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 – 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
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
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 – 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.
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’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
Raisel - POVKillian’s gaze flicked over to Jace, his tone sharpened with quiet urgency.“To stop Davina from taking over Dalton’s estate?” he asked. “As far as I know, she’s already spent a fortune bribing victims,erasing every shred of evidence.”Killian continued, eyes fixed on me. “Raisel’s carrying Soren’s child. That connects her—technically—to the Dalton family.”Jace blinked rapidly, visibly startled. The news had shocked him.Hazel spoke up, her voice tight with concern. “This isn’t a good idea.”“I agree,” I said softly. I already knew what she was thinking, because the same storm was brewing in me.“Why not?” Killian’s eyes landed on me, waiting.“I won’t gamble with my child’s life,” I said, my voice barely steady. “Davina isn’t just cruel—she’s dangerous. Standing up toher…” I let out a shaky breath. “I can’t take that risk.”“There’s no other choice.” Killian’s expression hardened. “You think I haven’t thought of that?”“Then why are you pushing this?” I snapped. “I ca
Raisel’s POVThe morning sun filtered through the curtains, warm and soft, like a kiss from the universe after a long, restless storm. I stirred in bed, feeling more rested than I had in days. My body still ached slightly from the newness of motherhood, but my heart felt full—overflowing, actually.I padded through the apartment, still quiet with the peaceful hush of early morning. I found Soren in Aurelia’s room, the soft light of dawn casting a golden hue over him as he carefully adjusted her tiny blanket. His every movement was tender, deliberate. This man—the same one who used to grumble about morning alarms—was now up before me, checking on our daughter.After his routine—breakfast, meds, and his usual black coffee—he turned to me and smiled.“Don’t worry about Aurelia,” he said, pouring a second cup for himself. “I’ve got her.”It had only been four days since we brought her home. Four days. And yet, Soren had slipped so effortlessly into fatherhood, like it had always been insi
Soren’s POV My eyes settle on the sweetest sight: Aurelia fast asleep in her crib, and somehow, Raisins has managed to squeeze in beside her. The little guy fits perfectly, curled up like he was meant to be there. It’s impossibly cute. I pull out my phone and snap a picture, already knowing I’ll come back to this moment again and again.I tiptoe out, letting my two angels rest. I can’t wipe the smile off my face—seeing them like that does something to me. Still, deep down, there’s this quiet fear that won’t quite go away: What if I’m not enough? What if I can’t be the father she deserves?But this happiness… this warmth in my chest… it’s like nothing I’ve ever known. I sit on the couch, breathe in deep, and close myeyes. The peace is so overwhelming I could cry. And to think—I once believed I’d never know this kind of love. I thought I was broken. Unlovable. That someone like Raisel was a dream I’d never be allowed to have.“Soren?”I open my eyes to find Raisel walking toward me,
Raisel’s POVMornings felt like a haze lately—exhaustion clinging to me like fog. But I wasn’t alone. I had help. Soren, Hazel, Fiora... and of course, Aurelia.“Morning, love,” Soren murmured, brushing a kiss across my forehead. I smiled up at him as his arms slid around my waist.Hazel entered with Aurelia in her arms and handed her to me gently. The baby giggled and cooed, lighting up the entire room.“Hey there, little princess,” I whispered, nuzzling her soft cheek.“Breakfast is ready!” Nia called cheerfully from the kitchen. Even Nia, usually so calm and composed, couldn’t resist the joy Aurelia brought into our home.“You all go ahead and eat. I’ll take care of Aurelia,” Soren offered, cradling her as he walked off toward the playroom.As I sat down with the others, I noticed the energy shift. Something unspoken hung heavy between Hazel and Fiora—glances exchanged, a tension that was hard to miss.“What’s going on?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.No wonder Soren had slipped away
RAISEL – POV Soren looked worn out, eyes heavy with something deeper than exhaustion.“I thought I killed him,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I really believed it. But then Killian and I reviewed the video… and it showed more.”I leaned in, heart pounding. “What else killed Alaric?”He nodded, eyes clouded. “A sniper. Hired by Joshua. The plan was to kill him and frame me.”My hand flew to my mouth. I gasped. “Oh my god…”“So technically, I’m not a criminal,” Soren said quietly. “But Viktor... he did die by my hands.”I blinked at him, stunned. “Mathew left you?”“He had to,” Soren said. “After I showed him the evidence… Killian tracked down the assassin, who confessed everything. Mathewhad no choice. He had to arrest me. But Viktor’s death… that part is still a mystery. Killian covered things back then.”I couldn’t hold back any longer. I wrapped my arms around him, trembling.“You’re finally home,” I whispered against his shoulder.“I am,” he said softly, wrapping me
Raisel - POV“Soren,” I whispered like a prayer. “Is it really you?”“Raisins, this isn’t a dream.”His voice—deep, warm, and familiar—washed over me like a balm. He reached for my hand, his touch grounding me. But then pain exploded in my abdomen, sharp and sudden.“Ahh!”The cry tore from my lips before I could stop it. My vision blurred as the pain clenched tighter, burning from the inside out.“She’s dilating,” the nurse called out as the doctor rushed in.I could barely breathe—the pain was swallowing me whole.“Soren…”“Everything’s going to be alright!”His voice shook, urgent and raw, his eyes brimming with worry as they searched mine.“Why is she in so much pain?” he snapped at the doctor.“Please, sir, calm down,” the nurse said, steady but firm.“It’s time to push,” the doctor announced.I panted through the fire blazing inside me and pushed with every ounce of strength I had left.“You’ve got this, Raisins,” I heard Soren say, his voice like an anchor in the storm.Then—A
Raisel’s POVFour Months LaterI’m at my desk, going through the motions, but my mind is elsewhere—circling around Mathew. He’s getting closer to Soren’s location, and that terrifies me. Last week, Fiora decrypted a coded message—it confirmed what I feared: Mathew is hot on their trail.Killian’s gone dark, too, hiding from Mathew, who’s figured out that Killian is the one protecting Soren.Even worse, Mathew managed to dig up enough evidence to implicate Jace—proof that he tampered with the surveillance footage tied to Soren. It’s not a solid case yet, but it’s enough for Mathew to keep hauling Jace into the interrogation room, hoping he’ll crack and hand over Soren on a silver platter.A knock snaps me out of my thoughts.“Didn’t mean to startle you,” Mathew says smoothly, stepping inside. “I’ve been calling.”I compose myself quickly. “What brings you here, Mr. Mathew?”He raises an eyebrow, probably thrown off by how calm I sound.“I have a few questions,” he says, pulling out a c
Soren’s POVBrian came striding in, almost too fast, his face lit up with a strange sort of joy. Not the kind of expression you’d expect in our line of work. He handed me an envelope.“A letter from your wife,” he said, then disappeared without waiting for a response.I didn’t need to read the name. I already knew who it was from.Inside was a letter, and a small, wrapped box. My hands trembled as I unfolded the paper."You are the father of my child."The words stared back at me, loud and raw. I unwrapped the box to find a pregnancy test. Positive.My heart cracked open with emotions I wasn’t ready for. Me—a father? That thought had never even flirted with my imagination. I didn’t know how to feel. Was she scared? Was she happy? I had no answers, only a hurricane of uncertainty.And on top of it all, that monster Davina was still out there, circling her. I should’ve ended her when I had the chance.I climbed out of the basement, needing air—needing something stronger. But I didn’t ma
Raisel’s POV“Raisins.” I stared at the nickname, my heart caught somewhere between a laugh and a lump in my throat.“This isn’t Davina writing, but—” Hazel cut in, grinning. “I’ll give you and that letter some privacy, now that I know it’s not a threat letter. It's a love letter.” She winked, her tone playful.I blushed, caught off guard.As my eyes returned to the letter, I caught a soft trace of his cologne clinging to the page — warm, spicy, unmistakably him. And just like that, a rush of emotion surged up, bittersweet and strong. A strange calm swept over me. Even if things were uncertain, this letter brought me back to center.The LetterRaisins,This is a rough patch we’re going through — being apart like this. But it won’t last forever. I know that in my gut.Raisins... are you eating on time? You always forget when you’re caught up in work. Skipping lunch is basically your thing — and it drives me nuts.{I smiled through a tear. I could almost hear his voice, every word alive
RAISEL’S POVOne Month LaterI crouched in the shadows of the alley, my breath shallow, heart pounding. I was hiding from Davina’s assassins. Heavy footstepsechoed behind me.“Search over there!” a man barked.They swarmed the area. Without a sound, I slid beneath a rickety shed, my pulse thudding so loud I was sure they could hear it.“Come out, woman!” another voice shouted.I clamped a trembling hand over my mouth, stifling the scream clawing its way up my throat. Every part of me trembled. I regrettedeverything—leaving alone, ignoring Killian and Jace’s warnings to call first, brushing Hazel off when she tried to stop me. Myphone was in my hand, but the screen was black. Dead.God, help me, I begged silently. Please."Did you check all the spots?" one of them asked."I did. Nothing.""Impossible. We saw her run down this alley."“We can’t fail this mission. If we do—” the man’s voice faltered.“We have to kill her. Then send the photo to Lady Davina.”I shivered. Even they were