Stevie’s POVWhen I walk into the penthouse, the first thing I notice is the smell. Not the usual clean, faintly masculine scent that lingers around Calvin’s place, but something warm and unexpected — garlic, maybe? Definitely food.I follow the smell to the dining area, where I find Calvin standing
Calvin’s POVThe morning starts like any other. Coffee, emails, reviewing a few documents before diving into back-to-back meetings. But by mid-morning, Maria bursts into my office without knocking, her face pale.“You need to see this,” she says, handing me her tablet.I take it, already bracing for
Calvin’s POVThe tension in the boardroom feels alive, crackling in the air like static electricity. Every seat is filled, every face turned toward me, waiting for what I’ll say. Nathan sits at the far end of the table, leaning back with that same smug expression he always wears when he thinks he’s
Serena’s POVThe champagne flute in my hand feels more like a prop than a drink. I swirl the bubbly liquid absentmindedly, smiling and nodding as the CFO of Etoile de Collin drones on about quarterly projections. Usually, I’d be all over this conversation, asking questions, offering insights. Tonig
Stevie’s POVThe magazine is on the coffee table, taunting me like it knows it hit a nerve.The headline? Calvin Lancaster’s Baby Mama: Meet the Woman Who Stole the Billionaire’s Heart.The article? A mix of lies, half-truths, and one semi-decent photo of me that I’m 90% sure they pulled from Calvin
Serena’s POVThe soft morning light filters through the kitchen windows as I stare down at my cup of tea. Bill is standing across from me, obliviously humming some tune while buttering a slice of toast. He looks so relaxed, like he doesn’t have a care in the world, and I’m over here trying not to sp
Stevie’s POVThe smell of my old apartment hits me as soon as I walk in — a mix of stale coffee, forgotten photo chemicals, and the faintest whiff of lavender from a candle I never finished burning. It’s not the penthouse, that’s for damn sure. No floor-to-ceiling windows or marble countertops here
Serena’s POVThe room hums with energy, the kind of buzz that comes from a carefully curated crowd of media, industry insiders, and investors. Cameras flash as I step onto the stage, my heels clicking against the polished floor. The Etoile de Collin logo glows behind me, larger than life, and for a
Bill’s POVI ignore the pain in my ribs as I push through the doors of Calvin’s office. Every step sends a dull, burning ache through my side, but I don’t slow down. I don’t have the patience for weakness right now.Calvin and James are already at the table, hunched over a laptop, deep in discussion
Stevie’s POVThe house is quiet, the kind of quiet that feels rare lately.I rock Elijah gently, his tiny body curled against my chest, his breath warm and steady. His little fingers twitch slightly, grasping onto the fabric of my sweater in his sleep. I close my eyes for a moment, listening to the
Calvin’s POVThe study smells like coffee, old paper, and exhaustion. The kind of exhaustion that doesn’t just sit in your bones but in your mind, making every thought feel heavier than it should. The desk lamp flickers slightly, casting uneven light over the chaos of blueprints, files, and scattere
Serena’s POVThe house is finally quiet.I stand by the twins’ crib, watching their small chests rise and fall in slow, steady breaths. Their room is dimly lit by the soft glow of the nightlight, casting gentle shadows along the walls. For the first time in what feels like forever, they’re both asle
Bill’s POVPain.That’s the first thing I register. A deep, dull ache pulsing through my ribs, spreading through my chest like a slow burn. It’s not unbearable, but it’s enough to remind me that I’m not at full strength. Not even close.I blink against the morning light filtering through the curtain
Stevie’s POVThe four of us sit in Bill and Serena’s living room, the weight of everything pressing down like a storm cloud.No one speaks at first.Bill is in a wheelchair, recovering from the gunshot wound that was meant for Calvin. His face is pale, drawn tight with exhaustion, but his eyes are s
Calvin’s POVI should’ve done this sooner.For months, I’ve been playing defense, trying to keep my family safe while Sterling takes shot after shot. I’ve been reacting, scrambling to patch the holes he punches in our lives.But that ends now.Bill is in a hospital bed because of him.My son was nea
Serena’s POVI don’t move from Bill’s side.The hospital room is dim, the only light coming from the monitors next to his bed, casting a soft glow over his face. His breathing is steady, but the sound of it isn’t enough to calm me. The machines beep in slow, measured rhythms, a reminder that he’s st
Stevie’s POVThe call comes in just after midnight.I almost don’t answer.Elijah finally went down an hour ago, and I was hoping for maybe one solid stretch of sleep. But my phone vibrating on the nightstand sends a jolt through my system.No one calls this late unless it’s bad news.I grab my phon