THIRD PERSON’S POVOne night, James drives in the rain down a lonely road. The only sounds are the hum of his engine and the occasional croak of frogs from the sides of the road. His fingers drum absentmindedly on the steering wheel as his mind wanders.But then, something feels off. The car starts to jolt out of nowhere, followed by a strange, grinding sound. The engine sputters and dies.James exhales sharply, gripping the wheel.“What the hell now?” he mutters as he pops the lid open.James is confused. The car was alright this morning. He didn’t see this coming. What could have gone wrong with it?With a groan, he gets out of the car. The rain pours on him, making him even more irritated. Moving to the front of the car, he lifts the hood and looks at the engine, though he’s no mechanic. Everything looks fine—or as fine as it ever does to his untrained eye. He walks around the vehicle, inspecting the tires, searching for anything out of place.And that’s when it happens.A shadow mo
JAMES’ POV James Kidnapping SceneAxI wake up in a dark room. My head pounds so much that it feels like someone hit it with a hammer. The room I’m in is unfamiliar—gray walls, no windows, and the scent of mold isin the air. My wrists ache, bound tightly behind me, and my ankles are strapped to the legs of a cold, metal chair. My mouth feels strange, like it’s been sealed shut. Duct tape. I try to scream, but the sound is muffled.I start to panic.What the hell happened?The last thing I remember is my car breaking down on that empty road. I’d pulled over, stepped out to check the engine...and then, nothing. My memory’s a blank. Who brought me here? And why? My heart beats fast in my chest as I struggle against the restraints, but they’re too tight. My mind races, trying to figure out what the hell is going on.The sound of a door creaking open snaps me out of my thoughts. I freeze as a figure steps into the room. A man, tall and lean steps in. He has a twisted smile that sends a
MIA’S POVThe kettle hums softly, signaling the water is almost ready. I’m in the kitchen, preparing a cup of tea to soothe my mind. I can’t sleep. So, I decided to come make a cup of tea to help me relax.The sound of footsteps interrupts the silence.. I stiffen, clutching the mug in my hand as I turn toward the source. My breath catches in my throat when I see Alexander standing there, shirtless. His muscular and toned torso is illuminated by the kitchen light. His dark eyes are locked on me, an intensity in them that makes my knees weaken.“Couldn’t sleep either?” I manage to ask.He doesn’t answer right away. Instead, he steps closer, still looking at me intensely. I can feel the heat radiating from his body, and my pulse quickens.“Mia,” he finally says “What’s going on between you and James?”The question hits me like a thunderbolt. My eyes widen as I stare at him, trying to process his words“What?” I whisper.He takes another step closer and the space between us shrinks to mere
MIA’S POVBefore I can respond, his mouth is on mine again. The kiss is fierce, overwhelming, and demanding. It isn’t what I expect. It’s more passionate than I’ve ever had. It tells me all the emotions Alexander has been holding back; longing, desire, lust and something else…something else I can’t tell through the kiss.He reaches for my hands, raises them and places them above my head. This renders me helpless and I love it.He basically shoves his tongue inside my mouth, dominating me in every way possible. I moan into his mouth, loving every bit of it. He presses his hard cock to my entrance, grinding against me and teasing me. I arch my hips forward, following his rhythm.The kiss is so intense that my body shivers and I start to feel lightheaded. Waves of pleasure wash over me and he hasn’t even touched me yet.All other thoughts of mine melt away. It’s only me and Alexander in this passionate heated moment, a moment I’ve wanted ever since I started falling for him.I can’t think
ELI'S POVI stare at James' lifeless body in disbelief. My chest tightens as reality claws its way in. My hands tremble and the gun slips from my grip and falls to the floor.The sound echoes louder than it should."James?" My voice cracks. I stumble forward.My knees buckle as I sink to the ground beside him. His eyes are open and the blood pools around him."No, no, no... You’re not…You’re just... Wake up!"I shake him hard but he is lifeless. His head lolls to the side. I check for a pulse but can’t find any."Goddamn it! You can’t do this to me, James!" I scream, my voice breaking.I press my forehead against his chest, searching for a heartbeat that isn’t there. Tears stream down my face. "You were supposed to fight back! You were supposed to stop me! What the hell did you make me do?"My body shakes as I curl into myself. I hold my knees to my chest as I rock back and forth slowly, breathing heavily."You idiot. You...stupid...asshole," I mutter through clenched teeth.My vision
MIA’S POVI sit at my desk, absently flipping through the presentation slides on my laptop, but my mind is far from work. It’s him again—Alexander.I remember our passionate night together. I think of everything. The memory of his hands on my skin, the heat of his breath against my neck, the way his lips claim mine like they’re made for it. I shiver. He’s not here yet he has the same effect on me.God, it’s been too long. Too long since I’ve let anyone get that close. But Alexander… he’s different.Sadly, he doesn’t want anything serious, and I’ve convinced myself I can handle that. Friends with benefits. No strings. No complications. Just raw passion.What’s the worst that can happen? Right?And it’s not like I’m drowning in offers. I haven’t been with anyone in a long time. Ever since Eric betrayed me, I’ve found it hard to trust any man again. If I have to choose, I’d rather it be him—someone who makes my heart race and my body burn with just a look.I lean back in my chair, letting
ERIC'S POV The conference room is empty. I came early to make a good impression. I wait there, preparing for my presentation. It's an important board meeting with a high end company and I'm here to make a pitch for a merger. My adrenaline is already spiking as I sit at the head of the table, organizing my notes and charts. This is it. Months of preparation, weeks of strategizing—all for this moment. A $400 million deal that will catapult my company into the sky. The stakes are high, but I love the pressure. This is where I shine. The door opens and the first board member steps in. I push back my chair and stand with a smile. “Good morning, Mr. Patterson,” I say, extending a hand. His grip is firm but friendly. “Eric,” he nods. “Looking forward to hearing what you’ve got for us today.” “So am I,” I reply smoothly, gesturing for him to take a seat. One by one, the rest of the board members file in. I greet each of them with a handshake and a touch of small talk. I take
ERIC’S POVI adjust my tie and rise from my seat. My heart is pounding fast but I try to stay calm.This is my moment. I’ve prepared for weeks for this presentation. There’s no room for error.I make my way to the front of the boardroom, feeling the weight of every eye on me.I turn to face the room. "Ladies and gentlemen," I begin "thank you for giving me the opportunity to present my vision for this merger."I launch into my pitch. My slides are well detailed and my points are sharp. I use every strategy in the book to hold their attention. I talk about synergy, growth, and innovation. I see nods of approval from several board members, and my confidence builds. This is going well.When I finish, the room is filled with applause. A couple of board members exchange glances, murmuring to each other. Their smiles are encouraging. I step down and return to my seat, happy. I nailed it.Then it’s Mia’s turn.She stands. Her movements are confident as if she owns the room. Her heels click
MIA’S POVI step into the boardroom with Alexander by my side. The air is thick with tension, the kind that makes people hold their breath, waiting for something to happen. As soon as we enter, Camille's expression shifts from confidence to shock, but she quickly masks it with a scowl.She wasn’t expecting us. Especially not Alexander.A slow, smug smile spreads across her lips as she crosses her arms and leans against the long y table. "Well, well, well. If it isn't Mia and Alexander. Just in time for my leadership party. How thoughtful of you to attend."Her voice drips with mockery, but I refuse to give her the reaction she wants. Alexander stands tall beside me. I meet Camille’s gaze head-on, unbothered by her taunts."I must say," Camille continues, strutting around the room as if she already owns the place, "I expected resistance, but I didn’t think you'd have the nerve to show up and watch your empire slip right through your fingers."I smirk, tilting my head. "I wouldn’t be so
CAMILLE’S POVThe past two days have been nothing but preparation. Preparation for me to take over Alexander’s company. Ever since the attack, I’ve spent hours scrutinizing my men, watching their every move, searching for any sign of betrayal. But for the first time, I find nothing. No suspicious behavior, no hidden agendas. Just silence.Fine. It doesn’t matter.Tomorrow is what truly counts. Tomorrow, I take everything. The company will be mine, and I’ll get to watch as Alexander and Mia crumble under the weight of their own failure. Just the thought sends a rush of satisfaction through me. They took everything from me. Now, it’s my turn.A slow smile stretches across my lips as I reach for my phone, dialing one of the board directors.“Everything is in place?” I ask him. “Yes, ma’am,” he responds without hesitation. “Everything will proceed exactly as planned.”“Good.” I end the call. My fingers tighten around the phone as I let the victory settle in my bones.Tomorrow, everything
MIA’S POVLooking into Alexander’s eyes, every worry of mine is gone in an instant. There’s just something about him….something that keeps pulling me deeper even when I try to pull away. I don’t try to fight it. I can’t.Alexander leans down, capturing my lips in his again. Our lips move passionately against each other. His arms wrap around my waist, pulling me closer to him. Every kiss, every touch – it sets my whole body on fire but in the best way possible.Alexander lifts me up as if I weigh nothing, never breaking the kiss. I feel him go to the other end of the room and sit on the bed. I shove my tongue further down his throat, deepening the kiss. My whole body feels alive in a way it never has with anyone before. His touch is electric. His kisses are addictive. Alexander is like a drug that I can’t get enough of and I don’t even want to. As we kiss, the air around us feels charged with electricity. Every nerve ending of mine is standing at attention and goosebumps rise down my a
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