POV DrakeI watch the clock move, that unbearable noise it keeps making. Tick-tock, tick-tock, like a countdown to death or the sound of a bomb about to explode. Maybe that's it. Because right now, I'm about to explode. But I had no choice, I panicked when Scarlett came home and asked me all these questions about how my therapy with the doctor was going. I came because if I didn't, she was going to be on my case for the rest of my life, and God only knows how insufferable my sister can be when she gets down to it. The movement of the clock is starting to annoy me. But if I turn my head, it'll be even worse, because I'll have to face this doctor who can probe my soul and guess my darkest secrets. I've been sitting there for over an hour, pretending he's not there. But I can feel his gaze on the back of my neck and hear him tapping the table with his pen. I have to admit, though, that I really appreciate the fact that he doesn't force me to talk; it's as if he's trying to put me at ease
POV LisaMy mother pours me a cup of coffee, then does the same for Maddie. I place a kiss on her cheek and head for the door. I've been late all week, so today I can't afford to be late. "Not so fast, young lady! "my mother shouts. "But I'm already late, Mom! "I say, pouting."All you had to do was get up a little earlier, sit down and eat. " "Mom, I have to...""I said sit down young lady. " I let out a sigh and sit down opposite my sister, who's laughing behind her coffee cup. I throw a bun at her head under my mother's reproving gaze. So I take a piece of toast with Nutella on it and bite into it. Then I take a sip of coffee. "I completely forgot to tell you that I ran into the son of Dad's former solicitor. ""Manson?" My mother asks, arching an eyebrow. I nod and continue eating."To think that this man didn't even deign to come and see us once after your father's disappearance; he turned his back on us, just like all the others! And to think your father considered him a f
POV DrakeAfter the man leaves, I decide to call my friend Lucas, the detective I've hired to investigate Lisa's family. "Drake?" "Hi, Lucas. " "How are you? I heard what happened to you and was a little dreading the moment I had to come and see you. " "I don't feel like talking about that right now, you see. I'd rather talk about something else. ""I'm not sure it's the right time for you to talk about that, you're still sick. ""That bastard just walked out of my house and clearly threatened me. You don't think I'm just going to stand by, do you? ""He threatened you? I seriously think you should be wary of this man, he's dangerous. ""I'm not afraid of him, I'm not afraid of anyone. All I want is for him to leave Lisa's family alone. ""I investigated and traced it back to a notary in town. ""Who is he? ""He's the son of Mr. Simon's notary. It was he who was in charge of all his property, I say was because he's dead and today it's his son who's in charge of the firm. ""So wh
POV LisaWhen the doors to Drake's apartment close behind him, the first thing I ask myself is what the hell am I doing here? I've been insulted in this house, called names. It even got to the point where I told myself I'd never set foot in this house again. But all it took was one little word from him and I was back like a lost soul, because he told me to. Not ordered. However, he did owe me some explanations, such as how he knew my father's solicitor's son and what he was doing there. I put my bag on a sofa and sit down on it. My body jerks and I start shaking so violently that I collapse onto the carpet. From where I'm lying, I can see Drake coming towards me with a worried expression, my vision is blurred and I'm starting to find it harder and harder to breathe. What the hell is happening to me? My eyes close and I hear a thud, then someone grabs my head and gently shakes me."Baby, open your eyes. " Tears begin to fall from my eyes and I feel the gentle caress of a hand on my ch
POV BrianLisa doesn't even give me time to speak as she's already hung up. I look at my phone with a puzzled expression. What the hell just happened there? I wanted to invite her to dinner and I would have offered her a book by one of her favorite authors, a brand new release that I had signed. If only she knew how much money it cost me to have that copy of the book signed! I pick up the book and throw it on the floor. Luckily for me, my wife isn't here, she's gone away for a few days to see her mother. So much the better, at least this way I won't have to put up with her Botox-filled face. I walk the length of my room, disturbed by what Lisa has said. What could she be talking about? All the harm my family and I had done to hers? What kind of story is that? What evil is she talking about? I get up and run out of my room, then down the stairs. "Honey, are you there? "I go downstairs to find my mother in the small living room where she is comfortably installed and I place a kiss on
POV Drake. I enter the doctor's office with a grim expression on my face, and he looks at me worriedly. I answer nothing and close the door behind me. "It seems you've had a very bad week, Mr Lancaster. ""Can't you tell? " He answers nothing and walks over to the drawer where he took the chessboard last time. He walks over to the small table and places it on it. "You promised me we'd finish our game, you. Do you remember that? " I have to bite my tongue twice to keep from telling him to go fuck himself. Do I really look like I want to play? I'm worried sick about Lisa, she's rejecting my calls. I'm paralyzed on this armchair, unable to do anything, I want to get up and run to her. But I can't. Because of me. Only because of myself. "I really don't feel like playing doctor. My head's not in it at the moment. ""Then what's on your mind? " The words want to break through the barrier of my lips, but again I hold back from speaking. It's just too hard. And I know that because of t
POV Lisa. "You'll get back to me eventually. "I glance at Drake's text, before rolling my eyes. If he thinks I'm going to give in to him that easily, he's mistaken. It's been a week since I learned what he did behind my back. I really try to understand him, I try with all my heart to find excuses for him, but in the end, I tell myself he has no excuse. He had no right to pry into my life like that, into my father's life, not to say my whole family's life. What's more, he did it without talking to me, which I find unacceptable. However, it opened my eyes to the true face of the people around me. Deep down, I knew that Tony Moncrief was a despicable being, but I had no idea of the depth of his darkness. The only question that came to mind was why? Why does this man hate us so much? What did we ever do to him? Was his hatred aimed solely at my father, or at our entire family, given that he apparently continues to lash out at me? The results of Drake's investigation opened my eyes. I'
POV Drake.She shudders at my voice and freezes. I've surprised her. Good, that was my intention. Because I too fell four stories today when I saw her on that terrace with him. I've asked Lucas to put two men on her side for protection. I'm getting to know Lisa and I'm beginning to know that her silence is never a good sign. Especially when she's this angry. I know very well that she's about to do something stupid, like trying to get revenge on her own, for example, but I know very well that it's a bad idea, she can't face this man on her own. He's bloody dangerous! But she's stubborn, maybe even more so than I am, knowing that she went to see this guy and that he put his hands on her, and that she let him do it, really pisses me off. I take her hand and pull her onto my legs. "You didn't come to work today. " "What? You're watching me now? ""Lisa... " "Let go of me! "she cuts me off. If I could have carried her, I would have done it myself. But I can't. So I motion to Zack to he
POV Drake.I watch Lisa sleep and stroke her belly, she's gorgeous. I bury my head in her hair and breathe in her scent. I do this ritual every morning, to be sure that what I am experiencing is real. This happiness that I live with her seems so sensitive to me that I myself would not believe it if someone had told me. I leave a last kiss and I go down to the kitchen without making a sound. I decided to cherish the beings I love the most, namely my wife and my daughter who is still in her womb. Sometimes I think back to what happened that evening and I tell myself that if things had turned out differently, I would never have found the woman I love. …After Mason told me that Ryan had committed suicide, I didn't know how to react. I was sad, I never wanted him dead. Ryan was my brother and even though he didn't believe him, I loved him. I loved my brother and I wanted him to be a better person. I had at this moment a succession of emotions which mi
POV Lisa.I pretended to pass out to buy some time. Time why exactly? I do not have the faintest idea. I am paralyzed with fear, but I will probably not give this man the pleasure of seeing me cry. He untied me to lie on a mattress on the floor and left to do I don't know what else. I rub my ankles and wrists which have turned purple from being tied up for so long. I then put my hand to my belly, as if it could save my little baby from feeling all the stress I was feeling right now. My God what am I going to do? How am I gonna get out of this shit? I'm only sure of one thing, I have to get out of here. I have to find a way to leave before he comes back. I get up and walk to the window, it's way too high for me to see anything. I look around for something to pull myself up to the window. I finally see a chair a little further. I go get it and climb on it. I look through the glass and see nothing but black, it is dark night and in the distance I can even see the mountains.Where did thi
POV Drake.A week after my conversation with Mason, I hosted a family reunion at my parents' house. I needed answers, I needed to hear why Ryan did everything he did. He almost ruined my company, I would have lost practically everything if Mason had not discovered in time everything that was going on. I take my head in my hands and breathe. Everyone is present, of course Ryan is not there yet. I isolate myself in the library and try to reach Lisa. When I turn on my phone, I see that she tried to reach me, I call her back. His phone is out of service. I sigh, I really need to hear his voice. Damn, I need her right now more than ever. But it's complicated to be able to talk to each other and even more to see each other lately. She has a lot to manage on her side and me too, so much that we absolutely have more time for each other.When I try to get out, the light in the library comes on and I see my father sitting in the back of the room, a glass of whiskey in his hands." Dad ? What ar
“Miss Simon? “I jump when a hand lands on my shoulder, I raise my head and meet my mother's gaze, who is looking at me with a worried air. "Are you alright sweetie? “I smile at her reassuringly and she gently presses my hand to infuse me with her strength. I take a sip of water and look at the lawyers in front of me. I feel Brian's gaze on me, but that's the last thing I can really worry about today. I can't believe his bitch of a mother called a fucking conciliation meeting, as if that could solve the problem between us. Right now, I'm so on edge that I'm able to get on that table and rip his head off.“I'm sure we can find an agreement. ” She said in her sour old voice. “I can't believe you can even think of this possibility! I said banging hard on the table. “You can't just show up and take everything that belongs to us! Brian's mother continues. “You mean the money your husband stole from mine? ” My mother said.“Things didn't happen…” “Shut up! I told him in a surprisingl
POV DrakeI watch the cars go by from my office window, it's crazy how much I miss these moments. My office, my employees, everything, absolutely everything. I decided to come to work today. I needed it after what happened this weekend, I needed to get out of the house and think about something else that wasn't related to our personal problems. First, there's the most important thing, which is this thing with Lisa and Moncrief. After receiving the briefcase, we went to the police station the next day to lodge a complaint. What was supposed to be handled discreetly ended up in the media spotlight, triggering a media frenzy. Moncrief managed to escape, but his son and wife are under investigation to find out whether they were also complicit in his actions. Personally, I think there's no way this man could have done what he did without telling his wife or even his idiot son. Their businesses have been suspended and they too are under investigation. I hope we can nail the bastard soon. Wi
POV LisaI receive a blow in the face, roll onto the bed and land on the floor, hitting my head. "Damn it! "I muttered. I get up with difficulty and rub the back of my head, looking at Drake lying on the bed and not stopping gesticulating in his sleep. I let out a sigh and walk over to him, lay down and place a kiss on the top of his head. Then he does something incredible, unconsciously lifting his leg. I'm so surprised that I stay in shock for long minutes before realizing what's happening. Drake has just lifted a leg, unconsciously yes, but he's done it. I know it's because of this horrible nightmare he's been having for a week now, sometimes I'd like to get inside his head to find out what's causing him so much torment. I take a handkerchief from the dresser and blot his forehead, then press myself a little tighter against him, so he can feel my presence. I want him to know that I'm here and that I would never let him down. The love I feel for this man is something indescribable
POV DrakeI hang up and put my phone in my jacket pocket. Zack has just confirmed that Lisa is now safely with him, which means I can get on with something else. When he told me that she'd just run out on him to go I don't know where, I had to ask the doctor to stop the therapy because I couldn't have gone on if I hadn't been reassured that he'd found her, especially as she was unreachable, and when he finally did find her, she was in this café with this guy and I asked Zack to wait for her to finish before taking her home. Home, I can't believe I'm finally ready to let another woman into my life after all these years. Me, who'd been through the ordeal because of a woman. The idea of opening the door of my home to Lisa seems so obvious that I wonder how I didn't think of it sooner. "Are you reassured, Mr Lancaster? " "Yes." I say, shaking my head.I roll my chair to the center of the room and look at the clock. "Is it over yet?" "We still have thirty minutes. "I remain silent fo
POV Lisa.I hang up with a sigh, beginning to wonder if what I'm doing is really a good idea. Brian is really driving me crazy! With his calls, his messages full of love. Not to mention the looks Drake gives me every time my phone rings. Just this morning, he called me while I was having breakfast with Drake and Drake almost put my phone in the coffee pot. If I hadn't held it back, I don't know what would have happened. I get up and grab my purse to head out the door, thank goodness Mason isn't here to hold me accountable. And with Ryan at the head of the company, it's become something else, he too comes to work when he feels like it, which creates an incredible mess. Drake really needs to come back and take this company back in hand. I have to admit that being away at the moment doesn't make me any different from anyone else, but I really have to get to this appointment. Knowing Brian as well as I do, he might well be able to barge in here and create a scandal. I head for the elevat
POV BrianI tap my foot on the floor, hang up for the fifth time since this morning and throw the phone on the bed. Why doesn't she answer me? Why is she avoiding my calls? I've been trying to reach her for two bloody days without any success. My thoughts begin to wander and I start to imagine everything and anything. Who could she be with? Is she with him? Is he putting his hands on her again? I don't want him anywhere near her! I think back to our conversation, to the moment when he clearly told me Lisa would never be mine. I tried to kill him, I threw myself at him with a butter knife, I wanted to stick it in his neck, if only that bodyguard hadn't interfered. I don't want anything to disturb this reconciliation between Lisa and me. Especially not now, after all these years, I've finally found her and I've no intention of losing her. I close my eyes and think back to that day when we were at university, I'd just had an argument with my father and I was at my lowest ebb. Once aga