Lilian POV When I left the house that morning, I knew he was behind me, he was calling me as I walked down the stairs, but I didn't want to stop and listen to him, not after what I had just found out about him... “Please, Lilian. Stop there! Wait for me,” he asked, coming after me, but I didn't stop until he held my hand and made me look at him. “Is this how you’re going to treat me now? Why are you treating me like this? What did I do so wrong?” He looked hurt, which was ironic of him since he had just broken my heart yet again. “You baffle me when you still have the guts to ask me that. What did you do, Jensen? Are you really asking me that? Do you really think you did a good thing?” I asked, looking at his brazen face. “Alright, the deal is on its way. But does what I did about my company have to do with how you're treating me now? Wow, Lilian. Is this how we are going to live? One hour of loving each other and another time hating each other? Why can’t we just get back toget
Lilian POV “Dear citizens of Rustburg,” Jensen said to everyone, his gaze serious and hard, without a hint of compassion. “It's time for you to follow progress, it's time for you to stop this simple, humble life that you lead and let this place blossom into a great metropolis, as the mayor intends to achieve. You will have one month to collect your things, receive your compensation and move from here to another place. That’s an order!” An uproar was heard among the population, people were completely unaware of what was happening. They couldn't understand anything, they couldn't understand who that man was in front of them or why he was saying those things. “What are you talking about? Who are you in the first place to tell us to get out of here?” They shouted at Jansen. The mayor had a mocking laugh. “You people just don’t know Jensen Grimes? What kind of person are you? Don’t you even use the internet to find out what’s happening in the world?” He was making fun of everyone.
Lilian POV Finn had ordered a breakfast consisting of coffee, waffles, toast, pastries, fruit and juice. Everything looked appetizing, but I had no desire to eat. I had my face down, embarrassed to face the people who were there, as they were throwing dismayed looks in my direction since the one who was destroying everything they knew as home was my ex-husband, a man who, despite everything that had happened, I had welcomed him into my home. “To be honest, I never bought that man's act,” April said after taking a sip of her coffee. “That talk of him being sorry and playing nice was nothing more than a fucking act. I'm sure he only got closer to Lilian because he wanted to investigate the people closely. People never really change.” I swallowed hard at her words. It was so uncomfortable, I mean, and I felt like a complete fool for believing in Jensen so easily and letting myself get so carried away. I was so ashamed of myself. “He must be laughing at my stupid face right now,” I
Lilian POV Finn's plan brought a breath of hope. The idea of fighting for our little town, Rustburg, gave me a renewed energy that I hadn't felt in a while. In the last few days, despair had taken over me, draining all the strength I had to continue. But now, with the possibility of mobilizing the population and resisting the attack from the mayor and Jensen, something inside me lit up. It was already Monday morning, and the first thing I did was open my flower shop, which, despite the problems, was still my refuge. The air was thick in the city, and there were rumors that some people had already sold their homes and were preparing to leave. Seeing our little town being dismantled little by little was too painful. I knew that if we didn't act soon, Rustburg would be swallowed up by the money and greed of those who only saw figures and profitable land where we saw homes, memories and lives built. As I arranged the flowers on the counter, my mind wandered to what Finn was doing at
Lilian POV The door of the flower shop closed with a click, and the presence of that disgusting man finally disappeared. The fresh scent of flowers around me was a futile attempt to bring some peace to my tumultuous mind. The sweet smell of roses mixed with the light citrus touch of oranges created an environment that, in other circumstances, could be comforting. But now, the beauty of the place only highlighted the emotional chaos that consumed me. Jensen, in turn, fixed his worried gaze immediately on me. “Lilian, are you okay?” His voice was soft, but there was an urgency that made the moment even heavier. He came closer, but I hesitated, the space between us was thick with tension, like a rope about to snap. The morning sunlight streamed in through the windows, filtering through the flower petals and creating a play of shadows that danced around us, reflecting the confusion of feelings that I could barely contain. I was internally grateful for him for saving me, but the anger
Lilian POV When Jensen left, it was like the floor had collapsed beneath my feet. I remained there, standing in the center of the flower shop, my arms crossed as if they could somehow protect me from the emptiness that settled in my chest. The surrounding sounds—the soft tinkling of the bell on the door, the rustle of flowers on the shelves—became distant and muffled, as if the world were leaving me behind. The tears I had been holding back for so long finally escaped, hot and incessant, streaming down my face without any restraint. The loneliness that took over me was suffocating. I sat on one of the wooden benches we kept by the window, my legs too weak to support me. The scent of the surrounding flowers, which had always brought a sense of peace, now seemed cloying, as if reminding me of what I had lost—of Jensen, of recent memories, of the things that could have been. I asked myself, for the thousandth time, what I had done wrong. Was I too harsh? Or maybe too weak? It didn't
Jensen POV The hotel room was almost completely silent, except for the faint hum of the air conditioning and the occasional sound of a car passing on the road outside. The heavy curtains blocked out most of the moonlight, leaving the space in a suffocating gloom. I was sitting on the edge of the bed, looking at the empty glass I had abandoned on the nightstand. The faint reflection of the glass reminded me of how empty everything felt now. Just like me. The drinking wasn't helping me, but I didn't know what else to do. Ever since I left Lilian's house, my mind has been in a whirlwind. I couldn't stop thinking about what had happened, about the harsh words she said to me, about the kids looking at me with those confused eyes. Rory, Ryan, and Ruby. My little ones. I knew they liked me. I wanted to see them growing up, asking me to play rugby, tell stories, or just be around, like a family. Family. This word has always been something I wanted, but never knew exactly how to construct.
Lilian POV Morning light filtered through the curtains, illuminating my room as I woke up. The phone vibrated on the bedside table, breaking the silence of my refuge. I answered the call, and Finn's familiar voice greeted me enthusiastically. "Good morning, Lilian! All ready to start collecting signatures!" He looked so excited that I couldn't help but smile. "Hi, Finn! I'm almost ready. I'm going to get ready and be right out," I replied, feeling a wave of relief upon hearing his warm voice. Finn had this ability to make everything seem better, even when everything around me was in disarray. As soon as I hung up, I quickly got ready, choosing a light blouse and comfortable pants. It was a hot day, and I wanted to feel good as we began our mission. A few minutes later, I heard the familiar sound of Finn's police car pulling up in front of the flower shop. When I left, I found Finn with a big smile on his face, brightening up the sunny day even more. He was in his uniform, but
Months had passed since the moment Lilian and Jensen had united forever, and the mansion, already full of life and joy, now seemed to be living a new chapter of great happiness. The afternoon was calm, but the atmosphere inside the house was buzzing with anticipation. Lilian, in labor, was preparing to give birth to the couple's fourth child, and emotions were running high.Jensen, visibly nervous, paced back and forth. His feet tapped the floor with a constant rhythm, a reflection of the whirlwind of thoughts that wouldn't settle. He paused briefly, looking at the door of the room where his wife was being assisted by the nurses. His mind couldn't find peace, thoughts of what might happen spread, even though he knew Lilian was in good hands."You need to calm down," said Philip, the couple's friend, who stood by Jensen's side. He knew how anxious Jensen could be, and his calm had always been a pillar of support. "She's strong. And you'll be an incredible father, no matter what happens
Lilian's POVI returned to the garden where Jensen was waiting for me, his attentive gaze fixing on me as soon as he saw me. He had a way of noticing when something wasn't right, and this time was no different. He had gone to check on the children, but now, he was there, as if he knew I needed him more than ever."Hey, love," he said softly, kneeling beside me. "Is everything okay?"I looked at him, and the answer just escaped me. "I'm so happy for her, but at the same time so sad. She was a part of all this, of us, and now... she's leaving..."Jensen looked at me with silent understanding, as if he knew exactly what I was feeling. He extended his hand, and with a serene smile, he pulled me close, wrapping me in his embrace. "I understand, Lilian. I felt it too, and I know how important she was. But life goes on, and people need to take new steps. And you... you've always been wonderful with her."I gave a faint smile, the weight of his words enveloping me in a comforting way. I knew
Lilian POVThe night was calm and pleasant, with a gentle breeze caressing my face and soft lights illuminating the garden. I was there, sitting with Jensen, enjoying the tranquil moments of the party. The laughter of children and the soft sounds of celebration still echoed through the house, but for a moment, the world seemed to shrink to just the two of us.Jensen held my hand and smiled. "It was a perfect day, wasn't it?""Yes, it really was," I replied, resting my head on his shoulder. "I feel so happy that we managed to pull all this off."We sat in silence for a few minutes, simply enjoying each other's company. But then, a familiar figure approached from the garden. It was Sadie, with that wide smile that always accompanied her."Hi, Lilian! Mr. Grimes! Congratulations, really, your wedding was wonderful," she said, smiling sincerely as she approached. "Everything was impeccable, and the kids were so happy. I've never seen them so excited.""Thank you, Sadie. I'm very glad you
Lilian POVIt was an ordinary day. The sun came through the windows of the house, illuminating the room with a golden light. Children were playing in the yard, their laughter filling the air. I was in the kitchen, tidying up some things, while Jensen seemed mysteriously busy somewhere in the house. "You're very quiet today, Jensen. What are you up to?" I asked, half joking, while washing some fruit. "Me? No big deal." He replied, appearing in the doorway with a mischievous smile. "You're terrible at keeping secrets." I laughed, drying my hands. He just shrugged. "Trust me. Just come with me." "Now?" I asked, surprised. "Now." He took my hand and led me to the conservatory. When we entered, I noticed the atmosphere was different. Flowers were scattered across the floor, forming a path to a small table where there was a velvet box. My heart started to race. "Jensen..." I started, but he interrupted me with a tender look. "Let me speak first, Lilian." He took a deep bre
Lilian POVDays after everything that happened, we were back in Richmond, at our home. Or rather, in Jensen's mansion. I knew things would never be the same, but I also knew we no longer had to carry the weight of Kate or any other threat. She was tried and sentenced to many years in prison for killing Finn and screwing Jensen and me. It was a relief, but not a cure for everything we went through.The children and I, to my surprise, were more excited than I imagined, despite all the turbulence we had experienced, we returned to the mansion, because it was what felt right. I didn't want to be away from Jensen again. He was always in my thoughts, and more than ever, I knew that our family needed to be together.When we arrived at the mansion, Jensen was there, waiting at the door, with that comforting smile. He seemed more relaxed now, maybe because we'd finally gotten through the storm. When he saw us, his face lit up, and he stepped forward, arms open to welcome the children."Welcome
Sadie POVI woke up to the sound of my alarm clock, but to be honest, I had literally barely slept. I spent the night tossing and turning, thinking about Micah. How was he? Was he alone? Had he eaten anything? I need to see you.I looked at the clock. It was still six in the morning, but I couldn't stay in bed. With a heavy sigh, I got out of bed and went straight to the bathroom. I washed my face, trying to shake off the tiredness that seemed to be clinging to me, and got dressed quickly. Nothing too elaborate: jeans, a t-shirt, and a sweater. In the kitchen, I made some toast and a cup of coffee. My stomach was upset, but I knew I needed something to eat to get through the day. As I nibbled on the toast, my mind continued to wander. The image of Micah that night never left my head, his expression of pain mixed with determination. Micah had done a lot of stupid things, but he had also put himself at risk to protect us. It didn't erase his mistakes, but it was a gesture I couldn'
Jensen POVThe hotel where we stayed seemed like a perfect refuge, a relief after so much tension. Me, Lilian, Sadie, and the children needed this rest. Ruby, Rory, and Ryan were visibly shaken, and after all the tension, it was difficult for them to relax. The shadows of fear were still present in his eyes, and it made my heart sink. I knew I couldn't let fear rule their night.After they had a quick snack and settled in, we managed to get them into bed, although it wasn't easy. They were scared, not only of the situation with Finn, but also of everything they had experienced. The simple act of sleeping seemed to frighten them, as if their dreams might be interrupted by something darker.Lilian and I stayed beside them for a while, speaking quietly, trying to make the environment as comfortable and calm as possible. When Ruby finally closed her eyes, I covered her with the sheet, kissing her forehead softly. Rory and Ryan were calmer, but they still exchanged nervous glances. I sat o
Kate POVWhen I found out Finn was in New York, a fire came over me. Every cell in my body was on fire. He didn't deserve to live in peace after what he had done. Not only because he ran away with Lilian, but because he stole everything I had. Every penny I had earned, he took. But I knew. I knew this had to end. I would find him. And when he did, he would pay.Anger wouldn't let me rest. I followed him, without hesitation, for every step he took. Like a shadow, I entered the city, my hands shaking with anger and anxiety. I didn't know exactly what I would do when I found him, but I knew it would be something he would never forget.That night, fate gave me an opportunity. I saw Finn's car approaching the deserted road, its headlights illuminating the darkness of the night. I stopped my car halfway and got out, the cold wind hitting my face. It didn't matter. I was ready.Finn stopped the car when he saw me. He came down, looking surprised. He was probably thinking it wouldn't be that
Finn Sawyer The sound of sirens echoed in the air, getting closer and closer, like a relentless predator in search of its prey. I pressed hard on the accelerator, feeling the vibration of the engine roar beneath me as the speedometer rose. The car rocked slightly on the uneven asphalt road, but I couldn't waste time."Finn Sawyer! Stop the vehicle immediately!" The metallic voice came through the speaker of the police car behind me."Dream on," I muttered under my breath, turning the steering wheel sharply to enter a dirt road. Rocks flew against the windshield, but I didn't slow down."Finn, Sawyer, this is your last chance! Park your car now, or we will use lethal force!"I laughed, but there was no humor in it. Did they think a warning like that would make me stop? All I knew was that getting caught was not an option.Police car lights shined brightly in the rearview mirror. "Come on, come on..." I murmured, my eyes searching for an opening, an exit.The road narrowed further, be