Angelo sat up from the couch, his heart still racing within his chest. His hands fumbled with his trousers, pulling them on with shaky fingers. “I thought the door was closed,” he muttered, his voice thick from the aftermath of their stolen passion. Bella stretched out on the couch, completely unmoved. She glanced at the door, her eyes still half-closed in satisfaction. “I think it’s just the wind,” she said casually, her voice low. “I didn’t hear any footsteps.” Angelo ran a hand over his face, exhaling sharply. Something felt off. He turned toward the door, stepping forward carefully. The hallway beyond was empty, silent except for the faint noise from the party. The air felt colder than before. “It’s about to rain,” he said, running a hand over his messy hair as if trying to shake off his worry. “Told ya,” Bella said with a smile, sitting up on her elbow. “That was intense. You taste so good.” Angelo didn’t answer. He was still listening, still watching the door as if he exp
“Eat up, Mia. Come on," Samantha nudged the plate toward her. Mia poked at her food with her fork, her appetite gone. “What if I was too hard on him?” Samantha let out a frustrated sigh. "Too hard? Mia, from what you told me, he deserved more than a slap. He was completely out of line.” Mia set her fork down hard on the plate, her eyes troubled. "I shouldn't have—” “Seriously?” Samantha cut in. “You’re worried about him? But he wasn’t thinking about you when he fu—” She stopped herself, shaking her head. “Never mind. The thing is, you need to forget about Angelo. He’s not worth it.” Mia frowned. “Samantha, he was drunk. Maybe he—” “Oh, come on," Samantha scoffed. "You don't have to take my word for it, but look at the facts. Guys like Angelo don't change overnight. Do your research. He was a ladies’ man—probably still is. What if all these apologies were just an act?” Mia swallowed. “I don’t know… but I don’t see him that way. He’s always been kind to me.” The doorbell rang, cu
“Sam?” Mia’s voice cut through her thoughts. “Are you okay? You’ve been spacing out.”Samantha blinked, her grip tightening on the pockets of her jeans. “Nothing,” she muttered. “Just… be careful, okay?”Mia frowned, watching as Samantha turned and walked away. Something felt off, but she didn’t press. Samantha was acting strangely—restless, like she was holding something back. But if she wasn’t ready to talk, then it’s best to let her be.*****Later, at the boutique, the afternoon was calm. The soft scent of fresh linen and floral perfume mixed in the elegant space. Racks of dresses lined the walls, mirrors reflecting the final adjustments made to Mia’s gown. Mia sighed in admiration, running her fingers along the handcrafted embroidery of her dress. “This is really pretty,” she murmured, almost to herself.“It should be,” Samantha replied, leaning against the wall, crossing her arms. “It cost a fortune.”Mia chuckled, but then her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and smiled
There was a brief silence over the room. Fred, mid-yawn, froze, his fingers tightening around his phone. “Mia, calm down. What happened?” Sarah exhaled, her face creased with concern. On the other end of the line, Mia’s voice quivered. “I—I don’t know. She stumbled after we argued, and I tried to call her, but… I just found her phone. Just like that. Outside.” Fred’s grip on his phone tightened further. “Are you sure?” His voice was sharper now. “Put the phone on loudspeaker.” Sarah tapped the screen quickly. “Are you sure she’s not just trying to cool off?” Fred’s tone remained skeptical, but something gleamed behind his eyes—something he quickly masked. “No, Dad,” Mia said, her voice breaking slightly. “This isn’t like her.” Sarah pressed a hand to her chest, looking at Fred. His jaw twitched, but he said nothing. “Have you called your fiancé?” Sarah asked. “Yes, I have. He’s coming to pick me up.” Sarah nodded. “Okay. Just stay put. We’ll figure this out together. Call us
“You’ll be leading us straight to our own graves,” Fred muttered.Mia’s nostrils flared in anger as she clenched her fists so tightly until her nails dug into her palms. Her body trembled, but she forced herself to stay quiet, swallowing the fury burning inside her.Zac was surprised at Fred’s reaction, but he knew better than to argue with his future father-in-law. “Mr. Williams, we’re doing our very best to ensure Samantha’s safe return.” He glanced at Mia before continuing, “If you’ll excuse me.” He nodded toward the security guard and headed outside. Angelo followed shortly after, leaving Mia with her mother.The moment the door shut, Mia’s fury exploded.“What the hell are you saying, Dad?” She whirled on Fred, her voice almost shaking. “You don’t get to decide what’s best here!”Fred’s jaw tightened. “Mia—”“You don’t even know half of what’s going on!” Mia retorted.Sarah, who had been silent until now, placed a hand on Mia’s arm. “Mia, I think you should consider what your f
Just as Mia reached the top, Zac was stepping out of his room. They collided hard, nearly knocking each other over. “Mia?” His hands gripped her arms, steadying her. “Are you okay? What’s going on?” She was breathless, her chest rising and falling as she tried to speak. “Mia?” His brows furrowed. “Did they call you?” “No,” she gasped, shaking her head quickly. “No, not at all. But I think… I think there’s a way. A possibility we can get to her.” His grip loosened slightly. “Alright,” he said, “let’s hear it.” He guided her inside his bedroom—her second time being here. It was familiar now, though the circumstances were far from comfortable. Mia turned to him, her eyes sharp with urgency. “We need to contact Xiang.” Zac’s eyes darkened instantly. His jaw clenched, arms crossing over his chest. “Xiang?” he repeated with a sharp tone. “Why the hell would we contact him?” He sighed. “What if he had a hand in the kidnapping?” Mia shook her head firmly. “No. I know Xiang. He might
Mia pounded on the door, her knuckles raw from the force of her knocking. “Come on, open up!”She knocked again, harder this time, but Zac still didn’t answer. It was barely 4 AM, but urgency coursed through her veins like fire.Inside, Zac wasn’t ignoring her—he was in the bathroom, showering, trying to clear his head from the haze of restless sleep. The insistent knocking pulled him out of it. He quickly grabbed a pair of shorts, put them on, and rushed to the door.The second he unlocked it, Mia, who had been leaning against it, lost her balance and stumbled forward—straight into his bare chest.Mia’s breath hitched. She looked up at him, momentarily caught off guard by the closeness—the hard lines of his torso, the faint scent of soap mixed with shampoo. It wasn’t the first time she’d seen him like this. But it still hit just as hard.She pushed herself upright, shaking off the distraction. “Zac,” she said, pulling out her phone in one swift motion. The screen lit up between them
Samantha lay still on the cold floor. Her breathing was shallow, eyes half-closed as she listened. Their boots scraped against the dusty floor, their hushed voices cutting through the thick smoke.The leader barely spared her a glance, “where are the sedatives?” he yelled.“There’s no need, she’s already knocked out.” The man who wanted to take her muttered.He knelt, pulling out his pocket knife. With quick, precise movements, he sliced through the ropes binding her ankles, then reached for her wrists. “She doesn’t look good, boss,” he said, cutting the last of the restraints.Without delay, he threw her over his shoulder, adjusting his grip.Then—the sound of gunfire cut through the air.A sharp crack split through the room. One of the men near the door jerked back, pressing his wounded arm. The remaining captors didn’t wait. They ran fast, disappearing into the smoke, slipping through open windows and narrow escape routes. They were ghosts in this place—vanishing through the hidde
The smell hit him first—dust, hay, and dried sweat soaked into the wooden beams. Zac stepped into the poorly lit space, the creaking barn door closing behind him with a hollow thud.It was a secluded ranch, far from the city. Not marked on the map, or easy to locate. The kind of place where if you screamed, the echo would fade—and no one would ever hear you.A single bulb dangled from a rusty hook above, casting a sickly orange glow over the center of the barn.Below it, a man was seated in a worn-out chair, slumped but barely breathing.It was Brian.His wrists were bound, ankles tied to the legs of the chair, head low like he couldn’t lift it anymore.His face was swollen, bruised around the mouth and cheek. Blood crusted along one eyebrow. His breathing came in short bursts. Every inhale looked like it cost him something. Still, his eyes were wide open, darting around at the figures that stood in the shadows around him.Zac didn’t speak at first. He just stood there, arms folded, a
“Bella?” Angelo whispered, moving toward the entrance. I hope she did not come back to pick another fight. But as he reached the hallway, a familiar face appeared, nearly colliding into him.“Oh—Samantha!”She blinked, holding a small tote bag in one hand and her phone in the other.“Hey. Did I scare you?”Angelo let out a deep breath. “You nearly gave me a heart attack.”Samantha stepped inside, her eyes scanning the place. “You guys look like you weren’t expecting me.”“We totally forgot,” Mia said, appearing behind him. “We didn’t hear a knock.”“Oh. The door was unlocked. I figured you were home. By the way, I saw Bella at the gate, actually—she looked… pretty mad.”Angelo and Mia exchanged a glance.“Is everything alright?” Samantha asked, looking between them. “I hope there’s no drama.”Mia folded her arms. “Nothing serious. Just… Bella being Bella.”Samantha gave a small, careful smile. “Okay. As long as it’s not an issue.”Silence hung for a beat. Angelo cleared his throat. “
Mia didn’t move. She relaxed on the couch, back straight, legs crossed, and her hands folded loosely in her lap. Bella continued, zeroing in like a missile. “What the fuck is she doing here?!”Angelo stepped in fast. “Hey—hey, Bella, whoa—chill.”But Bella shoved right past him. “No. Don’t ‘chill’ me. Is this what we’re doing now?” Her eyes blazed as she jabbed a manicured finger toward Mia. “I thought she was happily married.”Mia didn’t answer. Her eyes stayed level as she held herself together.“Hey, you!” Bella raised her voice, meeting Mia’s eyes. “Or is your husband suddenly not enough anymore? Or do you just have this… disease—jumping on every man who shows you attention?”“Bella,” Angelo warned, stepping forward again, blocking her path. “Please… don’t do this.”“Oh, I’m doing it,” she snapped. “She’s a goddamn married woman, sitting in your house like it’s a weekend getaway. What is this—some rehab retreat for junkies?”Mia rose slowly, intentional in every step. Her voice w
In less than no time, Zac reached the neighborhood.As he neared Samantha’s street, he didn’t turn in. Instead, he took the next street over, slowing the car and glancing at the rearview mirror.There were no tails behind him, so he pulled up beside a quiet corner house, parked under the shade of a leaning tree, and stepped out.The sun was bright and hot, and the air was full of city sounds, but the street was quiet.He pulled out his phone and made the call.A second later, a backyard gate creaked open. Samantha peeked out, her movements quick and quiet.She opened the gate fully when she saw him. “Zac,” she breathed. “Thank you so much for coming.”“What’s going on?” he asked, stepping inside the fence.“I don’t know how to get to my car,” she said, keeping her voice low. “I parked it right out front. I was about to leave… then I saw them swarming.”“Don’t worry,” Zac said. “We’ll use mine. I parked it down the block. Come with me. I’ll drive.”Samantha nodded and followed him.The
The following day, Zac arrived at Zandawoo Headquarters the moment business hours began. The elevator doors slid open, and he didn’t pause to speak to anyone—he headed to the executive floor.The receptionist barely had time to look up before he was already halfway across the lobby. His strides were long and determined. He didn’t wait for permission—he didn’t even think he needed it.He walked straight past the front desk, ignoring the assistants who tried to stop him. The hall was still quiet, not many people around yet, and that worked in his favor. The last thing he wanted was more drama—even though he was down for it.Jonathan’s office door wasn’t even shut all the way. Zac pushed it open and stepped inside.Jonathan looked up from his desk, startled. “Mr. Cornell,” he said, already rising to his feet. “I wasn’t expecting—”Zac kept moving until he reached the desk, his hands resting against the wood like a man there for war.“We need to talk,” he said through gritted teeth.Jonat
The tension in the beach house felt like it had a pulse of its own.Zac scoffed, stepping back. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “What the fuck are you even saying?”“You know exactly what I’m saying,” Angelo didn’t flinch. “You dragged her into your world.”“My world?” Zac’s voice rose. “Wait—are you blaming me for this? For that video?”“Of course I have every right to blame you!” Angelo snapped, stepping closer. “Ever since you made her sign that damn contract, she hasn’t had a single moment of peace.”Zac’s expression twisted, his fists flexing at his sides. But Angelo didn’t stop.“She never wanted this life.” Angelo shrugged, spreading his arms. “And now—look at her—caught in this bullshit again.”“You know nothing, Angelo,” Zac retorted, his voice low. “I didn’t know things would be like this. I’ve always protected her, and I still will.”“Ha-ha-ha. How heroic,” Angelo replied, his tone taunting. “Because every time she needs you… you’re not there.”“Well, I’m here now.
By the time Angelo got to the tech corner behind the stage, Jonathan was already there—his face red with panic. He was yelling at the tech crew, who were hunched over a console blinking with error lights. “Take it down!” Jonathan barked. “Get the damn video off the screen! Now!” “We’re trying, sir!” one of the tech guys snapped, fingers flying over the keyboard. “It’s not responding—system error keeps flashing. It’s like a virus or something, an override! The damn thing won’t shut down!” Jonathan cursed, then stepped back with wild eyes. He grabbed a thick cord running to the display hub. He yanked at the wires, pulling one loose. A small spark flew, and the large screen in the main hall went dark. A collective gasp echoed from the hall, but the damage had already been done. An alarm started to wail in the distance—soft at first, then louder. Security teams moved in with accuracy, their earpieces crackling. VIP guests were already being ushered out a side exit, leaving the
It was the day of the product reveal.Mia was already dressed—flare black trousers, a tucked-in blouse, and her red Zandawoo lipstick perfectly set. Her face was bare but glowing, hair pulled into a sleek low ponytail.She moved around the condo with quiet focus, checking her bag again, even though she’d already packed everything twice.Zac sat at the kitchen island in his loose lounge pants and a white tee, sipping coffee with one hand, scrolling through emails with the other. He looked up when she walked past with her coat draped over her arm.“You’re leaving already?” he asked, brows pulling together.Mia paused at the door, her clutch in hand. “Yeah. The hotel’s closer to the venue. I just want to settle in there before everything kicks off.”“And Angelo?” Zac’s raised a brow.She gave a short nod. “He’ll pick me up from there.”Zac looked down at the coffee in his hand. “Right. Makes sense.”“See you around,” Mia said, offering a small smile. “And don’t be late.”“Wait,” he said
It had been days since the studio incident, and they hadn’t had any more fights—just existing in silence.Zac hadn’t tried to provoke her since. He kept to himself, stayed in his lane, and gave Mia the space she seemed to need. But that didn’t mean he was okay. Not even close.Mia had thrown herself into work—meetings, fittings, even calls at odd hours. She was hardly ever home, and when she was, she barely spoke unless she had to.Zac, on the other hand, was knee-deep in preparations for his grandfather’s handover.After Charles returned from his yearly checkup abroad, everything had become more real. The old man had confirmed it—Zac would be named chairman of the ZIRCONS Group.They were both busy. But being busy didn’t mean they should keep living like this.That morning, Zac stepped out of his bedroom just as Mia was locking hers. She was already dressed—high-waisted jeans, a cropped black top, and sunglasses perched on her head. The kind of casual that still looked like a stateme