Carina’s POVI was back in my room, I didn’t even know what to think. At this point, I started feeling like coming home was really a bad idea. Because why was all this happening at once? All these truths coming to me just now—like, why? What was I supposed to do with all this information? I was so stressed and tired that I felt my chest tighten with every breath I took.Even as I sat on the edge of my bed, the room spinning slightly, one thing became clear: I wanted to leave this house. I wanted to run far away and never look back. My mind was still racing when my phone buzzed on the nightstand. For a second, I stared at it, dreading more drama. Then I saw the name: Ethan.“Oh my God, the kids!” I muttered, snatching up the phone. I hadn’t even thought to call Ethan to check on my boys, Liam and Leo. Just because of all this drama...“Ethan, hey,” I greeted as I picked up the call, already feeling a small wave of relief wash over me. “Sorry I didn’t call earlier. How are they?”Ethan’
Carina’s POV“I’m just really pissed. I think coming back was, and still is, a mistake,” I muttered to myself as I yanked open my closet, pulling out clothes and tossing them into my suitcase without care.“I’m leaving this place first light,” I declared, my voice resolute even as tears rolled down my cheeks. My hands trembled as I folded a blouse, anger and frustration coursing through me like wildfire.The room was silent except for the rustling of fabric and the sound of my own sniffles. Each piece of clothing I packed felt like a weight being lifted off my chest. Still, my heart ached with each item I shoved into the suitcase. This house, this family, this… life wasn’t for me. It never had been. I wiped my face with the back of my hand, determined to hold myself together.Then, my phone rang, cutting through the oppressive silence. I glanced at the screen. Lina. My PA. For a moment, I hesitated. I didn’t want to pick up. I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to talk to anyone. But w
Carina’s POV“Who the fuck!” I groaned, burying my head under the pillow as the loud, obnoxious ringtone of my phone shattered the peace of the night. “Can’t I just sleep?” My voice was muffled by the fabric, but I didn’t care.The phone rang again, louder this time—or maybe it just felt that way because I was already teetering on the edge of madness.“Gosh! Who the hell is calling me at this ungodly hour?” I muttered, peeking out from under the pillow. The phone was on the nightstand, just far enough that I’d have to physically get up to reach it.Nope. Not happening.I rolled over, pulling the blanket tighter around me. Yesterday had drained every ounce of energy I had. The emotional rollercoaster of truths, lies, and revelations had left me hollow. All I wanted was one single night of uninterrupted sleep. Was that too much to ask?The phone continued to ring, the sound digging into my skull like a relentless drill.“Okay, I won’t answer. Nope. I refuse,” I mumbled, turning onto my
Carina’s POVThe call cut off, and I was left staring at the phone, my hands trembling slightly. My mind raced, a whirlwind of fear and confusion. Who was that? Was it the same person who attacked me when I was with the kids? My heart pounded in my chest, and I swallowed hard, trying to push down the rising panic.“Carina?” a voice said, startling me out of my thoughts.I looked up sharply to find my mom standing in the doorway. I hadn’t even heard her come in. Her face was etched with concern, and she stepped closer, her eyes darting between me and the phone in my hand.“What’s going on?” she asked softly, but her tone held a firmness that demanded an answer.I didn’t reply. My throat felt dry, and the words were stuck somewhere between my fear and anger. I just stared at her, unsure of what to say.She frowned, crossing her arms. “Don’t give me that silent treatment, Carina. I heard the tone of that call. That wasn’t nothing. Are you being threatened?”I let out a dry laugh, though
Carina’s POV“Don’t worry, Mum. We’ll get this person,” Rodrigo said firmly, his voice calm but his eyes burning with determination. Even as he spoke, he turned to Antonio and added, “We’re going to ask Dad’s Beta for help. This is beyond just us.”“Are you serious?” I protested, my voice rising. “I’m not staying another day in this house! You can’t just make these decisions for me!”Rodrigo didn’t even spare me a glance. “Antonio, let’s go.”“Rodrigo, wait!” I tried again, stepping in front of him, but he brushed past me, his towering frame moving with purpose.Antonio hesitated for a moment, his gaze flicking between me and Rodrigo. “We’ll be back soon, Carina. Just stay here and keep the doors locked.”“Unbelievable!” I threw my hands up, my frustration boiling over. “You’re not even listening to me! I’m not some damsel in distress who needs protecting!”Rodrigo paused at the doorway, his hand resting on the frame as he turned to face me. “You’re our stepsister, Carina,” he said, h
CHAPTER 71Chapter 71 : My Bullies, my Stepbrothers, My MatesCarina’s POVIn no time, I was on the road, leaving the town. As I drove, all I could picture were the tears that filled my eyes. My chest burned with a mix of anger and heartbreak.“How dare she slap me?” I muttered to myself, gripping the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white. “Who the fuck does she think she is?”Memories of her face, twisted with regret after the slap, flashed in my mind. I shook my head violently, trying to erase them.“No! Don’t think about it, Carina,” I told myself. But the emotions wouldn’t stop swirling inside me. Anger. Betrayal. And beneath it all, a sliver of guilt I didn’t want to acknowledge.The road stretched endlessly ahead, the night swallowing the town behind me. My headlights cut through the darkness, but it couldn’t cut through the turmoil in my chest. My phone buzzed on the passenger seat, its light flashing persistently. I glanced over and saw Rodrigo’s name.“Of course,
CHAPTER 72Chapter 72 : My Bullies, my Stepbrothers, My MatesCarina’s POVI continued running, my breath ragged and loud in my ears. “Find shelter… find somewhere to hide,” I whispered to myself, panic thick in my voice. “Hope you can hear me,” I said again, holding onto the faint hope Rodrigo and Antonio were still on the line.“Hello? Hello?” I spoke into the phone, but there was no response. Just static.“Damn it,” I muttered, realizing the network had gone bad. The phone slipped from my trembling hand, but I didn’t stop to pick it up. There wasn’t time. Behind me, I heard their voices.“There she is! Get her!” one of the men shouted.“Fuck,” I hissed under my breath, pushing my legs to move faster. My heart hammered in my chest, and fear coiled tightly in my stomach. I didn’t know where I was going. I didn’t care. I just kept running.Everywhere around me was woods. The trees stretched tall and menacing, their branches clawing at the sky. The darkness felt alive, pressing against
Carina’s POVI didn’t even know how I dozed off. The last thing I remembered was Antonio and Rodrigo making sure I could walk as they guided me through the woods. Now, as I opened my eyes, I realized I was in my car. The soft hum of the engine filled the silence, and I was lying on the backseat. My body felt weak and heavy, the events of the night catching up with me.Blinking a few times, I glanced around. Antonio was driving, his jaw clenched in concentration, while Miguel sat in the passenger seat, his posture relaxed but his eyes scanning our surroundings. As I raised my head to look through the rear window, I saw Rodrigo driving another car behind us, keeping close.“She’s awake,” Miguel announced, turning his head to look at me. His tone was light, but his eyes held concern. “Hey there, Sleeping Beauty. How are you feeling?”“Weak,” I admitted, my voice raspy. “But better than before.”“That’s a good start,” he said with a small smile. Reaching into the glove compartment, he pul
PROLOGUESkyla’s sister, Brianna who was in love with Antonio arrived. They had Lisa locked up while they both dragged Carina to the edge of a rocky cliff even as Carina struggled against the hands gripping her arms. The rocky cliff’s edge looked so dangerous, even as thorns shone from below."Let me go!" she screamed, thrashing against the cruel grip of the Skylar and her sister Brianna.The first woman, Skylar, laughed darkly. "Oh, sweet little Carina. Did you really think we’d let you ruin everything?"The second woman, Brianna, leaned in closer, her breath warm against Carina’s cheek. "You took everything from us. And now, we’re making sure you never come back."Carina’s heart pounded so hard she thought it might explode. "I don’t even know you! What the hell are you talking about?"Skylar’s grip tightened, nails digging into Carina’s skin. "Oh, but you do. You just don’t remember. You stole them. You made them look at you like we never existed. You turned them against us!"Briann
CHAPTER 126Carina’s POV"What's the noise all about?" Skylar's voice cut through the air, smooth and sharp, as she stepped out of the shadows. Two men flanked her, their eyes cold and unreadable.Lisa, who had been running her mouth nonstop, suddenly shut up. Her whole body went stiff as she sized up the situation. And from what we saw? Skylar wasn’t here to talk. She was here to make sure we didn’t leave in one piece."Shit," Lisa whispered under her breath, barely moving her lips. Her hand brushed against mine, fingers trembling slightly. "What do we do?"I swallowed hard, my pulse hammering in my ears. "I have no fucking idea."Skylar took a slow step forward, her smirk widening. "You know, Carina, I expected you to come alone. But I see you brought a little… insurance. How sweet."Lisa scoffed, but there was tension in her voice. "Yeah? And I see you brought muscle. Real fair fight, huh?"The man on Skylar’s left—a tall guy with a scar running down his cheek—cracked his knuckles.
CHAPTER 125Carina’s POV“Shit..." I muttered, squeezing my eyes shut as Lisa pressed another cotton pad against my wound. The sting burned straight to my bones. "I just remembered... Deven!" I winced, gripping the edge of the table. "I’m supposed to meet Skylar today! We have an appointment."Lisa froze. Her hand, still holding the antiseptic, hovered over my skin. Her face darkened, brows pulling together in a deep frown. "Carina..." she called my name, slow and serious, like she was afraid of what I’d say next.I blinked. It had been a long time since she used my name like that. Not 'girl' or 'dumbass'—but my actual name. My chest tightened.Lisa placed the antiseptic bottle on the table, leaning forward, eyes locked onto mine. "Skylar is pure doom. You know that, right?"I swallowed. "Lisa, she said she can help me sever the bond... If I do that, I’ll finally know the whole truth."Lisa, who had been quiet in the corner, suddenly scoffed. Her voice was sharp, almost bitter. "It’s
CHAPTER 124Carina’s POVI had to leave this restaurant. The air felt thick, and something in my gut told me I shouldn’t stay here too long. I glanced toward the entrance just as a group of rogue wolves came in. They were rough-looking—like they’d been on the road since morning. Clothes dusty, eyes hollow, their energy was off.Weird set of people.I lowered my gaze, pretending not to notice them as I reached for my watch and jewelry, slipping them into my bag. I didn’t want any trouble. If they saw anything shiny, they might think I had something worth taking. Best to play it safe.But as I was tucking the last ring into my bag, I heard a voice behind me. Low. Rough. Dripping with arrogance.“Pretty girl, come closer.”I stiffened. My grip on my bag tightened. I didn’t turn around. Maybe if I ignored them, they’d leave me alone.“I said, come here.” His voice was louder now. More demanding.Lisa tensed beside me. “Don’t,” she whispered. “Let’s just go.”I swallowed hard, still refusi
CHAPTER 123Carina’s POVI didn’t even know what to think at this point. My mind was a fucking mess. My head was spinning. My heart was pounding so damn hard I thought it might burst.Rodrigo. My stepbrother. Skylar. His ex-wife. And now this? What did it even mean?Lisa’s voice snapped me out of it. “Carina,” she said, her tone sharp. “What if—” She hesitated. “What if he was actually working with Henry?”I stared at her. My throat felt dry. “No,” I said, but it was weak. It wasn’t convincing. Because deep down, I knew—It was possible.Lisa slammed a hand on the table. “Think about it! Henry kidnapped your son. Henry works for someone. And now we find out Rodrigo’s past is tangled up in some shady-ass shit? What if it’s all connected?”I shook my head, standing up and pacing. “No, no, no. Rodrigo might be a lot of things, but would he really do this?”Lisa’s eyes darkened. “Do you really wanna bet your son’s life on that?”That hit me hard. My stomach twisted. I swallowed down the f
CHAPTER 122Carina’s POVI didn’t answer. My heart pounded as I stared at the words written in thick, dark ink. Words I never thought I’d see.Rodrigo was behind your son’s kidnap.I swallowed hard. Looked up at Skylar.She nodded. “Now do you believe me?”I read the words again. My hands shook. My breath caught in my throat. My head was spinning like I was about to pass out. What the actual fuck?Rodrigo was behind your son’s kidnap.My stepbrother?No. No way. That was impossible. Rodrigo may have been an asshole, but this? Kidnapping? My son?I looked up at Skylar, my voice barely above a whisper. “What the fuck do you mean?”She crossed her legs, completely unfazed by my reaction. “Exactly what it says.”Lisa snatched the paper from my hand, her eyes scanning over the words. Then, like a bomb exploding, she lost it.“Are you fucking kidding me?” Lisa threw the paper onto the table, glaring at Skylar like she was ready to rip her apart. “You come in here with this bullshit, expecti
CHAPTER121Carina’s POVLisa strolled in just as the investors walked out, her hands clapping softly, a wide grin spreading across her face. "Damn, Carina. That was close. We almost lost that deal."I leaned back in my chair, stretching my arms out. "Nah. I had it under control."Lisa scoffed, dropping into the chair beside me. "Oh, please. You were sweating bullets. I thought for a second Benson was gonna eat you alive."I smirked. "And yet, here we are. Deal signed. Money in the bank."She laughed, shaking her head. "You and that big mouth of yours. You stress me out.""It’s part of my charm," I said, winking at her.Lisa rolled her eyes before standing up and walking over to the coffee machine in the corner of the room. She grabbed two mugs, pouring the steaming liquid into them. "Here. You need this more than me."I took the cup gratefully, inhaling the rich scent. "You’re a lifesaver."Lisa plopped back into her seat, crossing one leg over the other. "Alright, now spill. Why the
CHAPTER 120Carina’s POVGetting to the office, I barely parked the car before jumping out, my heels clicking hard against the pavement. My heart was pounding. My hands were sweaty. I was so late.Lisa was already outside, standing near the glass doors, her arms crossed tight over her chest. Her eyes locked on me the second I got out. She didn’t even wait for me to say a word."You’re late, Carina," she snapped, marching towards me.I tossed my keys to her, nearly dropping them in the process. "Help me repark. No time for that now," I rushed, already heading towards the doors.Lisa caught the keys but didn’t move. "You can’t just run in there without knowing what’s going on!" she hissed, grabbing my arm.I stopped, breathing hard. "What? What do I need to know?" I asked quickly, looking around like the investors could pop up at any second.She let out a sharp sigh, glancing towards the meeting room. "They’re pissed. Been waiting too long. Mr. Harrington already checked his watch three
CHAPTER 119Carina’s POVInstead, I just kept my eyes on the road. “I just want to keep you both safe,” I said softly.Liam had his head down. “Safe from what?”I didn’t answer. I couldn’t.More silence.Then, a small voice.“Are you mad at us?” Leo asked, his voice though was kinda shaky.My heart squeezed. “No, baby,” I said immediately. “I could never be mad at you.”“Then why do you always sound so angry?” Liam asked, his voice cracking.I let out a shaky breath. I felt somehow but I just pushed the feeling away. I couldn’t cry. Not now. Not in front of them.“I’m not angry,” I whispered. “I’m just… tired.”They didn’t say anything after that. They just sat there, the silence wrapping around us again.I sighed and focused on the road, my chest heavy.I needed to fix this. But I didn’t know how.It was a really long ride home. The roads were quiet. My hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, my mind heavy with thoughts.Thinking so deep, the conversation with my mother, the way Li