**Julian’s Pov**The morning of the burial felt cold. Gray clouds filled the sky, creating a sad atmosphere that felt appropriate.People came in and out of the house, speaking softly and wearing black. Some faces were familiar—relatives I saw at family gatherings, ones who sent Holiday cards or called once a year out of duty. Others, I barely recognized.Then, there were those I didn’t want here at all.I stood by the window, watching more cars pull up outside. The air inside the house felt heavy with grief and quiet whispers, but underneath it all, tension lingered.Lexi stood by my side, quiet but supportive. Her fingers lightly touched mine, providing comfort.Henry entered, looking tired. “They’re all here,” he said softly.I nodded. “Let’s get this over with.”Lexi squeezed my hand.We stepped outside together. The backyard was set up for a small ceremony before the burial. Rows of chairs faced a plain wooden casket decorated with white lilies—my mother’s favorite.As I looked a
The funeral had ended, but people lingered, murmuring, whispering—judging.I had already introduced Lexi to them, made it clear who she was to me, but I knew some of them wouldn’t let it go. These people thrived on gossip, clung to their outdated ideas of status and power.I stood near the doorway, barely listening to Henry talk to one of my mother’s old friends. My patience was wearing thin. I needed to leave.Then I heard it.A sharp voice, laced with condescension, from across the room.“She’s just after his money. That’s all women like her do—trap men like Julian. He was always too naïve when it came to pretty faces.”I froze. My entire body went rigid.“She probably saw the way he lived and decided to get knocked up,” the voice continued, smug and cruel. “What else would a nobody like her be doing with a man like him?”A quiet gasp. Then Lexi’s voice—calm, but firm. “You don’t know a damn thing about me.”My head turned sharply.Across the room, Lexi stood with her arms crossed,
Lexi’s POVThe drive back felt longer than it actually was. Maybe because I spent most of it staring out the window, watching the scenery change, feeling the weight of the past few days settle in my bones.Julian sat beside me, one hand on the wheel, the other resting on my thigh—a silent reassurance that he was there. That we were leaving all the whispers, the judgment, the tension behind.Still, it clung to me.I had spent the past few days feeling like an outsider, an intruder in a world that would never truly accept me. The looks, the hushed conversations that stopped the moment I walked in—it was exhausting.I needed to be home.When the city skyline finally came into view, a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding slipped from my lips.Julian noticed.“We’re almost there,” he said, his voice low, comforting.I nodded, leaning my head against the cool glass.His grip on my thigh tightened slightly. “I know you didn’t feel comfortable there. I felt it, Lex. But you don’t have to an
Lexi’s POVThe soft sound of cooing filled the penthouse, followed by a tiny, delighted giggle.I smiled, watching Alexander kick his chubby little legs in excitement as Julian hovered over him, murmuring something in that deep, smooth voice of his.It was a rare sight—Julian, the ruthless billionaire, the man who could command a room with just a glance, lying on the plush nursery carpet, completely at the mercy of our son.“You think that’s funny, huh?” Julian smirked, gently tweaking Alexander’s nose.Alexander squealed, his bright blue eyes—so much like his father’s—shining with joy.My heart melted.It was moments like these that made everything worth it.Julian had been so consumed with the funeral, the family drama, and shielding me from their judgment that he hadn’t had much time with our son. But now, back in the sanctuary of our home, he was fully present.And it was beautiful.I leaned against the doorway, just watching.“Are you just going to stand there and admire me, or a
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
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 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 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
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 POV The 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 l
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