Mason's POVNo matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake the feeling of hurt after the way Selene treated me—like I was a complete stranger. We used to be best friends, the ones who could always rely on each other. She was the only person besides Maximus who truly understood me, the one I could confide in when everything else felt like it was falling apart.But things changed, especially after Maximus divorced her. That was the breaking point for me. I was so furious with him that I lashed out, saying things I probably shouldn’t have over the phone. Since then, our relationship has been strained, to say the least. We still talk occasionally, but it’s mostly about our little sister, Mia. Any real connection between us had been lost.I couldn’t believe he let such a remarkable woman slip through his fingers. If I had been the one married to Selene, I would have treated her like a queen. I would never dream of hurting her, but it seemed my brother didn't know how to appreciate the good t
Selene's POVI was surprised at myself for not being in a foul mood these past few days, especially after my encounter with Mason. Instead, I found myself feeling oddly content, even though I had ignored him and treated him coldly. I knew I’d hurt his feelings, but I had no intention of getting involved with the Hemsworth family again. If I started talking to Mason, it would only be a matter of time before Maximus expected the same courtesy from me, and that was something I refused to allow. I’d rather avoid my friend than be forced to deal with Maximus anymore. Thankfully, I hadn’t seen him in almost three weeks, and I relished every moment of his absence. It seemed he was finally getting the message and staying away. The last thing I needed was Maya showing up at my hospital again, trying to bribe me with another stack of cash. Sure, her money had gone to good use, helping those in need, but did she really think she could buy me off like that? My mother’s wealth far surpassed any
Selene's POV"I'm sorry, my darling, but you can't come with Mommy to work today. Why don’t you relax? It’s the weekend, and we’re supposed to enjoy it with your sister and Nelly.” I wiggled my eyebrows, pulling him closer.“That’s what weekends are for! Even Grandma is here to keep you company, so you definitely won’t be bored," I said, kneeling down to ruffle Asher's hair.He scrunched up his face adorably, and I couldn't resist pinching his chubby cheeks. Ever since he and Anna woke me up, Asher had been clinging to my legs, pleading to come with me to the hospital. I wished I could take him, but I had to protect them from the various dangers out there—dangers they didn’t need to know about. I wanted to shield them from any potential harm, even if it meant saying no for now."But why, Mommy? I promise I’ll be a good boy! I won’t run around; I’ll stay right by your side. Please let me come with you! I want to be a doctor when I grow up, just like Anna!" Asher pleaded, his big eyes
Mr Ben's POVHis restless pacing was making my head spin. I hadn't been able to get much sleep lately, plagued by constant nightmares. In them, I was lying in a coffin while my family stood over me, their faces etched with relief, almost as if my death was a welcome escape for them.But the most disturbing part? It wasn’t the man I worked for who killed me—it was Maximus. That was the part that left me reeling, like I had stepped into some twisted reality. Why would Maximus Hemsworth, of all people, want me dead? He wasn’t the type to get his hands dirty. He carried himself like some sort of saint, untouchable, as if he couldn’t possibly do any wrong. So why, in my dreams, was he the one to end my life?I had never been so terrified in my life. Not even the idea of my boss killing me scared me as much as the look in Maximus’ eyes that night. It was like he was possessed, like someone else had taken over. There was a cold determination in his gaze that I had never seen before. At fir
Maximus POVThere was something off about Mason. Ever since he returned, he had been acting strangely. He barely spoke to me, and when he did, it was always to throw jabs my way. I tried to engage him in a decent conversation, but he shot me down every time. Mason felt so different from the boy who had left the house. Back then, he was shy and timid, hardly speaking up at home. Our father used to pick on him constantly, and I was the one who always stood up for Mason against our father’s relentless teasing. It got worse when Mason expressed his desire to pursue something other than business in college. I’ll never forget the heated argument that erupted that day. Our father hit him like he was a child, forcing him to follow his plan. So when Mason called me to say he had switched his major, I was shocked. There was no way our father wouldn’t find out, but he never bothered to check on us. He didn’t care to visit during college or even ask why we didn’t come home for the holidays. As
Jess POVI flinched when my father touched my hand, his warm fingers snapping me out of my spiraling thoughts. His concern was evident in the crease of his brow as he leaned forward."Jess, what's wrong? You haven't even touched your waffles. Aren't they your favorite? I even brought you to your favorite diner, but you’ve been staring into space since we sat down. Talk to me, you're scaring me."I sighed, pushing the waffles around my plate, the smell of syrup and butter doing nothing to stir my appetite. "Trust me, Dad, what I’m thinking about can’t be spoken out loud. My problem can’t be solved." I took a deep breath, the words hanging heavy between us. "You’ve heard that your other daughter is back in the city, right? Well, she's the reason for all of this. I’m losing sleep, and it's all because of Selene."I felt drained, like a balloon slowly losing air, deflating into something empty and fragile. It wasn’t just the food; everything felt off. My life felt... off. Is this how bei
Selene’s POV"What are you doing here? The last time we saw each other, you made it clear that you wanted nothing to do with me, so what the hell are you doing here now?" I snapped, my voice cold and unyielding. “Have you come to make my life even more miserable than you already have? I don’t want to see you. Leave my hospital, right now."I fought to keep my emotions in check, but it was impossible with him standing there, pretending to look guilty. My hands clenched into fists at my sides, frustration and hurt bubbling to the surface. His gaze softened, but I wasn’t falling for it. "Just hear me out, Selene. I’m not here to argue or fight with you," he began, his tone surprisingly calm. "It’s been so long since I last saw you, and if you think I’ve come to pick a fight with my daughter, you’re wrong."I glared at him, unmoved, but he pressed on. "I admit I treated you badly, but that was in the past. I’ve changed. I’m ready to become a better father, just for you. I want you bac
Mr. Ben's POVI have to admit, I was impressed. The building in front of me was nothing short of extravagant. Mason Hemsworth was truly stepping up his game. Gone were the days when he was just a boy relying on his father’s wealth. Now, he stood tall as a highly successful attorney.Mason rarely lost a case—his reputation alone was enough to intimidate most opposition. I could probably count the number of his losses on one hand, if that. So why was Ricardo Hemsworth still causing a fuss? I couldn’t understand why a man wouldn’t be proud of his sons' accomplishments. And now, here I was, somehow caught in the middle of the endless Hemsworth family drama.Whoever I know would never marry into that family. The Hemsworths carried too much baggage. And now, I was stuck, trying to figure out how to carry out Ricardo's latest orders. This wasn’t my first time doing his dirty work, but this... this was different. He wanted me to slaughter an entire family, children included. My stomach churn
Maximus POVIt has been over a day since I found out that I had children with Selene but it still felt like a movie for me. I felt as if I was watching a stage drama and I was the main character. How could it be possible that Selene was pregnant and I didn't know? Could it have been just before I divorced her or weeks before I started treating her so badly?I felt so bad. I felt like a complete jerk. My children were grown up and the same age as Kylie and yet they didn't have the presence of a father in their life.I knew Serene was lying when she told them that so that they would stop worrying so much about me being their father. I missed five years of my children's life. I wasn't there when Selene went to her first ultrasound. I wasn't there with her when she gave birth. I saw how agonizing birth pangs can be. I was there when Jess gave birth to Kylie. I knew how agonizing it was and I let Selene go through that all alone.I now understand where all her hate was coming from. It was
Selene's POVI have been feeling quite overwhelmed ever since Maximus discovered that he had children with me. I know I have been acting differently. I was constantly on edge, wondering when he would barge into my house, demanding me to hand over his children to him, or one day when he would take it to court for child custody. I didn't want to put my children through that trauma. I was certain that Maximus was the one threatening to take my children away from me. The same number that called me when I was looking for Anna and Asher at the mall called Nelly as well.I was convinced that Maximus was doing all this to spook me. There was no other person that knew about my children right now besides Maximus. I was worried that he would tell his family and they would harass my children and me. I didn't want Cecilia Hemsworth anywhere near her grandchildren. She was the one who tormented me every day, calling me barren and that she was a disgrace to the Hemsworth family and couldn't give b
Mr Ben's POVI picked up the golden ring with a dragon and gold-blue design, and an onyx stone embedded in it. I knew it belonged to the boss so what was it doing here? Could it be that one of the Hemsworth family members was the man I was working for? It couldn't be Maximus, he was too uptight for that. And why the hell will he ever want to sabotage his own company? Mason was too much of a coward to even come up with such a brilliant plan. He wasn't really the brightest in the bunch which was why I was surprised he actually graduated from law school and owned a firm. I knew that the ring wasn't sold in jewelry stores, it was customized. My boss has a thing for making his belongings outstanding. He always had a symbol that indicated what was his. He said that's always made him iconic but to me, I thought it was stupid.It was easy to find him with such a symbol. I just needed to know who the ring belonged to, then I could finally know the psychopath who was under the mask and whom I
Selene's POV"Just look at how happy they are. I can't believe they didn't want a party, that is so unlike them. Do you remember their last birthday?"Nelly chuckled beside me and I glanced at her. She was smiling widely while staring at Anna and Asher. I was glad she loved my kids as much as I did."How could I forget? They almost gave Mom a heart attack. When they were bouncing off the trampoline, I thought Mom would have passed out in fear," Nelly and I chuckled as we reminisced.She smiled, walking away with my children towards the toy section. The ringing of my phone made me stop in my tracks. I furrowed my brows at the unknown number.I swiped to answer but the person kept quiet, only their loud breathing was what I could hear."Selene Norman, leaving your kids unattended was a mistake. Now watch me take them away from you. They are mine to keep. I can do whatever I want with them. Time is ticking. Can you save them or would you forever not see them again? You choose. Your count
Jess POVWhat was taking her so long? Doesn't she have any idea how cold the weather is? I can't believe I have to leave the comfort of my bed to come out in this stormy weather. The rain was just too much. I should be back at home, watching Netflix. Instead, I'm out here, brainstorming ideas on how to bring down Selene and I know the only person who could help me do that. I couldn't hurt her directly myself anymore, not with Mason breathing down my neck and watching me like a hawk. I was making sure to keep my end of the bargain. I couldn't hurt Selene even though I was itching to do so. I wanted to inflict so much pain on her.When I saw her a few days ago, she was looking nice and healthy, no longer limping. I am tempted to hire heavy artillery or even a sniper just to put a bullet through her head, but that will be an easy death. I want Selene to look at me as she takes her last breath. That would be the most satisfying. So that she will know that even in her miserable life, even
Selene's POVFor the fifth time, I rejected the call, deciding to switch off my phone. Mason has been blowing up my phone with calls and text messages. I don't even know what to tell him. This is so awkward. He is my best friend, he cannot be my lover. I did not see him that way. I never even pictured in my mind that I would date Mason and he would take care of me.Mason was handsome, don't get me wrong and any woman will be lucky to have him. I know that he would love and care for me if I gave him a chance but I just didn't view him that way. I only saw him as a brother and a best friend. I don't understand why he is pushing it so much with me to date him. I don't have any romantic feelings towards him.What was he hoping for? He couldn't give me a good reason why he wanted to date me. He didn't tell me what he saw in me either. The only reason he told me was that he was in love with me. I don't know why I found that very hard to believe. And he wasn't even thinking about how awkward
Maximus POVMason kept on staring at me, looking confused. Things had been weird between us for the past few weeks, especially since I found out about the little stunt he pulled with Selene. I knew he was avoiding me as if I had a deadly disease on me. I have no idea what kind of game Mason was playing but I was not interested in finding out. I specifically told him that Selene was off-limits. I didn't know when Mason became so daring. I know he didn't propose to her but with the sly gestures he made in those videos and pictures, a lot of people have been misunderstanding the whole situation and it annoyed me every single time to see everyone talking about that.I wonder how Selene was taking all this. Was she happy? She has never been someone who loved public attention."Both of you have been staring at each other for a while now and there is too much male testosterone right now in this room. Maximus, if you have anything to say to Mason, now is a time to do so.” Raymond uttered, ma
Selene's POV"I can't believe that this is the beginning of summer. We are going to have so much fun. Avery, you don't look too excited. You always say this is your favorite holiday, so why the gloomy face? Don't tell me you are missing me too much. It is just a one week conference and besides, you are the one who volunteered to go instead. Who knows, maybe you will make new friends there. Just try to make the best out of it and don't be so stuck up b****, okay?"Avery opened her mouth in disbelief then she covered the camera with her palm.I stifled my laughter when I heard her screaming into her pillow in the background."I am not a b****! People just don't know when someone is polite and jovial. Those are two different things, Selene, come on. I wish you were here with me. Dr. Riley is no fun. She has had her head buried in books ever since we arrived at this conference. Why did this have to be for a week? When I get back, I'm going to spend my three days at the beach, sunbathing a
Maximus POV"Is there a reason why my daughter is staying with your parents for more than a week? It's been a while and I haven't seen Kylie. Why did you take her out? Are you trying to separate my daughter from me, Maximus? What is next? Are you going to give her to Selene, your ex-wife or are you going to also make me look like the bad guy again? What is it going to be this time? Come on, tell me! She should be with us right now, having breakfast like a normal family should but instead, you shipped her off to her grandparents. Do you expect me to be okay with that?"Jess complained, fussed, and questioned all at once.It was too early for her to start her whining. I had enough problems on my mind and I don't need her adding to it."I don't need to make you look like a bad guy. You are already evil. And besides, your daughter is the one who suggested that she wants to take a little holiday at her grandparent's house. Since when do you treat Kylie like your own child? She is constantly