(Evenly pov) Seven years had slipped by like autumn leaves falling in silence, each year marked by growth. Pain, and quiet strength. Time had not healed all wounds. Only buried them beneath layers of necessity. Survival had left no room for reflection, no pause for grief. Mia’s death had carved a hole in my heart, one I never had the luxury of mourning properly. When she was gone, the world didn’t stop to acknowledge my loss. There were no comforting embraces, no long days spent curled under a blanket letting sorrow run its course. Instead, life had shoved me forward, relentless and indifferent. Bills had to be paid. Responsibilities didn’t wait. I had to keep moving, even when the weight of her absence threatened to pull me under. My days blurred together in a haze of routine, the scent of roasted coffee beans clinging to my clothes as I scrubbed tables and forced a smile for customers who barely noticed me. Mornings began before the sun rose, and by the time I stumbled home a
(Evelyn pov) The days blurrred together, an endless cycle of work, tiredness, and silent endurancee, until the morning everything changed. It was a chillly Tuesday, the kind where the cold Seeped into your bones no Matter how many layers you wore. Outside, the city was waking up in its usual slugggish rhythm. Car engines rumbling, boots crunching Over frost-laced pavement. A dull gray sky Stretyched overhead, promising nothing but another long, weary day. Inside the café, the air Was thick with warmth and the scent of freshly brewed coffee, rich and dark, mingling with the faint Sweetness of Pastries from the bakery next door. The quiet hum of Conversatiion created a steady. familiar background noise, a comforting rhythhm I had come to know well. I had just finished wiping down the counter, Smoothing my palms over the polished wood, when the heavy oak door creaked Open. The sound was familiar, routine, yet Somehow, in that moment, it sliced through the air differently. At fir
(Evelyn pov) The estate stood before me, silent, impOsing, yet undeniably familiar. Time had not been kind to it. The towering irOn gates, once regal, were Streaked with rust, their intricate patterns dulled by neglect. Beyond them, the sprawling garden that had once been a masterpiece of cOlor and life nOw lay in quiet ruin, its flowers wilted, strangled by overgrOwn weeds. The house Itself loomed in the distance, its grand facade weathered but still standing, a ghOst of its former self. I hesitated at the gate, my fingers ghosting Over the cold metal. The touch sent a shiver up my spine, a collision of past and present sUrging through me. This place had been my ChildhoOd playground, my Sanctuary, until it wasn’t. Until it became a house of whispers, betrayal, and grief. Albert stOod beside me, his presence steady, grounding. He had always been like that, a quiet force, guiding without FOrcefulness, offering without expectation. "This belongs to you, Evelyn," he said, his vo
(Evelyn pov) Seconds bled into minutes, then into hours, Stretching into days, then weeks, then months, and eventually years. But no matter how much time passed, the shadows of my Past still clung to me, lurking in the Corners of my mind like ghosts unwilling to be exorcised. Time was both a healer and a tormentor, soothing my Wounds while etching memories too deep to fade. Memories of Mia’s laughter, of my grandfather’s Unwavering presence, of the life that had been stolen from me. I had fought my way back from the abyss, back to stability, back to power, back to myself. The coffee shop had been my sanctuary, a cocoon where I had licked my wounds and rebuilt myself, but it was never meant to be my final destination. Albert Mores had made sure of that. He came into my life like an Unexpected storm, calm on the surface but with the power to shift my entire world. An old friend of my grandfather, he had seen something in me even when I couldn’t. Albert never treated me like a cha
( Vanessa’s POV) I sat by the floor-to-ceiling window in my study, the city's skyline Sprawling before Me like a kingdom I once thought I had absolute control over. The glow of the distant lights Stretched endlessly, flickering against the darkened glass, but they did little to Chase away the shadows tightening around me. The wine glass dangled between my fingers, its weight forgotten. The deep red liquid caught the reflection of the cityscape. shimmering like blood under the dim light of my desk lamp. I had Poured it With the Intention of drinking, of dulling the sharp edges of my thoughts. But the moment I brought it to my lips, her name surfaced, Cutting through the silence like a blade. Evelyn. It wasn’t just a name, it was a curse. A ghost that refused to be buried. She wasn’t supposed to survive. Let alone rise From the ashes of everything I burned to the ground. And yet, here she was, clawing her Way back into a world that should have Swallowed her whole. She was movin
(Vanessa pov) I set my fork down deliberately, pushing my plate aside. “I want to help with the company,” I said, my voice light, measured. Sebastian barely looked up. “It’s complicated, Vanessa.” I ignored the dismissal, reaching across the table to brush my fingers against his hand. His skin was warm, familiar, yet always just out of reach. “I’m not just your wife, Sebastian. I’m your partner,” I said softly, my tone laced with just the right amount of sincerity. “I want to Support you. Besides, I have a business degree. I can help.” He exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. “It’s not that simple.” No, it never was with him. Nothing ever came easy with Sebastian. I tilted my head, softening my voice, slipping into the role I knew would get to him. “I’m not asking to take over. I just want to help ease your burden. For us. For our daughter.” That made him pause. His fork hovered midair before he slowly set it dow
(Evelyn’s POV) The city lights streaked past the tinted window. neon reflections smearing across the glass like a painter’s reckless brush strokes. I sat motionless in the Backseat. My fingers absently tracing the Seam of my dress as the adrenaline still pulsed beneath my skin. The rush of power. Of dominance. Clung to me like expensive perfume, heady, intoxicating. I made my move. And it was a bold one. My phone lay face down on my lap, its screen dark, but the words I had sent still burned in my mind. I don’t play games with babies. A smirk curled my lips. It had been the perfect response, sharp, final. A statement that left no room for doubt. I imagined the sting of my words sinking in, imagined the moment of hesitation on the other end, the quickening of breath, the anger coiling behind clenched teeth. The thought alone sent another thrill through me. Then, my phone buzzed. Once. Twice. A violent, repetitive hum against the smooth leather seat, shattering my momentary sat
( Evelyn’s POV) The city hummed beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, a living, breathing force of ambition and power. Lights flickered in the distance, a constant reminder that somewhere, someone was always chasing success, just as I had been for years. But now, I wasn’t just reaching for it. I was standing in it. Yet, the weight of the journey still clung to me. Every betrayal, every sacrifice, every tear, I had carried them like stones in my pockets, dragging me down, threatening to drown me. But instead of breaking me, they had sharpened me, reforging my spirit into something unbreakable. I let out a slow breath, my fingers grazing the rich mahogany surface of the desk. My desk. The reality of it was still sinking in. Mr. Alberts had built an empire, brick by brick, deal by deal. And when the time came to pass it on, he hadn’t chosen his bloodline. He had chosen me. “You’re family now, Evelyn,” he had said, his voice calm but firm. “This company… it needs someone with vision, s
( Sebastian POV)On my way home, I found myself turning off the main road without thinking. One moment, I was driving past familiar buildings, replaying the conversation I'd just had in my head, and the next, my car had slipped into a small parking lot beside a bright, cheery-looking store with cartoon stickers on the glass windows.A kids’ store.I sat behind the wheel for a moment, staring at the entrance. I hadn’t planned this. I wasn’t even sure what made me turn. But something had pulled me here, quiet and insistent. Maybe it was the memory of her laugh. Or maybe it was the way she clung to me earlier, so easily, like I was already someone she trusted.Before I could second-guess myself, I stepped out of the car.The bell over the door jingled as I walked in, and suddenly I was surrounded, shelves of pastel onesies, racks of tiny jeans and frilly dresses, little shoes lined up like toys. The air smelled faintly like baby powder and plastic, and the colors, so many of them, felt l
( Sebastian pov)Evening couldn’t come fast enough.Time stretched itself thin, like taffy pulled too far and refusing to snap. Every tick of the clock echoed louder than it should have. Each passing hour dragged like an anchor tied to my thoughts, weighing me down as the day inched forward.Meetings came and went, their content dissolving into static. Faces blurred. Voices became background noise, like the hum of a refrigerator you only notice when everything else goes silent. I nodded when required, offered clipped responses when prompted, but my presence was a ghost, my body in one place, my mind elsewhere entirely.Back to the result.I’d told Dr. Jude I would come pick it up myself. I don’t know why I insisted. Maybe it was a need for control, some desperate attempt to own the truth before it owned me. Or maybe I believed that seeing the paper, holding it in my hands, would somehow make it more bearable. Less real. Less final.By the time I stepped out of the office, the sun had
(Evelyn pov)The scent of freshly brewed coffee wrapped around me like a soft hug, drifting through the air and mingling with the faint citrus notes of the cleaning spray from earlier. The warm mug sat snug between my palms as I stirred a generous spoonful of honey into the rich liquid, watching the golden stream swirl and melt away. A quiet sigh escaped my lips as I leaned against the edge of the table in my office, letting the gentle warmth seep into my hands, hoping it would somehow reach my chest too.Mornings like this used to mean something, a sliver of stillness before the storm of the day. Peaceful. Predictable. But lately, they only served as fleeting distractions, temporary veils draped over the chaos I refused to name. I stared at the cup a second longer before taking a small sip, letting the sweetness linger on my tongue.Then, I heard the door click open behind me. Not hurried. Not hesitant. Just familiar. Too familiar.“You’re late,” I said, not bothering to turn around
(Sebastian’s POV)I woke up with a weight on my chest.Not the kind that comes from restless sleep or a stiff mattress. This was Heavier. Like something inside me was sinking, pulling the rest of me into the same dark gravity.For a while, I didn’t move.I just laid there, eyes fixed on the ceiling, tracing the faint cracks in the paint like they held answers. The walls creaked softly, familiar but distant, and from below, the quiet murmur of a house slowly waking up, the low hum of the refrigerator, the occasional thump of settling wood.I could’ve stayed like that forever.But eventually, I sat up, slowly, like peeling myself away from something sticky and invisible. My limbs felt weighed down, my breath tight in my chest. I moved to the edge of the bed and just… stopped.I don’t know how long I sat there.Minutes? Hours? Time didn’t feel real. It never does when everything inside you is unraveling.The silence pressed in around me, not peaceful silence, but that thick, choking ki
Sebastian’s POVThe drive to school was quiet. Too quiet.The kind of quiet that Was not peaceful but unsettling. Crawling under my skin like an itch I could not scratch.My fingers gripped the Steering wheel. My Knuckles White as My thoughts tangled into a mess I couldn’t unravel. The call. The nagging doubts. The questions that loomed without answers.Beside me, Vanessa talked. Her voice was light, animated. Filling the silence with talk of Princess, the dress, the shoes, something about a tiara. Normally, I’d nod along, maybe even throw in a comment to show I was listening. But today, her words barely registered. Drowned under the weight pressing against my chest.“Seb?”Her voice cut through the fog, followed by a gentle nudge against my arm.I blinked. The road ahead had blurred for a moment, the lines smearing together before snapping back into focus.“Hm?” My voice came out lower than I intended, rough around the edges.Vanessa sighed. “I said, should we get her the pink one or
(Sabatine pov)My finger hovered over the answer button, but I didn’t press it.Not yet.A bitter taste lingered on my tongue, a mix of betrayal and something far worse, realization. If Vanessa had lied about something this big, what else had she been hiding? What other secrets had she so effortlessly buried beneath that sweet smile?I clenched my jaw, my grip tightening around the phone. The screen glowed in the dim light of my office, her name flashing insistently.Vanessa.My pulse pounded in my ears, each ring fueling the storm brewing inside me. I wanted answers. No, I needed them. But I wouldn’t be fooled again, wouldn’t let myself fall into the same trap.Not this time.The phone buzzed again, vibrating against my palm like a silent challenge. I exhaled sharply, steadying myself. Proof. I needed proof before I faced her. Because if my suspicions were right, then Vanessa was capable of far worse than just a simple lie.And I refused to be the fool who found out too late.Her nam
(Sebastian’s POV) The soft hum of the air conditioner pulsed through my office, blending with the rhythmic clatter of my fingers against the keyboard. The glow from my dual monitors bathed the room in an artificial bluish hue, casting long shadows over the towering stacks of documents cluttering my mahogany desk. Numbers blurred together on the screen, but I kept my focus sharp, filtering through reports with the precision drilled into me over years of discipline. Then..buzz. The sudden vibration of my phone shattered the quiet. My fingers froze above the keys, my gaze flicking toward the screen. Unknown Caller. A slight frown tugged at my brow. I wasn’t expecting any calls, certainly not from an unlisted number at this hour. A part of me considered ignoring it, letting it go to voicemail. But something, instinct, curiosity, a nagging pull I couldn’t quite place, made me reach for the device. I hesitated. Then, inhaling slowly, I swiped to answer and brought the phone to my ear
( Evelyn’s POV) The city hummed beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, a living, breathing force of ambition and power. Lights flickered in the distance, a constant reminder that somewhere, someone was always chasing success, just as I had been for years. But now, I wasn’t just reaching for it. I was standing in it. Yet, the weight of the journey still clung to me. Every betrayal, every sacrifice, every tear, I had carried them like stones in my pockets, dragging me down, threatening to drown me. But instead of breaking me, they had sharpened me, reforging my spirit into something unbreakable. I let out a slow breath, my fingers grazing the rich mahogany surface of the desk. My desk. The reality of it was still sinking in. Mr. Alberts had built an empire, brick by brick, deal by deal. And when the time came to pass it on, he hadn’t chosen his bloodline. He had chosen me. “You’re family now, Evelyn,” he had said, his voice calm but firm. “This company… it needs someone with vision, s
(Evelyn’s POV) The city lights streaked past the tinted window. neon reflections smearing across the glass like a painter’s reckless brush strokes. I sat motionless in the Backseat. My fingers absently tracing the Seam of my dress as the adrenaline still pulsed beneath my skin. The rush of power. Of dominance. Clung to me like expensive perfume, heady, intoxicating. I made my move. And it was a bold one. My phone lay face down on my lap, its screen dark, but the words I had sent still burned in my mind. I don’t play games with babies. A smirk curled my lips. It had been the perfect response, sharp, final. A statement that left no room for doubt. I imagined the sting of my words sinking in, imagined the moment of hesitation on the other end, the quickening of breath, the anger coiling behind clenched teeth. The thought alone sent another thrill through me. Then, my phone buzzed. Once. Twice. A violent, repetitive hum against the smooth leather seat, shattering my momentary sat