Ellen's POV Finally! Something hopeful to start the fucking day.The housekeeper at Zeke's house, Martha or whatever the hell her name, sent me a text in the wee hours of the morning saying she found something valuable to give to me. She said it belonged to the sneaky lady she saw at Zeke's place.I had no choice than to go meet her. I don't trust anyone enough to send on such matters.I strode down the sidewalk, my designer heels clicking against the pavement. My meticulously styled hair bounced with each step. I arrived at the sleek SUV parked in front of my condo, Max, my Chief security personnel and Ava stood waiting. Max opened the car and I got in, Ava sat some distance away from me and Max took the front seat beside the driver.Coursing through the bustling streets of London, I juggled a flurry of phone calls, while Ava was busy responding to the pending mails. “Canceled? But why?” My voice was sharp with disbelief as I listened to yet another cancellation from a musician sc
Ellen's POV As I walked into the grand foyer of our family estate, I made no effort to conceal the frustration and anger that weighed my heart. The foyer stretched out before me, adorned with exquisite marble floors and towering columns that reached towards a magnificent chandelier hanging from the ceiling. “Why are you crawling behind me like a disfigured snail?!” I yelled at Ava, my assistant.She scurried to my side. I gave her a demeaning look and with a graceful flick of my wrist, I tossed my bags into her awaiting arms, knowing she would handle them with the utmost care no matter what.I walked into the mansion that stood in front of me.“You there, fetch me some water at once.” I snapped at one of the house keepers, my tone sharp with frustration.The maid scurried to comply with my demand, disappearing momentarily before returning with a crystal-clear glass filled to the brim with refreshing water. Yet, as she approached, I couldn't help but notice the weariness etched into
Ellen's POV Despite the array of food displayed before us, no one seemed to have any appetite. I raised my head to look at my Father who was waiting for a response to his question.“All the musicians are pulling out.” I responded, my voice tinged with annoyance. “And I can't control what they do. No one wants to be associated with our family's persecution.”But my father was unfazed, his disappointment morphing into anger as he laid bare his frustrations. “You had one job, one fucking job Ellen!” He seethed, his voice dripping with contempt. “All you had to do was marry and STAY MARRIED to Ezekiel Reid but you couldn't do that right. You just went in and messed things up with your bratty attitude!”“Dad!” I screamed in shock and hurt. “Can you stop talking to me like that?”“Dad is actually right though.” I turned to hear Gabriel say as he pick some berries into his mouth.What is with this good for nothing weasel? I rolled my eyes and ignored him but he continued, “You literally ru
Kamille's POVAs I sat at my desk, surrounded by paperwork and evidence, my mind drifted back to a time long ago, when I was just a child, a few years older than my own tucked-in angels in their rooms. I looked through the evidence I had gathered on Liz. Her fight is a few days away and I have to send these pieces of evidence to Amanda, so she forwards them to the blogger.I study the photos of my injuries, the fractured arms, the bruised ribs decolourized purplish red– and my heart aches with empathy as though I was feeling the pain afresh. Relishing my past hurt, my mind took me back to the days when my sisters' bullying left me battered and bruised, physically and emotionally. Each time I tried to speak up, they twisted the truth, painting me as the villain in our family drama.“Kamille, stop trying to blame your sisters for everything.” Esther Manor's voice echoes in my mind, filled with doubt and disbelief. “They're just playing around.”“But Mom, it's not fair! They're hurting
Zeke's POV Standing in front of the dresser mirror in my closet, I couldn't help but feel a pang of vulnerability beneath my carefully crafted facade of confidence and control. Despite how firm I thought I was, Kamille always had a way of stirring emotions in me that I did not think I would have towards her.My thoughts were consumed by her avoidance of me, her silence echoing loudly in the empty room. I longed for her response, yet the lack of it only deepened my unease. I asked myself questions as though I were in her shoe. Why would she come to see me? Why would she believe anything I say? Could she not have noticed the missing photo of her kids?The kids that look so much like me but Kamille has refused to admit my fatherhood over them I walked back into the room, as I searched for the photograph she had left behind. I had kept the photo on the bedstand but I could not find it there anymore Where could it have gone? Did someone take it, or was it simply misplaced? Frustration
Kamille's POV Time flew quickly and Friday night arrived in no time. I paced back and forth in my room, uncertainty gnawing at my insides. Was going on this dinner with Chris really necessary? He was my kid's teacher in school. As I debated whether to follow through with the plan or not, a message from an unknown number flashed on my phone screen. Hey Ms Kamille,Seven pm at the L and S cuisine.I'll be here. Whatever you decide,I'll understand.Chris. How had he managed to get hold of my home line? I wondered briefly, before realization dawned on me. Of course, he would have my parents' number from the school records. And I had linked my direct line to the home line in case of emergencies.After reading Chris's message, I let out a sigh, feeling a mix of nervousness and determination wash over me. Giving another man a chance besides Zeke was something I had never considered before. But Chris seemed like a good person. He had an unsettling look in his eyes, but he still looked l
Kamille's POV As I picked up the call, my heart sank at the sound of Nanny Dona's distressed voice. “Royer ma'am, Royer.” She cried, her words sending a shiver down my spine.My pulse quickened, my chest tightening with fear, but I forced myself to stay calm as I asked, “Calm down Dona and talk to me. What happened?”Through her tears, Nanny Dona managed to choke out the words, “I was just reading in the living room and Royer went to use the bathroom himself so he slipped and fell. Blood…”My world came crashing down around me at her words, a wave of utter fear washing over me. Without another thought, I abruptly stood up, leaving Chris bewildered and confused as I rushed out of the restaurant in tears.My heart pounded heavily in my chest as I sprinted through the room, panic gnawing at my insides. As I raced out of the restaurant, my heart pounded like a drum in my chest, each beat echoing the frantic rhythm of my thoughts.Fear coursed through me like a torrential river, threateni
Zeke's POVAs I held Kamille in my arms, her tears soaking into my shirt, a wave of anguish washed over me. The sight of her, broken and vulnerable, tore at my heartstrings. I couldn't shake the feeling of helplessness that engulfed me, knowing that I couldn't take away her pain, couldn't mend her broken heart.I had watched as Kamille rushed out of the restaurant, her tears flowing freely. Seeing her in such distress had stirred up a torrent of emotions within me. Arriving at her home, I helped Kamille out of the car, my heart aching at the sight of her tear-stained face and trembling hands. I had tried to maintain calm when I saw Royer's bloodied face. I have seen men bathed in blood, but none was as gruesome and painful as seeing a little boy in his own blood. Kamille's little boy.“I'm such a bad mom! If only I did not leave my kids to go for dinner, Royer would not have injured himself so badly. How could I have messed this up again?!” As she cried, her words pierced through
Belle's POV The sun was warm on my skin, the breeze gentle and soothing as it drifted through the open patio where we all sat, the laughter of our loved ones filling the air. It was a picture-perfect moment—the kind of moment I used to dream about but never truly believed would come. We were all gathered around the long, sun-dappled table, the warmth of the day reflecting the joy that radiated from everyone’s faces. Zane was sitting beside me, his hand resting comfortably on my leg, our twins, Sean and Clara, gurgling happily in their bassinet close by. The twins were the center of attention today, as they were most days. Kamille’s kids, Reon, Torin, Tyris, Royer, and little Phoebe, were running around the patio, shrieking in delight as they chased each other. I glanced at Kamille and Zeke, who were sitting across from us, laughing and chatting while keeping a watchful eye on their children. Amanda, was helping prepare the meal, occasionally smiling in our direction as the kids d
Zane's POVI stood there, fists clenched, staring Dave Scott down. Every fiber of my being wanted to lunge at him, to make him pay for everything he’d done. But I couldn’t—at least, not yet. The recorder in my pocket was still running, capturing every damning word that fell from his mouth. I could feel it, a tiny weight pressing against my ribs, reminding me that I had to play this smart. For Belle. For Kelly. For justice.Dave, on the other hand, was as smug as ever, leaning back with that infuriating smirk plastered across his face. He had no idea that his time was running out.“You think you can just waltz in here and act like you own the place?” Dave sneered, his voice dripping with arrogance. “You’re nothing, Zane. A nobody playing hero in a game that’s way beyond your league.”I bit back my anger, forcing myself to remain calm. His words didn’t matter. Not when I had the truth on my side. I took a deep breath, my fingers brushing against the stop button on the recorder hidden
Belle's POVWalking into the living room wasn’t easy. My legs felt heavy, like I was dragging weights with each step. The air in the mansion was suffocating, thick with tension and unspoken fears. My heart raced, a wild, chaotic rhythm that matched the pounding of my thoughts. I could still hear my mother’s frantic voice behind me, begging, pleading for me to stay with them, to hide, to escape into the secret bunker.“Belle, you don’t have to do this!” she cried, reaching out as if she could physically hold me back. Her eyes were wide with fear, her voice trembling. “Come with us. We can hide. We can survive this.”I stopped, my hand resting on the doorframe, my back to her. I couldn’t turn around. I couldn’t let her see the turmoil etched on my face, the way my hands trembled from the weight of what I was about to do. My family was scared—terrified, really—but the idea of running, of leaving Zane behind to face this monster alone, felt like a betrayal I wasn’t willing to commit.“W
Dave's POVI had been waiting for over an hour, sitting there, staring at the doors leading to the rooms, expecting Belle and Zane to finally step out. It wasn’t like them to hide this long, especially Zane. But instead of the two people I was dying to confront, what I got was the Perri family, practically groveling before me. Pathetic.The Perri patriarch, Mr. Perri, stood in front of me with a forced smile, his hands clasped in front of him as though in prayer. His wife hovered behind him, wringing her hands nervously. “Please, David,” her father began, his voice trembling. “We don’t want any trouble. Just… drop the lawsuit. We’ll leave quietly, I swear. We won’t cause any problems.”I couldn’t help the smirk that stretched across my face. They were so desperate, so weak. This was the kind of power I craved, watching them squirm, knowing I held all the cards. “You won’t cause any trouble?” I repeated, mocking his words as if they were a joke. “Oh, trust me, you wouldn’t be able
Zane's POVBelle’s tears were too much for me to handle. The way her shoulders shook, the soft sniffles she tried to hide—it broke something inside me. I couldn’t stand seeing her like this. Without thinking, I reached out, pulling her into my arms once more, holding her as tightly as I dared.“It’s going to be okay,” I whispered, my lips brushing against her hair. “I swear to you, Belle, this will all end today. I’ll make sure of it.”She pulled back slightly, her wide, tear-filled eyes meeting mine. There was a small, hopeful smile on her lips, but I could see the doubt lingering beneath it. It killed me to know that she still didn’t fully believe everything would be fine, that she didn’t fully believe in me. But I didn’t blame her. After everything that had happened, after all the lies, how could she?God! I needed her to trust me.I leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her lips again, my hand cupping her cheek gently. When I pulled away, her eyes fluttered open, and I saw a leve
Belle's POV“I’m scared, Zane,” I confessed. My voice trembled, and my arms tightened instinctively around my belly. I felt so vulnerable, standing there in front of him, exposed and raw. How was I supposed to face Dave? What would he say? What would he do?Zane hugged me tighter. His warmth, his strength—it was like a lifeline, grounding me in the storm of emotions threatening to overwhelm me. He pressed a soft kiss to my hair, his lips lingering there for a moment before he spoke.“You don’t have to be scared,” he murmured into my hair, his voice gentle yet filled with quiet resolve. “I’m here. No one is going to hurt you. Not Dave. Not anyone.”I closed my eyes, leaning into his chest, letting his heartbeat steady mine. His words were soothing, like a balm to my frayed nerves. Dave had always had a way of getting under my skin, and now… with everything that had happened…“Go get refreshed,” Zane said, pulling back slightly to look into my eyes. His fingers brushed a loose strand o
Zane's POVI cursed under my breath as we broke the kiss. I let her take a while to arrange her silk gown. I moved a bit from her as my mind played over what happened the night before.Belle couldn’t sleep all night; I could tell from the way she kept shifting in bed, her body tense beneath the silk sheets. I lay beside her, watching her.I thought back to earlier that night when I walked into the Perri mansion, my mind filled with chaos, only to be confronted by an entirely different reality. I remember the way Belle’s mother was yelling, her voice shrill with rage, but none of that mattered the second I saw Belle. She stood there, so fragile and strong all at once, and without thinking, I crossed the room and pulled her into my arms. Her soft, warm body pressed against mine, grounding me in the middle of the madness. She was everything. The only thing that made sense. The world could be burning down around us, and I wouldn’t care, as long as I had her.Belle’s mother, however, didn
Belle's POVI hadn’t moved from my spot on the bed. Not an inch. I sat there, staring blankly at the wall across from me, my mind heavy with thoughts, swirling memories of last night that I couldn’t quite shake. Everything felt so distant yet so vivid, playing over and over again in my mind. The weight of it all bore down on me, rendering me numb.Opposite me, Zane sat with his back against the headboard, his eyes wide open, just watching. He had been watching me all night. He hadn’t said much, but I could feel his presence, steady and unwavering, like a tether keeping me from completely unraveling. His gaze hadn’t left me, and for some reason, I found comfort in that. My thoughts drifted back to the moment it all came crashing down. The nausea that hit me like a brick after the shouting match with my mother, the way she had followed me into the bathroom after I threw up, concern etched across her face despite the earlier anger.“Belle, are you alright?” she’d asked, her voice surp
Dave's POVThe sun was barely up, casting a dull, gray light over the city, but the weight on my chest was already heavier than the day before. The shipment I had been waiting for was just a few hours away. The timing couldn’t have been worse, not with Belle out there and Zane still breathing. I needed to tie up loose ends, and fast.I sat on the brown leather swivel chair in my study, my hands running over my face as I tried to think. I needed to find a way to get the attention of the drug enforcement agency off my back before the shipment arrived. Every second counted, and I knew that one wrong move could bring it all crashing down.I reached for my phone, my fingers tapping rapidly as I sent out a message to my men. It was time to surround the Perri mansion. We need to bring Belle's family to their limit. Once that was done, they would bring out Belle. Or rather, she would bring forth herself. Then that nosy Zane Caruso will come for her and I get to silence him forever."Surrou