SAM'S POV We were both still catching our breath, tangled together, half-dressed and utterly exhilarated. Nora sat perched on the heavy oak table in Adrian’s drawing room, her legs wrapped securely around my waist, her hands tangled in my hair. My own hands caressed her back, feeling the softness of her skin, the warmth of her against me. I couldn’t let go of her, didn’t want to. The scent of her, the way she felt, had me completely undone.“I love you,” I whispered against her lips, over and over, as if the words would be enough to erase the past. I couldn't stop kissing her. Her lips were intoxicating and I wanted to stay buried inside her, the softness of her wrapping around me like a cocoon. Nora’s eyes glistened with something unreadable, and she held onto me, her fingers tightening just a bit as she kissed me back. She then sighed quietly. “Sam,” she murmured through my lips though there was a hint of practicality cutting through the heat. “We should get dressed… Adrian could
NORA'S POV My heart pounded against my ribs, an unsteady, relentless rhythm that left me breathless as I waited for Isabella to drop her bombshell. The way she stood there, savoring every second of suspense, made my skin crawl. Her smirk deepened, and I hated that she was enjoying this moment—this power she held over me.Isabella’s eyes flicked to Adrian, a false look of concern softening her features. “Are you sure you want Adrian to be here for this?” she asked, her voice a sugary blend of feigned innocence and barely-hidden delight. Her gaze shifted back to me, her eyes glinting with a sinister sort of pl
NORA'S POV Dinner at Adrian’s had felt like walking a tightrope—one wrong step and everything would come crashing down. My mind kept wandering back to the drawing room earlier, to the way Sam had kissed me, how he had held me like he never wanted to let go. My heart was still racing from it, but sitting across from him now, the tension between us had returned. It lingered in the air, thick and suffocating.We were eating quietly, the clinking of silverware the only sound cutting through the silence. Sam was watching me, his eyes softening every time our gazes met, but I kept looking away. It hurt too much to hope, and I was too afraid of what came next.
NORA'S POVI sat alone in the dark, clutching the photograph between trembling fingers. The edges of the picture were worn and creased, but the man’s face remained crisp and clear. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from his chiseled features, the way his dark eyes seemed to glint even in the flat, glossy surface of the image. This man—the man in the photograph—had changed everything. The moment I’d met him had altered the course of my life, though I hadn’t realized how deeply until much later.I exhaled shakily, the memories crashing over me in relentless waves. That day came back in vivid detail, and I was helpless to stop it.LONG TIME AGO I’d been desperate. No, more than desperate. I’d been on the verge of breaking, clutching at straws and hoping one of them would pull me back from the edge of losing everything I loved. It was raining that afternoon, the gray sky casting a dreary glow over the city, mirroring the storm raging inside me. My hand was clasped tightly around the arm of th
SAM'S POV I drove back to Adrian’s mansion, barely registering the elegant Parisian streets blurring past. Anger and jealousy coiled in my chest, twisting tighter with every beat of my pulse. The memories of Nora, the photograph, and Daniel’s smug expression replayed in my head, a relentless loop that threatened to drive me mad.When I pulled into Adrian’s driveway, the butler met me at the door, looking wary. “Sir, Mr. Blackwell has stepped out for the afternoon,” he informed me. I didn’t respond, brushing past him and storming into the living room.To my irritation, I found Isabella lounging on the velvet chaise, her legs crossed, a satisfied smirk on her face. She looked like she owned the place, as if she were waiting for me.“Sam,” she cooed, rising to her feet. “Rough day? Or are you still sulking over that—”I didn’t let her finish. In two quick strides, I closed the distance between us and grabbed her, crushing my lips against hers. I shoved her roughly against the wall, the
NORA'S POV The world felt like it was closing in on me, suffocating and shrinking as I sat across from Milo Romano. The small, dimly lit office seemed even darker now, the air heavy with tension and the faint scent of dampness lingering from the earlier rain. Milo leaned forward, his polished smile unwavering, his voice smooth and almost hypnotic. It was the kind of voice that could lull you into a daze, the kind that made you want to believe every word he said.“I’m telling you, Eleanora,” he drawled, the syllables of my name rolling off his tongue like silk. “This deal could make your company millions. The Morettis have a stronghold on African oil markets, especially in Nigeria. Their presence there is monumental, the largest oil-producing nation on the continent. Partnering with them would open doors you can’t even begin to imagine.”I tried to focus on his words, but they blurred together, an endless stream of business jargon that made my head spin. He spoke about investments and
SAM'S POVDaniel’s words echoed in the parking lot, slicing through the cold Parisian air like a jagged blade. “Stay away from her, Sam,” he had said, his voice hard with a finality that left no room for argument. He walked away, and I could do nothing but watch, frozen in place.Genevieve stood beside me, her face pale with shock, her mouth slightly agape. We were both trying to process what had just happened, but my mind felt numb, disconnected from reality. Pregnant. Nora was pregnant. And Daniel… he claimed the baby was his.The world spun, and I felt an ache so deep and primal it nearly brought me
NORA'S POVThe memories slipped away like sand through my fingers, leaving me hollow and aching. My mother. The lengths she had gone to “save” my marriage to Sam—the underhanded schemes, the secrets wrapped in love that had only succeeded in destroying everything. I thought back to the first day I had been led into that dim office, the rain pelting the windows as my mother whispered words of reassurance I hadn’t realized would haunt me for years.I drew in a shaky breath, feeling tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. My heart twisted painfully as I thought of Sam, the betrayal etched into his features when he’d thrown that photograph at me. He didn’t know, couldn’t understand, the desperation I&
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