a guillotine, hanging above his head—a silent, ever-present threat. A reminder that the past had not been buried and that his sins were not otten.
They lingered, a storm on the horizon, waiting to descend and shatter everything he had built. The hand poised over the trigger belonged to none other than his own son—his most trusted, most valued eldest son.
Gregory's weary eyes followed Grant as he rose gracefully amid the applause. He could hear him speaking, but the words reached his ears in a distant, muted blur.
His gaze drifted to Justin, his younger son. Even in the face of such humiliation, he remainedposed, his expression unreadable. He was like the silent depths of the ocean at midnight-concealing the sorrowful tides beneath.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtBitterness surged at the back of Gregory's throat, seeping beneath his tongue, flooding his mouth with its acrid taste.
Gregory knew that his eldest had long since be a devil, and his youngest son was pure-hearted and righteous even though he had suffered years of neglect.
For over 20 years, Gregory had abandoned Justin and left him to shoulder endless grievances alone. But for the sake of the Salvador family, for the sake of his own survival, he had no choice.
"Thank you, Grandpa, Dad, and esteemed board members, for your trust. I will lead the Salvador Corporation to success, secure the A5 project, and prove myself worthy of your expectations." As his words fell, Grant lifted his gaze, his dark eyes settling on Bella.
Then, under the watchful eyes of the entire room, he strode straight toward her.
A chill tightened around Bella's heart as she felt the weight of his gaze-oppressive and inescapable.
The man before her, so elegantly refined, was a serpent in human skin, a satanic force lurking beneath a flawless facade. His every movement was laced with an eerie, icy menace.
Justin's pupils contracted sharply. His gaze remained locked on Bella's stiffened expression. The veins on his hands bulged as he clenched his fists, his knuckles bone-white.
"Ms. Thompson, congratulations on bing part of the Salvador Corporation." Grant's lips curled into a poised, polished smile as he extended his hand toward her.
Bella exhaled slowly, her lips tilting into an unreadable smile. She reached out and took his hand.
His palm was ice-cold, smooth as frozen jade.
Justin's gaze darkened, thick as ink, a tempest brewing in his eyes.
Bella no longer belonged to him. Yet watching her touch another man made it difficult to breathe. Emotions surged through him, heavy and suffocating, filling every inch of his chest.
"Before the vote, Ms. Thompson stated that KS Group would fully withdraw from the A5 project'spetition. That was not just a passing remark, was it?" Grant's tone shifted, businesslike and sharp.
Bella's crimson lips curled into a blade-sharp smile, gleaming with a hidden edge.
"Of course. The Thompson family always honors our word. If you have doubts, I can sign a formal pledge, stamp it with an official seal, and make it legally binding." Grant's smile deepened. "That will not be necessary, because you are Bella. I trust you. I hope your presence at Salvador Corporation will bring us new energy. I also hope that you and I can work together I to create a brighter future for both Salvador Corporation and KS Group." en.kikistories Bella narrowed her eyes and withdrew her hand, slowly yet firmly.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmMeanwhile, in the presidential suite of KS World Hotel.
"Mmm..." Arnold stirred awake, an ache deep in his muscles. His thighs and lower back were sore from exertion. His fingers pressed against his waist as he struggled to sit up, his body trembling slightly.
The mirror across the room reflected an unmistakable sight. His pale skin was marred by vivid, searing-red traces. His neck, collarbone, and chest held proof of last night's indulgence.
A sharp breath escaped him. His fingers tangled into his hair, gripping tightly as a dull throbbing overtook his head. 'Last night... could it be...' "You're awake?" Arnold's breath caught. He turned sharply.
Asher stood in the doorway, watching him with an unreadable expression.
His powerful frwas half-bare, his chiseled muscles illuminated by the soft morning light. The sculpted grooves of his lower torso vanished beneath the towel that was loosely wrapped around his waist. With each slow, steady breath, his chest rose and fell, the motion impossibly mesmerizing. en.kikistories Arnold's entire body tensed. His fox-like eyes widened in stunned disbelief, locking onto the man before him.
No matter how cruelly Asher had once torn him apart-like a blade slicing through his soul-at this moment, he could not resist the sight of this man.
The longing ran deep. It was a craving etched into his bones and a habit he would spend a lifettrying to break.
Arnold parted his swollen lips, his voice raw and hoarse. "Asher... Last night... You..." "I did." Asher took slow, deliberate steps toward Arnold, his gaze tinged vel with red, his eyes heavy with an emotion that threatened to spill over. "Arnold, everything that happened was exactly as imagined." en.kikistories