Adam's POVWatching Richard trying to kiss Elizabeth made my skin crawl. I didn't want him anywhere near her. She was mine alone.I remained calm, holding the tray of food so as not to give away my feelings.Their eyes met mine and I walked forward, ignoring Elizabeth's silent pleading. “Hey,” my voice flowed as Richard’s eyes met mine.“I take it you came to see if I'm dead,” he replied, his face changing into a wicked smile.“That’s the doctor's job,” I answered and he caught the joke. He smiled and returned his gaze to Elizabeth.She tried to escape, moving back, but he held her face still with his fingers.“Where were we?” He asked. His voice taunting me.In every sense, I shouldn't feel different about it. But him being close to her made my temper rise. I hated the way he touched her. What was this feeling?My heart ached, but I remained still. Now wasn't the time to act.“Urgh…” Elizabeth groaned.“Do you see it, brother? My wife avoids my touch,” Richard said, not taking his
Elizabeth’s POVThe Coffee ShopLily sat at our usual table, fingers locked around a coffee cup, staring into it as if the answers to the universe swirled inside.A smile pushed its way onto my face, masking the unease clawing at my insides. My steps quickened toward her.“Lily,” I called, catching her attention and opening my arms for a hug.She flinched, rejecting me with a wave of her hand.Something was wrong. She had never acted like this before.My hands dropped and I frowned. “Lily, What's wrong?”She continued looking into her cup, not giving a response.“Are you going to talk?” I asked again, my fingers curled against the edge of the chair as I sat across from her. “Say something, will you?”She let out a sharp breath and lifted her gaze with a neutral look.“Why don’t you tell me?” She blurted.“Huh?” The words left my mouth before I could control them.“Lily, I didn't come all the way to answer riddles and guess your mind. I hate guessing games,” I confessed.She scoffed, s
Elizabeth’s POVShe pressed the stop button and smiled.“Lily, what are you doing?” I asked, my voice trembling.“Making sure I have deposits,” she answered.“This is insane,” I voiced and stood up to leave.“I wouldn't do that if I was you,” Lily warned, waving the phone. My eyes followed her movements, aiming for the right time to grab the phone.I sat waiting as she continued.“You help me into the house and get me to Adam, and then I'll think about deleting this,” Lily said.“You're supposed to be my friend,” I whispered, feeling betrayed.She shrugged, acting like I was an alien. “Are you going to do it or not?”The phone graced closer to my face, and I quickly reached for it. She moved it away in time.“You'll get your chance,” she mocked. “So? The time's ticking.”The seconds ran, and her fingers aimed at her screen.“Fine, I'll do it,” I answered.“Good girl,” she said, smiling.“Remember, I get close to Adam, and you stick with Richard.”“But…” I argued.“No, buts,” she cauti
Richard's POVA sharp beep cut through the silence.I exhaled slowly, blinking at my phone as it vibrated on the nightstand. An unknown number.My gut tightened.I reached for it, swiping the screen open, and a single audio file appeared. No message. No sender name. Just the recording.I hesitated for a second before pressing play.The moment the voices filled the room, my grip on the phone tightened.“Adam Mich killed my parents. I was eighteen and had just paid them a visit in a long time. Then it happened. My dad got a call, and it wasn't looking nice. Then he hid me in the closet, and somehow, I must have pressed a button and got out through the back door…”I knew that voice. That sounded exactly like…Elizabeth.“I heard the gunshots, Lily.”“I'm so sorry,” another voice followed.“The police couldn't do anything. By the time I found Lance, as my dad had said, The house was in flames. They found my dad's body, but my mom's…”“Hey,” the other lady spoke.“I'm fine. I'm just a littl
Richard’s POVI glared at Lance, my eyes boring into him, daring him to say something stupid. He didn’t. Smart choice.With a snap of my fingers, my bodyguards moved instantly. One opened the car door while another shielded me, scanning the surroundings like good little soldiers. I slid into the backseat smoothly, the familiar scent of leather and my cologne wrapping around me.I left the door open.Lance stood there like a lost dog, his hands buried in his pockets, hesitating.I exhaled sharply. “Get in and stop looking like an idiot.”He blinked, then climbed inside, shutting the door behind him.The car remained still, the streetlights outside flickering against the tinted windows, casting shadows over Lance’s tense face. I didn’t look at him.I sighed, controlling my temper and removed my phone from my coat pocket and tossed it on his lap."Why are you giving me this?" He asked.I looked at him and shook my head. "The recording. I need to know who sent it."Lance glanced at the un
General POVLily groaned, waking up and sat up in her bed, running the sleep from her eyes. She checked her phone, sighing as she read the time. It was 7:02 AM.“Too damn early,” Lily hissed and fell back in bed.She had spent half the night tossing happily, thinking about Elizabeth. “Oh, Lizzy. I want to see how far you can go,” she said laughing.She sighed and climbed out of bed stretching like a car and headed for the kitchen. She grabbed a pan, ready to fry some eggs, when the doorbell rang.“Huh? Who the hell is that?” Her mind sang and the doorbell rang again.Ding-dong.Lily walked to the door, angry that her breakfast was going to be delayed.She wasn't expecting anyone. Especially not this early. Not ever.Her mind raced. “Maybe, it's Elizabeth.”A wicked smirk appeared on her face and she halted.“So, the princess had finally cracked, huh? Probably here to beg for my help,” Lily said, smiling.She loved it when people begged for her help. It made her feel powerful.She ran
Richard's POV:“I got the tape,” I said and she turned pale.Her mouth opened and I smiled.“But… I…” she stammered.I leaned closer and introduced myself. “I’m Richard. Adam's older brother.”She didn't move.Was this the lady who wanted to make a deal with Elizabeth? She wasn't as tough as I expected. She probably did it out of jealousy.“Y…you're Richard?” Shs asked and I nodded.“The Richard Mich,” she repeated.“You seem to have a hearing problem,” I answered.“Oh my God,” she said. “I'm so sorry. That shouldn't have ever gotten to y…”I interrupted, tired of her blabbering. “I appreciate that you did. Which is why I want to make you an offer?”“Are you ready for it?” I asked.Her eyes became teary and she looked funny as she struggled to keep the tears from flowing.“I…I'm sorry,” she whispered. “Please don't hurt me.”“Oh, don't worry. I won't. If you do what I want,” I answered.She started pleading. “I swear I'll do anything.”“Funnyz you sounded much bolder on the tape,” I s
Adam's POVMy phone buzzed. Another call from a contact in the cartel. I ran a hand through my hair, trying to ease my tiredness.There was always something urgent. Always someone wanting a piece of something they couldn’t afford.I wasn’t in the mood to deal with any fights and money issues tonight. Not after today's bloody fight and everything that had already been spilled. But that’s how it worked. You deal with the devil, you don’t get to turn your back when he calls.“Yeah?” I answered coldly, my eyes scanning the paperwork on the desk. I didn’t even care what he was saying. I already knew the answer. More products. More deals. I’d send my guys to handle it.That’s when the knock came.I frowned, my eyes snapping to the door. My men knew better. No one should be bothering me right now.But they did.One of my guys came in, holding a plain brown package. No return address. Just a stamp.I raised an eyebrow, asking a silent question. The man hesitated.“You gonna open it, boss?” he
Adam’s POVAs soon as Corinth made a run for it, the chase ensued.The guards immediately shouted orders, their heavy boots echoing on the marble floor as they pursued her. Corinth moved swiftly, weaving through the crowd with a sense of urgency that gave precision to her every action. Her arms pumped, and her legs propelled her forward as she ran down the hallway, holding on tightly to the stolen gun.I followed her at a measured pace. She was driven by survival instincts, but panic often leads to mistakes. She would eventually slip up, and I intended to be there when it happened.At the end of the corridor, Corinth took a sharp turn into another hallway. A guard lunged at her, barely grazing her sleeve, but she spun around, driving her elbow into his ribs. He grunted in pain and stumbled back, crashing into a glass cabinet that shattered, sending pieces of glass everywhere.Another guard was on her quickly, reaching for her arm, but she ducked, swinging the gun to connect with his j
Corinth’s POVThe kitchen was filled with the aroma of fresh herbs and cooked meat, but it didn't give me the satisfaction I needed. I felt out of place.I stood at the shiny counter, my hands steady despite the cold surface.The head chef worked quickly and skillfully, preparing Elizabeth's dinner with pride in his work. He had no clue about my intentions.The moment had arrived. I reminded myself, "Don't mess up. Just do it and get out. It won't kill her. She'll be okay."I kept these thoughts in my head.I glanced at the spice rack. There was a small vial hidden between jars of basil and oregano, easy to miss. I had placed it there earlier to blend with the spices. My fingers brushed over it as I pretended to care about the plates.My heart was racing. There was no turning back.If I hesitated, my boss would punish me harshly. He never forgave mistakes. Failing was not an option for me.The chef turned to grab some rosemary. That was my chance.I carefully added a few drops of the
Adam’s POVThe room felt incredibly small, almost as if it were closing in on me. I could hardly breathe. My heart was pounding loudly, like war drums, as I stormed out, each step driven by the burning anger inside me.Corinth!!!That name was stuck in my thoughts, gripping my anger tightly. She had a simple task: deliver my message. Just one task, and she didn't do it.Maybe she even ignored it on purpose.I moved quickly through the hallway, my hands clenched in fists. I needed to find out what happened right away. Kevin had come out of his coma. That should have been the first thing I was told. Instead, I was kept in the dark. Someone was trying to keep me uninformed, someone wanted me off balance. And Corinth was at the heart of it all.As I got to the stairs, ready to go down, I noticed something move from the corner of my eye."Adam."I stopped and turned to where the voice came from. I saw Maximus standing there.He stepped in front of me, his face serious, his eyes sharp. He w
Adam's POVI hadn’t slept. I was tired, my eyes burned, and yet morning came, but my head wouldn’t sleep. Mirroring a shivering voice, slithering through the thoughts of the mind, wherever I closed my eyes, the very next moment, shadows got keen at the border of my moment, my sight. I didn’t know what was real anymore.Elizabeth curled up next to me, her breathing steady but shallow.Carefully I pushed her hair from her face, letting my fingers linger on her cheek. She appeared serene, but I knew it was an illusion. She was still plagued with nightmares. I had gotten up more than once to her shaking in her sleep and mumbled words that made no sense.That thought turned my blood to ice.Elizabeth turned a little and buried her face in my chest. I held her a bit tighter and then slipped out of bed gently. She didn’t stir.I dressed quickly. My body was worn out but my mind was as sharp as it had ever been. Today was the day I would get the answers I needed.By the time I entered the sec
Adam's POVI first noticed it in the little things — pauses, misplaced objects, an extra beat spent staring into space. Elizabeth had always been sharp, from her calculated endeavors to her scalpel-sharp mind. But recently, there was something different.She would reach for her food but then stop, narrowing her eyes as though she were aware that something just wasn’t right. Then she’d shake her head and make herself eat, though her appetite was sporadic. On some nights, she would eat an entire meal in minutes. On other nights, she hardly ate at all.And then came the confusion.She would forget things, the little things at first. Where she had left her phone. If she had answered a message〕. Then it escalated. Whole conversations fell from her mind. She repeated the same questions, even within minutes of one another.Initially, I told myself it was just stress. Pregnancy was complicated on the body, and Elizabeth had enough on her plate. However, I was not someone who disregarded my gu
Elizabeth's POVThe first time it happened, I wrote it off as nothing but exhaustion. I had screamed my fucking head off at that disappearing figure in the mirror.I caught a glimpse of a mirror today while fitting in brushing my hair before bed. I took the lamp off, and then turned back, and I swear my reflection didn’t follow.I blinked.There was nothing peculiar in the glass. Just me. My slightly uncombed hair, my weary gaze, my finger caught in mid-action.I exhaled and wrangled myself into laughter.Pregnancy fatigue. That’s all it was.But later that night, I was roused by whispers.My pulse quickened as I opened my eyes to stare at the darkness. It was faint, like a voice on the wind, low enough in pitch that the words couldn’t be made out.I turned my head slightly.Adam was lying next to me, his breathing slow and steady, deep in sleep.I held still, listening.The murmurs appeared to come in from one end of the room, close to the window. But when I changed, they went away.
Corinth's POVAfter a long pause, Adam finally sighed. He glanced over at Nico and Raphael and gave a small nod.“Take her to the infirmary.”Without another word, Raphael put a steadying hand on my back and guided me out.*******We had just stepped inside when the cool, sterile smell of disinfectant seeped into my nose. The room was silent, the air-conditioner purring softly.I sat down on the patient’s bed and Raphael stood by the door, arms crossed.But then, Nico stepped forward.His fingers curled and uncurled at his sides. He looked so serious doing it.Then he turned to Raphael.“I got it from here.”Raphael didn’t budge at first. He narrowed his eyes slightly.I could almost hear the silent judgment in his eyes.But after the longest moment, Raphael released a slow breath.He shook his head, muttered some words under his breath and turned and left.The door clicked closed behind him.And then, there was silence.I looked at Nico, who suddenly looked nervous.He cleared his th
Corinth's POVThe maids cast anxious looks at one another. After a few seconds of doubt one of them opened the door.The girl who had shut the door retreated slowly, her fingers shaking.Raphael didn’t wait. He put his arm around my waist for support and walked me toward the exit. My legs shook, but I willed myself to keep standing.As soon as we crossed the threshold, I felt a chill go down my spine when something in the back of the room moved quickly.A shadow lunged toward us.Before I had time to react, Raphael spun around, his reflexes a split second fast.He avoided the hit at the last moment, his hand lashed out and caught the wrist of the girl who dared try to shove us.He yanked her forward with a slightly calculated, completely nonchalant sort of movement, disrupting her center of gravity. She took a shocked, short shout, hands waving as she nearly fell downstairs.The other maids sucked in their breaths, their faces locked with terror.She teetered and almost caught herself
Corinth’s POVThe voices outside the restroom cubicle became louder.“She’s in here.”I scrunched my hand over my mouth, my heartbeat pounding against my ribs. I leaned my back against the cold wall, listening to the footsteps approach.“Corinth,” called one of the maids, sharply, and taunting. “Come out now or we’re coming in.”I dug my fingers into my own skin, struggling to keep my breathing even. If I said nothing, maybe they’d go away. Maybe they’d get bored.But I wasn’t that lucky.Kicking the cubicle door, one of them made a loud bang. I jumped.“You deaf, whore?” another one hissed. “Open the damn door.”I hesitated. And if I took too long, they’d barge in. They had no boundaries.“Last warning.”I squeezed my eyes shut one moment, released a breath, then felt for the lock. As soon as I slid it open, the door flew inward, almost smacking me in the face. Before I even had a chance to react, a fist grabbed a handful of my hair and pulled me forward.A shrill scream tore out of