ELISE’S POVI was halfway through breakfast when Hannah strolled in, her expression inscrutable. Just as I was about to take a bite of my eggs, her words halted my hand mid-motion.“Mrs. Hernandez requests your presence in her room, ma’am.”My gaze shot up, my stare sharpening in surprise, “Lauren?” I asked, incredulously, dropping my fork with a clatter.She nodded, “Yes, ma’am.”“Why?” I demanded, my mind running in circles.She opened her mouth to respond, but I cut her off, “You know what? It’s fine. You’re too dumb to know anything. You can go,” I waved her off dismissively, and she bowed slightly before sauntering out.After the disastrous incident at the gala, I had retreated into myself. I hadn’t spoken much to anyone, not even Miguel. Of course, he didn’t bother to engage with me either. We had become more like strangers sharing a space.Most importantly, I avoided Lauren and David at all costs. I would wait until they were done having their meal before having mine. Just as t
Elise's POV I stormed into the office building like a hurricane, my heart racing from the confrontation with Lauren. Her words echoed in my mind—sharp, biting, relentless.I was tired of being pushed around, tired of being constantly humiliated by all of them, and If I had to go the Kiera route, so be it. I wasn’t scared of their power and connections. I was married to their son, one of the most influential men in the city. I had just as much power as they did.Arriving at BYRON Corporations, I made a beeline for Miguel’s office, my resolve steeling with each step.As I approached his door, Tania, his secretary, blocked my path, her tight smile as fake as a three-dollar bill, “I’m sorry, Mrs. Hernandez, but Mr. Miguel is in a meeting,” she announced, her tone saccharine.I couldn’t give two f*cks about him or any stupid meeting, “Let me in,” I insisted, my voice rising like the tide, urgency lacing my words.Just as she was about to respond, I brushed past her, ignoring her startled
KIERA’S POVI strolled into the office earlier than usual. The morning sun streamed through the windows, casting warm rays across the floor. The stillness was comforting, a stark contrast to the chaos that usually erupted once everyone arrived.My first stop was Gabriel’s office, to confirm if he needed assistance with any other thing since he had left me a text stating that he was done sorting the emails—the task that was literally a thirst trap.I knocked lightly before stepping inside."Hi.. umm. I came to see if you need any assistance with anything," I asked, my lips twisting to the side.He barely glanced up from his PC screen, his fingers flying across the keyboard, “I’ll call you if I need anything,” he said, his tone flat and dismissive, like a door slamming shut.Disappointment washed over me, but I kept my face neutral, “Sure thing,” I replied, forcing a smile before retreating to my own office.I sank into my swivel chair, the creak accompanying my movements. I spun around
KIERA’S POV“Are you sure you got the name right? It could be Kayla or Kieran or even Keish—”“No, Miss, there were no misspellings,” the delivery man interjected, a hint of impatience creeping into his voice.He handed me a slip of paper, and there it was—my name, clear as day.“Did you get the person’s name?” I implored, curiosity bubbling up like a shaken soda.“No, Miss,” he replied. “But he said he would call you soon,” he added.The whole situation felt off-kilter, but I accepted the bouquet of flowers, their vibrancy overshadowing my swirling thoughts.“Please sign this,” he said, holding out a receipt.I scrawled my signature, the pen scratching on the paper feeling far more significant than it should have.As the delivery guy hurried off, I cradled the flowers, inhaling their sweet fragrance.Who could possibly want to send me flowers? My mind raced through the possibilities like a whirlwind. Damien? Could he really be the one behind this? I could almost picture him smirking
GABRIIEL’S POV“I’ll catch you at 6 PM. Let’s not make it a habit to wait,” I conveyed wrapping up the call with my business partner, Bernardo.As I scrolled through my phone, I reviewed my inbox, sifting through the messages that piled up while I was busy with other matters.Then a message from my informant caught my eye.[The south coast cartels aren’t on Miguel’s side anymore. Also, I learned Miguel was looking for Kiera a while ago, but for some reason, he stopped]My grip tightened around the phone, anger coiling in my chest like a snake ready to strike.Why TF was Miguel looking for Kiera? What did he need her for? Wasn’t he content with his little plaything Elise anymore? I could only assume Elise had convinced him that Kiera was dead, which was why he’d stopped his search.I had to keep Kiera safe, no matter the cost. Until I could devise a solid plan, Miguel and Elise must never find out that she was still alive.The shift in cartel loyalty didn’t surprise me; they had turned
GABRIEL’S POV“Was all that really necessary?” Kiera’s voice sliced through the charged atmosphere as she stepped into the elevator behind me.I could hear the edge in her tone, and for a split second, I thought about ignoring her. My anger still simmered, barely contained, and the last thing I wanted was to get into a debate right now.I jabbed the button for my floor, my jaw set tight as I struggled to rein in my emotions. The image of her sitting in that car, laughing with that fool, replayed in my mind like an unwanted film loop. My fists clenched involuntarily at my sides, aching for release.“Gabriel, I’m talking to you!” She insisted, moving closer, her frustration radiating off her.Why does she always have to push me? I took a deep breath, trying to quell the storm brewing inside me, remaining silent.“Are you really going to ignore me?” She pressed, her voice escalating. “Why do you get to decide who I can or can’t talk to?”I turned to her, my patience thinning like a stre
KIERA’S POVAs I stepped into my room, the door clicked shut behind me. I tossed my bag into the closet with a dismissive flick, the relief washing over me. Stripping off my clothes, I let them fall to the floor.Grabbing my phone, I pressed it to life as I made my way toward the bathroom. The argument between Damien and Gabriel had been enough to drive anyone to the brink. So, I had Marco drive me home just to escape their relentless bickering. I get it; Damien was on edge because he cared. But Gabriel? The guy was the king of; No meddling, no feelings bla bla bla. So why the sudden urge to protect me like I was a fragile piece of China?I placed my phone on the bathroom counter, the screen lighting up with a social media notification that I promptly ignored—because who needed more drama?Sinking into the warm water of the tub, I hoped it would dissolve the piled-up stress. But just as I began to relax, I heard a noise from my room.What now? My heart raced, leaping like a startled r
KIERA’S POV The clock on my wall ticked lazily toward 5:30 PM, and I was nowhere near ready. I’d dozed off after my bath, blissfully unaware when my 4 PM alarm had sung its tune.Standing in front of the mirror, I adjusted my hair, and I was just about to apply my makeup when a knock at the door interrupted me. I reluctantly strolled to open it only to find Clara standing there.“Miss, Master Gabriel said I should inform you that you’re running late,” she said, her tone polite yet urgent.“Tell him I’m almost done,” I replied, injecting warmth into my voice.As she walked away, I closed the door and sauntered back to the mirror, finishing my makeup with precision. I reached for the stunning red dress I had laid out on my bed, slipping into it flawlessly.The dress hugged my curves perfectly, its fabric shimmering under the light. It was a daring floor-length number with a plunging neckline that left just enough to the imagination. I paired it with strappy heels that added just the ri
ELISE’S POVMy heart raced as I glanced at the clock—8 a.m. Still no sign of Miguel. Part of me felt a sense of relief; maybe this was a good thing. At least, it would give my kitty a much-needed break from his destruction. But then the thought of Freya crept in, and my mood soured instantly.I grabbed my phone, desperate for a distraction, and scrolled through my messages. One stood out—a text from my mom, asking if I had managed to “sack” Freya. Embarrassment washed over me like ice water. I tossed my phone aside, the screen lighting up with a mocking glow.What could I tell her? That I had been bested by a woman who sauntered into my home like she owned the place? The thought made me cringe.The abrupt knock on my door wasn’t a polite one. It was sharp and persistent, the kind that grated on your nerves before you even answered it. I groaned, throwing my phone onto the nightstand, and stomped over. I swung the door open, and there she was Freya, standing there with her perfectly sc
KIERA’S POVThe water was warm as it surrounded me, but it barely registered. My thoughts roared louder than the two mega speakers together, consuming me in a whirlpool of emotions I couldn’t escape. My fingers brushed against my lips as if they still held the ghost of his kiss.Gabriel.The way he kissed me... it was searing, intense, and damn it—undeniably perfect. I hated that I loved it. I hated that it left me craving more, that it lingered in my chest like an ember refusing to die. Would I be crazy to say I had missed it so much? It was everything I had longed for and yet, every time I thought about it, guilt stabbed through me, sharp and unrelenting.Damien. His face flashed in my mind, his grin, the way he looks at me like I was his entire world. What would he think? How would he feel if he finds out what had happened between Gabriel and me?I let out a shaky breath, brushing my face. Two brothers were in love with me, and I was hopelessly drawn to both. I was torn between two
GABRIEL’S POVThe morning light streamed through the curtains, casting a golden glow over the bed. My eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the soft golden glow. The first thing I saw was her—Kiera, lying beside me, her face serene in sleep. In that moment, I was struck by her beauty. She was stunning in a way that made my chest tighten. Her hair tumbled in soft waves around her face, and her lips, slightly parted, looked so inviting. Watching the rise and fall of her chest was hypnotic, and I couldn’t tear my eyes away.For so long, I had held back my feelings for her, but the incident with Linda had pushed me over the edge. I had confessed my feelings without thinking, and ever since, Kiera had been acting a bit awkward around me.I knew she wouldn’t be thrilled about sharing a room, but I craved the closeness, the intimacy of just being in the same space. When Abuela suggested it, I felt like I had hit the jackpot. I pretended to argue against the idea, but deep down, I knew there was
DAMIEN’S POVI tossed and turned, the sheets twisting around me like a noose. Kiera’s face haunted me—her laughter, her touch, the way her eyes sparkled, her smile. But that wasn’t what kept me awake all night. No, it was the thought of her with Gabriel.I couldn’t shake the image of them together. The way he looks at her makes it seem like she is the last drop of whiskey in a dry bar. What if something happened between them last night? Did she look at him the way she looks at me? Did she touch him? The mere thought made my stomach burn.I flung the covers off and swung my legs over the side of the bed. Do I trust Kiera? The two of them in the same room felt like dangling cheese in front of a mouse—an invitation to disaster, too tempting, too dangerous. Even if Kiera held her ground, I knew that smooth-talking bastard Gabriel could charm the skin off an apple.Just as I was about to drown in my thoughts, a knock echoed through the room.I barely had time to collect my thoughts when Be
KIERA’S POVAfter dinner, the room felt like a chamber in hell, simmering with unspoken words. Gabriel and I barely spoke to each other, and I could tell she sensed the tension in the air, but she said nothing, her silence almost deafening.Gabriel eventually retreated to his room, leaving me across from Abuela, who was diligently knitting a scarf, her needles clicking like a clock.“Mrs. Vanessa?” I finally ventured, my voice almost swallowed by the silence.“Oh, come on, dear. We’re past the formalities, aren’t we? You’ll soon be my daughter-in-law, so you might as well start calling me Abuela,” she replied, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of her lips.I forced a smile back, the warmth barely reaching my eyes, “Okay, Abuela. Thank you for the amazing meal. It’s been a long day, so I think I’ll call it a night.”Her gaze lifted, eyes sparkling with mischief that sent a shiver down my spine, “Rest well, my dear.”As I nodded, my heart raced with a flutter of anxiety.Upon our ar
ELISE’S POVI blinked rapidly, trying to process Hannah's words, “What did you just say?” I leaned in closer, my brows knitting together like two angry caterpillars.“Umm… Miss… Miss Freya is here,” Hannah stuttered, her confidence crumbling under my glare.“Are you stupid?” I bit out, my voice climbing an octave as I raised my hand, nearly striking her across the face. She flinched, stepping back as if I were a live wire and I halted mid-motion, catching myself just in time.I took a deep breath, my lips tightening into a thin line as I let my hand drop, “Where is she?” I demanded.“She’s, um… she…” Hannah cleared her throat, her finger awkwardly pointing toward the stairs as she scratched her neck, a nervous gesture that made my irritation flare.“Speak up already, you moron!” I snapped, my impatience palpable.Her eyes widened in fear, and she blurted, “She’s in the living room!”I crossed my arms tightly over my chest, my nails digging into my skin as I fought to keep my composure
ELISE’S POVI lay sprawled across the bed, feeling like a marionette whose strings had been cut, my body still throbbing from the wild, brutal passion of the previous night.The clock on the nightstand read 10 a.m., but the weight of my exhaustion kept me anchored to the sheets. Miguel had transformed me into his sex toy, exploring his dirtiest darkest fantasies. I knew I desperately wanted to be fucked, and touched by him, but I never signed up for this.Last night, he had bound all my limbs to the bedposts. The ball gag he used stifled my cries, rendering my protests useless. He fucked me till I almost passed out.When he was done, I tried to voice my discomfort, but he simply asked, “Are you tired of being in this marriage?” I didn’t need an encyclopedia to decipher what he meant. I realized then that I had only two choices: accept this new reality or contemplate the unthinkable—leaving him. But escape wasn’t an option I could entertain; I had too much to lose. So, I buried my feel
ABUELA’S POV“Catherine, would you be kind as to fetch my phone?” I called out from the backyard, the relentless ringing grating against my peaceful mid-morning.I took a deep breath and sipped my mango juice, feeling its coolness wash over me while I waited for her to arrive.“Here you go, ma’am,” she said, her voice warm as she handed me the phone.To my surprise, it wasn’t Gabriel’s name lighting up the screen but Rafael’s.A smile blossomed on my face, genuine and bright. I glanced at Catherine, a conspiratorial grin breaking free as I mouthed, “It’s Rafael,” followed by a soft giggle.“Hi, Mom,” he said, his voice like a soothing melody that instantly warmed my heart.“If I didn’t know you better, I’d swear you’ve forgotten all about your mother,” I teased, though my heart ached a bit as I said it.“Mom, that’s not fair! I’ve been swamped!” He replied, a hint of defensiveness creeping into his tone.“Swamped, indeed, but surely not too busy to give your mother a call? It’s been o
KIERA’S POVThe next thing that followed was a chortle of laughter, uncontainable until I was practically doubled over.Gabriel squinted in confusion, clearly thrown off as I continued to laugh maniacally, clutching my stomach.“O… OmG… that..” I gasped, still pointing at him as if he were the punch line to a joke.“That’s the most… the most hilarious thing I’ve ever heard.”But as my laughter began to fade, I noticed the serious look on his face, and suddenly my giggles felt inappropriate like I was laughing at a funeral. An awkward silence settled between us, and I was left fidgeting with my hair, my lips pressing together as I cleared my throat, avoiding his piercing gaze.“You.. umm.. you’re not joking?” I finally managed to ask, my eyes flitting around like a trapped bird looking for a way out.“Why would I want to joke with something as delicate as this?” He replied, his voice steady, almost too steady.My heart tumbled into my stomach, it was as if he’d thrown a grenade into my