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
SYLVIA'S POVI woke up to the soft light filtering through the curtains and felt a comforting warmth beside me. Beverly had stayed the night—a gesture of support I deeply appreciated. I carefully slipped out of bed, trying not to wake her, and padded quietly to the living room.As I walked into the living room, I saw Raymond sprawled out on the couch, still fast asleep. It reminded me of how fortunate I was to have such caring friends who had shown remarkable patience and support during this tough time. I took a moment to appreciate their kindness before heading to the kitchen to make myself a cup of coffee. The aroma of the brewing coffee was a small comfort amidst the chaos of my thoughts.The kitchen was quiet except for the soft humming of the coffee maker. I poured myself a steaming cup and leaned against the counter, letting the warmth seep into my fingers. Just as I took my first sip, Raymond stirred and sat up on the couch, blinking sleepily.“Morning,” Raymond said, rubbing h
GRAYSON'S POVI looked down at the documents I had just signed, a cold knot of anxiety twisting in my stomach. Konrad's smug grin as he took the papers only deepened my unease. I hadn’t even been allowed to see the contents, let alone understand what I had just signed away. This was all part of Konrad's twisted game—a game where I was just a pawn, making moves to protect Zenith and Zendaya."I just hope my precautions will help me fight whatever's in that document," I thought grimly, watching Konrad's towering figure disappear from the room. The decision to marry Jocelia still twisted my gut. It was the only way to save my kids, but I couldn't shake the thought of Sylvia. How was she handling this? She was going to lose me—either to this sham of a marriage or to the relentless machinations of Konrad and his people.My thoughts were interrupted as a decorator brushed past me, arms full of flowers and ribbons. I felt a deep sense of disgust. It hadn’t even been 12 hours since I agreed t
SYLVIA'S POVI stood in the living room, my eyes locked on the bags Grayson had packed for us. They just sat there, lifeless and heavy, like the weight pressing down on my heart. This wasn’t how I imagined our lives would turn out—sneaking away in the dead of night as if we were fugitives. But this wasn’t about starting fresh anymore; it was about survival, about protecting my children from Alice and Konrad. Grayson had made it clear: we had to leave, and we had to leave now.I paced back and forth, anxiety gnawing at me with every passing second. Where were my children? They should have been here by now. My mind raced, pushing away the worst-case scenarios that kept creeping in. What if something had gone wrong? What if we were already too late?A hand touched my shoulder, pulling me from my spiraling thoughts. I turned to see Raymond standing there, his expression calm, yet concerned. “They’ll be fine,” he said, his voice steady, trying to reassure me.I nodded, even though I wasn’t
ALICE'S POVAs I leaned back in my office chair, I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction as I signed off on yet another large sum of money being transferred to one of my offshore accounts. It had become a routine by now—a safety net I’d meticulously built over the past year, in case things ever went south. With each transfer, I felt a little more secure, a little more prepared for any surprises that might arise.It had been over a year since anyone had seen or heard from Grayson, Sylvia, or her children. They had vanished without a trace, leaving behind a wake of speculation and rumors. I had my theories about what happened, of course. Perhaps they were hiding, licking their wounds after the disaster that was Sylvia’s trial. Or maybe, just maybe, they were plotting their return, waiting for the perfect moment to strike back. That last thought always sent a chill down my spine, but I quickly dismissed it. They had been gone too long, and I had taken too many precautions to wor
SYLVIA'S POVThe night sky was a canvas of flickering lights as I stood there, taking in the beauty of it all. The warm, balmy air of Rio wrapped around me like a comforting blanket, and the sound of music and laughter filled the air. It was a perfect night, a celebration of everything we had worked so hard to achieve. The lighters—thousands of them—filled the sky, their soft glow reflecting the joy and camaraderie that had blossomed within this community.I spotted Grayson on the dance floor, moving with a rhythm and grace that made me smile. He was in his element, completely at ease with the people around him, people who had once been strangers but had now become like family to us. I watched him for a moment, content to observe, to bask in the happiness that radiated from him.But then, as if sensing my gaze, Grayson turned and caught my eye. A mischievous grin spread across his face as he began to make his way toward me. I knew what was coming before he even reached me."No, no, no