Damian's POVAs I sat at my desk, immersed in the mountain of paperwork demanding my attention, my phone vibrated. Glancing at the screen, I saw Valerie’s name. For a moment, I hesitated, recalling everything that had transpired recently. Taking a deep breath, I answered.“Hello, Valerie,” I said, keeping my tone neutral.Her voice was calm but carried a faint undercurrent of weariness. “Damian, I just wanted to let you know... it’s done. I went through with the abortion earlier today.”A wave of relief washed over me. “That’s good news. I’m glad you’re okay,” I replied sincerely. “Take your time to recover. You don’t need to rush back to work.”“Thank you,” she said softly. “I appreciate it.”“I’ll try to stop by and check on you soon,” I added.“That’s thoughtful, but I’ll manage,” she replied before the call ended.As I placed my phone back on the desk, a notification lit up the screen—a message from Lila.“Just got to the office. I’ll be staying the night in my apartment nearby.
Damian's POVRandall’s words, “Goodbye, Lila,” echoed in my mind, twisting my stomach into knots. My body moved before my brain caught up, and I slammed the door open, bursting into the office.“Stop!” I shouted, my voice raw with desperation.Randall turned to me, his face a twisted mask of surprise and amusement. In an instant, the gun shifted from Lila to me, the cold barrel now trained on my chest. My heart raced, but I forced myself to raise my hands in surrender, hoping to buy time. The cops must be close by now. Please let them be close.“Well, well,” Randall sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. “Here comes the knight in shining armor. What a joke.”I didn’t flinch at his taunts. “You don’t have to do this, Randall. Let her go.”His laugh was sharp and cruel, slicing through the tense air. “You think you can just stroll in here and play hero? Kneel. Right now.”I hesitated for a fraction of a second before complying, lowering myself to the ground beside Lila. My eyes dart
Lila's POVThe hum of the car engine filled the quiet night, a comforting backdrop to my wandering thoughts. It had been weeks since Randall’s arrest, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I could breathe without the weight of constant fear pressing on my chest. My peace of mind has been restored since Randall's arrest and I found myself revelling in it these days. No shadowy observations, no cryptic threats to unnerve me. Just peace. And Damian. The bond between Damian and I had grown stronger these past few weeks. I couldn't deny the fact that Damain truly loves me. I saw it in his eyes that night when Randall tied me up and was about to shoot me. Damian tried to protect me at the expense of his own life that night. He didn't care whatever happened to him. He practically told Randall to take his own life instead.What more would I want from a man than to love me the way I want to be loved? How, then, won't I admire someone who proves that he loves me beyond the li
Damian's POVThe crisp night air and the view of the city lights below barely held my attention as I stepped onto the balcony of my apartment.These past few weeks had been a whirlwind, and while everything seemed to be settling back into place, my thoughts were far from calm. They were consumed by Lila.Leaning against the railing, I exhaled deeply. These nights I spent in my apartment near Monroe Corporation were meant to keep me close to her. It was a subtle thing, but knowing she often spend her night nearby brought me a sense of comfort. The apartment was small compared to my main house, but it felt like the right place to be. Lila was at the center of my world now, even if she didn’t realize the depth of my feelings.And I had finally told her.After weeks of holding back, unsure if it was the right time or if she was ready after everything she’d endured, I had laid my heart bare. I’d told her how much I’d always loved her, how she’d become the light in my life without even
Damian's POVI knew my words were sharp and unrelenting, each one cutting through the air like a blade, yet I wasn't sorry. Valerie really botched up.She was shrinking under the weight of my anger, her tears doing little to soften my fury. I could barely fathom the mess she had dragged me into, and I wasn’t done expressing just how deeply I felt betrayed when my phone suddenly buzzed on the table.I wanted to ignore the call for now, and face the mess that Valerie has dragged me into with her negligence. I knew that we both had our faults in this from the start, but I'd taken actions to clean the mess on my part so I was somewhat vindicated. Having ignored the call since the screen was facing the couch and didn't reveal the caller, I wanted to continue expressing my displeasure and anger towards Valerie. Then a thought struck me.What if it was Lila?Instinctively, I grabbed the phone from the couch, and turned it such that the screen was in my view. As I glanced at the screen, my
Damian's POV The quiet in the living room was oppressive, broken only by the soft ticking of the clock on the wall. Lila sat curled on the couch beside me, her head lightly resting against my shoulder. She’d been this way for days, withdrawn, barely speaking, and it killed me to see her like this. The vibrant, fiery woman I knew seemed so far away now, replaced by someone weighed down by pain and fear.Ever since her family had been missing, she had been staying with me as I urged her to. Her simplicity remained but it was devoid of her laughter which blew me away each time I'm around her. Although I had been the one helping Lila with most of her CEO duties, now I fully run the affairs of the company alongside mine. Given Valerie had also stopped coming to work and I've not hired a new PA, It was a lot for me, but not in the slightest did it take any significant toll on me. Still, I always made sure to finish from work a little early or come home in the afternoon just like I did
Lila's POV My eyes fluttered open in the faint morning light streaming through the curtains. The familiar ache of sorrow settled in my chest, a weight I’d come to recognize but could never grow accustomed to. My gaze drifted across the bed to Damian, who lay on his side, still lost in the peace of sleep. His features, relaxed and serene, offered a stark contrast to the turmoil churning within me.For a brief moment, I let my eyes linger, taking in the slight rise and fall of his chest, the way his lashes rested gently against his skin. A part of me felt comforted by his presence. He had been my rock these past days, never wavering, always there when I needed him most. Yet, the ache in my heart refused to be soothed.I turned my head away, my eyes staring into vacancy, but my thoughts had travelled on a journey, revisiting every possible family moment it could catch from my memory.My thoughts spiraled even more to the endless pit of worry and grief. No matter how much Damian tried
Damain's POVThe conference room buzzed with a stunned silence, the gasps gradually fading as the man who had stolen everyone’s attention—Nicholas Cole, my father—stepped further inside. His presence alone seemed to shift the atmosphere, commanding attention in a way that only someone with a long-forgotten legacy could.He cleared his throat, his voice deep and steady, the kind that carried authority. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he began, “I—”But before he could finish his introduction, the boiling rage inside me reached its peak. I shot to my feet, my chair scraping loudly against the polished floor. My sudden movement startled everyone, their wide-eyed gazes now fixed on me.Without a word, I turned on my heel and stormed out of the room.A cacophony of murmurs erupted behind me, but I didn’t care. My strides were purposeful, my thoughts a whirlwind of anger and betrayal. A small part of me acknowledged the strange relief I felt in seeing him alive—after all these years, thinking he
Lila's POV Damian sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Honestly? I don't have a plan yet. I’m still trying to figure it out. This isn’t exactly a simple situation, Lila.”He shifted in his seat, turning to face me fully, his blue eyes locking onto mine. “But we’re in this together now. Whatever we decide, we do it as a team.”The sincerity in his voice gave me pause. But being sincere or not, I don't want to be that simple girl who trusts easily anymore. I left an iota of doubt. Maybe, just maybe, we could pull this off.As we brainstormed, tossing ideas back and forth, Damian suddenly sat up straighter, his eyes lighting up with inspiration. “Wait. What about the Monroe estate?” he said, his voice tinged with excitement.“What about it?” I asked, curiosity piqued.“The other day, you mentioned finding an old journal in your parents’ room,” he said, leaning closer. “What if there’s something else there? A document, a ledger—anything that could give us leverage?”I blinked at him,
Lila's POVThe weight of the day bore down on me as I slumped onto my couch, kicking off my shoes with a sigh that seemed to come from the depths of my soul. I leaned my head back and closed my eyes, willing myself to think of nothing for just a moment. The chaos of the boardroom, Damian’s betrayal, and the suffocating despair of my family’s situation all swirled together in a storm of emotions I couldn’t control.Yet, even amid the mess, one small sliver of joy flickered in my heart. My family was alive. I might not be able to hold them right now, but knowing they were still breathing gave me a glimmer of hope.As I sat there, trying to sort through the rubble of my day, a knock echoed from the door. I froze, my mind racing. I wasn’t expecting anyone. For a brief second, fear crept into my heart, and I wondered if the anonymous caller had come to make good on his threats. But then, I heard his voice.“Lila, it’s me. Please, open the door.”Damian.I clenched my jaw and stared at t
Lila's POV Tears blurred my vision. “Henry!” I called, trying to keep my voice steady. “I’m here, baby. I’ll get you all out of there. I promise.”Before I could say more, the phone was yanked away. The anonymous man’s distorted voice returned, cold and detached. “That’s enough.”“Wait—” I pleaded, but the video feed disappeared, replaced by audio again.“You’ve seen them,” he said. “Now wire the money. Remember, no police, no friends, no one. If you do as you’re told for sometime, they’ll remain unharmed, and I’ll release them soon.”My hands tightened into fists, but I forced myself to remain calm. “Fine,” I said, my voice trembling. “I’ll do it. Just don’t hurt them.”The line went silent for a moment before he spoke again, his tone almost mocking. “You have my word…as long as you comply.”When the call ended, I sat still for a moment, staring at the phone in my hand. Relief washed over me in waves—I had seen them. They were alive. But the sorrow of their captivity was like a weig
Lila's POVI woke up with a fire in my chest that morning. A fire of determination that I hadn't felt in days. It was as though the night had given me a second wind, and I decided that no matter what, today would be better. It had to be.Sliding out of bed, I went through my morning routine with a sense of purpose. My reflection in the mirror seemed to echo my resolve, though the shadows of yesterday’s troubles still lingered faintly in my eyes.“I’ll fix it,” I whispered to myself as I smoothed down my blouse. “I’ll fix everything.”With a quick glance at the clock, I realized I needed to hurry. I grabbed my bag and slung it over my shoulder, mentally rehearsing the things I planned to say to Nicholas and the board. Today, I wouldn’t let them walk all over me.Just as I reached for my car keys, my phone buzzed. Pausing mid-motion, I fished it out of my bag and glanced at the screen. Unknown Number.I frowned. It wasn’t often I got calls from numbers I didn’t recognize, but something
Damian's POV I stared at the elevator doors as they slid shut behind Lila, taking her away from me in more ways than one. My feet remained planted on the marble floor, even though every instinct screamed at me to go after her."Damian," my father’s voice had broken through my turmoil, his hand landing firmly on my shoulder. The weight of it had anchored me to the spot.I glanced at him, and the look in his eyes spoke volumes—let her go. Be the man I raised you to be. The stern, unflinching Damian who gets things done without hesitation. But the thought of letting Lila go felt like being ripped in half.Still, I remained silent. My chest tightened, but I nodded subtly, turning my gaze away. He didn’t need to say more.My pocket buzzed, disrupting the heavy moment between us. I sighed, already dreading who it could be. Pulling out my phone, my suspicion was confirmed: Valerie.The endless calls, the manipulations, the threats—all under the guise of her pregnancy. She was relentless,
Lila's POVI sank to the floor, frantically sifting through the scattered documents, willing the missing file to appear. But it didn’t. It was gone.The reality of the situation hit me like a freight train. My proof—my only claim to Monroe Corporation—was missing.I forced myself to my feet, my legs shaky and unsteady, and stumbled back to the conference room. The air felt heavy as I re-entered, and every eye turned to me expectantly. I felt naked under their scrutiny, my failure laid bare for all to see.Nicholas leaned casually against the head of the table, his smug grin growing wider when he saw the empty look on my face. “Well?” he asked, his voice dripping with mockery. “Where is this proof you spoke so highly of?”I swallowed hard, willing my voice not to crack. “I… I can’t find it.”His laughter rang out, loud and full of condescension, reverberating in the silence of the room. “You can’t find it?” he repeated, shaking his head. “How convenient. It seems the current CEO is n
Lila's POVThe low hum of murmurs filled the conference room as everyone processed the shock of Damian and his father stepping out. My mind was a swirling mess of questions with no clear answers. Who exactly was Nicholas Cole? Why had his sudden reappearance left so many people rattled? My fingers toyed nervously with the edge of my notepad as I leaned back in my chair, trying to make sense of the fragments of conversations filtering through the room.“...after the original founders, he was the most powerful figure…”“…would’ve been our permanent leader…”“…the man’s legacy before he supposedly died…”The pieces were falling into place, and the weight of them was suffocating. Nicholas Cole wasn’t just anyone. He was a legend in Monroe Corporation, the man who was poised to become its unshakable leader before his sudden “death” altered the course of its history. His absence had ushered in the era of rotating CEOs—a chaotic tradition that ended when I claimed my inheritance and stepp
Damian's POVI hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward, letting my Dad pull me into a hug. His embrace was strong, steady, and for the first time after such a long time, I felt a flicker of the connection we’d once shared.“I forgive you,” I murmured, my voice thick with emotion.As we pulled apart from the hug, a faint smile lingered on my father’s face. For a moment, the tension between us seemed to dissipate. Then, he straightened his posture, the air of a seasoned businessman returning to him.“Before I went into hiding,” he began, his voice carrying the weight of authority I remembered very well now, “I was Monroe Corporation’s biggest shareholder.”I raised an eyebrow, unsure of where he was going with this. “You never told me that.”He chuckled, a low sound that hinted at pride. “I had to keep some secrets, didn’t I? Even during my time away, I maintained my shares through… let’s just say, unconventional means.”His smirk carried the same self-assuredness I’d often tried t
Damain's POVThe conference room buzzed with a stunned silence, the gasps gradually fading as the man who had stolen everyone’s attention—Nicholas Cole, my father—stepped further inside. His presence alone seemed to shift the atmosphere, commanding attention in a way that only someone with a long-forgotten legacy could.He cleared his throat, his voice deep and steady, the kind that carried authority. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he began, “I—”But before he could finish his introduction, the boiling rage inside me reached its peak. I shot to my feet, my chair scraping loudly against the polished floor. My sudden movement startled everyone, their wide-eyed gazes now fixed on me.Without a word, I turned on my heel and stormed out of the room.A cacophony of murmurs erupted behind me, but I didn’t care. My strides were purposeful, my thoughts a whirlwind of anger and betrayal. A small part of me acknowledged the strange relief I felt in seeing him alive—after all these years, thinking he