Serena’s POVI can’t stop shaking, but I keep the gun steady, aiming it between the guard and the man sitting across from me.My heart’s racing, every nerve in my body screaming at me to stay alert, to keep control. But the man — this calm, polished stranger — just looks at me with that unsettling s
Bill’s POVThe contract I’m staring at might as well be written in a foreign language.I’m in my study, supposedly reviewing some final agreements for Pinnacle AI, but my mind keeps wandering. The numbers blur together, and I rub my temples, trying to force myself to focus. But then, my phone rings.
Bill’s POV“Calvin might be telling the truth,” Serena says.I grip the steering wheel tighter, my jaw clenching. It takes everything in me not to snap back. “Maybe,” I mutter, barely able to keep my voice calm. “But I’m going to find out for sure. One way or another.”Serena doesn’t say anything af
Bill’s POVThe smell of fresh coffee fills the kitchen as I set the last of the breakfast plates on the table, trying to keep my hands busy. Any minute now, Serena will wake up.I’ve been up for hours, mind racing, planning, worrying. But I figured the least I could do was make her breakfast. Eggs,
Bill’s POV“It was years ago,” I begin, leaning back in my chair as I let the memories flood back. Serena watches me with a quiet curiosity, her eyes flicking between mine, waiting for me to continue."Back when I thought I had everything figured out. Turns out, I didn’t know a damn thing."I pause,
Serena’s POVWe finally met.I’m sitting across from James at a small, quiet café, the kind of place where no one looks twice at you, and the noise level hovers just below a low hum. Bill is beside me, but James is the one I’m focused on. He’s not exactly what I expected. For someone with a past in
Serena’s POVThe last few weeks pass in a blur.Business has exploded in ways I didn’t see coming, and I can barely keep up with the demand. Stevie and I are practically running on fumes, but there’s this undercurrent of excitement, like we’re on the verge of something big. The kind of big that chan
Serena’s POV“How could my father drag you into this?” Matt’s voice is tight with frustration, the anger clear in his eyes. He’s pacing, running a hand through his hair like he’s trying to piece it all together.I cross my arms, feeling the tension coil tighter in my chest. “Matt, I’m already deep i
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
Serena’s POVI spot Stevie slipping out of the ballroom as I’m finishing up a conversation with a PR exec. She moves quickly, almost like she’s trying not to be seen, but I know her too well. The slight wobble in her steps, the way she clutches her bag like it’s holding her together — it’s a dead gi