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
Calvin’s POVThe penthouse feels bigger now, emptier. It’s strange how silence can take up so much space, filling every corner and amplifying the absence of things you didn’t realize you depended on.Stevie’s laughter used to echo in this place, sharp and unfiltered, bouncing off the marble floors l
Serena’s POVStevie’s apartment smells like fresh paint and coffee, an oddly comforting combination that suits her. The space is small, cluttered with photography equipment and stacks of unopened baby gear, but it feels like her. It’s messy and lived-in, nothing like Calvin’s sterile penthouse.I kn
Calvin’s POVThe waiting room at Stevie’s doctor’s office isn’t anything like I expected. It’s bright and cheerful, with pastel walls and outdated parenting magazines scattered across the coffee tables. A little kid toddles past me, clutching a stuffed giraffe, while his mom trails behind him with a
Bill’s POVThe sound of waves crashing against the shore is a far cry from the usual buzz of our daily lives. No conference calls, no meetings, no tantrums over spilled cereal. Just the ocean, the wind, and Collin’s laughter as he runs across the sand, a kite string gripped tightly in his little han
Calvin’s POVI’ve been staring at her address on my phone for ten minutes, trying to work up the courage to get out of the car. It’s ridiculous. I’ve faced down corporate takeovers and boardroom ambushes without flinching, but this? This feels harder.Stevie’s apartment building looms in front of me
Serena’s POVI tap my pen against the edge of the conference table, staring at the open file in front of me. My head’s buzzing, not from caffeine—I haven’t had nearly enough of that today—but from the words staring back at me in black and white.“Are you sure about this?” I ask Grace, my PR director
Calvin’s POVThe call comes in just as I’m reviewing a financial report in my office. It’s Serena, and I can tell immediately from her clipped tone that something’s off.“Calvin, we have a situation,” she says, not bothering with pleasantries.I lean back in my chair, setting the report aside. “What
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
Bill’s POVThe second we step into the warehouse, I know this is going to get messy.It’s quiet—too quiet. The air is thick with oil, dust, and something else, something metallic that makes my stomach tighten. The place is huge, dimly lit by flickering overhead lights that cast long, eerie shadows a
Calvin’s POVI don’t wait.I don’t hesitate.I just start making calls.Bill. James. Andrea. Jensen. Everyone who has a stake in this war.This isn’t about Titan or Etoile anymore. It’s not about boardroom takeovers or financial plays. Someone tried to kill Serena. Someone showed up at my home, wher
Bill’s POVI’ve seen a lot of things in my life. I’ve dealt with cutthroat businessmen, corrupt board members, and people who’d sell their own mothers for a better quarterly report. But nothing—nothing—compares to what I just witnessed.Someone just tried to kill my wife.Not send a warning. Not int
Serena’s POVI know exactly why I’m here.This event isn’t just about business. It’s about power. About showing up, being seen, making it clear that I’m not going anywhere. Sterling and his allies want to shake me, want to make me look weak. That’s why I’m here—because the moment I start hiding, I’v
Stevie’s POVI can still hear the alarm ringing in my ears.Even though it shut off over an hour ago, the shrill sound is stuck in my head, looping like a nightmare I can’t shake.I sit on the couch, gripping a cup of tea I’m not drinking, staring at the front door like I’m expecting someone to try