“Hello Diablo!” Francesca’s voice whispered as she pushed open the door. She appeared to be on a phone call and even if Annie and Sofia couldn’t see her, they made do with the sound of her approaching footsteps. The moment the handle of the door moved, Annie had swiftly roped Sofia underneath the table and now they were backed into the corner, trying their best not to make any sound. Annie had her hands across her lips and Sofia’s chin was tucked into her knees. They both looked at each other with a frantic expression knowing Francesca could never see them.Otherwise they’ll be doomed.The sound of her voice was off like she was nervous which was a new look on Francesca and she was low and very careful not to be heard. “I said i’ll get your money to you!” She gritted through her teeth next. “Just give time—give me tomorrow. I’ll have total control and fifty thousand dollars would mean nothing” She was agitated, pacing around the room which only meant Sofia and Annie had to be extra

"Frances—" Sofia was halted by her hands in her face and Theo walked out of the room, leaving the two women alone. Francesca inched close enough that her lips grazed the lobes on Sofia's ears. "Don't try me tonight" She warned. "Stay out of my motherfucking business or you'll get hurt, Sofia""You try and be smart but you'll only wound yourself most" Francesca threatened before pulling away. Her jewelry glinted in the lights and Sofia followed them until both their eyes were locked in squarely and there was an evil grimace across her lips.Francesca cat-walked out of the room and was met with the flashing lights of the press, waiting on her. She was about to be crowned queen of the Baron empire and as outrageous as it sounded, this was more of her night than it was Aaron's. Sofia clutched her chest as the echoes of her vicious words flooded back to her.She needed to see Annie that moment.And although she had already made it abundantly clear that morning, there was absolutely no way

“Oscar”“Can we sit down and talk?” Ronald’s voice halted his son in his tracks and Oscar couldn’t help but dart a worrisome look to his mother. He could sense the brewing tension in the air that could be cut by a knife.And everywhere fell silent as Cynthia picked her bags to leave.So silent that even as she closed the door, one could hear the soft noises that came from her sobs. Oscar’s heart jackhammered in the uncertainty of what his father had to say and it took a moment for him to calm. “I’m really sorry for tonight” Oscar muttered because even though they hadn’t been on the best of terms, he still knew how much this meant to Ronald and how much he wanted this. So putting aside everything, he still apologized and that brought a faint smile across his father’s lips, cementing the decision he was about to make that night.“I made a mistake” Ronald took a seat right to him.“It was doomed from the moment i realized i had to give everything to Aaron when it should have been you” H

“Theodore.”“Would you like to say something?” Cynthia, who was barely holding unto the microphone stood ahead on the stage and looked to the youngest Baron. At the call of his name, Theo lifted his gaze before subsequently looking around him. He was nervous and one could tell from the way he pointed at himself before falling out of the chair. It wasn’t rocket science to figure out he was a bit drunk—the bottle was even slightly peeking out of his pockets.He staggered his way to the podium but before he said anything, thankfully he was sober enough to realize he owed Cynthia an apology. Because she might not have been his birth mother, but there was no reason to disrespect her the way he did.“I’m sorry for the other time” He whispered and she let it go with a nod. She had bigger worries than something her already been forgiven for. Cynthia was his stepmother but she was the opposite of stereotypical given how she raised Theo like he was her child—like the rest of them.Things weren

THREE WEEKS EARLIER.“We have put a call through to your sister, Mr Baron” The nurse fled back to the ward with the phone still in her hands and her gaze fell on a persistent Dimitri who still insisted to leave that very day. “She said she will come and get you. I’m not sure you’re perfectly fine—““But i can walk!” He yelled at the top of her voice and the nurses backed away in fear. “I can walk and there’s legs would get me home” Dimitri spat as he could do as little as speak a few days ago. He grabbed his bags and launched it across his shoulders.“Keeping me here is wrongful detention. Not when i’ve been discharged”“You forced us to discharge you” The nurse that spoke up was the bravest of them all and Dimitri inched closer to her with a threatening look in her eyes. “Get out of my way” He snarled and before she could even move, he bumped into her shoulders. As he sauntered down the halls, they exchanged a look of relief between themselves.The monster was finally awake.“Fucking