Helen and I were just finishing up the last bites of our pancakes, the ones she claimed were “the fluffiest yet,” when my phone buzzed on the table. A glance at the screen made my stomach twist—the principal of the kids’ school.“Oh no,” I murmured, grabbing the phone.Helen looked up, instantly sensing my tension. “Everything okay?”I forced a smile but could feel the worry tightening my throat. “It’s the school.”I picked up, keeping my voice as steady as I could. “Hello, this is Ruby.”“Mrs. Blackwood, this is Principal O’Neil,” the familiar voice on the other end said, warm but with a hint of urgency. “I need you to come to the school right away. There’s been… an incident.”My heart dropped. “Is everything alright? Are the kids okay?”“They’re fine,” she assured me, though her tone was careful. “It’s Rhett… He was involved in a… disagreement with another student.”“A disagreement?” My voice came out sharper than I intended.“Yes. I think it’s best if we discuss this in person. Ple
The doorbell rang a second time, the sound cutting through the silence. My heart raced, though I wasn’t sure why. I took a deep breath, brushing the worry from my face, and called out, “Coming!” I crossed the hall, bracing myself for a visitor, but hoping it wasn’t him.Instead, I opened the door to see Liam standing there, a warm smile lighting up his face. Relief washed over me.“Hey, Ruby,” he greeted.“Hi… good afternoon.” I stepped aside, opening the door wide enough for him to come through. “Come on in.”He held two brown paper bags, each filled to the brim. I reached out to take one, chuckling. “Are you moving in or just feeding an army?”“Only the finest snack selection for my favorite twins,” he replied with a grin, handing me a bag.Together, we made our way to the living room, where I set the bags down on the table. I cupped my hands and called out to the kids, who I knew were hovering just out of sight down the hall. “Alright, Munchies… someone’s here to see you!”I could
LITTLE RUBY'S POV Today was the day—the day Uncle Liam was taking us out! He had told us yesterday he was going to, and I was so excited, I could barely sleep. When morning came, I hurried out of bed, took my bath and put on my best outfit. But I had a little problem, I couldn’t find my favorite shoes.“Mom, where’s my shoe?” I called, hopping down the hall with one shoe on and my other foot bare.“Have you checked under your bed, Ruby?” she said, smiling at me from the kitchen.“Not there, Mom.”“Try Rhett’s room then.”Just as I was about to head to Rhett’s room, the doorbell rang. I was so excited I didn’t even care that I was wearing just one shoe. I hopped all the way to the door, wobbly but fast.I opened the door, and there was Uncle Liam, smiling down at me. “Hey, Ruby. How are you?”“Good, Uncle Liam! How are you?” I said, feeling very grown-up.He chuckled, patting my shoulder. “I’m good too, thank you.”“Are you just going to keep him there in the doorway, Ruby?” Mom’s vo
LIAM’S POVThe sky was painted in shades of orange and purple as the sun dipped lower. We were almost home, and the quiet drive felt like a welcome relief after such a long day. I kept my focus on the road, enjoying the peaceful silence that had settled over the car.It didn’t last long, though. Rhett stirred in the backseat, rubbing his eyes and blinking slowly. I glanced at him in the mirror, a small smile tugging at my lips. “You awake?” I asked softly.“Yeah… I am, Uncle Liam,” he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep as he scratched his eyes and yawned.We turned onto Ruby’s street, and that’s when I saw something that caught my eyes. A man was standing right in front of the house, and from the look of things, it wasn’t good. Ruby was with him, and whatever peaceful moment we had instantly shattered.“Who’s that?” Rhett asked in a curious voice, leaning forward as if to get a clearer view. His tired little face turned toward the window, and I felt a knot form in my chest. He didn’t
RHETT'S POVWhen Uncle Liam got back into the car, he looked at me with a look that was a combination of worry and something else… maybe sadness. He let out a shaky breath and gave me a soft smile. “You okay, buddy?”I nodded, even though my insides were still twisted up. “Yeah,” I said quietly, but really, I felt anything but okay.Liam carried my sister, Ruby, who was still asleep in his arms, while Mom helped me out of the car and grabbed the bags and packages from our day out. We made our way inside, entering into our quiet apartment. The evening was peaceful, but I could feel that something had changed.Mom followed me to my room, where she whispered, “Take your bath, okay?” before gently placing Ruby down on the bed next to mine. I nodded, and she gave Ruby’s shoulder a gentle shake. “And wake your sister up for hers when you’re done, alright?”“Got it,” I whispered back, watching as Mom closed the door quietly, leaving me alone with Ruby.I sat there for a moment, staring at m
RUBY'S POV I barely made it to the couch before the exhaustion hit. I let out a long, heavy sigh, sinking into the cushions as the weight of the day settled over me. Liam was sitting at the other end, appearing lost in thought, with a look of worry and uncertainty on his face.“What was that all about?” he finally asked in a gentle but firm voice, almost as if he was afraid of the answer.“That’s what I’ve been needing to talk to you about,” I said softly, not quite able to meet his gaze. I ran a hand through my hair, struggling to find the right words. “It seems… well, it seems Roman’s back.”Liam let out a slow breath, his brows knitting together as he took this in. “So I wasn’t mistaken,” he murmured, almost to himself.I nodded, swallowing down the familiar pang of anxiety. “You’re not mistaken, Liam,” I said, my voice sounding small and strained. “He’s back. And I don’t know what that means yet, but it worries me.”“Damn,” Liam said, running a hand over his face, his shoulders s
RUBY'S POV The church service had just ended, and the familiar buzz of people talking and laughing filled the air as everyone filed out of the sanctuary. Helen and I had just caught up to the kids near the doors, and they looked up at us expectantly.“So, my place or your place?” Helen asked, giving me a sly smile as we made our way outside.I looked at her, raising an eyebrow. “What do you think?” I countered, knowing full well what her answer would be.“You’re seriously answering my question with a question?” she replied with mock exasperation, and we both burst into laughter, earning curious looks from the kids.“Alright, let’s settle this the usual way,” she said, finally catching her breath. “My house or your house?”Before I could answer, Rhett raised his hand in a vote. “Definitely Aunt Helen’s,” he said with a grin.“Yeah, Aunt Helen’s house!” Ruby added, flashing her brother a wide smile as she joined in.Helen and I exchanged a knowing look, trying not to laugh. She raised
ROMAN'S POVThe morning air felt fresh as I parked in front of Ruby’s company. I hadn’t expected the building to be so… impressive. The tall glass building shone brightly in the morning light, smooth and sharp against the city skyline. I stepped out of my car, straightening my coat, taking in the sight. “So, this is all Ruby’s,” I murmured, almost admiring the place. Even after all this time, it was remarkable. Now, I was catching up, piecing together bits of a life that had moved on without me, seeing how far she’d come.Inside, I made my way to the reception desk, and as I walked, I could feel all eyes on me. Whispers floated around from the employees and passersby, most of them looking somewhere between curious and thrilled.“Oh my God, it’s Roman D’Angelo,” One of them murmured, her voice barely above a breath.I smirked slightly, ignoring the gazes and whispers. “What did they expect?” I thought to myself. Fame had never really left me. But none of that mattered right now. I wa
Ruby’s POVI left Uncle Damien’s house with my mind spinning. Each new revelation added to my confusion, turning my thoughts into a tangled mess that I couldn’t sort out.So this was it.Dad had been onto something—something dangerous. And because he refused to align with them, the Werewolf Council had removed him... permanently. I had spent years questioning whether his death was the result of bad luck, an unfortunate accident. But it wasn’t. It was deliberate.And Damien? He had been part of it.I felt a sour and infuriating knowledge twist in my chest. Damien knew the people responsible; he had worked with them and considered them allies. Yet, he never avenged my father, as his own power and position mattered more to him than justice.But Aunt Jean? She must have found something—enough to make her a threat. Enough for them to take her out, just like they had done to Dad. And now, after all this time, Damien was finally cutting ties.But cutting ties wasn’t enough.They had take
~Ruby's POV~"It wasn’t a dead end, Ruby," Keely added, her voice just as quiet.I felt my stomach tighten.Damien lied to me.I took a deep breath, steadying myself before I spoke. "How? What happened?"Keely and Esperanza exchanged a glance, and you could tell they were unsure of what to do or say."Come have a seat," Keely finally sighed."We don’t want anyone overhearing this," Esperanza added in a whisper.I nodded, following them to the bed, where we all sat in a tight circle. I could feel the goosebumps on my skin, my body itching with anticipation."So… from what I heard," Keely began, rubbing her temple, "the lead actually led them to a man. What was his name again?" She bit her index finger, thinking."Umm… Ramsey Hearts, I think," Esperanza chimed in."Yeah, yeah… Hearts," Keely nodded. "So, he gave them some details, but of course, I couldn’t get the full story out of him—at least, not yet.""Wait, wait…" I raised a hand, narrowing my eyes. "Who is he?"Keely hesitated, gl
~Ruby's POV~Some Minutes Earlier…I smirked, opening the car door. “Thanks for the ride, Roman.”And just like that, I stepped out, shutting the door behind me before he could respond.I walked up the steps steadily, with a straight posture. It was clear that I wanted to keep our conversation brief, and fortunately, Roman was nice enough not to insist. When I reached the door, I unlocked it and stepped inside. I exhaled slowly, my gaze sweeping over the space.“Been a while,” I whispered to myself.The air still smelled faintly of amber and vanilla—probably from the last time I’d cleaned. Everything was exactly as I had left it, but somehow, it felt… different. Maybe it was because my life was slightly less complicated the last time I was here.Shaking the thoughts away, I headed to the kitchen, grabbing a glass of water. I made my way to my bedroom, feeling really exhausted. I rubbed my temple absentmindedly, knowing sleep wouldn’t come easily tonight.Maybe a bath would help.I
~Roman's POV~“Did you do everything I asked?” I asked, my eyes still on the quiet street as Kai shifted beside me.“Yeah, everything’s in place.” He nodded and handed me a tablet.I took it, my fingers scrolling across the screen as live footage from inside Ruby’s house appeared. The cameras were subtle, nearly invisible to the untrained eye, capturing different angles—the living room, the kitchen, the hallway, and the bedrooms.“Mini surveillance cameras all around and inside the house... except the bathroom, of course,” Kai said with a smirk.I glanced at him. “No one will know they’re there?”“Not at all. Not a single clue.”Satisfied, I continued swiping through the views, watching as Ruby moved through the house. She walked into the kitchen, grabbed a glass of water, then made her way to her bedroom. She looked… tired. I could see the way her shoulders slumped slightly, the way she rubbed her temple absentmindedly.Yet, even in exhaustion, she was beautiful.I exhaled, leaning
~Roman's POV~“The one who, by the way, threatened me to stay away from you so she could have you all to herself,” Ruby said.My head snapped up, and I turned to face her fully. “She what?”Ruby leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, lips pressed together in something that looked like annoyance—but I could tell there was something else beneath it. Frustration? Hurt? Maybe even jealousy.Not that she’d ever admit it.“Yeah,” she continued, picking at the edge of her napkin. “She pulled me aside, smiled all sweet like she was about to give me some business advice, and then told me I should step aside so she could have you. Like I was just some obstacle in her way.”I clenched my jaw. That sounded exactly like something Sarah would do.“And you just let her say that to you?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.Ruby scoffed. “Oh, please. You think I just stood there and nodded? No, Roman, I made it very clear that I don’t take orders from women who act like desperate high school girls.”A small
~Ruby's POV~The car rolled to a slow stop, and I glanced around, confused. The engine hummed softly but there was no red light, no sign of traffic.“Umm… why are we stopping?” I finally asked, leaning slightly forward.Roman adjusted his seatbelt, glancing at me through the rearview mirror. “We stopped because I’m hungry.”I blinked. “Hungry? Like… right now?”“Yeah, right now.” He turned to look at me fully this time, and he was completely serious.I followed his gaze and realized we were parked in front of a restaurant. “Oh, come on,” I whispered under my breath.Roman smirked, as if hearing my frustration was the highlight of his day. “When I found out you were leaving town, I had to leave what I was doing, take a helicopter, and get here before you.”I scoffed. “Like seriously, Roman?” I shook my head. “You sent yourself on that errand, not me.”“You could at least say thank you for my efforts,” he quipped.I crossed my arms and huffed, looking away.Kai, who had been unusually
~Ruby's POV~Kai stood there, casually leaning against the car as if he had all the time in the world. His usual smirk played on his lips, amusement twinkling in his eyes.“Good evening, Ruby,” he greeted, his tone smooth and composed.I forced a smile. “Hey, good evening, Kai. How are you doing?” I asked with a forced smile, trying to play along.“Nice to see you, Ruby,” he said, standing up a little taller, a playful look in his eyes.I glanced around, pretending to look for someone. “What a coincidence. Who are you waiting for?”Kai smirked. “Umm… a young lady. She just arrived.”I narrowed my eyes at him. Of course, he’s playing along.“May I have your bags then,” he said, stepping forward to take my luggage.“No, no… not at all, Kai.” I pulled my bags back.His smirk faded slightly. “Roman actually sent me, Ruby. He asked me to pick you up.” His tone was more serious now.I sighed. Of course, he did.“Nah, no worries, Kai. I can take care of myself.”“Umm… Ruby, he specifically a
~Ruby's POV~"Are you sure you don't want one of us there with you?" Liam’s voice was filled with concern as he asked.I let out a soft chuckle, shaking my head. "No, not at all, Liam. I got this."Helen folded her arms, studying me carefully. "Are you sure, Ruby?"I turned to face them both, offering a reassuring smile. "Come on, Liam, you've got work to do, and Helen, your CEO duties are waiting."Helen winced, realization dawning on her."And the kids are resuming school soon. I can't be the only one left out," I continued. "This is my duty. A duty I must attend to."Liam exhaled heavily. "Hmm… if you're sure about this.""I'm more than sure," I interrupted before he could argue."Alright then… if you say so," Liam relented.Little Ruby held onto Helen's hand, her bottom lip jutting out slightly. "We're gonna miss you, Mum."I smiled at her, trying to lighten the mood. "Oh? Is that you admitting it?"Rhett and Little Ruby exchanged a look before lowering their heads. Their silence
~Damien's POV~Evan walked into my office, his presence filled with unsaid emotions.“I think everyone’s here, Damien,” he said, standing near my desk.“Are they all?” I asked, locking eyes with him.“Yeah… they’re waiting for us to join in.”I exhaled sharply, adjusting my sleeves. “Alright… let’s get this over with.”Together, we made our way to the meeting room.“I hope they have a damn good explanation for this,” I muttered, straightening my suit before reaching for the door handle.The room was filled with low murmurs, but the second I stepped in, everything went silent.I took my seat at the head of the table, scanning the room slowly, taking in the expressions—some neutral, some nervous, some unreadable.“Without wasting any more time,” I began, “let’s get straight to the reason for this gathering.”A few nods of acknowledgement. But before I could continue, I noticed an empty seat.“Who’s missing?” I asked, my tone sharp.The answer came before anyone could speak.“I am yet to