Pain—an emotion she was no stranger to. Emotional, mental, physical. She had known it all, endured it all, but never imagined it would come from the one person she trusted most."Mr. Grant, after so long, you finally appear with Miss Rodrigo! Are you two making your relationship public?" a reporter's voice echoed across the prison hall."Please make way for Mr. Grant," came the coy voice from the television—the voice of the one person who had shattered her world."They look like the perfect couple." "Wonder what their baby will look like." "Bet Mr. Grant’s a beast in bed."Laughter bubbled around her, but Daisy couldn’t tear her eyes from the screen. The cold, aloof Louis Grant, who once held her hand, massaged her tired feet, and carried her on his back... now standing beside someone else, his arm draped casually around her. How had everything changed so drastically?Who would remember the woman who had once been the center of his life? The woman who had thrown it all away for the sa
"And you're sure no one’s been bothering her at work?" Liam asked, glancing over at Dandelion as they stood in the hallway, both trying to figure out the reason for their younger sister's strange behavior that morning."Liam, I’m her manager. If anyone tried anything, I’d know. Sure, she’s had her moments, but nothing that would cause such a drastic change," Dandelion replied, crossing her arms."I found her staring out the window earlier," Liam muttered, his brow furrowing. "She seemed lost, but at the same time... excited? I’ve never seen her like that before.""I’ll keep a closer eye on her," Dandelion promised, knowing how protective Liam was over Daisy. The youngest Croft sibling had always been Liam’s bottom line, and no one dared cross that line."Just promise me—if something comes up, I’m the first person you call," Liam said firmly."Do we have a choice?" Dandelion laughed, shaking her head. "Come on, let’s get downstairs before the little wolf devours the entire table."They
Daisy sat across from Louis, her hands clenched beneath the table as she tried to calm the racing thoughts in her mind. The restaurant was quiet, the kind of high-end place where hushed whispers and the soft clinking of glasses filled the air. Louis had yet to say much, his eyes distant, as though he'd already made up his mind. He looked just like she remembered—tall, composed, and heartbreakingly handsome. The silence between them stretched as Daisy gathered the courage to speak."I’m glad you made it," Louis finally said, his voice low, betraying none of the emotions she knew he had once held for her. "We need to talk about us."Daisy's heart squeezed at his words. This was it—the moment he had planned to break things off. She had been preparing for this. Her eyes met his, and she forced herself to speak, her voice trembling slightly. "Louis, I know things have been difficult between us. But I want to fix this. I realize now how much I took you for granted."Louis raised an eyebrow,
Daisy stood in front of the mirror, her reflection gazing back at her with a determination she hadn't seen in years—or in lifetimes. Her face was the same as it had always been, but the fire in her eyes was new. The last chapter of her life had ended in fire, betrayal, and death, but this time, she would rewrite her story.She knew where to start. Natalie."That snake," Daisy whispered to herself. She remembered the pain Natalie had caused her—the false concern, the lies, the carefully crafted web that had ensnared her entire family and led to their demise. But it was more than just manipulation. Natalie had powerful connections, and it wasn’t until Daisy’s dying days that she discovered just how deep her best friend’s ties went.Natalie wasn’t just a conniving socialite. She had ties to the underworld—specifically the mafia. That was why Natalie had been untouchable, how she had gotten away with murder without even getting her hands dirty. Her enemies vanished, obstacles disappeared,
Louis sat in his office, his mind far from the papers in front of him. Daisy’s recent changes gnawed at him—her sudden maturity, her apologetic demeanor, the way she looked at him with eyes that seemed… older. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was different about her, something beyond her just ‘growing up.’“Sir,” his right-hand man said as he entered the room, breaking Louis from his thoughts, “We’ve completed the investigation on Miss Croft. There’s nothing out of the ordinary. Her routine is the same as it’s always been.”Louis nodded, but his unease remained. He tapped a pen against his desk, watching the seconds tick by on the clock.“Arrange a meeting with Liam Croft,” Louis finally said. “I need answers.”His man left, but the room felt heavier now. Louis leaned back in his chair, lost in thought. He had loved Daisy for as long as he could remember, loved her fire, her unpredictability. But now, she was different. More reserved. Almost as if she carried a secret she
Natalie sat in the back of a sleek, black car, her eyes scanning through the latest reports about Daisy's new film project. She grinned coldly, knowing that her first real strike was about to land. Her fingers tapped impatiently on the armrest as she thought of the perfect opportunity to remind Daisy of her place. Despite her efforts to stay under the radar, Natalie wasn’t going to let things slide any longer. She had been watching quietly from the sidelines, waiting for the perfect moment to act, and now, it was here.Daisy had just landed one of the biggest roles of her career, a chance to star in an international blockbuster that would elevate her status in the industry. The role was everything Daisy had been working toward—a complex, layered character that would show off her true acting abilities. It was a major stepping stone, and one that Natalie had once thought belonged to someone else. But now, Daisy was taking it, and that simply wouldn’t do.She made a quick call, her voice
Daisy’s body tensed as she lay in the hospital bed, her mind swirling with thoughts that went far beyond her physical injuries. The accident on set had been no accident—she knew that much. It wasn’t a freak occurrence, but a calculated move. And she knew exactly who was behind it: Natalie.Her dear friend, her supposed ally, had orchestrated the whole thing. Daisy had known for some time that Natalie wasn’t as innocent as she pretended to be. In her past life, she had been blind to it, blinded by trust and friendship. But now, after being given a second chance, Daisy saw through the facade. Natalie’s connections to the underworld were well-hidden, but Daisy had seen enough in her previous life to understand the dangers Natalie posed.She clenched her fists under the blanket, the pain from her bruised ribs barely registering compared to the storm of emotions inside her. She couldn’t tell Louis or Liam—not yet. If she did, Natalie would strike harder. Her ties to the underworld meant sh
The morning light streamed through the large windows of the Croft family mansion, casting a warm glow over the spacious living room. Dandelion was sitting at the breakfast table, her fingers gliding over her tablet as she organized her schedule for the day. As the eldest, she often took it upon herself to keep the family in order, balancing work with the responsibility of looking out for her younger siblings. Across the table, Liam scanned the business section of the newspaper, his brow slightly furrowed. He might not have been the oldest, but he felt a strong sense of duty to protect both Dandelion and Daisy, especially since their father had entrusted him with important aspects of the family business. Despite his gruff exterior, Liam had always been a reliable force, someone his sisters could lean on. Daisy entered the room, looking much more vibrant than she had in the past. Her transformation hadn’t gone unnoticed by her siblings, and though they were grateful to see her in hig
Natalie watched Louis from across the room, her eyes narrowed as he sat slouched in his chair, nursing a glass of whiskey. His injuries had mostly healed, but the emotional wounds he carried were far from mended. He barely acknowledged her presence, his thoughts clearly elsewhere.She smiled faintly, masking the bitterness that twisted in her chest. Tonight would be the night she secured her future.“Louis,” she called softly, stepping closer. Her voice was soothing, almost maternal. “You’ve been drinking too much again.”“I’m fine,” he muttered, swirling the amber liquid in his glass.“No, you’re not,” she said firmly, taking the glass from his hand. “Come sit with me.”He didn’t resist as she guided him to the couch. She handed him another drink, this one carefully prepared.As he drank, Natalie sat beside him, her hand resting lightly on his arm. “I’ve been worried about you,” she said, her tone sweet and laced with concern.Louis blinked slowly, his vision beginning to blur. “I’m
Natalie stared out the window of her lavishly decorated parlor, her fingers curled tightly around the stem of her wine glass. The late afternoon sun cast a golden glow across the room, but it did little to brighten the storm brewing inside her.The whispers had reached her ears—whispers that shouldn’t exist, whispers that sent her carefully constructed world teetering on the edge of chaos. Daisy. Alive.The name burned in her mind like a brand, fueling a mixture of fear, anger, and something dangerously close to envy. Louis hadn’t been the same since his return from the Sovereign’s clutches. He was distant, restless, his eyes constantly clouded with thought. Natalie knew where his mind wandered, even if he didn’t dare speak it aloud. It wasn’t hard to guess.Daisy.She swirled her wine absently, her mind working through the implications. If Daisy truly was alive, everything Natalie had worked for could come crumbling down. Louis had been hers for years now, tethered by duty and conven
Louis stumbled through the shadowed streets, clutching his bruised ribs as he gasped for air. The Sovereign’s men had made it clear that his escape wouldn’t come easy. Blood seeped through his torn shirt, each step sending sharp jolts of pain through his battered body. But he didn’t care. There was only one place he could go, only one person who might help him make sense of what had just happened: Ezekiel.When he finally arrived at Ezekiel’s residence, he nearly collapsed at the gate. Summoning the last shred of his strength, Louis banged on the door, his bloodied knuckles leaving red smears on the polished wood.The door swung open, and Louis looked up, expecting Ezekiel’s stern gaze. Instead, he was met with the wide-eyed stares of Liam and Dandelion.“Louis?” Dandelion’s voice was sharp with disbelief.“What the hell are you doing here?” Liam demanded, his expression a mixture of anger and concern.Louis staggered inside without waiting for an invitation, collapsing onto a nearby
The room was oppressive, suffused with a damp chill that clung to Daisy’s skin. Her wrists were shackled above her head, the iron cuffs biting into her flesh. She stood in the center of the punishment chamber, her cloak discarded, her back bare to the cold air. The Sovereign’s heavy footsteps echoed ominously, each step a grim promise of what was to come.“You failed me, Phantom.” His voice was devoid of warmth, each word cutting like a blade. “You, my most trusted. My most loyal.”Daisy remained silent, her chin lifted defiantly despite the weight of the accusations. She had made her choice, and she would endure the consequences.The Sovereign circled her slowly, his presence looming. “Did you think I wouldn’t notice? That I wouldn’t see the hesitation, the weakness? You let him escape.” His voice dropped, chillingly calm. “You, of all people, betrayed me.”She stiffened but didn’t speak. What could she say? He was right. She had faltered when she saw Louis, the memories of their pas
The room reeked of damp cement and rusted metal, its oppressive silence broken only by the faint drip of water from a leaking pipe. Shadows flickered against the walls, cast by a single bulb hanging precariously from the ceiling. Louis sat hunched in a steel chair, his wrists bound tightly by chains that dug into his skin. Dried blood crusted on his cheek from a deep gash, a testament to the rough treatment he’d endured, yet his eyes still burned with defiance.He wasn’t afraid of them. At least, that’s what he told himself. But deep down, beneath his stoic facade, there was a small, gnawing fear—not for himself, but for those he had failed.The heavy door groaned open, its sound reverberating through the room like a warning. Louis lifted his head, squinting through the haze of pain and dim light. The rhythmic clink of boots filled the silence, deliberate and unhurried.She entered the room with a calculated grace, her black cloak billowing slightly as she moved. A sleek mask covered
Daisy sat at the edge of a deserted rooftop, her legs dangling over the ledge as the neon-lit city sprawled below her. The air was thick with the hum of distant traffic, broken only by the occasional siren. She exhaled, her breath forming a mist in the cool night air. The trail she had left behind was deliberate—a breadcrumb she knew he couldn’t resist.He would come. He always did.But why? Why was she doing this? Each time, she told herself it would be the last. Yet here she was, waiting, her heart warring between anticipation and dread. She hated this pull he had over her, hated how his presence stirred something deep within her that she thought she’d buried forever.The faint sound of footsteps reached her ears, steady and purposeful. She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. She closed her eyes briefly, steeling herself.“You’re getting sloppy,” Ezekiel said, his voice low and tinged with worry.She smirked, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “Or maybe I’m just testing you
The tension between them had always been an undercurrent, simmering beneath the surface, threatening to boil over. But lately, it had become impossible to ignore. Daisy sat at the edge of the Sovereign's grand meeting hall, her eyes scanning the room as the powerful figures debated alliances and power plays. She could feel his gaze on her—intense, unwavering, and maddeningly familiar.Ezekiel was there, standing among the few who had been granted access as external advisors. His focus was razor-sharp, but Daisy could tell it wasn’t on the room's politics or the Sovereign’s plans. It was on her. Always her.After the meeting concluded, Daisy made her way through the winding halls of the Sovereign’s estate. Her steps were deliberate, echoing against the cold marble floor. She didn’t want to acknowledge his presence trailing her, but she knew he was there. He always found a way to close the distance, and today was no different.“Do you think you can avoid me forever?” Ezekiel’s voice cut
Louis sat at his desk, the dull glow of the single lamp barely illuminating the mess of papers scattered before him. Financial reports, gang operations, and troubling news about the Sovereign’s encroaching power all screamed for his attention. But his mind was elsewhere, replaying the haunting image of her—the masked figure with scars.The memory gnawed at him relentlessly. Could it have been Daisy? Or was it a cruel trick of his guilt-ridden mind? He hated himself for even entertaining the thought.He poured himself another glass of whiskey, the burn doing little to numb the ache inside him. Across the room, Natalie entered without knocking, her expression a mix of irritation and triumph.“You’re spiraling,” she said bluntly, placing a folder on his desk. “We can’t afford for you to lose control now.”Louis glared at her. “I don’t need a lecture, Natalie.”Her lips curved into a sly smile as she sat on the edge of the desk, twirling a lock of her hair. “Good, because I’m not here to
Ezekiel sat in the dimly lit study, papers strewn across the desk in front of him. Maps, lists, and dossiers—all meticulously gathered in his relentless pursuit of a way to free her. His thoughts were a storm, a mix of strategy and emotions he couldn’t suppress. Every time he thought of her—her eyes hidden behind that mask, the scars on her body—his determination only grew stronger.“Daisy,” he murmured, the name a whisper of both hope and pain.He didn’t know how long he could endure watching her suffer, trapped in the Sovereign’s web. But he knew one thing for certain: he wouldn’t stop until she was free.---Meeting with Liam had been his first step, and though he had anticipated resistance, the outright rejection still stung.“Liam, please,” Ezekiel had said, his voice steady despite the tension between them. “I need your help. She needs your help.”Liam had crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. “And what makes you think I’d trust you? After everything? After Louis?”“This