Julian’s POVThe package felt heavier in my hands than it should have been. My pulse thundered in my ears as I stared at the contents, my mind struggling to process what I was seeing.Photographs. Letters. A single sonogram.All addressed to Lexi.But it was the last letter that did it—the one written in Liam’s scrawled handwriting.Lexi,I know you’re with Julian, but I won’t pretend anymore. This is my child, and I refuse to be shut out. I want to be involved. I have the right to be involved. You can’t hide from me forever.Rage surged through me like wildfire. My grip tightened around the paper, nearly tearing it apart.Liam.The name alone was enough to make my vision blur with fury. He had dared to claim my woman, my child?I heard her soft footsteps before I turned around. Lexi stood there, wrapped in nothing but a silk robe, her eyes filled with sleep and concern.“Julian?” Her voice was tentative, searching. “What is it? What’s wrong?”I took a slow step forward, my entire bod
Julian’s POV The fury hadn’t left me—not completely. It simmered beneath my skin, coiled and waiting for an outlet. Liam deserved to die. He deserved to suffer for daring to touch what was mine. But Lexi… Lexi had begged. And no matter how much rage burned in my veins, I couldn’t ignore the way she had sobbed at my feet, clinging to me like I was her salvation. That was the only reason he was still breathing. For now. I had to make sure she never saw him again. Before she could try to leave or find a way to contact him, I locked the house down. Security was doubled, and I made my instructions painfully clear—no one, not even Lexi, was to step foot outside without my permission. “If she gets out, you die. If you let anyone in, you die,” I told the guards. “And if you even think about disobeying me, I’ll make sure your families suffer first.” They nodded, terror in their eyes. Good. Satisfied that she was trapped, I returned to the house and made my way to her room. She was s
Lexi’s POVThe walls of my room felt like they were closing in on me. I could still taste Julian on my lips, his kiss a reminder of the choice I had made. Or the choice that had been made for me.Marry Julian, or watch Liam die.My fingers trembled as I traced the edge of the nightstand, my mind pulling me back to the secret I had buried.That night with Liam.I had told Julian I was drunk, that I didn’t remember much. That was partly true. But there were things I did remember—things I had forced myself to forget.FlashbackThe restaurant had been dimly lit, elegant, secluded. The kind of place where secrets were meant to be shared and never spoken of again. I had chosen it for that very reason. No one would recognize us. No one would overhear what had to be said.Liam was already waiting when I arrived, sitting in a private booth, his fingers drumming anxiously on the table. The moment he saw me, his entire face softened.“Lexi,” he breathed, standing as if he wanted to pull me into
Lexi’s POVThe house was silent, save for the steady ticking of the antique grandfather clock in the hallway. Every shadow felt like a pair of watching eyes, and every breath I took felt stolen.Julian was asleep. His arm had been wrapped around my waist when I slipped out of bed, but I had spent years learning how to move without waking anyone. A survival skill. One I never thought I’d need with the man I once believed would protect me.But Julian was not my savior. He was my cage.And tonight, I was walking straight into the lion’s den.The guards outside his study barely glanced at me when I stepped into the hall, my silk robe draped loosely over the dress I had hurriedly slipped on. They had been trained well—never question Julian’s fiancée. Never interfere.But I wasn’t going to Julian.I made my way down the back staircase, each step measured and silent. The basement was cold, a sharp contrast to the rest of the house. I knew where he was keeping Liam. Julian always kept his ene
Lexi’s POVThe morning of my wedding felt like a funeral.The air was thick with the scent of roses and champagne, the silk gown draped over the edge of my bed a cruel reminder of the life I was about to chain myself to. The mansion was alive with murmured voices, the distant clatter of silverware, and the occasional burst of laughter from the guests who had arrived early.They had no idea.No idea that the bride they were waiting for would never walk down the aisle.I exhaled sharply, my hands trembling as I reached for the small overnight bag I had packed the night before. I barely had time to think before the door creaked open, and a shadow slipped inside.Liam.His blue eyes burned with urgency as he shut the door behind him. His suit was different from the bloodied, torn clothing he had worn in the basement. He must have stolen it. A fresh cut marred his cheekbone, but other than that, he looked completely composed, as if he hadn’t just spent days being tortured.“We need to go,”
Lexi’s POVThe jet finally touched down on the barren tarmac of a remote airstrip, its engines winding down, leaving behind only the silence of a country too far removed from everything I knew. I stared out the small window as the landscape stretched endlessly, nothing but mountains and vast stretches of open land. It wasn’t the escape I had imagined. It wasn’t even close.As we taxied toward a dilapidated building in the distance, my heart sank. The place was surrounded by overgrown weeds and looked as though it had been abandoned for years. The walls were cracked and weathered, windows shattered, and rust clung to every corner. It wasn’t the life I had dreamed of with Liam. It wasn’t the freedom I had hoped for.Liam, however, didn’t seem phased by the decrepitude of the place. He had been eerily silent for the last few hours, his gaze locked onto the horizon. He looked almost… satisfied. The moment the jet came to a complete stop, he was out of his seat, unbuckling his seatbelt and
Lexi’s Pov: The room was suffocating, thick with tension and fear. My pulse hammered in my ears as I stared at the man sitting across from my father’s desk. Giovanni Santino. His name alone made my stomach churn with dread. He lounged in the chair, far too relaxed for someone who had just issued a death threat. His eyes gleamed under the dim lights of the study, cold and calculating. “I’m a patient man, Ms. Thompson,” Santino said, his voice calm, almost casual. “But patience only goes so far. Your father owes me twenty million dollars, and I’m here to collect.” I swallowed hard. My father sat slumped in the corner, a near-empty glass of whiskey dangling from his fingers, his face ashen and hollow. He wouldn’t even look at me. Twenty million. How the hell were we ever going to pay that? The debt had started small,a few bad bets here and there,but it had snowballed into something monstrous. And now… now it was life or death. “Please,” I croaked, stepping forward to shield Kayla, w
Lexi’s pov: I woke up in a dark, cold room. My head throbbed, and my wrists were sore from the rough bindings that had left faint red marks. I tried to sit up, my body aching from being crumpled on the hard floor. “Help!” I screamed, my voice echoing off the walls. I waited for a reply, a sign that someone was nearby. Nothing. “Please, someone—help me!” My voice broke, but still, no one answered. I wrapped my arms around myself, curling into a ball as the reality of my situation sunk in. The mafia… Kayla… I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling tears welling up. I can’t break down. Not now. Time passed, minutes, hours, I couldn’t tell. I screamed until my throat was raw, but the only response was the eerie silence. It was suffocating. I felt trapped in my own thoughts, memories flashing of what brought me here. The threats. The fear in Kayla’s eyes. The suffocating grip of debts we could never repay. Finally, I heard the creak of a door opening, and I jerked my head up. Two men stepped
Lexi’s POVThe jet finally touched down on the barren tarmac of a remote airstrip, its engines winding down, leaving behind only the silence of a country too far removed from everything I knew. I stared out the small window as the landscape stretched endlessly, nothing but mountains and vast stretches of open land. It wasn’t the escape I had imagined. It wasn’t even close.As we taxied toward a dilapidated building in the distance, my heart sank. The place was surrounded by overgrown weeds and looked as though it had been abandoned for years. The walls were cracked and weathered, windows shattered, and rust clung to every corner. It wasn’t the life I had dreamed of with Liam. It wasn’t the freedom I had hoped for.Liam, however, didn’t seem phased by the decrepitude of the place. He had been eerily silent for the last few hours, his gaze locked onto the horizon. He looked almost… satisfied. The moment the jet came to a complete stop, he was out of his seat, unbuckling his seatbelt and
Lexi’s POVThe morning of my wedding felt like a funeral.The air was thick with the scent of roses and champagne, the silk gown draped over the edge of my bed a cruel reminder of the life I was about to chain myself to. The mansion was alive with murmured voices, the distant clatter of silverware, and the occasional burst of laughter from the guests who had arrived early.They had no idea.No idea that the bride they were waiting for would never walk down the aisle.I exhaled sharply, my hands trembling as I reached for the small overnight bag I had packed the night before. I barely had time to think before the door creaked open, and a shadow slipped inside.Liam.His blue eyes burned with urgency as he shut the door behind him. His suit was different from the bloodied, torn clothing he had worn in the basement. He must have stolen it. A fresh cut marred his cheekbone, but other than that, he looked completely composed, as if he hadn’t just spent days being tortured.“We need to go,”
Lexi’s POVThe house was silent, save for the steady ticking of the antique grandfather clock in the hallway. Every shadow felt like a pair of watching eyes, and every breath I took felt stolen.Julian was asleep. His arm had been wrapped around my waist when I slipped out of bed, but I had spent years learning how to move without waking anyone. A survival skill. One I never thought I’d need with the man I once believed would protect me.But Julian was not my savior. He was my cage.And tonight, I was walking straight into the lion’s den.The guards outside his study barely glanced at me when I stepped into the hall, my silk robe draped loosely over the dress I had hurriedly slipped on. They had been trained well—never question Julian’s fiancée. Never interfere.But I wasn’t going to Julian.I made my way down the back staircase, each step measured and silent. The basement was cold, a sharp contrast to the rest of the house. I knew where he was keeping Liam. Julian always kept his ene
Lexi’s POVThe walls of my room felt like they were closing in on me. I could still taste Julian on my lips, his kiss a reminder of the choice I had made. Or the choice that had been made for me.Marry Julian, or watch Liam die.My fingers trembled as I traced the edge of the nightstand, my mind pulling me back to the secret I had buried.That night with Liam.I had told Julian I was drunk, that I didn’t remember much. That was partly true. But there were things I did remember—things I had forced myself to forget.FlashbackThe restaurant had been dimly lit, elegant, secluded. The kind of place where secrets were meant to be shared and never spoken of again. I had chosen it for that very reason. No one would recognize us. No one would overhear what had to be said.Liam was already waiting when I arrived, sitting in a private booth, his fingers drumming anxiously on the table. The moment he saw me, his entire face softened.“Lexi,” he breathed, standing as if he wanted to pull me into
Julian’s POV The fury hadn’t left me—not completely. It simmered beneath my skin, coiled and waiting for an outlet. Liam deserved to die. He deserved to suffer for daring to touch what was mine. But Lexi… Lexi had begged. And no matter how much rage burned in my veins, I couldn’t ignore the way she had sobbed at my feet, clinging to me like I was her salvation. That was the only reason he was still breathing. For now. I had to make sure she never saw him again. Before she could try to leave or find a way to contact him, I locked the house down. Security was doubled, and I made my instructions painfully clear—no one, not even Lexi, was to step foot outside without my permission. “If she gets out, you die. If you let anyone in, you die,” I told the guards. “And if you even think about disobeying me, I’ll make sure your families suffer first.” They nodded, terror in their eyes. Good. Satisfied that she was trapped, I returned to the house and made my way to her room. She was s
Julian’s POVThe package felt heavier in my hands than it should have been. My pulse thundered in my ears as I stared at the contents, my mind struggling to process what I was seeing.Photographs. Letters. A single sonogram.All addressed to Lexi.But it was the last letter that did it—the one written in Liam’s scrawled handwriting.Lexi,I know you’re with Julian, but I won’t pretend anymore. This is my child, and I refuse to be shut out. I want to be involved. I have the right to be involved. You can’t hide from me forever.Rage surged through me like wildfire. My grip tightened around the paper, nearly tearing it apart.Liam.The name alone was enough to make my vision blur with fury. He had dared to claim my woman, my child?I heard her soft footsteps before I turned around. Lexi stood there, wrapped in nothing but a silk robe, her eyes filled with sleep and concern.“Julian?” Her voice was tentative, searching. “What is it? What’s wrong?”I took a slow step forward, my entire bod
Julian's POV: The Santorini sun kissed Lexi's skin as we lounged on our private terrace, the Aegean Sea stretching endlessly before us. I couldn't take my eyes off her - the way her hair caught the light, the gentle swell of her stomach where our child grew. "What are you staring at?" Lexi asked, a playful smile on her lips. I pulled her close, my hands roaming her curves. "The most beautiful woman in the world," I murmured, capturing her lips in a searing kiss. Our week in paradise had been nothing short of magical. Days spent exploring the island, nights filled with passion and whispered promises. I'd never felt more connected to Lexi, more certain of our future together. As I deepened the kiss, Lexi moaned softly, her body melting into mine. "Julian," she breathed, "take me to bed." I didn't need to be asked twice. Lexi's POV: Julian's touch set my skin on fire, his lips trailing a path of heat down my neck. We stumbled into the bedroom, shedding clothes as we went. "God,
Lexi’s POV “Actually Lexi, I need to talk to you,” he said, his voice low. I forced myself to stay calm, even as my mind screamed for me to get rid of him. Julian’s in the shower. He can’t see him. Not now. “What is it, Liam?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. Liam leaned back against the couch, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’m sure you’ve been wondering about the pregnancy. About whose it is.” I clenched my fists at my sides, my breath quickening. “What do you mean?” Liam’s eyes softened for a second. “Lexi, you and I both know what happened that night. We got drunk, we made out, and things escalated.” He paused, watching me closely. “I’m pretty sure I’m the father of your baby.” “I’m here because I want to step up, Lexi,” he continued, his tone serious now. “I’m here to take responsibility. I want to be a part of your life, and I want to be a father to our child.” I took a step back, panic starting to take over. Julian can’t know about this. He’ll kill him. The
Lexi’s POV The suitcase lay open on the bed, half-filled with carefully folded clothes. Excitement buzzed through me as I reached for another dress, my mind already painting images of the romantic getaway Julian and I had planned. We needed this—after everything, we deserved a moment to breathe, to just be us. I bit my lip, suppressing a smile. Julian was in the shower, and I could already picture his reaction when he saw my outfit choices. The thought made my heart race. Just as I zipped up the suitcase, a soft knock came at the door. “Ma’am?” A hesitant voice followed. I turned to find a young woman standing by the doorway, her hands neatly folded in front of her apron. I recognized her as the new maid Julian had hired after the last one was caught snooping. “What is it?” I asked, straightening up. “You have a visitor, ma’am,” she said, shifting uncomfortably. A visitor? My brows furrowed. No one was supposed to know we were here. “Who is it?” The maid hesitated before ans