Ethan’s POVI sat in my car, the engine idling softly beneath me. Unfinished work documents lay scattered across my lap, but I wasn’t focused on them. My gaze drifted out the window, where Isla stood by the side of the road, shivering in the cold as she waited for her driver. She looked so fragile, wrapped in that thin dress, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. She was so vulnerable.“This is my chance,” I murmured. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her. Isla had always been different. She put on a brave front, sure—but there was something underneath, something shy, uncertain, that had always intrigued me. I thought back to the one intimate moment we had shared. She’d acted confident and daring, as she moved her hands to undo my belt. But I saw it—the slight tremble in her fingers, the way she fumbled with the buckle. Her breath had quickened, and in that moment, her bold front cracked.Even during foreplay, I noticed her timidity—how she’d pause, unsure of what to do next, wai
Isla’s POV“It doesn’t bother me,” I said firmly, dropping the newspaper on the counter. The image of Logan and Cherry at yet another event flashed across the page, but I only spared it a quick glance before looking away. Some months ago, I might have found some excuse to keep the paper open, convincing myself I needed to be “informed.” But now? It barely registered.“Of course not,” Grace replied, her tone as neutral as ever. She knew me well enough to see through my act, but this time, I wasn’t pretending.I had enough on my plate to keep me occupied. The demands of my job, a few personal projects, and a newfound focus on moving forward had left me little time to obsess over Logan’s every move. For once, it felt like I was on solid ground—like I was finally stepping out of his shadow.Grace handed me my coffee, glancing at the paper on the counter. “You seem… different.”“Different?” I smirked, raising an eyebrow. “Is that your polite way of saying ‘more grounded’? Less of a mess?”
Isla’s POVLogan and I stood there staring each other down. But just as I was about to turn away, Logan’s teenage cousin, Eris, came bounding up to us, her camera slung around her neck. She was always practicing her photography skills, snapping pictures at every family event. Her eyes lit up when she saw us, her excitement barely contained.“Oh! You two look perfect together,” she said, adjusting her camera settings. “Let me take a picture of you both.”I stiffened, glancing at Logan, who rolled his eyes but managed a tight smile. We stood there awkwardly, forced to pretend as if nothing had changed between us. Eris raised her camera, directing us with enthusiasm. “A little closer, guys. Look at each other—show us how much you’re in love!” she insisted, oblivious to the tension hanging between us.I felt Logan’s arm slide around my shoulder, and I had to resist the urge to pull away. Instead, I forced a smile, hoping it looked halfway genuine. He glanced down at me while Eris took sev
Isla’s POV“Careful there, Isla,” my grandfather warned, his voice full of amusement as he moved his rook into position. “One more move like that, and you’ll lose your queen.”I sighed, leaning back in my chair. “I never get to beat you at chess, Grandpa. You’ve still got a really sharp mind.”He chuckled, tapping his fingers thoughtfully on the board. “Perhaps it’s just because you always seem distracted.” He hesitated for a second, then threw me a knowing look. “How are things with Logan? Is everything alright?”My heart jumped, and I suddenly felt so guilty. I hated lying to him, but the truth felt too heavy, too potentially harmful for his aging heart. “Yes,” I said lightly, adjusting a pawn. “Everything’s fine. Logan’s been… busy, but things are fine.”He nodded, his eyes narrowing as he examined the board. “Busy is good, I suppose…” He paused, moving his knight forward, setting up another trap I barely noticed. “You know, Isla,” he said, his voice taking on a familiar seriousnes
Isla’s POV“All right, everyone, that wraps it up for today,” I said, offering a small smile as I stood from the conference table. “I expect updates on each of these points by next week. Let’s make this conference our best yet.”The team members nodded, gathering their notes and files, their enthusiasm evident. Hosting the annual Radiance & Co. conference was a big deal, and this year, I wanted to take it to the next level. I watched them leave, feeling a swell of pride for the brand my grandparents had built and which, at last, I was finally steering on my own terms.As the last person exited, I made my way back to my personal office. Over the past few days, after intense meetings like this, I’d feel a headache coming on, but today was different. I felt surprisingly light—fulfilled, even. Maybe it was the satisfaction of finally doing things my way, of putting myself into the business without any personal distractions. I dropped into my chair, taking a deep breath, and smiled.It di
Isla’s POVI sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the single line on the pregnancy test, the result so familiar now that it hardly felt like anything but a cruel joke. A month. Damn. It had been a month since my last period, and I’d gotten my hopes up, buying far too many pregnancy tests and trying them at all hours, waiting for something—anything—to show a second line. But every single test gave me the same result. Negative.The frustration was getting to me now. I wanted this so badly, maybe too much, and I hated the small voice in my mind that told me it might never happen.What if —?My thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a knock on the door. I glanced up to see Zoey standing there, a small envelope in her hand and a familiar warmth in her expression."Hey, Isla!" she chirped, stepping inside. "I thought I’d drop by since I was in the area."I tried to summon a smile, though I doubted it reached my eyes. "Good timing," I said, my voice a little forced. "I could use the dist
Isla’s POVI had barely drifted off, my head resting against the arm of the couch, when the sharp chime of the doorbell jolted me awake. Groggily, I blinked, rubbing my eyes as the sound echoed through the quiet house. Of course, I thought with a sigh, remembering it was the staff’s rest day. The bell rang again, more insistent this time, as I dragged myself up, glancing at the clock. It wasn’t even that late, but work had drained me to the point of near-collapse. I pulled my robe tighter around myself as I stumbled to the door.The bell rang once more just as I reached for the handle, and I muttered under my breath, “Alright, alright… I’m coming.”When I opened the door, my words died on my lips. I froze, staring at the last person I ever expected to see standing on my doorstep.Sure, I didn’t immediately make out his face, but I was certain it was him right in front of me, dressed in business attire and looking sharper and more attractive than ever. My heart gave an involuntary le
Logan’s POVIt was a typical night in my "second home," as some of my friends liked to call it. The bar was alive with low laughter and quiet voices, each conversation brimming with ambition and strategy. In every corner, deals were being whispered over fine whiskey and cocktails crafted to perfection, the room dimly lit and polished, every surface gleaming under the soft amber lights. Power, influence, and opportunity mingled here as freely as the smoke curling from cigars in the lounge, making this place as much a playground for the upper class as it was a business hub. And I loved every bit of it. Entrepreneurs, executives, and financiers filled the space, each of them keen to impress, hoping to secure a sliver of my attention. I could spot a few hopeful faces glancing my way, some flashing big smiles, others already deep in rehearsed pitches. Beautiful women floated nearby, casually leaning closer, but tonight, they might as well have been invisible. I wasn’t interested.Instead