Karen's Pov I hadn’t planned on confronting Devon. In fact, I’d done everything in my power to avoid moments like this. But now, standing just a few feet away from him on the crowded beach, there was no denying the twist of fate—or perhaps sheer coincidence—that had brought him here.“What are you doing here, Devon?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.He glanced at me, his hands buried deep in the pockets of his faded jeans. His shirt was worn, the fabric fraying at the seams, and his shoes looked like they’d seen better days. It was jarring. This wasn’t the confident, polished man I’d once known.“Do I need a reason to be at the beach?” he replied with a half-smile, but his tone lacked its usual charm.I crossed my arms, feeling my chest tighten. “Maybe not. But you being here—now, of all times—doesn’t feel accidental.”His smile faded, replaced by something softer, almost vulnerable. “Maybe it’s not. Or maybe I just needed some fresh air and ended up in the same place as yo
Karen's POVThe hum of the projector filled the conference room as charts and graphs flickered to life on the screen. Around the table, Troy’s team sat poised with notebooks, laptops, and an air of readiness that spoke volumes about their dedication.I adjusted my blazer, scanning the room. The atmosphere was electric—full of possibility and momentum. This was the kind of environment where real change happened, and I felt a surge of excitement despite the weight of the morning’s events still lingering in my mind.Troy stood at the head of the table, his sleeves rolled up, revealing forearms marked with faint scars that told stories he rarely shared. His voice carried the room, confident and precise, as he outlined the agenda for the day.“Our goal is clear,” he began, his dark eyes sweeping across the table. “We need to increase market penetration in untapped regions while solidifying our dominance in existing territories. To do that, we’re focusing on three pillars: innovation, custo
Devon’s POVThe beach had been an escape, or at least I thought it would be. The sound of the waves, the salty air—it all should’ve calmed me down. But the more I thought about Kareem's words, the more I felt the weight of them crushing me. He was right. I was falling apart. Every drink, every bad decision—it was all just adding to the mess that I’d created. What was I even doing with my life?The walk back to my apartment had felt longer than usual, and by the time I stepped into the Uber, I barely had the energy to breathe, let alone talk. My head ached from thinking too much. I reached into my pockets, pulling out the last of my spare change. It wasn’t much. Just enough to get me through tonight. The car pulled up in front of the bar, the familiar sight of it hitting me with a sense of dread. I didn’t even know why I came here anymore. It used to be a place where I could forget everything, but now it was just another reminder of how far I’d fallen. Still, I couldn’t help it. The t
Karen’s POVThe day stretched on endlessly. The team had dispersed, Troy’s words of encouragement still ringing in their ears, but my mind remained clouded. Devon still hasn't shown up for three days now and his absence gnawed at me, an itch I couldn't scratch no matter how much I tried to drown it in work, spreadsheets and schedules.The office was quiet now, save for the hum of the heater battling the January chill. Paris and Austin were at their grandmother's for the weekend, leaving no distractions to pull me out of the spiral of my thoughts. I wanted to convince myself it was just another day, that Devon's "personal day" meant nothing. But the truth was, it did.I leaned back in my chair, staring at the ceiling. The weight of the past clung to me like a shroud. How could someone who had hurt me so deeply still have such a hold on my thoughts? I hated that he did.Picking up my phone, I scrolled through my contacts, my finger hovering over his name. I shouldn’t. I knew I shouldn’t
Karen's Pov “Let me see them.”he said, his words halting my steps.I froze, my heart skipping a beat. Slowly, I glanced over my shoulder, just enough to meet his gaze.“What?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.“Let me see them,” he repeated, his tone quieter now, almost pleading. “Let them at least know who their father is.”My heart clenched, but I kept my face cold, my expression unreadable.I wanted to respond, to tell him no again, but he continued before I could find the words.“And I promise, I’ll stay away after that. Just… just let me be a part of their life, even if it’s just a little piece.”His words caught me off guard, piercing through the layers of my resolve. My breath hitched, and I felt the familiar sting of tears threatening to escape. A single tear betrayed me, slipping down my cheek, but I quickly brushed it away and stiffened my posture, replacing my momentary weakness with a hardened demeanor.“No,” I said firmly, my voice sharp and unwavering. “You will
Devon’s POVThe bar’s lights flicker above me, a dull, sterile glow that does nothing to soften the harshness of the night. My face still burns where the bruises are fresh, the swelling a constant reminder of the fight I’d tried to forget. I shouldn’t even be here. This place, these people, it all feels like a mask—something to hide behind when I can’t bear to face what I’ve done. What I’ve lost.I grip my glass, watching the amber liquid swirl, but I don’t drink. I’m not even sure why I came. Maybe to drown out the ache in my chest. Maybe to pretend I’m not thinking about her—about Karen.I wish I had just made things right. What the hell was I thinking, pushing her away? Pushing everyone away. All this time, I told myself I was doing the right thing, but look at where I am now. Alone. With nothing but the guilt weighing me down, eating me alive.I set the glass down and rub my hand across my face, my fingers grazing over the bruises that mark me like a map of every mistake I’ve ever
Karen's POV“Lauren?” Her name rolled bitterly down my tongue A shiver down my spine. The years hadn’t dulled the impact of her presence on my life, nor the storm of emotions that hearing her voice again unleashed."Lauren?" I whispered, almost unable to believe it. It felt like a ghost calling me from the past, a specter that had been buried but was now rising to the surface.There was a soft, almost teasing laugh on the other end of the line."Did you miss me, Karen?" she purred, her voice as sharp and sarcastic as I remembered. "I thought you'd be happier to hear from an old friend."I swallowed hard, my pulse quickening. "What do you want, Lauren?"She was silent for a moment, but I could hear the faint sound of her shifting, perhaps moving in her seat, or simply savoring the effect her voice had on me. "Oh, nothing much," she said, dragging the words out slowly. "I was just curious. WonderingThe air felt thick with tension as Lauren's voice lingered in my ear, like a shadow I
Karen’s POVThe past few days had been nothing short of chaotic. Devon hadn’t shown up to work since our argument, and while I told myself I didn’t care, the curiosity about his absence refused to leave me alone. Then, of course, Lauren had to crawl out of whatever hole she’d been hiding in to threaten me. Her words had been running around in my head ever since.I turned a corner, heading toward my office. The familiar sounds of the office surrounded me—phones ringing, muffled conversations and the occasional clack of a keyboard. It was a symphony I normally found comforting. Workers getting down to work for what they are here for. As I approached Devon’s office, I caught sight of the partially open door. Something pulled at me. I slowed my steps, my gaze drawn to the figure slumped at his desk.It was Devon.He didn’t notice me. His head rested on his desk and shoulders curved inward as if carrying the weight of the world. His usual appearance was in shambles—no tie and a rumpled s
EpilogueSix Months LaterThe shopping mall bussied around Karen as she wove through the aisles, her heart hammering in frustration."Austin!" she called, glancing around the shelves filled with colorful toys.No answer."Paris?" she tried again.She spun around, her eyes scanning the store, but the two little troublemakers were nowhere to be found. A pang of panic crept up her spine. Jordie, who had been helping her keep an eye on them, jogged up, her face mirroring Karen’s concern."I swear, I just saw them two minutes ago," Jordie said, glancing around.Karen let out an exasperated sigh, running a hand through her hair. "They're fast. Too fast."She pushed past the rows of toys, checking behind shelves and peeking into play areas, but the kids were gone. Her heart pounded harder.Then, suddenly—"You might want to be careful with these two."A deep voice—steady, familiar.Karen turned sharply, and her breath caught in her throat.A man stood a few feet away, holding both Austin and
Karen’s POVThe door burst open with a thunderous bang, the sound echoing through the cold night air. My breath hitched as a swarm of armed officers stormed in, their guns raised in precision, their movements swift and practiced.“Hands in the air! Nobody move!” a commanding voice barked.The room shifted instantly. The arrogant smirks on Liam and Troy’s faces faded, replaced by something I had never seen before—fear.“What the hell is going on?” Liam hissed, his eyes darting toward the doorway.And then she walked in.Lauren.Clad in a sleek black jacket, her presence radiated confidence. She stepped forward, unbothered by the chaos around her, her gaze sharp and unyielding."You forgot about me," she said, her voice dripping with amusement.Troy’s jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing. "Lauren," he spat. "I should’ve known you’d stick your nose in where it doesn’t belong."She smirked, stepping closer, her gaze sweeping over the room before landing on me. There was something in her eyes—
Karen's POV I forced my eyes open, but my mind felt sluggish, struggling to catch up with my surroundings. A dull ache pulsed at the base of my skull, and my body felt impossibly heavy, as if every limb had been weighed down. The sharp sting of cold air sent a shiver down my spine, and a strange, salty scent filled my lungs. This wasn’t the alley. I blinked rapidly, my vision adjusting to the dim light. Instead of damp concrete and graffiti-stained walls, I saw open space. The ground beneath me was rough and uneven, dirt and gravel scraping against my skin as I tried to move. A cold breeze brushed against my skin, sending a shiver through my body. My limbs felt heavy, but I forced myself to move, shaking off the haze.Where had I been?The last thing I remembered was the alley—Devon tied to the chair, Troy’s grip on my arm, Liam’s smirk—then, darkness.As my vision slowly sharpened, I realized we weren’t there anymore. The damp, suffocating alleyway had been replaced with an op
Karen’s POV“Alright, they’ll be back this afternoon.” Jordie’s voice came through the phone, warm and reassuring.In the background, I could hear the kids giggling and playing. My heart ached with how much I missed them.“Let them stop over at the ice cream shop, okay? There’s no rush,” I said with a small smile.The response was immediate—excited squeals and the sound of tiny feet shuffling around.“Mommy!” Austin’s voice piped up next. “Luna and Lucas told us stories!”I chuckled. “Oh? What kind of stories?”“About a pirate and a lost treasure!” he said excitedly. “But Lucas says the treasure was actually a puppy!”“That sounds like a fun story,” I mused. “Did you like it?”“Yes! But Aiden said the pirate should’ve had a pet parrot instead.”Aiden’s voice came in the background. “Because pirates always have parrots, Mommy!”I laughed softly. “Well, I can’t argue with that.”“Can we tell you the story when we get home?” Austin asked hopefully.“Of course, sweetie.” I smiled, my hear
Devon’s POVThis was it.The final move.If I wanted to fix the mess I had created, if I wanted any chance of making things right—not for myself, but for Karen—this was what I had to do. Even if it was the last thing I ever did.Stepping out of the cab, I adjusted my coat and walked toward the elevator. The security at the front barely acknowledged me; Liam had always been arrogant enough to think no one would dare come after him.The elevator ride up was suffocating each passing second amplifying the weight pressing down on my chest.As soon as the doors slid open, I stepped into the hallway leading to Liam’s office. The air carried a faint scent of cigars and leather, a familiar stench that brought back too many memories I’d rather forget.I pushed open the doors without knocking.Liam was seated behind his oversized desk, a whiskey glass in one hand, his other hand lazily flipping through documents. The moment he saw me, his lips curved into an amused smirk, his dark eyes glinting
Devon’s POVThe night was thick with silence, the kind that settled deep into the bones and made a man question everything. The cold metal bars in front of me felt heavier than they should, the dim flickering light above casting elongated shadows across the small, suffocating cell.I leaned back against the wall, running a hand through my hair as my mind spiraled into the past—into the mess that had landed me here.Karen.Her name echoed in my head like a ghost refusing to be forgotten. I remembered the accusations, the way they had thrown my name into the fire, claiming I had been the one threatening her and the kids. The sheer disbelief in her eyes had stung more than I cared to admit.Had it really come to this?A sharp rattling sound jolted me out of my thoughts.I straightened, my instincts kicking in as I turned toward the cell door. The metal groaned, the lock shifting before it swung open.Troy stood there, his face impassive but his eyes burning with something close to contem
Karen’s POVMy breath caught in my throat as I stared at Lauren. The weight of her betrayal hit me like a punch to the gut. I had suspected, but now the reality of her involvement was undeniable."You've been sending me messages," I said, my voice trembling with a mixture of rage and disbelief. "Threatening me, threatening my kids. What the heck do you want? And then you go ahead and kill somebody. You're a psychopath." The words spilled out, the anger rising in me with each passing second.Her lips curled into an almost sinister smile. She didn’t even flinch at the accusation. Instead, she laughed—a soft, mocking sound that made my skin crawl."I hate you Karen,” she said. "And yes, I’ve been sending some messages. But it was only to check up on you. Nothing much. Just checking how things were going." Her voice dripped with sarcasm, as if everything she had done was just some petty game.I could feel my blood boiling. "You killed somebody," I snapped. "How can you sit there and act
Karen’s POVI sat in the small office at the station, my fingers curled into my lap as I tried to steady my breathing. The tension in the room was suffocating, thick with the weight of everything that had just happened. Troy stood in front of me, his arms crossed, his gaze hard and unyielding.“They have leads, Karen,” he said, his voice firm. “And all of them point to Devon.”I shook my head, my stomach twisting uncomfortably. “That’s impossible,” I whispered. “Devon wouldn’t do this. He—”Troy cut me off, stepping closer and placing a file down on the desk in front of me. “We just got this,” he said. “And I need you to face it.”Slowly, I reached forward, my hands trembling as I flipped the folder open. My breath caught in my throat.It was the same photo. A blurry image of a man, caught in the act of what looked like a secret exchange. The shadows obscured his features, but the shape, the stance—It was Devon?I felt like the air had been sucked out of my lungs.“No,” I murmured, m
Devon's pov.The next day, I walked into Karen’s office, my mind still reeling from the night before. The memory of her lips, her body pressing against mine, and the raw emotions we had shared clung to me like a second skin. I couldn’t stop thinking about it, couldn’t stop feeling it.I had barely slept, replaying every detail in my head, wondering what she must be thinking now. Did she regret it? Did it mean anything to her? Did it mean as much to her as it did to me?Her office door was slightly ajar, and I caught a glimpse of her inside. She was seated at her desk, her expression neutral, focused on something on her computer screen. But I knew her well enough to notice the tension in her shoulders, the way her fingers tapped absently against the edge of her desk.She was thinking about last night too.I took a deep breath, steeling myself, and pushed the door open fully. She looked up, her green eyes locking onto mine. For a moment, neither of us spoke. The air between us felt char