SAM'S POV The bottle of whiskey on the coffee table was half-empty, but I still felt as sober as ever. My thumb hovered over the screen of my phone, itching to call Nora but I knew it was pointless. It's been three days since I’d seen her at Gen’s place, and every second since then had felt like drowning. I thought I could convince her, thought if she saw how much I missed her, she’d change her mind. But instead, she’d said the one thing that had gutted me more than anything else.I’ve found someone else.Liar. I knew she hadn’t. At that moment, I resolved that I was going to Gen’s house.I stood outside Genevieve’s loft with a large bouquet of roses in my hand replaying Nora’s words in my head. I felt ridiculous but I knew I had to do this. I pushed the door open and found Gen sprawled on the couch, scrolling through her phone like she didn’t have a care in the world. Her hair was still damp from her shower, and she wore a hoodie several sizes too big for her. When she looked u
NORA'S POV The moment I landed in Paris, fatigue hit me hard. The elevator doors opened, and I dragged myself to the hotel room. As soon as I shut the door behind me, I kicked off my shoes and sank onto the bed. I closed my eyes, willing the nausea to pass. After a few minutes, I pulled out my phone to FaceTime Gen. It was late in Paris—time zones were still messing with my head—but back in New York, it would be early evening.Gen picked up almost immediately. “Finally! I was wondering when you’d call.” Her voice was bright, and her wild curls bounced as she adjusted her camera.I gave her a tired smile. “Yeah, well, the flight wasn’t exactly smooth. And thanks for letting Sam know where I was.”Gen winced, guilt flashing across her face. “I didn’t want to, but you know how he is. The guy blackmailed me, Nora! I swear, it wasn’t my fault.”“Yeah, yeah”, I said, rolling my eyes and she chuckled.Then she tilted her head, narrowing her eyes. “Hey… Is that the Eiffel Tower behind you?”
SAM’S POV It had been a week since Nora walked out of my life—again—and every passing day felt heavier than the last. Seven days. A hundred and sixty-eight hours without hearing her voice or knowing where she was. The bouquet I’d bought for her still sat wilting on the kitchen counter. I should’ve thrown it out days ago, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Every time I looked at it, the same thought circled through my mind: I was too late.I was still lost in thought when Isabella showed up unannounced. She breezed into my apartment as always like she owned the place, wearing a sleek black dress that clung to her body in all the right ways. Her dark red lips curled into a satisfied smile when she saw me sitting there, clearly stressed. I looked up at her slightly irritated yet strangely pleased to see her. Isabella was my friend, an old flame but still my friend. I sighed. She sat close to me but I ignored her, and she didn’t take the hint. She crossed her legs, letting her stil
NORA’S POVI grabbed my trench coat and slipped it over my shoulders, feeling the familiar flutter of nerves twist in my stomach. It was my first real night out since arriving in Paris and it was with Daniel, and I wanted it to feel… normal. Or at least, as close to normal as life could be after everything. A new life, I reminded myself. A fresh start. I glanced at my phone lying on the bedside table, untouched. No new messages. No missed calls. Sam hadn’t tried to contact me, and that should’ve been a good thing. It was what I wanted—or at least what I told myself I wanted. But it didn’t stop the ache in my chest from spreading. I forced the thought away, focusing instead on how I was settling in. Giselle, my new boss, was a no-nonsense woman in her forties, with a sharp tongue and a sharper sense of style. French to the bone. She spent her days sourcing new artistic talent and making them feel like they owed her their souls. Dinner with Daniel felt… nice. Way easier than I thou
SAM’S POV Genevieve’s loft was as chaotic as ever—clothes draped over furniture, art supplies scattered everywhere. She sat cross-legged on the couch, painting her nails, her curly red hair piled in a messy bun. Gen didn’t even look up when I walked in, just glanced at me from under her lashes. “You really have to stop showing up like this, Sammie,” she said, her voice dripping with amusement. “Getting kinda stalker-ish.”“Where is she?” I asked, cutting straight to the point. Gen gave a slow, lazy smile. “What makes you think I know?” I clenched my fists, my frustration bubbling over. “Don’t play games with me, Gen. I know you took her to see Daniel. Why?” I hadn’t slept much—hell, I hadn’t slept at all—and the exhaustion gnawed at my patience. “She was ill…and how the hell do you know?”I crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes. “Because Jacob told me.” That got her attention. She lowered her hand slowly, a flicker of surprise flashing in her eyes. “What do you mean Jacob tol
NORA’S POV The gallery buzzed with quiet excitement. Art lovers wandered through the space, murmuring in appreciation as they admired the new exhibit. I stood back, a small smile tugging at my lips as I watched one of the artists I’d discovered—Mathieu Dumont—speak passionately about his latest work to a group of potential buyers. He was young, raw, and wildly talented, the kind of artist who saw the world differently and made you see it differently too. Giselle would be proud. I glanced at the clock and saw that it was time to close things down. The gallery lights would soon dim, and the soft chatter would die out, leaving me with only my thoughts for company. I stepped out of the gallery, pulling my coat tighter around me as the cool evening breeze kissed my cheeks. As I reached the curb, my steps faltered when I noticed a familiar figure standing beside a sleek black car. It was Daniel. He leaned casually against the driver’s door, hands in his pockets, a soft smile spre
SAM’S POV I called Alice immediately and she picked up after the second ring.“Alice,” I began, leaning back in my chair, “what exactly does your message mean?” Her voice was calm, with just a hint of warmth. “We need to meet, Sammie. There are things I need to explain.” I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to push through the confusion. “Explain what? If it’s about the divorce—” “It’s not something we can talk about over the phone,” Alice interrupted gently, cutting me off. “I need to see you.” Her words put me on edge. I sat forward, gripping the phone tighter. “Why now?” I demanded. “Why do we need to meet now, of all times?” There was a small pause on the other end. “Because I think it’s time you know the truth,” she said softly. My chest tightened, a flicker of unease creeping in. What truth? “Where are you?” I asked, my voice low and wary. “I’m in town with your mother. We’re staying at the Carlton,” Alice replied, her voice light, as if she hadn’t just dro
SAM’S POV The mansion loomed ahead like a palace from a different era, all stone facades, towering windows, and sweeping terraces. We didn’t just have wealth—we had legacy, and it showed in every corner of the estate. As Genevieve’s Mercedes rolled past the iron gates, I leaned my elbow against the door, watching the familiar grounds blur by. The sprawling gardens, the lake glinting under the afternoon sun, even the marble fountain in the courtyard—it was all the same. Nothing changed. Except me. We lived in the kind of luxury that made other wealthy families look poor. Everything in the house was deliberate—Italian marble floors, crystal chandeliers, silk drapes from Paris. The scent of lavender lingered in the air, the kind that made you think of old money and meticulous planning. The click of our mother’s heels echoed down the hall before she appeared at the top of the staircase, surveying us like a queen descending from her throne. She was impeccable, as always. Blond hair
NORA'S POV The cab’s engine hummed softly, a thin veil of city noise seeping in through the windows. I sat in the back seat, gripping my bag tightly, my thoughts racing. My heart hammered against my ribs as we neared the towering gates of the Caradelli estate.I had lied to Sam. To Genevieve. Told them I needed rest, that the chaos had finally caught up to me. It wasn’t entirely untrue—I did need rest. But how could I rest when Zoe was out there, alone and vulnerable?The estate loomed ahead, dark and foreboding. Wrought-iron gates slowly creaked open, revealing the sprawling grounds bathed in dim, golden light. My palms were damp with sweat as I stepped out of the car and approached the grand entrance.A butler opened the door, his expression impassive as he gestured for me to enter. “Ms. Bennett, this way.”I followed him silently, my shoes clicking against the polished marble floors. The opulence of the Caradelli estate was stifling. Every corner was adorned with gold trim, heavy
NORA'S POV He looked different now—more tired, more worn—but the intensity in his eyes was unchanged. It was the same look he’d always had, the one that made it hard to tell if he was about to kiss you or ruin your life.For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. Seeing him here, after everything that had happened, felt like the ground beneath me had shifted. Memories surged forward, unbidden, a tidal wave of emotions that I couldn’t stop.The first time we had reconnected flashed vividly in my mind—the sterile smell of the hospital room where he'd told me I was pregnant.
SAM'S POV The cold wind bit at my face as I walked down the shadowed street, the world around me a blur. The city was alive—horns blaring, people shouting, lights flashing in every direction—but none of it registered. My mind was somewhere else, trapped in an endless loop of pain and disbelief.My father was gone. The man who had built the Bennett empire, who had raised me to take the helm, had been taken in the cruelest way imaginable. Acid in his tea. I couldn’t stop picturing the agony he must have endured in those final moments, his throat burning, his life slipping away.And now Zoe was gone too. Stolen right
NORA'S POV The Bennett mansion felt impossibly large and unbearably empty. No matter how grand the chandeliers glowed or how pristine the marble floors shone, the house seemed cloaked in darkness. Every corner whispered reminders of what was missing; Zoe and William. There was just so much grief in the walls of the mansion. I couldn’t sit still anymore. The silence pressed down on me, my thoughts swirling endlessly as guilt, anger, and fear battled for control. I had failed my daughter, failed to protect her when she needed me most. And now, she was out there, with strangers who might mean her harm.I pushed open the door to
SAM'S POV The phone slipped from my trembling hand, clattering onto the floor. My legs felt unsteady, like they might give way beneath me, but the flood of emotions surging through my chest refused to let me collapse.Your father is dead, Samuel…The words repeated in my mind like a cruel echo, each time cutting deeper. My chest felt tight, my throat raw as I struggled to breathe. My father couldn’t be dead. William Bennett was larger than life…indestructible, unyielding. This wasn’t real. It couldn’t be.
NORA'S POV The first thing I noticed was the unusual quiet.I shifted in my hospital bed, wincing at the dull throb in my head from the attack. The sterile walls of the room offered no comfort, and I tried to shake off the unease that had settled over me. Normally, there was a nurse bustling in to check my vitals or update me on Zoe, but this time, there was only silence.The door creaked open, and I sat up a little straighter, relief flooding me as I saw a nurse enter followed closely by a doctor. But their faces… they were pale, drawn, and tight with worry.
SAM'S POV Charles’s words hung in the air, heavy and sharp as a blade.“I don’t want it,” he said, his voice cracking with a mix of defiance and despair. “I don’t want to be the heir.”Jacob froze, his eyes narrowing in disbelief before they blazed with fury. “What did you just say?” he demanded, his voice low and trembling.“You heard me,” Charles shot back, his fists clenched at his sides. “I don’t want it. I never did.”
NORA'S POV The quiet of the hospital room was both a blessing and a curse. The soft hum of machines and the distant chatter of nurses offered some comfort, but it also left me alone with my thoughts.I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, my body still aching from the surgery. The nurses had reassured me that Zoe was doing well, her breathing steady and strong. They said she was a fighter, but that didn’t stop the worry from gnawing at me.I worried about Zoe, about the future. About Sam.He’d called to tell me he was with Jacob, and though he’d assured me it was just a conversation, I couldn’t shake the dread pooling in my stomach. Jacob was dangerous, and the thought of Sam walking into a trap made me restless.I sighed, closing my eyes, trying to will myself to sleep. But just as the edges of slumber began to creep in, the sound of the door opening jolted me awake.At first, I thought it was a nurse or Sam returning, but when I turned my head, my breath caught in my throat.Elias R
SAM'S POV The room was unbearably still, the rhythmic beep of Zoe’s monitor the only sound. I turned toward the doorway, expecting a nurse, but instead, it was someone I hadn’t expected to see so soon.Charles.He hesitated in the doorway, his sandy hair falling messily over his forehead, his suit jacket slightly too large for his thin frame. His blue eyes—uncertain and conflicted—darted around the room before settling on Zoe’s bassinet.Nora stood from her chair, her protective instincts immediately kicking in as she moved slightly in front of Zoe. “Who are you?” she asked, her tone firm but puzzled.“Charles,” I said again, my voice drawing Nora’s startled gaze. “This is Jacob’s son.”Nora’s expression shifted from confusion to shock as she looked at him. “You’re… Jacob’s…”His voice cracked, and he glanced down at his shoes before looking back at Zoe. “I’m sorry for intruding,” he said quickly. “I just…I wanted to make sure she’s okay.”Genevieve turned sharply from the window, he