Thomas’ Point of View I walk into the office, determined not to let last night throw me off. Simon has barely arrived, and already he’s trying to pull Lily to his side. Does she really think I’ve been too hard on her, or is Simon just twisting things to suit his agenda? Either way, it doesn’t matter—I haven’t lost sight of my goal: getting Lily to marry me. But she isn’t making it easy. She expects me to act in ways that go against everything I am. I’m not about to let myself be ruled by a woman’s emotions or whims, no matter how much she wants that. I know she does. Still, I think I’ve given her just enough to show her what she can expect from me. Simon’s meddling could have messed it up, but it’s handled now. If Lily thinks I’ll put any more effort into winning her over, she’s mistaken. My patience is wearing thin. A wife’s role is clear: someone to care for me, satisfy my needs, and give me children. Why can’t she just accept that? Just as I’m settling into work, ready to put i
Lily’s Point of ViewMy eyes fluttered open, but I felt too weak to get out of bed. Maybe it was because I wasn’t eager to face the problems waiting for me. I wanted to hold onto that moment of peace just a little longer. I heard my door swing open, the sound of heels hitting the carpet, growing closer.“Wake up, Lily,” Jessica’s voice came out firm and aggressive, as she marched over to the curtains and yanked them open. Sunlight flooded the room, and with it, any peace I had left disappeared.I sat up slowly, feeling sluggish. “Good morning, Jessica,” I said, trying to sound polite.“You’re off to a very bad morning, young lady. You’re still in bed while your fiancé is already on his way to the office. What do you think you’re here for?”“I don’t understand, Jessica.” I glanced at my phone—it was just past 8 a.m. “I had a rough night. What exactly am I supposed to be doing?” I asked, tired and not in the mood for this.“Oh, I don’t know, Lily. Maybe paint my nails?” she said sarcast
Lily’s Point of View“Si,” I muttered under my breath, and as his lips separated from mine, a sweet sensation lingered, awakening memories of the night we made love. His lips pressed against mine again, his arms encircling my waist while I clasped my hands around his neck, my eyes closed. I felt a deep, aching desire, a hunger I hadn't felt since he vanished. His kisses were like fire, destabilizing me and stirring a longing I couldn’t ignore. Kissing at the poolside in broad daylight was risky, but neither of us cared. We missed being together, lost in each other’s presence.My knees became weak, and I felt dizzy. I struggled to cling to my anger, but it couldn’t protect me from him. I longed for the love we once had.“I want to make love to you,” he murmured between our kisses.“I want that too,” I admitted, my voice barely audible. But then my eyes widened in shock. What did I just say? I tried to pull myself together, withdrawing my hands and stepping back. Simon’s intense gaze se
Simon’s Point of ViewGeoffrey stood there, observing me with concern and frustration. “Fighting with your brother and stepmother, I see,” he said, looking disappointed. “Simon, you can't wage war against your entire family.”I crossed my arms, my voice cold. “They’ve left me no choice. You made Thomas CEO over me.”“You left,” he countered, sharply. “You turned your back on your family, on me, for eight years without so much as a word.”“I had good reasons to leave,” I shot back.He sighed, his tone softening. “I know.”His admission caught me off guard. I stared at him, searching his face for signs of what he truly meant. “I had to go, Dad. I didn’t feel safe anymore.”“I understand,” he admitted, to my surprise. “We are far from the perfect family, but we do not harm our own.”I clenched my fists, bitterness rising in my throat. “I’m not so sure of that.”He looked really down. “Your brother didn’t cause your accident, Simon.”“Then who did?” I demanded. “Because the brakes on my c
Geoffrey’s Point of View I desperately peered at him, waiting for his response. He wouldn’t refuse my offer—I thought confidently, clinging to the hope that he still had a sense of duty to this family. My intention had always been for Simon to run the dynasty from the day he was born. I remembered holding him in my arms—my son, my heir. But putting him against Thomas was the only way I thought I could control him, keep him tethered to me and the company. He changed everything when he left for those eight years. Headstrong and determined never to return, he abandoned us. Whatever had made him turn his back on the family, I still didn’t fully understand. His rebellion shook my plans to their core. I had no choice but to turn to Thomas, though I knew deep down he wasn’t the right leader for the company. He had my ruthlessness, but not the vision, not the balance that Simon could have brought. But I couldn’t let Weston Global fall, and so Thomas stepped in to fill the void his brothe
Simon’s Point of View I stood by one of the windows in my room, lost in thought, staring into the void. The conversation with Dad had reopened old wounds that had never fully healed. I could still picture Simone’s smile when she used to bathe me or feed me, her gentle hand patting my hair and her soft kiss on my cheek, telling me she loved me. The memories were both a comfort and a torment, but I needed them to fuel my determination to uncover the truth and seek my revenge. First, I would find the proof of who killed my mother. Then, I would make them pay. I exhaled deeply, feeling a surge of resolve. This was my purpose, the driving force that had kept me going all these years before I met Lily, the only woman who had ever loved me after my mother. She reminded me so much of Simone. With her, I felt a sense of home. “How are you doing?” Lily said from behind me. I was so lost in thought, I didn't realize she had entered. “Not so good,” I replied, turning to face her, a faint smil
Lily’s Point of View His gaze was hot on mine. I knew I had to be careful with my response. Despite the way he hurt me, I couldn't stand to see him hurt. Where is the ring Simon gave me? I asked myself. After everything, I was determined never to look at the ring again, the symbol of his deceit and my own gullibility. I didn’t throw it out; it looked expensive. I tucked the small black box somewhere among my old belongings, where I wouldn't remember it or my broken heart. It had been three years since I last saw it, but it had to be around somewhere. “Lily, do you still have it?” Simon asked, his gaze searching mine. “Of course I do,” I answered, even though I wasn’t sure where it was. “Thank God,” he said, his eyes filling with relief. “I thought you might’ve pawned it or lost it after what I did.” He smiled, gently stroking my cheek. “It means a lot to me that you kept it, Lily.” “Don’t read too much into it. I’m giving it back,” I said, trying to sound unaffected. “I d
Lily’s Point of View His eyes were intense, locked onto mine. I felt his stare as if it was burning right through me. I knew I had to be careful with what I said next. Even after all the hurt, I couldn’t stand seeing him in pain. Where’s the ring Simon gave me? I asked myself. After everything, I swore I’d never look at that ring again—the symbol of his betrayal and my own gullibility. I didn’t throw it out, though. It looked expensive, and something in me couldn’t just get rid of it. I’d hidden the small black box somewhere among my old things, hoping to forget about both it and him. It had been three years since I’d last seen it, but I knew it had to be here somewhere. “Lily, do you still have it?” Simon’s voice was soft, his gaze searching my face. “Of course I do,” I said, even though I had no idea where it was. He sighed, visibly relieved. “I thought maybe you’d pawned it or gotten rid of it after what I did.” He smiled then, his hand gently brushing against my cheek. “It me
Lily “Tom,” I stammered, unsure of how to explain. I wasn’t sure if Thomas was going to believe anything I said, but I had to try.“With Simon, I presume,” Thomas spat, barely containing his rage. He was furious. The thought of Simon and me together clearly irked him. Maybe it was jealousy, or the fact that a part of him knew Simon and I had something beyond a normal friendship.“Yes. We worked together,” I replied, trying to stay calm, though his anger made it hard to breathe.He moved closer, his eyes locked on mine, filled with an intensity that made my stomach twist in fear. “Didn’t I tell you not to work with Simon?” he repeated, his voice rising.“I know you did,” I began, my voice shaky. “But I told you, I couldn’t just not show up. I need to speak to Geoffrey first.”“Then what are you waiting for?” he shouted, slamming the bathroom door behind me. I flinched, my body reacting to the sudden noise. My heart pounded in my chest.He stepped closer, pointing a finger at me. “Lily
Lily Simon’s gaze was fixed on me. “Answer the call, Lily, or Tom will get even more suspicious.”I reluctantly picked up the phone. Before I could even say hello, Thomas’s voice blared through the speaker. “I don’t care what the hell you’re doing, I want you home now!” The call abruptly ended, leaving me staring at my phone in shock.For a few seconds, I was stunned. I hadn’t expected that reaction. My heart raced, not from fear of him, but from the relief that he wasn’t here. If Tom had found Simon and me having dinner together, especially after I refused to go home with him, it would have been a disaster. I exhaled slowly, thankful I didn’t have to face that mess. But now I had another problem—Simon’s eyes were locked on me.“What did he say?” Simon asked, curious.“He wants me home,” I muttered, pushing my chair back, ready to leave.“Wait.” Simon reached for my hand, and when his fingers wrapped around mine, a spark shot through me. I froze, my hand still under his warm grasp. I
Lily“I don’t know what you mean,” I said, my voice firmer than before.“Your coldness toward me seems more personal than professional.”Simon didn’t immediately respond, but his gaze remained on me, making the silence stretch longer than I was comfortable with. I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was pushing my buttons on purpose, though I didn’t have the energy to figure out why.“Look, Simon, I’m already having a pretty bad day. Please don’t make it any worse,” I continued, exhaling deeply.My hands tightened around the paper in front of me. I braced myself for a sarcastic response or some come back, but instead, he just returned to his work, ignoring the tension. Maybe that was for the best. I wasn’t in the mood for an argument, even though I felt like I could bite his head off. He’s probably number two on my list of enemies, with Jessica holding the permanent top spot. I forced myself to concentrate again. Then, my phone beeped, pulling my attention away from the file. I glance
LilyJessica let out a cold, arrogant smile, her eyes narrowing. “Make sure you never forget what team you’re on,” she whispered, stepping back just enough to let me open the door again. Typical of Jessica, always giving me those condescending smiles and asking pointed questions about my marriage to Thomas, as if daring me to admit how miserable I was. It was exhausting. I felt trapped in a life I couldn’t escape.I rolled my eyes, refusing to let her words get under my skin. She always had a way of making me feel like I didn’t belong, like I was an outsider in my own marriage. But I wasn’t about to give her the satisfaction of seeing me rattled. Not today.I slid into the backseat of the car, slamming the door shut behind me, and glanced out the window as we pulled away. Jessica stood there for a moment longer, watching the car disappear down the road. I have no idea what she thinks I’ve done to her to make her detest me the way she does.As we drove toward the office, I couldn’t hel
LilyTom’s voice rang in my head all morning as I stood in front of the mirror, the black gown I had chosen laid across the bed. It was simple but elegant, the kind of dress I felt comfortable in. But of course, I was certain that It wouldn’t be good enough for Thomas.“I expect you to tell Simon today that you won’t be working with him,” he said, his tone intimidating as he paced across the room.“I have to inform Geoffrey first,” I replied calmly, knowing this conversation would go nowhere good. “I can’t just quit without speaking to him. He might feel disrespected if I stopped without saying anything.”Thomas scoffed, his eyes narrowing as they fell on the black dress. He crossed the room in a few long strides, eyeing the fabric like it offended him. “Wear a bright color.”I tensed, my fingers gripping the sides of the dressing table. “Thomas, this is what I want to wear. It’s fine.”His eyes flashed with irritation. “You should wear this instead,” he said, pulling out a bright red
LilyThomas was quiet the entire ride back from the hospital, but I could feel the tension in the car, even through the silence. His gaze was stuck on his phone, but I knew he was fuming about Geoffrey’s decision. I didn’t dare say anything as we drove home. There was no point.As soon as we walked into the house, I headed straight for the bedroom. I needed a moment to process everything. Sitting at the dressing table, I took off my earrings, my mind still on what happened at the hospital. Geoffrey’s words replayed in my head. Working with Simon? I hadn’t even had a chance to wrap my head around it.But before I could gather my thoughts, I heard Thomas storm into the room. I glanced at him in the mirror. One look at his face and, I could see both his anger and frustration.“You went to the hospital with Simon,” he said, like he was accusing me of something.I paused, my hands hovering over my jewelry box. “Thomas, I didn’t plan for it. We were just—”“I asked you to stay away from him
SimonI sat across from Lily, trying to focus on our lawyers speaking, but all I could think about was how things had gotten this far. One minute we were married and having the best time of our lives, and the next we were here, about to get a divorce. Here we were, sitting at a table, preparing to end it all. The sight of the divorce papers in front of me felt more disheartening than I thought it would. I glanced at her—her face looked calm, but I knew better. I knew she wasn’t as indifferent as she seemed.Lily’s lawyer cleared his throat. “The house is the only property Mrs. Stack has,” he said, looking between me and my lawyer.“There’s no dispute about my properties,” I cut in. “She can take whatever she wants. I don’t care.”But Lily shook her head. “I don’t want any of it, Simon. I didn’t marry you for your money. Taking it would make me feel like a fraud.”I frowned, leaning forward. “It’s yours if you want it. I’m not going to fight you on this.”“I don’t want anything from yo
SimonAfter they were gone, I whispered my thanks to the woman and snuck out, taking the opposite direction to avoid being seen. Every second Geoffrey spent in that hospital felt like a risk. It was strange to feel this way after all the resentment I had toward him for marrying Jessica and treating me like a soldier who had to follow orders. He pitted Tom and me against each other since we were young, and look how that turned out. I grew tired of trying to please him and do his bidding, while Thomas became his star son. He acted like a god, yet he’s the one who broke our family with his mistress. Geoffrey was anything but a perfect father. But the truth was, I cared about Geoffrey—much more than I realized. He was still my father. He had been trying to reach out to me during the eight years I was away, begging me to come back home. I finally did—for Tom’s wedding—only to find out that Tom was marrying Lily, the love of my life.I sensed someone enter the room and turned toward the doo
Simon‘Simon, you have to stop this,’ my mind barked at me. I reluctantly released her lips, resting my forehead on hers, wanting to kiss her again. I didn’t care that we were being watched. God, I wanted her. Even though I knew I shouldn’t. She’s Tom’s wife now. I caught them having sex in his office. That day is still burned into my mind, and I can’t get over it. I wanted to yank him off her, beat him to a pulp, and tell him to stay away from her. But I couldn’t—that would ruin my plans. My brother and I sleeping with the same woman? That’s borderline madness. I have to let Lily go. She made her choice. I know what I have to do now.I felt her warm hands on my chest, and she pulled me back. She looked up at me with anger in her eyes. But we both knew there was something more pressing than what we were feeling right now. We knew someone had been watching us, and it was time to find out who. Our eyes turned almost simultaneously toward the intruder.“Lizzy,” Lily said, with a bit of r