*Ares’ POV* Mine,mine,mine. My senses were alert,my heart was grieving,she was so close and still so far.My soul cried out her name,begging her to pity me and throw me even a hint of assurance to show my mate was still there.That I wasn't delusional,that she felt it. I stared at my reflection in the pool,thinking of how pathetic it would sound to her if we were still mindlinked. “Do you really think she will do it?”I heard The chilled, addictive voice behind me.She sounded like a glass of rosé,soft,pink and intoxicating.I could listen to her talk for ages and still be mesmerised every single time she opened her mouth.I said a quick prayer for my soul and slowly turned to see her. But she wasn't looking in mine ,she glazed but never locked eyes,never connected. It almost felt intentional. A soft wind blew her evening gown a bit too roughly,promising to reveal more than just her bare thigh if I looked a bit longer. I took a large sip of my gin to suppress my urges,the last
*Elias POV* I pushed the door open and was immediately startled by the faces of the elder Miss Sinclair and Yolanda staring at me with horrified expressions. If I had a bad memory,I would Have believed I had committed a crime and they were gaping at the blood on my hands. “Is everything alright?”I questioned. Yolanda scoffed. “Is everything alright? You barge into an office without even knocking and instead of having the decency to apologise?” I clench my jaw and stare into her enraged face.I never liked her and it's like she keeps adding reasons to keep things that way. I summon tolerance from all parts of my body and slowly walk forward with the file Ares asked me to give to his mother. “It's about the gold trade,Ares wants you to review the products.”Yolanda reaches for it but I sway it out of her grasp and gives it to Silvia. I catch Silvia glaring at Yolanda from the corner of her eye but I ignore it and give her the details about the purchase.“Is he usually like this?”Yo
*Selene's POV* “How was your day?”Cassie asked as I stepped into her office.Her head was still attentively bowed to the papers, and the fairly chewed butt of the pen was swirling in her hand. “Great,you?”I took off my leather coat and hung on the chair. “Stressful.”Cassie said honestly. “These papers are killing me,it's like these girls intentionally misplace the documents to drive me mad.” I laughed genuinely for the first time since today and leaned over to pour myself a cup of water. So much fake laughing during the rehearsals today has taken its toll on me.Im parched. Cassie hummed merrily as she worked on her so called stressful papers,I wonder how she can look happy even in so much chaos,she wasn't always calm but at the core of it all but she was happy. “What are you thinking about?”Cassie asked when she noticed my silence.Years later, and she still reads me like a book. “I find It admirable how happy you are through all this stress.The girls,the bills,I even hear
*Greta's POV* I smirked satisfactorily as I saw Selene's car pull up in the driveway.It was only eight pm,she was home early. I had overheard her making plans with that Cassie girl again,the owner of a brothel with her bright, tacky coloured hair. My very skin got irritated just thinking about her.So I asked Selene to ditch the plans and eat my food–I don't even like cooking that much. But it's good how important I was in Selene's life and how firm my grip on her life was. Let's just say that I sometimes get too absorbed into caring for Selene, and Cassie wasn't the type of person I wanted around her. She was way too loud,brazen, and uncultured.And every time we met, she gave me a weird look as if I was an intruder. Selene said she was part of the wealthy class once, but that just further proves the point that money doesn't buy class. I watched the car come to a full stop through the kitchen window. The tires of black jeep have gotten a little dusty from frequent use.I will
*Dominic's POV* “This is stupid.”I cursed, turning the steering wheel into an intersection. I had Caleb on my tail begging me to forget about Selene,I still haven't found where Ares is keeping the journalists –they could be ratting me out to him right now and to top it all up.Selene was avoiding me. I caught sight of Greta’s lean frame standing on the sidewalk,the streetlight casting a lazy glow on her knitted hat.She always looked so honest and likeable,like a kind aunt,that was until you got scammed that you realised that she was one of satan’s minions. I quickly dialled her number and watched her pick up the phone from her coat. “I'm here.” She looks my way. “Black cadillac?” “Yeah,that's me.”I say,cutting the call If This was one of her scams again,I will choke some senses into her tonight. I pulled up in front of the park Greta directed me to and waited for her to approach the window. She stands at the door and peers in . “You are late.” “You are bad at directions,I
*Yolanda's POV* Elais brought Noelle home today,as he has been doing for a while now but something about him irritated me today.The way he and Noelle's laugh merges together so perfectly brought deja vus of what I had to do to ensure her place. Contrary to popular belief,I didn't hate Selene.How could I? She was not my daughter but sometimes I wish she was,well at least at first. She knew the world was a big game and understood it too.She was very much like me and the embodiment of all I wanted in the child. But of course,nothing went perfect for me,she was too much like me. And the second her father died,she set out to get revenge and destroy me and deep down I knew that her wrath was coming to haunt me. I like to think I wasnt all bad. I had a secure plan to make both of them successful but her obvious hatred cancelled it all. I refocused on Noelle And aspired to make her great. And I did,but it came with many regrets. Like getting witches involved to cut Noelle's mate bon
*Selene's POV* “Aren't you worried?”Cassie asked,leaning on the door frame,swirling the wine in her glass. I ignored her and continued stacking my new jewellery. “It's been almost twenty-four hours since you heard from Greta.Don't you even miss her” I threw Cassire a lazy-eye dirty look, but she kept her eyes firm on mine,unphased by my disapproval. “I told you not to bring her up.”I said in a hard tone and returned to stacking my new boxes. “Another word, and I will actually lose it.” “I just feel sort of guilty, you know,I put so much suspicion in your head, and you acted so hastily that you didn't hear her reason…you even kicked her out. What if she had a good reason?” “There is no good reason for stealing.”I reply,hoping to put an end to the matter. “But you stole Noelle's identity once,and you had a very good reason.” The memory hit me like a bitter taste,there were alot of things I wasnt proud of and stashed away in my memory so the guilt doesnt eat me alive,tha
*Yolanda's POV* The stench of rust and dampness hit me the second I stepped inside the warehouse. I hated this place already. The creaking metal above me, the dripping water echoing in the distance—it all felt like the setup to a bad movie. Except I wasn’t the clueless girl walking into a trap. I knew exactly what I was doing. I was here because he had information, and for better or worse, I needed it. My heels clicked sharply on the cracked concrete floor as I moved farther inside, eyes darting around the dim space. It was quiet—too quiet—but I knew he was here. I wasn’t scared, but I was cautious. I’d dealt with men like him before—arrogant, thinking they could control me, thinking they held all the cards. But I wasn’t someone who could be easily rattled. I never was,I wont start now.“Play your games right fool.”I muttered under my breath. “Because the second I find out who you are under that mask,you will know where real evil originates From.”I scanned the shadows, my he
I ran down the hospital hall, my heart thundering violently in my chest. It couldn't be true. It just couldn't be.My feet pounded against the white tiles, each step a reckless echo of my desperation. My legs threatened to give out beneath me, weak from exhaustion, malnourishment, and an unhealthy dose of grief. I had barely eaten the day before. I had survived on even less sleep. None of it mattered now.I stopped abruptly in front of the glass door. My breath caught in my throat. Inside, Yolanda was standing with her arms crossed, watching the doctor with unnerving intensity. Her face was unreadable, trapped in one of those poker-faced seasons where it was impossible to tell if she wanted to cry in joy or despair.I swallowed hard and pushed open the door—gently, out of habit, as if politeness could soften the blow of whatever awaited me.Noelle sat in the corner, her hands folded in her lap, but when she saw me, her expression crumbled into something close to pity. I ignored it. I
“*Dominic's POV*I’m a hypocrite.That’s what I am—a lying, pretentious son of a bitch who hurt the only woman I’ve ever truly loved. But, it’s not my fault, you see... She provoked me. She screamed all those horrible things, looking me dead in the eyes as if I wouldn’t literally kill for her. As if she doesn’t know that I already have.The memory of her words stings, and my chest tightens. I shake it off, unwilling to dwell on what had come over me that made me push her. That impulse—whatever the hell it was—must never be revived. Ever. But how am I going to handle this now? How can I fix something so broken?I check my watch for what feels like the hundredth time tonight. It’s 2 AM, and still nothing from the doctors. The empty, eerie silence of the waiting room presses in on me. What a way to end an engagement party. For a split second, I almost chuckle at the absurdity of it all, but then I remember that I have company.Cassie walks into the room, her heels clicking against the co
Noelle's POV“How do you know?” Yolanda asked, panic heavy in her eyes. “How long have you known?”Her breath hitched, and she frowned at me, turning serious as she grabbed my arm. “Have you told anyone?”“I've known for quite a while.” I pull my hand away from her grip. “And no, I haven't told anyone.”Yet.Victor posed the question this time.“How did you find out?”“After asking several times for answers, I took my time to glare at Yolanda. “I got some maids to do a little snooping, and they came back with the news.”“So you were spying on me?” Yolanda asked, offended. “We are sorry we kept it from you all this while.” Victor apologised anyway. “I tried to tell you several times, but… He sent an eye gesture Yolanda's way, and she scoffed.“Yes, yes, make me your villain.”“The least you can do is apologise.” He mumbled under his breath.“What was that?”“I said.” Victor began turning to face her. “The least you can do in this situation is apologise!”“Right.” She nodded. “As thoug
*Ares POV*I walked to the pool house in a hurry, my heart beating frantically at the thought of talking to Selene in private, even if it meant acting like I was on some secret mission. After what I witnessed at the party, I’ll take what I can get. Honestly, a pool house meeting is far more than I expected.My footsteps echoed in the large swimming hall, but there was no sound. No, Selene… nothing. I groaned internally and clung to what Cassie told me for hope."She desperately wants to see you," she'd said. "All of it was pretend. I think something’s wrong—far more than we thought."I looked around in disappointment, realising I couldn’t keep playing these games anymore. But as I took another step, I froze, a dark sensation settling over me. My skin prickled, a jolt of electricity rushing through me—just like when she was in the room. But this was different… weak, fading."Selene?"I looked down, and my heart shattered when I saw the floating figure in the water, her dress billowing
Selene's POVI really need to talk to Ares alone.But in between the judgemental glares I'm getting and Ares refusing to at least look my way, I'm certain that it would be easier to pass a camel through the eye of a needle than to get my wish.But what about our mindlink? Does that still work – how does it even work?I find him busy in conversation in the crowd and smile faintly; his nonchalance at the whole situation is partly soothing but also concerning. The last thing we need is a scene, but I still feel so lonely being completely ignored by him.Dominic's hands tug at my waist, and I mentally jolt back my table.“I asked if you liked the escargot.” Dominic grinned, a hint of annoyance still in his tone. I imagine he had asked me several times, but I was too busy to hear.“I'm enjoying myself.” I replied softly, and the people around the table eased up.They looked like they were waiting on a suicide time bomb, and Dominic and I were holding the grenade. I leaned back and brought
Yolanda's POV“Is that the girl you saw bump into him?” I asked my spy, narrowing my eyes as we both stared at the security footage on the screen in front of us.“Yes,” she nodded, leaning in as if to get a better look. “The woman with the orange hair, beside the Alpha.”“Just as I suspected,” I hissed, my fingers tightening around the glass in my hand. The burn of the whiskey as it slid down my throat did little to ease the rising frustration. “I'm sure Selene is on our tail about Victor. And that orange-haired brat is who she sent to do the job.”The spy shifted beside me, eager to contribute, her excitement palpable. “So, do you want us to release the story about Liam now?”“No,” I replied sharply, raising two fingers as I leaned back in my chair. “I think I'll handle this in an entirely different way.” A wicked grin tugged at the corners of my lips as I squinted at the screen, watching Selene and Dominic in the center of the television below.I don't know what they were planning bu
*Selene's POV*There are three levels by which I rank evil: evil justified, evil triggering, and Dominic—Dominic being the highest on the scale. I knew Liam was crazy when he threatened to kill himself for me. At that moment, I truly believed no other man would cross that line of madness and emotional manipulation as he had.But then I met Dominic, and I realized my expectations of human foolery were far too low.I glanced down at the engagement ring on my finger. It was there the morning after sleeping in his bed. I hadn’t even said yes, for Christ’s sake, but here I was, wearing it and getting dolled up to stand at his side. Some event was happening tonight—I didn’t even have the energy to ask what it was.I felt the hairdresser's fingers curling my hair into a high ponytail and instinctively withdrew.“What do you think you’re doing?” I snapped, more harshly than I intended. But with the world pulling at me in every direction, I needed to direct my anger somewhere, and she was, unf
*Ares's POV*“Do you know who Victor is?” I asked as soon as the door opened. “Ares?”Cassie asked in surprise,her eyes darting behind me. “You are here again?” “Good morning.”I greeted,walking past her. “Morning.”She replies,rubbing her eyes,evidently too tired to complain.“Do you know you Victor is?”I repeat my question with shorter patience “Is he a customer here?”Cassie yawned,leading me to a chair. I reluctantly took a seat despite really not wanting to,I was hoping not to spend too much time here,I was hoping not to get so comfortable. “I don't think he's a customer,”I draw out the chair. “I know nothing about him. In fact, I was hoping you knew something about him.” “How should I know?” I handed her the note Selene gave me and watched her face,hoping for a reaction…there wasn't much. She recognised the handwriting, but there was nothing more to it than that. “That's his address.”I said, trying to jug her memory somehow. “I think Selene slipped it into my coat whe
*Selene’s POV*“You are never going to pull that stunt with me, are we clear?” Dominic’s voice sliced through the quiet of the room like a whip, sharp and unforgiving.I remained silent, staring blankly at my reflection in the mirror as Greta calmly combed my hair back, her touch careful, avoiding even the slightest tension in the strands.“Answer me!” Dominic’s voice erupted again behind me, his frustration rippling through the air like a storm about to break. Greta flinched this time, her hand faltering.I dragged my eyes from my reflection to him—lazy, uninterested, detached. “You’re being too loud,” I said quietly, taking a slow sip of my ginger tea as if his anger didn’t reach me.“Greta,” Dominic snapped, his tone softer but still commanding. “Leave us. We need to talk privately.”The comb dropped to the table with a soft clatter, and Greta quickly walked away, making sure not to meet my eyes as she left the room.“You should really get your face treated,” I said, my voice dripp