Ivy’s POVMy eyelids fluttered open, and the first sight that greeted me was Asher’s sleeping face. A small smile crept onto my lips as I watched him. His hair fell over his face, and he looked peaceful in his sleep and handsome, too.I reached forward and gently pushed his hair away from his face. My mind wandered to the night before when I had to change in front of him. A blush crept onto my cheeks as I thought about it. I wanted to act unbothered, so I had changed in front of him, even though I could have easily walked away. I was acutely aware of his eyes on me as I did.I sighed in exasperation. It would be so easy to just let go. He already made it so hard to resist him. Every day, I felt my resolve weaken further. I could barely fight against his charm. If only it were that easy. If only it were easy to believe Asher was truly down for me.I shook the thought away. I couldn’t weigh myself down with thoughts like that. I rushed into the bathroom with a change of clothes, remembe
Ivy’s POVThe message from Max read: “I could hear the bastard’s voice in the background.” I ignored his message. I couldn’t deal with him right now. I tried to fight back the tears; I didn’t want Asher to see me crying. He had gone out, not too far away. What reason would I give him? That I stalked his social media and saw numerous loved-up pictures of him with other girls in different cities, and it suddenly made me feel insecure and inadequate?I had a tiny crush on Asher the first time I saw him. I mean, who wouldn’t? He was such a smooth talker, and he had the looks to match. I masked my crush for him underneath hatred. It was much easier that way. I couldn’t stand seeing him with other girls, and maybe I should be happier. I was married to him. I finally had him, but it would never be enough if he wasn’t all mine. I was hurt already, and I couldn’t let myself be hurt again.The tears trickled down my cheeks. I wiped them away and exhaled. I needed to take my mind off Asher and h
Asher’s POVMy heart pounded in my chest as I fought to rein in my raging desires. I had told myself I wasn’t going to touch Ivy— not yet, at least. I didn’t want to rush things; I wanted everything to happen at her own pace. I wanted her to need me as much as I needed her. Yet, she had forced my hand. She pulled on my last thread of restraint when she was on the phone with her ex, that bastard. I barely knew the guy, but I already wanted to punch his face in. He was infuriating, to say the least. I felt the rage course through me when he talked about fucking...I couldn’t even finish the thought. So here I was, worshipping her body with kisses, telling her she was mine, which was completely bonkers because she wasn’t. But I wanted it to be true so badly. I figured if I said it enough, I’d start believing it myself.My gaze darkened as blood rushed south. “Never ever forget that you’re mine and mine alone.” There was no denying the seriousness in my voice. I said it, I believed it, an
Ivy’s POV“Hello, Babe.”I swallowed. “What are you doing here, Max?”When I rushed to my apartment that morning to get some alone time, I didn’t think Max and I would meet that day. Heck, I didn’t think we’d ever meet again. That day, outside on the beach, when Asher told me he didn’t want me to have anything to do with Max, I had taken him seriously. Even though I wanted to argue then, I didn’t. The way he said it left no room for questioning, so I did as he said.“What are you doing here?” I asked again, folding my arms across my chest.He dangled the key card in front of me, and I cursed under my breath. I remembered giving it to him after a night of lovemaking. I was so lovesick that I handed him a key to my private apartment. A place even my parents didn’t have a key to. And now, it had come back to haunt me.“I got in with my card,” he replied.I exhaled, already feeling frustrated. I made a mental note to have the key card to my apartment changed, or maybe move apartments. “Yo
Asher’s POVIvy had run away from home again. We were still riding the highs of our honeymoon, and I had been laying it on thick. I didn’t give her any breathing space, so when I got back home to find out she had run off to her apartment, I wasn’t surprised. The apartment was her getaway, her place to hide from me. But I’d be darned if I let her out of my sight for even a moment, so I drove down to her apartment as fast as I could.I knocked on the door with a big smile on my face. There was no answer, so I tried the knob, and luckily, it was unlocked.“Hello, wife,” I called out cheerfully. But the sight in front of me knocked the smile right off my face.There she was, my wife, locked in a tight embrace with her ex-boyfriend, his tongue halfway down her throat. My mouth turned sour instantly. They pulled apart, and Ivy stared at me with wide eyes, looking exactly like a deer caught in headlights.“Asher, how did you...?” She hurried toward me. “It’s not what you think, Asher, it’s—”
Asher’s POVI was tired of Luca’s grueling questions. I had hoped he’d do what I asked and leave me alone. When he finally did, I let out a long sigh of relief.My eyes widened in excitement as the girls sauntered in, all clad in bikinis and heels. Their hair and makeup were done to perfection. Every single one of them was beautiful. I even recognized a few from the many nights I’d spent here. I winked at a couple of familiar faces, and a few of them waved back.Luca gave me a quizzical look. “This is what you want, right?”I gulped down my drink and shrugged. “I’ll manage.”The VIP room was dimly lit, soft music playing in the background. The girls started dancing, their hips swaying slowly to the rhythm.I watched them intently, sipping my drink. But no matter how hard I tried, thoughts of Ivy flooded my mind. I fought them back, unwilling to let her ruin my night. The image of her in her ex’s arms stirred the fury inside me.“Crank up the music!” I shouted, wanting to drown out my
Ivy’s POVI saw the emotions flicker across his face. A flash of anger, disappointment, and then sadness. The sadness lingered in those honey-brown eyes, eyes that had only ever looked at me with happiness swirling in their depths. They looked awfully sad now, and then he went numb. A blank stare settled on his face, as if all the emotions that crossed his features had happened in my head. Like it was only a figment of my imagination. That was the last look I saw before he walked out of my apartment.I rushed after him. “Asher! Asher! It’s not what you think, I promise!” Tears welled up in my eyes. “Hear me out, please!”But he was gone. He disappeared around the corner. I should have rushed after him, but something stopped me. I didn’t know what it was, but I already regretted it. The tears I had held back trickled down my cheeks. I didn’t even know exactly why I was crying, but I couldn’t shake off how sad he looked when he stared at me.I walked back into the apartment, and Max was
Asher’s POVI blinked my eyes repeatedly, struggling to adjust to the bright rays of sunshine seeping through the windows. I had a pounding headache that made me dizzy for a moment. I let out a grunt of exhaustion. Flashes of last night flooded my memory as I grabbed my alarm clock from my bedside and peered at it. It was a few minutes after 12 in the afternoon, and I had slept for most of the day. I reached for the landline by my bedside and sat up in alarm when I saw a couple of messages from Marcus. I had an important meeting with him and my dad at Sterling Industries.I reluctantly got out of bed. There were also a few missed calls from Luca. He was probably calling to check up on me; I knew I wouldn’t hear the end of it until I gave him a detailed explanation of my attitude the night before. I groaned and ran my fingers through my hair. I acted out of character last night. I remembered calling the girl I was with last night, Ivy. I sighed in exasperation; I was drunk to the point
Isabella’s POVThe newsroom was finally quiet. After wrapping up my evening show, most of the crew had cleared out, leaving me alone in my office.The glow from my computer screen illuminated the small space, reflecting off the framed awards on the shelf behind me.I exhaled, stretching my arms above my head, savoring the rare moment of peace.Then my phone rang.I glanced at the caller ID and froze. Asher Sterling.My heart did a small, stupid flip before I could tell it to calm down. It had been years since high school, and even though he was married now, I had never stopped caring about him.I hesitated for only a second before picking up.“Well, well, well,” I said, leaning back in my chair. “To what do I owe the honor, Mr. Sterling?”“Isabella,” he said, his voice tight. No pleasantries, no playful banter. He was in trouble.My expression sobered. “What happened?”“You’ve seen the news.”I had. Sterling Industries, the mafia, human trafficking. It was a mess. And now, hearing his
Asher’s POVI sat behind my desk, my fingers tapping restlessly against the polished wood surface. The board members had just left, their concerned voices still ringing in my ears.I had assured them I would find a solution, but the truth was, I didn’t have the slightest idea where to begin.How did I end up in this fucking mess? I thought bitterly.I leaned back in my chair, rubbing a hand down my face. There were too many moving pieces, too many variables beyond my control. Should I respond with actual proof of their shady dealings?That could backfire. Exposing them might bring the whole house of cards down on me too. Maybe I should talk to the Don, but would that really solve anything? If anything, it might make things worse.My thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. I exhaled sharply and straightened. “Come in.”Evelyn stepped inside, her expression unreadable. “Asher, the FBI is here to see you.”My body tensed. Federal authorities had a way of making people say thing
Asher’s POVThe morning sun cast a soft glow through the curtains as I adjusted my cufflinks, my movements slow and deliberate.Ivy stood behind me, smoothing out the creases in my shirt with gentle hands.Her touch was warm, grounding me in a way I desperately needed.“You look good,” she murmured, stepping in front of me to fix my tie. Her fingers brushed against my skin as she adjusted the knot, lingering just a second longer than necessary. “Strong. In control.”I exhaled through my nose. “I wish I felt that way.”She placed her palm flat against my chest, right over my heartbeat. “You are that way. No matter how overwhelming things get, you always find a way.”I looked down at her, at the quiet confidence in her eyes. “I wish the board saw it that way. They’re circling like vultures, waiting for me to slip so they can tear me apart. Investors are already wary because of our affiliations with the mafia, and now I had to cut ties just to give them a reason to stay.”She nodded, her
Asher’s POVI sat in my office, staring out at the city skyline, my thoughts a chaotic mess. The disaster at the last meeting wouldn’t leave my mind. The company board did not have faith in me.Some investors had walked out, disgusted by the company’s ties to the mafia. I had tried to salvage the situation, offering reassurances, but their expressions had been unreadable, their minds already made up.I needed to act fast. If I didn’t, I would lose the majority of our investors, and the company would crumble. That wasn’t an option.The company was our legacy; the sacrifices made were too much to let everything fall apart because of one reckless decision.The only way forward was to sever ties with the mafia completely.My jaw tightened as I reached for the intercom. “Evelyn, get in here.”The door opened a moment later, and Evelyn stepped inside. She was as composed as ever, dressed in her usual tailored suit, tablet in hand, waiting for my orders.“Yes, Mr. Sterling?” she asked, her v
Asher’s POVThe office felt heavier than usual, as if the walls themselves were pressing in, waiting for me to crack under the pressure of everything I was trying to carry.The morning light filtered through the large windows, casting long shadows across the polished desk, Marcus’s desk.No matter how many days I sat here, no matter how many times I adjusted the chair or placed my hands on the smooth wood, it still didn’t feel like mine.A sharp knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.“Come in,” I said, straightening my tie.The door creaked open, and Marcus’s secretary, Evelyn, stepped inside. She looked polished as always, her expression calm and professional, but there was something behind her eyes, hesitation, maybe even doubt.“Mr. Sterling,” she said, her voice level, “the board meeting starts in two minutes. We need to leave now.”I exhaled slowly, nodding as I grabbed the file I had barely skimmed through. Two minutes. I had two minutes before I’d be sitting in a room fu
Asher’s POVIt had been three weeks, and Marcus was still in a coma.Three weeks of sitting by his bedside, hoping for a sign, any sign, that he was coming back to us.I had spent most of my time at the hospital, sometimes with Ivy or Janine, but mostly alone.The doctors gave the same updates every day, their words rehearsed, their voices carefully measured: No change. Stable but unresponsive. We just have to wait.Wait.Like that was something I could do.I didn’t know how to exist outside of this hospital room anymore. My world had shrunk to this space, to the steady hum of machines, the sterile scent of antiseptic, and the unbearable sight of my brother lying still in that bed. But today, I had no choice but to leave.I was about to step out of the house when my father’s voice stopped me.“Asher,” he said, his tone softer than usual. “We need to talk.”I turned to face him. He looked exhausted, more worn down than I had ever seen him.The dark circles under his eyes, the way his s
Asher’s POVThe hospital room was unnervingly quiet, with the only other noise coming from the occasional rustle of fabric as I shifted in my chair and the soft beeping of the heart monitor.Yet, beneath the silence, there was an unshakable tension that made Marcus’s fragile state feel even more real, like he was on the edge of something irreversible, something permanent.It was the only sound breaking the silence, yet somehow, it was deafening. Each measured beep was like a countdown, marking the agonizing passage of time since the accident. Four days.Four days of waiting, of watching, of hoping for something, anything, to change.Four days since my world had come to a screeching halt.Ivy had been discharged, and I should have felt relieved. I should have been grateful that at least she was safe, that she had walked away from this with her life intact. But I couldn’t feel anything close to relief. Not when Marcus was still here, trapped in a lifeless state, hooked up to wires and m
Janine’s POVThe phone was cold against my ear, my grip so tight my knuckles ached.“I need you to meet me immediately,” I said, my voice sharp. “Bring as many men as you can.”There was a brief pause on the other end of the line. Then a gruff voice responded, “How many are we talking?”“All of them.”The words left my mouth without hesitation. I didn’t care what it cost. I didn’t care what lines I had to cross.My brothers were walking straight into hell, and I wasn’t about to sit back and pray they came out alive.They left without thinking it through.Marcus was smart, but sometimes even he let emotions cloud his judgment. Asher? He wasn’t thinking at all. He was too desperate, too reckless.I knew they weren’t ready for what they were stepping into, but they didn’t wait. They just went.And I wasn’t going to let them die because of it.The black SUVs I hired rolled up minutes later, their engines roaring loudly. One by one, the mercenaries stepped out, each of them armed to the te
Asher’s POVGunfire erupted the moment I stormed into the building with Luca and Marcus. The scent of gunpowder and blood filled the air, mixing with the sharp cries of men dropping to the floor.My heart pounded, but I barely registered the chaos. My mind had only one thought: Ivy.I scanned the dimly lit warehouse frantically, my pulse hammering in my ears. My grip tightened around my gun as I pushed forward, ducking behind a stack of crates.Then, through the haze of bullets and bodies, I saw her.Ivy.She stood near the back of the room, bound and struggling, her dark hair wild, her face pale. My breath caught in my throat. She was right there. So close. But she wasn’t alone. Taylor stood in front of her, a knife gleaming in her grip.Panic crashed through me. I turned to Luca and Marcus. “Be careful! Ivy’s right there!”Luca gave a sharp nod, his jaw clenched as he took cover and fired precisely at Taylor’s men. Marcus moved beside him, dropping two of them with clean shots. I ba