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
Serena's POVThe day’s almost over, and we’ve just got a couple more pieces to sell. I glance at Colette. “I’m going to run to the bathroom real quick. You okay holding down the fort?”“Of course. Go ahead,” she says, waving me off.I hurry toward the nearest restroom, but the line is way longer tha
Bill's POVI slam the car door shut, the engine still running as I sit in front of my mother’s house. Selling her shares to Calvin, of all people? It’s all I can think about as I force myself out of the car.The door creaks open before I can even knock. My mom stands there, arms crossed, her expres
Serena's POVThe day finally arrives, and Colette and I can hardly contain our excitement as we head toward the atelier of one of Paris’s top jewelers. The streets of the city seem even more vibrant today. There’s something about this moment that feels surreal… Like we’re about to step into a whole
Bill's POVThe tension in Frederick’s office is palpable the moment I step through the door. His sharp gaze meets mine, as if he already knows this isn’t just a casual visit."Bill," Fred says, gesturing to the chair in front of his desk. "What brings you here today?"Without hesitation, I take a se
Bill's POVThe assistant gestures for me to follow, and I step into Taylor Vanderbilt’s mansion. The place is just as I remember — grand, pristine, almost too perfect. High ceilings, polished marble floors, and walls lined with expensive paintings that probably cost more than some people's homes.T
Serena's POV The last day of boot camp feels like the end of something much bigger than a training program. The air is thick with finality, but there’s a quiet buzz of excitement too. I step into the workshop, and for a moment, I just stand there, taking it all in. The familiar scent of metal, th
Serena's POV“Thought I needed to surprise you because it’s the last day of boot camp,” Taylor says, flashing one of her signature smiles.I can't help but smile back as we move toward each other for the typical Parisian greeting — cheek to cheek. It’s a warm gesture, one that feels natural between
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
Bill’s POVThe flashing red and blue lights from the police cars paint everything in sharp. Kevin’s hunched figure disappears into the back of a cruiser, his hands cuffed tightly behind his back. But even as he’s being taken away, he still manages to twist the knife with his parting words.“This isn
Serena’s POVKevin strides toward me, his expression dark and twisted. I don’t move. I plant my feet, keeping my stance steady, just like Bill taught me. My heart races, but my mind is sharp, clear. I’m not afraid — not anymore.He lunges, fast and aggressive, the blade in his hand aiming straight f
Serena’s POVKevin raises the knife, and my breath catches. For a split second, time seems to slow, the glint of the blade catching the faint light like a silent threat. Before I can react, Bill charges in from the side, slamming into Kevin with the full force of his body. They hit the ground hard,
Serena’s POVKevin steps toward me. His twisted grin grows wider with each deliberate step. He thinks he has this in the bag. He thinks I’m scared, that I’ll back down the second he closes the gap. He doesn’t realize he’s underestimating me.My feet stay planted firmly on the ground, my hands steady
Bill’s POVKevin and his men approach slowly, scanning every corner. They’re trying to catch even the smallest hint of movement. They’re wary but not afraid, at least not yet. Kevin’s confidence radiates off him like a bad cologne, seeping into the minds of the men with him. Serena is crouched besi
Serena’s POVBill, Matt, James, and I go over every detail of the plan again and again. I sit at the table, watching as they discuss the best routes in and out of the location, debating whether we’ll have enough cover.It’s late, and all of us are tired. But I shake it off. There’s no time for being