Lyla’s POV"Don't be dramatic now, girl," Abel sneered, leaning closer. "You and I both know that the only reason my cousin married you was to use you to build the already successful company. He doesn’t love you. Come be with me, and I’ll take care of you. Let me show you what a real man is like." He reached for my hair, but I quickly pushed him away, my heart pounding in my chest."You better not push your luck, Abel," I hissed. "If it weren’t for the fact that I don’t want to create a scene, I’d slap you so hard across the face you wouldn’t know what hit you. What the hell is wrong with you? I’m married to your cousin—have you forgotten that?" I waved my ring in front of his face, but he didn’t seem to care."Don’t be delusional," he scoffed. "Who says you can’t cheat with me? Jace’s mother doesn’t want you, my father doesn’t want to see you either, but I can take you away from all of them. I can buy you a beach house, a penthouse, and we can do whatever we want. Just you and me, no
Lyla’s POVNot this feeling again, the one I hated so much. The one that made me feel like I was going to pass out, like I was sinking and evaporating all at once. It overtook me, and I couldn’t help but groan, screaming out in fear. The words kept replaying in my mind, each one sharper than the last. "She overdosed. My sister." My heart stopped for a moment as my feet stumbled in the elevator. I was paralyzed by the news—the weight of it was too much to bear.I couldn’t control the tears that started flowing, and Jace kept asking me what had happened, but my lips were too shaky to form a coherent sentence.“What happened? What happened? What did she say to you?” Jace's voice was frantic as he held me, trying to make eye contact. But I was too broken to respond. He picked my phone up from the floor, where I had dropped it in shock. Mrs. Maddy was still on the line, panicking, telling him what had happened. The elevator doors opened just then, and we hurried out, racing to the car.“Go
Lyla's POVBailey was home, on bed rest after everything that had happened. I wouldn’t leave her side. I was furious, heartbroken, and terrified for her, but I didn’t say a word. I just sat there, staring at her, lost in my thoughts."Sis, I’m fine," she said softly, noticing the tear that rolled down my cheek."Why, Bailey? Why would you do that? You tried to end your life… Why would you put me through that, especially when you know how hard things are for me? What’s going on with you?" My voice trembled, calm but filled with so much pain. I couldn’t stop the tears from falling. This was the second time Bailey had come so close to death. What if next time she didn’t make it? Another fear bubbled to the surface.“I’m sorry, Sis,” Bailey whispered, her voice breaking. “The pain was just too much. I just wanted everything to go away. I didn’t want to feel like this anymore.”I couldn’t blame her, not entirely. I knew everyone had their own battles, their own struggles. But hearing my li
Lyla’s POV“I’m eagerly anticipating our first night together, I can't wait to show you just how much you’ve been missing. I’ve transferred $2 million into your account as a gesture to spoil you and prove that I can offer so much more.I was reading the note when Jace opened the door and stood behind me. I quickly hid the paper inside my shorts before he could see who the parcel was from.“What is that? Who sent you a package?” Jace stretched his neck, trying to see what I was holding. Panic surged through me. How was I supposed to explain this? How could I tell him that it was from his cousin, Abel, and that the contents were completely inappropriate? I had to think fast, and my mind raced as I tried to come up with a believable lie.“It’s a package from a lingerie brand. They want me to work with them and sent me a sample,” I said quickly, hoping it would work.“Oh, I see. What do they want? Can I see it?” Jace asked, his curiosity clear.My heart skipped a beat. There was no way he
Lyla’s POVJace’s face was filled with anger, but it suddenly morphed into a burst of laughter.“Oh my god! You should’ve seen your face!” he laughed again, and I felt the tension in my body begin to ease.I shook my head in disbelief. “What’s wrong with you, Jace?” I playfully swatted his shoulder, and he pulled me closer, planting a soft kiss on my forehead.“You know I’d never hurt you, right? I only came in here to apologize for what I said downstairs. I was too harsh. I just wanted to say sorry,” he murmured, kissing my forehead again.“It’s alright. Your reasons are valid, and I’m not upset. You did what you thought was right. I’ll just return the item and let them know I’m not interested,” I reassured him.“You don’t have to return it. You can keep it. Well, except for the dildo, of course,” he chuckled, teasing me.“I’ll return everything so it doesn’t remind me of my bad decision,” I said, half-laughing, half-serious.We shared a brief kiss, but before anything could go furth
Lyla’s POVI tried to slam the door in his face, but Collins wedged his hand between it and the frame. I wasn’t interested in hearing anything he had to say; I needed him to leave and never come close to Bailey again. Not now. Not ever.“Please, you have to listen to me, Lyla,” he pleaded, his voice strained. “Give me a chance to explain myself.”“Explain yourself?” I interrupted, my anger bubbling over. “What more is there to say? Are you going to feed her more lies, manipulate your way back into her life? That’s not going to happen, so you better leave now before I call security and let the dogs loose on you.”I was seething, my words sharp and filled with rage. Every part of me was bristling, ready to snap. I made another attempt to slam the door, but he blocked it again.“Lyla, please, just hear me out. I swear, you can do whatever you want with me if I don’t make sense. Please, just listen.”At that point, I realized there was nothing I could say to change his mind, so I opened t
Lyla’s POV“Good day, ladies and gentlemen. It’s an absolute pleasure to stand before you today as we unveil an exciting new chapter for our brand with the launch of our rebranded drink. This project has been a true labor of love, and none of it would have been possible without the trust and support of Mr. Karev and the entire board. Thank you for believing in this vision and allowing me to lead it.A big thank you to our incredible team for your dedication, creativity, and hard work. Every step of this journey has been a collaboration, and today is a reflection of your efforts.And, of course, to our loyal customers—this rebrand is for you. We’ve worked hard to create something that not only stands out but that you can continue to enjoy and trust.So, let’s raise a glass to new beginnings, to the hard work that brought us here, and to the exciting journey ahead. Cheers to the future!Thank you.”The crowd erupted in applause as soon as I finished my speech. The rebranding project was
Lyla’s POVI watched Mrs. Karev walk away until she faded out of sight, my mind still reeling from her harsh words. Over in the corner, I noticed Sasha speaking with a group of people. I couldn’t make out their conversation, but when she caught my eye, she immediately turned her focus to me and Jace. I felt the intensity of her gaze, sharp and critical.Jace seemed to notice her too. Without saying a word, he pulled me closer, planting a passionate kiss on my lips. The crowd around us seemed to blur as he held me tight, guiding me into a slow dance. I could feel Sasha’s eyes burning into us, her anger unmistakable. She dismissed the people she had been talking to and walked toward Mrs. Karev, likely to report everything she had seen.Part of me wanted to roll my eyes—there was nothing she could do to stop us. But I couldn’t help the small sense of satisfaction that bubbled inside me. Watching her fume was oddly reassuring.“Can you see that?” I heard Sasha’s voice from across the room
Lyla’s POVI sat at the desk, the glow from my laptop illuminating my face as I finalized the work plan for the production. It was a delicate operation, and with the limited number of people available, we had to be meticulous. The fewer people involved, the better—it was a matter of discretion. And discretion was everything.I had spent the entire night working through the logistics, weighing every decision carefully. I knew we couldn’t afford any mistakes. The timeline was tight. While the original schedule predicted that this production would stretch over one or even two months, I had no intention of letting that happen. My goal was to finish within a matter of days, or at most, a week, if everything went according to plan. The longer it took, the higher the risk—and the more dangerous it became.I had already drafted the work plan, everything was laid out in neat columns and rows. Still, I needed to involve a couple of people who could handle the stress of such an intense operation
Lyla's POV“Who were you talking to?” Jace’s voice cut through the air, sharp and demanding. His anger was palpable, reverberating across the space between us. His hand clamped down on my arm, and for a second, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. The grip was tight, almost possessive, and it reminded me of all the times before, when I’d felt trapped in this exact kind of moment—his fury, my frustration, the tension building between us. I fought to keep my composure, my chest tightening as I tried to pull away.“What are you talking about?” I snapped, my voice laced with irritation as I yanked my arm out of his grasp. The last thing I wanted was to be controlled by him in front of all these people. I didn’t need to explain myself, not to him, not anymore.“You better not play dumb with me,” Jace demanded, his voice rising. The more agitated he became, the more his grip tightened on my nerves. “I saw you talking to someone. Who was it?”“Let go of me!” I shot back, trying to break free. “Wh
Lyla’s POVI folded my arms across my chest, a habit that had become second nature when I was trying to hide my emotions. My arms were positioned firmly at breast level as I stared at Abel. A scoff escaped my lips before I could stop it.“What did you just say?” I moved closer to him, my eyes narrowing, trying to read his expression.“You heard me correctly, Lyla,” Abel’s voice was cold, almost mocking. “I’m going to tell my father and my uncle about Bailey’s kidnapping, and I’ll make sure they know exactly what you’re doing—all of this to get your sister out. How do you think they’ll react when they find out you’ve played them both twice? Do you really think the contract you have with Jace is enough to shield you from their wrath?”His words were meant to strike fear into me, but I wasn’t intimidated. I held his gaze firmly, my arms still crossed. I wasn’t afraid of him or his threats. Abel was many things, but he wasn’t someone who could rattle me. Not now, not after everything.Abe
Lyla's POVEverything was finally in place. The warehouse was packed with crates of the new drink, and the press had already arrived to cover the production of the latest strawberry-flavored beverage. It was an important day for the Karev family, one that would bring them both publicity and, hopefully, profits.Mr. Karev was present, of course, though he was accompanied by his mistress. Mrs. Karev, on the other hand, looked absolutely miserable, her frown unwavering throughout the entire event. It wasn't just because we had ignored her wishes—it was because the woman standing beside Mr. Karev, who was laughing and leaning into him, was none other than her old friend. The woman who had, years ago, swooped in to steal Mr. Karev away from her."Can you believe this?!" Sasha hissed, her voice dripping with disgust. "The audacity! Who does she think she is? Look at them! They're practically holding hands in front of everyone. This is not good for your image as the leader of the Universal W
Lyla’s POV“Are you insane? I will never let that happen, not under my watch! Have you completely lost your mind? Your father and I worked so hard to build this company and the reputation you’re trying to destroy! What the hell has come over you?” Mrs. Karev’s voice was sharp, every word cutting through the room like a knife. The anger in her eyes was undeniable, a storm brewing behind them as she raked Jace with her gaze. She had just learned about the plans to open another factory for the production of the illegal drink, and she was having none of it.I stood frozen at the edge of the doorway, barely daring to breathe, as the argument unfolded before me. The tension in the room was suffocating, every word from Mrs. Karev fueled by disbelief and frustration.“This is the only way we can save Bailey, Mum,” Jace replied, his voice firm, but there was a hint of desperation beneath it. He was never one to back down, especially when it came to people he cared about. “The Mafia boss is a v
Lyla’s POV“I don’t know what to do… I’m so worried about my wife. I can’t even tell if they’re treating her well or if they’re hurting her! That Don… he’s a terrible, wicked man. I just hope he’s not doing horrible things to Bailey.” Collins’ voice cracked with emotion, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I saw a man cry. The tears flowed down his face, his body shaking with the weight of his anguish. I had never seen him like this—so raw, so vulnerable. Collins, usually the calm and collected one, had lost all semblance of control.The only person standing by his side in that moment, holding him together, was Jace. He stepped toward Collins, wrapping his arms around him in a comforting hug. The embrace was silent, but the emotion in the room was palpable. My own eyes stung with tears, but this was different. I had cried countless times in the privacy of my room, but seeing Collins break down like this… it shattered me in ways I couldn’t describe.I couldn’t deny it—Col
Lucas’s POV“I exchanged contacts with Sofia. She was the one who insisted, and it would’ve been rude to turn her down. She was all over me last night. She didn’t want to let me go; she was grinding and whining her waist on me. I won’t lie to you, bro! I felt really uncomfortable. What if Bella saw us together? It would’ve been disastrous. I couldn’t even hold hands with her. My eyes were busy scanning the whole environment, trying to make sure no one saw us,” I said into the phone, narrating the events of the previous night to James. He already knew who Sofia was—he’d been there with me back in high school. He knew how much trouble she used to cause.“Dude, you need to avoid Sofia like the plague!” James’s voice came through clearly, a mix of frustration and disbelief. “You know that girl is trouble! You always got into trouble because of her back then in school. You never did your assignments because you were always focusing on her, helping her with hers. You were always late to sch
Lyla’s POVI knocked lightly on the door, holding my arm across my chest. My heart was racing, and every instinct inside me screamed to turn around and leave. But something kept me rooted in place. When no answer came, I hesitated for a moment before pushing the door open. It was unlocked, just slightly ajar.Stepping inside, I was met with an unsettling silence. I’d hoped Sasha wouldn’t be there—she wasn’t—but the tension I carried with me still lingered. It wasn’t that I was scared of Sasha, but more of the potential conflict that seemed to always swirl around her. I wasn’t in the mood for a confrontation. Not now, not when Bailey was still missing, and I had no idea where she was or what might be happening to her.As I entered the room, my eyes scanned the familiar space. I moved slowly, my body almost on autopilot, but my mind was racing. The memories came flooding back in waves, each one crashing into me with surprising force. I hadn’t been in this room in so long, and it felt li
Lyla’s POV“Now is not the time, Chad. How did you even get my number in the first place?” I asked, my voice sharp and tinged with frustration. My head was pounding, and we had been stuck on Bailey’s situation for days. There hadn’t been any substantial updates in what felt like forever, and the silence was starting to get to me. The anxiety, the not knowing—it was wearing me thin. I had no idea how Chad had gotten my contact information. I never used the complimentary card he gave me when we met, and the fact that he had my number felt… suspicious.“Look, Lyla, I just care about you. That’s all,” Chad’s voice came through the phone, softer than usual, almost gentle. “I heard about Bailey’s kidnapping, and I just want you to know that I’ll be here if you need me.”His words caught me off guard. Chad had never sounded so genuine in my life. There was something in the way he spoke, a sincerity I hadn’t heard before. It brought a strange sense of peace to my troubled mind, but it also ma