Emma White's P.O.V.If I had the power to freeze time, I would have done it during those stolen nights with Jason. The way he spoke of running away, leaving everything and everyone behind, resonated deeply with me. He listened as I shared the weight of my father's expectations, the abuses, and my personal struggles. For the first time, someone truly saw me. But our lives weren't just ours anymore.We needed time. Time to plan, time to escape. And that time could only be bought by Lawrence. I expected resistance when we approached him, yet I was surprised when it was Sara who convinced him to join the plan—and even more so when she suggested dismantling my father's empire.The thought of going against Mark terrified me. It wasn't just about respect; it was fear, deeply ingrained from years of his control. As Sara outlined her strategy, my mind conjured countless scenarios where my mother and I ended up discarded, left to rot in some nameless ditch. But once you kindled a spark of hop
Emma White's P.O.V.My father placed a firm hand on Julian's shoulder as he led him away. I caught the apologetic look Julian gave me before leaving and responded with a small smile, silently letting him know it was fine.-We were meeting Lawrence at the event, so I found myself climbing into Mark's SUV with a familiar sense of dread. Another boring cocktail party awaited—complete with guests who carried their superiority complexes like accessories. Mark had insisted on driving tonight, playing the humble, down-to-earth candidate for the public. My mother sat in the passenger seat beside him, her lips pressed into a tight line.Everything seemed normal—well, as normal as things could be with Mark—until I realized my parents were arguing."Did you really have to invite him into our home? Alone?" my mother hissed."You're insufferable," Mark snapped, gripping the steering wheel tightly."Our marriage would be better if you respected our home," she retorted. "What are you planning
The boy looked pitiful and absolutely mortified, and the growing number of eyes on us only made it worse. Lawrence took advantage of the commotion and slipped away in the direction of Sara."Who's in charge here? Who's your superior? Tell me this instant," Mark barked at the server.Had he completely lost it? What was wrong with him? I clutched my arm tightly, a mix of embarrassment and dread flooding through me."My apologies, sir. It was an accident," the server stammered, trembling under Mark's piercing glare."An accident?" Mark sneered, leaning closer. "You call this an accident? Don't make me laugh."His voice dripped with venom, and I felt my stomach churn.My mother sidled up to me, leaning in to speak quietly. "Why don't you go check on Lawrence? It's not good to leave your fiancé unattended... especially with her, you know," she whispered, pointedly glancing in the direction Lawrence had gone."He's an adult, Mom. He can make his own decisions," I replied flatly, too t
One moment, I had Sara in my arms; in the next, I was pulling Mark and Jason apart from the chaotic brawl they had started in front of all these people. The uproar had been massive, and the fallout was just as significant. I wasn't the only one stepping in—other guests had joined in to separate them, attempting to defuse the scene.But Mark, in this unhinged state, was beyond reason. Even with blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, he continued spewing insults at Jason, his voice ringing with disdain."Get this filthy nobody out of here! You'll never see the light of day again, you miserable wretch!" Mark hollered, his fury unrelenting.Whatever had happened while Sara and I were in the bathroom must have struck a nerve with Jason because he was struggling against me, desperate to lunge at Mark again. I tightened my grip on him, meeting his gaze with a warning look."That's enough," I ordered. He hesitated, his rage barely contained. "Or do you want to make his threats come t
Emma looked like every last drop of color had drained from her face. Her mother wasn't faring any better. I had to step in."Emma and her mother will be coming with me to my apartment," I stated calmly.Mark turned to me, his expression a mixture of disbelief and malice."And why would my wife and daughter go with you?" he asked, a wicked smile creeping onto his face."We have a dance rehearsal tomorrow. It's for the wedding," I improvised, keeping my tone steady. "The instructor will be coming to my apartment."Mark appeared to consider my words but didn't seem entirely convinced."Fine, take her. But my wife—"Emma grabbed her mother's arm and stepped back before Mark could finish. She interrupted quickly, her voice trembling but determined."Mom's a terrible dancer too. She'll need the lessons as much as I do."Mark's jaw tightened, but there wasn't much he could argue. With a frustrated wave of his hand, he stalked off to his car, leaving us behind. Emma and her mother cli
I couldn’t help but laugh as I stared at my office computer. Another headline had just dropped, shattering Mark White’s already tattered reputation. Maybe the scare we got watching Jason brawl with Mark in public had been overwhelming at the time, but every second of that chaos had been worth it. Article after article detailed Mark’s downfall, from his arrogance toward employees to allegations of embezzlement during his tenure as mayor.My favorite part of all this? Mark’s legal team scrambling to scrub the internet clean of stories tarnishing his reputation. Alas, once something went viral, no legal team in the world could erase every meme, post, or comment.I was currently reading yet another expose about his rocky marriage. Anonymous sources were hinting at domestic abuse allegations. It was juicy, to say the least. That’s when Elliot barged into my office, arms loaded with folders.“Laughing at your own handiwork again? Or are you reminiscing about your villainous glory days?” h
I wasn't entirely sure what I was walking into, but with Lawrence by my side—calm and steady as always—I allowed myself to trust his judgment. His hand rested lightly on my back, and the reassurance in his touch combined with his unwavering gaze was enough to settle my nerves. There was no turning back now. This reading wasn't just about the distribution of wealth—it was about solidifying Lawrence's position as the rightful heir. Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward and pushed the door open.Inside, the tension was palpable. The room was filled with lawyers—two assigned to each family member—along with Lawrence's brothers, Richard and Julian, the ever-looming Victoria, and a handful of Lawrence's distant relatives. A close friend of his late father was also present.The moment Victoria's gaze landed on me, it was as if someone had slapped her. Her expression twisted into a mask of fury, and I could see the veins in her neck bulging. Everyone else seemed confused, unsure why I was
"What?" I blurted out, unable to contain my disbelief. Judging by the stunned expressions around me, I wasn't alone in my confusion."My own pride and ambition blinded me to the opportunity of uniting our families," the notary continued, reading aloud the words of Laurence. "But I had an epiphany, inspired by none other than Leona...""That old hag has been dead for decades," Victoria hissed under her breath, her fury palpable. "How much longer will she keep ruining my life?"The notary, undeterred by her outburst, resumed. "To cement this union and ensure my legacy, I would like to bequeath my vineyards in France to Sara Brown's firstborn, should such a union with my son come to fruition. These lands are a reflection of my passion for equestrianism and fine wine—a legacy worth preserving."Victoria's teeth ground audibly as she spat out, "My husband left the vineyards in France to an imaginary child under orders from a ghost?""That's precisely what happened," the notary confirme
Sara Brown's P.O.V."Didn't we agree you wouldn't come, Mom?" Richard asked, his voice low and disappointed."Richard, you too?" Victoria exclaimed, her voice trembling with a mix of hurt and indignation."What else did you expect, Victoria?" Julian interjected, crossing his arms. "We practically had to beg Sara for permission just to see Matthew. Meanwhile, you've done nothing to make amends yet here you are, demanding things. That's not how this works.""Do you want me to apologize to Sara?" Victoria's voice cracked as she looked at me, her emotions on full display.I would never trust Victoria, and I certainly would never leave my son alone with her unsupervised. But in this moment, her vulnerability chipped away at some of my hardened resolve. Life had been so good lately, so full of joy and love, that my heart no longer had room for resentment."You don't need to apologize to me," I said calmly. "The people you owe an apology to are your sons."Victoria's eyes widened, her
Sara Brown's P.O.V.Six months later.Becoming a mother was one of those adventures I never knew I needed, but I'd never been more grateful for taking the leap—especially with Lawrence by my side. Now, here we were, standing in front of a flower-draped altar nestled in the woods of the Brown family estate.Getting married in this spot felt symbolic. It had been our sanctuary as kids, the place where we'd escaped from the grown-ups and shared secrets. It was fitting that my best friend, the boy who'd been by my side through thick and thin, was now becoming my husband.Behind us was a small gathering of family and close friends. The Browns—ever-expanding with a small army of kids—were all present, as were a handful of Lawrence's relatives, including his brothers, Richard and Julian. We'd kept the guest list to just sixty people, making this a more intimate celebration than anyone would've expected from a Brown-Lewis wedding.Still, it was perfect. Everyone we loved was here. And the
I looked at our baby's tiny face, and the urge to cry overwhelmed me again. He was absolutely perfect."Are you going to keep crying?" Sara teased with a mischievous grin. "If you don't stop, I won't give you another one."I wiped my tears immediately, not wanting to take any chances. She burst out laughing, her radiant energy filling the room."So," quickly shifting topics, she leaned forward slightly, "what are we naming him? We agreed we'd know when we saw him. I've got a name from the shortlist in mind. Do you?""I do," I replied, smiling."Okay, let's say it together," she suggested, and I nodded. "On three. One, two, three—""Matthew!" we both exclaimed in unison.We stared at each other before breaking into matching grins. Sara started clapping in excitement over our perfect sync. I laughed at her enthusiasm, but something on the hospital TV caught my attention—a news report about yesterday's gubernatorial election. Images of Isabelle, the winner, flashed across the scree
Lawrence Lewis's P.O.V.Three months later...Just when I thought I couldn't be any happier with Sara loving me, life proved me wrong. Every day felt like a new peak of joy. A few months ago, I believed I had reached the ultimate high when she accepted my proposal during our trip to Finland. I'd asked her under the northern lights in a private and intimate moment, just the two of us—just like our entire relationship had been.The fallout from canceling my engagement to Emma had been relatively manageable for me. There were no financial or legal repercussions, and I narrowly escaped the disgrace of almost becoming the son-in-law of a criminal like Mark. But to say I avoided all drama would be a lie. The rumors and gossip surrounding how Sara and I had gotten together were relentless.I was usually a calm man, but any criticism aimed at Sara, accusing her of "breaking up" my previous engagement, turned me into a beast. Sara would always tell me to ignore the noise, that only we knew
I stood there frozen, feeling every gaze lock onto me. It was as if time had stopped. No one spoke, no one moved—they just stared. Sweat started trickling down places I didn’t even know could sweat.“Hi… how’s everyone doing?” I asked, my voice hesitant.I braced myself for the shouting, the dramatic exclamations, the scolding even. Instead, the extroverted ones in the room simply smiled at me while the quieter ones went back to what they were doing, almost as if nothing had happened. The initial wave of attention just… evaporated.“As I was saying,” Uncle Lucius continued, picking up right where he’d left off, “if you don’t finish your vegetables, we’ll give them to the lion in the forest.”My jaw dropped. This table—the entire Brown family—was completely unfazed. Even Lawrence had that knowing smile on his face, almost as if he’d expected this exact reaction. Before I could recover, Aunt Lucia and Aunt Marianne came over and pulled me into tight hugs.“You look gorgeous, Sara. A
Richard's voice broke the silence as he gathered his courage. "We'd like to add Duke and Monarch for me, and the boat for Julian. With that, we'll be ready to sign the agreement."I rubbed my ears, almost certain I had misheard."The horses and the boat? That's all you want?" Lawrence asked, his tone tinged with disbelief."Yes," Julian confirmed, his voice hesitant. "We believe... they're of great sentimental value to us. And they were gifts. They just... weren't officially transferred to us."Lawrence's eyes darted between them as if trying to confirm whether these were the same brothers he'd been fighting with."That's it?" he repeated, his suspicion evident."That's it," Richard said, though his discomfort was plain to see."What are you two plotting?" Lawrence asked, narrowing his eyes.The twins exchanged confused glances."Nothing?" Julian said, his tone growing defensive. "What are you plotting? You told us you wouldn't give us anything but then sent this offer out of
I couldn't help but notice the sadness etched onto Lawrence's face. He'd always said he wouldn't give his brothers anything. Yet here he was, not only offering them a portion of the inheritance but also bracing himself for their inevitable demands and negotiating with them."Wouldn't it have been easier to just offer them exactly what you were willing to give from the start?" I asked as I leaned against his shoulder, wrapping my arms around him. His sadness was palpable, and it was breaking my heart. Just moments ago, he'd been so happy. "Just say 'Take it or leave it' and then forget about them."Lawrence sighed, his gaze distant. "I know them. And I know myself. I can't lay the blame for all my hardships on them like I do with Victoria. Despite what I said during the will reading, I know they deserve more than what my father left them.""You have a heart of gold, Ren," I murmured, kissing his cheek. "Don't let those brats melt it down, okay?"He chuckled softly, though his sadnes
I swayed my hips rhythmically against his body, the two of us joined in that intimate connection we'd rediscovered nearly every night since the chaos with a certain corrupt official had come to an end.As Lawrence neared his release, he called my name, his voice rough with passion. I teased him by sucking on the thumb he'd slipped into my mouth, which was all it took for him to shut his eyes tightly as the force of his climax overtook him. I followed him into that blissful release just a moment later.Utterly satisfied, I collapsed beside him on the bed, both of us completely naked, basking in the warmth of each other's bodies. My breathing was still ragged as Lawrence shifted closer, his hands roaming gently over my hair, my chest, and finally, my stomach. The way his hand lingered there told me exactly what he was about to ask—again."Are you sure you're comfortable with this?" he asked."No. It was terrible. I never want to have another orgasm for the rest of my life," I replied
"What's going on here?" I asked Sara suspiciously."Just go with the flow," she replied, opening my car door with a grin.I hesitated but decided to follow her advice—or at least try. After exchanging cheek kisses, I walked over to where Jason was waiting. I tucked the envelope with my test results into my pocket. As I reached him, he took my hand, and we started walking up a hill in the park."When did you ask Sara to bring me here?" I asked, curious."That's a secret," he said with a chuckle. "And since you two are such close friends now—""Close friends?" I interrupted, raising a brow. "You think we're really friends?""That's how it seems. You smile a lot when you're with her," he replied."Do I?" I considered it for a moment, warmth spreading through my chest. "Maybe we are."Jason smiled but kept silent. As we climbed one of the hills, I was taken aback by the breathtaking view of the city spread before us. But even more surprising was the blanket laid out on the ground,