Raisel’s POVHazel’s piercing green eyes locked on me like a detective about to crack a case.“What are you hiding on that ancient laptop of yours?” she asked, her voice carrying a teasing edge but with unmistakable curiosity.“Nothing,” I shot back, too quickly. “I told you to destroy it.”She raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced.“Well, I was going to,” she said, leaning back. “Until my laptop broke, and I had to borrow yours. I didn’t mean to pry, but…” She hesitated, biting her lip. “There was a folder. It was password-protected.” Her tone softened, but her gaze stayed firm. “Raisel, what’s in it? I want to know.”My pulse quickened. “It’s just my diary. That’s all.” My words came out sharper than I intended. “I’m entitled to some privacy, Hazel.”Her face fell slightly, and I hated the way my words seemed to push her away. The last thing I wanted was to hurt her, but this was a boundary I wasn’t willing to cross.“Sorry,” I blurted out, the guilt instantly kicking in.“It’s oka
Soren's POVThe sound of my fists slamming into the punching bag echoed in the gym, each hit fueled by raw anger. “Calm down,” Jace said, his voice cutting through the air. I ignored him. My knuckles burned as I pounded the bag harder, picturing Joshua’s smug face on it.I wanted to be on the next flight to Chicago, but I couldn’t. I’d been ruthlessly interrogated about my stepmother’s murder after police found my watch at the crime scene. My watch. How the hell did it end up there? I remembered walking into her room that night, but I wasn’t stupid enough to leave evidence behind.The truth? I hated her. Part of me wished I had been the one to kill her. But I didn’t. And now, to make matters worse, Joshua—my own damn half-brother—was making moves on my woman. My love. The thought of him getting close to Raisel made my blood boil. I wanted to kill him.“You know your lawyer did his best to get you out of the suspected list,” Jace said from the side, his tone almost sympathetic.“No, he
Raisel - POVI was finally sober, sitting in Hazel's room. Fiora and Hazel still looked groggy, their coffee mugs doing little to chase away the hangover.“Fiora, you’ve got the day off?” I asked. She nodded.“Yes,” she whispered.Hazel, frowning at her phone, suddenly looked troubled.“Guys, I need to leave for New York,” she announced.“Why?” I asked.“My mother called. If I don’t go, I could lose my business deal for good,” Hazel explained.“Do you want me to come with you?” I offered.“No, don’t cancel the trip because of me, Rai,” Hazel said firmly. “I’ll try to finish everything quickly and join you later.”“Hey, I’ve got two days off—I can keep Rai company,” Fiora said with a smile.“Yeah, Hazel, you should go. Don’t worry about me. I hope things work out for you,” I added, trying to reassure her. Fiora helpedHazel pick an outfit for the airport while I booked Hazel’s flight. A short while later, Hazel left in a cab.“So, what’s your plan for the day?” Fiora asked, turning to
Raisel - POVHe didn’t answer me. Instead, he grabbed my hand and urged me to walk with him. I froze, unmoving. He glanced back at me, exhaling loudly in exasperation.“Ugh.” He sighed, then smirked. “I’m just kidding, Raisel. You’re way too easy to rile up.” His laughter rang out, light and teasing.I relaxed, muttering a curse under my breath as I finally followed his lead. He had no idea how much he’d just scared me. We ended up at a cozy little spot called the River Crab House, savoring crab cakes and crisp Chardonnay in a surprisingly quiet lunch.“You know, it’s been ages since I’ve had lunch with someone,” he said after a long stretch of silence.I raised an eyebrow. “You expect me to believe that?” My tone was sharp with disbelief. “You’re the CEO of Dalton. I’m sure there’s no shortage of people eager to keep you company.”His expression shifted—distant, almost wistful. “I don’t dine with snakes,” he replied flatly, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as he side-
Soren – POVThe office was a mess, buzzing with tension. People tiptoed around me, subtly dropping hints and questions: When will Raisel be back? We need her to move forward. I knew they needed answers from her, but I wasn’t about to push. She deserved space—time to heal. Losing someone is one thing, but watching a man die in front of you, a man you once cared for? That’s a whole other kind of trauma.Me? I felt the opposite. There was a sense of calm in knowing one of the bastards was finally out of the picture. Dead and gone.Still, the work couldn’t wait. I stepped in, made a decision on her project. It was something Raisel would’ve approved of—or at leastI hoped so. I couldn’t let the deadline slip.It was late when the call came. I was sitting at my desk, nursing a cup of lukewarm coffee, when my phone buzzed.“Mr. Soren Dalton,” the voice on the other end said. It was Officer Denvor, the man in charge of the investigation into Nancy’s murder.“Speaking,” I replied, already brac
Raisel’s POVJoshua’s words won’t stop echoing in my head.“Listen to me carefully,” he said, his voice cold, calculated. “If you want to stay out of trouble, accept my deal. Pretend you’re in love with me.”I blinked, trying to keep my composure. “And what happens if I don’t accept your deal?” I asked, my voice barely steady.His smirk darkened, curling his lips into something both handsome and sinister. “Then you and Soren are in for a rough time,” he warned. He let that threat hang in the air before continuing, his words like venom. “Your project—the one launching the new car?It’ll stay nothing more than a dream. I’ll make sure of it.”My stomach dropped.I gulped. This man is heartless. No empathy at all. He’s… he’s the devil himself.“I… I…” I stammered, unable to string words together.“I’m giving you three hours to think it over,” he said with that insufferable smirk still plastered on his face. To most, he might look charming; to me, he was the worst kind of monster. Untamed.
Raisel’s POVI took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “Yes, I’m in. But I have my conditions,” I said, my voice firm despite the tremble in my hands. This isn’t what I want. Not at all.Joshua’s eyes darkened with intrigue. “And what might those be?” he asked. He didn’t shut me down immediately, which meant there was hope—however slim—that I could claw my way out of this mess.“You will respect boundaries,” I demanded, my tone sharp. “When I say no, it means no. You won’t blackmail me or manipulate me into doing things.”He leaned back, exuding the kind of confidence only a man like him could radiate. “I don’t have to force you into anything, Raisel.You’ll beg me for it,” he said smugly, his arrogance filling the room like a storm cloud.I rolled my eyes so hard I was sure they’d stick. These Dalton men—arrogant, entitled, and infuriatingly aware of their allure. And,God help me, why wouldn’t they be? With their striking looks, obscene wealth, and dangerous power, they practic
Soren’s POV “Mission Raisel accomplished.” A smirk tugged at my lips as I read Jace’s text on my phone. Perfect. Everything had fallen into place—because I made sure it did. It took a lot of manipulation to create this so-called “problem” and ensure Raisel would be the one to fix it. There’s no way I’m letting that asshole Joshua get anywhere near her. The temptation to storm into Chicago and drag her back home myself was almost unbearable. But that would only make her hate me more. And Raisel hating me? That’s the one thing I can’t risk. “Sir, the situation is getting worse.” Gwen’s voice cut through my thoughts. She entered the office, her expression tight with worry. I glanced at her calmly, and she frowned, as though confused by my lack of panic. “You don’t seem concerned. Sir, if we don’t fix this, we’re out of car models, out of investors, and ultimately... out of business.” “Take a breath, Gwen,” I said. She nodded, though the tension in her shoulders didn’t ease. She plac
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