NORA'S POV The rain began as a soft drizzle, blurring the windshield as I navigated the winding roads back to the Bennett mansion. My hands tightened on the steering wheel, my thoughts in turmoil.Isabella’s words replayed in my head, cutting deeper each time. He’s stepping down, you know. Sam’s giving it all up.A part of me wanted to believe that this was the answer—that stepping down would end the chaos, the danger, the endless schemes. But deep down, I knew it wasn’t true. Being the head of the Bennett family was Sam’s birthright, the weight he was meant to carry. If he let it go now, what wou
NORA'S POVThe rain had eased into a soft drizzle, but the chill in the air seeped into my bones as I stood in front of Daniel. His eyes bore into mine, searching for something I wasn’t sure I could give him.“You can still get out,” he said, his voice steady but filled with urgency. “Come with me now, let's disappear. You don’t have to be a part of this anymore, Nora. You never should have been.”I shook my head, my hands trembling as I wrapped my arms around myself. “I can’t,” I whispered. “I can’t leave her. I can’t leave my daughter.”
SAM'S POV The rain poured relentlessly, its rhythmic pounding on the mansion’s tall windows blending with the muffled buzz of voices from the staff below. I sat in my father’s study, the dim light from the desk lamp casting long shadows across the room. The air was heavy, laden with memories of him. I could almost hear his voice, deep and firm, offering advice I desperately needed now.The city was ablaze with whispers of Evelyn Caradelli’s death. The news had spread like wildfire, dragging the Bennett name through the mud once again. I had managed to send Charlie back to his family earlier, though his parti
NORA'S POV The rain was still falling in sheets when I pulled into the driveway of the Bennett mansion. My hands trembled on the steering wheel, my pulse racing from my encounter with Jacob and Daniel. The weight of Jacob’s threats lingered like a shadow over me, his words echoing in my mind.“Evelyn is dead because of you. Sam deserves to feel the pain I feel.”The mansion loomed ahead, its grand facade now a reminder of the chaos within. I stepped out of the car, the rain soaking through my clothes in seconds, and hurried toward the front door. By the time I entered the warm foyer, I was dripping wet, shivering f
SAM'S POV The mansion was unnervingly quiet, the kind of silence that pressed against your chest and made it hard to breathe. Rain streaked the windows, casting shifting patterns of light across my father’s study. His scent—woodsmoke and old books—still lingered here, a painful reminder of his absence. The space felt heavier than ever, filled with memories that refused to fade. I closed my eyes, desperate for a moment of clarity, but all I could see was Charles’s face on the screen."My mom was killed by the Bennetts."The words echoed in my mind, sharp and unrelenting. It wasn’t the bloody shoe or even the mounting threats that gnawed at me most—it was him. Charles. The boy who had looked at me with such openness, such curiosity, as if he wanted to understand what it meant to be a Bennett. A boy who, for a brief moment, I thought could break free from Jacob’s grasp.I had started to care for him. That was the worst part. Despite everything, I had seen pieces of the Jacob I used to k
SAM'S POVThe storm outside raged, its howling winds and heavy rain mirroring the turmoil brewing within the Bennett mansion. I stood by the window of the drawing room, my hands clenched into fists as I watched the sleek black cars roll up the driveway.“They’re here,” Adrian said grimly from behind me, his voice low but brimming with tension.I turned away from the window and straightened my jacket. The Morettis had chosen their moment perfectly—while the family was on the verge of collapse, drowning in scandal and grief. This was a power move, and I wasn’t about to let them see any sign of weakness. When Adrian had told me of the meeting, I had simply nodded. Let them come. When the heavy oak doors opened, Margot Moretti was the first to step inside. She was as poised and calculating as ever, her sharp black dress hugging her figure, her eyes glittering with cold amusement. Luca followed closely behind, his expression subdued, almost weary, while Phillipe Moretti exuded quiet menac
SAM'S POV The house felt colder after the Morettis left, their veiled threats lingering like a dark cloud. I made my way to my father’s study, the one place where I could think. The scent of aged leather and cigar smoke still clung to the air, and I sank into his chair, the weight of the world pressing down on me.I closed my eyes, trying to drown out the noise in my head. Margot’s words echoed, their sharpness digging into my already frayed nerves. Three days to decide. Three days before she unleashed whatever hell she had waiting.
NORA'S POV The mansion was stifling, every corner weighed down by tension. Sam’s weary face stayed in my mind as I paced the room, the bloody baby shoe still etched in my memory. The news about Charles and the company collapsing only deepened my resolve. Sam might not admit it, but he needed help—desperately. And if I couldn’t bring peace to this storm, who else would?The Caradellis were the answer. Or at least, I hoped they were.I stopped pacing and looked out the rain-streaked window. The thought
NORA’S POVThe sun bathed the Bennett estate in a golden glow, filtering through the canopy of white roses and twinkling fairy lights. It was the perfect day, the kind of day that had once seemed impossible. But here we were. I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the delicate lace sleeve of my gown. It was nothing like the dress I had once imagined wearing for my first wedding to Sam. No, this was something entirely different—something that felt more like me. The gown hugged my frame, elegant and timeless. Soft ivory fabric cascaded down in delicate layers, embroidered with tiny pearls that shimmered when I moved. My hair, styled in loose waves, was pinned back with a single white rose, and a sheer veil trailed behind me like something out of a dream. But it was Sam’s face I longed to see the most. "Are you ready?" Genevieve appeared in the doorway, looking radiant in a soft emerald gown. Her usual sharpness was softened by the emotion in her eyes. I turned, feeling my he
NORA’S POVThe moment the plane touched down in New York, a flood of emotions surged through me. Relief. Exhaustion. Gratitude. I was alive. I was going home. Sam held my hand the entire drive from the airport, his grip firm yet tender, like he was afraid that if he let go, I’d disappear. My heart ached with anticipation; my mind consumed by a single thought—Zoe. I had spent weeks away from my daughter, missing the warmth of her tiny body against mine, the sweet scent of her skin, the sound of her giggles. The separation had been unbearable, and now, every second that kept me from holding her felt like
SAM’S POVThe fluorescent hospital lights hummed softly above me as I lay in the hospital bed, the sharp scent of antiseptic lingering in the air. I had never been afraid of pain—I had endured beatings, betrayals, and the weight of an entire empire on my shoulders. But this? This was different. Because this time, it wasn’t about me. It was about her. Nora. She lay in the bed
NORA’S POVThe beeping of machines was a constant rhythm, a reminder of the fragile line I was walking. The Parisian hospital room was bathed in soft golden light from the setting sun, but I felt cold. Not the kind of cold that came from the air conditioning or the evening breeze slipping through the cracks in the window—this was deeper, bone-deep, a chilling awareness that my body was failing me. Every breath felt like a borrowed one, shallow and effortful. The weight of exhaustion pressed down on me, heavier than it had ever been. My fingers tingled, my limbs felt distant, like they didn’t belong to me anymore. A part of me wondered if this was it—if I was already standing on the precipice between life and d
SAM'S POV The jet sliced through the cloud cover with the precision of a predator on a hunt, its hum a constant in the background as my thoughts drifted. Paris was just hours away, but I was already a prisoner of the distance—caught between two worlds, neither of which felt truly mine anymore.I had fought wars before, faced battles in boardrooms and beneath the weight of expectations. But none of those had ever felt so personal, so destructive. This fight had torn apart the very fabric of my family, shattered everything I had worked for, and left scars on my soul that would never fully heal. And the worst part? It had nearly cost me Nora—the one person I couldn’t afford to lose.
JACOB'S POVThe courtroom had emptied, but I remained frozen in my seat. The sound of the gavel still echoed in my ears. Life in prison. Isabella was gone.I watched as the guards led her away. She didn’t cry. She didn’t beg. She didn’t even look at me.She only turned once, just before disappearing through the doors, and for a fleeting moment, I saw it—regret. But it wasn’t for what she had done. It was for losing.I exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand over my face. Was this how it was all supposed to
SAM'S POV The boardroom was suffocating, thick with tension and the scent of expensive cologne and polished wood. New York’s most powerful investors sat around the long mahogany table, their sharp eyes locked on me. Margot Moretti sat at the far end, composed as ever, but I could see the cracks beginning to show.For the past two hours, I had been fighting for control of what was left of my father’s empire. The Morettis had leveraged Aunt Marion’s shares and were dangerously close to tipping th
NORA'S POVThe hospital room was eerily silent except for the rhythmic beeping of the monitors and the quiet hum of the machines keeping me tethered to this world. The walls were painted in soft, sterile white, and the air smelled faintly of antiseptic. I had spent countless hours in this bed, staring at the ceiling, counting the tiles, trying to ignore the way my body felt weaker with each passing day.But today was different. Today, the doctors would begin the experimental treatment—the last chance I had.Sam was pacing. He had been pacing for the last twenty minutes,
SAM'S POV The Paris clinic was quiet, almost unnervingly so. The soft hum of machines filled the room as Nora slept peacefully, her breathing steady but shallow. I sat in the corner of her room, the faint glow of my laptop illuminating the stack of documents Alaric had sent over that morning.Balancing the weight of the Bennett empire and being here for Nora felt impossible, but I had no choice.The reports from New York weren’t promising. Despite the rise in stock prices following Alaric’s press conference, the Morettis