Kehlani’s POVThe town car Alec brought to pick me up glided to a stop in front of the penthouse building, its tinted windows reflecting the city’s neon lights. I hadn’t spoken a word since leaving the hospital. My mind was still back in that sterile room, lingering on Mrs. Langley’s words."Your grandmother would be proud of you."Would she?I clenched my fingers around the strap of my purse. I could hear Alec shifting in his seat beside me, but he didn’t say anything. He hadn’t rushed me when I told him I needed to see my grandmother first. He hadn’t questioned my silence in the car. And now, as the driver opened my door, he simply stepped out and waited for me to follow.I inhaled deeply, squaring my shoulders. New life, Kehlani. You agreed to this. Walk like you belong.Inside the large apartment complex, the lobby smelled of leather and expensive cologne. A doorman greeted us with a polite nod, and I forced myself to acknowledge him in return. Alec led the way to the private elev
Kehlani’s POVThe penthouse was quiet when I stepped out of my room the next morning. Too quiet.I padded barefoot across the cool marble floors, finding the kitchen empty except for a steaming cup of coffee sitting on the counter. A note rested beside it, written in neat, almost clinical handwriting."Had an early meeting. Be ready by noon." – Alec.I frowned, taking a sip of the coffee. Strong. No sugar. Just like I hated it."Of course," I muttered, setting the cup down.I turned to find Natalia leaning against the doorway, watching me with an amused expression.“Good morning, Mrs. Castor,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.I rolled my eyes. “It’s Kehlani.”“Sure, Mrs. Castor.”I exhaled slowly. “Why are you here?”Natalia strolled into the kitchen and grabbed an apple from a fruit bowl. “Alec told me to make sure you don’t back out of today’s lunch.”I raised a brow. “Lunch?”She took a bite of the apple and chewed, clearly enjoying the fact that I was out of the loop.“W
Kehlani’s POV- The Next Day (Evening) -The penthouse was silent when I returned from shopping with Natalia. The city lights glittered beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, revealing long shadows over the marble floors. I dropped the bags on the couch and kicked off my heels, rubbing at my sore feet.I had spent the entire afternoon being shoved into overpriced designer outfits, listening to Natalia’s sarcastic remarks, and pretending not to care that Alec had given instructions about how I should present myself.I wasn't sure if I was more exhausted or irritated.I barely had time to sit down before Alec emerged from his office, his gaze flicking from me to the bags. “You survived,” he remarked, amusement laced in his voice.“Barely,” I muttered. I felt a rush of deja vu with that response but I brushed it off.His lips twitched as he leaned against the kitchen counter. “Did you find what you needed?”“I found what you needed,” I shot back, crossing my arms. “Since this is about keep
Kehlani’s POVI spent most of the morning debating whether or not to call Natalia, but I decided against it. The last thing I needed was her sarcastic commentary about my new life.Instead, I stayed in my room, scrolling mindlessly through my phone until boredom finally won. I sighed and got up, wrapping my robe tighter around myself as I stepped out.The penthouse was eerily quiet.I half-expected Alec to be buried in work, but when I walked into the living area, I found him on the couch, casually reading the newspaper like some billionaire cliché.He glanced up. “You finally decided to join the world.”“I was enjoying my peace,” I shot back, padding toward the kitchen. “Didn’t want to ruin it.”Alec smirked. “And yet, here you are.”I ignored him, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge. “Aren’t you supposed to be in meetings or doing rich CEO things?”“I cleared my morning.”I blinked. “For what?”Alec set the newspaper down and stretched, his muscles flexing under his crisp whi
Kehlani’s POVThe night was still young. Alec had said that, and I wasn’t sure if it was a warning or a promise.The gala was in full swing—glasses clinking, laughter echoing through the grand hall, the scent of expensive perfume lingering in the air. I had barely taken a sip of my champagne, my fingers tightening around the stem of the glass every time someone looked at me a little too long.Jessica, of course, was in her element. She had a talent for maneuvering through high society, pulling me along with her like I was a new accessory she was showing off. Alec had disappeared into a conversation with a group of men in tuxedos, and I took the opportunity to slip away from Jessica’s grasp.I found a quiet corner near the bar, exhaling as I took a moment to breathe.“Already tired of pretending?”I turned at the voice. A man leaned against the bar, watching me with mild amusement. He was older, maybe mid-forties, with sharp blue eyes and a knowing smirk.“I don’t know what you mean,”
Kehlani’s POVAlec was quiet on the ride back from the gala.He wasn’t sulking, but something was on his mind. His fingers drummed against the leather seat, and he kept glancing at his phone as if waiting for a message that never came.I watched him for a moment before finally speaking."Are you going to tell me what that was about?"His eyes flicked up from the screen, his expression unreadable. "What do you mean?""Don’t play dumb. Dominic Hayes. You knew him. And you didn’t like seeing him talking to me."Alec let out a slow breath, setting his phone down on his lap. "Dominic is... a businessman."I raised an eyebrow. "That’s a very diplomatic way of putting it.""He’s involved in a lot of things. Some legitimate. Some not.""And what does that have to do with me?"Alec's jaw tightened. "I don’t want you near him."I let out a dry laugh. "You don’t want me near a lot of people.""Because a lot of people have their own agendas, Kehlani."I tilted my head, studying him. "And you don’
Kehlani’s POVThe next morning, I woke up to a pounding headache and an annoying buzzing from my phone."Ugh," I groaned, rolling over and grabbing it from the nightstand. Several missed calls. A flood of notifications. My stomach twisted. That was never a good sign.I opened the first message."Kehlani, is this you?!"Attached was a link. My pulse kicked up. I hesitated, then tapped it.A gossip site loaded, displaying a blurry but recognizable image of me outside the building last night—facing Rowley. The headline made my stomach drop."Billionaire Wife Kehlani Castor’s Secret Past—Ex-Lover Comes Back?!"My heart pounded.Alec.I pushed off the bed, grabbed my robe, and stormed out of the bedroom.I found him in the living room, sitting on the couch, scrolling through his phone. He looked up as I entered, his green eyes unreadable."You saw it?" I demanded.He nodded, setting his phone aside. "I had a feeling this would happen."I clenched my fists. "And you didn’t think to warn me?
Kehlani’s POVI couldn’t stop staring at my phone.The message from Rowley felt like a trap, like a ghost from my past clawing its way back into my present. I wanted to ignore it. Pretend it didn’t exist. But I knew better—secrets never stayed buried for long.Alec, standing beside me in the elevator, didn’t take his eyes off me. “You’re tense.”“I just sat through an entire board meeting being treated like a liability. What do you expect?”He hummed, a knowing look in his dark green eyes. “That’s not it.”I tucked my phone into my clutch and squared my shoulders. “It doesn’t matter.”Alec didn’t press, but I could tell he wasn’t convinced.The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open.“Mrs. Castor,” Olivia, Alec’s assistant, greeted me with a tight smile as we stepped into the hallway. “Your car is ready downstairs.”I arched a brow. “My car?”Alec adjusted his cuffs. “You’re not coming to the office with me. You need rest.”I scoffed. “Since when do you care?”“Since my wife almost
Kehlani's POVI could barely think. It had been days since Noah went missing, and I felt like I was losing my mind. Sleep was a distant memory, replaced with endless worry and a growing pit of frustration in my stomach. Alec, on the other hand, was buried behind his desk, endlessly combing through files, calls, and whatever else he was doing to track Noah down. But nothing had changed. Noah was still gone.And I was still waiting.When Alec finally returned home that night, his face was lined with exhaustion. He loosened his tie as he walked in, but I didn’t care about how tired he looked. I cared about the fact that he was moving too slowly. That every second wasted was a second Noah spent in some unknown place, alone and afraid.“You’re late.” My voice was sharper than I intended, but I didn’t take it back.Alec sighed, rubbing his forehead before setting his briefcase down. “Kelhani, I told you, I’m doing everything I can.”“That’s the problem!” I snapped. “You keep saying that, bu
Kehlani’s POV The café was sleek and modern, a place filled with professionals chatting over espressos and influencers snapping photos of their lattes. It was exactly the kind of place Natalie would choose—trendy, expensive, and a reflection of the success she loved to flaunt.I spotted her instantly. Seated near the window, she was dressed in a cream-colored designer jumpsuit, her perfectly manicured fingers scrolling through her phone as if she hadn’t a care in the world. Meanwhile, my world was falling apart.I marched up to the table, my heels clicking against the tiled floor. Natalie barely looked up before a smirk tugged at her lips. “Well, well. Look who decided to show up. I was beginning to think you chickened out.”I pulled out the chair opposite her and sat down. “Where is he?”Her brows furrowed in mock confusion. “He? You’ll have to be more specific, Kehlani. I know a lot of ‘he’s.’”I clenched my fists under the table, willing myself to stay calm. “Noah. Did you take hi
Kehlani's POVThe weight of my phone pressed against my palm, my fingers hovering over the call button as my heart pounded in my chest. Every passing second felt like an eternity. Alec had left to search the surrounding areas, the police had already started their investigation, and I—I needed to do something.Taking a deep breath, I scrolled through my contacts and pressed on Natalie’s name. My thumb trembled as I brought the phone to my ear. It rang once. Twice. Three times.“Kehlani?” Natalie’s voice was sharp with surprise. “What’s wrong? It’s late.”I sucked in a breath. “Natalie, I—” My voice cracked. I cleared my throat and tried again. “It’s Noah. He’s missing.”Silence stretched on the other end before she finally spoke, her tone turning cold with urgency. “What do you mean missing?”I gripped the phone tighter. “He was taking a nap. When I went to check on him, he was gone. I searched the house, the backyard, the street—he’s just…gone.”“Oh my god.” There was a rustling soun
Kehlani’s POV The morning sun streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the kitchen as I set the plates on the table. The scent of fresh coffee mingled with the sweetness of syrup-drenched pancakes. Across from me, Noah swung his legs back and forth, his small hands clutching a fork as he absentmindedly pushed his food around the plate.I watched him for a moment before nudging his cup of milk closer. "You're awfully quiet this morning, buddy. Something on your mind?"Noah hesitated, his dark eyes flickering up to meet mine before dropping back to his plate. He let out a small sigh. "I was just thinking about my dad."My heart squeezed at the mention of Alec’s brother. Noah rarely talked about him, and when he did, it was always with that quiet sadness that never quite fit on his young face. I reached across the table and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "Do you want to talk about him?"He nodded slowly. "I miss him. A lot. Uncle Alec is great, but it's not the same."
Kehlani's POVThe afternoon light slanted through my apartment window, painting golden stripes across the floor. I had just finished going through some last-minute details for my next pop-up event when my phone vibrated against the table. Alec’s name flashed on the screen.I hesitated for only a second before answering. “Hello?”There was a pause, then his voice came through, steady as always. “Kelhani. I need a favor.”Alec never called unless it was important. I sat up. “What’s wrong?”“It’s about Noah.”My heart tightened. I had always been close to Noah, Alec’s nephew, and knowing he needed me set off an immediate wave of concern. “Is he okay?”“He’s fine,” Alec reassured me. “But my grandmother needs to stay in the hospital for a few days, and there’s no one to stay with him at home. I can’t leave work right now, and I know you two are close.”A rush of emotions filled me. It had been a while since I’d visited Noah, and if he needed me, I wouldn’t hesitate. “I’ll go,” I said imme
Kehlani's POV The café was quiet for a weekday afternoon—just the hum of low conversations and the occasional clink of porcelain. I stirred my latte absently, watching the foam swirl as I waited for Diana. She was late, as usual, but I didn’t mind. It gave me time to think. My phone buzzed. Alec. Meeting ran long. Still at the office. Don’t wait up. I smirked. As if I ever did. “Sorry, sorry!” Diana’s voice cut through my thoughts as she slid into the chair across from me, her designer bag nearly toppling the sugar dispenser. “Traffic was a nightmare. You’d think New York would figure out how to build wider streets by now.” I pushed her untouched cappuccino toward her. “You’re lucky I love you.” She grinned, taking a sip. “Damn right.” Leaning forward, she lowered her voice. “So. Spill. How’s the empire-building going?” I rolled my eyes. “It’s not an empire. Yet.” “Yet,” she repeated, tapping her nails against the cup. “That’s the spirit.” I exhaled, flipping open my
Kehlani’s POVThe penthouse was quiet, save for the hum of the city below. Alec had disappeared into his study an hour ago, muttering something about contracts that needed reviewing. I should’ve gone to bed—God knew I needed the rest—but instead, I found myself curled up on the couch, flipping through a fashion magazine without really seeing the pages. My mind kept circling back to our conversation from earlier. "Then let’s do this."Had I really committed to this? To him? To whatever twisted game we were playing with Finn, with William, with my past? The sound of footsteps pulled me from my thoughts. Alec stood in the doorway, his tie loosened, sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He looked tired, but his gaze was sharp as ever. "You’re still awake," he observed, leaning against the doorframe. I shrugged, tossing the magazine onto the coffee table. "Couldn’t sleep." Alec pushed off the frame and walked over, sinking into the couch beside me. "Thinking too much?" "Aren’t I alw
Kehlani’s POVI didn’t know why I agreed to this.Sitting across from Alec in a quiet, dimly lit restaurant, I had to remind myself that this was about strategy. That this wasn’t a date. That I was here because he said it was important.And yet, as I watched him sip his whiskey, his gold-rimmed glasses glinting under the warm lights, I felt the lines blurring.“I still don’t see why we had to meet here,” I muttered, pushing the food around on my plate.Alec leaned back in his chair, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips. “Would you rather I took you to my place?”I shot him a look. “That’s not what I meant.”“Mm.” He took another sip. “You’re avoiding the real question, Kehlani.”I sighed. “Which is?”“Are you ready for what’s coming?”I tapped my fork against my plate, choosing my words carefully. “You make it sound like a storm is heading my way.”Alec tilted his head. “It is.”His certainty sent a shiver down my spine.He wasn’t the type to be dramatic. If he said something was co
Kehlani’s POVThe car ride from the gala had been quiet—too quiet. The tension in the air clung to my skin like humidity before a storm. I’d spent the entire evening pretending, playing my part, standing beside Alec as though we were an unshakable force. And yet, the moment we stepped out of that ballroom, the cracks became impossible to ignore.Alec had been staring out the window for the past fifteen minutes, one hand resting on his temple, the other drumming against his knee. His silence was calculated, like he was waiting for me to break it first.I wasn’t going to.The driver maneuvered through the streets of New York, its usual chaos muted at this late hour. The glow of streetlights flickered through the car windows, casting fleeting shadows on Alec’s face.Eventually, I sighed, crossing my arms. “Are we just going to sit in silence all night?”Alec smirked, finally turning his gaze toward me. “I was wondering how long you’d last.”I scowled. “I should’ve let it go longer just t