Kaelon’s POVThe thick, suffocating tension in my office made it hard to breathe. The lights above hummed low, the kind of sound that seemed to gnaw at my nerves, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off—something I hadn't quite pinned down yet. I sat at my desk, staring at the screen in front of me, the numbers from the latest report blurring together. "Mr. Blackwood," Evelyn's voice cut through the quiet hum of the office. She had been standing in the doorway for a few moments, observing me, and now she stepped forward, her tone sharp, her expression calm but knowing. "We need to talk."I looked up from the screen, my jaw tightening. Evelyn had always been cool, collected—almost eerily so—and that was why she was so good at her job. But today, her usual composed demeanor didn't reassure me. There was an underlying tension in her movements, a sense that she was as unsettled as I was."What is it?" I asked, my voice rough with frustration. "This situation with my offi
LIV’S POVAs I stepped through the door, I could feel the weight of the moment settle in. There was something about this place—something about Kaelon—that made everything else fade into the background. The faint hum of the office, the quiet bustle of people behind the walls, none of it mattered when I was with him.I offered Evelyn a polite nod as I passed her, noting the curious glance she gave me. She was always so composed, but I could feel the subtle tension in the air between us. Evelyn had a way of knowing everything, and she didn’t miss much. I wondered what she thought of me, but it wasn’t something I wanted to dwell on today. As I stepped further into the room, I caught sight of him at his desk, his gaze already on me. His lips parted in a smile—one that made my heart race in an instant. He didn’t even need to say a word. His eyes spoke volumes, and I could feel the warmth of his affection washing over me like a tide.I didn’t hesitate. My legs carried me forward without a s
KAELON’S POVAfter a while of staying together, I knew that I had to tell her something important. We had to come clean to the public before whoever was snooping around did. It would be devastating , but it will be more managed that way.“Kaelon,” Liv said, her voice tight, her gaze unwavering. She’d been quiet for a while now, but I knew she was stewing on something. She always did when she was worried, when something didn’t sit right with her. “What’s going on? What’s really happening?”I ran my hand through my hair, trying to think of a way to calm her down. Trying to find the right words to explain without escalating the situation further. “I think we’ve been compromised, Liv,” I said finally, my voice low. “Someone’s been watching us—watching you.”Her eyes narrowed, but she didn’t speak right away. She was waiting, letting me continue. I had to get it all out before she started asking questions I didn’t know how to answer.“I don’t know who, but I have a feeling it’s someone cl
VIV’S POVWhatever the fuck my father said that made me come here? It needs to be recorded and kept on a constant replay. The crisp morning air carried a whisper of autumn as I stepped out of the towering office building, my heels clicking against the pavement. The interview had gone smoothly—expected, considering my father had arranged this internship months ago. It was merely a formality, another move in his grand chess game. But this particular firm had ties to Blackwood Corporation, which meant occasional visits to the empire that had once been my world.I didn’t linger on that thought. My phone buzzed just as I reached my car. The name flashing across the screen made my heart lurch. Az. The investigator.I exhaled sharply and tapped the message open: I have something. It’s big. This will destroy her, but Blackwood Corp goes down with her. Do you still want it?My fingers tightened around the phone as a thousand possibilities rushed through my mind. What could he have found t
LIV’S POVSince the day I stormed out of Kaelon’s office, I have done my best to stay away from him as much as I could.He kept calling but, “Who gives a shit?” I murmured as I rolled my eyes.The silence between Kaelon and me stretched for days, thick and suffocating like a storm cloud that refused to break. How did he transition from wanting to go public about our relationship to not wanting to go public anymore? As if it had all been a mistake. As if I had been a mistake. I sat on the edge of my bed, the soft glow of my bedside lamp casting long shadows across the room. My phone lay next to me, untouched, its screen dark. I had checked it more times than I wanted to admit, hoping and praying that he would reach out again. But he didn’t. Maybe he was caught up with work or whatever.I could not help but wonder why he was now pushing me away. I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to hold in the anger that simmered beneath my skin. I had told him I wasn’t comfortable wit
KAELON’S POVThe office was quiet except for the faint hum of the air conditioner and the rhythmic tapping of my fingers against the polished wood of my desk. The city skyline stretched out beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, but my focus wasn’t on the view. It hadn’t been for days.“No, Kaelon. I can’t do this. I can’t be part of a lie. If you can’t trust me enough to be honest with me, then I don’t know what we’re doing here.” Her voice kept replaying in my head for every single time I wanted to work or turned to look at the sofa. She was almost everywhere and that was eating me up.I was trying to work. Trying to lose myself in the endless reports and figures in front of me. But no matter how many contracts I approved or how many meetings I scheduled, one thought remained—Liv.I had done this to myself. I had been the one to suggest going public, to push the conversation that sent her retreating like a deer startled in the woods. I had been reckless, and now she was gone. And it
VIV’S POVThe room was dimly lit, the soft glow of the bedside lamp casting long shadows across the luxurious furnishings. I leaned back against the plush velvet headboard, my fingers tapping impatiently on the sleek surface of my laptop. My heart pounded, not with nerves, but with anticipation.I had been waiting for this moment.A scandal this big needed to be executed with precision, and I had made sure to cover my tracks. No one would trace it back to me. I reached for my phone, my fingers brushing over the smooth glass before I brought it to my ear."Is it done?" I asked, keeping my voice low."Almost," the distorted voice on the other end replied. The vocoder app I was using made me sound unrecognizable. "The post will be live in ten minutes. I made sure to include all the pictures and just enough juicy details to send the internet into a frenzy."A slow smile curled my lips. "Good. And you made sure it was anonymous?""Of course. By the time anyone tries to trace it, the origin
LIV’S POVThe plan was to spend the next two weeks at my fathers ranch. I never really planned for any of these. No fucking person ever does!I had entered my car after a couple of hugs and goodbyes with Rose, Lara and Vio. I drove off.The road ahead blurred through the veil of unshed tears clouding my vision. My fingers clenched around the steering wheel as I forced my foot off the gas, the car slowing to an uneasy stop on the side of the deserted road. My pulse hammered in my ears, drowning out the hum of the engine as I reached for my phone, already dreading what I’d see.The screen glowed in the dim interior of the car, displaying countless notifications—texts, calls, news alerts. My breath hitched as I opened the first link.KAELON BLACKWOOD AND LIV CARTER’S SHOCKING AFFAIR—SHE DUMPED THE SON FOR THE FATHER!A strangled sob clawed its way up my throat. My trembling fingers scrolled down, past the cruel words and the damning images splashed across the page. Pictures of me and
Kaelon's POVThe air in the boardroom was thick with the scent of expensive cologne and freshly brewed coffee. A long mahogany table stretched before me, filled with board members in their tailored suits, their eyes fixed on me as I wrapped up my presentation. The quarterly report had been solid, but I could sense a shift in the room—something off. A strange energy buzzed beneath the surface.Then, the door swung open.Louisa, my secretary, never interrupted meetings. Never. The people seated at the table turned their attention to her But now, she strode in with hurried steps, her face pale. She leaned down, her perfume faint under the rush of my pulse as she whispered, "Sir, you need to see this."She slid her phone into my palm, the screen already open to a blog post that made my blood run ice cold.KAELON BLACKWOOD AND LIV CARTER’S SHOCKING AFFAIR—SHE DUMPED THE SON FOR THE FATHER!I didn’t blink. I didn’t breathe.I couldn't because I might break from the immense cold that su
LIV’S POVThe plan was to spend the next two weeks at my fathers ranch. I never really planned for any of these. No fucking person ever does!I had entered my car after a couple of hugs and goodbyes with Rose, Lara and Vio. I drove off.The road ahead blurred through the veil of unshed tears clouding my vision. My fingers clenched around the steering wheel as I forced my foot off the gas, the car slowing to an uneasy stop on the side of the deserted road. My pulse hammered in my ears, drowning out the hum of the engine as I reached for my phone, already dreading what I’d see.The screen glowed in the dim interior of the car, displaying countless notifications—texts, calls, news alerts. My breath hitched as I opened the first link.KAELON BLACKWOOD AND LIV CARTER’S SHOCKING AFFAIR—SHE DUMPED THE SON FOR THE FATHER!A strangled sob clawed its way up my throat. My trembling fingers scrolled down, past the cruel words and the damning images splashed across the page. Pictures of me and
VIV’S POVThe room was dimly lit, the soft glow of the bedside lamp casting long shadows across the luxurious furnishings. I leaned back against the plush velvet headboard, my fingers tapping impatiently on the sleek surface of my laptop. My heart pounded, not with nerves, but with anticipation.I had been waiting for this moment.A scandal this big needed to be executed with precision, and I had made sure to cover my tracks. No one would trace it back to me. I reached for my phone, my fingers brushing over the smooth glass before I brought it to my ear."Is it done?" I asked, keeping my voice low."Almost," the distorted voice on the other end replied. The vocoder app I was using made me sound unrecognizable. "The post will be live in ten minutes. I made sure to include all the pictures and just enough juicy details to send the internet into a frenzy."A slow smile curled my lips. "Good. And you made sure it was anonymous?""Of course. By the time anyone tries to trace it, the origin
KAELON’S POVThe office was quiet except for the faint hum of the air conditioner and the rhythmic tapping of my fingers against the polished wood of my desk. The city skyline stretched out beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, but my focus wasn’t on the view. It hadn’t been for days.“No, Kaelon. I can’t do this. I can’t be part of a lie. If you can’t trust me enough to be honest with me, then I don’t know what we’re doing here.” Her voice kept replaying in my head for every single time I wanted to work or turned to look at the sofa. She was almost everywhere and that was eating me up.I was trying to work. Trying to lose myself in the endless reports and figures in front of me. But no matter how many contracts I approved or how many meetings I scheduled, one thought remained—Liv.I had done this to myself. I had been the one to suggest going public, to push the conversation that sent her retreating like a deer startled in the woods. I had been reckless, and now she was gone. And it
LIV’S POVSince the day I stormed out of Kaelon’s office, I have done my best to stay away from him as much as I could.He kept calling but, “Who gives a shit?” I murmured as I rolled my eyes.The silence between Kaelon and me stretched for days, thick and suffocating like a storm cloud that refused to break. How did he transition from wanting to go public about our relationship to not wanting to go public anymore? As if it had all been a mistake. As if I had been a mistake. I sat on the edge of my bed, the soft glow of my bedside lamp casting long shadows across the room. My phone lay next to me, untouched, its screen dark. I had checked it more times than I wanted to admit, hoping and praying that he would reach out again. But he didn’t. Maybe he was caught up with work or whatever.I could not help but wonder why he was now pushing me away. I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to hold in the anger that simmered beneath my skin. I had told him I wasn’t comfortable wit
VIV’S POVWhatever the fuck my father said that made me come here? It needs to be recorded and kept on a constant replay. The crisp morning air carried a whisper of autumn as I stepped out of the towering office building, my heels clicking against the pavement. The interview had gone smoothly—expected, considering my father had arranged this internship months ago. It was merely a formality, another move in his grand chess game. But this particular firm had ties to Blackwood Corporation, which meant occasional visits to the empire that had once been my world.I didn’t linger on that thought. My phone buzzed just as I reached my car. The name flashing across the screen made my heart lurch. Az. The investigator.I exhaled sharply and tapped the message open: I have something. It’s big. This will destroy her, but Blackwood Corp goes down with her. Do you still want it?My fingers tightened around the phone as a thousand possibilities rushed through my mind. What could he have found t
KAELON’S POVAfter a while of staying together, I knew that I had to tell her something important. We had to come clean to the public before whoever was snooping around did. It would be devastating , but it will be more managed that way.“Kaelon,” Liv said, her voice tight, her gaze unwavering. She’d been quiet for a while now, but I knew she was stewing on something. She always did when she was worried, when something didn’t sit right with her. “What’s going on? What’s really happening?”I ran my hand through my hair, trying to think of a way to calm her down. Trying to find the right words to explain without escalating the situation further. “I think we’ve been compromised, Liv,” I said finally, my voice low. “Someone’s been watching us—watching you.”Her eyes narrowed, but she didn’t speak right away. She was waiting, letting me continue. I had to get it all out before she started asking questions I didn’t know how to answer.“I don’t know who, but I have a feeling it’s someone cl
LIV’S POVAs I stepped through the door, I could feel the weight of the moment settle in. There was something about this place—something about Kaelon—that made everything else fade into the background. The faint hum of the office, the quiet bustle of people behind the walls, none of it mattered when I was with him.I offered Evelyn a polite nod as I passed her, noting the curious glance she gave me. She was always so composed, but I could feel the subtle tension in the air between us. Evelyn had a way of knowing everything, and she didn’t miss much. I wondered what she thought of me, but it wasn’t something I wanted to dwell on today. As I stepped further into the room, I caught sight of him at his desk, his gaze already on me. His lips parted in a smile—one that made my heart race in an instant. He didn’t even need to say a word. His eyes spoke volumes, and I could feel the warmth of his affection washing over me like a tide.I didn’t hesitate. My legs carried me forward without a s
Kaelon’s POVThe thick, suffocating tension in my office made it hard to breathe. The lights above hummed low, the kind of sound that seemed to gnaw at my nerves, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off—something I hadn't quite pinned down yet. I sat at my desk, staring at the screen in front of me, the numbers from the latest report blurring together. "Mr. Blackwood," Evelyn's voice cut through the quiet hum of the office. She had been standing in the doorway for a few moments, observing me, and now she stepped forward, her tone sharp, her expression calm but knowing. "We need to talk."I looked up from the screen, my jaw tightening. Evelyn had always been cool, collected—almost eerily so—and that was why she was so good at her job. But today, her usual composed demeanor didn't reassure me. There was an underlying tension in her movements, a sense that she was as unsettled as I was."What is it?" I asked, my voice rough with frustration. "This situation with my offi