Raisel – POVSoren’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, making So
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
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 - POVMy heart is beating faster than his, one palm on his cheek. “Soren… I… think I’ve had a crush on you for a long time.”He blinked in surprise. I chuckled at his reaction to my confession, still holding back tears in my eyes.“When you suddenly stopped coming to college, I was heartbroken that you left without a word,” I whispered."I missed you deep down. Whenever there were articles about you published, I read every one. Kind of stalking you on social media,” I said, embarrassed to confess.“I recently learned that it wasn’t just a crush… but as I have spent time with you these past three months, I started falling for you. Alaric was not the one—he was just a mistake,” I confessed. “You broke my resolve to not love anyone, but… here I am… taking a tremendous risk…”He kissed my lips, silencing me. I gasped in surprise as he slid his tongue inside my mouth. I moaned, a smirk playing across Soren’s handsome face, making me want him even more.“You have no idea what it does
Raisel’s POVI sat on the couch, fingers wrapped around a warm cup of tea. Across from me, Susan stared, her expression unreadable. We were alone in her office, the weight of unspoken words pressing between us.“Are you ready to hear me out?” she asked gently.I exhaled, my grip tightening around the cup. “Do I have a choice?”Her lips pressed together. “No.”I sighed. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean—”“It’s okay,” she cut in. “You hate change. And secrets, especially when they appear out of nowhere.”A bitter chuckle escaped me. “After my ex-husband’s affair came to light, I’ve been forced to see the truth in places I never looked before. Maybe I was too naïve to believe the lies.” My voice dropped to a whisper. “Can you believe that? A twenty-year-old, still foolish enough to trust?”Susan’s gaze softened. “You’re not naïve, Raisel. You’re kind. You believe in people, in their goodness. You forgive. But the world isn’t kind to people like you.” She paused, looking distant, as if she spoke
Raisel’s POVThe plane hums steadily in the air, and I’m clutching a glass of alcohol like it’s my lifeline. Flying? Not my thing. Drinking through it? My only coping mechanism.Across from me, Fiora watches with that amused little smirk of hers, shaking her head. “Care to tell me what’s going on?”“Bad people are behind us,” I mutter, swirling the liquid in my glass. “Alaric is—” I pause, my throat tightening.“Alaric is what?”Before I can answer, Jace appears out of nowhere, grinning. “Fiora, I’ve got a job for you.”Just like that, she’s whisked away, and I reach for another drink.“Enough, Raisel.” Soren’s voice cuts in, and his hand closes over mine before I can grab the glass.I groan, muttering a few choice words at him. “I’m not drunk.”“Good,” he says, deadpan. “Because we need you sober.”I narrow my eyes. “And what exactly do you want?”He leans in slightly, voice low. “You’re about to find out every secret I’ve been keeping from you.”My stomach flips. “Oh. Okay.”Soren c
Soren’s POVRaisel and I stood in Jace’s basement, watching the screens where he tracked people. The glow from the monitors cast eerie shadows across the room. My grandfather stood nearby, his face twisted in anger as he muttered curses under his breath."That bastard Joshua used her," he growled, pacing. "Dalton’s business is in danger because of this."I barely heard him. My eyes were locked on the grainy surveillance footage. “Zoom in,” I ordered. The image sharpened, revealing a stretcher. A doctor hovered over it, IV lines and a blood bag hooked up to the man being loaded into an ambulance.Raisel sucked in a sharp breath. "Joshua's not dead," she whispered, her voice trembling.I reached for her hand, squeezing it. "You're safe," I assured her. But deep down, I knew that safety was a fleeting illusion.My grandfather’s voice snapped me back. "We need to get Joshua. Bring him to us."I turned to him, already predicting his next move. His gaze flicked toward me, and I knew—he plan
"Your hand is hurt. Let me get the medical kit."She hurried to grab it, but as she stepped closer, I gestured for her to stop. My eyes flicked to the shattered glass on the floor."Don’t move—you’ll cut yourself. Let me clean this up.""No, you’re the one who’s hurt. I’ll clean it."I raised my hand, stopping her before she could step forward. Ignoring the sting in my palm, I carefully picked up the glass shards and tossed them in the trash. Only then did I walk over and take the kit from her hands."Please, let me," she insisted.Her touch was hesitant yet gentle as she cleaned my wound. I barely noticed the pain, too focused on her tear-streaked face, her swollen eyes. Even now, she was beautiful—strong despite everything."How did you get hurt?" she asked softly."Don’t worry about it," I muttered."How can I not?" Her voice wavered, her fingers trembling as she cupped my face. Tears welled up in her eyes. "I… I’ve been so angry at you—at the way you keep things from me. I hated i
Raisel – POVA firm hand landed on my shoulder. I flinched before slowly opening my eyes, my vision hazy, my body too weak to react. My breath hitched when I met familiar hazel eyes. Relief spread through my bones like warmth chasing away the cold.Soren.His name slipped from my cracked lips, barely a whisper. My throat burned, my chest ached. Tears—hot and uncontrollable—slipped down my face."I'm here, Raisins," he murmured, his voice thick with regret. "I'm sorry… I never should've left you alone."I sobbed into his embrace, my body trembling. He said nothing more, just lifted me into his arms as if I weighed nothing. No questions. No hesitation. Just unwavering presence. I buried myself in his warmth, but a deep, bone-chilling cold still clung to me as he carried me out of that godforsaken house.He set me down in the passenger seat, tucking his coat around my shoulders before sliding his shotgun into the back. His gaze met mine—dark, unreadable—but his eyes burned with something
Raisel - POVA cruel grin stretched across his lips. Slowly, he crawled onto the bed, his body moving like a predator closing in on wounded prey. Straddling me, he loomed over my frame, his weight pressing me into the mattress.“What…” I swallowed hard, fear lodging in my throat. “Get off me. I don’t want you to touch me. I don’t want you near me. Ever.”My voice shook, but I forced the words out like venom.His smirk deepened. "Feisty, aren’t we?" he taunted, his voice a low, dangerous hiss. “But you have no say in this.”My chest tightened. “You can’t force yourself on me.”He tilted his head, amused. “Force?” He leaned in, his breath hot against my skin. “You should be begging me not to take you.”There was something sickening in his voice—something laced with hunger and cruelty.My stomach churned. “If I beg… will you let me go?”His grin twisted into something darker. “You can try. Who knows? Maybe I’ll be the good guy.” His words dripped with mockery.I forced myself to meet his
Soren - POVThe scent of whiskey clung to Iris’s lips as she leaned in, her breath hot against my ear."Come on, Soren. You and me—tonight—we celebrate. We’re official now, aren’t we?" she whispered, voice laced with playful intoxication.I barely spared her a glance. "Not interested," I muttered and turned to leave.I barely made it a few steps before she grabbed my arm."What the hell do you think you’re doing?" she hissed, her nails digging into my sleeve.I sighed, yanking my arm free. "What do you mean?""Don’t play dumb with me!" Her voice was low, trembling with frustration. She wanted to scream, but she knew better."This is just a deal. Take a chill pill, woman," I shot back, shaking her off completely.I walked away, ignoring the whispers and the judging stares following me. Let them talk. I didn’t give a damn. But my grandfather—he was another story. His cold, sharp gaze burned into me, a silent warning. He wasn’t happy. He wanted me to play my part, to act like I was engag
Raisel's POVThe car launch exhibition was a massive success. The presale numbers shattered records, marking a historic moment in the industry.The energy at the afterparty buzzed with celebration—music, laughter, and endless congratulations. People kept telling me how inspired they were by my work. I smiled, nodded, accepted their praise, but my eyes kept drifting.Soren and Iris. Hand in hand.I stood next to Joshua, who was effortlessly charming as he engaged in conversation. I tried to stay focused, to be polite, but the weight of his arm around my waist made my skin crawl.“Come on, Luna, this way.” Joshua’s voice was smooth, sweet—too sweet. His touch lingered, possessive. I swallowed the discomfort and endured it.“Raisel!”Hazel’s voice sliced through the noise, and relief flooded my chest. Perfect timing.“Excuse me,” I murmured, stepping away. Joshua gave me a polite nod, his hand finally falling from my waist. I turned quickly, practically rushing toward Hazel and Fiora. As