Five years ago, policemen beat down the doors of our house and arrested my father for financial fraud. Just as I was about to despair, my friend’s father proposed that I marry his son—Mason. In my grief over daddy’s imprisonment, and unexpected happiness of marrying my childhood love, I was blinded. I vowed to myself that I would be the best wife I could be. But my husband would never love me the way he loved Jade—my best friend who died eight years ago. I pretended everything was fine and kept being a good wife for all these years. However, when I found Jade’s ring in Mason’s pocket and saw her face, alive and beautiful, appear in the live stream, the illusion—my game of house—was shattered.
view moreFLORENCE’S POVSunlight streamed softly through the curtains, gently nudging me awake. For a moment, I forgot where I was until the plush sheets and elegant decor of the hotel reminded me.Raiden’s room.I sat up quickly, my heart fluttering. The room was empty, and I felt a wave of relief mixed oddly with disappointment.Just then, I heard a gentle clinking sound from the small kitchenette area near the entryway. Raiden was standing at the counter, calmly pouring freshly brewed coffee into two porcelain cups. My heart stopped. He was still in his pajamas—just a simple white t-shirt and soft, gray lounge pants, his black hair tousled slightly from sleep. It was a casual look, but somehow effortlessly attractive. I felt my cheeks flush.He glanced up, noticing me awake, and smiled warmly. “Good morning, sleepyhead. Coffee?”“Yes, please,” I managed, trying to keep my voice even.He brought the coffee over, setting it on the bedside table. As he sat beside me, he grinned. “Reception c
FLORENCE’S POVAfter Daniel had tossed my phone out of his speeding car, I’d spent weeks living like someone from the early 2000s. I had purchased a flip phone, the simplest thing available—nothing but calls and texts. At first, it had felt refreshing. Only Raiden and Annalise knew the number, and it was nice to disconnect from the chaos of social media.But now, reality was calling. Raiden helped me reclaim my old number, and as I sat down at the café to switch on my brand-new phone, messages flooded in. Notifications bombarded my screen, one after the other.Most were from Mason.My heart caught in my throat as I scrolled through the messages he’d sent when I was kidnapped:Flo, where are you?? Are you safe? Please answer me.Florence, please reply. Jade told me what happened. I swear I’ll find you.God, Flo, please just let me know you’re alive.I’m so sorry for everything. If I lose you, I’ll never forgive myself.Reading those words, raw and desperate, sent an uncomfortable ach
MASON’S POVA week had passed since my family declared their intention to fold Eternity into Whitehill International. When the day came to vote, I knew it was just a formality because the decision had already been made behind closed doors. I entered the boardroom, a space I had meticulously designed down to the very grain of the oak table and the plushness of the leather chairs. In fact, every detail in the entire office was my vision. From the boardrooms and conference rooms to the breakroom and bathrooms, I had picked the tiles, the wallpapers, the furniture, all by myself. Not because I had to but because it made me proud to call something my own. And in that very office… I was doing to see it all disappear. Like a giant, arrogant whale swallowing a merry fish. As I took my seat, heavily medicated to manage the pain, I watched the board members file in. Their faces were a mix of sympathy and stern resolve. Again… I told myself it has all been decided. But somewhere in me,
MASON’S POVI don’t remember when I fell asleep. The last clear memory I had was of Dr. Khatri checking on me late in the evening, his face a blend of concern and weary resignation as he updated my chart and adjusted my IV. Sometime after that, another doctor—a face I didn’t recognize—came in to examine my wounds while a nurse, quiet and efficient, changed my bandages. The new doctor’s hands were cold but gentle, probing the bruised and tender areas along my ribs and arms. Once the nurse finished, the doctor administered an injection that sent a wave of drowsiness washing over me, pulling me down into a restless sleep.***Whenever I was conscious, I found myself reaching for my phone with what little strength I had. Each time I typed out a message to Florence, my heart squeezed tight with a mixture of hope and dread. But there was never any reply. After the first three days of silence, I stopped trying. It became clear that she didn’t want to talk to me. The realization stung bi
MASON’S POVI woke up to soft, warm lights and the sharp smell of antiseptic soap. It was a private hospital suite—expensive, sterile, and utterly empty. It offered me no comfort at all.The only comfort I wanted—the only one who mattered—wasn’t there.Florence.Her name shot through my mind, waking me fully. My pulse quickened. Memories flooded back, a painful, overwhelming rush: Florence’s golden hair spilling from the body bag, Daniel’s cruel grin, and the crash… And then Florence at the hospital—alive.She was alive. Safe. Not dead like Daniel had wanted me to believe.But she was with Raiden.A dull ache bloomed deep in my chest, as vivid now as it had been in that hospital corridor. Raiden’s protective arm around her waist, her wide-eyed shock at seeing me—her hair, unevenly chopped as though someone had butchered it out of spite.Daniel.I clenched my fists, anger surging through my weakened body. It finally clicked together: Daniel had staged everything. He had never truly me
FLORENCE’S POVTwo weeks had passed since the night I saw Mason wheeled into the emergency room. Two weeks of desperately trying not to think about it, not to wonder if he was okay, and failing miserably at both.I knew I should leave it alone. Mason had made his choice, and it wasn’t me. He picked Jade—the woman he had always loved—and worrying about him made me feel foolish. Why was I torturing myself over someone who clearly didn’t want me in his life? It felt pathetic.But logic didn’t silence my heart. Despite my efforts, Mason’s face, bloodied and helpless, haunted my thoughts. What if he was still hurt? What if his injuries were worse than I knew?“No,” I whispered aloud in my empty apartment. “Stop it, Florence.”Yet my fingers reached for my phone before I could stop myself. I scrolled to Clarke’s name and called.He answered almost immediately. “Flo?”“Hi, Clarke,” I said softly, feeling embarrassed and vulnerable. “I’m sorry to bother you… but I—I just wanted to check
FLORENCE’S POVI hadn’t even realized we’d spent the whole night at the hospital.It was 8 AM by the time Raiden finally walked me to my apartment door. Exhaustion had fully settled into my bones, making every step feel heavy.He stood by as I unlocked the door, patiently waiting until I stepped inside.“I wish I could stay with you all day,” he started, leaning against the door frame, concern clear on his face. “But there's a board meeting—”I waved away his worry quickly. “No, of course, you should go! I just need a shower and I'll be back in the office today!”Raiden frowned. “Florence. You can't be serious.”“I've been gone almost a week,” I insisted stubbornly. “Blackwood must be falling apart without me.”He chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Well, you're right. It's an absolute mess.”“See?” I smiled triumphantly. “All the more reason I need to get back.”He gave me a stern look, suddenly firm. “No, Flo. It can wait. One more day.”“But—”“No buts.” His voice was gentle yet un
FLORENCE’S POVThe tension in the hospital corridor was palpable, thickening the already heavy air. Melissa Whitehill’s voice, sharp and accusing, cut through the silence of the corridor. “What is SHE doing here?” she demanded, pointing directly at me while glaring at Jade.Clarke, less accusatory but equally puzzled, followed up with a concerned, “Flo?”The Whitehills’ reception was as cold as the sterile walls of the hospital and also completely unsurprising. Howard and Melissa exchanged looks, a silent conversation passing between them.Melissa’s voice rose, her words laced with venom. “This accident happened because of you. Since you have left him, Mason has been a shadow of himself, destroying his company image, his own image—acting the fool.” Her glare intensified, pinning me like an insect under a microscope.“And now, you have the audacity to turn up here as if you care,” she finished. “I—”“Thank god Jade is at least in his corner,” Howard chimed in. “Because you certainly
FLORENCE’S POVI stood frozen in the hospital lobby, my lungs refusing to work properly. The antiseptic hospital air burned my throat. My fingers trembled at my sides, still seeing the blood across Mason’s face, the way his shattered gaze had locked onto mine—“Do you want to stay here?” Raiden’s voice cut through my thoughts, pulling me back to reality. I nodded, unable to speak. “Flo, are you okay?” Raiden’s concern was palpable, his hand steady on my shoulder.The world seemed to spin a little faster, my heart racing as I tried to process the flood of emotions. My knees felt weak, and suddenly, the hospital corridor felt overwhelmingly claustrophobic.“I—” My voice broke, and without warning, my breathing quickened, panic clawing its way up my throat.Seeing my distress, Raiden quickly guided me to a quieter seating area, away from the prying eyes. He handed me a cup of water, his eyes never leaving mine. “Take slow breaths, Flo. It’s going to be okay.”I took a sip, the cool wat
FLORENCE’S POVOn the night of my husband’s birthday, I placed the cake I’d spent five hours making on the dining table, feeling a flicker of hope. Maybe this time would be different. Maybe he’d walk in, see the effort I’d put in, and smile—really smile—like he used to. Maybe, just for one night, we could be something close to happy.The front door beeped. My heart skipped, anticipation bubbling in my chest. I turned, ready to greet him.Just as Mason spotted the cake, his face turned sour. “Didn’t I tell you not to do this?” he sighed, “I have a jet waiting to take me to Chicago right now.” Even tired from his long day, he looked handsome in his tailor-made designer suit, like the wealthy, powerful CEO he was. I took the cake plate in my hands and went up to him, a big smile on my face. But he didn’t look as happy to see me. “Just take one bite of the cake,” I begged. “It’s your favorite, and I made it myself!” He pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. “Florence, I only ...
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