Simon’s Point of ViewHer silence infuriated me. The drive home was dead quiet. She couldn’t pretend to be angry. I was the one who had every right to be pissed off. She completely disregarded me. She bruised my ego, and she didn’t even care. I shot her furious glances as we drove back to the house. When we arrived, she slammed the car door and stormed into the house, looking upset.Is she kidding me right now? I wasn’t about to tolerate whatever manipulative game she was playing. Doubts started creeping in. Did she really want to be with me, or was this just about getting back at me for leaving her? That seemed like the only explanation. If not, why the hell was Tom still even in the picture for her? I walked into the house, my eyes scanning the wide living room. She was probably upstairs. I paced around, unsure whether I should confront her now or wait until I cooled off. I had asked her a simple question back at the golf course—“Why are you wearing Tom’s ring?”—and this was her re
Simon’s Point of View Today was a good day. I was thrilled. Boyce signed the contract. A mix of relief and excitement washed over me, almost leaving me breathless. The deal was done, and we had secured the investment we needed to continue the project. I was a step closer to making Lily mine. The only thing standing in my way was within my reach now. All I had to do was hand over the contract to my father, and that would put me in his good graces. Then, I’d offer to break Lily’s contract. I didn’t expect him to go easy on me, but it was a risk worth taking. I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t give it my best shot. Lily was the only inspiration I’d felt since revenge had motivated me. I was a different man with her—one willing to love, trust, and build a life with her. When I looked at her, I saw my hope, a chance to love and be loved. She showed me a different way to see life—through her lens—and to let go of all the hate I’d held inside. I never got over Simone’s questionable deat
Simon’s Point of ViewWe got back to the house laughing and giggling between our kisses. I took off my jacket at the door, kissing her more as we made our way through the living room. At the edge of the stairs, we fumbled with the buttons on my shirt until it came off. I lifted her onto my body as I carried her up the stairs. Kicking off my shoes, I laid her gently on the bed.I knelt by the edge, removing her Saint Laurent, silver lace-up ankle strap heels, one by one. As I crawled slowly toward her, she spread her legs, her feet resting on the bed, knees up. Her breathing quickened as I settled between her thighs. I smiled, seeing her eyes burn with desire. I captured her lips with mine, letting my tongue explore her mouth, kissing her desperately and recklessly. I left heated kisses on her neck, chest, thighs, and returned to her lips, unable to get enough.Then I flipped her over so that she was on top of me. Her hands swiftly undid my belt, tossing it to the floor, and unzipped m
Simon’s Point of ViewWe arrived in Texas, Dallas.During the drive back, my hands were knotted with hers in the back seat, enjoying the last moments we had together before we returned to the place where we had to deny our heart’s desire, keeping our distance and pretending like strangers. Our connection was undeniable, but I didn’t know how much longer I could bear watching from the sidelines while my brother held onto what was mine. I glanced at her and felt like I was looking at home. We exchanged a smile.“We’re almost there,” I said, not wanting to look away from her.“Yeah,” she replied, her face looked sad, her eyes locking onto mine. I kissed her deeply, our foreheads touching, our breathing in sync. I pressed my lips to hers again, and for a few moments, we just stared at each other in silence. We both knew what we had to do.She looked away and slowly slid my ring off her finger. Her eyes darted toward me briefly before she tucked the ring into her purse. Taking a deep breat
Simon’s Point of View “What did she say?” I repeated, shooting her a desperate glance.“She said Jessica,” she lowered her head, and I could tell she was holding back tears. “The last thing she said was Jessica.”“I knew it. That damn bitch,” I said, slamming my fist on the table. Miranda jerked, and I noticed the attention of everyone in the diner turning toward me. I slowly collected myself, trying to maintain my cool.“Your mom, Simon, she loved you so much,” she said, wiping the tears that almost spilled from her eyes with her handkerchief. I fought back my own tears. I always had fond memories of Simone. Even as a little boy, we had a strong bond, which made it so hard to move on.“What happened to her?” “Simone had cardiomyopathy and Geoffrey, your father employed me as a stay-in nurse for her. She started to get better, and we thought she was out of the woods and would make it after all. But I noticed that whenever her friend, Jessica, came to visit, those were her worst days
Simon’s Point of ViewI drove straight to Malcolm’s condo downtown, my thoughts racing as I parked and hurried inside. Malcolm had been Simone’s only family since my grandparents passed away years ago. He never married, living alone, and he was my only partner in investigating Simone’s death.“Simon, what the hell is going on?” His voice echoed as I entered the living room. “We don’t have hasty meetings like this. It’s reckless.”“I know, but I couldn’t sit on this one,” I said, pacing as I started. “I found Miranda Morales. No, she found me, and I just met with her.”“How? Didn’t you just get back from Canada today?” He looked bewildered.“I did. But right after I got home, I received a text message saying, ‘Don’t trust Jessica.’ I called the number, and it was her, Miranda.”“Christ.” Malcolm sat down on the sofa, his expression one of disbelief. “And you met with her right after getting that message? Simon, that was risky. It could have jeopardized everything—our years of investiga
Simon’s Point of ViewShe stood there with her hand on her waist, staring at me. “Simon,” she called again, waiting for an answer.“I was with my uncle, Malcolm,” I said, deciding to give her a little truth.“Oh... okay,” she said, lowering her arms and folding them across her chest. “I’ve never met him.”“And soon you will,” I assured her, stepping closer and taking her hands in mine. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was leaving, but you were with Thomas, and I couldn’t interrupt.”“Still, you didn’t mention you were seeing him before we got back. And why did you have to rush off the moment we returned? What was so important that you couldn’t stay?” she snapped, pulling her hands away, her brows knitting together in frustration.“Lily, I’m sorry.”She studied my face, her eyes searching for answers, for something more than what I was telling her. “What’s going on, Simon? Just talk to me,” she said, her arms dropping to her lap, her voice was softer now.I sighed. Of course, she could t
Lily’s Point of ViewThe wedding is tomorrow!Simon had been scarce most of the day, and it was hard to track him down. I knew he had to make sure everything was ready for us to leave, but I couldn’t help feeling nervous. I had never done anything this crazy in my life. Running away the night before my wedding? If someone had told me this would be my future, I wouldn’t have believed them. I never thought I’d be the kind of woman to ditch her fiancé right before the big day. But now, I understood it better. There’s always more to the story before passing judgment.In my case, I really did try to make things work with Thomas, but we were just too different. It wasn’t going to happen. I had a bag packed—just enough to slip away without raising suspicion. Leaving from my own house would’ve been easier, but Tom wasn’t going to let that happen. He’d probably insist on keeping me close to make sure everything went according to plan. And Jessica, well, I knew she wouldn’t take any chances, no
Thomas’ Point of ViewSimon drove us back home while my driver followed closely behind. I’d been drinking a lot—wasn’t drunk yet, but I was definitely on the verge. Simon, on the other hand, was more sober than I was. At least we’d cleared the air, so things wouldn’t be awkward between us. I was used to the chaos, but awkwardness between us was unfamiliar. I could tell Simon was still furious from seeing Lily and me together in the office. But was that anger because he thought I’d crossed a line, or was it because he was jealous?He’d probably been fantasizing about my wife, but I was smart enough to marry her before he could make a move. I gave him a subtle warning; that should be enough to make him back off.I got out of the car and headed inside the mansion. I didn’t bother looking back to see if Simon was following me—I was too lost in my own thoughts. I walked up the stairs until I reached my room. My hand swung the door open, and I stepped inside.There was Lily, her slender fig
Simon’s Point of View I stared at him, fighting the urge to punch him now that he was right in front of me. That sly smile of his, the arrogant prick. Maybe I shouldn’t have come after all. Our eyes locked with a fierce intensity.“I wasn’t sure I’d make it either,” I managed to say, my face hardening as I glared at him.“Don’t look so angry, Simon. Brothers can hang out.”I stared in disbelief. Was he trying to patronize me? “Why did you invite me here?” I went straight to the point. He raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by my directness.“I see. Being straight to the point, are we, older brother?” he teased with that infuriating smile, but I could see right through him—and he knew it.I stayed quiet, leaning back in my chair, waiting for him to tell me why we were really here. I had said I would get closer to Tom, but that didn’t change the fact that I was angry—no, I was beyond that. For the first time, I felt something deeper, darker. It wasn’t just jealousy. It was more than t
Simon’s Point of ViewMalcolm and I got back in the car and continued the drive to see Miranda. The tension between us was high, like a wall neither of us was willing to break down. He avoided my gaze the entire ride, clearly still upset. I knew why. Malcolm only wanted one thing—justice for Simone—and he was ready to sacrifice anything for it. As I thought about it, I realized I’d never seen Malcolm with a woman or even heard him mention one. No wonder he was so mad. He probably thought my feelings for Lily would ruin everything. His hatred for Jessica ran deep after what she did to Simone, and it seemed like he extended that distrust to all women. He should take his own advice from earlier and live a little.When we arrived, I parked the car, and we got out. I walked up to the door and knocked. It took a moment before Miranda opened it, her face lighting up when she saw me.“Hi, Mr. Simon,” she said with a bright smile.“Hello, Miranda,” I replied warmly as I stepped inside, with M
Simon’s Point of ViewI got in the driver's seat without answering, slamming the door harder than I intended. Malcolm watched me for a second before getting in the passenger seat. I started the engine, and we began driving toward the safe house I had set up for Miranda. The tension in the car grew with the silence between us.“Talk to me, man. What’s got you this twisted up?” Malcolm broke the silence, clearly concerned.I stared straight ahead, too focused on the road, trying to piece together the right words. One of my hands ran through my hair absentmindedly, a habit I found myself doing frequently in the midst of all this chaos. Finally, I exhaled.“I need to tell her,” I said, my voice quieter than I had planned.Malcolm raised an eyebrow, glancing at me briefly before looking back at the road. “Tell who? What?”“Lily.” Saying her name out loud made me realize I had already said too much, but it was too late to take it back. I could see Malcolm’s mind working, putting all the pie
Simon’s Point of ViewI gaped at her, wondering how she was going to take it. She was silent for a brief second, like she froze.“A divorce!” Lily repeated, her eyes wide with shock.“I don’t see another way out of this, Lily.”“It’s because of her, isn’t it?” she started, and I looked at her, confused about where this was going. “Angelina,” she added. “She’s the reason you want a divorce, isn’t she?” She glared at me.“Lily, are you kidding me right now? No, I want a divorce because I saw you sleeping with my brother in his office.”She fell silent. She looked away, clearly embarrassed. Then, she looked back at me. “You’re not my favorite person, Simon, but I didn’t mean for you to see that.”“But I did, and I can’t get it out of my head.” How could I? That image was living rent-free in my mind, and I had no clue how to get rid of it.“Just like I can’t stop thinking about you and Angelina. How long have you been seeing her, huh?” she snapped back.“Lily, we can’t just ignore this an
Simon’s Point of ViewI slammed the door shut, leaning against it as I ran my fingers through my hair. Each step I took felt harder than the last, like a heavy weight dragging me down. I turned, devastated, running my hand through my hair again. Anger built inside me like a wave I couldn’t stop. I was furious.“Are you okay, Mr. Simon?” Amelia’s voice broke through the fog in my head.I turned to face her. “No,” I snapped and started walking away. She called after me, asking if I needed anything, but I waved her off. I needed to get out of here.This was madness. How had things gotten this far? My brother and I were caught up in the same mess with the same woman. I knew Tom and Lily were sleeping together—it was expected, they were married—but seeing it right in front of me? That was something else. It was like a punch to the gut.But the worst part? Tom had wanted me to see it. He sent that message, inviting me to his office, knowing what I’d walk in on. And like a fool, I went. I op
Lily’s Point of ViewDays turned to weeks, and my torment continued. Living in the same house with both my husbands and my unbearable mother-in-law was draining. I tossed and turned on my bed, a frown settled on my face. Staying home wasn’t helping me get over Simon. Seeing him at breakfast or dinner was already hard enough, but watching him with Angelina was worse.Was he telling her the same things he used to tell me?Was he sleeping with her? I couldn’t blame him if he was. After all, I’d married Tom, and he had a demanding need for sex. I’d been trying so hard to make my marriage with Tom work, and if intimacy was the way to hold onto my husband—well, my second husband—I had to do it. I couldn’t let this marriage fail, not with Simon looming in the background, ready to say “I told you so.”Jeez, I’m definitely going to lose it. I’ve been with two brothers. Sure, Simon and I hadn’t been together since I married Tom, but that didn’t make it sound any less insane. How did I end up he
Lily’s Point of ViewI had been doing my best to avoid Simon as the days passed. It was hard, but I didn’t see any other way. Every time I looked at him, I felt a wave of anger wash over me. His girlfriend, Angelina, had been visiting regularly, and they seemed to enjoy each other's company a lot. At least, that's what I noticed during dinner. I tried to avoid Simon’s gaze, but I couldn’t stop myself from seeing them out of the corner of my eye. Her hands were always unnecessarily glued to his arm, and I couldn’t help but feel like she was doing it on purpose to make me jealous. But then again, how could she know about Simon and me? There’s no way he’d have told her, right? Still, her hands remained on him, and I began to wonder if he was playing both of us. I couldn’t deny it—Simon and Angelina looked happy together. Maybe Angelina more than Simon, but they still looked good together. Watching them made me sick to my stomach. I had to find a way to get back at him. There was no way
Simon’s Point of View“Lily, is he awake?” I asked anxiously, moving closer to her. It seemed like she was talking to Geoffrey, but from where I stood, I couldn't see his face. I wasn’t sure if she was actually speaking to him. There was a trace of fear in her eyes. When I looked at my father’s face, he still seemed unconscious. “Lily, what happened? Is he okay?”“I believe so,” she said quietly, glancing back at him.“Did he wake up, even just for a little while?” I pressed, hoping for some good news.“I’m sorry,” she shook her head, and my gaze dropped, disappointed, before I looked back at her.“Thank you for being here,” I smiled softly. “I appreciate it.”“You’re welcome. He’s my father-in-law now. So, I do care about him.”“Twice,” I said, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips.“What?” she looked puzzled, unsure of what I meant.“You married me and then Tom, that makes him your father-in-law twice over,” I chuckled lightly.She looked pale, turning back to Geoffrey as