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
AFTER AN YEARIris POV:The weight of exhaustion was like a heavy cloak around me, making every movement feel like wading through thick molasses. I stirred reluctantly, each muscle in my body protesting against the effort required to rise from the bed. The remnants of sleep clung to me like a shroud, whispering sweet promises of rest and comfort, but reality had other plans.Quinn’s voice cut through the fog, its deep, authoritative tone breaking the spell of my drowsiness. "Stand up, peasant. Make me my breakfast."I groaned inwardly, struggling to shake off the remnants of sleep. With a slow, deliberate effort, I pushed myself out of bed. The coolness of the tile floor against my bare feet was a small relief from the oppressive heat of the day.As I reached the kitchen, I could feel Quinn’s gaze on my back, her concern palpable. “Wow, are you okay?” she asked, her brow furrowing in genuine worry as I opened the fridge. The cool air whooshed out, mingling with the warmth of the m
Ace POV:The brightness of the hospital room hit me hard, making my eyes squint in irritation. I blinked a few times, trying to adjust to the harsh light that felt like needles piercing through my skull. My head throbbed with a dull ache, and I reached up instinctively, feeling the cold touch of the IV needle and wires connected to my body. Glucose dripped slowly from a bag beside the bed, feeding into my veins.I hate this shit.A sigh escaped my lips as I tried to calm the erratic rhythm of my breathing. My thoughts were a mess, fragmented and blurry as I attempted to piece together how I had ended up here. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled my nostrils, and it only made me feel more out of place."You're awake," a nurse's cheerful voice broke through the haze, her overly bright demeanor grating on my nerves.Why the hell is she so happy? I glared at her as she bustled around the room, checking my vitals.Before I could respond, the door swung open, and I saw my friends— Ai