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 I couldn’t stop staring at the photo of Sam and Isabella on Pictory. That smug grin on Isabella’s face, the way her arm clung to his—it made my stomach churn. Sam looked detached, almost robotic, but the caption beneath the post was what hit hardest: New Beginnings. The knot in my stomach twisted tighter. This shouldn’t hurt. I wasn’t part of that family anymore. But I’d lived through enough of their drama to know one thing—if Jackie was on board with Sam moving on, that was the end of it. Suddenly, I couldn’t stand the weight pressing down on my chest. I needed to hear it from someone who would tell me the truth. I hesitated, biting my lip, then grabbed my phone and called my mother. She picked up almost immediately. “Nora! Honey, it’s been so long. How are you, darling?” I didn’t bother with small talk. “Mom, I need to ask you something. Are you still in touch with Jackie?” Her voice softened instantly. “Of course I am, sweetie. What’s this about?” I exhaled
SAM'S POVAs soon as the call ended, Gen followed me out of the pantry fuming.“What the hell, Samuel?” she snapped, her voice echoing through the kitchen. Almost all the kitchen staff were looking at us now.“You knew she was in Paris, and you didn’t tell me!” I thundered.“Oh, boo-hoo, Sam!” Gen fired back, throwing up her hands. “You think you have a right to know everything? Newsfl
NORA'S POV The hospital was a blur as I rushed through the corridors, my heart pounding in my chest. The fear I’d felt since leaving the Moretti’s castle hadn’t left me, clinging to me like a shadow. I had to see Zoe. I had to know she was okay.The NICU doors came into view, and I barely slowed down as I pushed through them. My breath caught as I spotted Sam and Genevieve, both bent over Zoe’s incubator.Sam’s large hand rested on the side of the incubator, his shoulders relaxed, a soft smile tugging at his lips. Beside him, Genevieve—stoic, guarded Genevieve—was smiling too, her fingers delicately tracing circles on the glass as if she were drawing strength from the sight of Zoe’s tiny, fragile form.Relief washed over me, so powerful that my knees buckled. I grabbed the edge of a nearby chair to steady myself before running toward them, tears streaming down my face. “Zoe!” I sobbed, my voice trembling.Sam looked up sharply, his smile vanishing as he stepped back from the incubato
GEN’S POVThe sound of the clock ticking on the wall filled the room as I slipped my phone back into my pocket. My hands were steady, but my chest felt tight, as if the weight of my decisions was finally starting to press down on me.The assassin had confirmed our rendezvous for later that night, and I was ready to hand over the first payment. Everything was in motion, just as I’d planned. Charles Bennett—the so-called heir—would soon be nothing more than a memory.For a brief moment, I allowed myself to think about Jacob. I could still see him as he was when we were children
SAM'S POV The words hung in the air like a stone waiting to fall.“Zoe’s in danger.”My chest tightened, and my hand instinctively moved toward my phone. “What do you mean she’s in danger?” I demanded, my voice sharp, rising with panic.Charlie shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his slight frame seeming even smaller under the weight of my glare. His gaze darted to the floor, h
NORA'S POVMargot’s words echoed in my head, cold and unrelenting. “It was foolish of you to come here, Eleanora Sinclair.”The weight of her threat settled over me like a suffocating blanket, and my breath hitched. My vision blurred as tears filled my eyes. What had I done? How could I have been so reckless, so naive? I hadn’t just risked my own life, I’d risked Zoe’s, too.The enormity of my mistake crushed me, and I turned to leave, desperate to put as much distance as I could between myself and this place. But as I made for the door, a figure stepped in front of me, blocking my path.Milo Romano.I froze, my heart pounding so loudly I was sure he could hear it. My chest tightened as the memories came flooding back; the first time I met him, the way he charmed my mother, the way he convinced me that the Moretti deal was my chance to fix everything. He had turned my life upside down, destroyed my marriage, and shattered whatever trust Sam and I had had.And now, he was here.“You,”
SAM'S POV The boy who stepped into my office wasn’t what I’d imagined. He was young, maybe thirteen, with sandy hair that fell into his bright blue eyes, and he carried himself with a quiet kind of confidence. His features—especially the sharpness of his jawline—were unmistakably Bennett. For a moment, I felt as though I were looking at a ghost of the Jacob I once knew, the best friend who had stood by my side before greed and resentment tore us apart.“Charles,” I greeted, keeping my tone even.He hesitated just inside the doorway, then offered a faint smile. “You can call me Charlie,” he said, his voice soft but steady. “That’s what everyone calls me.”The name put me momentarily at ease, and I gestured to the chair in front of my desk. “Alright, Charlie. Have a seat.”He moved across the room with deliberate steps, his hands fidgeting at his sides as though he wasn’t entirely sure of his welcome. I waited until he settled into the chair before speaking again.“What brings you here
NORA'S POV The night air was colder than I expected as I slipped out of the hospital’s back entrance, my coat wrapped tightly around me. My body protested with every step, the strain of my recent surgery making itself known. But none of that mattered. The anger burning in my chest, the fear for my family and my daughter drove me forward. I wanted Zoe to grow up in a stable environment, in a safe and loving family and not in the midst of all this drama.Margot Moretti had gone too far. And I needed to confr
SAM'S POV The late afternoon breeze brushed against my face as I stepped onto the balcony. Genevieve was there, leaning against the wrought-iron railing, her sharp silhouette framed by the sprawling estate gardens below. She didn’t turn to acknowledge me, but the tension in her shoulders told me she knew I was there.“We need to talk,” I said, my voice hard as I closed the door behind me.She turned her head slightly, her red hair catching the sunlight. “About what? How the family is falling apart while you’re too busy loving
NORA'S POV The steady beeping of the monitors in my hospital room was strangely comforting, a reminder that everything—at least for now—was stable. My body ached in ways I hadn’t thought possible, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the heaviness in my chest.As I stared out the window at the city skyline, my thoughts drifted to my daughter. Zoe. Her name felt like a beacon in the darkness, a promise of something pure and untainted. She was so small, so fragile, but she was already the strongest person I knew.
SAM'S POV The fluorescent lights of the NICU cast a sterile glow, highlighting the rows of incubators lined up like tiny fortresses. The faint hum of machines filled the air, each beep and whir a reminder of the fragility of life.I stood at the glass partition, my heart pounding as I caught sight of her. My daughter. She was so small, a tiny figure swaddled in soft fabric, with wires and monitors attached to her fragile body. Her chest rose and fell in rapid, shallow breaths, and her fists curled tightly as if she were ready to fight the world already.“She’s stable,” a nurse said softly, approaching me with a kind smile. “She’s a strong little girl.”I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Can I go in?”The nurse glanced at the clipboard in her hands and then gave a small nod. “Just for a few minutes. We’re limiting visitors, but you’re her dad. I’ll help you get prepped.”Moments later, I sat beside the incubator, dressed in a sterile gown, gloves, and a mask. The sight of he