Caden POVI sat in my black SUV, awaiting the arrival of Doctor Markus, while my goons escorted him to me. He wore a black mask, covering half of his face."So, you must be Doctor Markus," I said."In the flesh," he replied, pulling his mask down slightly as he adjusted some files."Am I cleared for the surgery?" I inquired."I already have you booked. All you have to do is sign here to agree to the surgery," he said, handing me the paperwork. I grew bored reading it and picked up my pen, ready to sign."Sir, shouldn't we wait for Henry to review the contract before you sign?" one of my entourage interjected, earning my glare."Don't you see Henry is late? I don't have time to read a useless contract when I already know what's on it. And if you want to keep your job, I advise you to zip it... And by the way, call Henry and tell him he's fired," I commanded."But sir, Henry said his wife was in labor, that's why he couldn't come early," the entourage member explained."Then you are fir
TRISTAN'S POV "Willow, show yourself!" I half-yelled, but she didn't come out, and everyone looked at me confused, as if I'd lost it. I'm going to smack her so hard that she recovers her memory. I scanned the atmosphere, frustrated that Jaxon was out with Hailey when I needed him most. Next time, Willow is wearing a leash when we go out. My eyes spotted a familiar blonde with a baseball cap running down the streets, and I ran after her. She stopped and stuck her tongue out at me."You can't catch me!" she yelled as she hastened her steps. How is she so fast? I stopped, gasping hard for air. I resumed my scan and spotted her taking a turn to who knows where. I caught up to her as she stopped in front of a building."I've got you... Let's go home... How are you so fast?" I panted, but she didn't spare me a single look, her eyes fixed on the glass revealing a plethora of games. She moved closer and sighed, pushing her face against the glass and tapping it."I always wanted to go to an a
TRISTAN'S POV "I thought you said we were going home," I snapped, as she took off her boots to put on her roller blades."I never promised," she said, rolling her eyes. I reluctantly took off my shoes and put on the roller blades as she took my hand and led me out of the arcade. She collected our shoes and tossed them into a nearby trash can."Are you crazy, woman?" I snapped at her as she held my hand, wheeling around and ignoring my frustration."I'm bored," she said, kicking her feet backward and letting out a sigh."Maybe you should stop skating backward before you hurt yourself," I retorted, still fuming over the fact that she threw away my shoes."Are you still bitter about your shoes?" she asked, effortlessly kicking her feet backward while facing me, twirling and executing a perfect pirouette."Yes, and I've been struggling with these skates while you have fun showing off," I yelled, feeling the weight of my frustration.She shrugged and skated to a dimly lit spot, stopping i
WILLOW'S POVI woke up in my room, rubbing the crumbs from my eyes and yawning so loudly I could swallow my whole room. Looking down at my feet, I noticed my roller skates were off, and I was wearing shorts with an oversized shirt I didn't recognize, sniffing in a familiar addictive smell that seemed oddly familiar.Wait, someone changed my clothes. Oh my god, don't tell me I did something with Tristan or he took advantage of me.I kicked down my door and headed to Tristan's room, knocking as if I'd lost it."Who is it?" I heard Tristan from inside."It's Willow. I want to see you now," I yelled, making sure he heard it loud and clear from across the room.I heard his footsteps pacing to the door, and as he opened it, Tristan stood before me, his devious smirk revealing the perfect outline of his jawline. His hair was messier than before, with scattered bangs falling over his forehead. His hands instinctively went up to run through his hair, pushing it back, a habit he seemed addicted
Markus POV I drove swiftly to my house, the anger coursing through me like a raging storm. Kicking the door open, I entered, trying to clear my mind, but I couldn't shake the fact that he had marked her first.My thoughts were a foggy haze, consumed by one singular notion—she is mine, and no one else's. No one gets to mark her but me. He may have left his mark on her skin, but he would never lay a hand on her while I'm alive. I'll make sure of that. I'll ensure he never touches her again, and when she's safely out of his reach once more, I'll strike.Just wait, Tristan Donovan . Your brother just signed his own death warrant. Soon, you'll join him, and Willow will be mine.HAILEY'S POV. I sat in Tristan's office at the casino, poring over Jaxon's laptop as he approached me with two shots of vodka in hand."Seriously, you're still at it? I wonder what Willow and Tristan are doing right now," Jaxon mused, prompting an eye roll from me."How is it possible that everything about Markus
HAILEY'S POV"I'm pregnant," I said. Jaxon froze, as I expected, the two small glasses sliding down from his grasp, his jaw dropping, and his eyes widening in shock. I could swear he couldn't breathe, trying to process what I just told him."When? What? How?" he finally found his voice."I went for a test last week. I'm almost a month," I replied."And you didn't tell me," he half-yelled, cutting me off, as I averted my eyes, avoiding eye contact."I didn't know how you'd react," I yelled, my lungs out."I would have prepared..." He said. Even if he wasn't prepared at least he could have reacted better."How could I? You were busy with work and trying to set Tristan up on those unsuccessful blind dates while I was with Willow," I said."But you should have told me you wanted a baby. I would have at least been prepared," Jaxon yelled."I didn't want to keep the baby," I yelled again as my eyes welled up."I wanted to abort it. I didn't want to keep it because I know how you'd react, an
WILLOW'S POVI wore a black scarf to work to hide what Tristan printed on me as everyone gave me looks. Raelynn was the only one that's being nice to me since she's my trainer and also since every nurse in the hospital thinks if they talk to me, they'll get fired. I just checked in, pushing my scarf up to hide the hickey, as Raelynn, who ordered me to take down some patients' diagnoses, noticed me struggling with my scarf."Um, Willow..." Raelynn called as I turned to face her."Are you sick or something...?" she asked as I struggled with my scarf."Nope... It's just that... I thought it would be nice to be fashionable for once. Everyone wearing the Same uniform every day, and it's kinda cold recently," I said as she scoffed and glared at me."That's the hospital for you. You aren't in Greenland. You are supposed to work with the temperature when carrying out certain activities, whether hot or cold. Now take it off, you look ridiculous," she spat, taking down some diagnoses herself."
WILLOW'S POVHe roughly kissed me. I was stunned and shocked. Markus kissed me, and I didn't like it one bit. His hands traced down under my top as he slid his fingers under. His fingers dug up the hems of my top slowly, trying to take it off. I tried pushing him off me, but his body was a force I couldn't push over. His fingers dug deeper, slowly sliding my shirt off. He had the upper hand on me as he sucked the life off my lower lip until he bit it so hard my lower lip bled.He didn't stop there. He sucked on my lower lip so aggressively that my lips started to bruise as he involuntarily deepened the kiss. His tongue pushed past, forcing its way into my mouth, pushing my head back as he forced me down on the table. He took off his shirt, his eyes full of lust. It wasn't going to end well for me any moment from now. If he doesn't take it off, he's eventually going to tear it apart.His force on me was greater than before as he climbed on me, my eyes welling up.What was I thinking wa
Willow's POVAfter I got my shift off, behold, I saw Hailey . She rocked black ripped jeans and an imprinted denim crop top. I wouldn't believe her if they said she recently gave birth; talk of she put to birth early, and guess what? Twins! I'm so happy for her and Tristan, and recently they got married. I swear Jaxon has his hands full with a boy and a girl; the boy's name is Allister, and the girl's name is Willow."I thought you were in London," I said as she pulled me into a hug."I'm on the run, and I missed you, and Jaxon wouldn't permit me, so I stole a jet and came here. So, how's the hospital?" she asked, clinging tightly to my arm and pulling me away from the hospital."Great! I'm getting full validation having over the hospital documents. You are free to call me Doctor Willow," I teased."After you go to med school," she said, ignoring my protests."Hey, I've not fully checked out yet," I cried, but she didn't listen."Jaxon is on the lookout for me, and I don't have much t
WILLOW'S POV"What if he doesn't like me?" Tina panicked, jolting back and escaping from my grip."He's my dad, and I'm sure he'll be happy to welcome you into his heart," I said as she looked into the community center for old people. It's been five months now, and she's nervous about meeting Dad.We've both had lots of time together to bond, and I'm sure she forgives me for the whole stealing her boyfriend thing, I think.My dad recently woke up from his coma, and Tristan permitted us both to see him. It didn't matter, though, because we were both going to go anyways."How do you know he will like me?" she said, clinging tightly to the frames of the door. Tina Mendoza, nervous? I think not."You've strutted the runway, eaten competition, and broken your competitors, and you're afraid of meeting your stepfather. Tina, he's heard so much about you and really wants to see you. Show him the real Tina Mendoza," I said as she let go of the frames and hugged me."It's Tina Shawn Davis to yo
WILLOW'S POVI'm in a wedding dress, and all eyes land on me. I feel very uneasy; they won't stop staring. Maybe it's because they are surprised to see a bride at an airport. Markus said we are getting married the moment we land in Croatia and start a new life away from troubles. As pleasant as all that sounds, I feel like I'm leaving a big part of me behind, like an other half, but every time I try to remember, nothing comes.It's my turn to pass through the metal detector. It scans for any metal but dings green. I prayed for it to ding red so that I might be held back, but it didn't. Markus took me by my hand, ushering me to the plane he booked. I can't believe it, and I don't know why I'm feeling miserable. The cloud is heavy, and it looks like it was about to rain. Maybe lightning will strike the plane because death is optional. Right now, I don't want to leave, but I'm afraid to tell Markus ; the way he reacted earlier scared me."Are you ready?" he said as our luggage was being
WILLOW'S POVThe nurse keeps asking me questions about who Tristan Donovan is. I don't even remember how I got here. I feel like I'm forgetting something, but did I just have an operation or plastic surgery that I don't remember anything? A doctor walked in with a cunning grin. I looked down. I'm wearing a wedding dress in a hospital. Something is definitely wrong because weddings and hospitals don't mix."Willow, you are alive. I thought those hitmen would finally get to you, but I made sure you wouldn't pass into the cold hands of death," he said, walking towards me. I feel like he's a bad omen or something."Who are you, and why am I in a wedding dress?" I asked."We were about to get married, but this man tried to kill you. He's already arm's length away from you, and to be safe, we need to leave the country," he said, showing me a picture of a man I think I remember but can't."Why?" I asked."I'm afraid you are not safe here. We will be departing from the hospital to the airpor
WILLOW'S POVBeing escorted by bodyguards, I slowly wiped my tears dry. I didn't like what I was about to do, but I had no choice. As I reached where Tristan was being held captive, I tapped gently, even though I didn't have to, before letting myself in.Tristan, pale and looking almost dead, brightened up. His eyes lit up in hope upon seeing me, as if he had been awaiting my arrival."What took you so long, and what's with the wedding dress?" he asked with a faint smile. His smile was so contagious that I looked down to the floor. It hurt so much coming here, it hurt so much seeing him in person, I felt soulless and inhumane to even be here to tell Tristan what Markus wanted me to say to him."I hate you." I started. It felt as if I got punched on my throat. "I don't love you anymore," my heart bled on mentioning that, it wasn't any better but I thought it might soften the blow."What exactly are you trying to say?" he asked."You're not deaf; you heard me. Like you said, you don't b
JAXON'S POV"Willow... Willow..." I yelled at the top of my voice over the phone, but I got no reply until I heard a scream, and eventually, the call hung up."What happened?" Sam asked, wearing a worried look, waiting for my reply."He got her..."WILLOW'S POVYawning, my eyes slightly opened to everything white. A sharp sensation hit my head as I tried bearing the migraines. I attempted to massage my temples, but my hand was pulled back; clearly, I was chained to a hospital bed. I looked around, seeing pedals on the floor. I struggled with my chains to break free, but they were solid metal. I felt a sharp sting at my arm. Why did it hurt so much? Oh right... I remembered that bastard shot me, and I bled so much. But how am I still alive? I think I lost a lot of blood.I looked down to see myself clad in a wedding gown. I could hear wedding bells playing, but how was that possible when I was chained to a hospital bed? There was a TV in the middle of the room."Help!" I yelled at the
JAXON'S POVI looked into the files with Tina's laptop, logging into my email to receive whatever Willow sent, but she cut the call. As we clicked on the file, it was called "Black File.""They look like normal computer programming to me," I said after minutes of searching, unsure of what Sam touched, logging us into another program."That's strange, these are all files of security tapes at the hospital where Caden got his surgery, but they look hidden," Tina said."And these look like contacts for the explosion of a plane to Ukraine," Sam added. "And these are contacts to the goons that chased us," she added as I got back into focus."That's not the only thing. Look at this, Willow is the rightful owner and heir to everything. This is Clara's original will, but in digital form because she left Valentina , which is Tina, some property," I said."It makes sense. That's why Clara wrote that secret message on the will. She was forced to write that fake will. Clara never willed Willow," S
91 "Mr. Donovan , you have a visitor," one of the cops yelled as they opened up the cell and cuffed me violently, escorting me to the visiting room. They pushed me into the room, instructing me to sit down on the chair while I wait for my visitor. I hope it's Willow. She hasn't picked up my calls, and I haven't heard from her. The only phone call I had, I used it to call her, but she didn't pick up. It's like she disappeared. The door opened, and my eyes lit up in hope but were crushed later on as Tina made her way in. I didn't spare her a look. All I wanted to see was Willow, but she's nowhere to be heard from. She grinned, sitting down on the chair opposite me, bringing out a plastic takeout and pushing it towards me as she gestured for me to eat, but I refused. "Come on, Tristan, eat up, please," she pleaded. I froze. I didn't want to eat anything. All I could think about was Willow. "Is Willow okay?" those were the only words that escaped my lips. She hissed at my reply, frow
WILLOW'S POV "But Willow, your mother knew she was going to die and she knew her killer. I'm sorry, but I think Tristan killed Clara..." Sam said. "It's not true..." I violently shook the table, driving both Rhett and Sam away from me. "Willow, is there any other proof? The evidence is right before our very eyes. Tristan killed Clara." "He didn't kill my mom, OK? This is just a coincidence..." I growled, trying to convince myself she's wrong. She has to be wrong. "Raelynn and Clara's clearly state someone was going to kill her, and it all points to Tristan . Tell me it's just a joke that you think he's innocent..." she said as I got up. "They didn't write Tristan's name, did they? And why would Tristan want to kill my mom? The government was after me, not Tristan . This doesn't make sense," I sighed in frustration. "Didn't you see the news? He killed Caden and probably burnt down his property... And it was just confirmed that he killed Caden with identified evidence. You