Thalia's POV "You're really strong Thalia" Cassandra said afterward, her voice soft and sincere "I don't know if you realize that" I let out a small chuckle, shaking my head. "I don't think you get it Thalia" she continued"If I had to go through losing my family, being forced into therapy, graduating college while managing all that grief, and coming back to take over my family's company, then being betrayed by my own husband and best friend... my story would have ended when my parents died" I let out a bitter laugh."But you Thalia, you took it all like a champ and fought every step of the way" "I still cry, I still let it get to me, and it still hurts like hell""And that's why you're different," she said, leaning forward. You let it get to you, but you know when to stop. You face everything life throws at you head-on, with grace and humility. You don't pretend to be okay. You push through it until you find yourself again" Her words hit me deep in my core and I blinked back th
Thalia's POV "Hey Nolan" I said returning his smile with a curt nod."Didn't think I'd be seeing you again so soon" He smiled back awkwardly and glanced around the foyer "Me neither" he muttered rubbing the back of his neck ."But desperate situations call for desperate measures, I guess" Cassandra gave him a sympathetic look before Liam cleared his throat breaking the silence. "Let's go inside" Liam said his voice with a hint of humor "I'm starving" Cassandra perked up at his words her eyes twinkling "Good because I made your favorite," she teased giving Liam a playful nudge.Liam grinned pulling her closer and kissing her quickly on the lips, before dragging her by the hand toward the house. "Oh you are too good to me" he teased back "Guess I'll have to find a way to thank you properly later."We all followed closely behind, smiling as they continued their banter. I trailed beside Alexander, his hand resting on the small of my back as we moved toward the kitchen. Liam, Alexan
Thalia's POV Nolan extended his hand gesturing for me to give him the phone. I obliged and he swiped on the screen for a few seconds before handing it back to me.In the image was a clear passport-like photo, and I recognized who he was."I recognize him” I said my voice a whisper "I've seen him around during my court visits a few years back” Nolan was quick to respond his brows furrowing."Did he speak to you? Do you think he has anything against you?" I shook my head trying to recall the specifics, any interaction."No, we never spoke he was mostly quiet which is why I noticed him in the first place” Cassandra's curiosity got the better of her “Who is he?" she asked, glancing between us.Nolan exchanged a look with Liam before Liam finally spoke up. “His name is Eugene Morris”"That can't be right” I said my voice shaky at the inaccuracy.“He was called Eugene Davis back then” "Yes he's supposed to be Eugene Davis” Alexander confirmed, his tone as if he were weighing his words
Thalia's POV My mind wandered to Alex, I tapped out a quick message to him; 'Cass and I are heading out for a bit, we'll be back later I typed and hit send then typed something more Just wanted to let you know.'With that done, I headed upstairs to get ready. After I was done getting ready Cassie still hadn't come to my room.I glanced at my phone. She didn’t message either. I sighed and looked at myself in the mirror, adjusting my blouse.It was a cream-colored silk top with floral patterns for sleeves and it was tucked into high-waisted slim-fit navy pants. The pants hugged my curves and dips perfectly and I slipped into a pair of nude flats that were just comfortable for this small outing. Still no sign of Cassie, I decided to check on her, but quickly realized I had no idea where her room was"Gosh Cassie has to give me a tour of this house first thing in the morning” I muttered to myself.This place was a maze and it was getting ridiculous and embarrassing. I headed toward th
Alexander's POV After taking a much-needed break from searching through the endless piles of papers in the study, we dove right back in. I was already tired of looking, thinking of giving up when Liam shuffled through another stack of documents his brow furrowed in concentration.Then suddenly with a triumphant grin he said "I found it" Nolan and I snapped our attention to him, we moved toward the large oak desk where Liam stood flipping through a file. "What's the name on the document?" Nolan asked, leaning in closer."Eugene Davis" Liam replied I exhaled "I knew Father was involved with him" I muttered, Liam handed the file over to me and I briefly glanced over its contents before passing it to Nolan.It was like a small victory not enough for any sort of celebration though."Good work, guys I'll hand this over to the detectives and wait for their feedback" Nolan said running a hand through his hair. I nodded "Yeah the sooner we know who's responsible the stronger we get to r
Alexander's POV Sierra went over to Nolan and hugged him tightly "I missed you" Zach followed suit and hugged him with Sierra "We missed you" Nolan gave them both small smiles and lightly returned the hug but it was clear he was ready to leave. My father trying hard to ease the tension said "Next vacation, I'm taking all of you" "Sure" Nolan said his voice distant "But I really have to go" Sierra and Zachary hugged him goodbye and my father offered to walk him out and I and Liam gave him a nod as they went.I left the others behind and followed my mother, knowing where she had gone. After arriving back from a vacation, she usually settled into her favorite room downstairs—a luxurious parlor adorned with fine art, crystal chandeliers, and plush furniture, where she liked to unwind after traveling.Sure enough I found her in there sitting on a velvet olive green colored chaise lounge, flipping through one of her magazines and sipping from a glass of sparkling water."Really, Ma?
Thalia's POV The unexpected return of Alexander's parents from their trip made me squeamish. I knew Alexander hadn't told them about us, and I understood why. But it didn't ease the sting of hearing him refer to me as Cassie's friend, a friend, the word ate away at me, after everything was that all I was? Alexander's father left to go to his room then Cassie and Liam stayed behind in the living room. Alexander took my hand in his and we headed upstairs.Alexander guided me down a long hallway until we stopped in front of a door. He turned the knob and pushed it open.Inside the room everything was black and white, a simple king-sized bed with white linen and black throw pillows stood against one wall.On the mantle of the fireplace, there was a black ceramic sculpture of a panther crouching as if it was ready to leap.I walked closer, drawn to how it glimmered in the dark and the powerful stance. It was like a piece of Alexander; intimidating, and ready to pounce at any moment."Thi
Thalia's POVLorraine's cold gaze didn't waver "Whatever names you've been called they're probably accurate" she spat I couldn't stand it I turned on my heel and bolted for the door."Thalia, wait!" Alexander called after me."Let her leave!" Lorraine shouted " I don't care how she got into this house, but I never want to see her here again, not after what her family has done to mine!" I didn't understand what her last statement meant, and I didn't care.I ran and I didn't stop, I didn't look back, my vision blurred with tears as I sprang out of the mansion and onto the freeway, my chest heaved as I collapsed onto a bench at a bus stop, tears streaming uncontrollably down my face .Alexander's POVI stormed back into the house my chest tight with anger and frustration. Mother was waiting her arms crossed as if she knew exactly what she'd done. I barely glanced at her as I brushed past heading straight for the car key bowl."Alex?" Mother's voice followed me, sharp and laced with the
Thalia's POV EPILOGUE: SEVEN YEARS LATER The estate buzzed with life, Thanksgiving brunch was already underway, the air smelled of pumpkin spice and cinnamon, and the hum of conversation mingled with the occasional squeals of children running through the halls. Sunlight poured into the garden through the tall windows, casting warm and golden streaks over everything, making the moment feel as heavenly as it was. I stood on the patio, holding a steaming mug of tea, my eyes scanning the lively scene before me.Theo and Elise, now four, were chasing each other around the fountain, their giggles echoing. Theo, the notorious mischief-maker, grabbed a handful of fallen leaves and tossed them into the air, pretending it was snow."Elise, look it's snowing!" "That's not snow, Theo!" she scolded, her little hands on her hips, but she was smiling, her dimples making an appearance just like Alexander's when he was amused."They're at it again" Alexander said, stepping up beside me with a plate
Thalia's POV We stayed at the manor for two more days before heading back to Alexander's house, where Lorraine greeted us with another warm welcome. It wasn't anything extravagant, just a thoughtful display that felt genuine, I told her about my visit to Mom and Dad, and she listened intently, then suggested we go together next time, I agreed without hesitation. Later that evening, Cassie told me to get dressed, saying we were going somewhere, after some deliberation, I chose a silky whitedress with a Queen Anne neckline, pairing it with a touch of red lipstick, the look was simple but striking, just the way I liked it. As I descended the stairs, the soft fabric of my dress trailing behind me, I caught sight of Alexander standing by the doorway. Alexander was waiting, looking devastatingly handsome in a crisp shirt and tailored pants, his hair was styled as usual, effortlessly tousled yet somehow flawless. But tonight, it wasn't just his looks, it was the way his eyes found mine,
Thalia's POV As much as I wanted to stay curled up in bed with Alexander all day, to enjoy the warmth of his arms and the peace he brought me, today wasn't a day for indulgence.Lilith, Tobias, and I had agreed to visit Mom and Dad at the cemetery this morning, it was something we had never done together and while it was never easy, it felt like the right thing to do. The drive to the cemetery was quiet, the kind of silence filled with unspoken words and shared memories. When we arrived, I pulled the folded picnic mat from the trunk and laid it out on the grass in front of their graves, the air was crisp but gentle, and the morning sun filtered through the trees, casting soft light over the headstones. Lilith knelt first, her movements slow and deliberate as she placed the basket of pastries Gladys had prepared for us on the mat. "Good morning Mom" she said, her voice soft but steady. Tobias and I echoed her, our voices overlapping in a quiet chorus.“Good morning Mom". We all chu
Thalia's POV Dinner had been a perfect end to an emotional day, laughter echoed through the house. But now, the night had deepened, and the warmth of family faded into a quieter kind of comfort. After we'd all gathered in the living room to watch an old childhood favorite, I found myself seeking something more than nostalgia. Something…Someone… Alexander. The house was silent by the time we made our way upstairs. I held his hand, guiding him toward my room, the soft creak of the floorboards beneath us the only sound. Despite the hour, exhaustion hadn't settled in yet. I wasn't tired, not in the way sleep could fix, at least. What I needed wasn't rest but him. We stepped into my room, and he paused just inside the doorway, his gaze sweeping across the space. His smile was soft but curious."Your room is lovely” he said, his voice warm and laced with amusement. I couldn't help the laugh that escaped me."Thanks. I picked the one closest to the library" He arched a brow at me, his
Thalia's POV Justin staggered back, denial painted across his face, his panic concrete."It can't be. You were both dead!" he yelled, his voice cracking under the weight of his terror as his eyes darted between Tobias and Lilith. Tobias stood unyielding, his expression void of anything but icy contempt.“Guess you're not as precise a murderer as you thought you were," he said, his voice chillingly even, his cold gaze drilling into Justin. Justin's wild eyes shifted to Eugene, his desperation taking over."You! You set us up!" Justin roared, lunging forward. Eugene didn't flinch. He pushed Justin back with a force that sent him stumbling."Lay another finger on me” Eugene warned, his voice sharp “and I'll personally make sure you wind up on death row”. Brandon stepped forward, his fury burning hotter than Justin's desperation.“He's not winding up anywhere” Brandon seethed "You're right, Brandon. You both are” Tobias's voice broke the tension, and just as the weight of his words set
Thalia's POV Justin and Brandon thought Eugene was hiding out here, in this dingy downtown house-turned-office. Eugene, put on his acting mask and pretended to be frantic, packing like he had every intention of disappearing off the grid. The moment Justin and Brandon stormed in, my breath hitched because there he was. Justin. A man who'd ruined countless lives with his schemes. Just seeing him sent a surge of anger through me. I felt Alexander's hand squeeze mine firmly beside me, grounding me, to my left, Lilith stood tall, her sharp eyes fixed on the screens. Kirill was beside her, silent and unreadable as always. Tobias was leaning casually against the wall behind us, his posture deceptively relaxed, though I could see the alertness in his gaze, Katherine was beside him. Across the room, the tech team sat huddled near their equipment, four of them with headphones on, monitoring the live feed, they were oblivious to the drama unfolding before us, focused entirely on ensuring th
Thalia's POV Alexander coming in to tell me how proud he was of me that morning was the cherry on top of everything. Sure, good things had happened, but nothing could compare to the way Alexander made me feel, that man could have said "I'm proud of you for existing" and I'd have cried happy tears on the spot. Now, as we walked into the conference room where everyone was waiting, my nerves prickled. Everyone was here. Tobias with Katarina. Patrick and his brother, that Elijah guy who seemed permanently unimpressed with life. Nolan was seated next to a woman I didn't recognize, right beside Liam and Eugene. Even Lilith was on her way, dragging Kirill with her."Well, about time. They're here” Elijah drawled, his voice laced with the kind of sarcasm that could peel paint off a wall. "Well, good" Eugene jumped in, not missing a beat. "Because we have to leave now. They're already on their way" "What? So soon?" Alexander's voice sharpened "How'd they agree that fast?" "They're comin
Alexander's POV As much as I hated the sudden change of plans, I couldn't deny the satisfaction bubbling in my chest. This was it. The beginning of the end for Brandon and his little schemes. Every move he made was crumbling under the weight of our counterattack, now, all we had to do was wait and let the dominos fall.We were on our way to the company to meet Thalia, I hadn't wanted her involved in the final phases of this, but even I couldn't argue with the reality of the situation, she and her siblings were vital.Besides, I'd be nearby, monitoring everything like a hawk, if anyone so much as thought of stepping out of line, they'd answer to me."Woah" Nolan said from the front seat, his tone laced with amusement "The devil works fast, but your girl works faster Alexander" "What are you on about now?" I asked, my attention drawn away from the window, Liam and I both turned to look at him as Callum threw Nolan a side-eye "Check the news” Nolan said, smirking like the cat that go
Thalia's POV"All these years striving to keep the company afloat, and he thought he could take it from me” I said to Amanda Bennet, the lawyer sitting across from me. She had just finished outlining the damage Brandon Dahl's actions had done to my company.Amanda, sharp and polished as ever, was from Sorin Alcott & Pryce, one of New York's top law firms. If anyone could help the company, it was her. "It will be easy to overturn” Amanda said with a calm confidence that reassured me."His actions violated at least three governance laws, the board will have no choice but to nullify his decisions”"Good” My voice was steely, my resolve unshakable as I nodded firmly."I don't care if I have to fight every investor he dragged in. This is my company” "Understood" she said, already rising to her feet, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor as she gathered her briefcase."I'll draft the paperwork and circle back with you. In the meantime, you'll need to speak with your team, and make