Raisel – POVLenny and Lora were both off today because we were heading to Soren’s grandfather’s for lunch and dinner. I sat at the table, unable to take my eyes off the view before me—Soren, shirtless, his broad back flexing as he moved in nothing but sweatpants. He was making pancakes and brewing coffee, insisting I sit and wait. I’d protested, saying I’d cook, but he never listened. Now, I was glad I hadn’t pushed harder. His muscles rippled under his skin as he worked, and I couldn’t tear my gaze away.I wished, for a fleeting moment, that he was still the nerd with braces and glasses—the one with a lean body that had somehow transformed into this athletic figure standing in front of me. Shaking off the thought, I forced my attention back to my phone, feeling like a voyeur. I was sure he felt my stare. And when I felt his gaze return, it was like a jolt to my system. Heat rose to my cheeks, and I pretended to focus on an article about Davina and Alaric’s disastrous wedding. Pictur
Raisel – POV Soren’s grip tightened around my hand, silencing me with nothing more than pressure. His voice cut through the room, low and edged. “Grandpa, I told you to play nice—for once.” His eyes, narrowed to dangerous slits, flicked over to me. I dared a glance at Mr. Beau, but his face remained emotionless, utterly indifferent to the warning hanging thick in the air. “Calm down, Soren,” I whispered, though he didn’t turn to me. His gaze remained fixed on his grandfather, who watched us both like we were subjects under a microscope. “I’m not with Soren for his money,” I blurted, desperate to end the silent war already brewing between them. Mr. Beau’s voice was steady, cold. “Do you work?” The question slithered out as I gripped Soren’s arm, holding him back. To my surprise, he remained silent, his eyes lingering on where my fingers clung to him. “No,” I replied, my voice barely audible. “Hard to believe you’re not after his money, then.” His tone dripped with accusation,
Soren – POVThe new office is finally ready—a business I’ve built without a single cent of Dalton family money. Now, the task is to make it succeed. I glance over the files in front of me, filled with the specs for a new automobile—one that will give my competitors no room to breathe. My gaze briefly shifts to Gwen, my secretary, as she arranges the paperwork.Raisel is seated next to me, holding her composure though I can sense the tension she hides. Across the table, the other designers and engineers are present, waiting for direction. As I discuss the vision for the car, I make it clear: the model needs to be revolutionary, something that not only stands out but crushes the competition. The files contain every detail, the contracts have been signed, and I’ve ensured no one will leak or steal my ideas.I check my watch—two hours of discussion. It’s time to end this.“Meeting adjourned. I need the prototype ready in a month.”“A month is a tight deadline, Mr. Dalton,” one of the desi
Raisel – POVAfter a suffocating session with the counselor, I spot Soren in the waiting room. He sits there, oblivious to the hungry gazes of the women around him, his attention buried in his phone. I stride toward him, and when our eyes meet, he greets me with a smile that feels almost too innocent. “Here’s your Americano,” he says, handing me the coffee. I take it, forcing a grateful smile as he guides me out of the counselor’s office. I can feel eyes on us—phones pointed, pictures snapped, their interest feeding off the spectacle of our every move. But none of it bothers me. Not when I’m with him.We head to the car, ready to sell the apartment Alaric and I had once called home. A few potential buyers are lined up, and Soren insists on accompanying me. As the clients filter through, I go through the motions, showing them the penthouse that once held so many memories. A few offer to buy, but their offers fall short.“The house will be sold for no less than ten billion,” Soren decla
Soren – POV Raisel’s been giving me the cold shoulder ever since our fight last night. It wasn’t the first time we argued, but that doesn’t make it any easier. I hate seeing her upset, even if—strangely—she looks kind of cute when she’s mad. The way she glares at me, subtle but sharp… I hate it, but at the same time, I’m drawn to it. I sighed and glanced at my phone. Davina had sent another one of her threat messages. Apparently, she’s going to blow up some scandal about Dalton firm that could ruin me. She’s delusional if she thinks it’s that simple. My deal with her was clear: I’d give her dirt on Alaric, the guy she’s been obsessed with since college. She’s still stuck on him, even though her bad habits are the reason Alaric left her for Raisel. And I hate him for taking Raisel away from me. Davina and Alaric still kept in touch, even if it was all just dirty messages at this point. I heard about it from her best friend—who, coincidentally, I was sleeping with at the time. Yeah, s
Soren’s POVA constant beeping pierced through the haze, tugging me back to consciousness. I squinted, my eyes struggling to adjust to the bright light overhead. Slowly, the blur around me sharpened. White ceiling. The sterile smell of antiseptic. A sharp, throbbing headache reminded me of where I was.I glanced down to see an IV needle buried in my hand, tubes connecting me to the machine that was keeping me alive. My grandfather sat in the chair beside me, his expression unreadable.I reached for the oxygen mask, pulling it off as I tried to find my voice.“You barely survived,” he said, his tone flat, offering no comfort.The memories of what had happened came flooding back all at once. Panic surged through me, and I shoved the blanket aside, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed.“Where are you going?” my grandfather asked, his voice sharp with warning.“Raisel... where is she?” I rasped, my throat burning with every word.A nurse hurried over, trying to stop me. “She’s in the
Raisel’s POVI fell silent after his confession. The room seemed to hold its breath, and a sigh escaped his lips as the silence stretched, becoming unbearably awkward. I didn’t know what to say. Soren studied me for a second longer, then excused himself and left the room.After being discharged from the hospital, we returned to the penthouse. My body still felt weak, but Soren moved around as if nothing had happened, back to his usual self.“Take this,” he said, handing me a small bottle of strange-looking liquid.“What is it?” I asked, eyeing it suspiciously.“An antidote,” he said, breaking the silence. I hesitated. “Raisel, it’s not the first time I’ve been poisoned,” he added with a faint smile, as if the idea didn’t shock him at all. “I’ve built up immunity, so I’m fine now. You can take this—it’ll help you recover.”“Who tried to kill you this time?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.“I have enemies everywhere,” he said calmly, showing no fear of another attack. “I don’t
Raisel – POVSoren was asleep on the couch when I left. I couldn’t bear to face him, not today. The office felt hollow, the empty corridors stretching out in eerie silence. Only Gwen was there, huddled in her cabin, her eyes flicking between me and the clock. “You should be resting,” she said softly.“I’ve rested enough,” I muttered, brushing past her. “I’m falling behind.” I motioned for her to follow me to the pantry, where I fumbled for the coffee machine, trying to steady my trembling hands.“I don’t want to... gossip,” Gwen whispered, her voice cutting off as if the words were dangerous to say aloud.I gave a bitter smile. “Gossip? Nobody talks to me. They just give me polite smiles, pretend nothing’s wrong, and walk away.” My voice dropped. “But you, Gwen... you can tell me anything. I don’t mind.”She took a slow sip of her coffee, her eyes clouded with concern. “You’re not... scared? After everything that’s happened?”“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t,” I sighed, the weight of
Raisel’s POVGwen had to face the consequences. Killian didn’t spare her, no matter how much I wanted him to. The verdict wasn’t mine to make—but I didn’t try to stop it either. I just stood there… silent. The only thing I could offer was a promise—to care for Gwen’s mother, a sick woman who depended on her daughter for everything.Fiora and Hazel had moved into Soren’s penthouse to stay close to me. That place, once his, now belonged to me. His lawyer had handed over the official documents just last week. Hazel was still job hunting, and Fiora was constantly buried in work. I wasn’t any better. Between my usual responsibilities and the added pressure of stepping in as Killian’s temporary secretary, I was running onfumes.He’d be visiting again this week—hopefully, with updates about Soren. God, I needed something. Anything.In a blur of fatigue and distraction, I stepped into the wrong office. It hit me the second I walked in—the silence, the stillness. The absence.The air was heav
Soren's POV I stared at the white ceiling. Everything felt hazy, like I was floating somewhere between sleep and consciousness. Voices filtered through the fog — muffled, distant.“How long until he wakes up?”That voice — I knew it. The only person I could ever call a true friend. Jace.“He should—”The rest blurred. I saw movement in my periphery, someone speaking, but the words were just noise. Slowly, the fog began to lift,my vision sharpening bit by bit.A man in a lab coat leaned over me. “How are you feeling?” he asked.“Fine,” I whispered, though it felt like a lie. My eyes wandered until they found Jace. He handed me a cup of water, and I drank itlike I hadn’t tasted water in days.“I need to call Raisel,” I said, breath catching in my throat.Jace handed me another cup without a word. The cool water soothed my parched throat.“You can’t,” he finally said.My stomach dropped. “Why not?”He looked me dead in the eye.“We staged your death — and the case was officially close
Raisel – POVFiora, Hazel, and I had searched everywhere—every hallway, every floor—but Gwen was nowhere to be found.“Hey, have you seen Gwen?” I asked one of my coworkers, trying to keep the panic out of my voice.“Yeah,” she nodded. “She came in earlier but left after taking a phone call.”“Did she say where she was going?”“Not a clue.”“Come with me,” Fiora said, grabbing my hand. I didn’t hesitate, following her with Hazel close behind as we rushed into my office.“I can track her phone,” Fiora offered, already pulling out her laptop.“Do it,” Hazel snapped before I could even get the words out. “I need answers—goddammit.”Fiora looked at me for confirmation.“Yes,” I whispered. “Please.”Seconds ticked by like hours before Fiora finally said, “Got her. Let’s go.”“I’ll text Killian and let him know I’m taking the day off,” I muttered as we hustled out. Hazel’s car screeched into the road as Fioragave directions, leading us straight to the one place I didn’t expect—The prison.
Raisel – POVIt’s been a week. Just one. And yet, everything’s changed.I had to get back to work at Terrain Motors. Normal life, right? Except it’s not. Gwen dropped the bomb—Killian's the new CEO, not Soren. That one stung.The whole week passed in a blur. Killian kept me updated using coded language that made zero sense half the time. Thankfully,Fiora was a pro at decoding it. Killian said Soren was doing fine, which was something, but the officers were still monitoring every call, every device. Translation: zero contact with Soren. For who knows how long.Knock knock.“You ready? You’re gonna be late,” Hazel’s voice called out gently.“Coming!” I stepped out of my room, pulling down my green blouse and smoothing my black pencil skirt.“Whoa, look at you. Total knockout,” Hazel said, giving me the classic head-to-toe scan. I smiled. She was trying her best to lift myspirits.“You don’t have to drive me. I’ll grab a cab,” I said quietly.“Nope. I’ve got nowhere to be,” she said, h
Raisel - POVMy panic finally started to settle the moment Fiora looked at her phone and read the message.It was from Jace.Soren’s okay. This was all staged. Fiora whispering in my ears.While the doctor checked my vitals. He handed me some medication to help calm my nerves and quietly stepped out of the room.“Inhale slowly… now exhale,” Hazel said, her voice like silk brushing across my senses.“I want to go see Soren,” I whispered.“I’m sorry, Raisel… but you can’t. Not right now,” Fiora added gently, sadness woven into every word.“Why not?” I whispered again. “I need him. I…”Before I could finish, Hazel pulled me into a tender embrace.“The officers are still watching you… even if the charges were dropped,” she murmured against my shoulder.“They’re doing everything they can to dig deeper, to confirm the truth,” Fiora added, trying to stay calm for my sake.“Until the case is closed and some time passes… you’ll need to stay here,” Hazel said quietly.I pulled back slightly fro
Soren – POVI sat in the car, my mind still reeling from the intense conversation we just had—planning out my staged accident, down to the finest detail. Jace would handle the video footage, making sure it all looked like damning evidence of my supposed death.I gripped the steering wheel tighter. This was it.The road was quiet, deserted. Perfect.I floored the gas, the engine roaring beneath me, my pulse racing to match. Trees blurred past. I jerked the wheel, losing control just enough to make it look real. The car slammed into a tree with a violent crunch. My head cracked against the steering wheel, and for a second, everything blurred. A sharp pain shot through my skull. I couldn’t afford to black out now.I had to move. Now.Staggering out of the wreckage, I barely made it out before the flames erupted behind me. Heat kissed my back as I collapsed ontothe grass, lungs heaving. Killian’s men were already there, emerging from the shadows, pulling me away from the wreck. They’d ha
Soren – POVMy eyes flew open. I was drenched—water dripping from my face and hair, heart pounding. I sat slumped in a chair, dazed, staring around the condo.“Asshole,” I growled.Killian shrugged casually. “Had to bring you here to keep you safe. Raisel’s orders,” he said. “She told me if you refused, I should knock you out.”My eyes narrowed at him.“I figured you wouldn’t believe me,” he added, then hit play on a recording on his phone. Raisel’s voice spilled out—urgent, desperate. She’d said everything just like Killian claimed.“I can’t just sit here doing nothing for her. She’s in trouble,” I said, rising quickly. I pulled out my phone and called Jace.“What’s the status on Raisel?” I asked.“She’s in custody,” he said grimly. “They’re interrogating her about the video and what happened.” There was a pause.“What?” I demanded.“Susan… passed away,” he whispered. “She went into shock when the officers arrested Raisel.”I cursed under my breath.“I’m coming to New York. I’ll take
Soren - POVAll the stakeholders assembled at Dalton headquarters in the UK with polished shoes, sharp stares, and nerves stitched into the seams of their suits. They were here for one reason—to decide who’d take the charge of the company. Again.Technically, I was still CEO. But this was never supposed to be permanent. That’s the deal I’d made with my grandfather: I’d step in temporarily, steer the ship until I could prove Joshua was capable of taking over for real.“The agenda of today’s meeting is to appoint a new CEO,” the chairperson began, voice stiff and rehearsed. “After the passing of Mr.Joshua Dalton, Mr. Beau Dalton, and Mr. Alex Dalton, our stock has taken a severe hit.”He stopped. Looked straight at me. Like I was supposed to fix this. Like I was still one of them.“We understand your tenure ends this month,” he continued.I nodded. “Yes. I won’t be continuing.”A hush settled in the room. Not shock—just disappointment they weren’t even trying to hide.“You are the stro
RAISEL – POV“Soren!”He looked up and smiled. “I was wrapping up work.”I wanted to ask what was on his mind, but I figured I’d wait until we got home. The car ride was unusually quiet.As soon as we stepped inside, Soren excused himself and went straight to his office. I freshened up and was about to start cooking something for us when I saw him sitting on the couch, deep in thought.“Soren, you seem distant... and worried,” I said softly.He looked up. “I’m trying to figure out what to do with this pendrive.”“Destroy it,” I suggested.“No, I’m not thinking about that,” he replied quickly.“Then what?”“Killian might have a copy... and what if he—” he paused, clearly troubled.“He said he didn’t, but still, being cautious is smart. Just... don’t let it eat you up,” I said. “Maybe things won’t go bad. You have me.We’ll be okay. We’ll be happy. My mom will be here too.”He raised an eyebrow.“What’s that look for?” I asked.“You called Susan ‘Mom’ instead of her name,” he said with