Amelia POVA week had passed.Seven long days of being confined to this hospital bed with nothing but my thoughts, the rhythmic beep of the machines, and Maxwell’s presence lingering like a shadow I couldn’t escape.I still couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that he stayed.He had been here, day and night, watching over me like a silent guardian. His cold, impassive face never gave much away, but his actions did. The way he adjusted my pillows when he thought I was asleep. The way he made sure I ate even when I didn’t feel like it. The way his fingers hovered near mine whenever I shifted uncomfortably.But it didn’t mean anything.This was just another calculated move. A performance for the public eye.And the moment we left this hospital, I was sure everything would go back to the way it was.“Amelia?”I snapped out of my thoughts as the nurse entered with Maxwell following closely behind. He had changed into a crisp black suit, his sharp features unreadable as he watched me.“You
Amelia POVLater that day, I found myself lost in thought, replaying the events from earlier.Maxwell had been gentle, almost… protective. The way he had carried me, the way his touch lingered—it made my heart race in ways I wasn’t ready to admit. I like it. The way he defended me in front of Margaret and Lisa made me feel butterflies. I had always seen him as a man forged from ice, cold and indifferent. But on a few occasions, I had glimpsed something else beneath that carefully constructed exterior. Something raw. Something human which he immediately masks beneath. As Rosa helped me shower and dress, I caught my reflection in the mirror. My pale skin still showed signs of exhaustion, but it was the deep blush on my cheeks that unsettled me the most.I didn’t recognize myself.Rosa, ever observant, let out a teasing chuckle. “That’s the second time I’ve caught you blushing today. Should I be curious?”I quickly averted my gaze, embarrassed that she had noticed. “I’m just… thinking
Amelia POVFor the first time, I had seen Maxwell’s walls crack, allowing me the smallest glimpse into the man hidden beneath the ruthless exterior.And for a fleeting moment, I believed—hoped—that he would finally let me into his world.But as quickly as he had opened up, he shut himself off again.“Never mind,” Maxwell muttered, standing abruptly. His expression hardened, and the warmth in his green eyes vanished, replaced by the familiar cold detachment. “Forget I ever said anything.”Disappointment curled inside me, but I knew better than to push him.I merely nodded, watching as he strode to the door, his posture rigid. When the door clicked shut behind him, I exhaled, sinking back into the bed.The lingering warmth of his presence faded, replaced by the cold realization that he was still keeping me at arm’s length.I shouldn’t be surprised.Yet, somehow, it still hurt.I turned onto my side, forcing my thoughts to quiet down. But sleep didn’t come easy that night. My mind kept c
Amelia POVThe woman in the mirror looked nothing like the person I once dreamed of becoming. Dream? Did I just say dream? It was something I couldn’t afford.I hardly recognized the woman before me, her—eyes swollen and rimmed red, hair tangled from restless nights, and a face that held no joy. I had become a shadow of myself, and today was no different. Today, I would take one more step down a path I never chose.I stared at the simple, ivory wedding gown that hung on my slender frame. It wasn’t the gown of a bride anticipating her happiest day, but a cold symbol of my captivity. My hands trembled as I adjusted the veil. This wasn’t how I imagined my wedding day—no laughter, no love, no one to hold my hand and tell me it would be okay. Just the suffocating silence and the crushing weight of duty.“Amelia!” My mother’s sharp voice snapped me out of my thoughts. “Stop dawdling and get out here. You don’t want to embarrass yourself more than you already do.”I flinched at her words, as
Amelia POVThe knock on the door startled me awake. For a brief moment, I had forgotten where I was—forgotten the weight of the ring on my finger and the cold reality of my new life. But the moment was fleeting. The knock came again, louder this time, and I knew I couldn’t ignore it.Dragging myself out of bed, I opened the door to find a maid standing there, her expression unreadable.“Mrs. Cole,” she said, her voice soft but firm, “Mr. Cole has instructed me to have you pack your things and move into his room.”The blood drained from my face. His room? The thought of sharing a space with Maxwell sent shivers down my spine.My mind raced back to the nickname Lisa had so gleefully thrown around—the Beast of Cole Industries. The fear coiled in my stomach like a living thing. What if he lost his temper? What if he decided to harm me? What if he decided I was no longer useful to me and killed me? Would anyone care if he did?Then it hit me, “Why would anyone care if I’m alive or not! I’m
Amelia POVThe night stretched on endlessly. The clock on the wall ticked louder with every passing second, and its glowing numbers—12:15 a.m.—mocked me with their stillness. Maxwell wasn’t home. Again. It’s been two days since we got married and I haven’t seen him.I paced the room, the vastness of the mansion swallowing every sound except my restless footsteps. The staff moved about with mechanical efficiency, their faces betraying nothing. No one seemed worried about Maxwell’s absence, almost as if his late-night disappearances were a routine.But for me, this wasn’t normal.I hated how the unease coiled in my chest. I hated that I was waiting up for him, a man who had made it painfully clear that he wanted nothing to do with me. But most of all, I hated how my heart clenched at the thought of him out there, battling demons I didn’t yet understand.I didn’t know why I waited for him. I thought to myself, “Could it be out of duty, or maybe I just wanted to get to know the stranger I
Maxwell POVThe office was a sanctuary of silence, but it was the kind that threatened to explode. I sat behind my desk, reviewing the numbers flashing across my screen with a practiced efficiency. Each figure confirmed what I already knew: someone was attempting to undermine me.My office door creaked open, and Mark, my right-hand man, stepped inside, his face taut with unease. He placed a folder on the desk.“You were right,” Mark said, his voice low. “The report was filed anonymously, but it’s a strategic hit. If we don’t address this now, it could escalate into a full-blown PR nightmare.”I opened the folder, skimming through the contents. False accusations, doctored financial statements—someone was trying to paint me as a corrupt CEO siphoning funds.“Ethan Liam,” I muttered, venom lacing my words.Mark nodded. “He’s the only one with the resources and motive to pull this off. He’s been circling like a vulture ever since your last acquisition.”I leaned back in my chair, running
Amelia POVThe massive chandelier in the dining room sparkled with cold light, its brilliance casting stark shadows across the long table where I sat, alone, poking at the untouched food on my plate. The grandeur of the Cole estate, with its towering walls and cold, gleaming floors, felt more like a gilded cage than a home. It had only been a week since I was thrust into this life as Mrs. Amelia Cole, and already I knew I’d traded one nightmare for another.The sharp clatter of heels against marble snapped me out of my thoughts. Rebecca Cole entered the room like a storm, her piercing green eyes narrowing as they landed on me. “Why is the table set like this?” she barked at one of the maids before turning her scornful gaze back to me. “Amelia, what are you doing just sitting there? Do you think you’re a queen now that you’ve married my son? What do you think you’re doing?”Her words were like knives, each one cutting a little deeper into my already fragile heart. “I… I thought the sta
Amelia POVFor the first time, I had seen Maxwell’s walls crack, allowing me the smallest glimpse into the man hidden beneath the ruthless exterior.And for a fleeting moment, I believed—hoped—that he would finally let me into his world.But as quickly as he had opened up, he shut himself off again.“Never mind,” Maxwell muttered, standing abruptly. His expression hardened, and the warmth in his green eyes vanished, replaced by the familiar cold detachment. “Forget I ever said anything.”Disappointment curled inside me, but I knew better than to push him.I merely nodded, watching as he strode to the door, his posture rigid. When the door clicked shut behind him, I exhaled, sinking back into the bed.The lingering warmth of his presence faded, replaced by the cold realization that he was still keeping me at arm’s length.I shouldn’t be surprised.Yet, somehow, it still hurt.I turned onto my side, forcing my thoughts to quiet down. But sleep didn’t come easy that night. My mind kept c
Amelia POVLater that day, I found myself lost in thought, replaying the events from earlier.Maxwell had been gentle, almost… protective. The way he had carried me, the way his touch lingered—it made my heart race in ways I wasn’t ready to admit. I like it. The way he defended me in front of Margaret and Lisa made me feel butterflies. I had always seen him as a man forged from ice, cold and indifferent. But on a few occasions, I had glimpsed something else beneath that carefully constructed exterior. Something raw. Something human which he immediately masks beneath. As Rosa helped me shower and dress, I caught my reflection in the mirror. My pale skin still showed signs of exhaustion, but it was the deep blush on my cheeks that unsettled me the most.I didn’t recognize myself.Rosa, ever observant, let out a teasing chuckle. “That’s the second time I’ve caught you blushing today. Should I be curious?”I quickly averted my gaze, embarrassed that she had noticed. “I’m just… thinking
Amelia POVA week had passed.Seven long days of being confined to this hospital bed with nothing but my thoughts, the rhythmic beep of the machines, and Maxwell’s presence lingering like a shadow I couldn’t escape.I still couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that he stayed.He had been here, day and night, watching over me like a silent guardian. His cold, impassive face never gave much away, but his actions did. The way he adjusted my pillows when he thought I was asleep. The way he made sure I ate even when I didn’t feel like it. The way his fingers hovered near mine whenever I shifted uncomfortably.But it didn’t mean anything.This was just another calculated move. A performance for the public eye.And the moment we left this hospital, I was sure everything would go back to the way it was.“Amelia?”I snapped out of my thoughts as the nurse entered with Maxwell following closely behind. He had changed into a crisp black suit, his sharp features unreadable as he watched me.“You
Maxwell POVThe moment the call ended, I rushed to the hospital my heart beating fast as I pushed through the hospital doors, a suffocating sense of dread coiled in my chest. The sterile scent of antiseptic burned my nostrils, but it was nothing compared to the ice spreading through my veins.“Amelia Hayes,” I barked at the receptionist, my voice rough, barely restrained.The nurse glanced up, startled by my urgency. “She was brought in about an hour ago. Room 307.”I didn’t wait. My legs carried me down the corridor as soon as I heard the number, past the dim overhead lights and hushed murmurs of visitors and doctors. My pulse pounded in my ears, each step tightening the knot of unease in my gut.When I reached the room, my breath caught in my throat.Amelia lay on the hospital bed, pale against the stark white sheets. A deep bruise marred her left cheekbone, the purplish hue standing in sharp contrast to her skin. Her right leg was wrapped in a thick bandage, elevated slightly on a
Maxwell POVI woke up with a start, my breath uneven, my heart slamming against my ribs. My eyes darted to the space beside me—empty.For a moment, dread coiled in my gut. The dream… it felt too real. Too true. Amelia disappearing. The money. The betrayal.I reached for my phone on instinct, my fingers swiping across the screen, searching for any sign that it wasn’t just a figment of my imagination. My jaw clenched as I checked my messages. Nothing. No unknown number. No offshore transfer.Just a dream.Exhaling slowly, I ran a hand through my hair, trying to shake off the unease settling in my chest. But something about it lingered, a foreboding sense of inevitability. It was as if my subconscious was warning me of something I wasn’t ready to acknowledge.I forced myself out of bed, pushing the thoughts away as I entered the hallway. The faint sound of clattering dishes reached my ears.The kitchen.I followed the noise, stopping at the entrance when I saw her.Amelia.She stood at t
Maxwell’s POVThe air in my office was thick with tension. The moment my secretary walked in, his usually composed demeanor faltered, and I knew something was wrong.“Sir…” His voice wavered as he fidgeted with the file in his hand. “The deal—”“Out with it,” I snapped, my patience already thinning.He swallowed hard. “We lost the merger to Wellington Industries.”Silence.For a moment, the weight of his words didn’t register. Lost? That was impossible. I have never lost, not before and not now. Every move and every negotiation had been executed with surgical precision. The board had practically handed the deal to me on a silver platter.Yet someone had managed to take it right from under my nose.A slow, simmering rage coiled inside me. My grip tightened around the pen in my hand until it snapped in half, ink splattering onto my desk.“Who?” My voice was dangerously low.The secretary hesitated. “Sir… I—I don’t know. But it had to be an inside job.”Inside job. A traitor.My jaw cle
Amelia POVThe morning sun filtered softly through the bedroom curtains, painting golden streaks across the sheets. I lay still for a moment, warmth lingering from the quiet intimacy of last night. Maxwell had let down his guard, even if only for a brief second, and I couldn’t stop replaying that moment in my mind. The way his voice had softened, the way he hadn’t pulled away when I touched his hand—it was enough to make my heart flutter.A small, embarrassed smile crept onto my lips, my cheeks heating up as I turned onto my side. What was wrong with me? Why can’t I stop thinking of him?“Why are you smiling like that?”I jolted upright at the voice, heart racing. Rosa, one of the maids who had always been kind to me, stood by the doorway with a knowing grin.“Were you dreaming about someone?” she teased, placing a fresh set of linens on the dresser.I quickly looked away, shaking my head. “No, I wasn’t!”Rosa chuckled. “Oh, please. You’re blushing harder than I’ve ever seen. Somethin
Amelia POVThe house was unnervingly quiet that night, its silence thick like velvet, muffling even the faintest sounds. I lay on my small, neatly made bed, staring at the cracked ceiling. Rebecca’s sudden kindness haunted me more than her cruelty ever did. Her smile replayed in my mind like a broken record, sweet but layered with something sinister beneath.I turned over, trying to escape my thoughts, when a soft knock echoed through the room. My heart jumped. It was late—too late for casual visits. Who was that?Before I could respond, the door creaked open slightly, revealing Maxwell standing there, his tall frame casting a shadow against the dim hallway light. His face was unreadable, but something in his dark eyes seemed… different.“Pack your things,” he said quietly, his voice lower than usual, almost hesitant.I blinked, pushing myself up on my elbows. “What?”“You heard me.” He stepped inside, closing the door behind him. “You’re not sleeping here anymore. From now on, you’ll
Amelia POVThe holiday was over.As I packed my suitcase, I murmured to myself, “It was good… and bad.”Good because, for three days, I was free from Rebecca’s cruel taunts, her icy stares, and the suffocating weight of living under her roof. Bad because Maxwell’s words from last night still echoed in my mind, leaving a lingering sense of dread.Victoria was back. A woman from his past.And if there was one thing I’d learned about her, it was that she didn’t just disappear. She was like a shadow—always lurking, waiting, watching and she was dangerous. The question wasn’t if she’d strike again. It was when.I sighed, shaking off the uneasy feeling as I zipped my suitcase shut. Dwelling on Victoria wouldn’t help me now. The real battle awaited me in Los Angeles—with Rebecca.A soft knock pulled me from my thoughts.“It’s time,” Maxwell said from the doorway, his voice unreadable.I turned to face him, studying the tension in his features. He hadn’t said much since last night. Since the