JANE POV


I sat across from my father in his private study. The room smelt like old books and dust, just like always. I used to feel safe here, but not anymore.

"Tell me the whole truth, Dad," I said quietly.

He didn't look at me at first and his hands shook slightly as he poured himself a glass of water. "I did what I thought was right, Jane," he said. "You were growing too fast. The world you are entering is dangerous."


"So you worked with my enemies? You helped Elfread steal from me?" My voice trembled with anger. "You didn't protect me, what You betrayed me."

He finally looked at me and his eyes were tired. "I was trying to protect the Grande legacy, everything I built. I didn't want to be pushed out like an old man. I thought if I controlled more, I could help you from the top."


I felt a lump in my throat, but I held it down. "You hurt me and you almost destroyed everything I built."

He sighed deeply. "I know. That is why I am stepping down. I am dissolving the company. It is the only way to make things right."

"Dissolving?" I blinked. "You would let all your workers go? Destroy every contract? Lose every patent?"

He nodded slowly. "It is better than letting it rot."

I stood up firmly "No. You are not doing that. I am buying your company."

He looked at me, surprised. "You want to buy it?"

"Yes. I will merge it with mine and keep the workers, keep the contracts. I will make it part of something bigger."

He hesitated. "Will you keep the name?"

"Only if I have full control, no tricks, no back doors. You stay out of it."

He nodded slowly. "Fine. The name lives on under you."

We signed the papers three days later.

The media explodes with the news. They call it the biggest corporate merger in the country.

Stocks went up and employees cheered. I stood on the rooftop of my building and watched the city, but I didn't feel joy. I felt heavy.

At home, I took off my heels and dropped on the couch. My phone wouldn't stop ringing, reporters, lawyers, board members.

Then I saw it. An envelope, on my doorstep and I picked it up slowly. There was no name and there was no stamp.

Inside was one piece of paper, Four words, printed in black:

We know about the baby.

My hands started shaking and I looked around, but one washere.

Someone knows and they are watching.


GRANDE POV

She stormed out of my office and her footsteps echoed down the hallway.

I didn't move, I couldn't. My hands were still resting on the desk and the papers left behind were still warm.

Her voice still rang in my ears.

'It's mine now. I will fix what you broke."

I leaned back in my chair and stared at the ceiling. My chest felt tight. Not from anger but from guilt and shame.

I didn't plan for things to end this way and I only wanted to protect her. That was all.

But now? She looked at me like I was her enemy and my phone buzzed.

It was an alert:

Grande Corp: Officially Merged. Jane Grande Holdings now holds 100% control.

I pressed my lips together. It was real now and everything I built, it was hers. All of it.

I should feel proud and instead, I felt empty.

I looked around my office and read books. The framed photo of her as a baby. Her little hand is mine.

I remembered the day I took that photo.

She had chickenpox and she cried all night and I held her until morning as now she wouldn't even let me speak.

A knock taps gently at the door.

'Sir?" It's one of my old assistants.

'Yes?"

'There is a delivery for you." She handed me a thick envelope. 'It's from Jane."

I opened it slowly. Inside, there was a letter.

Her handwriting was neat, sharp and confidence.

'For the sake of the company, I will not destroy the Grande name. But you will have no say in what I do next. This is not revenge. It's my responsibility. I will carry it from here. You don't need to follow me."

I folded the letter and my throat burnt, she was right. I caused the damage.

I tried to control too much, her future, her company, even her trust and I glanced at the retirement contract again.

I didn't sign it.

Instead, I write one sentence at the bottom of the page:

'Forgive me one day, Jane. That's all I ask."

I closed the file. She was stronger than me now. Maybe she always was.

But I still have secrets she didn' know and I didn't think she was ready for them yet.


Jane's POV

I sat in my new office and the old Grande Corp logo was already gone. My name was on the wall now and Grande Holdings.

It felt strange and I thought I would be happy. But I was not smiling.

Taking over my father's company wasn't the plan, it was not like this.

He betrayed me and lied to me, but a part of me still wanted his support.

Now, I have everything. But it felt like I lost something too.

I opened the letter I sent him. I wonder if he read it yet. I didn't write it to hurt him. I just needed to make things clear.

This was mine now, my path and my rules.

I turned to the window and the city lights were bright, busy and live.

There's no going back now.

I pressed a hand over my belly and no one knew yet, not even my father.

Hades was the father and very soon, he might find out too, and I really do not want him to find out, I don't want him in my child's life.

I whispered to myself, 'Stay strong, Jane. No matter what comes next."