The lady looks up from her packing and greets me with a warm smile, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Hello there," she says, her voice friendly. "Oh, the rent for this place is $7,000 per month.""I see, thanks," I say, keeping my voice even. "I need to talk it over with my business partner first
Bill’s POVMy mother invited me to dinner at one of our family-owned hotels. I accepted, realizing it had been quite some time since we last caught up, just the two of us.When I arrive, it surprises me to see Doris talking to Mom. I had no idea she'd be here. Her acting all friendly bugs me, rememb
"Did I do something wrong?" she asks, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. "You acted as if you really didn't want to see me here. I've also noticed you've been avoiding me lately.""What are you talking about?" I say, dismissing her accusation. "I don't understand why you're getting emotional,
Serena’s POVFinally, Stevie has some free time today, so I suggest that we go shopping for supplies for my jewelry business.We drive up to the Rose Bowl Flea Market and I can already feel the excitement building. Stevie parks the car, and we hop out, greeted by the lively scene around us."Wow, it
Stevie takes the camera from her bag and snaps a photo of the rose quartz necklace. She suggests, "All you need to do is sell these in your store and market them online."I frown, feeling overwhelmed. "But I'm not a techie person, Stevie. It's going to be hard for me, and I have no idea what content
Serena’s POV“Oh, shut up,” I snap at Stevie, pleading for her to quit the teasing. "Calvin and I are just friends."Thinking about Calvin and me as more than friends sends a flurry of butterflies through my stomach. Yet, he's told me he cares in a way that feels more like an uncle. I have to shake
Serena’s POV"Baby? What baby?" Calvin's eyes widen in shock at what he just heard. "Serena, are you pregnant?""Oh, fuck," Stevie whispers under her breath, instantly regretting her slip.Words fail me at the moment, so I simply nod, confirming Calvin's suspicions without saying a word.Calvin sigh
Bill’s POVSerena tears the $10 million check I handed her into shreds, flinging them at my face as if they were mere scraps. The audacity!Before I can muster a single word in response, she whirls around, dashes into her apartment, and slams the door with a resounding thud.Damn it! She has a knack
Serena’s POVThe kitchen table is a disaster zone. Wedding magazines are piled high, ready to topple over at the slightest nudge. Fabric swatches are scattered everywhere like pastel confetti, and sticky notes are plastered all over, each one screaming something I still need to deal with. My laptop
Bill’s POVThe elevator ride to our suite feels longer than usual, but I’m not complaining. Serena leans into me, her fingers tracing lazy patterns along the back of my hand. Her engagement ring catches the soft glow of the elevator lights, and I can’t help but smile. I don’t know how I got lucky en
Serena’s POVBy the time we return to the hotel, Collin is completely worn out. I tuck him into his crib, brushing his hair back as he mumbles sleepily. His tiny chest rises and falls, his face relaxed in a way that only toddlers can manage.When I step out of the room, Bill is waiting for me, a mis
Serena’s POVThe morning is cool, and the light spilling through the trees casts a golden hue on everything. We’re sitting at this small café by the canal, the kind of place that’s almost too picturesque to believe — flower pots on the tables, cobblestones underfoot, and the faint sound of water lap
Serena’s POVMariah Johnson sits across from me, her eyes wide with admiration as she flips through her notes. The studio for Luxe Perspectives is bright and modern, the kind of place where creativity feels like it’s floating in the air. The interview has gone on for over an hour, but Mariah’s energ
Bill’s POVThe room is silent as the jury files in, their expressions solemn. I sit straight, keeping my focus on them, my heart pounding despite the steady mask I’ve worn all day. Beside me, Serena sits just as tense, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. I glance at her briefly, giving her a small
Bill’s POVThe second day of the trial feels heavier than the first. I sit at the stand, every eye in the courtroom on me. Kevin sits across the room, leaning back in his chair, his face as blank as ever. But I’ve known him long enough to spot the tension in his shoulders, the way his fingers tap rh
Serena’s POVEvan Carter steps up to the stand, his posture rigid but his face set with a kind of quiet determination. He’s nervous — I can see it in the way his hands grip the edges of the chair, his knuckles white — but he doesn’t hesitate when the prosecutor starts her questioning.“Mr. Carter,”
Serena’s POVThe courtroom feels like it’s holding its breath. Kevin sits across the room, calm and collected, as if he isn’t facing the weight of his crimes being read aloud. Arson. Money laundering. Drug trafficking. Arms dealing. Conspiracy. Each charge is like a hammer falling, but Kevin doesn’t