Chapter 18: Arrival
Meanwhile, in Allen Mansion, Marianna sat at the edge of her daughter's bed, her fingers absently tracing the silk of her dress as she stared into space, brows furrowed in thought. Her blonde hair fell in loose, effortless waves over her shoulders, framing her face in a way that highlighted her striking features. She wore a mint-colored silk wrap dress, its plunging neckline revealing just enough to catch attention, while the thigh-high slit on one side accentuated her curvaceous figure.
Across the room, her daughter, Myra, was busy getting ready for her father's return from a long business trip. Marianna, however, seemed preoccupied, her usual calculated calm slipping as the minutes ticked by.
It had been a long journey for Elliot Allen. When he inherited *Alc Architectures*, the company had been on the verge of collapse, plagued by debts and mismanagement. But Elliot, with his unrelenting drive and resourcefulness, had managed to pull the company back from the brink. Still, despite his efforts, it was a pale shadow of the empire it once was.
The turning point came when Elliot married Elara—Ephyra's mother. Elara had inherited a massive fortune after the untimely death of her parents, and upon their marriage, almost all of it was transferred to Elliot. With that infusion of wealth, *Alc Architectures* was given new life. The company's reputation improved, projects flowed in, and it seemed as if nothing could stop them, even after Elara's tragic death.
But then came Marianna.
A few years into his second marriage, Elliot secured a high-profile contract—one that was supposed to elevate the company to new heights. But the deal was a trap. The company involved paid only half the agreed amount, forcing Elliot to use *Alc's* remaining funds to purchase materials that were later stolen. It turned out that the so-called "partner company" had never existed. The losses from the scam crippled *Alc Architectures*, sending it into a steady decline. And Elliot became a shadow of himself—obsessed with regaining the fortune he'd lost.
Now, for the first time in years, there was hope on the horizon. A prestigious firm from the U.S. had approached *Alc* with a major contract to build a branch in China. Elliot had flown out three weeks ago to finalize negotiations, a trip that was supposed to last two weeks but had dragged on into its third.
Marianna knew exactly why her husband had extended his trip. She had long grown indifferent to the excuses, the late nights, and the emotional distance. As long as no other woman was bold enough to threaten her position in the household, she didn't care. Let him take all the time he needed.
But that wasn't what was bothering her now.
She stood up abruptly, pacing behind one of the plush white couches that lined the pink-and-gold-themed bedroom. Her manicured fingers grazed the soft fabric as she walked back and forth, unable to shake the unease gnawing at her.
"Mom..." Myra sighed from the vanity, her hand paused mid-air as she applied a final touch of lip gloss. She turned to look at her mother through the reflection in the mirror. "You need to calm down. Didn't you say they were professionals? If they're from the Black Market, they know what they're doing. Ephyra's probably dead already."