JULIA’S POVI sit at my desk, tapping a pen against the wood as I scroll through my phone for the hundredth time. Eric’s messages are dry. It seems like he doesn’t want to talk to me and he finds every excuse not to come home almost every night. I’ve tried to make plans, to reach out, but it’s like he’s avoiding me. He’s slipping away, and I can’t help but suspect the reason: Mia.The thought makes my jaw tighten. Ever since that damn auction, Eric’s been different. I remember the way he looked at Mia that night, like she was some rare piece of art he couldn’t take his eyes off. It’s nauseating. I’ve done everything—played every card but somehow, she’s still a threat.I grab my phone and try James again. It goes straight to voicemail, just like every other time. The last conversation we had replays in my mind. I had used the family angle, trying to sway him to betray Mia and make plans but he’d stood firm. James had refused to turn against Mia, claiming he wouldn’t betray her no matte
MIA’S POVThe office is silent except for the ticking of the clock. It’s late—later than I’d intended to stay, but throwing myself into work has become second nature. Numbers blur together on my screen, but I keep going.James’ face comes up in my memory like a ghost. He’s just away on a work trip, I remind myself for the hundredth time. That’s all it is. Yet, the ache in my chest refuses to fade. There’s a nagging feeling. I feel doubtful about it but I push it away.And then there’s Alexander. My chest tightens at the thought of him. Alexander, with his charm and those eyes that see right through me. He makes my heart race, but he’s made it clear what he wants: no strings, no promises, just… sex. I know I love him. But loving Alexander is like reaching for smoke. It hurts, and yet I can’t seem to stop.A sharp knock on the door startles me, pulling me from my thoughts. Gina peeks her head in, holding a small package.“This just arrived for you,” she says, walking in and placing it o
ALEXANDER’S POVI pace the length of my study and I can’t help the uneasy feeling inside my chest. The reports from the guards replay in my mind. They had found fresh footprints near the garden, leading up to Mia’s balcony. Surveillance cameras showing nothing. Nothing! How is that even possible?I’ve doubled the security around the property, but it’s not enough. It’s never enough. The thought of Julia or someone worse targeting Mia makes me worried. I can’t let anything happen to her or Wendy. They’re the most important people to me.“Sir,” a voice makes me look up. It’s my secretary. She walks in and holds out a manila folder “The latest report on Eric’s activities.”I snatch the folder and flip it open, scanning the contents. My stomach turns as I read the details. Eric’s been meeting with a private broker—one known for dealing in illegal surveillance equipment. My jaw tightens. This isn’t just petty meddling anymore. Eric has crossed a line. He’s a direct threat.Could he behind a
MIA'S POV I try my best to let go of everythinf that has been happening but it's easier said than done. I even attend a charity gala just to get my mind off things. But if I knew things would go the way they would, I would have just stayed home. The crowd at the charity gala is filled with so much life. Everyone is dressed in their best outfits - the women wear elegant gowns with jewels and the men wear perfect suits. I'm dressed in a blue ball gown but I didn't bother too much with my outfit today. I have bigger things on my mind. I try my best to ignore my thoughts and fit in. My smile feels forced and my fingers clutch a flute of champagne I have no intention of drinking. The haunting events of the past few weeks have stolen my peace. The photograph I that was delivered to me still haunts me to this day. The threatening notes and the kitchen disaster where what looked like blood streaked the walls. Alexander has put his best men in charge of the investigation yet nothing has b
ALEXANDER’S POVI stand by the mansion’s gates. My frustration gets worse by the second. I stare at the open gates. The guards are missing, and the surveillance system is absent. My fists clench as I bark into my phone, pacing back and forth.“Get reinforcements here now!” I snap. “I want this property secured immediately.”The person on the other end stammers a response, but I don’t wait to hear the full reply. I end the call abruptly, shoving the phone into my pocket as my eyes scan the perimeter. Something’s off.Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Mia standing in the shadows near the side of the mansion. She’s hugging her arms to herself. My chest tightens at the sight of her worry.“Mia,” I say, making my way towards her.She looks up, startled, her wide eyes meeting mine. There’s something in her gaze that makes my heart twist—fear, something she’s trying to hide but failing at.Without thinking, I pull her into a hug, wrapping my arms around her small frame. She’s stiff at firs
MIA’S POVMy heart pounds violently in my chest when I hear the scream. Alexander and I freeze, staring at each other with wide eyes. Fear spreads between us. My voice catches in my throat as we both breathe out the same name at the same time.“Wendy!”We’re already moving. Quickly, we race upstairs. My mind reels with worst-case scenarios. By the time we reach Wendy’s room, I’m holding my breath, afraid of what we might find. Alexander pushes the door open, and I nearly collapse with relief when I see her.She’s asleep. Peacefully. Her little chest rises and falls steadily. I step closer just to make sure she’s really okay. I brush a stray curl from her forehead. The warmth of her skin calms me for a second. I look at Alexander. His lips press into a thin line as he nods.If Wendy is fine, then where did the scream come from?Alexander speaks before I can voice the question. “Stay here with her.”“No.” I say firmly “We go together.”I can see that he doesn’t want me to come but he do
ELI’S POVThe room is dark. The only light in the room comes from the orange glow of the streetlight through the blinds. I sit on the edge of the couch with my hands trembling. My eyes can’t look away from the bloodied saw resting on the coffee table. I should have thrown it away—should have left it to burn with the cabin. I burned the cabin after I was done. I should have thrown the saw inside. But no, I brought it back here. It’s here, in my apartment, staring at me, mocking me. The reality of what I’ve done crushes my chest, making every breath feel like it’s dragging pieces of glass through my lungs.James' voice echoes in my mind. I see him everywhere I go and I’m getting damn tired of it.“You thought you could win, didn’t you?” he sneers inside my head “You thought you could have Mia and get rid of me. Where is she now? Did you get her? You killed me for nothing, you know. You dumb ass. I’m dead and still, you can’t get the girl. She barely knows you exist. What does that tell
ALEXANDER’S POVAfter Mia falls asleep, I slowly untangle myself from her arms and slip out of her room. I can still feel the warmth of her touch on my skin but my mind is too restless to stay. The shattered window disturbs me. It’s a bold statement that I can’t afford to take lightly. The estate is always secure, guarded by the best men I could find, yet somehow someone breached it. I need answers.In my office, the glow of the monitors is the only light in the room. I get to work immediately. I go over the security footage. My eyes scan every frame over and over again. Static fills the screen at the crucial moments.I have so many questions. How did they get in? Who could have orchestrated this?A knock at the door breaks my concentration.“Come in,” I call.The door opens and Thomas steps inside, holding a folder.“Thomas,” I say, leaning back in my chair. “Tell me you have something.”He nods, placing the folder on my desk. “I’ve been digging into Julia, as you asked. Here’s what
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