JULIA’S POVI step out of the house with a hooded jacket hiding my features. My heart races, though I keep my breaths steady. This has to be perfect. Earlier, I instructed Paul to find Mia’s address, and he delivered. Now, I’m going to put my plan into motion.Eric isn’t home, which is convenient. I need this to happen without interruptions. Slipping into my disguise, I pull on a worn wig with strands falling over my face, then dress in old, ragged clothes that I wouldn’t be caught dead in on a normal day. I cut small holes into them for extra effect.. My reflection in the mirror earlier was unrecognizable, just as I intended.When I arrive at Mia’s estate, I’m taken aback. Her neighborhood screams luxury. Expensive cars are parked in driveways, and the homes stand tall, radiating wealth. A mansion? How did Mia manage to build this kind of life for herself? A feeling of jealousy stabs at me, but I shove it down. I’m not here to compare lives. I’m here to make sure hers takes a sharp t
MIA'S POVAnother day, another set of responsibilities. After dressing up, I look over at Wendy, sitting cross-legged on the couch with focus as she colors in her notebook.“Wendy,” I call softly. She looks up and her wide eyes meet mine.“Yes, mummy?”I kneel in front of her, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I’m heading out now, but I want you to remember something very important.”She tilts her head “What is it?”“I love you,” I whisper “More than anything in this world. Don’t ever forget that.”She beams, wrapping her little arms around my neck. “I love you too, mum. Always.”The hug lasts longer than usual, and when I finally pull away, there’s a feeling of unease in my chest. I shake it off. I have no idea why I feel like this. It’s just another day, after all. Nothing to worry about.“Be good for Maria, okay?” I say, referring to the housekeeper.“I will. Promise.”I give her one last kiss on the forehead and head outside. The Range Rover stands in the driveway, and t
ALEXANDER’S POVThe sound of my phone vibrating on the desk draws my attention away from the pile of papers scattered in front of me. I look at the screen and see Mia's name flashing. A soft smile tugs at my lips. She rarely calls during the day, but I’m caught in the middle of a heated meeting with the board.I silence the call and silently promise to call her back the moment this is over.By the time the meeting ends, my mind is already on her. I pull my phone from my pocket, surprised to see not just one, but several missed calls from her. That’s unlike her. I can’t help but feel a bit worried. I hit redial, but the call goes unanswered.I frown. Maybe she’s busy, I tell myself. She’ll call back when she can.Minutes pass and my worry only grows. I’m about to call her again when my phone rings. It’s a number from the house."Hello?" I answer quickly.“Sir,” the voice on the other end is shaky. It’s one of the maids. “It’s about Madam Mia… She’s been in an accident.”The words hit m
ALEXANDER’S POVMy mind is in different places as I step out of Mia’s hospital room. My phone is already pressed to my ear. I know I’ve called my investigator before but I have the urge to call him again. When the line connects, I waste no time.“I want you to start with James,” I say “The guy Mia was with at the event. The same one who took her out yesterday. Watch him closely, follow his movements, and find out everything about him.”“Yes, sir. I’ll update you as soon as I have something,” the investigator responds.“Good. I don’t want any delays,” I say before ending the call and shoving the phone into my pocket.As I re-enter Mia’s room, I force myself to calm down. She’s sitting up now. Her wide eyes stare at me in confusion. I pull up a chair and sit beside her again.“You’re still worrying, aren’t you?” she asks softly.I let out a small huff, leaning forward “You’ve been in an accident, Mia. I think I’m allowed to worry.”“I’m fine,” she insists, though the way her hand trembl
THIRD PERSON’S POVThe morning feels crisp against the skin, the kind of weather that feels just slightly too cool for comfort. Daniel sits in his car, sipping coffee from a cheap paper cup and watching the entrance of the office building across the street. It’s been three days of this routine: watching James, cataloging his movements, and reporting back to Alexander.At first, Daniel thought this assignment would be straightforward. Alexander’s suspicions about James ran deep, and Daniel was prepared to uncover James’ secrets—anything that might justify the fact that Mia’s car crash was orchestrated by James. But so far, James has been maddeningly… normal. Almost boringly so.The man wakes up early, keeps to himself, and spends long hours at the office. In the evenings, he returns home, picks up takeout or cooks something simple, and retires for the night. No hidden meetings. No secretive phone calls. Nothing suspicious at all.By the time the third day rolls around, Daniel begins to
ALEXANDER’S POVDaniel’s words replay over and over in my mind."They’re cousins.""She seemed upset. He was comforting her."Cousins. Julia and James. I can’t ignore the knot forming in my stomach. Julia has always been a thorn in Mia’s side. And James? He’s slipped too easily into Mia’s life. It’s all too perfect, too coincidental.Then there’s Mia’s accident. It wasn’t an accident. I know that much. And now, I can’t shake the thought that James might have had a hand in it. Maybe Julia’s pulling his strings, or maybe he’s been her partner all along. Either way, Mia is in the middle of it.I grit my teeth in frustration. My fist clenches as I think about Mia, about how easily she gives her trust. She deserves better than this. Better than him. If I don’t act now, she’ll walk straight into a trap.Immediately, I head down the hall toward her room. When I get to her door, I knock twice, then push the door open."Mia?" I call, stepping inside. My eyes land on her instantly.She’s on the
MIA'S POVI take a deep breath, pacing back and forth in my bedroom. Alexander’s words replay in my mind like a broken record. I know I haven't known James for too long but he seems..like a nice guy. He’s seems kind and… normal. Nothing about him ever seemed off. But then again, I never expected him and Julia to be cousins. I stop in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. My hands are trembling, and I grip the edge of the dresser to steady myself. I need answers. There’s no way around it. If James has nothing to hide, he’ll tell me the truth. And if he does… I shake my head, trying to clear the thought. I’ll deal with it when I know for sure.Maybe our meeting was a setup. I mean, what are the odds. Could Julia have sent him to get closer to me? I reach for my favorite dark blue sweater. I'm going for a casual but presentable look. I pair it with my black jeans and ankle boots. The routine of getting dressed helps calm me, but the knot in my stomach tightens with every secon
MIA'S POVHe sips his tea. He looks totally at ease, while my stomach twists with questions I’m too afraid to voice. The thought of asking him directly if he had anything to do with the accident feels absurd now that we’re here, talking like old friends catching up. I glance at his hands as they cradle the mug. He seems steady, calm, nothing like the hands of someone capable of orchestrating harm.I shake my head, trying to stop the doubts in my mind “What is it?” he asks "What did you want to ask me?" “Nothing,” I say quickly, forcing a small smile. “I was just—never mind.”James raises a brow, clearly unconvinced, but he doesn’t press. Instead, he leans back in his chair. To distract myself and him, I change the topic. “So, tell me more about yourself. What’s your story?”He smirks “My story? That’s vague.”“Well,” I say, shrugging as I sip my tea, “I mean, where do you work? Do you have family around here?”For a moment, he hesitates, as if weighing how much to share. Then he no
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