MADAME BROWNE'S POV The moment the words left my mouth, a weight slammed into my chest, and my legs nearly gave out beneath me. My knees wobbled as I clutched the counter for support as I drew in a heavy whiff of air.The world, as I knew it, stopped as I watched shock flash through Lucas's eyes. They darkened almost immediately as I clenched my fingers tight. My nails dug into my nails as I let out a heavy breath before gripping my forehead with my fingers. I tapped my index finger over it as I felt set strands of my hair stick close to my hand and I felt a scalding heat zapping into my chest and I immediately knew who it was.It was his gaze.Lucas's jaw dropped as he got up from the chair and pushed away the two prostitutes sitting by his side. “Get away from me!” He thundered as his gaze lashed in my direction.It lingered on my body as I nearly froze on the spot. Fractured puffs of air rolled out of my nostrils as his gaze roved over my features. I lowered my head and swallowed
ELLA'S POV.The silence hit me the moment I stepped my foot into the house. It was too quiet and immediately, I knew something was wrong."Ivy?" I called out, my voice uncertain as I held my breathed and waited for a reply. “Baby, Mommy's home.”Nothing. Usually, she would come running into my arms the moment she held my voice, but....I dropped my bag onto the floor, not caring where it landed, and bolted up the stairs towards her room. Her bedroom door was slightly opened, and I pushed it open fully, my heart pounding.It was empty.Everything was the same way I had left in in the morning. The bed was made, the curtains drawn, her favorite stuffed bunny sat untouched on the pillow. My throat closed in panic.I dashed to the bathroom, too, but she was nowhere to be found.She wasn’t here.Where could she have gone? She never left the house on her own and I’d made sure she knew never to open the door for anyone unless it was me or her father. Where could she be?My legs started to
Xavier’s povThere was a smile on my face as I drove into my street. I could see my home already, and the thoughts of my family waiting made my smile a little bigger.I pictured Ivy clinging to her inseparable teddy bear, her tiny feet racing toward me as soon as she heard my voice. I imagined Ella standing at the doorway, that sparkle in her eyes lighting up the second she saw me. That sparkle—God, it was everything to me. It made every long day worth it. They were my world. The reason behind every sacrifice, every late night, every early morning.They were why I did everything, my reasons for living.They were my world and I would always do everything I could for them.I doubted if I would go on living if they weren't here anymore.“Bad thoughts, Xavier,” I said to myself, shaking my head. “Snap out of it.”The smile stayed on my face as I continued driving, but when I turned into the compound, my smile quickly died from what I saw.I barely parked my car before I stepped out from i
Xavier’s povThere was a smile on my face as I drove into my street. I could see my home already, and the thoughts of my family waiting made my smile a little bigger.I pictured Ivy clinging to her inseparable teddy bear, her tiny feet racing toward me as soon as she heard my voice. I imagined Ella standing at the doorway, that sparkle in her eyes lighting up the second she saw me. That sparkle—God, it was everything to me. It made every long day worth it. They were my world. The reason behind every sacrifice, every late night, every early morning.They were why I did everything, my reasons for living.They were my world and I would always do everything I could for them.I doubted if I would go on living if they weren't here anymore.“Bad thoughts, Xavier,” I said to myself, shaking my head. “Snap out of it.”The smile stayed on my face as I continued driving, but when I turned into the compound, my smile quickly died from what I saw.I barely parked my car before I stepped out from i
Ella’s POVI didn’t know how long we had been driving and I really didn't care. Minutes, hours—it could’ve been an entire day for all I knew.Time had lost meaning to me. Everything outside the window blurred together—trees, signs, shadows, but none of it mattered.I sat in the back seat, my hands tied, feet numb, lips dry. My head rested against the cold glass, and I stared blankly at the road passing by, trying not to let the panic consume me.Ivy.The thought of my daughter's name alone made my chest tighten.Her name was both a comfort and a curse right now.Tears welled in my eyes, but I blinked them away. I couldn’t break down now. I needed to stay awake. Alert. I needed to watch everything, remember every detail.Anything. Just in case I got the chance to escape. Just in case someone asked me later, “What did you see?”The man driving hadn’t said a word since they threw me into the back seat. Lucas was fitted beside me, the filthy smell of him pervading my nose.In the front s
The silence in Lucas’s house always got under my skin, but today it felt like a blade. I moved from room to room, lookingnfor nothing, my heels clicking against marble floors, and the whisper of my own breathing sounded too loud.I was trying to escape that stupid bitch words, but they still didn't leave me. They followed me step by step, room to room.“You hated me because I got everything you wanted so easily. I didn't have to lie or sell myself —” Her voice echoing in my mind as if she was right next to me.That bitch had seen right through me. Right through the skirts and the tailored jackets and the flawless smile. I’d laughed it off at first—of course I’d brush it aside—until I realized how deep that knife had sunk.Deeper than anything had ever stuck me.I still walked aimlessly along the halls, and to my anger and surprise, I felt tears stung my eyes. Furiously, I wiped them off with the back of my hand. What did that birch know about my story. I hadn’t always been this wicke
The silence in Lucas’s house always got under my skin, but today it felt like a blade. I moved from room to room, lookingnfor nothing, my heels clicking against marble floors, and the whisper of my own breathing sounded too loud.I was trying to escape that stupid bitch words, but they still didn't leave me. They followed me step by step, room to room.“You hated me because I got everything you wanted so easily. I didn't have to lie or sell myself —” Her voice echoing in my mind as if she was right next to me.That bitch had seen right through me. Right through the skirts and the tailored jackets and the flawless smile. I’d laughed it off at first—of course I’d brush it aside—until I realized how deep that knife had sunk.Deeper than anything had ever stuck me.I still walked aimlessly along the halls, and to my anger and surprise, I felt tears stung my eyes. Furiously, I wiped them off with the back of my hand. What did that birch know about my story. I hadn’t always been this wicke
ELLA'S POV The pulsating beats coming in from the speakers make me go wild as I tuned my body's sleek movements in sync with the music. With my hair messed up in what was supposed to be a ponytail, my body covered in a see through gown, I could probably say I had had a pretty great night. I loved the club, the buzz, it's ever pungent smell of sex and alcohol, the drinks. But everything was typical, just like yesterday and the day before. Scrambling my gaze across the usual crowd of clubbers, the series of flashing lights. I noticed something— someone, a man's intriguing figure, sitting at the mini bar. "I see you got your eyes on someone," A voice called out to me as I turned my gaze to the tall redhead lady I knew as my best friend, Maggie. Margaret flashed a weird wink of her eyes, a grin spreaded on her cheeks. "Shut up," I admitted, feeling guilty as we both laughed at each other. "Why not go talk to him," Maggie hollers, her voice calm and cool. My face twisted into a frow
The silence in Lucas’s house always got under my skin, but today it felt like a blade. I moved from room to room, lookingnfor nothing, my heels clicking against marble floors, and the whisper of my own breathing sounded too loud.I was trying to escape that stupid bitch words, but they still didn't leave me. They followed me step by step, room to room.“You hated me because I got everything you wanted so easily. I didn't have to lie or sell myself —” Her voice echoing in my mind as if she was right next to me.That bitch had seen right through me. Right through the skirts and the tailored jackets and the flawless smile. I’d laughed it off at first—of course I’d brush it aside—until I realized how deep that knife had sunk.Deeper than anything had ever stuck me.I still walked aimlessly along the halls, and to my anger and surprise, I felt tears stung my eyes. Furiously, I wiped them off with the back of my hand. What did that birch know about my story. I hadn’t always been this wicke
The silence in Lucas’s house always got under my skin, but today it felt like a blade. I moved from room to room, lookingnfor nothing, my heels clicking against marble floors, and the whisper of my own breathing sounded too loud.I was trying to escape that stupid bitch words, but they still didn't leave me. They followed me step by step, room to room.“You hated me because I got everything you wanted so easily. I didn't have to lie or sell myself —” Her voice echoing in my mind as if she was right next to me.That bitch had seen right through me. Right through the skirts and the tailored jackets and the flawless smile. I’d laughed it off at first—of course I’d brush it aside—until I realized how deep that knife had sunk.Deeper than anything had ever stuck me.I still walked aimlessly along the halls, and to my anger and surprise, I felt tears stung my eyes. Furiously, I wiped them off with the back of my hand. What did that birch know about my story. I hadn’t always been this wicke
Ella’s POVI didn’t know how long we had been driving and I really didn't care. Minutes, hours—it could’ve been an entire day for all I knew.Time had lost meaning to me. Everything outside the window blurred together—trees, signs, shadows, but none of it mattered.I sat in the back seat, my hands tied, feet numb, lips dry. My head rested against the cold glass, and I stared blankly at the road passing by, trying not to let the panic consume me.Ivy.The thought of my daughter's name alone made my chest tighten.Her name was both a comfort and a curse right now.Tears welled in my eyes, but I blinked them away. I couldn’t break down now. I needed to stay awake. Alert. I needed to watch everything, remember every detail.Anything. Just in case I got the chance to escape. Just in case someone asked me later, “What did you see?”The man driving hadn’t said a word since they threw me into the back seat. Lucas was fitted beside me, the filthy smell of him pervading my nose.In the front s
Xavier’s povThere was a smile on my face as I drove into my street. I could see my home already, and the thoughts of my family waiting made my smile a little bigger.I pictured Ivy clinging to her inseparable teddy bear, her tiny feet racing toward me as soon as she heard my voice. I imagined Ella standing at the doorway, that sparkle in her eyes lighting up the second she saw me. That sparkle—God, it was everything to me. It made every long day worth it. They were my world. The reason behind every sacrifice, every late night, every early morning.They were why I did everything, my reasons for living.They were my world and I would always do everything I could for them.I doubted if I would go on living if they weren't here anymore.“Bad thoughts, Xavier,” I said to myself, shaking my head. “Snap out of it.”The smile stayed on my face as I continued driving, but when I turned into the compound, my smile quickly died from what I saw.I barely parked my car before I stepped out from i
Xavier’s povThere was a smile on my face as I drove into my street. I could see my home already, and the thoughts of my family waiting made my smile a little bigger.I pictured Ivy clinging to her inseparable teddy bear, her tiny feet racing toward me as soon as she heard my voice. I imagined Ella standing at the doorway, that sparkle in her eyes lighting up the second she saw me. That sparkle—God, it was everything to me. It made every long day worth it. They were my world. The reason behind every sacrifice, every late night, every early morning.They were why I did everything, my reasons for living.They were my world and I would always do everything I could for them.I doubted if I would go on living if they weren't here anymore.“Bad thoughts, Xavier,” I said to myself, shaking my head. “Snap out of it.”The smile stayed on my face as I continued driving, but when I turned into the compound, my smile quickly died from what I saw.I barely parked my car before I stepped out from i
ELLA'S POV.The silence hit me the moment I stepped my foot into the house. It was too quiet and immediately, I knew something was wrong."Ivy?" I called out, my voice uncertain as I held my breathed and waited for a reply. “Baby, Mommy's home.”Nothing. Usually, she would come running into my arms the moment she held my voice, but....I dropped my bag onto the floor, not caring where it landed, and bolted up the stairs towards her room. Her bedroom door was slightly opened, and I pushed it open fully, my heart pounding.It was empty.Everything was the same way I had left in in the morning. The bed was made, the curtains drawn, her favorite stuffed bunny sat untouched on the pillow. My throat closed in panic.I dashed to the bathroom, too, but she was nowhere to be found.She wasn’t here.Where could she have gone? She never left the house on her own and I’d made sure she knew never to open the door for anyone unless it was me or her father. Where could she be?My legs started to
MADAME BROWNE'S POV The moment the words left my mouth, a weight slammed into my chest, and my legs nearly gave out beneath me. My knees wobbled as I clutched the counter for support as I drew in a heavy whiff of air.The world, as I knew it, stopped as I watched shock flash through Lucas's eyes. They darkened almost immediately as I clenched my fingers tight. My nails dug into my nails as I let out a heavy breath before gripping my forehead with my fingers. I tapped my index finger over it as I felt set strands of my hair stick close to my hand and I felt a scalding heat zapping into my chest and I immediately knew who it was.It was his gaze.Lucas's jaw dropped as he got up from the chair and pushed away the two prostitutes sitting by his side. “Get away from me!” He thundered as his gaze lashed in my direction.It lingered on my body as I nearly froze on the spot. Fractured puffs of air rolled out of my nostrils as his gaze roved over my features. I lowered my head and swallowed
LUCAS'S POV I was at the bar when the door slammed open all of a sudden and I heard the heavy thudding sound of footsteps. I was halfway through taking a sip of my drink when all of a sudden, I heard her voice.My blood ran cold almost immediately as I whipped my head in her direction. “W-why are you here?” I questioned slowly with my fingers tightly clutching the glass cup in my hands as I placed it back on the counter. As I uttered the words, two arms snaked around my neck as the soft smell of roses washed into my nostrils. I turned my head in the direction of one of the ladies who was standing close to me as I whispered into her ears. “Stop that.”The arms slithering around my neck uncoiled almost immediately as the girls pulled back. The soft jazz music blurring into the air stopped playing as Madame Browne walked towards me. Her shoes clapped against the floor and the sound echoed repeatedly against the four walls of my room as I held in breath.Iit was obvious she was here wit
THE PRESIDENT'S POV I knew she fled.I watched her leave.The call I planned was totally staged. It was all a ruse to get her to think the coast was clear when it really wasn't. How stupid of her. For someone as calculating as Madame Browne, I was expect her to have second guesses but I guess what they say was really true.Time does really change things.The Madame Browne I used to now wasn't the quick to jump-at-things version that was here now. I was shocked when I found out she fell for my plan. A dark smile tugged at my lips as I flashed my gaze at the tall, towering figure of one of the guards who was standing by.“She's gone, sir.” he muttered as my smile deepened and I clapped my hands and beamed, “Gloves.”Almost immediately, one of the guards who was standing by passed my leather gloves to me. I took it slowly with my eyes fixed on the way it shimmered under the uneven lighten in the room. My mind flashed to Xavier for a second as I reached into my pockets and placed a call