GENERAL POVNathan pulled into the parking lot of Owen’s apartment building as the midday sun began to set.The familiar sight of Owen’s luxury sports cars lined up in neat rows caught his attention. One of them—a gleaming, creamy new model—stands out at once.“Typical Owen, always collecting something flashy.”Normally, Nathan would’ve smirked at the display, but tonight, his mind was too heavy for any amusement; he was not in a good mood.As he stepped out of his car, the warm breeze brushed against his skin.He walked across the lot, his brown shoes making soft, purposeful thuds on the pavement.When Nathan finally reached Owen’s door, he hesitated for a moment, his hand hanging in the air a little before he knocked. The first knock echoed through the quiet hallways. And was followed by silence.His brow furrowed slightly, then he knocked again, louder this time. After that, he started to hear the footsteps from inside.In a few seconds, the door creaked open, and Owen appeared
ISABELLA’S POVThe plane landed with a soft jolt, and the engines slowly quieted as we taxied to a stop. I sat back for a moment, taking in the last fragrance of peace from our vacation. I still couldn't believe I had almost said no to this trip, almost convinced myself I didn't have time. But thanks to God, Michael had been persuasive, and now I couldn't imagine missing those sunlit mornings, the quiet walks along the shore, the food, and, of course, the rare luxury of our time together. I would've loved to extend it just a little longer. But reality had other plans.Yesterday, my assistant Claire had messaged me.and had sounded really urgent, as always. There was a patient in critical condition at the hospital. A middle-aged woman with a ruptured aneurysm, hanging on by a thread.They needed me, specifically. No one else could perform the delicate surgery required. There was no refusing this call. So with no other choice, we had to put an end to the vacation.The plane doors
MICHAEL’S POVThe glass doors of the hospital entrance slid shut behind me, and for a moment, I just stood there, watching Isabella disappear into the corridors of the Thompson's hospital. As I pulled out of the lot, the early afternoon sun hung low.I shifted in my seat to readjust and steer better.The Thompson's hospital fell away in my rearview mirror, and I tried to focus on the road ahead on the short drive to the office, but my mind kept drifting back to Opraxin.It had been on my mind for days, no longer than that.Ever since I signed off on its release, I couldn’t shake the unease.At first, I would chalk it up to nerves—the usual jitters of launching something new. But that feeling hadn’t left me. It doubled on the day I proposed to Isabella.I glanced at my reflection in the rearview mirror. My features were sharper in the fading light.My brow furrowed, and I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to ease the tension there.Something wasn’t right. My PA Shawn had brought it
GENERAL POVNathan sat slouched in his leather chair, the dim light of his office lamp casting a pale glow over his tired face. His elbow was resting on the arm of the chair, his hand absently rubbing his chin, his gaze locked on the blank wall across from him. The weight of Owen’s words hung heavy in his mind. “Find out if Lilian still has feelings for you.”But how? And what if it all went wrong? What if she hated him for trying?The thought disturbed him, twisting his insides with uncertainty. His foot was tapping nervously against the floor, a rhythm he wasn’t conscious of but couldn’t stop.He exhaled slowly, his shoulders rising and falling as the anxiety in his chest tightened. He knew Owen had a point, but it didn’t make the situation any easier. What if she’s moved on? What if this is a mistake? The questions ran circles in his head, leaving him dizzy and trapped.His eyes glazed over, staring into space for what felt like hours, before the sound of his own breath breaki
GENERAL POVNathan’s world slowed to a crawl as the pain on Lilian's face became more vivid.He was as angry as he was hurt. His chest tightened, his heart giving out this ache. in a way he hadn’t expected. "Lilian…" His voice was now full of desperation.He lifted her chin ever so slightly, tilting her face toward his own, forcing her to meet his gaze.“Who did this to you?”His voice cracked under the weight of the question, fear and fury bubbling beneath the surface.In the silence, he was trying to make sense of the situation. It couldn’t have been her parents, he thought. He knew they were distant but not violent. He had seen enough to know they wouldn’t do this.But who then? His mind spiraled through every possible scenario until one name, like a sharp blade, pierced through his thoughts. His entire body stiffened as the realization struck him.Then he parted his lips.“Was it Marcus?” His tone was in a whisper, as if saying the name aloud might make the truth unbearable
MICHAEL’S POVI dropped the phone and I sat behind my desk after the call with Owen. My jaw was locked, and my mind was just too occupied to think about anything other than who I was thinking about before the call came in.The same person I was waiting to come in any second from now... Robert Carlisle, I needed to hear his side of the story; I needed to know what his intentions were. Only then would I be able to form an opinion on what this was really about.I glared at the door, waiting for him to walk through. And soon, I heard the knock instantly, followed by the door creaking open with a soft click.Mr. Carlisle strolled in as if he had all the time in the world. Very calm and collected. He didn’t even bother to look at me as he shut the door behind him. The smile he wore was casual, almost lazy, like he had just walked into a coffee shop for a chat.“Michael,” he called. After then he just sank into the chair across from me like he belonged there, crossing one leg over the o
MICHAEL’S POVThe next morning, I arrived at the Harrington mansion with Isabella by my side. As we made our way through the enormous front door,Isabella squeezed my hand briefly as if sensing the tension behind the mask of calmness I was wearing.We stepped into the grand sitting room that opened before us.The ceilings were so high up, and the windows were about the largest I had seen for a living space.The decor was a testament to the wealth and taste of the owners, from the oversized couches to the tall walls adorned with art.The space felt too formal, too imposing, as if the furniture itself were watching us.Nathan and Owen were already seated alongside their mother, Minister Sophie Harrigton, her poised figure wrapped in a modest but elegant dress. It was Owen who spotted us first, lifting his head with that easy, warm expression that was always so hard to take seriously."Look who’s finally made it." Owen said with a casual smile, his voice breaking the stillness.At his
MICHAEL’S POVThe car hummed beneath me as I steered out of the Harrington mansion, the huge gates swinging shut in my rearview mirror. My plans adhered to the steering wheel, not from tension but a steady rush of anticipation.For the first time in weeks, I wasn’t haunted by uncertainty.Isabella had stayed back to help her mother with something—something about the church fundraising dinner next weekend.I didn’t mind. In fact, I welcomed the space to let my thoughts bubble without distraction.The meeting with Mr. Harrington had gone better than I expected, and I felt as if a weight had lifted from my chest. It wasn’t just the promises of support; though those had been enough to rekindle a confidence I hadn’t felt in a long time, it was the simple fact that I wasn’t alone in this anymore.As I drove down the winding roads, a faint smile curled at the edges of my lips. I tapped my fingers gently, nodding to the beat of the music playing softly from the radio.The car's speed crept