Julian’s POV
The low hum of my car’s engine faded as I rolled to a stop in front of Roman’s mansion. As I stepped out of the car, Riley’s voice came from the backseat in a playful squeal. “Uncle Julian! Don’t forget me!” “Oops.” I grinned, turning around to open the door for her. “I almost forgot. Or maybe, I was thinking of leaving you behind.” “No, you wouldn’t! You love me!” She shit back with a giggle as she squirmed in her seat, her curly hair bouncing around her small face. “Of course, I love you, princess.” Laughing, I scooped her out of her seat with ease and hoisted her into my shoulder as I stride towards the mansion’s double door. Riley let out a delighted squeal and kicked her feet playfully into the air. “Put me down, Uncle Julian! Put me down!” “I can’t hear you from all the way down here.” I teased her and we both laughed as I walked past the foyer and stepped into the living room where Sabrina was seated on one of the couches like a queen, wearing a shimmery silk blue robe. One of her legs was propped up while the other one was resting on the cushioned ottoman. A househelp knelt in front of her, carefully applying a glossy red polish onto her toenails. Even without trying, Sabrina looked gorgeous. Only that I wished her heart was just as beautiful as her face. Unfortunately, it wasn’t. She had a heart as black as charcoal, and sometimes, I found myself wondering what it was taking Roman so long to find how evil Sabrina was. “Mommy!” Riley ran straight into Sabrina’s arms as soon as I set her down. Sabrina chuckled lightly, shifting her manicured hands a little away from Riley. “Careful, honey. You don’t want to ruin my nail polish, do you?” “No, Mommy.” Riley shifted away a little while Sabrina called out to another househelp. “Patricia!” A few seconds later, an older woman, dressed in a househelp uniform emerged from the hallway and hurried to Sabrina. “Yes, ma’am.” She bowed her head before Sabrina. “Take Riley upstairs and help her get changed.” “Alright ma’am.” Patricia nodded obediently and took Riley’s hand gently. “See you later, Uncle Julian!” Riley waved at me before trotting off with Patricia. With a wave and a small smile, I watched her disappear up the grand staircase. “Thanks for picking Riley up from school.” Sabrina returned my attention to her as she glanced up from her pedicure, her sharp eyes lingering on mine. “You’re always helpful whenever you’re around.” “Yeah.” I muttered, already bored with the conversation. “I’ll see you around. I have to attend to something important in my room.” Then, without waiting for her response, I turned on my heel and headed upstairs. Once I reached my room, I tugged my black T-shrug over my head and tossed it to a nearby chair. Then, I unbuckled my jeans, stepped out of them and tossed it to the chair too. Left in my briefs, I moved to the wardrobe to pick something else to wear. But I stopped to my feet just as my eyes landed on a small wooden picture frame resting on the nightstand. Slowly, I reached the nightstand and picked up the picture frame, my thumb brushing lightly over the glass surface. My heart clutched against my chest as I stared at it. It was a photo that I had taken with Roman a few months before he left home, nine years ago. In the photo, the both of us were standing side by side with wide grins on our faces and Roman’s arm slung over my shoulder. We looked happy. Whole. But everything had changed now. After getting involved in the car accident that had caused his memory loss eight years ago, it was almost as though I had lost him with his memories. Like a part of his soul had been ripped apart and lost in that car accident. No matter how much I tried to reach out to Roman, it was impossible to get a grip of him. He became quieter, colder, and distant. I had tried again, and again, utilizing every strategy I could think of — dry jokes, dinner together, subtle conversations to reconnect again. But it was like talking to a ghost who didn’t know he was dead. It was as if he had left again. Just in a different way. I felt a familiar sharp pain in my chest. I would give anything to fix us again. Even though I knew that it was the most impossible thing to do right now. So much had changed. So much had gone wrong. The sound of the door creaking open behind me, shattered me from my thoughts. Turning around, I saw that it was Sabrina. Quickly, I reached for my trousers and began to pull them on. “You should have knocked…” But before I could finish my words, she reached for me and suddenly pushed me to the wall, pinning me between the hard wall and her half exposed body. She was still wearing her silky robe but it was loosed open now, revealing her cleavage and lacy panties. “What do you think you’re doing…” I started again but she brought a finger to my lips, hushing me instantly. “Shhh.” She whispered, her eyes glued to me. I could see the hunger and desperation heavy in her eyes. “You can drop the act now. We’re all alone and Roman isn’t in the house.” “Still…” I hissed at her, my eyes darting to the door, slightly worried that someone might walk in on us this instant. I averted my eyes back to her again. “It’s not safe. Not here.” “Come on, Julian. Don’t be such a killjoy.” She began to tear at my trousers but I stopped her hands quickly. “We cannot be so careless.” I hissed at her again. Sleeping with my own brother’s wife was one thing, but being stupid enough to allow him to find out that his wife was cheating on him with me was another thing. Even though it was obvious he wasn’t in love with Sabrina, I was certain he would never forgive me. “Please…” Her eyes were glistening with tears now. Desperate tears. “I need to feel something again. I’ve been sex starved. I need to feel like a woman again. I need to feel your cock inside of me. I want to be fucked, Julian. I deserve to be fucked.” “I don’t think this is a good idea...” “Please…” She leaned closer and melted her lips into mine in a hot kiss. As she kissed me, her hand found its way to my trouser again, pulling it down and slipping inside my briefs. She fetched my now hardened cock into hand, giving it light strokes. A deep moan escaped my throat. “Fuck me, Julian. Please. I want to feel your cock deep inside me. I want to cum for you.” My eyes darkened and I pulled my head away slightly to get a better look of the desperacy in her eyes. I smirked in self satisfaction. That was exactly how I loved to see her. Desperate. Hungry. Begging. Just the same emotions that she had inflicted on the person that mattered most to me three years ago. This was my payback. All of these. And when the right time comes, I would use her weakness against her and make her pay for everything she had done. It was a promise that I made to myself. “Beg me again.” I brought my palm to her waist, rubbing up and down her thigh, pushing up her robe and exposing her perfectly molded ass to my eyes. She brought her lips closer to mine again but I pulled my head away before she could meet my lips. She gulped and locked gaze with me again, a tear rolling down her eyes now. “Please, Julian. Please, fuck me.” “Say it again.” “Fuck me, Julian. Please, fuck me.” Smirking again, I pushed her to the bed a little too roughly. But she didn’t seem to mind. Her hungry eyes were fixed to my cock as she completely took off her robe and tore off her panties and bra, leaving her body stark naked before my eyes. “Fine then.” I whispered, joining her on the bed and parting her thighs to get a proper view of her wet, tight, inviting little cunt. “I’ll fuck you like the dirty slut that you are. I’ll fuck you so hard and destroy your cunt, you’d run from me the next time we set eyes on each other.”SIENNA Julian arrived just before the wedding ceremony began. We sat quietly, emotions running high, watching with misty eyes as Ethan and Theresa stood before the priest and exchanged their vows. The moment they said “I do” and sealed it with a kiss, the entire church erupted in applause and cheers. Candice, sitting next to me, was dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. Up at the altar, Roman looking proud in his best man suit, caught my eye and winked playfully. I smiled to myself. After the church ceremony, preparations began for the wedding reception. Karen took the kids home, and Roman and I drove together to the venue. By the time we arrived, the sun had set and the city lights glowed softly in the night. The outdoor reception was buzzing with energy. Most of the staff from our media house were there, including colleagues from other branches. Everyone was dressed up, laughing, dancing, and enjoying the moment. That was when I noticed Wendy standing in a corner, surrounded by a
SIENNATWO MONTHS LATERToday was the final hearing of Sabrina’s trial.All the testimonies had been given, evidence had been shown, and now we all sat in complete silence, waiting for the judge to deliver his sentence. Tension filled the courtroom. I clasped my hands together in my lap, my eyes drifting to where Sabrina stood in the defendant’s box.She looked worn out—paler than before, her cheeks hollow, her eyes sunken and restless. It was hard to believe this was the same woman who once carried herself with arrogance and pride. The time behind bars had clearly taken its toll.The judge’s voice finally broke the silence.“With all evidence considered,” he said firmly, “Miss Sabrina Pierce has been found guilty of multiple counts of homicide, attempted murder, and kidnapping, among other charges. Therefore, she is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.”A gasp escaped my lips. My heart swelled with relief as tears sprang to my eyes. Beside me, Can
SIENNAA WEEK LATER—AT ROMAN AND SIENNA’S NEW MANSION “Hey, Candice.” I said into the phone as I stepped out of the bathroom, tying the belt of my robe with one hand while holding the phone with the other. I walked into the bedroom where Roman was lying on the bed, flipping through a copy of Forbes. He glanced up as I entered.“Yeah, I know,” I continued, nodding to myself. “I’ll be there in about thirty minutes.”The call ended, and I placed the phone down on my dresser before sitting on the stool in front of my vanity mirror to begin my skincare routine.“Are you heading out?” Roman asked from the bed. In the mirror, I saw his reflection sit up, his eyes curiously following my every move.“Yep,” I said simply, dabbing toner on my face. “I’m going with Candice and Ethan to pick out an engagement ring. Ethan’s finally going to propose to Theresa next week. I told you that, didn’t I?”“Oh, right.” He mumbled, scratching the back of his neck. I caught the pout in his tone and smiled t
CANDICEThe moment I parked my car in the hospital lot, I didn’t even wait to shut the door properly. I jumped out and took off running toward the building. People turned their heads to watch me in shock but I ignored them and kept running.From the corner of my eye, I noticed some teenage boy reach for his phone to record me. I shot him a sharp glare.“Don’t even think about it, kid!” I snapped as I ran past. That was enough to make him shove the phone back in his pocket real fast.My heart pounded hard in my chest as I ran on. All I could think about was Julian.Julian was awake. He was really awake…“Ahh!” I gasped as I slammed into someone, and the both of us tumbled to the ground in a heap.“Ouch!” The other person winced.“I’m so sorry—” I started, scrambling up, but then stopped when I looked at her.“Sienna?”“Candice?”We both stared at each other, wide-eyed. Her gaze slowly trailed down my body, taking in the fluffy white robe wrapped around me and the oversized towel still
SIENNA“She’ll be with you shortly.” The officer said before turning and walking away, leaving me alone in the cold, quiet visitor’s area. A thick glass wall separated where I sat from the side where the inmate would soon appear.I waited calmly.A minute later, the door on the other side opened, and Sabrina walked in, escorted by two officers. Her hands were cuffed in front of her, and there was a limp in her step as she walked. She stopped the moment her eyes landed on me. Clearly, she hadn’t expected her surprise visitor to be me.The officers led her to the chair and left the room. Now, it was just the two of us—me and this identical face that looked nothing like me—separated by a thick, clear wall of glass.Sabrina’s eyes stayed fixed on mine as she limped over to the chair and slowly sat down. From the way she moved, I could tell her leg was still healing from the bullet wound I gave her.I studied her silently. It had only been a little over a week since her arrest, but she alr
ROMANONE WEEK LATEROne whole week had passed since the accident.Riley had been discharged from the hospital a few days ago, finally back home and recovering well. But Julian was still here—still stuck in his coma, still in a hospital bed, unmoving. Every day, I came to visit him. And today was no different.As I walked through the hospital hallways, I nodded at the nurses and doctors who greeted me. When I entered Julian’s room, my steps slowed. Candice was there.She sat by his bedside, her fingers tightly wrapped around his fingers. Her head rested gently on the edge of the bed, her eyes closed. She had fallen asleep like that.I sighed quietly, and my heart sank a little. She looked so tired. So drained. I felt sorry for her.Stepping closer, I gently placed my hand on her shoulder. Her eyes slowly opened, blinking away sleep as she looked up at me.“Roman,” she whispered, sitting up. “You’re here.”“I’m here,” I said softly, giving her a small nod. “You’ve been here every sing