Bill’s POVThe room swarms with people congratulating Serena after her speech, but I can’t focus on any of it. My eyes are locked on her as she moves through the crowd, trying to stay out of my reach. I weave between the guests, barely acknowledging the ones who greet me. I need to talk to her — no
Serena’s POVBill saved my life?The thought is so surreal it feels like a lie. Yet here he is, standing in front of me, saying those words. Everything about this moment feels wrong. I should hate him, despise him for everything he’s done, for leaving me when I needed him the most. How could he be t
Bill’s POVI pace back and forth in my living room, the weight of everything hanging heavy over my head. The frustration building inside me feels like it's about to explode, and no matter how many times I circle the room, it doesn't ease the tension. Sarah sits on the couch, watching me, her eyes fo
Serena’s POV The morning sun streams through the large front windows of the shop on Rodeo Drive, casting long rays of light onto the pristine, empty display cases. I’m kneeling on the floor, carefully unpacking delicate pieces of jewelry that will soon fill this space. My hands are steady, but my
Serena’s POVThe sun is setting over Rodeo Drive, casting a soft, golden light across the high-end storefronts. Matt walks beside me, his presence relaxed, and I can’t help but enjoy the change of pace. The energy of Rodeo is different from the intensity of last night. It’s easy to get lost in the
Serena’s POVAdam leads me down a side street, and it doesn’t take long before the crowds on Rodeo Drive thin out. The alley is empty, dark, and unsettlingly quiet. My instincts scream for me to turn back, but before I can say anything, Adam rounds on me, his face twisted with anger.“What the hell
Bill’s POVThe office buzzes with excitement as Sarah and I finalize the setup for the launch of Pinnacle AI. Contracts are ready, paperwork is stacked neatly on the table, and our prospect meetings are scheduled. It feels good to be so close to seeing this company take off. We’ve worked hard to ge
Serena’s POVI’ve barely shut the door behind me when I remember I’m supposed to call Matt. My fingers feel heavy as I dial his number, the phone ringing in my ear louder than usual. I try to focus, but everything’s still blurry.He picks up on the second ring. “Hey, Serena? You okay?”I hesitate. “
Stevie’s POVElijah is babbling to himself in the living room, gripping one of his stuffed animals by the ear and smacking it against the floor like it personally offended him. His little feet kick excitedly as he sits on his play mat, lost in his own world.I smile, stirring the pasta on the stove
Bill’s POVSterling’s estate looms in the distance, a glass-and-steel fortress perched high in the hills, isolated from the rest of the world. The long driveway leading up to it is lined with evenly spaced trees, so perfectly maintained they don’t look real. There’s something eerie about the silence
Bill’s POVThe club is dark, expensive, and filled with the kind of people who think power is the only currency that matters.I step inside, letting my eyes adjust to the dim lighting. Everything here is designed to make people feel important—the low hum of conversation, the perfectly aged whiskey,
Serena’s POVI stare at the numbers on my screen, scanning the latest financial reports for Étoile de Collin while trying to ignore the exhaustion creeping in. My eyes blur slightly, but I shake it off and keep going. Every detail needs to be right. Every move has to be airtight. We’re too close now
Calvin’s POVI stand at the top of Titan’s headquarters, my hands resting on the cool glass railing as I look out over the city. The view from here stretches for miles—downtown skyscrapers gleaming in the fading sunlight, the freeway below packed with crawling traffic, the distant haze of the ocean
Serena’s POVCollin’s laughter echoes through the backyard, loud and full, the way only a kid’s laugh can be. It cuts through the evening air, blending with the soft rustling of trees and the occasional gurgle from one of the twins.I take a sip of tea, letting the warmth settle in my chest as I lea
Bill’s POVI throw a punch at the heavy bag, ignoring the sharp pain that shoots through my ribs. My knuckles connect with a solid thud, but it’s not satisfying. Not enough. The ache spreading through my side is a reminder that I should be resting.But I don’t care.I shift my stance and hit the bag
Stevie’s POVI spot Calvin before he sees me.He’s sitting in a booth near the back, leaning against the leather seat with one hand wrapped around a whiskey glass. His sleeves are rolled up, his tie is slightly loosened, and his phone is face-down on the table. He looks… tired, but in a way that’s d
Calvin’s POVI stand at the head of the table, both hands resting on the smooth glass, my fingers pressing into the surface just enough to keep me grounded. Across from me, a dozen board members sit in their usual seats, but the energy in the room is off.Some of them shift slightly, their eyes dart