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
Author Note: Hey readers, This book delves into the darker side of romance, featuring explicit language, scenes, and a fast pace romance intertwined with a stalker trope. Please be aware that the content is intense and may not be suitable for everyone. If you enjoy dark romance novels and want to stay updated, follow me to my F******k group, Tracy Readrats, for more insights and discussions. Happy reading! TracyRaisel - POVMy eyes fixate on the phone screen, my fingers trembling above the display, waiting—desperately hoping—for a message from Alaric. But the screen remains hauntingly silent, the absence of his name like a knife twisting deeper with every passing second. Maybe he’s just busy at work, I tell myself, my chest tightening as dread curls around my ribs like a vise. The lie barely holds together.Needing a distraction, I turn to the charity event I’m dressing for, pulling a white, sleeveless dress from the wardrobe. The cream hue feels like a bitter joke—pure, simple, l
Raisel – POV“Fine. Let’s fake date,” I whispered in response to Soren’s bold proposal. My voice wavered, but my heart betrayed me with a flutter. His braces were gone, and so was the awkward nerd I once knew. Standing before me now was a man who looked as though he’d stepped out of a European magazine—dark, brooding eyes, sharp features, and a presence that demanded attention. He was utterly unrecognizable, and it made my chest tighten.The paparazzi swarmed us like vultures, their camera flashes blinding and relentless. My head throbbed as questions were hurled at us from every direction. Before I could react, Soren’s arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me into him. His hold was firm yet protective, shielding me from the chaos.“Mr. Soren Dalton, we need to ask Mrs. Raisel Warden some questions,” one of them shouted.“You will not ask any questions of my girlfriend,” Soren stated with a calm, steely edge to his voice. The word “girlfriend” hung in the air like a firecracker, silenci
Soren’s POVThe apartment was silent now. Hazel and Raisel were asleep in the guest room after finishing off a tub of ice cream and hours of painful sobbing. Raisel’s cries had been raw and relentless, each one cutting through me like a knife. It was unbearable to hear her pain—her heartbreak—and knowing I couldn’t fix it entirely only made it worse. Hazel, thankfully, stayed by her side, offering the comfort of a sister.I stood by the window, glass in hand, staring at the city skyline. The lights of New York stretched endlessly before me, a stark contrast to the darkness stirring within. The sight offered no solace tonight. My thoughts were consumed by the image of Raisel—her tear-streaked face, her trembling voice, the shattered trust in her eyes. She looked utterly broken.She didn’t deserve this. Not Raisel. Never her.She was a kind soul, too good for the likes of Alaric. She had been my rock in college—the one who stood by me when no one else dared. Back then, I was the freak, t
Raisel’s POVThe tears never seemed to stop, as if they had carved a permanent path down my cheeks. Humiliation burned brighter with each passing day, fed by the hate-filled texts from strangers and the cruel messages from so-called friends who had turned their backs on me. It had been three months since I’d signed the divorce papers, three months of hiding in Soren’s penthouse. Hazel had been kind enough to gather my clothes from my old apartment and bring them to me, but stepping outside felt impossible.The cozy queen-sized guest room had become my cocoon. Soren had been… incredible. He brought me chocolates, ice cream, and the occasional sarcastic jab to jolt me out of my pity party. The housekeeper cooked meals so delicious I didn’t deserve them, and yet here I was, curled up, an empty shell of the woman I used to be.“Raisel,” Soren called from the living room. His voice was casual, light, like the weight of my crumbling life didn’t hang in the air between us. I glanced at the do
Raisel – POV“Why would he announce his marriage to Davina?” I asked, my voice trembling as tears welled in my eyes. My heart ached, and the betrayal stung anew, as if Alaric had twisted the knife in deeper. “What kind of man is Alaric to move on so easily? To flaunt it so publicly?” My voice cracked, and I pressed my trembling hands against my face to stop the flow of tears.“I know why,” Soren said, his voice calm and measured.I looked up, startled by his confidence. “Why?” I demanded.“We are the talk of the town,” he replied. “The internet believes I’m serious about you. That I’m in love with Raisin.”My cheeks burned at the nickname, but I ignored it. “How does that backfire on Alaric?” I asked, not understanding.Soren’s hazel eyes gleamed with something I couldn’t quite decipher. “I’ll explain later,” he said, waving off my question.I frowned, and Hazel mirrored my skepticism with a pointed glare.“Soren, I need an answer,” I pressed, my frustration building. “You asked me to
Content Warning:This chapter has a suicide attempt scene, which may be distressing for some readers. If you or someone you know is struggling, please consider reaching out to a trusted individual or professional support for help. Remember, you are not alone. **Raisel – POV**I woke up with a pounding headache, squinting against the sunlight streaming through the windows. Alaric was busy adjusting the drapes, flooding the room with blinding light. “Morning, Raisins,” he greeted me.“My head hurts,” I groan, my eyes slowly adjusting to the brightness. The aroma of coffee and breakfast filled the air, and I spotted Lora, the maid who always brought me delicious food.“You’re drooling,” Soren remarked, an amused glint in his eyes, clearly entertained by my lack of decorum. I didn’t care. Rolling my eyes, I reached for the coffee, but Soren stopped me, pointing to the ginger tea instead. He took the coffee mug for himself, and I growled in frustration.“I need coffee,” I whined.“Ginger t
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