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 POVI don't know why I asked Alex to kiss me, it wasn't the right thing to do. Not after what happened today. I was upset with him… a bit, anyway… but still I wanted him. Maybe it was the chill in the air outside or the way the quiet of the old house that made me feel needy. Whatever it was, I didn't care.I just needed to feel something… anything.His hands gripped my waist pulling me close as his lips crashed against mine. His fingers dug into my back, roaming around as his tongue searched for mine. I kissed him back trying to match his pace. Our tongues tangling as they played a game of tag. My hands found their way to his hair and tugged it lightly. We moved backward our lips still locked and suddenly my leg hit the edge of a small table. The clatter of glass shattering against the floor jolted us apart, and we both stood there our chest heaving, staring at the broken mug."Sorry” I muttered, glancing at the mess. It felt like the spell the heat of our kiss cast had bee
Thalia's POV Then came the day of the gala, It had been postponed for a few days, but now, it was finally upon us.I was in the middle of reading when I heard the door open and I looked up to see Cassie walking in, a wide grin on her face."Cassie!" I exclaimed excitedly as I placed the book I was reading on the small table beside me, she practically jumped on me wrapping her arms around me in a tight bear hug which I returned with equal enthusiasm."Girl, I missed you so much” she said, pulling away but still keeping her hands on my shoulders as if to make sure I was really here. "I was going to come see you earlier but Alexander thought it was best to leave you be for a little while.” She gave me a sympathetic look and I nodded in agreement. "Yeah I feel much better now" I said offering her a reassuring smile.Cassie's face shifted slightly "So... you met Lorraine huh?"I narrowed my eyes at her "Yes, I did” I responded. “But I’m not sure ‘met’ is the word to use” I said. “She
Thalia's POV He raised his glass clinking it lightly drawing the crowd's attention. "Everyone if I could have your attention, please" he began, the room fell silent and all eyes were on us. "I'd like to introduce you to my wife, the love of my life, Thalia Asplundh." A wave of gasps and whispers rippled through the crowd as Alexander continued to speak."Our connection was undeniable and we didn't want to waste any time. We married privately with only our closest friends present and tonight I'm proud to share this moment with all of you" He held up my hand showing off the ring as the room erupted into applause.I glanced over at Cassie, who was grinning at me from across the room, but my gaze quickly landed on Brandon and Bella.Both of whom looked like they were about to explode with anger and my heart swelled with unimaginable happiness.As the applause died down, Winona approached us, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Congratulations Thalia" she said to me softly though
Thalia's POV Cassie's eyes widened slightly and she glanced at me."So, they're joining forces with us?" "Yes" Liam confirmed "It's only a matter of time before they strike again and they know it, we're all taking extra precautions” I barely absorbed what he said, the weight of the night pressing down on my shoulders, the noise of the gala, the laughter and distant clinking of glasses, nettled on me. I glanced up as Nolan approached, a familiar calm in his steps. "Evening, you all” he greeted, his voice steady “How's the gala?" I offered him a faint nod, grateful for his presence. It was Nolan who had brought me to their grandma's house when I ran. He made me the best tea I ever tasted. "It's going well” Cassandra answered smoothly "Are you done with Patrick?" Nolan nodded grabbing a drink from a waiter in passing “It's all in place” he said but his voice didn't hold the usual satisfaction of a completed task.I leaned toward Cassie lowering my voice so only she could hear
Thalia's POV The man smiled, a slow, malicious-looking grin that sent a wave of ice through my veins."Good evening, ladies" he said his voice dark and smooth"Hope you don't mind me waiting for you" My mouth went dry, this wasn't good. How had he gotten in? How long had he been here? Cassie took a step back, subtly pulling me with her as she asked her voice steady but sharp."Who are you?" He leaned back casually in the chair, his smile widening. "I'm a friend, and I come in peace" "Peace?" I repeated my voice cracking. I glanced at Cassie who shot me a quick concerned look."How did you get here so fast?"The man tilted his head furrowing his brow as if confused. "What do you mean?" he asked a mocking chuckle escaping his lips For a moment, I thought he might be the same guy from the store, the one who had been watching us earlier, but now I realized I was wrong. This man's shoulders were broader. So whoever had been following us wasn't him."Get out now," Cassie demanded,
Thalia's POV Sergeant Thorsen stood before us with a clipboard in his hand. "Thank you both for your time" he said giving us a tight smile. "Thanks to the sketch provided, we've put out a BOLO search for him" Alexander stepped forward, shaking his hand."We appreciate it, we just want to make sure you find him before the situation escalates" he said. The sergeant nodded "We'll keep you posted on any developments" He gestured toward the door “You're free to go for now” It was 10:00 a.m. and we had just finished at the police station, helping them sketch a picture of the man who had broken into the house.The home security system had been disabled by him, so none of the cameras had captured his face. I felt uneasy knowing there was still no real clue as to who this man was or what he wanted. As we left the room I leaned into Alexander and whispered "What about the riddle?" He glanced down at me his expression unreadable "That's for us to handle" he murmured "The police wouldn't
Alexander's POV Thalia would be back today. This time, I knew it. Not hope, nor a guess, I knew.The plan was simple, almost laughably so, but Eugene assured me that simplicity was Brandon's greatest weakness. He would never see it coming. Still, a plan like this required precision, which meant bringing Tobias on board to ensure he could involve Elijah. As Patrick had pointed out, Tobias had his uses, and I intended to take full advantage of them. Elijah’s role was critical. Brandon had been hiding in Putnam County, smug and secure, dragging Thalia along like some bargaining chip. Today, he planned to bring her to the city under the pretense of having her sign documents, papers Eugene had conveniently arranged through a man Brandon didn’t know but agreed because he trusted Eugene.What Brandon didn't know was that the man wasn't who he thought, that man would be Elijah, playing his role to perfection. Eugene's task was straightforward: convince Brandon that once the documents were
Alexander's POVThe moment I stepped into the office, the energy shifted, the space was mine, every corner, every detail, every ounce of power that coursed through these walls belonged to me. I strode through the halls, nodding at those who dared make eye contact, and brushing past the ones who didn't.The elevator doors opened to my floor, revealing Vivian seated at her desk. She stood immediately when she saw me. Of course, she did. I'd told her I was coming in and that my morning schedule needed to be filled. Efficiency was expected"Good morning, sir” she greeted, her tone sharp "Morning, Vivian" I replied with a curt nod. "What's on the calendar for this morning?" "Just Michael Gianopolous and Raphael Clifford" she said, holding her tablet in one hand while the other hovered over her keyboard. "Forward the emails to me” I instructed, already turning toward my office, but her throat-clearing made me pause "The thing is..." she started, her voice hesitant, "someone is waiting
Thalia's POV I sat in the backseat of the car, Bella beside me. She was particularly chatty, a stark contrast to my silence.I didn't know where we were heading, but I recognized the place we'd been earlier, a secluded Victorian-style house in Putnam County. Bella had mentioned it belonged to Justin, as I expected. The uncertainty gnawed at me, but I didn't ask where we were going, asking would betray fear, keeping quiet on the other hand, was armor, masking the herd of thoughts swirling in my head.Let them think I was docile. Let them believe I had surrendered. It would make planning their downfall all the easier. Up front, Brandon muttered something to the driver. “Eugene says there's been a hiccup" he said, his tone clipped."What kind of hiccup?" I asked before I could stop myself. Brandon turned, shooting me a glare that could've frozen fire. “Watch your mouth" I swallowed hard, biting back the retort. Bella, however, leaned forward, her voice syrupy."Brandon, what kind of
Alexander's POVI scoffed, my voice laced with venom “Oh, is he now? I didn't notice” Patrick glanced at me, his tone calm but firm"What Tobias did was wrong, but he still reached out to you, he admitted the lie the moment you asked, and he came to you the second something went wrong. That's a sign of respect—whether you like it or not” "Patrick, just drive” I said, closing my eyes. He sighed but complied, the engine humming as we pulled onto the road. After a long stretch of silence, he spoke again."Are you done moping yet?" I opened my eyes, glaring at him “What about this looks like moping to you?" He smirked, glancing at my clenched hand."You've got the ring caged in your fist like it's the last piece of her you'll ever hold, that seems like heartbreak to me.” I scoffed, the sound bitter to my ears."She took off her ring, he lied to her so thoroughly that she took off her ring, and you want me to think about helping him?" "You're right" Patrick said, his tone shifting,"Don'
Alexander's POV We arrived at Elijah's office earlier than expected, and yet, Tobias was already there, seated in the conference room as if he'd been expecting us. The secretary led us inside, and I immediately spotted Elijah leaning back in his chair, arms crossed, looking entirely too amused for my liking. Tobias sat two seats away from him, his sharp gaze shifting toward us, and Andrei was positioned near the end of the table, his stoic expression giving nothing away. Elijah was the first to speak, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Alexander, it's always a pleasure to host meetings with you, especially when I have no idea they're happening.” I didn't dignify his comment with a response, but Patrick smirked. The kind of smirk that promised trouble. Elijah's eyes flicked to Patrick, his brow arching "And you brought... a friend." Patrick didn't miss a beat "Always a joy to see you, Elijah, especially since you've been making such an effort to avoid me." Elijah gave a casual shru
Alexander's POV I wandered through the house until I found Liam. He was with Cassie, Sierra, and, to my surprise, Patrick. They were in Edith and Silas's room, a space that still hadn't been fully cleared out since the day they left. Neither Mother nor Cassie had been able to touch the room until now. Cassie often came here when she felt upset, it seemed to calm her for some reason. Sierra, on the other hand, hated the room, she had moved her room upstairs just to avoid being near it, yet here she was, helping pack. When I stepped inside, I saw boxes scattered everywhere. Cassie carefully wrapped Edith's favorite drapes, Liam helped fold items, Sierra sealed the boxes, and Patrick stacked them in a neat row. "Alexander” Sierra said, noticing me enter. Her tone carried a hint of teasing as she crossed her arms."Here to give me my formal apology?" She wasn't wrong. Though she was teasing, I owed her one. I nodded, taking a step closer “Sierra, I sincerely apologize, for everything
Alexander's POV I stood motionless in the doorway, staring at the man in front of me. Tobias Asplundh. Alive. "And you are?" I finally said, feigning ignorance, my tone was casual, but I knew damn well who he was.He smiled, an amused, knowing smile that showed he wasn't fooled, clearing his throat, he spoke again."I'm Tobias Asplundh" he said evenly "Thalia's brother. Which makes me your brother-in-law, I suppose" His tone was light, but there was something behind it, something sharp. Ah, yes. The dead man comes back to life. "I see" I said, the words clipped and short."Yes, that's right" he continued, his smile fading slightly "I imagine this is a shock to you, but explanations can wait. Right now, I need to know where my sister is." That's when his words registered fully. He doesn't know where Thalia is, she was last seen at Brandon's house, according to the police, and if Tobias hadn't involved them himself, it was no doubt because of his inconvenient 'dead' status. "Thali
Thalia's POV The air was crisp as I opened the windows wide, letting in the soothing hum of birdsong and the soft caress of the wind. The room's height wasn't frightening, and escaping through the window was tempting, but I dismissed the thought almost instantly. I wouldn't leave, not yet. Not until I reduced Brandon to nothing but ash and regret.Looking out, I tried to discern where I might be. According to Bella, we had traveled by private jet. If that was true, I wasn't in New York anymore. I scanned the landscape, but the unfamiliar surroundings told me nothing concrete. The only certainty was that wherever we had flown to, I needed to know where. Turning to the small drawer in the corner, I rummaged through it with a faint sense of purpose. The first drawer was empty, only filled with some tissue papers and body balm but the second surprised me. A phone. What were the odds? It seemed almost too convenient. I switched it on, and it hummed to life The screen displayed the time
Thalia's POV The world blurred around me as Brandon's admission settled in my mind.Justin—Brandon's father—had killed my parents. I had never truly believed the Crofts were responsible for the crash. I convinced myself it was an accident, a cruel twist of fate. I didn't feel anger or thirst for vengeance after they died, even when I thought I had lost my parents and siblings (who, as it turns out, are alive) I wasn't consumed by fury. I was simply hollow. The grief had left me existing rather than living, I became numb and utterly alone.But now? Now that I know it wasn't an accident, now that the murderer himself had spat the truth in my face, sadness no longer consumed me. It was anger that burned in its place, and once the initial shock wore off. I made a silent vow to myself. I would end Justin Davis, the same way he ended my parents. I would reduce him to ashes, strip him of everything until nothing remained.My parents had been everything, they were brilliant, generous, and