Ace POV:She’s bleeding.The realization hit me like a ton of bricks as I stared at her peaceful face, nestled so close to mine. I wanted to wake her, to tell her what was happening, but she was sleeping so soundly, so undisturbed. It was as if the pain hadn't caught up to her yet.It was 2 in the morning when I stirred from sleep, my throat parched, and reached for the glass of water on the nightstand. But as I moved, something caught my eye—dark spots on the side of my waist. Blood. My first instinct was to check myself, but then I noticed more on her inner thighs.My gaze drifted back to her, a wave of concern washing over me. This girl doesn’t even know she’s having her period. Her head rested on my shoulder, but it kept slipping into the curve of my neck.So yeah, her neck was awkwardly propped against my collarbone, and her face was half-buried into the crook of my neck. I couldn’t bring myself to feel disgusted by the blood. I mean, why would I? It’s just blood. I’ve see
Ivan POV:"I know it's been a long time, I am sorry, kiddo," I whispered, my voice trembling with the weight of my grief. The gravestone before me felt cold and unyielding, a stark reminder of the life that had been stolen from me. My heart burned with a mixture of sorrow and fury, and I struggled to keep my emotions in check as I wiped away the tears that threatened to overwhelm me.I took a deep breath, my vision blurring as I blinked rapidly. "Just a little more, Laurie. I’ve gathered almost everything that can ruin his life just like he ruined ours," I said, my voice strained but resolute. I gently placed the flowers on the grave, their vibrant colors a stark contrast to the somber atmosphere. The act was both a tribute and a promise— a vow to my brother that I would avenge him.Laurie was the only one who had truly loved me, besides my family. But Ace had taken that away from me. He had shattered my world, torn apart everything I had held dear. The rage inside me simmered,
Iris POV:Tick. Tick. Tick.The relentless ticking of the clock seemed to amplify the chill in the room. The cold breeze sneaked through the slightly open windows, sending shivers through me despite the warm blankets I had wrapped around myself. I stood up from the chair that had become my makeshift desk, peering outside through the partially closed window.The spring was coming to an end. I closed the windows with a soft click, the familiar sound of the latch locking into place adding to the eerie quiet.Flopping back onto the bed, I rolled myself snugly into the blankets, hoping the warmth would chase away the growing sense of unease. The restaurant was undergoing construction, and though the break was a much-needed reprieve, it came with the bitter reality of not having my salary. A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I tossed and turned, trying to find a comfortable position while my mind swirled with worries. Jeremy had been my savior before, helping me land the restaurant job, bu
Iris POV:Pain. It was the only thing I felt when I woke up, dragging me from the void of unconsciousness into a reality that was even worse. The first thing I noticed was the sharp, throbbing ache in my scalp where they had yanked my hair so brutally. My head pounded in rhythm with my heartbeat, the pain radiating down my neck, making every small movement feel like a trial.I tried to swallow, but my throat was so dry it felt like sandpaper. Even my saliva seemed to have dried up. Thirst gnawed at me, a primal need that I couldn’t satisfy. I wondered if this was how it would end for me— dying of thirst, my body slowly giving out in this filthy, dark place. It wasn’t as though I hadn’t considered dying before. In my darkest moments, the idea of ending it all had crossed my mind. But back then, he had saved me. Maybe not this time.I moved slowly, trying to sit up despite the pain shooting through my head. My vision was blurry, my eyes struggling to focus. Everything felt heavy
Ace POV:198...199...200...I finished my abdominal crunches, sitting up with a rough breath. Sweat trickled down my face as I wiped it off with a towel. My morning routine was relentless: five sets of planks, 30 minutes each, and now the sweat-soaked shirt was discarded. It was just past 7 AM. I glanced at the clock, the hands already well into the morning hours. My phone buzzed with messages from my friends, all of them urging me to return. I was holed up in a small cabin in Pittsford Village, a haven of solitude amidst the forest, away from the clamor of city life. Here, it was just me and the five guards who had been assigned to my security. The silence was comforting, but today, it felt strangely ominous.After a quick shower and a hasty tidying of my bed, I prepared breakfast. Scrambled eggs and papaya juice— my culinary skills didn't extend beyond these basics. It was a dish I had learned to make for my mother, a skill I’d never quite mastered but managed to perfect out
Ace POV:The cold water ran down my naked body, easing the tension in my muscles and helping to clear my mind. I let out a slow breath, my chest rising and falling as I inhaled deeply. The water cascading over me felt like a temporary reprieve from the storm brewing inside.I was in a daze, lost in the whirlwind of thoughts that had been plaguing me.I can’t kill Isaac. But now, with the truth out in the open, I knew he wasn’t her brother. Does that change anything? Can I finally kill him?I needed to know more about her— about her past, about everything that had led us to this point.After finishing my shower, I stepped out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped loosely around my waist. The clock on the wall read 7 PM. I dressed quickly, choosing a casual gray shirt and black pants. As I walked through the hallways, I found Liam waiting for me. "Did you find him?" I asked, my voice calm, though my mind was anything but."Yeah," Liam replied, his tone blank. "Are you sure about this?"
Ace POV:The atmosphere in the room was tense, a mix of frustration and curiosity hanging thick in the air. The meeting was dragging on, my patience wearing thin as Liam recounted the details of our investigation. I leaned back in my chair, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the computer screen in front of me. "What do you mean by that?" I asked, trying to pierce through the fog of my impatience.Liam’s face was serious as he answered, "Everyone's details are clear, not a single sketchy piece of information."I grumbled under my breath. "It's not conceivable; there must be one mole in the house."The others around the table nodded in agreement, their faces mirroring my frustration. Everyone except Susan, who remained silent, her expression unreadable."Susan, do you have something to say?" I asked, my voice sharp and cold.Susan’s gaze was steady as she folded her hands over her chest. "We should stick together now; if not, we all will be killed."Her words echoed through the room, and ev
Ace POV:I bit my tongue, cursing myself silently. For the past two days, she's been avoiding me, but not completely. She talks to me, but it's different— distant. She's ignoring me, but at the same time, she's not. It's like she's here, but not really. Ugh...Fuck me!Last night, she slept on the couch. No goodnight, no massages, not even a glance when I entered the room. It was as if I was invisible to her. She still makes breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and she eats with me. But the silence... it's uncomfortable, heavy. She only talks to me when I ask her to do something, or when she checks if I want something to eat or if I need any help. That's it.I was angry and irritated when I said those words, and now I regret it. But I didn't tell her to stop talking to me altogether. The tension between us is suffocating, and it’s gnawing at me in ways I hadn’t anticipated.Straightening my posture, a knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. "Come in," I said, quickly trying to o