Serena's POVThe second Madame Amélie finishes speaking, I’m on my feet, heading straight for my workbench. My mind is already racing with ideas, and I feel that familiar fire in my veins. A phoenix. The image hits me like a lightning bolt. Rising from the ashes, bold and defiant. That’s exactly h
Bill's POVI’m finally out of that damn hospital, but I’m far from feeling like myself. Every step is a reminder that I’m not at a hundred percent yet. My legs are still weak, and the stitches in my side pull with every movement, though the gunshot wound is at least healed. I grit my teeth and pus
Bill's POVEverything around me seems to freeze the moment the words leave Stevie’s mouth. Collin didn’t make it….I feel like the ground has been ripped out from under me. My heart pounds in my chest, each beat louder and more painful than the last. I stand there, numb, as the world seems to tilt,
Serena's POVThe day at boot camp is intense, and by the end, my mind is spinning from all the intricate work we’ve done. Today’s task was a real challenge. We were asked to design a custom engagement ring for a client with a unique set of requirements. The ring had to be modern but incorporate vin
Bill's POVI pull up to the office, the tension already building in my chest. Something feels off as soon as I step out of the car. I head inside, and right away, I notice people talking in hushed tones as I walk past. It’s not just the usual office chatter. There's a sense of unease in the air.As
Bill's POV“You son of a — ” I start, but Calvin holds up a hand, interrupting me.“Easy, Bill,” Calvin says, his tone mockingly calm. “I know this is hard to swallow. But I'm now the CEO of RGE. Your father's company.”I can feel my blood boiling, my vision narrowing as I glare at him. This smug ba
Serena's POVMadame Amélie stands in front of the class, her gaze sweeping across the room as she speaks, “We’ve reached the halfway point of boot camp, and now it’s time to put your skills to the test in a real-world setting.” She pauses, letting the room settle before continuing, “You will all be
Serena's POVAs the festival kicks off, people start wandering past our booth, some stopping to look more closely, others just browsing. I’ve done this enough to know that patience is key. Still, there’s always that little thrill when someone picks up a piece and studies it.About an hour in, a wom
Calvin’s POVStevie’s been here for three days, and I’m starting to think she’s allergic to letting people take care of her.She spends most of her time holed up in the guest suite, emerging only when absolutely necessary, like meals. Even then, she always looks like she’s bracing herself for an amb
Stevie’s POVThe ride to the clinic is quiet. Calvin’s hands are steady on the wheel, his focus fixed on the road. I know he’s trying to make this feel normal, like he’s not driving me to an appointment that confirms the biggest change in my life. It doesn’t work.“You didn’t have to drive me,” I sa
Stevie’s POVThis has to be the fanciest kidnapping in the history of bad ideas.I’m standing in the foyer of Calvin’s penthouse, staring at the polished marble floors, the towering windows, and a chandelier that looks like it could fund a small country. Everything about this place screams luxury—to
Calvin’s POVHospitals always feel the same—like time slows down, stretching every second into an eternity. I’m standing outside Stevie’s room, staring at the door, willing myself to move. My hand hovers near the handle, but I can’t bring myself to push it open.I can hear her voice faintly through
Serena’s POV“Stevie, stay with me,” I mutter, my voice shaking as I keep one arm wrapped around her shoulders. Her weight sags against me, and I feel the panic rising in my chest.“I’m fine,” she whispers weakly, but her pale face and unfocused eyes say otherwise.“You’re not fine,” I snap, flaggin
Serena’s POVThe office feels quieter than usual. Maybe it’s the late hour or the fact that most people have already gone home. But as I glance across the room at Stevie, hunched over her laptop, I know something’s off.She’s always had a way of pushing through, of pretending everything’s fine when
Calvin’s POVFatherhood.The word keeps bouncing around my head, refusing to settle. It feels foreign, heavy. Like trying on a jacket that doesn’t fit but knowing you’re stuck wearing it anyway.I stare out the window of my office, watching the city buzz below. Cars honk. People hustle. Life moves o
Stevie’s POVI’m pacing my living room, muttering to myself like a lunatic.“Calvin, listen—no, that’s too polite.” I stop and shake my head, trying again. “Look, Calvin, I don’t owe you an explanation. That’s better. Straight to the point. No room for debate.”I glance at the mirror above my couch
Calvin’s POVI see her before she sees me.Stevie’s stepping out of the building, her bag slung over her shoulder, sunglasses perched on her nose. She looks like she’s trying to blend into the crowd, which is almost funny considering Stevie Malone doesn’t exactly do subtle.“Stevie,” I call, walking