The morning buzz in the Harper estate was louder than usual, a sign that the wedding preparations were reaching their fever pitch. Staff bustled through the halls, their voices low but hurried. Sophie lingered near the staircase, watching the chaos unfold. Her coffee grew cold in her hands as she tried to steady her nerves.
The pressure of the impending wedding was suffocating, but it wasn't just the event weighing on her—it was the secrets she carried, the proof of Maxwell's illegal dealings, and Charlotte's veiled threats. Every glance in her direction felt like a warning, every polite smile a test.
As she descended the stairs, her phone buzzed in her pocket. Pulling it out, she saw a message from Victor: I've found something. Call me when you can.
Her stomach tightened. She wanted to respond immediately, but she knew she had to be careful. Every move she made was being watched, every conversation scrutinized.
In the dining room, breakfast was a tense affair. Maxwell sat at the head of the table, reading the morning paper. His expression was calm, but there was an edge to his demeanor, as though he were bracing for an attack. Charlotte was as poised as ever, discussing final details with Daniel while Ethan sipped his coffee in silence, his sharp eyes flicking between everyone at the table.
Sophie forced herself to eat, though her appetite was nonexistent. The clinking of silverware against china was the only sound, the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air.
Maxwell cleared his throat, setting the newspaper down. "There's an article in today's paper," he began, his tone measured. "It mentions the wedding. Nothing damaging, but it's a reminder of how closely the media is watching us."
Daniel looked up, frowning. "What kind of article?"
"Speculation," Maxwell replied. "About the Harper legacy and what this marriage means for the family."
Sophie's stomach churned. She could feel Charlotte's gaze on her, sharp and assessing.
"They're vultures," Charlotte said, her voice cold. "Always circling, waiting for any sign of weakness."
Maxwell nodded. "Which is why we need to be vigilant. Any hint of scandal could be disastrous."
Sophie's chest tightened. The reminder of what was at stake was suffocating. She glanced at Ethan, who met her gaze with a subtle nod. The message was clear: They couldn't afford to slip.
After breakfast, Sophie retreated to the library, her thoughts racing. She dialed Victor's number, her fingers trembling as she held the phone to her ear.
"Sophie," Victor answered, his tone brisk. "I've found a link between Grove Holdings and a series of offshore accounts tied to Maxwell."
Her breath caught. "What does it mean?"
"It means he's using those accounts to hide assets and funnel money through illegal channels," Victor said. "If this gets out, it could ruin him—and anyone associated with him."
Sophie sank into a chair, her heart pounding. "What should I do?"
"Be careful," Victor warned. "If Maxwell even suspects you're digging into this, he won't hesitate to protect himself."
Sophie's grip on the phone tightened. "I have to stop him. I can't let this continue."
Victor sighed. "Then you need to be smart. Don't act until you're certain you can expose him without putting yourself in danger."
Sophie ended the call, her mind swirling with possibilities and risks. She had the proof she needed to bring Maxwell down, but the cost of doing so felt insurmountable. Her phone buzzed again, this time with a message from Ethan: Meet me in the study. Now.
She hesitated for only a moment before heading to the study. Ethan was already there, leaning against the desk with his arms crossed. His usual smirk was absent, replaced by a grim determination.
"What did Victor say?" Ethan asked, his tone low.
Sophie closed the door behind her, her voice barely above a whisper. "Maxwell's using Grove Holdings to hide illegal transactions. Offshore accounts, laundering money—it's all there."
Ethan nodded, his expression hard. "I figured as much. The question is, what are you going to do about it?"
Sophie clenched her fists. "I need to expose him. But if I do, it'll destroy Daniel. He doesn't deserve to be dragged into this."
Ethan's jaw tightened. "Daniel's not as innocent as you think, Sophie. He might not know the details, but he's benefited from Maxwell's corruption his entire life. Turning a blind eye doesn't absolve him."
The words stung, but Sophie couldn't ignore the truth in them. "I can't just abandon him," she said, her voice trembling. "I love him."
Ethan's gaze softened, but his tone remained firm. "Love isn't enough to fix this, Sophie. You need to decide what matters more—the truth, or protecting someone who's complicit in the lies."
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Sophie avoided Daniel as much as she could, unable to face him without feeling the weight of her secrets. She spent hours walking the grounds, her mind a tangled mess of guilt and determination.
As evening fell, the tension in the estate grew. Sophie overheard snippets of conversations among the staff, whispers about a journalist snooping around for a story on the Harpers. The words sent a chill down her spine. If the press uncovered Maxwell's dealings before she could act, the fallout would be uncontrollable.
That night, Sophie found herself in the garden, the cool breeze brushing against her skin. She stared at the fountain, its gentle trickle the only sound in the stillness. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps behind her.
"I thought I'd find you here," Daniel said, his voice soft.
She turned to face him, her chest tightening at the sight of him. He looked tired, the strain of the past few days evident in his expression.
"You've been distant," he said, stepping closer. "What's going on, Sophie?"
She opened her mouth, the urge to confess rising in her throat. But the image of Maxwell's cold smile and Charlotte's sharp warnings stopped her.
"I'm just overwhelmed," she said, her voice trembling. "The wedding, the media—it's a lot."
Daniel reached for her hand, his touch warm and reassuring. "You don't have to go through this alone. Whatever it is, we'll face it together."
Her heart ached at his words. She wanted to believe him, to trust that he could handle the truth. But the fear of losing him kept her silent.
"I know," she said quietly, forcing a smile. "Thank you."
As Daniel pulled her into an embrace, Sophie's phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, her heart sinking at the message on the screen: We have a problem. Meet me in the garage. It was from Ethan.
Sophie pulled away, her pulse quickening. "I need some air," she said quickly, stepping back.
Daniel frowned but nodded. "Take your time."
Sophie hurried toward the garage, her heart racing. She had a sinking feeling that whatever Ethan had discovered would only make the
storm brewing around them even more dangerous.