SYLVIA'S POVI paced frantically across my bedroom, the walls closing in around me with every second that passed without my children. My heart raced, and my thoughts spun out of control as fear gripped me like a vice. Where were they? Who would have taken them? Alice? Jocelia? A thousand scenarios flashed through my mind, each one more terrifying than the last. Tears blurred my vision, and I stumbled toward my phone, hands shaking as I dialed Beverly’s number."Beverly, please pick up, please…" I muttered, my voice trembling with desperation. When she finally answered, I couldn’t hold back the sobs that erupted from my chest."Sylvia? Sylvia, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?" Beverly’s voice was laced with concern, and I could hear Raymond in the background asking what was happening."My kids, Beverly! My kids are missing!" I cried out, my voice cracking under the weight of my terror. The words felt unreal, like I was speaking them in a nightmare from which I couldn’t wake."What? Sy
GRAYSON'S POVI stepped into Konrad's penthouse, the tension already thick in the air. The sleek modern decor, with its minimalist design and large windows overlooking the city, seemed at odds with the dark intentions that brought me here. The lights of the city twinkled below, a stark contrast to the shadowy dealings that were about to unfold. Konrad stood by the window, a glass of wine in hand, looking out over the sprawling metropolis as if he owned it all. The man had always been arrogant, but tonight there was something more sinister in his posture.I approached him cautiously, my footsteps muffled by the plush carpet. As I got closer, I noticed Jocelia limping into the living room, her face twisted in pain. She winced with each step, clearly struggling, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. After everything she’d done, after all the chaos and destruction she had wrought in my life and Sylvia’s, any sympathy I might have had for her was long gone. My concern was solely for my kids
I sat on the couch, trying to steady my breathing as the penthouse felt suffocatingly quiet. The silence was heavy, almost unbearable. My heart ached with every beat, the worry gnawing at me like a relentless predator. Zenith and Zendaya, my babies, were out there somewhere, and I had no idea where. My hands were trembling, and I could barely focus on anything around me. The buzzer from the intercom jolted me out of my thoughts.Paul glanced at me, silently asking if he should answer. I nodded, trying to compose myself. He pressed the button, and Raymond's voice crackled through the speaker, "It's me and Beverly. Let us in."Paul looked at me for confirmation, and I managed a small nod. He buzzed them in, and I could hear the elevator ascending. My heart raced with a mix of anticipation and fear. The moment the elevator doors opened, Beverly rushed towards me, her arms wide open. I stood up, and as soon as she reached me, I collapsed into her embrace. The tears I had been holding back
GRAYSON'S POVI stepped out onto Konrad's penthouse balcony, the cool evening breeze brushing against my face as I tried to steady my racing thoughts. The city sprawled beneath me, lights twinkling like stars fallen to earth, oblivious to the turmoil consuming me. I gripped the railing tightly, my knuckles turning white as the weight of the decision before me pressed down heavily on my shoulders.Marry Jocelia or risk the lives of Sylvia's children. An impossible choice, a cruel game orchestrated by a man who reveled in manipulation and control. My heart ached at the thought of Sylvia's face contorted in pain, her trust shattered, and the innocent smiles of Zenith and Zendaya replaced by fear and betrayal. A single tear escaped my eye, trailing down my cheek before I hastily wiped it away. There was no time for weakness, no room for despair. I needed to think, to strategize, to find a way out of this nightmare.I closed my eyes, taking a deep, steadying breath as I began to calculate,
GRAYSON'S POVThe air was thick with tension as I stood on the balcony, staring down at the busy city streets far below. My mind was racing, trying to piece together how everything had spiraled so far out of control. Just a few weeks ago, I had been dealing with the normal headaches of running a business, and now... now I was dealing with a woman I once cared for turning into a complete nightmare."Grayson!" a voice called out, snapping me out of my thoughts.I turned to see Konrad, a hulking figure of a man, stepping onto the balcony. He wasn’t alone. Flanking him were two equally intimidating men, their faces hard and expressionless. My gut twisted as I took in the scene. This wasn’t just a casual visit.Konrad strolled over, the smirk on his face making my skin crawl. He was dressed sharply, as always, his suit perfectly tailored, his hair slicked back. He looked like a man in control, and I hated that he had the upper hand right now."You're not leaving this building," Konrad said
ALICE'S POVThe park bench was cold beneath me, a stark contrast to the warmth of the afternoon sun. I sat there, my fingers lightly drumming on the stack of legal documents in my lap, the other hand gripping my bag that held the real weapon—photos and evidence linking Konrad to the kidnapping of Sylvia’s children, Zenith and Zendaya. I couldn’t help but let my thoughts wander for a moment, wondering how it had all come to this. The man I had once been drawn to, the man who still, despite everything, held a certain allure for me, was now just a piece on my chessboard.The crunch of gravel under tires drew my attention back to the present. I tilted my head slightly, watching as Konrad’s car pulled up. He stepped out, exuding the same confident aura that had once intrigued me. Silver hair, sharp suit—he was still every bit the silver fox he had always been. But now, I could see past the charm to the dangerous man beneath. My heart didn’t flutter anymore; it remained steady, cold, and ca
ALICE'S POVI sat there on the park bench, looking at Konrad with a mix of emotions I’d rather not name. He was the only man who ever made me feel anything close to real love, and now, decades later, here we were. His eyes, usually so cold and calculating, held a flicker of something that looked almost like a plea. I could tell that this conversation was going to hurt him and I cherished the idea of getting back at him.He cleared his throat, breaking the silence between us. “Alice, what happens after you get the company? Will you still send the money to save what’s left of my business?” His voice was laced with desperation, a tone I hadn’t heard from him in years.I reached out, my hand brushing against his jaw, then trailing down to caress his cheek. His skin was rougher now, aged by the years and stress. “Konrad, we could have had a good life together,” I said softly, trying to hold on to the memory of the man I once loved.But he jerked his face away from my touch, his expression
ALICE'S POVThe drive back home was quiet, the silence only broken by the occasional honking of a distant car. I glanced at myself in the rearview mirror, taking in the smudged remnants of mascara under my eyes and the flushed cheeks from the earlier conversation with Konrad at the park. The emotions were still raw, swirling inside me like a storm. It had been years since I'd let anyone see me like that—vulnerable, exposed. I shook my head, trying to pull myself together, pushing those emotions deep down where they couldn't interfere with what needed to be done.As the Lockwood mansion came into view, I took a deep breath, reminding myself that everything I was doing was for the good of me and my son.When I walked into the living room, I wasn't surprised to find William in his usual state of debauchery. Half-naked models draped themselves over him, giggling and sipping champagne as if this was just another day in their lavish lives. The sight was repulsive. I felt a flicker of disgus