Comment Down.
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
Iris POV:Here I am, trying to enjoy my lunch in the quiet corner of the restaurant where all the staff hang out. It's a little refuge, a spot where I can just breathe, away from the prying eyes and the constant buzz of the kitchen. The familiar hum of chatter fills the air, blending with the clinking of cutlery and the soft whir of the ceiling fans above. My plate of food is steaming, a simple meal that should be comforting, but my appetite is nowhere to be found.I can feel their eyes on me—Jeremy and his buddies—watching me from across the room. Their gaze is almost palpable, a heavy, unwelcome presence that makes the air around me feel thicker, more oppressive. Clearly expecting me to look devastated or sad or desperate enough to try and talk to him. But they’re wrong. Idiots.I focus on my food, trying to ignore the knot of tension tightening in my stomach. Gosh, can’t I work anywhere without being embarrassed? It’s like no matter where I go, I can’t escape the feeling of
Iris POV:I stood in the dim light of the New York subway station, the chilly air seeping into my bones despite the early hour. My nerves tingled with anticipation, every sound and movement around me amplified as I waited. Quinn stood beside me, her brows furrowed in concern as she noticed my restless energy."Are you sure you're okay?" Quinn's worried inquiry mirrored my own unease, but I forced a nod, trying to appear calm. My tapping feet, however, betrayed my anxiety, drumming a nervous rhythm against the concrete floor.I glanced at the clock hanging on the wall, the hands moving sluggishly as if mocking my impatience. The early hour only served to heighten my anticipation, the quietness of the station amplifying my every thought. I was caught in a loop of anxiety, the minutes stretching into what felt like eternity, each second adding to the weight of my thoughts.Pacing back and forth, I struggled to contain the restless energy surging through me. My mind was a whirlwind o
Iris POV:Warmth enveloped me like a comforting embrace as I slowly drifted back to consciousness. A tingling sensation spread through my chest, and for a fleeting moment, I felt an unusual sense of peace. But as I gradually opened my eyes, the sight that greeted me sent a jolt of shock coursing through my body like a lightning strike.I was lying on my side, and there, nestled against me, was Ace. His face was tucked into the curve of my breasts, his cheek pressed against my nipple as if he had claimed the spot as his own. His touch was gentle but possessive, with his hands resting lightly on my waist while one of his legs was draped sensuously between mine.I blinked rapidly, my mind struggling to process the surreal and inappropriate scene before me. My body tensed in disbelief, and then, unable to contain the horror that gripped me, a scream erupted from my throat, shattering the fragile silence of the room."ACE!" I yelled, sitting up abruptly and instinctively covering mysel
Ace POV:As I got out of my car and marched toward the mansion, the biting cold of the night gnawed at my skin, but it was nothing compared to the storm raging within me. Every step felt heavy, burdened by the chaos in my chest. The darkness seemed to close in around me, a fitting backdrop for the mess I was tangled in. My breath came out in short bursts, the chill doing nothing to calm the searing heat of frustration that boiled under my skin.I had sent Ares to bring Iris here tonight. There would be no interruptions— just the two of us, face to face, with nowhere left to hide from the truth. My mind raced, heart pounding as I approached the massive front door, my hand stopped for just a split second before I shoved it open with more force than necessary. The door slammed against the wall, echoing through the silent halls like a thunderclap.And there she was— standing in front of the couch, frozen in place. The dim lighting cast soft shadows on her face, highlighting the fear
Author POV:Hudson’s voice came out sharp, edged with panic as entered the room. “Is everything okay?”Despite the calmness Susan tried to project, her heart thudded with an unease she couldn’t dismiss.She had seen enough in her life to recognize the grim signs of violence, and the scene in front of her was disturbingly familiar. Years of dealing with the mafia's twisted underworld had hardened her, but it never got easier."I cleaned her body, but I didn’t see any blood," Susan replied, her voice steady but cold. "Only scratches.""Scratches?" Hudson's voice faltered."On her chest and waist," Susan continued, her gaze hardening. "And lots of finger marks. Someone left bruises."A silence filled the room, but it wasn't the kind of silence that brought peace. It was tense, heavy, like a predator circling just out of sight. Susan’s eyes narrowed, her mind turning over the details. She’d seen violence before, but something about this unsettled her in a different way. She knelt besid
Iris POV:As the clock struck 7 in the evening, I found myself sitting on a crowded bus, exasperated and a little irritated by the situation. Caleb was beside me, his presence unwavering and annoyingly insistent. He had practically dragged me onto the bus after I mentioned walking back to my apartment. Sure, I wasn’t feeling one hundred percent, but it wasn’t like yesterday’s fever— just a mild one now, nothing serious. Still, Caleb insisted on accompanying me, acting as though I might collapse at any moment. I appreciated his concern, but it was suffocating.Last night, though, that was a blur. A dark, unsettling memory that I was determined to push away, even as fragments kept surfacing. Someone had forced me into something I didn’t want, and the memory of it lingered like a bad taste in my mouth. It had felt like a game, a cruel one, and while I was glad it was over, I couldn't shake the weirdness of it all. My skin crawled just thinking about it.Yet, despite my resolve to
Ace POV:I sighed heavily, feeling the weight of my emotions settle like a heavy fog around me. The realization had been creeping in for months now, slowly overtaking me like a whisper I couldn't shake. I was undeniably, hopelessly whipped for her. For my Mini. For Iris. Every fiber of my being, every instinct I had honed over the years, seemed to bend to her will without hesitation. She had me in her hands, like strings tied to my heart, pulling me closer with every soft touch, every look she gave me.It wasn’t just some fleeting infatuation—this was deeper, much deeper. The more I tried to ignore it, the more it consumed me. I found myself following her every whim, her every condition. She had this ridiculous set of rules about taking care of myself— sleeping at least seven hours a day, eating three meals, keeping myself physically and mentally healthy. At first, it felt like an annoying checklist, something she insisted on to keep her “friend” in line.But over time, I stopp