Lexi’s POVNaming their son had been the first step. The moment the words left her lips, something inside her settled. As if, even without all her memories, some things were instinctive. Some things were theirs.They named him Alexander.Julian had smiled at her, eyes gleaming with something that looked like relief, pride—love. “Alexander,” he repeated, brushing his fingers against the baby’s tiny hand. “Our little warrior.”The name felt right.The following days were filled with careful observations from the doctors. Tests, evaluations, and cautious optimism. Julian hovered over her, never leaving for more than a few minutes. She woke up to him watching her like she might disappear again. It should have been overwhelming, suffocating.But it wasn’t.Not when he looked at her like she was the center of his universe.Not when he spoke to her in that low, soothing voice, recounting the life they had shared before it was stolen from her.And then, finally—“You’re fit to go home,” the d
Lexi’s POVThe night was quiet, too quiet. Even with Julian sleeping beside her, even with the rhythmic rise and fall of Alexander’s tiny chest in the crib, an eerie stillness settled over the room.Lexi shifted beneath the sheets, restless. A strange heaviness pressed against her chest, an invisible weight that refused to lift. She closed her eyes, willing herself to sleep.And then—A whisper.Soft. Almost delicate.But laced with venom.“Miss me?”Lexi’s breath hitched. The world around her blurred, shifting into something else entirely. She wasn’t in the bedroom anymore.She was standing in a dimly lit room, cold stone beneath her bare feet. The walls stretched endlessly, suffocating, and at the far end, perched on an elegant chair like a queen on her throne—Alexa.Her identical twin.But there was something different about her. Her once striking beauty was distorted, twisted into something unsettling. Her lips curled into a knowing smirk, her golden eyes glinting with amusement.
Lexi’s POVThe weight of the previous night lingered in the pit of her stomach, heavy and unyielding. Even though Julian had reassured her, something about the dream—no, the vision—felt too real, too tangible. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Alexa wasn’t truly gone. She pushed the thought aside, focusing instead on the task at hand.The car ride to the prison was silent, the hum of the engine filling the air as Lexi stared out of the window, lost in her thoughts. The city outside was alive, bustling with people going about their day, but it all seemed distant. She barely noticed when the car came to a stop in front of the high concrete walls.“You sure about this?” Julian asked, his voice low and steady, as always.Lexi turned to him, meeting his gaze with a faint, unreadable smile. “I have to do this. For her.”He didn’t argue, but she saw the concern in his eyes. He’d been protective, hovering like a guard dog since she had returned to him, but he knew this was something she nee
Lexi’s POV Lexi wasn’t sure what else she could have done. After all, family was everything to her, even if it had been twisted and frayed over the years.Kayla’s release had come with conditions, a chance for her to rebuild—starting with a small company Lexi had owned. Lexi had hoped it would help Kayla find stability, purpose. It wasn’t much, not compared to the wealth Lexi had accumulated over the years, but it was a start. A lifeline, she’d thought. The anger and jealousy that had once consumed Kayla seemed to have subsided, at least on the surface, but Lexi wasn’t fool enough to think it was gone.As they pulled into the driveway of her estate, Lexi braced herself. Julian wasn’t going to like this—he never did when she gave people second chances. But she couldn’t help it. Kayla was her sister, and despite everything, she wanted to believe she could change.“I don’t like this,” Julian said suddenly, his voice low.Lexi glanced at him, meeting his steady gaze. He was leaning forwa
Lexi’s POV The air in the penthouse was thick with tension as I paced the living room, my mind racing. The phone call from Alexa still lingered in my thoughts, sending a chill down my spine. I’d expected this, but hearing her voice again—so cold, so certain—had rattled me more than I cared to admit. “Everything’s a game to her,” I muttered under my breath. “But I’m done being her pawn.” Julian, sitting on the couch, watched me with a quiet intensity. He’d been silent for the past few minutes, sensing that I was on the edge of something—something that could tip me over if I wasn’t careful. “Are you sure you want to go down this path?” Julian finally asked, his voice calm but edged with concern. I stopped pacing and turned to face him. My expression was determined, but I could feel a flicker of doubt gnawing at me. I hated feeling this way, like I was teetering between control and chaos. But there was no going back now. Alexa’s return had changed everything, and I wasn’t about to l
Kayla’s POV The air in the bar was thick with cigarette smoke and desperation. Kayla sat in a secluded booth at the far end, her fingers tapping against the scratched wooden table. She had been on edge since receiving the anonymous note telling her to meet here. Something about it felt… off. But curiosity, or maybe something darker, had led her here. Her mind had been a chaotic mess since leaving prison. Freedom wasn’t what she had imagined—it wasn’t the relief she had once dreamed of. Instead, she felt restless, her thoughts spiraling, looping back to the same bitter truth: Lexi had given her crumbs when she deserved the whole feast. A small company? After everything she had suffered? After all the sacrifices she had made? She clenched her fists. It wasn’t enough. It would never be enough. A shadow moved near the entrance, and Kayla’s head snapped up. The woman who slid into the seat across from her was both familiar and foreign. Alexa. For a long moment, neither of them spoke.
Alexa’s POVAlexa sat in the dimly lit penthouse, swirling the wine in her glass as she watched Kayla pace in front of her. The younger woman was jittery, her fingers twitching at her sides, but there was something electric in her movements—anticipation, desperation.“You’re sure about this?” Kayla asked, stopping abruptly to look at Alexa.Alexa smiled, slow and calculating. “Of course. It’s the only way.”Kayla swallowed hard, her eyes flickering with hesitation before she forced herself to nod.“She won’t even see it coming,” Alexa continued, setting her glass down. “Lexi is so busy chasing ghosts, she has no idea we’re about to snuff her out.”Kayla exhaled sharply, rolling her shoulders back. “What’s the plan?”Alexa leaned forward, her golden eyes gleaming. “You’ll take care of Lexi and that child. Once they’re gone, Julian will be vulnerable. Heartbroken, yes, but he won’t have anyone left—except for you.”Kayla’s lips parted slightly, as if she were envisioning it. “Julian wil
Lexi’s POVThe smoke still clung to her skin.Lexi sat in the back of an ambulance, clutching her son, her arms wrapped protectively around his small body. The paramedics had tried to take him to check for smoke inhalation, but she wouldn’t let him go. Not yet.Kayla sat on the curb a few feet away, wrapped in a blanket, her hands trembling. Her expression was blank, but Lexi could see it—the war raging inside her.Sirens blared in the distance, emergency lights flashing red and blue against the smoldering remains of what had once been Lexi’s home.Everything was gone.Everything.Julian appeared through the haze, his eyes scanning the scene in horror. The second he spotted Lexi, he ran.“Lexi!” His voice was hoarse as he dropped to his knees in front of her, his hands immediately reaching for their son. “Oh, my God—are you okay? Is he okay?”Lexi swallowed, her throat raw from the smoke. “We’re alive.”Julian cupped her face, his fingers shaking. “Jesus, I thought—when I got the call
Lexi’s POVI wasn’t sure why I kept coming back.Maybe it was guilt. Maybe it was curiosity. Or maybe it was because a part of me, despite everything, still wanted to believe Kayla could be saved.But with each visit, that hope faded a little more.The clinic was quiet, the kind of quiet that felt heavy rather than peaceful. It had the sterile scent of disinfectant mixed with something unplaceable—something that made my stomach turn every time I walked through the doors.Kayla’s room was at the end of the hall, tucked away from the others. A nurse nodded at me as I approached, her expression unreadable. I wasn’t family. I wasn’t even a friend. But no one ever questioned why I was here.Maybe they saw the hesitation in my steps, the wariness in my eyes. Maybe they knew that whatever had brought me to Kayla wasn’t simple.I stepped inside, my breath catching in my throat.She was by the window again.She always was.Her hair, once meticulously styled, was now unkempt, strands falling in
Lexi’s pov The night was a blur of toasts, laughter, and stolen glances between Julian and me. Friends and family gathered, congratulating us, offering their blessings. Even Alexander, dressed in the tiniest little tuxedo, was passed around like royalty.And through it all, Julian never left my side.When the night was winding down, and it was just the two of us again, he pulled me into his arms, resting his forehead against mine.“Ready to be my wife?” he asked, his voice low.I smiled, my fingers threading through his hair. “I was ready the moment I fell in love with you.”His kiss was slow, deliberate. Full of promises.Promises I knew he’d keep.The WeddingJulian didn’t just plan a wedding. He orchestrated an event.It was extravagant, breathtaking, and absolutely perfect. Every single detail was meticulously arranged, from the grand venue to the candlelit pathways that led to our vows.The ceremony took place in a private estate overlooking the ocean. White roses lined the aisl
Lexi’s POVThe night Julian proposed, I barely slept. Not because I was restless or uncertain, but because every time I closed my eyes, I replayed the moment over and over again. The way he looked at me. The certainty in his voice. The way his hands trembled just slightly when he slipped the ring onto my finger, as if this was the one thing in his life that truly mattered.I spent the rest of the night lying in his arms, listening to the steady rhythm of his breathing, feeling the warmth of his body against mine. It felt like a dream—one of those rare, beautiful ones that you never want to wake up from.But it was real.I was engaged to Julian Blackwood.When morning came, the first thing I saw was the ring. The delicate diamond glinted in the soft sunlight, a quiet reminder of everything that had changed. My heart clenched with something fierce and overwhelming.I turned my head, finding Julian already awake, watching me.“Morning, fiancé,” he murmured, his voice still laced with sle
Julian’s POVI had never been a man of grand gestures. My world had always been one of precision, control, and ruthless efficiency. Sentiment had no place in my life—until Lexi.She changed everything.She softened the edges of a man who had never known tenderness. She made me want things I never thought I could have. A family. A home. A future.And now, I was going to make sure she was mine forever.I had planned every detail of this night with the same meticulous care I applied to everything in my life. Nothing was left to chance. Lexi deserved the perfect moment, and I would give it to her.When the evening arrived, I found her in the bedroom, getting ready. She stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her earrings, completely unaware of what was coming.“You look breathtaking,” I murmured, stepping behind her.She smiled at me through the mirror. “You’re being suspiciously charming tonight.”I smirked, running my hands down her arms before pressing a kiss to her bare shoulder. “May
Julian’s POVThe moment I stepped into our penthouse, I knew Lexi was waiting. The tension in my shoulders eased just slightly at the sight of her sitting on the couch, Alexander cradled in her arms. She looked up as soon as I entered, her gaze scanning my face for answers.She knew.“Julian,” she murmured, her voice softer than I expected. “You’re back.”I walked over, leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead before glancing at my son. He was asleep, his tiny chest rising and falling peacefully.“It’s done,” I said simply.Lexi’s expression faltered. “Victor?”I met her eyes. She already knew the answer, but she still wanted to hear it.“He didn’t make it.”She swallowed, nodding slowly. “I figured.” There was no sorrow, not really. Just an understanding. A quiet acceptance. “I guess he was too far gone, huh?”“He made his choice.” My voice was calm, absolute. “And he paid for it.”Lexi sighed, adjusting Alexander in her arms. “It’s just… a shame, that’s all.”“He would’ve never
Julian’s POVI should’ve seen it sooner.The missing shipments. The subtle miscalculations. The way the enemy always seemed one step ahead.And now, the fire. The attack. The taunting video.All of it led back to one man.Victor Hale.I stood in my office, my fingers curling into fists as Henry laid the last piece of evidence on my desk—a bank transaction, large sums funneled into an offshore account.Victor’s account.My closest men stood around me, their faces hard, waiting for my command.Henry exhaled sharply. “He’s been working against you for months, Julian. He didn’t just steal from you. He fed intel to your enemies. He gave them access. He—”“Where is he?” I cut in, my voice like steel.Henry’s eyes darkened. “We tracked him to a private safe house. He thinks he’s covered his tracks.”“He thinks wrong.”I grabbed my gun.Tonight, this endsJulian’s POVThe moment I stepped into Victor’s so-called safe house, I felt nothing but cold fury.He sat there, comfortably swirling a gl
Julian’s POVThe air was thick with tension. I sat in the backseat of my car, fingers tapping against my knee as Henry drove. The city lights blurred past, but my mind was razor-sharp.We had a lead.A warehouse worker had come forward—nervous, fidgety, but alive. He had information, something about missing shipments and seeing people he shouldn’t have.We were on our way to meet him.Henry’s grip on the wheel was tight. “Something about this feels off.”I nodded. It did. Too easy. Too convenient. But I wasn’t about to ignore it.The moment we pulled up to the meeting point—a rundown building near the docks—I knew.We were too late.The smell of blood hit first. Then, the sight.The worker was slumped against the wall, a bullet hole clean through his skull. A message carved into his chest with something sharp.“Too slow.”My jaw clenched. Whoever was behind this wasn’t just covering their tracks—they were taunting me.Henry crouched down, checking the body. “Still warm.”I turned to m
Julian’s POVI sat in my office, fingers steepled, staring at the whiskey in my glass. It was untouched. I wasn’t in the mood for it. Not when my mind was sharp, dissecting every possible angle of this betrayal.A single thief? No. That would’ve been too simple. Too careless.There was something bigger at play.Henry walked in, his usual calm demeanor slightly strained. I knew him well enough to recognize when something didn’t sit right with him.“What did you find?” I asked.He set a file on my desk. “It wasn’t just him.”I already knew that, but hearing it confirmed sent a slow burn through my chest.“Go on,” I said evenly.Henry opened the file, revealing documents, security logs, and numbers that didn’t match up.“We’ve been missing shipments for months,” he said. “Small amounts. A bar here, a bar there. Nothing too obvious. But it adds up.”I flipped through the pages. The calculations were clear—whoever was behind this had been careful. They knew how to move just enough to avoid
Julian’s POVI sat in my office, fingers tapping against the mahogany desk as I listened to Henry deliver the news.I barely blinked. Barely reacted.But inside, rage simmered.Betrayal.One of my most trusted men had been stealing from me. Not money—money could be replaced. Gold bars. He thought he was smart, skimming small amounts over time, thinking I wouldn’t notice.I always notice.Henry finished speaking, his expression tense. He knew what was coming next.“Where is he now?” I asked, my voice dangerously calm.“In the basement,” Henry replied. “Tied up. Waiting.”I stood, adjusting the cuffs of my shirt.Lexi chose that moment to walk in, Alexander asleep in her arms. She took one look at my face and frowned.“What’s wrong?”I turned to Henry. “Bring him up.”Henry nodded and left the room.Lexi stepped closer. “Julian?”I exhaled slowly, rolling my shoulders back as I met her gaze. “One of my men stole from me.”Her brows furrowed. “Stole what?”“Gold.”Her lips parted slightl