Williams POV. Stalking my ex-wife wasn’t something I’d ever envisioned myself doing. But here I was, dressed like a commoner, blending into the city’s background, and spying on Allison. The woman who had managed to trick me out of $50 million. I should be furious, and I was, but there was something more. That audacity, the cunning—it piqued my interest in her, even more than before. Even though my company had taken a massive hit, I had covered everything up with my own money. The board would never know the full extent of my failure, but it was a bitter pill to swallow. Allison’s new life, the dangerous path she had chosen, pissed me off. How could she live so recklessly? I watched her from a distance, taking note of her movements, her routines. She did take a few resting days from her espionage job, but those seemed to be the rare exceptions. She thrived on danger, on living on the edge. And despite everything, I couldn’t deny that my feelings for her hadn’t waned. If anything,
Allison's POV.Realizing it was Williams who kissed me felt insane. My ex-husband, the man I had fooled and stolen millions from, was here, stalking me. I felt my blood boil as I cursed at him. “What the hell, Williams? Why are you stalking me? And kissing me?” “I don’t know what I was thinking,” he muttered, looking genuinely baffled.“So the trash is now treasurable to you? What about Jessica? Her lips aren’t good enough for you anymore?”Williams's face darkened, but he quickly spoke up, “Why did you do it?”A smirk tugged at the corners of my lips. “Oh, so you’ve figured it out, have you?”He released a heavy breath, “Why did you disguise yourself to dupe me?”We stepped out of the elevator into the kitchen, where pizzas were being made. The smell of dough and cheese was an opposite to the tension between us. I hurriedly grabbed an apron, pretending to be one of the staff.“It was fun to trick you,” I said, tying the apron around my waist. “I was exacting my revenge on you.”Wil
Allison's POV. As I sat in the sterile, cold hospital corridor, waiting for Jessica to show up, my mind raced with everything that had just transpired. The hospital's fluorescent lights buzzed faintly, showing a harsh glow on the stark white walls. My heart pounded in my chest, the adrenaline from the shootout still coursing through my veins. Edward walked over and stood beside me, his concern evident in his eyes. “Allison, what’s going on? Who is this guy who keeps showing up, and why does he seem to affect you so much?” I sighed, knowing it was time to tell Edward the whole story. “Williams is my ex-husband,” I began, my voice steady but tinged with bitterness. “After my adopted father died, I moved to a new city. I was lost, grieving, and I ended up gaining a lot of weight. That’s when I met Williams. He was different from anyone I had ever known. We fell in love and got married. For three years, it was like a dream.” Edward’s eyes softened, but I could see the tension in hi
Williams POV.When I woke up, the first thing I felt was a dull, throbbing pain in my arm. As the haze of sleep lifted, the memories of last night came rushing back—Carter’s rage, Allison’s daring move, and the searing pain of the bullet wound. I groaned, the reality of my situation settling in. I had been shot because I had followed Allison into that dangerous world. If I had just stayed at home, none of this would have happened.I tried to shift, but my body felt weak, drained. The room spun slightly as I managed to sit up. My arm was heavily bandaged, and every movement sent a jolt of pain through my body. “Sir, you’re awake!” My P.A., Jonathan, was suddenly at my side, his eyes wide with concern. “How are you feeling?”“Like I got shot,” I replied dryly, though the effort to sound casual was strained. “What’s happening at the company?”Jonathan hesitated, then launched into a brief summary. “There’s been some unrest, but we’re managing. I’ve been handling things while you were ou
Allison's POV.The doorbell rang, startling me out of my thoughts. I wasn’t expecting anyone. Peeking through the peephole, I saw a delivery person holding an enormous bouquet of flowers. I opened the door, and the delivery person handed me the bouquet with a polite smile before walking away.I closed the door and carried the flowers to the kitchen table, setting them down gently. The arrangement was beautiful, with vibrant colors and a sweet fragrance that filled the room. But who would send me flowers?I searched through the bouquet until I found a small card tucked between the stems. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the name.**"Hello, from your stalker. - Williams"**I couldn’t help but laugh. It was stupid and amusing all at once. Here he was, lying in a hospital bed with a bullet wound, and he had the audacity to send me flowers. How pathetic.I rolled my eyes, tossing the card aside. What was he trying to prove? That he still cared? That he was sorry for everything? Sending f
Williams POV.I was still struggling with the constant, dull throb in my arm from the bullet wound. It served as a painful reminder of my failures and the mess I had made of my life. But the physical pain paled in comparison to the emotional agony of losing Allison. I had to know more about her. The woman I had once known as Seraphina was now a different person entirely, and I needed to know more about her past.I picked up the phone and dialed Jonathan’s number. He answered on the second ring. “Good morning, Mr. Luther. How can I assist you?”“Jonathan, I need you to hire the best private investigator money can buy,” I said, my voice steely with determination. “I want to know everything about Allison’s life before she met me, and after. And that Edward guy I keep seeing around her.”Jonathan hesitated for a moment. “Are you sure, sir? This might dig up some things that—”“Just do it,” I snapped, cutting him off. “I need to know.”A few days later, Jonathan arranged a meeting with a m
Williams POV.I sat in my villa, the luxurious surroundings doing little to soothe my restless mind. The atmosphere was thick with tension as I awaited Edward Blackwood's arrival. The very thought of him stirred up a burning jealousy within me, despite my considerable wealth and influence. He was always by Allison's side, protecting her, supporting her, and it made my blood boil. Today, I was determined to change that.Edward arrived punctually, his demeanor calm and composed as he was ushered into my study. I rose to greet him, forcing a polite smile."Edward, thank you for coming," I said, extending my hand. He shook it firmly, his eyes steady and cold."Williams," he acknowledged, taking a seat opposite me. "What is this about?"I took a deep breath, readying myself for the conversation ahead. "I won't beat around the bush, Edward. I have a proposal for you." I leaned forward, my eyes locking onto his. "I'm willing to offer you $15 million if you leave Allison."Edward's reaction
Allison POV.Williams had always known how to make a statement. So when he discovered through his P.A., Jonathan, that my childhood home was still standing but in desperate need of repairs, he decided to do something monumental.One morning, I woke up to the sound of construction. Groggy and irritated, I peered out my window to see a team of workers swarming my house like ants. New windows, a fresh coat of paint, a completely renovated garden—it was a full-scale makeover.I stormed outside, my robe flapping in the wind. “What the hell is going on here?” I shouted at the foreman.He tipped his hat, looking apologetic but firm. “Ma’am, we’ve been hired to renovate the property. Mr. Luther insisted on the best for you.”My blood boiled. “Tell Williams I don’t want his charity. Stop all work immediately.”The foreman hesitated, but then his phone buzzed. After a quick conversation, he turned back to me. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but Mr. Luther has given strict orders to proceed unless directly i
Allison's POV.Two months had passed since that nightmare, and Jessica was finally where she belonged: back in prison. Turns out, she had escaped with the help of her five-star general brother, James. But justice had a way of catching up to people like her. She was given more life sentences, no chance of parole this time, and James? Stripped of his rank, kicked out of the military, and sentenced to 15 years behind bars. The news was the most satisfying thing I’d heard in a long time.And Viktor Romanov? He couldn’t take the heat. The torture got to him. He’d ended his own life rather than face more of what was coming to him. It was hard to feel anything for him, knowing what he’d done to me, but at least that chapter was closed.I was still healing, but at least I was on my feet again. Viktoh had given me a six-month leave, after everything I’d suffered, and I wasn’t about to argue. I needed the time away. Time to breathe, to heal, to focus on what truly mattered.And today, it was ti
Allison's POV.My chest tightened, but I forced myself to sit up straighter. She shouldn’t be here. "You’re supposed to be in prison," I said, my voice steady despite the flood of memories—memories of how she had turned my life upside down, destroyed everything I had with Williams, and left me broken in more ways than one.Jessica’s smile only widened, her eyes gleaming with malice. "I got out." Her tone was casual, like she was discussing the weather. She stepped closer, and I could feel the venom between us. This woman… she had ruined everything. She had turned Williams against me, manipulated him, and made sure I lost our baby that night when I ran through the rain, heartbroken. That accident had ripped my world apart, and Jessica’s hands were all over it.And even after I came back, stronger and more dangerous than before, Jessica hadn’t stopped. She had tried to kill me more times than I could count. The desperation in her had reached insane levels, trying to trap Williams with
Allison’s POVThe steady beeping of the machines was the only sound filling the room, but I couldn’t focus on it. The sharp scent of antiseptic lingered in the air, making the sterile hospital walls seem even colder. My body ached in ways I hadn’t known were possible, but I was alive. I was here.The door creaked open softly, and I turned my head. It took a second for my eyes to adjust, but then I saw him—Williams, standing in the doorway, looking at me with an expression I couldn’t quite place. Was it relief? Concern?He stepped inside, his movements tentative, like he wasn’t sure if he should be here. His gaze swept over me, taking in the IVs, the bruises, the bandages. I could tell he was trying to hold it together, but the tension in his jaw gave him away.“Williams,” I whispered, my voice was shaky and low. I watched as he came closer, his eyes scanning my face. There was something in his expression I hadn't seen before—a softness, a vulnerability. When he reached my bedside, I
Jessica's POV.“Jessica?”I smirked as his voice rang through the office, laced with confusion. He hadn’t expected this. He hadn’t expected me. I slowly pulled back the hood of my jacket, revealing my face. His eyes widened, disbelief washing over his usually composed expression."Surprised to see me?" I asked, my voice light, teasing. I watched him carefully, savoring every second of his stunned reaction. His jaw tightened, but he said nothing at first, his sharp gaze piercing into me like daggers."I was released last week." I gave him a coy smile, stepping further into the office, the click of my heels sounding in the silence. His office was just as I remembered it—cold, impersonal, like the man who sat behind the desk. But I wasn’t here for the decor.Williams’s face remained hardened, but there was a flicker of something else in his eyes—anger, or maybe it was disgust. Either way, I had expected it.“What do you want, Jessica?” His voice was firm, devoid of any warmth or welcome.
Allison's POV.I blinked against the sterile light filtering in through the window, the room coming into focus in slow, painful waves. My body ached, every inch of me reminding me of what I had been through. But the confusion in my mind was worse. I didn’t know where I was, or how I had gotten here. The hospital.The smell of antiseptic, the steady beeping of machines—it was unmistakable. I was in a hospital bed, covered in bandages, weak and barely able to move. I tried to piece together how I’d ended up here. The last thing I remembered was Viktor, his cold, merciless eyes glaring down at me as his men... My stomach twisted at the memory. The torture, the pain. It was all too vivid, too raw.How did I survive?I shifted slightly, wincing as the pain flared across my ribs. That’s when I noticed Mia, fast asleep in the chair beside me, her head resting awkwardly on the armrest. She looked exhausted, her hair messy, dark circles under her eyes. “Mia?” My voice came out hoarse, barely
Williams POV.The world outside the ambulance blurred as we sped toward the hospital. My heart was pounding, faster than it ever had before. Mia sat across from me, her eyes wide and focused on Allison’s frail form, but all I could do was hold her hand, feeling the warmth slowly fade from her skin.“Allison, hold on,” I whispered, more to myself than to her. Her chest barely moved, her breaths shallow and ragged. I gripped her hand tighter, my throat burning. I was losing her.Mia’s voice cut through the suffocating silence, soft but steady. “She’s strong, Williams. She’ll pull through.”I didn’t answer. The weight of everything bore down on me like a heavy stone pressing against my chest. Her bruised face was a reminder of what they had done. Of what I couldn’t protect her from. Every bump in the road felt like a countdown.As we reached the hospital, paramedics rushed to pull her stretcher out, shouting medical jargon I couldn’t understand. My legs felt weak as I at my side, but my
Williams POV.The smell of blood and gunpowder filled the air. The gunfire was deafening, bullets ricocheting off the metal walls of the factory. I could barely hear Viktoh shouting orders to the team, but my eyes were locked on one thing. Her.Allison.She was barely seen through the smoke and chaos, slumped in a chair in the middle of the room, her body bound and battered. Blood stained her clothes, her face was swollen and bruised beyond recognition. It was as if someone had taken all the light out of her. My heart stopped.Viktor Romanov and his men were hunkered down, exchanging fire with Edward and the rest of the team. Edward was pushing forward with calculated aggression, taking out one of Viktor’s men before he had a chance to reload. Viktoh's men moved in, flanking the room, trapping Viktor’s crew.“Take them down!” Viktoh shouted, his voice cutting through the noise.Romanov’s eyes flicked to me for just a second, a twisted smile playing on his lips. He knew what he had don
Williams POV.Five days. Five long, agonizing days since Allison disappeared. And now, I was standing in warehouse next to the one man I despised more than anything—Edward Blackwood. The fact that I even agreed to work with him felt like a betrayal of my own pride, but this was about Allison, not me. I reminded myself of that, over and over.Allison.She was out there, somewhere, in Viktor Romanov’s hands. And if anyone could survive what that monster was capable of, it was her. She was a fighter. I knew it. But as each day passed, doubt began to creep into my mind.I looked at Edward out of the corner of my eye. His jaw was clenched so tight, I could see the muscles twitching in his face. The man was a damn brute, always had been. But there was no denying he was useful in moments like these. He didn’t just sit back and wait for things to fall into place like most people. He took action, even if that action was reckless.Right now, we needed that recklessness."Tell me what you know,
Allison's POV.The pain had no beginning or end. It was everywhere, all at once. I couldn’t tell if my heart was racing or if it had stopped altogether, but I felt the rhythm of agony pulsing through every nerve in my body. My wrists were raw from the ropes that bound me, and I could feel blood pooling beneath me where the chair had already cut into my skin. I barely registered the cold, metallic floor beneath me anymore; all I could feel was the endless, burning pain.Viktor’s shadow was over me, the twisted grin on his face searing itself into my memory. He wasn’t done. I knew it. He was just getting started. Every time I thought I couldn’t take more, he found a new way to make me suffer."Bring her back," he commanded, his voice sharp and cruel. He gestured to one of his men with a flick of his wrist. "I want to hear her scream."A ragged breath left my lips, a pitiful sound I hated myself for making. I tried to prepare myself, tried to push the pain away, but when I saw what the m