The next morning, Sarah found herself standing outside the Winston Villa Offices, still half-convinced this was all some elaborate joke. The doors opened before she could knock.
"Mrs. Prescott! Perfect timing." Amelia rushed forward, her face bright with excitement. "The lawyer's waiting for you in the private signing room."
Sarah followed her down a marble hallway. "This is really happening?"
"Oh yes, everything's been verified twice over. Here we are."
The lawyer stood as Sarah entered, gesturing to a mahogany table covered in documents. "Mrs. Prescott, welcome. I'm David Chen, representing the trust that purchased these properties."
"The anonymous trust," Sarah said slowly.
"Correct. The sixty million dollars for 'The King's Castle' and 'Serenity Villa' has been paid in full. These deeds require only your signature to complete the transfer of ownership."
Sarah stared at the papers. The numbers looked surreal. "Who would do this? Who has this kind of money?"
"I'm afraid I can't reveal the benefactor's identity. Those were strict instructions." Mr. Chen slid a pen across the table. "Shall we proceed?"
Sarah's hand trembled as she signed her name on each document. With every signature, she felt like she was stepping further from reality.
"Congratulations, Mrs. Prescott. You now own two of the most exclusive properties in the city."
---
An hour later, Sarah sat in Vivian's car with their meager belongings packed in the back seat.
"I can't spend another night listening to my complain complain," Sarah said. "We're moving today."
"To a sixty-million-dollar mansion," Vivian said, shaking her head. "I still can't believe it."
They drove through the Winston Villa complex until they reached a second gate, more imposing than the first. A uniformed guard approached their window.
"Name?"
"Sarah Prescott."
The guard checked his tablet, his eyebrows rising. "Mrs. Prescott, welcome to Winston Villa Estates. Please proceed to the private road."
The gate opened, revealing a winding path that led up a hill, separate from the main complex. At the top sat The King's Castle.
"Oh my goodness," Amanda whispered from the back seat.
The mansion was stunning—modern architecture that seemed to command the entire landscape. Glass and steel merged with natural stone, creating something that looked more like a work of art than a home.
Aaron stepped out first, surveying the property. "Not bad."
"Not bad?" Amanda scrambled out of the car. "Aaron, this place is bigger than Lady Eleanor's estate!"
They walked to the front entrance. Sarah used the key code provided by the lawyer, and the massive doors swung open.
The foyer stretched up three stories, with a grand staircase that split in two directions. Everything was already furnished—plush furniture, original artwork, crystal chandeliers.
"This is insane," Sarah breathed.
Amanda drifted through the rooms like she was sleepwalking. "Look at this marble. Look at these curtains. Sarah, we're rich. We're actually rich."
Vivian caught Aaron's eye and gave him a meaningful look. He nodded slightly.
"I'm going to check out the master bedroom," Sarah said, heading upstairs.
The master suite was enormous, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. But when Sarah opened the walk-in closet, she froze.
It was full of clothes. Designer dresses, shoes, handbags—all in her exact size.
"Aaron!" she called. "You need to see this!"
Aaron and the others came upstairs. Amanda pushed past them into the closet.
"Chanel, Versace, Hermès," she gasped, running her hands over the clothes. "These are all your size, Sarah. How is that possible?"
Sarah felt a chill run down her spine. "Someone's been watching me. They know my measurements, my style preferences."
"So what?" Amanda snapped. "Do you know how much this wardrobe is worth? More than most people make in a lifetime!"
---
That evening, they sat in the mansion's dining room, which could easily seat thirty people. Aaron had ordered dinner from a private chef service—the kind of meal that cost more than most families spent on groceries in a month.
Sarah picked at her food, barely eating.
"What's wrong, honey?" Aaron asked.
"I don't like this," Sarah said, setting down her fork. "I appreciate the gesture, whoever made it. But this is unsettling. This person didn't just buy me a house—they know my favorite designers, my clothing sizes, everything. It's like I'm being watched. Like I'm a doll in someone's dollhouse."
Amanda nearly choked on her wine. "Creepy? Are you out of your mind? This is romantic! Who cares who it is? He's obviously powerful and wealthy, and he clearly adores you!"
She waved her fork dramatically. "You think Aaron could ever do something like this for you? Sarah, if this man ever reveals himself, you dump Aaron immediately and marry him! This is the life you deserve!"
Aaron smiled slightly, taking a sip of his water. "Interesting perspective, Amanda."
"It's the only sane perspective! We're living in a palace!"
"We're living in a cage," Sarah muttered.
---
The next day, a black limousine pulled up outside Vivian's house. Lady Eleanor Prescott emerged, followed by her grandson James. Both wore expressions of barely controlled fury.
Vivian answered the door before they could knock.
"We're here to see Sarah," Lady Eleanor said coldly.
"I'm sorry, they don't live here anymore," Vivian replied. "They moved."
"Moved where?" James demanded.
Vivian smiled sweetly. "The King's Castle at Winston Villa Estates. Have a lovely day."
She closed the door, leaving them standing on the porch.
Twenty minutes later, Lady Eleanor and James sat in their limousine, staring at the Winston Villa complex through the windows.
"This can't be right," James muttered. "There's no way Sarah can afford to live here."
"Maybe she's renting a small unit," Lady Eleanor said, though doubt crept into her voice.
James pulled out his phone and called Sarah.
"James? What is it?"
"We're at the address Vivian gave us, but you're not here. Where are you really?"
"That's the right place. I'll call security to let you through."
James hung up, frowning. A few minutes later, the gate opened and they drove through the complex. When they reached the second gate, James's jaw dropped.
"The private section? That's impossible.
They drove up the winding road until The King's Castle came into view. The limousine pulled to a stop, and both passengers sat in stunned silence.
Sarah was waiting outside, arms crossed.
"Hello, Grandma. James."
Lady Eleanor stepped out of the car, her eyes scanning the massive property. "Sarah. We need to talk."
"Then let's talk inside."
Sarah led them through the grand foyer. Lady Eleanor's practiced eye took in every detail—the quality of the furnishings, the original artwork, the imported marble floors.
"What is the meaning of this, Sarah?"
"What do you mean?"
"Don't play games with me." Lady Eleanor's voice was sharp. "How can you afford to rent such a place? Did you waste the thirty million from that anonymous deposit on this extravagance?"
"I'm not renting. And I didn't touch that money. The house was a gift from another anonymous benefactor."
Lady Eleanor's face went white, then red. "You will stop this nonsense and tell me the truth! Children of this family do not acquire such assets without my knowledge! You're lying!"
Before Sarah could respond, Aaron entered the room carrying a thick folder. He slammed it down on the marble coffee table with a sharp crack that echoed through the room.
"She's not lying. Read the deeds. They're in her name."
James grabbed the documents, his hands shaking slightly. As he read, his face went pale. "Grandma... it's real. Sixty million dollars. Both properties are in her name."
Lady Eleanor stared at the papers, her mouth opening and closing soundlessly. Finally, she composed herself.
"Fine. What do you want?"
Sarah blinked. "What do we want? You're the ones who came here."
"I want you to return to the Crimson Valley project."
Sarah was genuinely shocked. Lady Eleanor never reversed her decisions. "But you gave the project to James. You said I wasn't qualified."
"I've reconsidered. Your contribution in securing the contract was... significant. I've decided you and James will co-lead the project."
Aaron laughed—a cold, humorless sound. "No."
Lady Eleanor's head snapped toward him. "You will not involve yourself in Prescott family affairs, you worthless parasite!"
"Oh, but I am involved," Aaron said, leaning casually against the table. "I know exactly why you're here. Apex won't work with the Prescott family unless Sarah is their sole representative. Jeremy made that very clear to you, didn't he? Your other business partnerships are failing. Every second you waste here costs you money. You don't want Sarah back—you need her back."
Amanda gasped from where she'd been eavesdropping. "Aaron, what are you doing? You'll get us all killed!"
Aaron ignored her, his gaze locked on Lady Eleanor. "So here are the new terms. If you want Sarah's cooperation, you'll get on your knees. Both of you. You'll beg her to come back. And you'll give her sole, undisputed leadership of the project."
"How dare you!" Lady Eleanor shrieked. She whirled on Sarah. "Sarah! You will control your husband this instant! Make him stop this madness!"
Sarah felt the familiar knot of fear in her stomach. Every instinct told her to apologize, to give in, to end this terrifying confrontation. But she looked at Aaron, standing there unafraid, and something else rose up inside her.
She remained silent.
The silence stretched between them. Lady Eleanor saw the choice in her granddaughter's eyes and realized she was beaten. Every second of delay meant another partnership lost, another million down the drain.
With a look of pure hatred directed at Aaron, she slowly lowered herself to her knees on the cold marble floor.
"James," she commanded through gritted teeth.
James looked mortified, but he knelt beside his grandmother.
Amanda stared in shock. Sarah's mouth fell open. Lady Eleanor Prescott, the iron matriarch who had never bowed to anyone, was on her knees in Sarah's living room.
"Sarah," Lady Eleanor began, her voice tight with rage and humiliation. "Please. The family needs you to lead the Crimson Valley project."
Sarah looked at Aaron, who gave an almost imperceptible nod.
"I accept," she said quietly.
Lady Eleanor and James stood quickly, their faces burning with shame. Without another word, they turned and walked toward the door.
"This isn't over," Lady Eleanor said, not turning around.
"No," Aaron replied. "I don't imagine it is."
The front door slammed behind them. Through the window, Sarah watched their limousine disappear down the private road.
"What have we done?" Sarah whispered.
"We've changed the game," Aaron said. "The question is whether we're ready to play it."
Outside, as Lady Eleanor's limousine wound through the city streets, she sat in cold fury, making silent promises. She would stabilize the family business. She would secure their future.
And then she would find a way to completely destroy Aaron Turner.