The Gala Rowan’s POV I wasn’t leaving tonight without the answers I needed. From the moment I saw her name on the guest list, I knew this was my chance. Ivy had disappeared for the past seven years to God knows where avoiding me. Now that due to some twist, I was able to finally see her again, she is shutting down every attempt I’d made to reach her. But she won't get away tonight. Because, she’d have nowhere to run. This was the perfect location. I had decided to avoid any social circles tonight because I had a target. I scanned the crowd, my fingers tightening around the glass in my hand. The gala was in full swing—elegant dresses, expensive suits, champagne bubbling in crystal flutes. The sound of polite conversation and laughter filled the grand hall, but I didn’t hear any of it. I only had eyes for her. And no one else. Then I saw her. Ivy. She stood near the center of the room, wearing a sleek black dress that hugged her curves, her blonde hair falling in
A Shocking Betrayal Ivy’s POV I should have seen it coming. Betrayal never comes from enemies—it comes from the people you trust. The moment I stepped into my office that morning, I knew something was wrong. The air was thick with tension, and my assistant, Claire, looked pale as she handed me a folder. “You need to see this,” she said, her voice tight. I flipped it open, my stomach sinking as I scanned the documents. Screenshots of emails, financial records, and—worst of all—side-by-side comparisons of Ivy's Atelier designs and those from Vanguard Fashion Group. My rival company. A company I had been competing with for months. A company I now knew was owned by Rowan Douglas. The blood drained from my face. Claire hesitated. “I didn’t want to believe it, but—” I looked up. “Who?” She swallowed hard. “Eric.” The name sent a cold wave through me. Eric had been with me from the start. He was one of my lead designers, someone I had mentored, trusted, believed
The Connection Deepens Ivy’s POV I didn’t sleep. How could I after what I did? Storming into Rowan’s office and realizing I might have accused the wrong person, my mind refused to shut off. Bella’s smirk haunted me. Eric’s betrayal burned in my chest. And Rowan—Rowan had looked at me like I’d just torn open an old wound he’d barely managed to stitch together. By the time the sun rose, I was exhausted but restless. I needed something normal, something steady. So I did what I always did when life spun out of control. I focused on Noah. The only real joy that fate had brought to my life. Since we arrived here, he has just been pestering me to go to the park. I guess today will be a very good day to do that. At least I will get to spend time with him outside this place. “Noah, honey, slow down,” I called as he raced across the park. His curly head of hair bobbed in the sunlight, his laughter bright against the crisp morning air. He ignored me, of course, too busy chasing a
Failed Scheme Bella’s POV I hated losing. It wasn’t in my nature to come second. Not in business, not in social circles, and certainly not when it came to Rowan. But Ivy Sharp was proving to be more of a nuisance than I expected. I watched from across the room as she moved through the charity gala, smiling at people, pretending like she belonged in our world. It made me sick. I’d spent years by Rowan’s side—his most trusted advisor, his confidante, his girlfriend. Everyone expected us to be together. Hell, I expected us to be together. Until her. Now, I had to watch as she crept back into his life, undoing everything I’d worked for. Not for long. Luckily, I have been working with Eric to steal her designs and sell them to Vanguard. Now that she has found out and he has been fired, I need to find an alternative to that I can use to hurt her. And there was only one man I knew that could help me achieve that. The next morning, I hurried to his office that luckily w
Get Out Rowan’s POV I had never been this angry in my life. Not even when I saw Gabe with Ivy. Not when my Ivy accused me of sabotaging her company. But now? Now, as I stood in the middle of the charity gala, every eye in the room locked on me, something close to fury burned through my veins as the urge to deal with the culprit filled my thoughts. Bella's actions were just unbelievable bordering on petty. How could she do this? Bella’s lips parted slightly, her breath catching as she stared at me, pretending like she didn’t know exactly what I was talking about. But she can't fool me. Not in the slightest. “What did you do, Bella?” I repeated, my voice cold, and measured. Her mask of confidence slipped for just a fraction of a second, but then she rolled her shoulders back and scoffed, flipping her hair like I’d just asked her if she had stolen my favorite pen. “You’re being irrational, Rowan.” Her voice was smooth, practiced, just like always. “I have no idea wha
DIVORCE ON SURPRISE IVY'S POV "I want a divorce." Rowan’s voice echoes through the sitting room as he throws what look like divorce papers onto the desk in front of me. Tonight is supposed to be our third anniversary, and I’ve prepared all his favorite dishes—only for him to come home and shatter my world with these documents. "I don’t understand. If this is a prank or some kind of test, you got me. Please, tell me this is just a joke," I plead, approaching him cautiously. Even in my distress, I can’t help but notice his intoxicating scent. His face is contorted with anger, and I’m at a complete loss. Rowan’s eyes bore into mine, cold and unforgiving. "Do I look like I’m joking?" Tears prick at the corners of my eyes as I reach for him. "Rowan, please don’t do this. I’m begging you." He steps back, his expression hardening further. "Name your price, sign the damn papers, and leave." I can hardly believe what I’m hearing. Does he really think I married him for his money? I
IVY'S POV I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN I still can't believe Bella is back, and to make matters worse, Rowan chose to bring her home at my lowest moment. "I think we should grab some coffee," Bella suggests, feigning innocence as if she weren't the catalyst for my world crumbling around me. As if this isn't exactly what she wanted; to replace me as Rowan's wife. I don't dignify her with a response. Instead, I toss my keys to Rowan, my voice cold and resolute. "You'll never see my face again." Grabbing my luggage, I turn my back on the life I've known for the past three years. I don't even glance at the car Rowan's grandfather gifted me. I want nothing tying me to the Douglas family any longer. I'm done with them all. As I walk away from the mansion, Rowan's voice stops me in my tracks. For a fleeting moment, I wonder if I've forgotten something. "You didn't include anything in the divorce papers about compensation," he calls out. I whirl around, my eyes blazing with
LEAVING EUROPE IVY'S POV "Mommy, I wanna see Daddy," Noah says, his big grey eyes looking up at me, so full of hope it breaks my heart. It's been seven long years since I left Los Angeles, since my life there fell to pieces. I swore I'd never go back, not when there's nothing left for me there. But here in Europe with my best friend Sarah, things are better. Easier. Today is Noah's seventh birthday, and I promised him he could make a wish. I thought for sure he'd ask for his favorite sandwich cake, or maybe a trip to Wonderland Park with Sarah. But no. He asks for something else entirely. "That's my wish," he says, his little voice so certain. "Oh honey, you gotta pick a different wish," I tell him, trying to keep my voice light. Noah's always asking about his daddy, wanting to meet him. But how can I explain what a monster his father was to me? How he threw me away like garbage? "But why can't I see Daddy? You said I got grandmas and grandpas. Why can't I meet them?"
Get Out Rowan’s POV I had never been this angry in my life. Not even when I saw Gabe with Ivy. Not when my Ivy accused me of sabotaging her company. But now? Now, as I stood in the middle of the charity gala, every eye in the room locked on me, something close to fury burned through my veins as the urge to deal with the culprit filled my thoughts. Bella's actions were just unbelievable bordering on petty. How could she do this? Bella’s lips parted slightly, her breath catching as she stared at me, pretending like she didn’t know exactly what I was talking about. But she can't fool me. Not in the slightest. “What did you do, Bella?” I repeated, my voice cold, and measured. Her mask of confidence slipped for just a fraction of a second, but then she rolled her shoulders back and scoffed, flipping her hair like I’d just asked her if she had stolen my favorite pen. “You’re being irrational, Rowan.” Her voice was smooth, practiced, just like always. “I have no idea wha
Failed Scheme Bella’s POV I hated losing. It wasn’t in my nature to come second. Not in business, not in social circles, and certainly not when it came to Rowan. But Ivy Sharp was proving to be more of a nuisance than I expected. I watched from across the room as she moved through the charity gala, smiling at people, pretending like she belonged in our world. It made me sick. I’d spent years by Rowan’s side—his most trusted advisor, his confidante, his girlfriend. Everyone expected us to be together. Hell, I expected us to be together. Until her. Now, I had to watch as she crept back into his life, undoing everything I’d worked for. Not for long. Luckily, I have been working with Eric to steal her designs and sell them to Vanguard. Now that she has found out and he has been fired, I need to find an alternative to that I can use to hurt her. And there was only one man I knew that could help me achieve that. The next morning, I hurried to his office that luckily w
The Connection Deepens Ivy’s POV I didn’t sleep. How could I after what I did? Storming into Rowan’s office and realizing I might have accused the wrong person, my mind refused to shut off. Bella’s smirk haunted me. Eric’s betrayal burned in my chest. And Rowan—Rowan had looked at me like I’d just torn open an old wound he’d barely managed to stitch together. By the time the sun rose, I was exhausted but restless. I needed something normal, something steady. So I did what I always did when life spun out of control. I focused on Noah. The only real joy that fate had brought to my life. Since we arrived here, he has just been pestering me to go to the park. I guess today will be a very good day to do that. At least I will get to spend time with him outside this place. “Noah, honey, slow down,” I called as he raced across the park. His curly head of hair bobbed in the sunlight, his laughter bright against the crisp morning air. He ignored me, of course, too busy chasing a
A Shocking Betrayal Ivy’s POV I should have seen it coming. Betrayal never comes from enemies—it comes from the people you trust. The moment I stepped into my office that morning, I knew something was wrong. The air was thick with tension, and my assistant, Claire, looked pale as she handed me a folder. “You need to see this,” she said, her voice tight. I flipped it open, my stomach sinking as I scanned the documents. Screenshots of emails, financial records, and—worst of all—side-by-side comparisons of Ivy's Atelier designs and those from Vanguard Fashion Group. My rival company. A company I had been competing with for months. A company I now knew was owned by Rowan Douglas. The blood drained from my face. Claire hesitated. “I didn’t want to believe it, but—” I looked up. “Who?” She swallowed hard. “Eric.” The name sent a cold wave through me. Eric had been with me from the start. He was one of my lead designers, someone I had mentored, trusted, believed
The Gala Rowan’s POV I wasn’t leaving tonight without the answers I needed. From the moment I saw her name on the guest list, I knew this was my chance. Ivy had disappeared for the past seven years to God knows where avoiding me. Now that due to some twist, I was able to finally see her again, she is shutting down every attempt I’d made to reach her. But she won't get away tonight. Because, she’d have nowhere to run. This was the perfect location. I had decided to avoid any social circles tonight because I had a target. I scanned the crowd, my fingers tightening around the glass in my hand. The gala was in full swing—elegant dresses, expensive suits, champagne bubbling in crystal flutes. The sound of polite conversation and laughter filled the grand hall, but I didn’t hear any of it. I only had eyes for her. And no one else. Then I saw her. Ivy. She stood near the center of the room, wearing a sleek black dress that hugged her curves, her blonde hair falling in
Ivy’s Independence Rowan’s POV I had spent years convincing myself that she had been a chapter in my life that had closed. But then I saw her again. And I saw him. Noah. The name she called him. I barely slept that night, my mind racing with questions I had no answers to. The resemblance had been undeniable, but I needed proof. I needed the truth. And Ivy sure as hell wasn’t going to hand it to me willingly. So, I did what I did best. I dug. By morning, my assistant, Daniel, had compiled a full report on Ivy’s life since we’d been apart. As I scrolled through the files on my tablet, an uneasy feeling settled in my chest. She had done well for herself. Really well. Ivy Sharp wasn’t just surviving—she was thriving. Her fashion brand, Ivy's Atelier, had taken the industry by storm, dressing celebrities, socialites, and even royalty. She had built an empire from the ground up, and she’d done it all without me. The realization hit harder than I expected. I had spent
An Updated List Rowan's POV It had been a long day and all I wanted was to rush home and rest. But I had a feeling I was going to end up meeting a certain someone I was trying my possible best to dodge. Bella. So, instead of heading home, I opted for something else. A drive around town. It was kind of relaxing for me. A way to wind down and forget about my stress. As I was driving, lost in my thoughts, my gaze fell on a figure I didn't expect to see. Ivy. Without thinking twice, I drove straight towards her. Blowing my horn to get her attention, she turned in an instant. I was shocked to see the look of misery on her face. She looked like she was about to cry. When she recognized me, she quickly masked her expression and walked faster. Not turned off by her behavior, I followed her. “Hi Ivy,” “What do you want Rowan?” “Nothing really. I saw you walking and I thought you should get a ride instead. So here I am.” I stated driving alongside her. “I'm not interested.”
Secrets in Plain Sight Ivy’s POV I wanted to walk away the moment I saw her. When my mother opened the door, I couldn't help but feel suffocated straight to my bones as memories from the past threatened to pull me under making me watery eye. It was hard to forgive when the people you put so much faith and trust in decide to abandon at your lowest moment. But I had to do this. For my father. Though we had no good relationship seeing as he is the instigator of all the harsh treatment the rest of the family meted on me. I clutched the small wooden box in my hands, my fingers pressing against the engraved initials. A keepsake. One of the few things he had left behind that mattered at least when he still treated me like a daughter. "Ivy." Her voice wavered, eyes widening as she took me in. I guess she was surprised to see me right now. I too was surprised by myself. Especially after the attack at the cemetery, I didn't even know who to trust anymore. I wonder what would'v
Father's Keepsake Ivy's POV It was just yesterday that Gabe told me I had a better chance of surviving here in Los Angeles than traveling back to Europe and it had since destabilized me. I didn't want it to be real. I tried my hardest to call the shots I knew I had to so that I can keep the business still going, but it only made the whole situation more real. If anyone had told me that I will be spending more time than necessary in this state, I’d have laughed that person to scorn, yet here I am. All because of some crazy attack that I couldn't just pinpoint who gave the order. After a long night thinking of the next step, wondering whether to just condemn everything to hell and make the drastic choice of secretly leaving L.A, but then Gab’s words echoed in my head. Taking a deep breath, I sighed. I would never forgive myself if anything was to happen to Noah. I decided instead to make the necessary calls. Thank goodness Sarah chose to keep her apartment if not thi