Pamela’s Point of ViewThe house is eerily quiet when I step inside. Not a single light is on, and the usual bustle of maids is gone. A sense of unease creeping through me as I shut the door behind me. Something feels wrong. Very wrong.The faint scent of alcohol wafts through the air, pungent and overpowering. I follow it through the darkened hallways, my footsteps hesitant, heart racing with every step. I can barely see where I'm going, and the silence presses in around me like a heavy weight.I reach for the light switch, flicking it on. It snaps on with blinding brightness, stinging my eyes, and I blink furiously to gain control. But it takes only a split second before I jump out of my skin again.Rowan is standing there, motionless, his eyes locked on me. His expression is blank, unnervingly so. But his eyes... they’re cold, yet burning with something intense. He's leaning casually against the wall, but I can tell he’s drunk—his posture too loose, the way he sways ever so slightl
Pamela’s Point of ViewI wake the next morning feeling as though I've been hit by a truck. My mind is slow, body aching, and I can feel the echo of Rowan's touch from last night. I can almost feel him pushing me against the wall, heat on my skin from his breathing, the rough hands on my body—it's just all too vivid. I don't know what to make of it. It was too raw, too intemperate. Did it really happen? Or was it some sort of fever dream?As I sit up in bed, the reality of the situation hits me hard. No, it wasn’t a dream. Rowan kissed me. He claimed me. But then he walked away as if it was nothing.I glance at the clock. It’s early, earlier than I’d like to be awake, but sleep isn’t going to come easily now. The weight of what happened last night sits heavy on my chest, and I wonder how Rowan will act today. Will he pretend it never happened? Or worse, will he be angry?I drag myself out of bed and head downstairs, half expecting to find the house just as cold and silent as it was las
I sit on Joana’s couch, shifting uncomfortably, trying to focus on the TV show playing in the background. It’s some kind of crime drama, but I can’t follow the plot. My attention keeps flickering back to the phone in my lap, my thumb hovering just above the screen. I glance at it again, checking for a message I know isn’t there. Nothing.I bite my lip and set the phone down, only to pick it up again moments later. My heart skips a beat as I unlock the screen, staring at the empty notification bar. What am I even expecting?It’s not like Rowan has a habit of messaging me. In fact, he rarely does. But after last night... my stomach flutters at the thought of him. There’s this strange sensation, a mix of excitement and confusion, something I can’t quite explain. I feel... nervous? Restless? Maybe it’s both. I don't know why I even care this much.I glance at the phone again.Still nothing.Joana’s voice breaks through my spiraling thoughts. “Pamela, are you even watching?” Her tone is
Pamela’s Point of ViewThe credits roll on the screen, but I’m not really paying attention. My mind has been elsewhere the whole time—on my phone, on Rowan, on what happened last night. The buzzing energy in my stomach won’t go away, that strange mixture of nerves and anticipation building up, twisting tighter with every passing minute.Finally, I can’t take it anymore. With shaky hands, I unlock my phone and see it—Rowan’s message.[I’m waiting outside your sister’s apartment.]My breath catches in my throat. He’s here?I stare at the message for a moment, trying to process it, my pulse quickening with both excitement and nervousness. Without thinking, I jump up from the couch, almost knocking over the popcorn bowl in my haste.“I’ll be right back!” I stammer, barely registering Joana’s confused expression as I rush toward the door.“Wait, where are you going?” Joana calls after me, but I’m already out the door, my heart racing as I sprint down the stairs of her apartment building. W
Pamela’s Point of ViewWe walk into Elysian Threads, the most renowned bridal shop in the city. The shop is famous for its elegant, handcrafted wedding dresses, each one made with precision and care. I’ve heard the waiting list here is months long, but of course, Rowan’s connections made sure we didn’t have to wait a single day.It’s a beautiful place, adorned with delicate chandeliers and racks of stunning gowns that catch the light as we move past them. The scent of fresh flowers drifts through the air, making everything feel even more surreal. My heart should be racing with excitement, but instead, there’s a strange heaviness weighing it down.Rowan walks in beside me, as calm and composed as ever. His hand rests on the small of my back, a gesture that might seem affectionate to anyone watching, but I know better. It’s just part of the performance. We’re engaged, after all. People are watching.As we are greeted by a woman who introduces herself as Marie, the assistant for today, I
Pamela’s Point of ViewTossing and turning in bed, I can’t find any solace in sleep. My mind keeps replaying that moment at Elysian Threads, where Rowan looked at me with an intensity I hadn’t before. The warmth of his gaze feels like a memory just out of reach, slipping through my fingers like sand. Why can’t I shake it? Did it mean anything? I keep wondering if that moment was real or if I’d imagined it in a desperate attempt to find something genuine in this engagement.I roll onto my back, staring at the ceiling. Shadows from the streetlights flicker through my window, but they provide little comfort. The night feels endless, and I wish it would just take me somewhere far away from this tangled web of emotions. As I flip again, my phone beeps, jolting me from my thoughts.I sit up, heart racing, and grab my phone from the bedside table. The glow of the screen illuminates my face, and I see two notifications. The first one twists my stomach. It’s from my father.[We need to talk. I
Pamela’s Point of ViewI can’t just stand here like some helpless spectator. Not tonight. Not anymore.The sight of Rowan, drunk and leaning on Lyka, stirs something deep inside me—a fire that refuses to be extinguished by all the confusion and hurt. I’m not going to be a martyr, sitting on the sidelines while someone else plays the part of the devoted fiancée. No. If he says we’re entering a real marriage, then I’ll act like it.My heart pounds as I follow them upstairs, my footsteps steady and determined. This is my responsibility. Rowan is supposed to be my future husband, and that means I have every right to decide who he’s associating with.Without hesitation, I push open Rowan’s bedroom door. Lyka is already inside, hovering over him as he lies sprawled on the bed, half-unconscious. She’s unbuttoning his shirt, her hands moving with a confidence that makes my blood boil.No. This is not happening.“Step away from him,” I say, my voice firm and unyielding.Lyka turns to face me,
Pamela’s Point of ViewThe morning sun filters through the kitchen window as I stir the pot of soup on the stove. The aroma of the broth fills the air, a simple comfort on an otherwise heavy day. I glance at the clock—early enough for Rowan to still be sleeping off his hangover, but I’m too restless to stay in bed. Last night still lingers in my mind, his unconscious grip pulling me into the bed, his drunken whispers of my name. But none of that means anything now. It never does in the daylight.I finish cooking, setting the table with a quiet efficiency. Soup, eggs, toast—nothing fancy, just something to help with the hangover I’m sure he’ll wake up with. As I arrange the dishes, I hear footsteps descending the stairs, slow and heavy. I don’t turn around, but I know it’s Rowan.I feel his presence before I see him. He walks into the kitchen, his movements sluggish, clearly feeling the aftermath of the alcohol from the night before. His hair is disheveled, his eyes half-lidded with ex
The following morning, the villa felt quieter than usual. The air was thick with tension, and even the usual hum of the house staff seemed muted, as if they, too, were aware of the storm brewing on the horizon. Joana had gone to her room, exhausted from the night’s events, and Rowan had disappeared somewhere into the villa, no doubt strategizing for the next phase of his plan.I found myself standing by the window, staring out at the sprawling grounds that surrounded the villa. The gardens were peaceful, a sharp contrast to the chaos that seemed to lurk just beyond our doorstep. The events of the previous night felt like a fever dream, a blur of voices, threats, and unsettling revelations. I still wasn’t sure who was behind the men who had tried to break into the safe room, but one thing was clear—Victor wasn’t the only threat we had to worry about.&n
Rowan’s warning to stay in the safe room echoed in my ears as the minutes stretched into what felt like hours. The silence in the villa was oppressive, broken only by Joana’s quiet sniffles. I kept my eyes glued to the remaining live camera feeds, desperate for any sign of Rowan or Victor’s men.Joana sat beside me on the small bench by the monitor, her knee bouncing nervously. "Pamela, what if Rowan can’t stop them? What if—""Don’t think like that," I interrupted, my voice sharper than I intended. I took a deep breath to steady myself and softened my tone. "Rowan has dealt with Victor before. He knows what he’s doing."Joana’s lips quivered, and she nodded reluctantly, but the
The tension was suffocating. Rowan’s warning about Victor’s men coming for the files reverberated in my mind like a drumbeat. Joana looked pale, her lips parted in disbelief as if she were waiting for someone to say it was all a misunderstanding. But no one spoke.I was the first to break the silence. "What do you mean they’re coming tonight? Are they attacking the villa?"Rowan exhaled sharply and crossed his arms. "Not an attack in the traditional sense. Victor doesn’t want a scene. He’ll send his people to try and sneak in—probably to ransack my study, grab the files, and leave. But if they can’t find what they want, they won’t hesitate to escalate."Joana gripped the armrest of her chair,
The weight of Rowan’s revelation crushed down on me like a boulder. Victor didn’t just orchestrate my mother’s death—he used my father to do it. The room swayed for a moment, but I forced myself to stay upright. I couldn’t let the storm of emotions consume me now. Not with Joana here, her wide, innocent eyes begging me for answers I didn’t have."What do you mean?" I asked Rowan, my voice strained but firm. "What did my father do?"Rowan slammed the file onto the desk, the pages fluttering like restless ghosts. "This document outlines a significant financial transaction from Victor’s company to your father. It was made two days before your mother’s condition took a sudden turn. Victor doesn’t hand out money for no reason, Pamela. He’s manipulative, calculated. Whatever this
Pamela's Point of View Rowan pulled me behind him, his shoulders squared as he stood between me and the approaching men. The air around us felt heavy, charged with tension, and every step they took closer set my nerves on edge. There were five of them, each dressed in dark clothing, their faces half-hidden in shadows. The one leading them had a cocky smirk that made my stomach churn."Hand it over, Hamilton," the man said, his voice calm but dripping with menace. "You’ve got something that doesn’t belong to you."Rowan didn’t flinch. "If Victor wanted it so badly, maybe he shouldn’t leave his secrets lying around."The man’s smirk faded, replaced by a sharp glare. "You’re making this harder than it needs to be. Give us the files, and maybe we’ll let you walk out of here."My heart raced as I clutched Rowan’s arm. I couldn’t tell if I was trembling because of fear or anger. The thought of Victor always being one step ahead, always pulling strings, made me want to scream. Rowan reached
Pamela’s Point of ViewThe tension in the room was suffocating as Rowan ended the call with Lyka. His face was unreadable, a mask of calm that I knew he wore to keep his emotions in check. But his knuckles, white from gripping his phone, betrayed his inner turmoil.“What did she say?” I asked, my voice low but steady.Rowan inhaled sharply, placing the phone on the table. “Victor knows we’re digging into him. Lyka says he’s preparing to make his move.”“What does that mean? Is he coming after you? After us?” Panic crept into my voice despite my effort to stay composed.“I don’t know yet,&rdqu
Pamela’s Point of ViewThe minutes ticked by in heavy silence after Rowan’s phone buzzed. His jaw tightened as he stared at the screen, his fingers hovering over the reply button.“What are you going to say to her?” I asked, breaking the tension.Rowan glanced up at me, his eyes clouded with a mix of frustration and resolve. “I don’t have a choice. If she’s involved in this mess, I need to know.”I crossed my arms. “So you’re meeting her tonight?”He nodded, sliding the phone back onto the desk. “It’s the only way to fi
Pamela’s Point of ViewThe silence in the room was deafening after Lillian left. My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might break through my chest. Rowan stood there, his hands gripping the edge of the desk, his knuckles white.“She’s lying,” he said finally, his voice barely audible.I didn’t know if I believed him. “Lying about what, Rowan? Because so far, nothing about your family has given me a reason to think they’re honest.”Rowan turned to face me, his expression a mix of anger and desperation. “I had no idea about that letter or any of her threats. You have to believe me, Pamela. I’ve been try
Pamela’s Point of ViewThe air outside was cold and crisp, biting against my skin as I stumbled into the villa’s garden. My mind raced with a storm of emotions—confusion, anger, and a deep sense of betrayal that churned my stomach. I had believed Rowan, trusted him, even as the cracks in his façade began to show. Now, with Evelyn’s accusations and the damning evidence she provided, I felt my world splintering apart.But one thing was clear: I couldn’t run forever.I found myself at the garden bench where I often sat to clear my mind. Tonight, the stars overhead provided no comfort. They were distant, cold pinpricks of light, mirroring the isolation I felt. As I sat, trying to piece everything together, my phone buz