It was shortly after noon, yet the pounding headache from three sleepless nights pressed heavily on Zac Cornell. The twenty-six-year-old heir sat at his neatly organized desk, staring blankly at the city skyline visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The silence was disrupted by an unexpected ring from his phone. It was Martini—an old business associate his late father had trusted. “Hey, Martini, what’s up?” Zac answered, trying to mask the exhaustion in his voice. “Zac, I need you at The Red Room tonight. I’ve managed to sway the investors for Project Rainbow. Are you game?” “The Red Room… a strip club?” His frown deepened in disbelief. “You know that’s not my style, Martini.” “I know, but this is the only chance we’ve got with Suarez and Lorenzo,” Martini said, his voice firm. “We need to move this project forward.” “Can’t we find a more conventional setting?” Zac rubbed his temples, frustration mounting. “I know it’s not ideal for you.” Martini’s tone softened but re
“Are you serious right now?” Mia turned, tilting her head to meet his deep-set, smoky grey eyes. His focus was still on her as if he still had unfinished business with her. Zac exhaled deeply, running his fingers through his sleek black hair. The remaining strands settled back into position smoothly. “Look… I’m sorry if that came off kind of weird. But I can’t help the way I feel about you.” “Oh, please,” Mia scoffed, crossing her arms. “Don’t start. You men all want the same thing.” “No... it's not the way you think, I assure you. My intentions are pure," he stated, his tone gentle. “I want you, Tiffany. Not just for now—but by my side, outside these walls.” Her thoughts whirled, trying to comprehend his words. How did she find herself here, caught in a situation she never saw coming? Zac was supposed to be a distraction for her, nothing more. “I know this sounds crazy, but back there when our eyes met… you felt it too, right?” His voice dropped as he reached for her hand. M
“I’m so sorry, Mia.” Samantha’s voice was soft, filled with sympathy. “I guess this is where we say goodbye again, bestie.” Her voice trembled, revealing the tears about to spill. “Just hang in there a little longer.” Samantha placed a reassuring hand over hers. “Besides, we’re so close to finding your father.” Mia’s expression hardened. “What intel do we have on him?” Samantha turned her laptop toward her, the screen illuminating a familiar face—her father. He was seated in a café in New Jersey, looking just as lively as she remembered. “Seems he’s moving back to New York,” Samantha said carefully, waiting for Mia’s response. Mia swallowed hard, maintaining a steady voice. “Secure his address as soon as possible. I’ll pay him a visit once I return.” “And your mom?” “Don’t say a word to her until I handle this,” her tone was confident. “She’s been through enough since he left.” Samantha’s gaze softened. “Alright… just promise me you’ll be okay.” Mia gave a quick nod, forcin
Mia adjusted her gown as she stood before Zac’s penthouse. It was even grander than she had imagined—a fortress of steel and glass, towering over perfectly manicured gardens. The high walls weren’t just physical barriers; they were a stark reminder of the worlds separating them. But she wasn’t here to dwell on the past. After weeks of preparation, this time, she was Tiffany, the assistant cook. She was greeted by the chief of staff, who offered a polite smile—just enough to be courteous, but guarded. His suit was neat, his posture effortless, as if he had done this a thousand times before. Everything about him matched the place—controlled, precise, leaving nothing to chance. “You must be Tiffany,” he stated, extending his hand. “Come with me. I’ll introduce you to the team.” “Thank you, sir,” Mia said with a steady nod. Stepping inside felt like crossing into another realm. Her eyes swept the space, cataloging every detail—the quiet movements of the security cameras, t
Three months earlier, Zac sat in his study, the soft hum of a late evening wrapping the room. His tie hung loose around his neck, and the whiskey in his glass had gone cold. A quiet clink broke the silence—Angelo’s glass tapping against the edge of the desk. “Let me guess.” Angelo’s voice was easy, carrying a note of amusement. “It’s about her again.” Zac didn’t answer right away. He just exhaled slowly, the kind that carried weight, like something he hadn’t quite put down yet. Angelo smirked, settling deeper into his chair. “Told you she wouldn’t show up.” Zac turned the glass in his hand, watching the liquid catch the dim light. “Yeah. You did.” “I tried to warn you, but you were setting yourself up for disappointment. Zac shook his head. “It wasn’t supposed to go like that.” A silence stretched between them. In his mind, he was still there—that night, at the candlelit table, staring at the bouquet he shouldn’t have brought, checking his phone until the screen blurred
The following day, Mia sat in front of her mirror, gliding a lipstick over her lips. Beside her, Samantha scrolled through her phone, half-watching. Then the phone rang. Mia’s face brightened at the sight of her mother’s name—until she answered. “Mom?” The ragged sobs on the other end made her stomach drop. “Mia, I-I got evicted… from my apartment!” Mia shot upright. “What? Mom, what happened?” Her mother’s voice cracked, raw with panic. “I was robbed last night, and my landlord has refused to give me an extension.” Mia’s chest tightened. “Mom, breathe. Just hold on, okay? I’ll fix this. Give me a few hours.” “Thank you, baby,” her mom whispered between tears. The line went dead, but her fingers clenched tightly on her phone. She needed to act fast, and there was only one person who could provide that kind of money without paperwork or questions. “Mia? What’s wrong?” Samantha noticed the shift in her expression immediately. Mia shot to her feet, grabbing her purse.
The room blazed with sudden light. Mia gasped, instinctively shrinking back. “Zac?” she whispered, her voice barely holding steady. Now that she was fully exposed, she tried to fight against his strong grip. Despite her smaller frame, her strength surprised him. “Let me go! I swear, I won’t cause any trouble!” she begged, her panic escalating. But Zac’s grip didn’t loosen. Instead, his voice dipped, edged with quiet menace. “This show ends now, Mia Williams.” Mia froze, her wide eyes betraying her growing fear. “How—how did you—?” Zac leaned in closer. “Mia Williams. Twenty-two years old. High school graduate. Your mother lives in Colony Town, three hours outside New York City. Your father? Currently in Princeton. And your best friend, Samantha, lives just an hour away.” His lips curled slightly. “Does that ring a bell?” She had underestimated him. To the world, Zac was a quiet heir—an unassuming “grandpa’s boy.” But beneath that façade lay something far sharper. He w
For a split second, Zac’s eyes lingered on Mia for just a breath too long, a hint of unguarded emotion flashing across them before he suppressed it. Deep down, he knew the feelings he once had for her hadn’t completely faded. But admitting it—saying it aloud—was out of the question. His ego—and his new relationship with Bella—held him captive. Voicing his true feelings wouldn’t change anything. In fact, it would only complicate the already tangled mess between them. “No, it wasn’t,” Zac finally said, his tone carefully controlled. “I said what I felt at the time.” His jaw tightened. “But what do you expect? I’m just a man.” Mia studied his face, searching for sincerity. The way he looked now… it was as though he was no longer the person she had fallen for at first sight. “Wasn’t it obvious?” Zac continued, his tone shifting into something colder. “I needed some company and I paid for your services.” Her brows furrowed, frustration boiling beneath her skin. “So it meant nothi
The ballroom was massive, bathed in a golden glow from the grand chandeliers hanging above. Less than a hundred elegantly dressed guests filled the space, their conversations humming beneath the soft classical music. Tables were arranged meticulously, adorned with rich floral centerpieces, extravagant dishes, and bottles of the finest champagne. Everything gleamed with wealth and sophistication—Zac’s grandfather had spared no expense.Mia sat beside Zac on the raised platform, at the center of attention. She leaned in, her voice low. “Isn’t this a bit much?” Her gaze swept over the lavish decorations. “This budget is insane for a marriage that—” She stopped herself, lowering her voice even more.Zac chuckled. “Tell that to my grandfather. This is his idea of a small celebration.”Mia shook her head, exhaling deeply. “Yeah, he sure does love throwing parties.”“And this isn’t even half of it,” Zac continued. “You know he planned a ridiculously romantic honeymoon for us?”Mia blinked.
Mia stood in front of the tall mirror, staring at her reflection. The cream-colored wedding dress hugged her body, its bodice adorned with delicately embedded crystals that caught the light with every movement. It was breathtaking.The long-awaited wedding was finally here.One by one, the stylists and makeup artists quietly exited the room, their work complete. This was everything most girls dreamed of—a grand wedding, a stunning dress, a perfect day. But it wasn’t the fairytale she once imagined—it was a short-term marriage with the man she has feelings for.Just then, the door creaked open, and Laura—the wedding planner—stepped in. She gave Mia a quick glance, nodded in approval, then turned to leave, only to pause as Sarah entered. Her eyes shimmered with tears.Mia caught sight of her in the mirror and turned. “Mom, were you crying?” she said with a soft smile, reaching out to place a gentle hand under her mother’s chin.Her mother gave a shaky laugh, dabbing underneath her eye
“What was so important that you couldn’t tell me earlier?”She barely flinched at his tone and simply crossed her arms. “Chill. Don’t act like I was avoiding you.You spent too much time in the kitchen this morning. Before I was done taking a shower, you disappeared.”Angelo barely held back a groan. This was why he hadn’t wanted to let her in last night. But she’d given him no choice.She had punctured her own damn tire on purpose—right outside his house—then knocked on his door like she had no other option. It was an obvious setup, but at nearly midnight, with her standing there as if daring him to turn her away, he hadn’t bothered arguing.He let her in. And now, here they were.He dragged a hand down his face. “Bella—”She cut him off, her tone light. “I just wanted to tell you I have a fashion show next week. And I want you to be my plus one.”His jaw ticked. “And what makes you think I’d want to go with you?”“Besides,” he added, “that’s the same day as Zac’s wedding. I’m suppos
Mia sat by the window of one of the guest rooms, staring out at the quiet private street below. She had woken up last night to find her parents there, relieved beyond words. Everyone had been excited, celebrating like their lives were a fresh start. But there was still no news. No trace of the kidnappers. No explanation for why they had wanted their wedding called off.She smiled, assured them she was fine. What else was she supposed to do? She felt better—or at least, she told herself she did. But deep down, there was still a nagging feeling that everything was somehow her fault.However, Samantha had brushed it off countless times. She was more than grateful they were both alive and safe—that was all that mattered now. *******A soft knock sounded before the door cracked open.Samantha peeked in, spotting Mia by the window, her hair damp from a morning shower.“You look like you’re waiting for a jailbreak,” Samantha said, stepping in.Mia looked at her, stretching slightly. “Yeah
More than three hours had passed, and Mia still hadn’t opened her eyes. Her breathing was faint but steady.The doctor checked her vitals once more, adjusting his stethoscope. He straightened up with the faintest trace of relief on his face.“She’s stable,” he said, making a note on his pad. “But she needs rest. Her body is depleted from severe dehydration and lack of food. It’s no surprise she hasn’t woken yet.”He glanced at Zac, a silent warning in his eyes. “She can’t keep pushing herself like this. You need to make sure she doesn’t.”Zac didn’t move from the chair beside the bed. His fingers idly traced the back of Mia’s hand, his eyes fixed on her face, searching for any sign of movements.“Of course,” he murmured, barely looking up. “She’ll stay here as long as she needs.” His eyes shifted to the chair, where Samantha sat wrapped in a blanket, her face etched with concern. “Both of them will. I’ll take care of everything.”The doctor nodded, closing his kit. “Let her rest. She’
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
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
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
“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