JULIA'S POVThe moment Eric walks into the room, I can feel how tense he is. He’s been pacing all day. His eyes are literally dark with frustration, and I know exactly what or rather, who, is bothering him.“Mia,” I say flatly, crossing my arms as I lean against the doorway.He freezes mid-step, “What about her?”“Don’t play dumb, Eric,” I snap “You’ve been restless ever since she got out of jail. Don’t think I haven’t noticed.”“I’m restless because she’s dangerous,” he bites back, turning to face me. “Not because of whatever you’re insinuating.”I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. “Dangerous? To who? You, or us? Or maybe just to your fragile ego because you've seen she's moved on without you.”His eyes narrow, and he takes a step closer "You don’t understand, Julia. She’s not just some woman anymore. People don’t just get out of prison that easily unless they have power or connections. This isn’t about feelings. This is about knowing what she's up to. I got her arrested agai
MIA’S POVI sit on the couch of the VIP section, I’m pleased with everything so far. The place is luxurious and everything here is detailed.I sip champagne as the attendants carefully display dress after dress for me. They’re polite, attentive, and very respectful. I can feel their admiration for me.An attendant holds out a red dress “Miss Mia, this would bring out your eyes. You should consider this”I take a good look at the dress. Sure, it’s beautiful. It’s a long fitted evening dress with a huge cleavage. The whole dress is adorned with stones that shimmer in the light. It looks elegant and bold. It’s a perfect fit for someone like me.Still, I don’t connect with it.“It’s beautiful” I say “But I don’t like it. Can I see more options?”She bows her head “Of course, ma’am”The attendants continue to show me more dresses.One gown in particular catches my eye. It’s a lovely blend of midnight blue and silver that sparkles under the lights. Before I can reach for it, though, a movem
MIA’S POVThe air in the room shifts instantly. Julia’s face is filled with so much shock that it almost makes me laugh. She looks between me and the manager in disbelief. I can see the wheels turning in her head as she tries to process it all.“You’re joking,” she says.She tries to keep her expression neutral now but it’s too late. I know Julia like the back of my hand and it doesn’t take a genius to know that she’s upset. Not to mention, surprised out of her mind.The manager shakes his head. “Not at all. Miss Sophia took ownership recently. She has full authority here. Is she the one you were referring to? You should apologize to her”I meet Vanessa’s gaze with a smile “Surprised, Vanessa? You’ve always underestimated me.”She stares at me for a long moment, her hands clenching at her sides. Finally, she forces a tight laugh, though it sounds strained. “Well, congratulations. I’m sure you’re very proud of yourself.”I let the silence stretch between us, watching her squirm before
MIA’S POVThe house feels quiet as I unlock the door and step inside. I set my purse down on the entryway table. It’s late—later than I intended. I’m tired from the long day at the store and the office. But the sight that greets me as I close the door behind me makes me stop in my tracks.Alexander is standing in the living room with his tall frame dominating the space. He looks completely at ease. His sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, revealing the sleeve tattoo on his muscular forearm. In his hand is a half-filled glass of wine.My breath catches for a split second, and I hate myself for it. Alexander is cold and impossible to read. Yet, every time I see him, there’s a magnetic pull I can’t quite explain. He’s handsome in the kind of way that’s almost unfair. It makes it hard for someone to look away from him.When his eyes meet mine, I forget to breathe.“You’re home late,” Alexander says.“I was at the store,” I reply evenly, walking further into the room. “The new one. I neede
THIRD PERSON’S POVMia leans back in the chair with her wine glass. Cynthia keeps trying outfit after outfit. Mia can’t help but laugh at some of Cynthia’s funny antics.“What about this one?” Cynthia asks, spinning around in a sleek, emerald-green dress that hugs her figure.Mia tilts her head with a smile “It suits you. Bold, confident—definitely your style.”Cynthia grins, turning back to admire herself in the mirror. “I knew you’d say that.”Before Mia can respond, a movement from the corner of her eye catches her attention. A man stands just beyond the racks of clothing with his gaze fixed on her.Eric.Her smile vanishes, replaced by a look of irritation. He stands there like a statue. His expression is one of shock. His shock intensifies after she speaks to her staff members about the file. She can see how surprised he is to hear that she owns the place.“Mia?” Cynthia’s voice interrupts her thoughts. She follows Mia’s gaze and spots Eric. “Who’s that?”Mia’s grip on her wine g
MIA’S POVThe day of the fashion event has finally arrived. Today is a big day. Today, I will step into the world I’ve worked so hard for, and I can’t help but feel proud of myself. I feel a bit anxious too. I can’t wait to see my clothes on the runway.I take a deep breath as I roll out of bed, stretching my limbs. I’ve had my mind wrapped around the event for weeks now. I’ve planned everything down to the smallest detail, from the presentation to the outfits, and now, I only need to focus on enjoying the day.But, as I stand in front of the mirror, looking at myself with my hair still tousled, I remember that I didn’t remember to tell Alexander about the event.. With everything I’ve been juggling—work, preparing for the event, making sure Wendy was settled—I completely forgot.I make my way toward Alexander’s room. Maybe it’s not too late. Maybe I can catch him before he leaves. But when I reach his door and gently push it open, I find that his side of the bed is already empty. His
ERIC'S POVI walk through the door into the living room as my mind still replays the scene from earlier today. And there she is—Julia. She's filming a video, as usual, capturing her perfect angles for her followers with a dazzling smile plastered across her face.Does she not care about anything else? All she wants to do is make videos and post them. Oh. And shopping, of course. But that’s not the problem right now. No, the problem is Mia.It’s been days since I saw her—since she walked back into my life with that new, confident aura surrounding her. It’s like a punch in the gut every time I think about it. Mia’s changed. And she’s all I can think about.“Hey, you’re back,” Julia says. Her voice is laced with the false sweetness she always uses when she wants something from me. She stands up with a bright smile. The smile is too bright. I don’t respond at first. My eyes drif away from her as I try to settle my racing thoughts. “Yes, I’m back,” I reply flatly. She steps closer “D
MIA'S POVI sit poised and composed. I smile as I watch the models walk down the makeshift runway. Each step they take showcases my designs—exquisite dresses from my store, tailored perfectly to their figures. The dresses aren’t just fabric to me; they represent beauty and elegance, just like the women who wear them.I can’t help but smile wider as I admire the way the dresses cling to their bodies. Their heels click sharply against the floor The models move with such grace that, for a moment, I feel like I’m in the middle of a dream. Everything is falling into place."Let her try on those dresses we received yesterday," I instruct one of my staff members. My eyes are fixed on one particular model who moves gracefully. There’s something about her—her poise, her confidence—that draws me in, and I know she’ll be perfect for my collection.“No, I need that dress styled differently. Not like that,” I say as I stand and make my way toward the model. The hours I’ve spent perfecting every
ALEXANDER’S POVMia's fingers are tight around my wrist as she drags me out of Wendy’s room. Her grip is so desperate that I can feel the slight tremble in her hands. I follow her without arguing because I know for Mia to act this way, it must be something serious. Earlier, she said something about Eric being convinced that he’s Wendy’s father but it’s still left me confused because she hasn’t explained yet. I need her to tell me what’s happening. That’s the only way I’ll be able to help.“Mia, what’s going on?” I ask the moment she pulls me into the hallway.She looks around as if to make sure no one else is within earshot. Then she turns to me. Her eyes are wide and filled with fear. “Eric knows.”Silence stretches between us as my stomach tightens. “Knows what?”“He’s convinced that Wendy is his daughter,” she breathes out.Shock slams into me like a fist. “What?”Mia nods frantically. “When he confronted me in my office, it seemed like he was just making assumptions but right now
MIA’S POVI slide into the backseat of the car. My fingers tremble as I gently touch my throat where Eric’s hands had squeezed. The skin there is still hot from the pressure. I wince at the memory of his grip, the raw anger in his eyes. I could practically feel the anger radiating off him. His actions shocked me even more.Even when we were married, Eric had never been violent with me. He’d always been... controlling, sure, but never like this.Now, it’s like a switch has flipped. I can see the fury in his eyes. He seems desperate to find out the truth. He knows something, and I can’t—won’t—let him find out the truth. Wendy cannot be his. I won’t let him take her away from me. Not after everything we’ve been through.I need to talk to Alexander. He’s the only one who can help me. He’s the only one who knows about sending the warden off.How else did Eric confirm that Wendy was his daughter if not through the warden? My mind is racing and the pieces of the puzzle seem to be snapping in
MIA’S POVThe moment Gina walked away, I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. The best option was to fire Gina but she begged me not to. I put myself in her shoes. I don’t blame her. She was desperate.Besides, was firing her really the best idea? Gina knew a lot about the company and she could easily play into Camille’s hands out of spite. The best thing is to keep an eye on her.I sink back into the seat of the car. My thoughts keep circling back to the fake document. It was supposed to be a weapon, something to use against me, but Camille didn’t know it was fake. Camile didn’t have a clue, did she?Just as I’m about to slip deeper into my thoughts, my phone buzzes, dragging me out of my head. The number on the screen is unfamiliar, but I answer it anyway.“Mia,” the voice on the other end says.I recognize the voice immediately. It’s Eric.“I see you,” he says “You need to pull over. I need to talk to you.”I sigh, rubbing my temples. I don’t have time for his games. Not
MIA’S POVMy heart pounds against my ribs as I sit in the car, gripping the leather of my seat. Outside, my driver speaks to the stranger who has been following us. I watch them through the tinted window with my breath caught in my throat.Who is this person? And why are they trailing me?Then, the second car door opens, and someone steps out.Gina.My breath hitches. Gina? My secretary?What the hell is she doing here?She exchanges a few words with my driver. As she talks, I can see her hands trembling at her sides. Then I hear it in her voice as she speaks. Even her voice is shaking."I need to speak to Miss Mia alone." She says.Alone?We literally just saw each other at the office. Why didn’t she talk to me there? Why did she have to trail behind me like a mad man?I lower the window. My eyes lock onto hers, searching for answers. Gina looks terrified. Her face is pale and I can see beads of sweat glistening on her forehead despite how cold it is outside."Gina?" My voice comes o
ERIC’S POVI pace the length of my study. My fingers keep drumming against the desk as I stare at the countless documents spread out before me. I know Mia is lying. Wendy is mine—I feel it in my bones. But feeling isn’t enough. I need proof. And if Mia won’t give it to me willingly, I’ll tear the truth from her hands myself.The research is relentless. I’ve scoured every record, every connection Mia had in prison, looking for someone—anyone—who might know what happened during those months she disappeared from my life. And then, in the midst of my search, I stumble upon something I never expected: my own past. I find out a secret about my family that I never knew about.A scandal. A cover-up. A murder.My father, my perfect, untouchable father—was accused of killing a family of three. Not with his own hands, no. He built the unstable house they lived in and because of how greedy he was, he refused to renovate it with better materials. He let it crumble to pieces around them. And when t
MIA’S POVThe cold metal chair beneath me is uncomfortable. The air in the visitation room is thick and suffocating. My fingers drum restlessly against the table as I wait.As soon as Eli gave Camille the document, we knew Camille would try to double cross him. Turns out, we were right. Camille got Eli arrested. I need Eli’s help. So, I decided to come see him in prison.I tap my fingers on the table, waiting impatiently. Then, the door creaks open.Eli steps through, and my breath catches in my throat.He’s barely recognizable. His walk is slower, heavier. His cheekbone is bruised, his lip split, and there’s a faint discoloration around his eye that tells me he’s been in a fight—several, by the looks of it. His jumpsuit hangs off his frame.“Jesus, Eli…” The words slip from my lips before I can stop them.He smirks, or at least tries to, but it looks more like a grimace. “Miss me?”I shake my head, swallowing down the lump in my throat. “What the hell happened to you?”He exhales slo
MIA’S POVEric just left my office, and I can’t breathe. The air feels thick, like I’m choking on all the secrets I’ve tried so hard to bury. My hands are trembling as I sit back in my chair, staring blankly at the door he walked out of.He knows.He has to know something.Why else would he accuse me like that? Like he’s piecing it all together. My stomach turns as I think about Wendy, my sweet, innocent Wendy and what this could mean for her.Eric can never find out she’s his daughter. Never. Not just because of the custody battle I’m sure he’d launch the moment he finds out, but because of Julia. That woman, no, that witch—would ruin Wendy’s life. I can already see it: Wendy being treated as some unwanted stepchild while Julia parades her fake smiles in public and spits venom at her in private. Wendy deserves better than that. She deserves love, stability, and happiness. I’ve worked too hard to give her that to let Eric and his wife take it all away.I grab my phone and dial my priv
ERIC’S POVThe image of Wendy’s innocent face keeps replaying in my mind. I’ve tried to focus on work, to push the thought of her out of my head, but it’s impossible. There’s something about her—something that calls to me. Something is urging me to uncover the truth. I know I should stay away, that my life is complicated enough as it is, but when I saw her with Mia… it shattered everything I thought I knew.I hired the best investigators, threw every resource at the case. My obsession grows with each passing hour. I tell myself it’s for closure, that I need answers. But deep down, I know it’s more than that. It’s something deeper. There’s a part of me that can’t shake the feeling that this little girl, Wendy is mine.I look through the details of Mia’s life after prison. The investigators are thorough. They help me uncover things I never knew, and it only deepens my desire to know more. After her release, Mia traveled to a state I never knew her to visit before. I can’t explain why, b
ALEXANDER’S POVI’ve always believed that when you’re dealing with someone as ruthless as Camille, you have to be prepared for the unexpected. But nothing could have prepared me for the call that came in late that night. The voice on the other end was shaky, and filled with fear. It sounded as if they’ve been sitting on this secret for far too long."Alexander," the voice says. "I have information about Camille."I sit up straighter, immediately alert. My hand grips the edge of my desk. The blood in my veins runs cold. It’s the one thing I’ve been searching for—information that could expose everything about her."Who is this?" I demand.The voice hesitates for a long moment before answering, as if trying to think if they can trust me with what they're about to say."You don’t know me," they say, and there’s bitterness in their words. "But I know you. I know you’ve been digging into Camille, and I know what you’re trying to find."I lean forward “How do you know this?”“I was once like