Julian’s POV The phone call with my mom left me cold, though I tried not to let it show. Her voice, so fragile and strained, shattered the tough front I’d been holding up for years. “Julian,” she whispered, each word laced with an underlying desperation, “I’m not sure how much longer I can hold on. The doctors… they’ve run out of options. I’m scared.” My chest tightened, a knot forming deep in my throat. I swallowed hard. “Mom, don’t say that. You’ve always been stronger than this. You’ll fight through it, I know you will.” But even as I said the words, I knew they felt hollow. I wanted to believe them, but the truth was, she was fading, and I couldn’t stop it. “I’ll be there soon, okay? I’m coming to you. Just hang in there. Don’t give up on me.” I heard her weak sigh on the other end. “I’ll try, sweetheart… just… come fast, please.” I ended the call, but her words haunted me, hanging in the air long after the line went dead. Lexi must have been listening, because when I turn
Julian’s POV The hum of the jet’s engines filled the cabin as I leaned back in the leather seat, the skyline disappearing behind me. My pilot, Rob, had already assured me we’d be in the city within the hour, but every minute felt like an eternity. I stared out the window, jaw clenched. My mother’s frail voice played on a loop in my mind. The strength she’d once exuded had faded into a shell of the woman I used to know, and I hated myself for being helpless to stop it. I wasn’t used to feeling powerless—it wasn’t who I was. The glass of whiskey in front of me sat untouched. For once, the burn of alcohol wouldn’t help. Nothing would. “Sir,” Carla, my assistant, approached quietly, breaking my thoughts. She was the only one I trusted to travel with me when things got messy. “We’ll land shortly. Do you need me to arrange a car at the hangar?” “No,” I said, shaking my head. “I’ll drive myself. And cancel everything on my schedule for the next two days.” Carla gave a slight nod but he
Lexi's Pov “Lexi, let them work!” Julian’s voice cut through the chaos like a blade. I turned to him, tears streaming down my face. “Julian, he can’t die! He just can’t!” Julian stepped forward, his hands gripping my shoulders as he forced me to meet his eyes. His gaze was steady, unyielding. “He’s not gone, Lexi. Let them do their job.” I froze, my chest heaving with sobs, and finally let the nurse guide me toward the corner of the room. “Clear!” The doctor’s voice rang out as the defibrillator paddles pressed against Dad’s chest. His body jolted, but the flatline remained on the monitor. “Again!” Another jolt. My hands were trembling, my legs threatening to give out beneath me. Kayla was sobbing into her hands, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably. “Come on,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “Fight, Dad. Please, fight.” Julian stood behind me, silent but unmoving. His presence was like a wall, solid and unyielding, holding me up when I felt like I might collapse. “St
Lexis pov The hallway was eerily quiet now, except for the occasional shuffle of nurses and the soft hum of machines from other rooms. Julian stood frozen, his pale blue eyes fixed on me, as if my words had unlocked something he wasn’t ready to face. “Lexi,” he started, his voice rough. “You don’t understand.” “Then explain it to me,” I pressed, stepping closer. “You don’t have to keep everything bottled up. You don’t have to carry this weight alone.” For a moment, he looked like he might shut me out again. His jaw tightened, his lips pressed into a thin line, and he turned his head as though searching for an escape. But then his shoulders sagged, and something in him seemed to break. “I’ve always been the one who fixes things,” he said finally, his voice low but steady. “When my dad left, it was me who kept my mom together. When my family fell apart, I had to be the glue. I learned early on that people depend on me. If I can’t fix something, what good am I?” His words hit me l
**Lexi’s POV** I had never seen Julian like this before—unguarded and exposed. This wasn’t the Julian who strode into rooms as if he owned them, commanding attention with just a glance. No, this was someone different. Someone raw. For some reason, that scared me more than seeing my dad on the brink of death. He had barely said a word since I stepped back into the hallway. He didn’t need to. The weight he carried was evident in the way his shoulders hunched and the way his jaw clenched, as if he were trying to physically hold himself together. “Julian,” I said softly, stepping closer. He glanced at me, and his pale blue eyes were shadowed with an exhaustion that had nothing to do with lack of sleep. “You should stay with your dad,” he murmured. “He’s resting. And I think you need someone to stay with you,” I replied, refusing to let him dodge this moment. He exhaled sharply, the sound almost like a laugh. “I’m fine, Lexi. You don’t have to—” “Yes, I do,” I interrupted, cutti
Lexi’s POV The sound of Dad’s heart monitor was steady, but it felt fragile, like it might stop at any second. I sat beside his hospital bed, holding his hand as if my grip alone could tether him here. His hand was cold, the once firm grasps that had held mine through so many storms now limp and fragile. “Dad,” I whispered, leaning closer, “it’s okay. You’re safe now. We’re here.” His eyelids fluttered, his lips parting like he was trying to say something. “Don’t push yourself,” Kayla said softly, perched on the other side of the bed. Her voice was as delicate as the rest of her, but the cracks in it gave her away. “Hey,” Dad rasped, his voice barely audible, “you two… still fighting?” Kayla and I exchanged a look—surprise mixed with a sliver of humor. Leave it to him to be half-dead and still cracking jokes. “No,” I said, managing a small smile. “We called a truce for now.” Kayla chimed in, trying to match the lightness. “You’ll be glad to know I’ve refrained from throwing he
Lexi’s POV Dad was asleep now, his breathing slow but steady. The harsh hospital lights made the room feel cold, sterile—everything I hated about places like this. But I didn’t dare leave. I stayed planted in my chair, one hand gripping his as though he might slip away if I let go. Kayla had curled up in the chair on the other side of the bed, her head resting against the armrest. She looked peaceful for once, though I knew the moment she woke up, she’d be back to snapping at me or avoiding me entirely. Not that I blamed her. A creak at the door made me look up. Julian stepped inside, his tall frame filling the small space. The sharp lines of his suit made him look improper, like he belonged in some high-rise office rather than this cramped hospital room. “How is he?” he asked quietly, his voice softer than I’d expected. “Still stable,” I replied, keeping my voice low, so I wouldn’t wake Dad or Kayla. “They’re saying the next 24 hours are critical, but… he’s holding on.” Julian
Victor’s POV I stood in front of the large, polished oak desk, fingers drumming a steady rhythm on its surface. The details had to be perfect. If it wasn’t flawless, it would all fall apart. And I couldn’t afford that. Not now. Not when the time had finally come to take the final step. Lexi had been too much of an obstacle, and she had no idea how much danger she was in. But that was about to change. I pulled the map closer, the street names blurring as I tapped the area I’d marked in red. The route was perfect—isolated, with no traffic at all that time of night. It would look like a freak accident. No one would suspect a thing. My mind raced through every possible scenario. The timing, the positioning, and even the way the car would roll. I could see it all in my head, playing out like a well-rehearsed script. I took a deep breath, savoring the moment. “It has to be seamless,” I muttered to myself, turning toward the phone on the desk. It was time to call Etienne. The phone ran
Elixir’s POV The night stretched endlessly before me, dark and intoxicating. A storm lingered in the air, the scent of rain mixing with the ocean breeze that drifted through the open balcony doors. The world outside my estate was quiet, too quiet, but that only made the pulse of my own thoughts louder, clearer. I had always preferred the night. It was in the darkness that true power thrived, where people’s worst fears came to life, where shadows whispered secrets that daylight tried to bury. The night had always belonged to me, just as much as it had once belonged to Alexa my sister. But Alexa had been weak. Impetuous. Too desperate for vengeance, too obsessed with proving herself. And that desperation had been her downfall. A smirk curled my lips as I shifted the weight in my arms, glancing down at the tiny figure wrapped in a soft white blanket. My daughter stirred, a soft whimper escaping her lips as her small hands reached for something unseen. I watched her, my heart tigh
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