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
Soren – POVA funeral—supposedly a place for grieving, yet all I felt was an unsettling joy. Not a single tear threatened to fall. I had wanted to kill Nancy with my own hands, to savor her last breath, but someone had stolen that moment from me. When I reached her body, she was already dead, a bullet in her chest, and a gun abandoned at her side. I picked it up, my mind churning. Who had taken my vengeance from me? I knew it wasn’t Grandfather—he’d left Nancy’s fate in my hands. He trusted me to make her suffer, to break her, to force her to beg for death. Death wouldn’t have been her true punishment anyway. It was stripping her of her power and status, the things she craved most. That would’ve been her real end.I watched as Davina sobbed, with Alaric trailing behind her, feigning sympathy. Raisel stiffened beside me, her discomfort evident as Alaric’s gaze lingered on her. When I locked eyes with him, he quickly looked away, focusing instead on comforting Davina. My grandfather and
Raisel’s POVIt’s been a week since my outburst and the embarrassing moment of passing out after too many drinks. Soren hasn’t brought up any of those “friends with benefits” conversations, and now he’s acting distant, colder—almost like just a friend, but more aloof than usual. I don’t know why he’s pulling away. I let out a heavy sigh as I realize today is the day I’ve been both dreading and anticipating—the day I showcase my design. Soren has been so busy, constantly hounded by officers asking about the poison situation, and sometimes, they even question me.I dressed in formal attire, trying to calm my nerves as I reviewed the presentation slides. My hands were sweaty, and my heart raced. Crowds have never been my thing. A soft knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts.It was Nia, the new maid. “Breakfast is ready,” she announced quietly.“No, thank you, Nia. I don’t think I can eat,” I said, the anxiety churning in my stomach.“Eat.” Soren’s calm voice came from behind me as
Raisel – POVI had two days off after working overtime, trying to drown out the noise in my head with busy days and sleepless nights. Nia had left after making dinner, leaving the apartment silent, the kind of silence that pulls memories out of the shadows. I poured myself a glass of wine, despite the doctor’s warnings to steer clear of alcohol and focus on meditation. Like that would silence the chaos inside me.The phone rang, an unknown number flashing on the screen. I hesitated, then answered.“Sweetheart... how are you?” The voice slithered through the receiver, reeking of arrogance.I scoffed. “What the fuck do you want, Alaric?” My voice was venom, dripping with all the hatred I could summon.“You looked hot in that black dress... why didn’t you wear shit like that when we were together?” he slurred, his words laced with drunken lust.“Fuck off. Don’t call me again, or you’ll regret it.” I hung up before he could respond, but the calls kept coming, one after the other, each mor
Raisel’s POV“I’m going to cum,” I whispered, barely able to form the words. As I have been riding on his two larger fingers.“Raisel, I want to taste you. Cum for me.” His voice was low, commanding, and my body instantly obeyed, shuddering with pleasure. His fingers slowed their relentless rhythm, teasing me until he slipped them out of my drenched heat. I could only watch, breathless, as he raised them to his lips, coated with my arousal. The sight made my face flush, his eyes locking with mine, a smug smirk pulling at his lips as he tasted me. The act was intoxicating, both filthy and hot.“God, I’ve never felt this good…” I managed to breathe out.He chuckled darkly. “Raisel, we’re just getting started. You’ve no idea what I can make you feel.”My heart pounded, slamming against my ribcage, as his lips crashed into mine with a hunger that left me dizzy. I could taste myself on his mouth as his tongue dominated, demanding more, and I surrendered willingly. His hands moved with expe