NORA'S POV
The 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 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.
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