Anna's POV Styling my hair, I felt slightly nervous. My mind wouldn't stop replaying last night's scene, and I sweated. Seeing Dorian again was something I hadn't truly prepared for, and it made me feel anxious. I let out a deep breath and picked up my phone. It was time to leave home, time to see... Dorian again~ I pressed a finger on my lips and rubbed it gently. Heck, this is hard! I shook my head and dropped my bag on my shoulder. The time wouldn't have waited for me, and as a worker, I needed to get to the office as fast as I could. Leaving the house, my mind wouldn't stop replaying last night's incident, and the more that happened, the more I felt conflicted and wondered if I should just return home. I stared at the company, hiding the thoughts in my mind, but my legs refused to move. A part of me wanted to go in, but a bigger part wanted to run away. It wasn't as if I didn't want to see Dorian... but, Shit! Too nervous~ Way too nervous ~ I hit my forehead and decid
Dorian's POV Staring at the time, I realized it was quite late already. I closed my eyes and rubbed my forehead. This was one of the days I got to the office late and the feeling wasn't nice at all. "Do you want to rest for today?" My driver asked. I opened my eyes and shook my head. "There's no need to stay at home. I need to work," I replied and picked up my phone. There were several missed calls on it, but none of it belonged to Anna, and that made my heart sink. I stared at my phone for a while, remembering what she said to me last night. The sadness that crept into my heart was indescribable, making me feel the need to leave the office for the day. I swallowed and kept my phone, "Let's go," As much as I didn't feel like going to the office, I knew staying at home wouldn't help either. Anna was someone who had taken root in my heart, and a day off from everything wouldn't uproot her from there. I needed to live my life like I had always done without having to think of h
ANNA'S POV "Can I go in now?" I asked Brenda again. I'd been waiting for Dorian to resume the office for hours, and my mind was restless. I couldn't even work properly as I was worried about him. However, just a few minutes ago, I heard someone talking about how the boss resumed too late, which was unusual, and my heart skipped a beat. I quickly stood up from my seat and made my way out to see him, but who would have expected that Brenda would stop me with her body? She wasn't saying a word, but her action was enough to show me her stance, which surprised me. Brenda looked at me and shook her head, "Mr Dorian is not in his office," She gently replied, and I frowned. "What do you mean? Mr Dorian entered his office a few minutes ago, and everyone saw him. What are you saying?" I was getting annoyed. Could it be that Dorian was really avoiding me? "He's not. I don't know where you heard that fake rumor from, but the boss is really not around at the moment," She lied again. A
ANNA'S POV A yawn escaped my lips as I rolled around in bed. It was a weekend, a day that I wouldn't have to go to the office and could stay home all day. However, it was a pretty bitter moment for me. Dorian had stopped talking to me ever since then. He wouldn't even look at me twice whenever I went to report to him. He even did it to the extent that he asked me to start reporting to Brenda instead of him. It was difficult seeing him, and it was even more difficult to talk to him. He really took my word for it and stayed away from me. I let out a deep breath as my eyes peeled open. I picked up my phone that was under the pillow to check the time, and a frown formed on my face when I saw what the time was. there was even a missed call on my phone. I need not check to know who it was, but I still did anyway, and as expected, it was Daniel, Dorian's cousin. I wiped my face and sat right while already dialing his line. "Daniel," I called, forcing back the yawn that wanted to
ANNA'S POV I was shocked, my eyes widened in disbelief, and I found it hard to think straight. What was that? What did he just do? Heck! I placed my hands on his chest and pushed him off me! I stood up from my seat and glared at him. I could tell my face was red at the moment, and it only went on to show how angry I was. How could he do that to me?! I pressed my fingers on my lips, unable to figure out what had just happened. The fact that he kissed me came so suddenly that I found it hard to believe it had just happened. Daniel... He was just a friend. He was a friend I even sacrificed my weekend for, a friend I decided to see when I was supposed to be playing at home, but he had the guts to betray me this much. I shook my head and tried to calm my raging heart. I felt the urge to rip him apart but kept it in. I needed to be calm... I needed to think. "Why? Why did you do that?" I asked, staring at him, and I could feel the trembling of my lips. I knew I was weak at the
DORIAN'S POV Brenda dropped the file and bowed gently, "This is the file you asked for," She said. I stared at the file for a while and let out a deep breath. The file was from Anna, and she was supposed to be the one dropping it on my table, but i had asked her to give it to Brenda instead. If I was going to follow what she said, then I needed to refrain from seeing her. She must have thought I wanted her for her body, which was a great humiliation to my feelings. I picked up the file and opened it, "What about the afternoon's meeting?" I asked with my eyes still fixed on the file. "The meeting should start in an hour. Will you be able to go?" Brenda asked, and I raised a brow. "Of course, just clear other things for the meeting. I have to be there and see for myself how they are planning to convince us with their little tactics," I replied and smirked. A small smile formed on Brenda's face, and she nodded, "I'm curious too," She mumbled. "You can leave now. Remind me
ANNA'S POV I returned to my office with a livid expression on my face. What sort of situation was that? He talked so rudely to me just because he was curious about my date with Daniel. Who did he think he was to me?! I slammed my hand on my desk and cursed inwardly. Dorian was stepping on my nerves! After a few minutes of inward curses, I closed my eyes and pressed my hands on my chest to say a few calming sutras. Yes, I need not curse him. Yes, I need not curse him at all. Dorian was just being a jerk because... because... wait, because of what? Heck! It wasn't even my business! I sat on my seat and opened the file. He talked about the mistakes, but he wouldn't even point them out. How was I supposed to deal with it? This was the work I spent almost a week on! I sighed and decided to go through the file. Maybe I would be able to see the mistakes he saw and correct them. Thinking about it, could it be that he had been the one correcting the mistakes all this while? That would m
DORIAN'S POV I watched her rush out of my office, and my anger intensified. I stared at her back, and my eyes darkened. I was angry, I couldn't believe what had happened. She wouldn't even bother to explain?! Am I that unimportant to her that she wouldn't even mind explaining to me? I let out a deep breath and continued pacing around my office. I was angry, I was disappointed! My head was aching, and my heart felt shattered. Why was that? Was I not good enough for her? Why would she reject me and let Daniel kiss her?! I closed my eyes and let out a deep breath. The door opened, and Brenda walked in, "Mr Dorian, It's less than 30 minutes to the meeting. Are you prepared?" She asked, I stared at her, and I felt the urge to curse, "I don't think I can," I sincerely replied. "I shouldn't go there today. You should go and send the whole minutes to me later at night," I ordered. Brenda bowed and walked out of my office. After she left, I returned to my seat and closed my eyes again
Anna's POV The world had watched Freddie Markson’s death unfold, but now, the world had moved on.His empire had crumbled, his enemies had been silenced, and those who remained knew better than to challenge the ones who had orchestrated it all. Anna and Dorian had won—not just their freedom, but the power to shape their own future.They settled into a life neither had ever dared to dream of.A Life Without FearThe estate that once belonged to Freddie was now theirs, though they had stripped it of anything that reminded them of its former owner. The rooms had been redecorated, the walls painted in lighter tones, the heavy, oppressive air of its previous life erased.Dorian had taken control of Freddie’s financial network, diverting assets, cutting ties with anyone who had been a liability. The wealth was staggering—far more than they could ever need. But it wasn’t about the money. It was about never having to run again.And for the first time in years, Anna felt safe.She spent her d
Anna's POV The world was watching.The chaos erupted within minutes.Freddie Markson was dead.The sprawling estate, once filled with laughter and murmurs of power, now buzzed with panic. Security flooded the halls, hushed conversations turning into frantic whispers as news spread like wildfire. Guests clutched their champagne glasses, some gasping, others exchanging knowing glances—men and women who had spent their lives in high-stakes deals, familiar with the consequences of power plays gone wrong.No one knew what had happened. Not yet.But they would soon.And that was why Dorian moved quickly.He had infiltrated the wedding unnoticed, slipping in through the mass of high-profile guests, blending into the sea of tailored suits and designer dresses. He had watched everything—Anna on Freddie’s arm, the way she smiled at him, the way she played her part so well it made Dorian’s blood boil. He had clenched his jaw through every toast, every scripted glance, every sickening display of
The world was watching.Hundreds of guests filled the sprawling estate, their laughter mingling with the soft notes of a grand piano. The ballroom itself was a masterpiece—vaulted ceilings adorned with intricate gold detailing, chandeliers dripping with crystals that refracted the warm glow of candlelight. Outside, the vast gardens were illuminated with soft lanterns, casting long shadows over the manicured hedges and reflecting pools. Waiters in crisp white jackets wove through the crowd, balancing silver trays laden with vintage champagne, caviar, and delicate amuse-bouches.The guest list read like a who’s who of power—Hollywood elite, Wall Street titans, political dynasties, and foreign dignitaries. They moved through the estate like chess pieces, each conversation laced with subtle negotiations and whispered alliances. Tonight wasn’t just about a wedding—it was a spectacle, an orchestrated display of power.And at the center of it all stood Freddie Markson and Anna.The cameras n
Dorian’s POVDorian woke to cold sheets.At first, he thought that Anna was in the shower or making coffee. But the apartment was silent—too silent. His gut twisted. He reached across the sheets, finding them cool to the touch.For a moment, he lay still, his mind sluggish with sleep, but then it hit him—Sophia was gone. She had taken advantage of the night and slipped out.He slept late which was what had made him wake up late as well. He knew it was futile to search for her on foot since she'd have had a wide head start. His heart pounded as he threw back the covers and sat up. The apartment was silent. Too silent. He grabbed his phone from the nightstand and dialed her number. It went straight to voicemail.He tried again. Nothing.Panic gnawed at his insides as he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stood, scanning the dimly lit room. Her things were still here—her shoes by the door, her jacket draped over the chair. But she wasn’t.Moving quickly, he checked the front do
The wind roared around me as the private jet touched down on a long, isolated runway. I had barely spoken since Viktor led me aboard. Part of me still couldn’t believe I had agreed to this. The USB drive he’d given me burned in my pocket, but I hadn’t dared to look at it. Not yet. Not until I knew exactly what I was stepping into.As the plane taxied to a stop, Viktor unbuckled his seatbelt and turned to me. “This is your last chance to turn back.”I met his gaze. “You and I both know that’s not an option.”His jaw tightened, but he said nothing. He stood and grabbed his coat, nodding for me to follow. The moment we stepped off the plane, a sleek black car was waiting for us, the driver already holding the door open.I slid into the backseat, my fingers curling into my lap as Viktor settled in beside me. The moment the door shut, the car moved forward, gliding through the night.The estate was massive. Iron gates loomed ahead, the emblem on them gleaming under the dim security lights.
The fear never left me. It clung to my skin, wrapped around my throat and sat heavy in my chest. I told myself I was strong, that I had survived worse, but the truth was, I was exhausted.Every night, I laid awake listening to Dorian’s steady breathing. I imagined them finding us, breaking down the door, dragging us back into the nightmare we had barely escaped. I imagined what they’d do to us.After a while I couldn’t live like this anymore. I knew what I had to do.I waited until Dorian was asleep. He always slept light, but exhaustion had finally caught up to him. It was the only chance I’d get.I moved carefully, easing out from under the blanket, barely breathing as I pulled on my coat. My heart pounded so hard I was sure it would wake him. My boots were by the door. I slipped them on, then hesitated. My fingers hovered over the doorknob.If I left now, there was no turning back.I stepped out into the night.The cold bit at my skin as I pulled my coat tighter, shoving my hands i
Anna’s POV“You need to be checked, Anna. We don’t know—”“No,” I cut him off, shaking my head. “We don’t know who we can trust.”Dorian clenched his jaw no doubt frustrated by my stubbornness but I wasn't going to back down.We were arguing once more about going to the hospital. I knew that he was right and I ought to but the facility had been relentless in hunting us down. We had no way of knowing who was still looking and who might recognize me. A simple doctor’s visit could be the mistake that led them straight to us.Instead, I focused on listening to my body, trusting what little instinct I had. The nausea came and went, and a strange sort of awareness settled in my bones. It wasn’t just me anymore.Dorian was torn. I saw it in the way his hands hovered near me, as if he wanted to shield me from everything but didn’t know how. He tightened security around us, changing our routines. No more walking the same routes, no more visits to the same markets or shops. He made sure the apa
Anna's POV The highway stretched endlessly before us so much that I wondered if it would end. The sound of the engine was the only noise we heard as we crossed another nameless border under stolen identities. Dorian kept his hands tight on the wheel, his jaw clenched. There were so many things I wanted to talk to him about but I was content for the moment with watching the road signs blur past, my fingers tapping anxiously against my thigh.Neither of us spoke because we didn’t need to. We both understood what was happening. Our old lives and everything as we had known it were gone. The facility, the experiments, Reinhardt. Everything we had run from was behind us. But the thought of them was hard to let go off.I closed my eyes, but the moment I did, flashes of the lab burned behind my lids. I remembered being trapped on the cold metal table. The scalpel in my hands and the guard’s blood seeping between my fingers.I jolted upright, gasping and saw Dorian hovering above me. "Nigh
Anna's POV "You were meant to be an experiment," Dr. Reinhardt said to me leaning over to emphasise his words.I wondered what I had done to warrant the attention of this mad German scientist. I knew though that it had to be because of Dorian mixing up with the wrong crowd.The heavy door behind Reinhardt hissed open and a guard in a black uniform stepped in and Reinhardt nodded toward me."Prepare her for transport."I yanked at the restraints with all the strength I could summon. I wasn’t going to let them win like this.The guard moved closer and just then the lights flickered.The sudden dimming made Reinhardt pause and looked up at the overhead lamps which buzzed as if it was struggling for power. Then, in a blink, red emergency lights flooded the room.A low alarm groaned through the facility and the pitch kept increasing.Something was wrong.Reinhardt’s expression tightened as he turned toward the guard. "Find out what—"~BOOM!!!~The entire room shook and dust rained down