Vanessa POV My eyes opened as I caught a glimpse of Sunlight piercing into the living room. Morning came too soon. The Iight lingered, warming the room in soft hues of orange and gold. I wasn’t sure of the time I’d fallen asleep. All I knew was that I’d been wrapped in Edward’s arms, tucked between two very different worlds—Daniel’s penthouse and my shattered sense of safety. My eyes fluttered open, dry and sore. I was curled up on Daniel’s couch, wrapped in a blanket, still wearing his baggy T-shirt. The air smelled faintly of coffee and something citrusy, probably the reed diffusers he always had scattered around. It was too pristine. Too calm. Like last night hadn’t even happened. But it had. Kaz had returned. He’d stepped into my new beginning like a ghost rising from the grave. I sat up slowly, and pain pinched my ribs—a reminder that this wasn’t a dream. That I’d been cornered, grabbed, pinned. And saved. By Daniel. And then, held. By Edward. Two men. On
Friday, April 26th Vanessa POV The drive back to the mansion was heavy with silence. Edward’s car hummed quietly as we cruised through New York’s glowing streets, city lights throwing long shadows across the dashboard. The weight in my chest had only grown since Kaz reappeared—his return hadn’t just shaken me, it shattered something I hadn’t realized was still fragile. It wasn’t just the attack. It was everything—the fear, the buried trauma, the flood of memories. Edward kept stealing glances at me, his lips pressed into a tight line. He didn’t speak, but the air buzzed with the words he wasn’t saying. I knew he wanted me to open up. The problem was, I didn’t know how. Finally, his voice broke the silence. “You didn’t tell me about the texts.” My heart skipped. “The texts?” I echoed, trying to sound casual. “The ones about you and Liam. The ones you never mentioned.” A knot twisted in my stomach. I should’ve told him. But I didn’t. And now it was too late to pretend it
Daniel POV The soft chime of the elevator echoed through the penthouse as I opened the door, just in time to see Vanessa and Liam stepping out with Edward trailing behind them. My gut twisted a little—maybe it was the sight of Liam holding Vanessa’s hand, or maybe it was the way Edward’s gaze landed on me with that ever-present rivalry in his eyes. Vanessa looked exhausted, though still striking as always—her eyes guarded, her steps careful. Liam clutched a small suitcase in one hand and a toy car in the other, his eyes darting around the hallway like a curious little explorer. “Welcome,” I said, stepping forward. My voice came out smoother than I felt. “Liam, I got something for you.” The little boy tilted his head suspiciously, but I could already see the curiosity winning. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small treat bag—soft chewy caramels, the kind that didn’t stick to your teeth, thankfully. His eyes lit up. “Can I have one, Mommy?” Vanessa smiled faintly. “J
Vanessa POV Wendy Hawthorne walked in like she owned the damn place. I blinked, stunned, as her heels clicked sharply against the hardwood floor of Daniel’s penthouse, her designer trench coat billowing like she’d just stepped off the set of a soap opera. She paused dramatically in the entryway, clearly expecting an audience. Her brunette hair styled in waves gleamed under the warm lights, and her lips curled into a half-smile when she saw me. “Well, this is a surprise,” she purred, setting her oversized sunglasses atop her head. “Didn’t expect company, Danny. Though I suppose you’ve always liked strays.” Daniel, who’d been clearing the table with a dishtowel still in hand, stiffened beside me. “What the hell are you doing here, Wendy?” he asked, voice sharp with irritation. Wendy swept into the dinning room like she hadn’t heard him, her gaze flitting between the dimmed lights, the warm plates on the dining table, and finally—me. “I see you’ve been entertaining.” “Ans
Vanessa POV The room was dark, but the silence didn’t comfort me. It was the scream in my head that woke me—loud, raw, too real. My chest heaved as I sat up, drenched in cold sweat, heart thundering. For a second, I couldn’t breathe. Kaz. His voice echoed in my mind like a jagged replay, his hands pinning me down, his threats crackling like fire through my veins. Even the shadows around me seemed to shift like they belonged to him. I turned to check Liam. My darling son was fast asleep, curled in a blanket and unaware of the chaos around us. Safe. For now, I reached for my phone, then stopped. It was just after 4 a.m. I blinked into the dim light, my eyes adjusting slowly. My limbs trembled as I forced myself out of bed and tiptoed into the hallway, my body stiff and sore from the nightmare’s grip. Still, the unease in my chest didn’t lift. It was like a hand was clutching my heart. I didn’t want to go back to bed. My feet moved almost instinctively, padding across
Edward’s POVThe sun hadn’t risen yet, but the city was already beginning to stir beneath me. I sat behind the wheel of my car, parked a block away from the rundown building that Detective Slater had mentioned over the phone. A warehouse near the East River, supposedly condemned but still lingering with shadows. I tightened my grip around the steering wheel, knuckles white. My private investigator Jonathan, sat in the passengers seat.The moment Slater called Daniel, I was already slipping on my coat. The name Kaz had my blood running cold.“You sure this is the place?” I asked again into my Bluetooth headset.“I don’t joke about guys like him,” Slater responded, his voice crackling with static. “Anonymous tip came in. They said someone matching Kaz’s description has been hiding out here the last few nights. No security cams in the area, but the timing lines up.”I stared at the building, its brick walls crusted with grime, rusted metal doors barely holding onto their hinges. “What
Vanessa POV The clock on Daniel’s living room wall ticked too loudly.It was almost noon, but time felt suspended—caught between the silence of waiting and the heaviness of fear.I stood by the window, arms folded tightly across my chest, watching the clouds roll in over Manhattan like bruises. Rain threatened in the distance, but all I could feel was the chill of dread creeping up my spine. Edward left for a business meeting and hadn’t come back yet. I tried to tell myself that was okay—that he was probably stuck in traffic, or giving the police a statement, or just… breathing. But deep down, I knew something had happened.I had sensed it in his voice earlier.The call wasn’t long. I’d only caught the tail end when Daniel stepped out of the room, but I heard the tension. The clipped tone. The sharp inhale before he hung up.Kaz.He’d found him. I didn’t need confirmation—I just knew.“Mommy?”I turned. Liam stood behind me, clutching a stuffed bear to his chest. His curls were messy
Daniel POVSunday, 29th AprilThe late morning light sliced through the penthouse windows, casting sharp lines over the hardwood floors. Vanessa was still upstairs with Liam, cocooned in a thin bubble of calm that I didn’t want to break. Edward had stepped out to prepare the mansion for their return, since Vanessa and Liam were going back today. Kaz had fled New York so it was safe for them again, but my senses told me otherwise. The past few days have been intense and overwhelming.The world outside didn’t stop spinning just because we needed peace.I grabbed my jacket, left a note by the coffee machine—just in case—and slipped out of the penthouse without a sound. The hallway was quiet. My security detail stood outside the door, nodding once as I passed. They knew the drill by now: stay close, stay alert, stay ready.Ten minutes later, I was buried behind my desk at Westborne inc’s satellite office on the East Side, trying to plow through enough paperwork that I had to clarify befor
Daniel POVSunday, 29th AprilThe late morning light sliced through the penthouse windows, casting sharp lines over the hardwood floors. Vanessa was still upstairs with Liam, cocooned in a thin bubble of calm that I didn’t want to break. Edward had stepped out to prepare the mansion for their return, since Vanessa and Liam were going back today. Kaz had fled New York so it was safe for them again, but my senses told me otherwise. The past few days have been intense and overwhelming.The world outside didn’t stop spinning just because we needed peace.I grabbed my jacket, left a note by the coffee machine—just in case—and slipped out of the penthouse without a sound. The hallway was quiet. My security detail stood outside the door, nodding once as I passed. They knew the drill by now: stay close, stay alert, stay ready.Ten minutes later, I was buried behind my desk at Westborne inc’s satellite office on the East Side, trying to plow through enough paperwork that I had to clarify befor
Vanessa POV The clock on Daniel’s living room wall ticked too loudly.It was almost noon, but time felt suspended—caught between the silence of waiting and the heaviness of fear.I stood by the window, arms folded tightly across my chest, watching the clouds roll in over Manhattan like bruises. Rain threatened in the distance, but all I could feel was the chill of dread creeping up my spine. Edward left for a business meeting and hadn’t come back yet. I tried to tell myself that was okay—that he was probably stuck in traffic, or giving the police a statement, or just… breathing. But deep down, I knew something had happened.I had sensed it in his voice earlier.The call wasn’t long. I’d only caught the tail end when Daniel stepped out of the room, but I heard the tension. The clipped tone. The sharp inhale before he hung up.Kaz.He’d found him. I didn’t need confirmation—I just knew.“Mommy?”I turned. Liam stood behind me, clutching a stuffed bear to his chest. His curls were messy
Edward’s POVThe sun hadn’t risen yet, but the city was already beginning to stir beneath me. I sat behind the wheel of my car, parked a block away from the rundown building that Detective Slater had mentioned over the phone. A warehouse near the East River, supposedly condemned but still lingering with shadows. I tightened my grip around the steering wheel, knuckles white. My private investigator Jonathan, sat in the passengers seat.The moment Slater called Daniel, I was already slipping on my coat. The name Kaz had my blood running cold.“You sure this is the place?” I asked again into my Bluetooth headset.“I don’t joke about guys like him,” Slater responded, his voice crackling with static. “Anonymous tip came in. They said someone matching Kaz’s description has been hiding out here the last few nights. No security cams in the area, but the timing lines up.”I stared at the building, its brick walls crusted with grime, rusted metal doors barely holding onto their hinges. “What
Vanessa POV The room was dark, but the silence didn’t comfort me. It was the scream in my head that woke me—loud, raw, too real. My chest heaved as I sat up, drenched in cold sweat, heart thundering. For a second, I couldn’t breathe. Kaz. His voice echoed in my mind like a jagged replay, his hands pinning me down, his threats crackling like fire through my veins. Even the shadows around me seemed to shift like they belonged to him. I turned to check Liam. My darling son was fast asleep, curled in a blanket and unaware of the chaos around us. Safe. For now, I reached for my phone, then stopped. It was just after 4 a.m. I blinked into the dim light, my eyes adjusting slowly. My limbs trembled as I forced myself out of bed and tiptoed into the hallway, my body stiff and sore from the nightmare’s grip. Still, the unease in my chest didn’t lift. It was like a hand was clutching my heart. I didn’t want to go back to bed. My feet moved almost instinctively, padding across
Vanessa POV Wendy Hawthorne walked in like she owned the damn place. I blinked, stunned, as her heels clicked sharply against the hardwood floor of Daniel’s penthouse, her designer trench coat billowing like she’d just stepped off the set of a soap opera. She paused dramatically in the entryway, clearly expecting an audience. Her brunette hair styled in waves gleamed under the warm lights, and her lips curled into a half-smile when she saw me. “Well, this is a surprise,” she purred, setting her oversized sunglasses atop her head. “Didn’t expect company, Danny. Though I suppose you’ve always liked strays.” Daniel, who’d been clearing the table with a dishtowel still in hand, stiffened beside me. “What the hell are you doing here, Wendy?” he asked, voice sharp with irritation. Wendy swept into the dinning room like she hadn’t heard him, her gaze flitting between the dimmed lights, the warm plates on the dining table, and finally—me. “I see you’ve been entertaining.” “Ans
Daniel POV The soft chime of the elevator echoed through the penthouse as I opened the door, just in time to see Vanessa and Liam stepping out with Edward trailing behind them. My gut twisted a little—maybe it was the sight of Liam holding Vanessa’s hand, or maybe it was the way Edward’s gaze landed on me with that ever-present rivalry in his eyes. Vanessa looked exhausted, though still striking as always—her eyes guarded, her steps careful. Liam clutched a small suitcase in one hand and a toy car in the other, his eyes darting around the hallway like a curious little explorer. “Welcome,” I said, stepping forward. My voice came out smoother than I felt. “Liam, I got something for you.” The little boy tilted his head suspiciously, but I could already see the curiosity winning. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small treat bag—soft chewy caramels, the kind that didn’t stick to your teeth, thankfully. His eyes lit up. “Can I have one, Mommy?” Vanessa smiled faintly. “J
Friday, April 26th Vanessa POV The drive back to the mansion was heavy with silence. Edward’s car hummed quietly as we cruised through New York’s glowing streets, city lights throwing long shadows across the dashboard. The weight in my chest had only grown since Kaz reappeared—his return hadn’t just shaken me, it shattered something I hadn’t realized was still fragile. It wasn’t just the attack. It was everything—the fear, the buried trauma, the flood of memories. Edward kept stealing glances at me, his lips pressed into a tight line. He didn’t speak, but the air buzzed with the words he wasn’t saying. I knew he wanted me to open up. The problem was, I didn’t know how. Finally, his voice broke the silence. “You didn’t tell me about the texts.” My heart skipped. “The texts?” I echoed, trying to sound casual. “The ones about you and Liam. The ones you never mentioned.” A knot twisted in my stomach. I should’ve told him. But I didn’t. And now it was too late to pretend it
Vanessa POV My eyes opened as I caught a glimpse of Sunlight piercing into the living room. Morning came too soon. The Iight lingered, warming the room in soft hues of orange and gold. I wasn’t sure of the time I’d fallen asleep. All I knew was that I’d been wrapped in Edward’s arms, tucked between two very different worlds—Daniel’s penthouse and my shattered sense of safety. My eyes fluttered open, dry and sore. I was curled up on Daniel’s couch, wrapped in a blanket, still wearing his baggy T-shirt. The air smelled faintly of coffee and something citrusy, probably the reed diffusers he always had scattered around. It was too pristine. Too calm. Like last night hadn’t even happened. But it had. Kaz had returned. He’d stepped into my new beginning like a ghost rising from the grave. I sat up slowly, and pain pinched my ribs—a reminder that this wasn’t a dream. That I’d been cornered, grabbed, pinned. And saved. By Daniel. And then, held. By Edward. Two men. On
Edward’s POVThe wheels of my private jet touched down with a gentle bounce, but the moment was anything but smooth for me.Rome had been a success. The business deal was closed, the Roman investors had signed off on the proposal, and my company stood to gain millions in international expansion. On paper, I had everything to celebrate.But I didn’t feel victorious.All I could think about was Vanessa. Her voice on the phone two nights ago had been so… distant. I knew her well enough to hear what she didn’t say. Something was wrong. And my gut hadn’t stopped twisting since that call.The driver was already waiting when I exited the terminal. I nodded stiffly at him, dropping into the backseat and telling him to head home. I didn’t even take off my jacket. My mind was racing too fast.I’d texted Vanessa from the car, just a simple: I’m home. I missed you.No response.Odd.Ten minutes passed. Still nothing.By the time we pulled up to the house, tension coiled in my chest like a vice.T