Vance's POVI hadn’t heard from Mona in days. The silence had been suffocating. Since the night she left the pub with that look in her eyes, everything had gone cold. Every call I made to her voicemail, every text went unanswered. It wasn’t like her to shut me out like this. She had been distant before, but this—this was something different.It was like she had slipped into another world, leaving me stranded in the wake of her absence. I couldn’t figure it out. Something had changed, and it was gnawing at me, distracting me. The more I thought about it, the more frustrated I became. I needed to see her, to know what was going on. To make sense of whatever had crawled under her skin.I decided to go to her mansion, to confront her face-to-face. The drive was long, my mind racing with all the questions I wanted to ask, but it didn’t matter. I needed answers, even if they would tear apart whatever fragile connection we still had.Pulling up to the iron gates, I felt a twist of unease in
Mona's POVThe audacity of him standing there in my house, that too with her around. Vance. Of all people. The very person who had played a role in the mess I was trying so desperately to escape. I stared at him, every fiber of my being burning with confusion and frustration. My fist clenched tighter as I struggled to hold back a slew of emotions. Was I angry at him? At myself? At this whole damn situation?"What the hell are you doing in my house, Vance?" I couldn't keep my voice steady. It cracked, betraying the mess of emotions swirling inside me. "Why the hell are you here, after everything that happened with Ian? After everything you've done?"He stood there, as if trying to figure out how to navigate the whirlwind of my wrath. His eyes were dark, but his face remained neutral. Too neutral. The way he stared at Flynn—standing just behind him, clearly waiting for a moment to pounce—had me seething.Is he… is he interested in her?The thought alone was enough to make my stomach twi
Vance's Point of ViewFlynn was just about to turn and walk out, her back straight, her expression cool as ice, when my hand shot out and gripped her wrist. She froze, her breath catching slightly at the contact, and I could feel the subtle tension in her body. She was on the edge, ready to retreat, but I wasn’t done yet. Not when everything inside me felt like it was coming apart.“Hey,” I said, my voice low, but with an edge that betrayed my nerves. “Can we talk?”She didn’t immediately respond. Her eyes locked onto mine, cold and calculating, but there was something more behind that steel wall. I could see the way her pulse quickened at the edge of her throat, the slight shift of her stance, as if she was debating whether to pull away or stay.I didn’t want to let her go. Not yet. Not like this.“Vance,” she said after a moment, her voice cool, clipped. “What is it that you want? You’ve got your own mess to sort out with Mona, and I—"“I know,” I interrupted, trying to steady my br
Vance’s POV “Did you just say you've fallen in love with someone else? That's crazy!” My sister exclaimed, sipping her juice without even minding the frown on my face. I stared at her, my pulse hammering in my ears, trying to process the weight of her words. Fallen in love with someone else? The idea sounded absurd, even to my own mind, but deep down, I knew it was true. She didn’t seem to notice the shift in the air. She sipped her juice, eyes darting around the room as if we were having the most casual conversation of all time. “Did you hear me?” she asked, her voice light and teasing. “You’ve fallen in love with someone else. That’s crazy.” I clenched my jaw and fought to control my breath. Of course, she had to say it out loud. But it wasn’t like I had the luxury of avoiding this anymore. The thing I had never planned on, never even considered, was happening. “Just shut up,” I muttered, trying to force the words through my teeth. “I’m trying to figure something out.” My
Mona's POV I noticed the smile on Flynn after I had left her and Vance at the entrance to the room. My jaw clenched as I saw her approaching me. There was something about the way she walked toward me—too confident, too... well, Flynn. Her smile was wide, and I could already feel the tension creeping up my neck. It wasn’t just a simple smile either. No, this was the kind of smile that came with a giggle. A giggle, for God’s sake. I crossed my arms tightly over my chest, standing as rigidly as a statue, hoping to send the message that I wasn't interested in whatever nonsense she was about to pull out of her perfect little pocket of tricks. I stared at her with pure, unfiltered anger and hatred, letting it boil beneath the surface, like a cauldron of resentment ready to spill over. Flynn stopped in front of me, that infuriating smile still plastered across her face. It was as if she didn’t care that I couldn’t stand the sight of her. “Mona,” she said, her voice so sweet it practicall
Ian's POV The office lights cast a sterile white glow over the room, but even that couldn’t sterilize the chaos that had just strutted through the door in five-inch heels and an attitude as bold as her lipstick. "Mia?" I asked, eyebrows knitting together. "What are you doing here?" She shut the door with a slow, deliberate click, her red nails grazing the handle as if sealing the moment like a trap. Her heels clicked against the hardwood floors—each step a warning, each sway of her hips a challenge. “Come on, Ian,” she purred, her voice a silky dagger. “I’m here to see you. What’s with the long face? Miss me already?” I leaned back in my chair, folding my hands behind my head to keep them from balling into fists. I had paperwork to deal with, not ex-fiancées who thought the world still spun around them. "Miss you?" I scoffed, chuckling under my breath. "You really are something, Mia." She ignored my sarcasm and strutted across the room like she owned it, her perfume trailing beh
Mona’s POVMy phone buzzed on the kitchen counter, but I was already pacing like a madwoman, chewing my thumbnail to the quick. The last thing I needed today—on top of the back-to-back investor calls, a missing assistant, and a sprained heel—was silence from Ian.I picked up the phone on the fourth ring, already wound tighter than piano wire. “About time you answered,” I snapped, one hand on my hip, the other waving in the air like I had an audience. “You alive or did you finally get crushed under the weight of your own ego?”“Good morning to you too, sunshine,” Ian’s voice came through, smooth and lazy like he hadn’t just vanished for six hours. “What’s wrong now?”Wrong? Wrong?Oh, I was on the brink.“Wrong is that you’ve disappeared off the face of the planet. Wrong is that you skipped breakfast, skipped your meeting with Bennett, and wrong is—hold on, wait a damn second—is that roasted chicken I smell?”Ian made a noise between a cough and a laugh. “Maybe. Flynn brought it.”Ever
Mia – POVI stood in the center of my room, arms crossed tight against my chest like a barrier to everything pressing in on me. The walls felt smaller than I remembered. The silence was too loud. I kept pacing, each step matching the beat of the fury thrumming in my chest.Ian. That man had the audacity to look at me like I was a stranger—cold, dismissive, like the past few months didn’t matter. I left the state for a damn business deal, not a vacation. I was building something—us, or so I thought. And now I was back, treated like I’d betrayed him by breathing in another zip code.Ungrateful bastard.“Mia? What’s wrong?” My mother’s voice floated in from the balcony like an unwanted breeze.I rolled my eyes, dragging my fingers through my hair, tugging at the roots just to release the pressure in my skull.“Stop, Mom,” I snapped without looking at her. “I don’t want you to start asking me questions that break me.”She stepped inside, her presence like a storm cloud hovering just above
Mona’s POVMy fingers trembled around the handle of my bag, but I wasn’t sure if it was from rage or betrayal. I had tracked Ian here like a madwoman, using a location-sharing app I clowned onto his phone when I felt something in my gut — that sharp, stinging woman’s instinct. And there he was, sitting across from her. Mia. The girl who couldn't read a chapter, let alone close the book.“Yes, it’s me,” I said, my voice shaking, barely above a whisper. “Is she the reason you've been skipping breakfast and ignoring my calls?”I took a step forward. My heels clicking against the marble tiles were the only sound between us. I saw Ian’s lips part like he wanted to say something — a thousand excuses forming behind his guilty eyes — but before he could, she stood up like she owned the air we breathed.“Ian has no explanation to give for his attitude towards you, Madam Mona,” Mia said, her voice laced with smug venom. She tossed her sleek hair behind her shoulder, like she was about to walk a
Mia’s POVHe exhaled. “Mia, this doesn’t have anything to do with—”“Oh, it doesn’t?” I said, laughing with disbelief. “That’s interesting. Because the last time I checked, you were parading around with that silicone Barbie like she was your forever after.”He sighed, the kind of sigh that wasn’t tired—it was guilty. I knew that sound. I’d heard it too many times when I caught him lying by omission.“You’re deflecting,” I said sharply. “Why?”“Because she’s not in the picture anymore,” he said, suddenly serious. “She doesn’t live with me. She hasn’t for over a month.”I blinked, stunned for a second.“What?” I said slowly. “You broke up?”He didn’t say anything.“Oh my god,” I whispered, the pieces clicking in my head. “You two broke up. And now suddenly you’re interested in working with me?”“I’ve been interested in working with you since the deal was proposed,” he replied firmly. “Don’t twist it.”“Oh honey, I’m not twisting a damn thing. I’m just connecting dots. The timeline’s too
Mia’s POVImmediately the call with Ian ended, I turned on my Bluetooth and connected to my car speakers. I needed this moment—needed to hear her scream with that ridiculous, high-pitched glee that only emerged when Ian’s name came up. That woman never hid her obsession with him. Not when we were together, not even after everything went to hell.I leaned back into my seat, exhaled sharply, and unbuckled my seat belt. My heart was racing, the weight of the last twenty minutes sitting heavy on my chest. I dragged a hand through my hair, trying to pull myself back together. I tapped her number and pressed the call button.“C’mon… pick up, Mom,” I muttered, my fingers rhythmically tapping the steering wheel. “Don’t fail me now.”The line clicked.“Mia!” Her voice immediately erupted with excitement. “Maiia baby, what’s going on? Did Ian call you? I told you he would! I told you he—”“Yes, yes, yes—he called,” I interrupted, rolling my eyes with a smirk she couldn’t see. “You can calm your
Ian’s POV“Pick up, silly girl!” I growled, slamming my fist against the arm of my office chair. It spun slightly with the force, the leather groaning beneath me.The phone buzzed in my hand—straight to voicemail. Again.“Mia,” I muttered under my breath, jaw clenched tight.She was dodging my calls now. Typical. Always running when things got messy. But this time, it wasn’t about feelings, love, or the thousand little arguments we left unresolved between kisses and slammed doors. No—this was business.My company had just locked in a potential game-changing collaboration with her firm. Her signature was the final key. Just one damn name on a dotted line, and we could break into the European market like kings. But she was the CEO. Her word was law.And she wasn’t picking up.I stood, pacing the room, the city lights outside casting jagged shadows across my desk. My office was high-rise, expensive, cold. Just like I liked it. But right now, it felt like a goddamn prison.I dialed her ag
Mia – POVI stood in the center of my room, arms crossed tight against my chest like a barrier to everything pressing in on me. The walls felt smaller than I remembered. The silence was too loud. I kept pacing, each step matching the beat of the fury thrumming in my chest.Ian. That man had the audacity to look at me like I was a stranger—cold, dismissive, like the past few months didn’t matter. I left the state for a damn business deal, not a vacation. I was building something—us, or so I thought. And now I was back, treated like I’d betrayed him by breathing in another zip code.Ungrateful bastard.“Mia? What’s wrong?” My mother’s voice floated in from the balcony like an unwanted breeze.I rolled my eyes, dragging my fingers through my hair, tugging at the roots just to release the pressure in my skull.“Stop, Mom,” I snapped without looking at her. “I don’t want you to start asking me questions that break me.”She stepped inside, her presence like a storm cloud hovering just above
Mona’s POVMy phone buzzed on the kitchen counter, but I was already pacing like a madwoman, chewing my thumbnail to the quick. The last thing I needed today—on top of the back-to-back investor calls, a missing assistant, and a sprained heel—was silence from Ian.I picked up the phone on the fourth ring, already wound tighter than piano wire. “About time you answered,” I snapped, one hand on my hip, the other waving in the air like I had an audience. “You alive or did you finally get crushed under the weight of your own ego?”“Good morning to you too, sunshine,” Ian’s voice came through, smooth and lazy like he hadn’t just vanished for six hours. “What’s wrong now?”Wrong? Wrong?Oh, I was on the brink.“Wrong is that you’ve disappeared off the face of the planet. Wrong is that you skipped breakfast, skipped your meeting with Bennett, and wrong is—hold on, wait a damn second—is that roasted chicken I smell?”Ian made a noise between a cough and a laugh. “Maybe. Flynn brought it.”Ever
Ian's POV The office lights cast a sterile white glow over the room, but even that couldn’t sterilize the chaos that had just strutted through the door in five-inch heels and an attitude as bold as her lipstick. "Mia?" I asked, eyebrows knitting together. "What are you doing here?" She shut the door with a slow, deliberate click, her red nails grazing the handle as if sealing the moment like a trap. Her heels clicked against the hardwood floors—each step a warning, each sway of her hips a challenge. “Come on, Ian,” she purred, her voice a silky dagger. “I’m here to see you. What’s with the long face? Miss me already?” I leaned back in my chair, folding my hands behind my head to keep them from balling into fists. I had paperwork to deal with, not ex-fiancées who thought the world still spun around them. "Miss you?" I scoffed, chuckling under my breath. "You really are something, Mia." She ignored my sarcasm and strutted across the room like she owned it, her perfume trailing beh
Mona's POV I noticed the smile on Flynn after I had left her and Vance at the entrance to the room. My jaw clenched as I saw her approaching me. There was something about the way she walked toward me—too confident, too... well, Flynn. Her smile was wide, and I could already feel the tension creeping up my neck. It wasn’t just a simple smile either. No, this was the kind of smile that came with a giggle. A giggle, for God’s sake. I crossed my arms tightly over my chest, standing as rigidly as a statue, hoping to send the message that I wasn't interested in whatever nonsense she was about to pull out of her perfect little pocket of tricks. I stared at her with pure, unfiltered anger and hatred, letting it boil beneath the surface, like a cauldron of resentment ready to spill over. Flynn stopped in front of me, that infuriating smile still plastered across her face. It was as if she didn’t care that I couldn’t stand the sight of her. “Mona,” she said, her voice so sweet it practicall
Vance’s POV “Did you just say you've fallen in love with someone else? That's crazy!” My sister exclaimed, sipping her juice without even minding the frown on my face. I stared at her, my pulse hammering in my ears, trying to process the weight of her words. Fallen in love with someone else? The idea sounded absurd, even to my own mind, but deep down, I knew it was true. She didn’t seem to notice the shift in the air. She sipped her juice, eyes darting around the room as if we were having the most casual conversation of all time. “Did you hear me?” she asked, her voice light and teasing. “You’ve fallen in love with someone else. That’s crazy.” I clenched my jaw and fought to control my breath. Of course, she had to say it out loud. But it wasn’t like I had the luxury of avoiding this anymore. The thing I had never planned on, never even considered, was happening. “Just shut up,” I muttered, trying to force the words through my teeth. “I’m trying to figure something out.” My