Thalia's POV Sierra slipped back into the room after leaving to speak to Patrick to try to persuade him to make their relationship official, although in secret."So what did he say?" I asked excitedly as she entered the room but she had a frown on her face "What did he say?" I asked again less excited this time as she sat beside me. "I couldn't speak to him. Alex and Father were there" She muttered groaning lightly. "Oh... then text him later and say you want to meet up" "I told him I had plans with Zach and Nolan, he's gonna find me for sure" She said confidently "Really?" I asked"Yeah, I let him tap into my phone, it's weird but letting him do that was what gave them a head start at finding us" "Hmm" I said thoughtfully "Seems possessive if you ask me but who am I to judge?" "He is possessive, but I love that about him" she said dreamily.And I smiled at her, I had found another little sister, not a replacement for Lilith of course. But I planned to love her the same "What
Thalia's POV I forced a small, bitter chuckle "I know, but it hurts because he's right, in a way, sometimes I feel like a walking bad omen" He shook his head firmly, his voice soft but steady"None of that, Thalia, you are as auspicious as they come, and I never want to be parted from you, no matter what" I let a small, grateful smile break through as I tightened my hand in his"Thank you, Alex. It means more than you know" I whispered, as we stepped into the elevator together. As the elevator doors opened on the ground floor, we were greeted by Sierra, Zach, and Nolan, each holding a cup of latte."Hey, we were just coming up to see you" Zach said grinning "And we were just on our way out" Alexander replied dryly, though I caught a smirk tugging at his lips "Where are you both headed?" Nolan asked, his brows raised"My place" I answered casually "Where?" Zach chimed in "The Asplundh Manor" Alexander clarified Sierra's face lit up with excitement "Oh, that's where you're goi
Thalia's POV I nodded, tracing the faded ink thoughtfully. Alex met my gaze and said "Looks like we're going to St. Augustine's" I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding, this was the best moment of clarity I have gotten since all this hassle started. "Yeah, it looks that way” I murmured as I handed him the photograph "Hold this for me" I closed the box and thought about whether to take it, after a moment, I decided."I'm taking the box" I cast a quick look around at the other boxes scattered around the gallery "Is there another one you want to bring along?" he asked, noticing my glance.I shook my head "No, just this one will do." He passed the photo back to me, picked up the box, and together, we left the room, closing the door behind us. As we descended the stairs in silence, I noticed Gladys at the bottom, standing by the landline with a phone pressed to her ear.Her expression was tense and worried, she hadn't noticed us coming down until she saw me, and then
Thalia's POVAlex drove us through the close-packed trees until we finally reached a secluded stretch of beach, just as twilight began to settle over the horizon.We'd made a few stops at roadside diners for coffee and snacks, making it a long but peaceful drive, the hum of waves against the shore grew louder as he parked the car just off the sand. And I stepped out, my eyes immediately drawn to his 'humble abode' It was stunning: a modern beach house, with white walls that gleamed faintly in the dim light, balanced by large glass windows and blue edging that mirrored the sea itself. The house stood tall, strong yet unassuming, right on the point where the sand met earth."This is it?" I asked, the awe apparent in my voice as I glanced from the sea to the house.Alex smirked, catching my gaze "Yes, this is it, thought you could use a day away from everything"I chuckled, brushing off the soft feeling rising in my chest "Very considerate." Teasing him felt safe, and natural, yet some
Thalia's POV A tremor ran down my spine as I swallowed, understanding the weight of what he was offering.“Because, Thalia" he murmured, his voice dipping lower, threading through my very bones "I want to take you and make you scream my name, to feel you begging me to make you come" His words sent shivers down my spine, leaving me breathless.So that's it, Alexander had a kink, something he hadn't dared voice before, but I was more than willing… no I was eager, to dive into anything with him, my pulse pounded as I drew in a shaky breath, locking my gaze on him."Anything else?" I asked, my voice barely steady He looked at me searching my eyes, his expression both inviting and devilishly promising. "You'll know along the way" I bit my lip, summoning my courage before speaking "Then take me—however you want. Please, Alex"Any restraint he'd held snapped in a millisecond, his control shattering in an instant. He cupped the back of my head, his mouth crashing into mine with a fierc
Thalia's POV I woke up the next morning to soft sunlight seeping through the curtains, the streaks of warmth creeping into the room. Alex's arm was draped around me, his hand resting on my waist. I turned slightly, finding him still asleep, his features softened in slumber. The strong line of his jaw was relaxed, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. His hair fell messily across his forehead, and I smoothed it back.The blanket tangled around us, and we were both naked beneath it, reminders of last night still vivid in my mind. We had been at it all night long, and true to Alex's words, the bed broke, forcing us to move to another room, all while he was still inside me. I gave into exhaustion after having an absurd amount of spine-curling orgasms.Alex wasn't kidding when he said he had a lot to explore, and his kink made it the more exciting. I never knew I would enjoy this type of intimacy, raw, intense, and unapologetically rough ones. But alas you never know until you
Thalia's POV Alex sensed the shift in the atmosphere as I spoke about Brandon, he tightened his hold on me and continued speaking."Do you remember your father mentioning an assistant he had a falling out with?"I let out a shaky breath, thinking back to a man named Justine Davis whom my father disliked speaking about."He was more than an assistant Alex, he was his best friend, but he grew greedy, and he wanted to go dirty. Father stood his ground and decided he didn't want any stain on Asplundh. It didn't matter to him. Running a clean business came first, and his friend Justin became furious and quit" "What was his name again?" "Justine... Justine Davis, last I heard he was bedridden" I muttered but Alexander grew quiet he stilled his movements "Alex?" I whispered, his silence irked me"Did he have any children?" He said his voice utterly serious now "Yes, he did, he had a son" Alexander made a grumbling sound and he ran a hand through his hair, seemingly frustrated "What's
Thalia's POV Some five later, we pulled into the parking lot of Romero Gabe Library, Alexander parked with swift precision, then turned to me, his voice low."Let's go" I nodded and slipped out of the car, following closely as he led the way.Inside, the receptionist, a stern-looking woman in her forties, gave Alexander a curt smile, which he returned with a brief nod before heading straight past her, we made our way through rows of towering shelves and then climbed the staircase, the air-thick with the scent of old paper.At the top level, we finally reached an area filled with tables, in the far corner, I spotted Zach and Nolan, seated with a blond man and a red-haired woman I didn't recognize. The woman sat beside Zach, her eyes flicking from him to us as we approached. "Alex?" Zach greeted as we reached the table, eyebrows lifted in mild surprise."That was quick" Nolan added, getting up to meet us halfway, his face was tight with focus, mirroring Alexander's."Is everything I a
Thalia's POV My eyes fluttered open, and the first thing I noticed was the warmth of sunlight streaming through the window .Morning. But it wasn't the sunlight that woke me. It was something else—a presence He stood there, not too far from the bed. An older man, dressed in a simple sweater and slacks, his demeanor calm, yet his gaze steady as he watched me. His hair was mostly gray, and his face carried the kind of lines that told a story of years, perhaps decades, of struggle.A soft smile curved his lips as he noticed my eyes on him “Good morning," he said, his voice low, almost soothing.For a moment, I was disoriented, then, with a deep breath, I realized something, I could move. My head shifted toward the window, following the sunlight, and then I tried flexing my fingers. They obeyed. A gasp escaped my lips, and this time it wasn't just in my head. I could speak again. Slowly, cautiously, I sat up, feeling the stiffness in my limbs but relishing the freedom of movement. My
Thalia's POV The first thing I noticed was the sound of crickets. It felt like they'd been chirping for hours, echoing faintly through the room.Slowly, my senses sharpened, pulling me out of the darkness. My eyes opened, greeted by the dim light of night spilling in through partially open curtains. I didn't recognize the room. My head felt heavy. No, not just my head—my entire body. It was like I'd been weighed down by an invisible force Panic flared in my chest as I tried to move. Nothing. My arms wouldn't respond, my legs stayed still, and even my voice was locked away. I tried again. Harder this time. Still nothing. It was suffocating, a helplessness I hadn't felt in years. My breathing was measured, and steady, like I wasn't even in control of that either. Every ounce of strength I could muster evaporated into futility. The door creaked open, the sound snapping me to attention. Bella peeked in, a slow, satisfied smile spreading across her face as her eyes locked on mine."Wel
Alexander's POV We arrived at the safe house just as Liam pulled in, it wasn't a coincidence; Liam had left earlier, claiming he had errands to run. Yet somehow, we ended up here at the same time. I didn't bother asking him why. With Liam, surprises weren't uncommon. As we entered the building and took the elevator down to the secure floor, Svetlana was already at her desk, stacking papers into neat piles, she paused mid-movement when she saw us."Good morning, Mr. Croft” she greeted me, her tone professional, her words sharp. But her eyes? They weren't on me. They were on Nolan I turned my head slightly, catching the unmistakable smile tugging at his lips as he returned her gaze. "It's done decrypting, isn't it?" I asked, my tone cutting through their silent exchange. Svetlana winced “Yes I believe so" she admitted, her smile faltering. "Come see for yourself” She led us to the tech lab. As expected, Evan was already at his station, his fingers flying across the keyboard, immer
Alexander's POV Nolan's hands were steady on the wheel as we drove toward the safehouse. My mind, surprisingly, was calm.The task ahead was clear: get to the safe house, unravel the tangled mess Brandon and Eugene had created, and put an end to their scheming. That part I could handle. It was business, calculated,methodical. But there was another problem, one that I wasn't sure I could solve. One I couldn't even fully name without a tightening in my chest. It all began years ago, with the Asplundh family. A private plane crash. Everyone assumed the family had been wiped out except for one survivor; Thalia Asplundh, the second daughter. She was young then, just a girl, sent to a rehabilitation center after the crash. She wouldn't eat. She wouldn't speak. She was trapped in her grief, shattered and silent.Years later, she came out. Therapy had pulled her back from the brink, though the scars were still visible to anyone paying attention. She returned to claim her place as CEO of her
Thalia's POV I stood outside the penthouse, debating my next move. Should I swallow my pride and go see Bella? Or should I head to Alexander's and collect my things? I thought briefly of texting Cassandra, but Tobias had seen to it that I couldn't contact Alexander, or anyone he was associated with, for that matter. It was suffocating. With a frustrated sigh, I decided on Bella. The building loomed before me, a towering reminder of a past I couldn't quite shake, I parked outside and took a moment to steel myself before heading up to the penthouse. The house looked the same, its colors bold and cold. To anyone else, it might seem pristine, but to me, it felt monochrome and lifeless. I rang the doorbell and knocked for good measure, within seconds, the door opened, and there she was Bella. She stood there in a cozy navy-blue sweater and loose pants, her baby bump just beginning to show.Oh, right. She was pregnant, I'd almost forgotten, her face was as familiar as it was alien, sof
Alexander's POV I hadn't noticed when Father entered the room. He knelt behind Mother, helping her to her feet. She was still sobbing uncontrollably, her body trembling as she clung to him. Zach stood stiffly, anger radiating off him in waves, but his girlfriend tugged at his arm, trying to pull him aside, the air in the room was thick—tension simmering and ready to boil over. Father steadied Mother as she cried into his chest, her hands gripping his suit jacket as though it were the only thing keeping her upright, he murmured something softly to her before leading her out of the room. A moment later, he returned, his expression firm, his presence commanding. "Zach" Father said, his voice low and authoritative, the kind of tone that left no room for argument "You will apologize to your mother" "What?!" Zach snapped, incredulous “Father, she interacted with the enemy!" "And she has apologized" Father replied, his tone unwavering. "You know your mother, Zachary. She acts from emot
Thalia's POV "How could I let this happen?" My voice cracked, barely above a whisper, as I stared down at the table. Grace pulled up on her computer. "It wasn't your fault, Thalia." Grace replied gently, but I shook my head, unwilling to accept her reprieve."No" I said, my tone firmer now, though my voice wavered, "I remember when you came to me and showed me what Brandon was doing, I saw the proof. And I—I hid the documents. I let him do this" My voice faltered, fading into the quiet of the office. Grace stepped closer, her expression resolute."Yes" she admitted without hesitation, her words sharp and piercing "but it doesn't matter anymore. What's done is done" Her eyes locked onto mine"So you let him do it—fine. The question now is, what will you do to undo it?" I drew in a shaky breath, her words passed through me in the whirlwind of my own thoughts, he stepped aside, giving me space to approach the computer screen, where the stark proof of the company's current state stared
Alexander's POV Sierra's words struck like a thunderclap, leaving the house in deafening silence as she stormed down the stairs and slammed the front door behind her. "Alex, I..." Mother began, her voice trembling with the load of an excuse she hadn't yet found. Before she could continue, Cassandra's voice rang out from the top of the stairs, cutting through the tension like a knife. "Lorraine?" Cassandra called out, her tone sharp and demanding, her figure appearing at the top landing. Behind her, Liam appeared, his brows furrowed as he placed a steadying hand on her shoulder "Alex? We heard yelling. What's going on?" he asked, his voice calm but tinged with concern. Cassandra didn't wait for an answer, she started down the stairs, her movements purposeful, her gaze locked on Mother, who visibly flinched under her niece-in-law's scrutiny. Liam followed closely behind, his posture protective, his eyes darting between all of us.Mother looked at me, her eyes pleading—begging me
Thalia's POVAfter wandering around the manor for a bit, I returned to my room, feeling a bit relaxed. Once inside, I decided to change. I peeled off my skirt and replaced it with a pair of fitted denim jeans, next, I grabbed a warm brown jacket and wrapped a soft scarf around my neck, and then I pulled my hair into a quick twisted ponytail. On the dresser, my phone buzzed with a notification, picking it up, I saw a new message from Bella. I sighed heavily, my jaw tightening What now? For a second, I considered ignoring her, but curiosity won and I opened the message. "Hello there, Thalia. I know you don't want to talk to me after all that I did, but I'd really appreciate it if you'd at least try"I stared at the screen, debating whether to respond, part of me wanted to delete the message and block her number, but instead, I typed a curt reply; "Where are you?"I hit send, feeling equal parts irritated and intrigued, shoving my phone into my pocket. I glanced at the mirror one la