SAM'S POV
The hum of the elevator was the only sound as I rode up to Jacob’s floor, my mind a storm of frustration and suspicion. The conversation with Isabella was still fresh, her cryptic comments about loyalty and family spinning like a loop in my head. And now, the thought of Jacob’s nonchalance about everything—the shooting, the chaos within the family—was eating at me.
When the elevator doors slid open, I strode down the hall toward his office, not bothering to knock. I pushed the door open, finding him seated at his desk, scrolling casually through his phone.
Jacob looked up, his expression bored. &ldq
NORA'S POVThe penthouse was unusually quiet when I got back, the weight of the day pressing down on my shoulders like a heavy blanket. My mind raced with thoughts of the anonymous call, Daniel’s cryptic warnings, and my mother’s refusal to reveal who had sent her the note. Everything felt like it was spinning out of control, and I didn’t know who to trust anymore—not even myself.I dropped my bag on the couch and stood by the window, staring at the city below. The bright lights and bustling streets felt so distant, like a world I didn’t belong to anymore. Somewhere in the back of my mind, the caller’s words echoed, chilling and sharp: “You never belonged with the
SAM'S POV The sunlight streaming through my bedroom windows felt too bright, too harsh. Another night with no sleep. The blog post I’d seen still loomed over me like a dark cloud, refusing to leave my mind.I rubbed my face with both hands, trying to shake off the heavy weight pressing down on me. We were still sleeping in separate bedrooms, and I hated it. Hated the quiet, hated the empty space beside me. She was so close, just a few steps away, but it might as well have been miles. I missed her—missed waking up next to her, hearing her laugh over breakfast, feeling like we were on the same team.Last night had only mad
NORA'S POV The sunlight filtering through the curtains felt harsh against my skin as I opened my eyes. The first thing I noticed was the silence. Sam wasn’t in the room. Not that he would be—he’d been sleeping in his own bedroom for weeks now. But there was no sound of him anywhere in the penthouse, no clatter of dishes, no murmured phone calls.I sighed, sitting up and wrapping my arms around my knees. The note from last night was still fresh in my mind, every word etched into my thoughts like a brand. Return what’s ours.The fear hadn’t left, but I couldn’t let it control me. I hadn’t told
SAM'S POV The photo lay on my desk, taunting me with its damning clarity. Nora and Daniel, together in Paris. The city blurred in the background while she smiled softly—intimately—at him. Daniel looked back at her with an expression I couldn’t stomach, a mix of protectiveness and something else I didn’t want to name.And the note.Trust is your weakness.I leaned back in my chair, my pulse pounding in my temples. Who had sent it? Someone close enough to know how to twist the knife yet distant enough to hide in the shadows. The wor
NORA'S POV The morning light filtered through the curtains, but its warmth did little to soothe the chill that had settled over me. I sat at the breakfast table, absently stirring a spoon through my tea. My thoughts churned as I replayed the events of the last few days—the threatening note, Isabella’s venomous comments, and the distant look Sam had been wearing like armor.He moved around the kitchen quietly, his movements precise and deliberate, but there was a tension in his shoulders that he couldn’t hide. I wanted to say something, to ask him what was wrong, but the knot in my throat refused to loosen.Sam turn
SAM'S POV The morning of the gala was a mess, and I couldn’t think straight. Sleep had been a joke the night before, and now my mind was stuck on a loop, replaying the conversation I’d overheard on the balcony weeks ago.“If he’s willing to kill his uncle...”The words kept circling back, but the faces of the voices that had spoken them remained blank. My fists clenched as I thought about it, anger bubbling just beneath the surface. Someone in my family—or someone close to it—had tried to take out my father.And I still didn’t know who.My phone buzzed on the desk, dragging me back to the present. Genevieve had sent over the final list of attendees for the gala. It was long, and it would take hours to sift through. I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples when the sound of heels clicking against the floor pulled my attention.The door to my office swung open, and Isabella walked in, shutting it behind her.“What do you want?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.She gave m
NORA'S POV The day of the gala started on a sour note. I had spent the previous night with Gen because she had insisted she was going to dress me up and Sam would come pick me up from her house then we would head to the gala together. I sat in her loft, clutching a steaming cup of tea, my nerves fraying with each passing second. Across from me, Genevieve scrolled through her phone, her sharp eyes darting over the screen. She hadn’t said much since I’d arrived, and her silence only made me more anxious.“Gen, what’s going on?” I asked, my voice tight. It was starting to seem like everyone knew something I didn't. She hesitated, her fingers pausing mid-scroll before she looked up at me. “You don’t check Pictory anymore, do you?”I stiffened, shaking my head. “No. I deleted it weeks ago. Why?”Gen sighed, her lips pressing into a thin line. “Nora… it’s all over the news. Photos of you at the Marquee. Speculations about your pregnancy. And, of course, the bloggers are having a field da
SAM'S POV The ballroom lights glimmered off crystal chandeliers, and the hum of conversation filled the space. My focus, however, was fixed on the masked stranger standing beside Nora. His mask covered half his face, adding a theatrical flair, but something about him felt off. The way he stood, the tilt of his head as he spoke—it was familiar in a way that made my stomach churn. It was the stranger who had been with Milo Romano outside! I moved quickly, weaving through the crowd until I was standing beside them. Nora noticed me first, her eyes widening slightly.“Sam,” she said, her tone uncertain. I could tell fr
NORA'S POV The whispers in the room seemed to grow louder, their hum crawling under my skin as Evelyn’s words echoed in my mind: “It all begins. I can’t wait anymore for his go-ahead.”I pushed up from my chair, determined to find Genevieve. She always knew how to make sense of chaos, and right now, I needed her calm logic more than ever. But as I scanned the ballroom, Genevieve was nowhere to be seen.Evelyn had disappeared, and Jacob was gone from his earlier spot near the corner. My unease gr
SAM'S POV The masked man was still on my mind. His cryptic demeanor and familiarity had set my nerves on edge. The way he’d spoken to Nora, how he moved through the crowd with calculated ease, he wasn’t just a guest. He didn’t belong here. I was sure if I checked the guest list, I wouldn't find his name. But I didn't even know his name. That vermin, Milo, had brought him here.I stood near the bar, nursing a whiskey I barely tasted as my eyes scanned the ballroom. The opulence of the evening was a stark contrast to the growing sense of unease gnawing at me. My family’s galas had always been about power plays, alliances, and keeping enemies close, but tonight felt different. The stakes were higher, the shadows deeper
NORA'S POV The soft hum of murmurs in the ballroom fell silent as Sam stepped onto the small stage. A crystal glass in his hand caught the light, sending shards of brilliance across the room. His presence commanded attention effortlessly, and I couldn’t help but feel a mixture of pride and apprehension.“To family,” he began, his voice calm but strong. “And to unity.”Scattered applause followed, but it was the pause after that made my heart race. Sam turned slightly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd before landing squarely on me.
SAM'S POV The ballroom lights glimmered off crystal chandeliers, and the hum of conversation filled the space. My focus, however, was fixed on the masked stranger standing beside Nora. His mask covered half his face, adding a theatrical flair, but something about him felt off. The way he stood, the tilt of his head as he spoke—it was familiar in a way that made my stomach churn. It was the stranger who had been with Milo Romano outside! I moved quickly, weaving through the crowd until I was standing beside them. Nora noticed me first, her eyes widening slightly.“Sam,” she said, her tone uncertain. I could tell fr
NORA'S POV The day of the gala started on a sour note. I had spent the previous night with Gen because she had insisted she was going to dress me up and Sam would come pick me up from her house then we would head to the gala together. I sat in her loft, clutching a steaming cup of tea, my nerves fraying with each passing second. Across from me, Genevieve scrolled through her phone, her sharp eyes darting over the screen. She hadn’t said much since I’d arrived, and her silence only made me more anxious.“Gen, what’s going on?” I asked, my voice tight. It was starting to seem like everyone knew something I didn't. She hesitated, her fingers pausing mid-scroll before she looked up at me. “You don’t check Pictory anymore, do you?”I stiffened, shaking my head. “No. I deleted it weeks ago. Why?”Gen sighed, her lips pressing into a thin line. “Nora… it’s all over the news. Photos of you at the Marquee. Speculations about your pregnancy. And, of course, the bloggers are having a field da
SAM'S POV The morning of the gala was a mess, and I couldn’t think straight. Sleep had been a joke the night before, and now my mind was stuck on a loop, replaying the conversation I’d overheard on the balcony weeks ago.“If he’s willing to kill his uncle...”The words kept circling back, but the faces of the voices that had spoken them remained blank. My fists clenched as I thought about it, anger bubbling just beneath the surface. Someone in my family—or someone close to it—had tried to take out my father.And I still didn’t know who.My phone buzzed on the desk, dragging me back to the present. Genevieve had sent over the final list of attendees for the gala. It was long, and it would take hours to sift through. I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples when the sound of heels clicking against the floor pulled my attention.The door to my office swung open, and Isabella walked in, shutting it behind her.“What do you want?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.She gave m
NORA'S POV The morning light filtered through the curtains, but its warmth did little to soothe the chill that had settled over me. I sat at the breakfast table, absently stirring a spoon through my tea. My thoughts churned as I replayed the events of the last few days—the threatening note, Isabella’s venomous comments, and the distant look Sam had been wearing like armor.He moved around the kitchen quietly, his movements precise and deliberate, but there was a tension in his shoulders that he couldn’t hide. I wanted to say something, to ask him what was wrong, but the knot in my throat refused to loosen.Sam turn
SAM'S POV The photo lay on my desk, taunting me with its damning clarity. Nora and Daniel, together in Paris. The city blurred in the background while she smiled softly—intimately—at him. Daniel looked back at her with an expression I couldn’t stomach, a mix of protectiveness and something else I didn’t want to name.And the note.Trust is your weakness.I leaned back in my chair, my pulse pounding in my temples. Who had sent it? Someone close enough to know how to twist the knife yet distant enough to hide in the shadows. The wor
NORA'S POV The sunlight filtering through the curtains felt harsh against my skin as I opened my eyes. The first thing I noticed was the silence. Sam wasn’t in the room. Not that he would be—he’d been sleeping in his own bedroom for weeks now. But there was no sound of him anywhere in the penthouse, no clatter of dishes, no murmured phone calls.I sighed, sitting up and wrapping my arms around my knees. The note from last night was still fresh in my mind, every word etched into my thoughts like a brand. Return what’s ours.The fear hadn’t left, but I couldn’t let it control me. I hadn’t told