The morning before the Mountain Rose showroom, Sarah and Raven arrived at the grand venue, a luxurious ballroom adorned with crystal chandeliers, golden accents, and a sprawling runway set up in the center.The entire place exuded class, and Sarah felt a deep sense of satisfaction seeing her vision come to life.They had spent months preparing for this, securing the best venue, inviting the elites of the fashion and jewelry world, and crafting an unforgettable showcase.Now, it was all coming together.Sarah glanced around as staff bustled about, finalizing details.The seating was arranged meticulously, VVIPs, including the most influential figures in the industry, had front row seats, followed by VIP guests, then regular guests and the general audience. Every little detail had been planned to perfection.Raven, holding a tablet, ticked off points from their checklist. "Alright, seating is done. The models have their lineup. The jewelry pieces are secured and ready to be showcased. T
Alexander narrowed his eyes at her. "It’s your fault," he shot back. "You’re the one who insisted on making me a model at the last minute. I don’t want to ruin your show, so I figured I should at least try to do it right."Sarah's laughter softened into a warm smile. She reached out and took his hand, squeezing it gently. "You could walk up there in a potato sack, Alex, and the world would still bow at your feet. But... I appreciate you putting in the effort for me."Alexander sighed, leaning back against the couch, his other hand rubbing his temple.Sarah grinned mischievously. "I should’ve recorded you for the future. Maybe show our kids one day..""Don’t even think about it." Alexander shot her a warning look, though there was a hint of amusement in his gaze."Fine, fine," Sarah said, standing up and stretching. "Now, let’s get ready. We have a grand event to attend, and you, my dear husband, are going to steal the show."Alexander scoffed. "If I embarrass myself, you’re making it
As the doors to the showroom prepared to open, the excitement reached a fever pitch.The world was about to witness the unveiling of Mountain Rose like never before, and everyone wanted to see just who was behind the brand that had the entire industry talking.Inside the grand showroom, the atmosphere was nothing short of electric. The air hummed with an underlying tension, a mixture of excitement and curiosity as guests settled into their designated sections.Elise, perched comfortably in the VIP section, adjusted her dress and sipped from a crystal flute of champagne, acting as though she belonged among the industry’s top figures. Meanwhile, Victoria and Cecilia sat stiffly in the regular section, forced to endure the humiliation of being placed so far from the elites they once stood alongside.The stage was illuminated by soft, ambient lighting, and the sound of classical instruments blended seamlessly with a modern beat, creating an elegant yet thrilling ambiance.The MC, a well k
Elise, comfortably seated in the VIP section, felt her confidence waver for the first time that evening. Her hands clutched the armrest of her seat as she watched the living legend walk in.Meanwhile, Victoria and Cecilia, stuck in the regular section, were rendered speechless.Cecilia, who had been sipping on her cocktail with a detached air, almost dropped the glass. "You’ve got to be kidding me," she muttered under her breath.Victoria swallowed, shifting in her seat. "Margaret Windsor? Here? Of all places?"Neither of them had expected this. Margaret was known for being selective with the events she attended, and her appearance tonight elevated the Mountain Rose Showroom to a whole new level of prestige.The murmurs grew louder as people craned their necks to get a better look at the woman who had shaped the modern jewelry industry.And as she made her way toward the VVIP section, Liam Carrington stood out of respect, offering her a nod. Margaret acknowledged him with a slight smi
The grand showroom was already buzzing with anticipation. Conversations flowed, champagne flutes clinked, and the venue brimmed with some of the most influential figures in the industry.The fashion elites, billionaires, and dignitaries from the jewelry world were all present, waiting for the show to begin. The air was thick with curiosity and excitement.Then, the main doors to the venue swept open.For a brief moment, everything seemed to pause.Alexander Blake had arrived.He stepped in first, effortlessly commanding attention despite not making a grand gesture. His presence alone was magnetic. Dressed in a finely tailored black velvet tuxedo, his broad shoulders and sharp features only accentuated his natural dominance.The subtle but undeniable aura of power that surrounded him made every man in the room straighten their backs, and every woman steal a second glance.Yet, for all the admiration and envy directed at him, Alexander’s gaze wasn’t on the crowd.It was on the woman bes
The sight of Sarah so comfortable, so effortlessly belonging in a room filled with power and status made Victoria’s fingers curl around her champagne glass.“This isn’t fair,” she muttered under her breath, her jaw tight.Cecilia, however, was too distracted to focus on Sarah’s moment of victory.Her mind was on something else.Something far worseThe video.Her breathing was slightly uneven, her grip trembling as she downed her drink in one go. The thought of Sarah having that kind of power over her was suffocating. If that video ever got out...Victoria noticed her distress and placed a hand over hers. “You need to get a grip,” she hissed. “We’ll deal with this later.”Before Cecilia could respond, the lights in the venue dimmed, signaling the start of the event.A hush fell over the audience.A single spotlight illuminated the stage, and soon, the MC stepped forward, holding a sleek microphone in hand.“Ladies and gentlemen,” her voice rang out, confident and smooth, “welcome to a
Backstage, the energy was just as electrifying as it was out front.The sound of the music, the murmur of models getting last minute touch ups, and the rustling of extravagant fabric filled the space.Sarah and Alexander stepped into the room, the tension of the event pressing against their backs but doing nothing to dull the air of control they carried.Alexander, now dressed in a crisp white dress shirt, sleeves rolled up just enough to show off the lean muscles of his forearms, exuded effortless charm, while Sarah, always a picture of quiet dominance, swept her gaze across the room, assessing everything with the precision of someone who owned the moment.Raven stood near a full length mirror, arms crossed, exasperation written all over her face as she shot an unimpressed look at Seb."For the last time, Sebastian, you need to take this seriously," she scolded, placing a hand on her hip. "This isn’t some casual strut down a nightclub aisle."Seb scoffed, running a hand through his t
Seb, aware of the chaos, allowed himself a leisurely glance at the audience, his eyes deliberately locking onto the ones who stared a little too hard, a little too long.Then, in the most sinfully taunting way possible, he let his smirk widen, dragging his tongue over his lower lip for just a second...A calculated, devastating move.The reaction was instant.Several gasps.Some audible giddy shrieks.A few not so discreet lip bites.One particularly bold woman in a crimson gown reached for her champagne glass, fingers trembling slightly as she whispered to her friend, "I need to have him."The raw, undeniable tension in the room was tangible.Seb knew it.He reveled in it.Because this?This was the effect he had.The moment he reached the end of the runway, he paused, not because he needed to, but because he wanted to let them ache for more.He stood there, under the bright spotlight, exuding dominance in a way that was effortless, natural.Then, with the same lazy arrogance, he lif
Gerald’s world had flipped, literally and figuratively.The scent of leaking gasoline still clung to his shredded suit.His once polished shoes were coated in blood and gravel, and his jaw ached with every breath he took.The crash had thrown him like a ragdoll, flinging his body into a ditch after his vehicle, tires blown out from a desperate chase, had careened off the hillside road.He’d blacked out for a moment. Maybe more.But when he came to, it wasn’t mercy that greeted him.It was Darius.He’d heard the boots crunching over leaves and dirt long before the shadows finally stretched toward him.Then came the firm grip of gloved hands dragging his broken form to a clearing, rifles trained on him, and a half circle of men in black combat gear standing like a wall of death.And at the center of it all, Darius.Pristine as ever, yet colder than a winter grave.Darius stood tall, hands behind his back, his expression unreadable as he stared down at the bloodied man in front of him.G
Sarah turned slowly to Alexander, her hand still pressed to her mouth. “We’re… we’re going to have a baby.”His eyes glistened with fresh tears, shock, joy, fear, all colliding in one single breath.He reached out to cradle her face with both hands, his broken leg momentarily forgotten.A baby.A child made from chaos and pain, love and survival.“I don’t deserve this,” he whispered hoarsely. “Not after everything I’ve done. Not after I almost lost you.”“You didn’t lose me,” she whispered back. “And you won’t. Not now. Not ever.”He kissed her forehead, resting there for a long moment, his tears soaking into her hair. “I swear I’ll protect both of you. Even if I can’t walk. Even if I have to crawl to the ends of the earth, Sarah.”She laughed through her tears, arms wrapping around him tighter than ever. “Then we’ll crawl together. And when we’re ready… we’ll run.”They held each other in the stillness of that room, at the beginning of something even greater.A heartbeat they hadn’t
Sarah stayed curled in Alexander’s arms for a long moment, breathing him in like he was the only tether keeping her from floating away.His hand cradled the back of her head, his chest rising and falling in unsteady waves as if he still couldn’t believe she was real, that she was here.But then her eyes drifted down.Her gaze locked on the white sheets, crumpled and slightly lifted around his lower half.Something tugged at her memory, the shot.The sharp crack of a bullet.The sight of him falling behind her as she ran, screaming his name. Her stomach twisted.She leaned back slightly, her hand moving instinctively to the edge of the blanket, brushing against the thick padding of a cast beneath.Her voice was soft. “You were shot… I remember… I...”Alexander caught her hand gently, pressing it to his lips. “It’s okay. I’m here.”But Sarah’s heart had already begun to race again. “You were limping… and I saw… but I didn’t know it was this bad.” Her eyes darted toward the crutches now
The first thing Sarah registered was the scent of antiseptic, clean, sharp, and nauseating.Then came the ache. Deep in her bones. In her chest. In the marrow of her soul.She stirred, her fingers twitching over crisp hospital sheets as her body shifted ever so slightly, and her mind scrambled to catch up.She wasn’t tied down. She wasn’t cold anymore. She wasn’t in that dark room. That house. That… nightmare.She was safe.Or… something like it.Her eyes fluttered open slowly, lashes damp from tears she hadn’t even known she’d been crying.The ceiling was a sterile white blur. The walls hummed faintly with distant activity, soft footfalls, medical monitors, the low murmur of conversation somewhere outside the door.But none of it mattered.Because he wasn’t there.And without him, none of this felt real.Her lips parted, cracked and dry, and she tried to speak. Tried to push out the name that had lived on the edge of every prayer she'd whispered during captivity.It came out broken a
Alexander turned his head, his eyes bloodshot and glistening. “I’ll be a burden now. She’ll never say it, but I’ll see it in her eyes. Pity. Guilt. I’d rather she hate me than pity me.”“She’s not that kind of woman,” Darius said firmly.A pause. Then Alexander swallowed hard and asked the question that had been clawing at him since the moment the doctor said the word paralysis.“What if she stays… just because she thinks she owes me?”Darius’s brow furrowed. “Then you remind her what you both have been through. Remind her who the hell you are. And what you mean to each other.”Silence again.Then Alexander leaned back against the pillows and stared up at the ceiling. “Gerald got away.”Darius’s expression hardened. “Barely. One of my men put a tracker on his vehicle before he escaped. Victoria got caught in the crossfire. Gerald used her,” Darius replied coldly. “He doesn’t care who dies as long as he gets what he wants.”Alexander’s jaw clenched. “Then we’ll burn every last shadow h
The sterile beep of Alexander’s heart monitor filled the hospital room like a metronome, steady and soft. The worst had passed, so the doctors said. He had survived the bullets, the blood loss, the surgery. He had defied death.But outside the room, just as Darius turned to check on Sarah again, something in her expression shifted.Relief.That was the first thing he saw.A full bodied, all consuming relief that weakened her spine, dulled her eyes, and uncoiled every taut muscle that had kept her upright through pain, fear, and heartbreak.Then she crumpled.“Sarah...!” Darius lunged forward and caught her just before her knees slammed into the polished floor.Her body was limp in his arms, barely conscious, her breathing shallow and unsteady. Her bloodied hands slipped against his shirt as he pulled her close, his voice sharp and commanding as he yelled over his shoulder, “Get a doctor! Now!”Within seconds, nurses flooded the corridor. A gurney was wheeled over, and Darius laid her d
The woman he’d secretly crushed on since the first night he saved her bleeding and defiant.“Holy shit,” he muttered.But she was already in the driver’s seat.The moment her fingers wrapped around the wheel, she changed. Her spine straightened. Her breath slowed. The fear didn’t vanish, but it sharpened, fused into her bones like steel.And when her foot hit the gas, the tires screamed their fury into the night.The SUV became a blur under her hands.Trees melted past them. Headlights glared like ghosts. The world narrowed to instinct and motion.Sarah didn’t flinch when they nearly sideswiped a truck. She didn’t panic when the back tires fishtailed across loose gravel. She was in it.. back.Back to the part of herself she’d buried when she married into the Blake family.Back to Sparrow.“Hang on,” she said under her breath, glancing at Alexander in the mirror, his head resting in Darius’s lap as the man tried to stop the bleeding.“He’s fading,” Darius warned. “We’ve got fifteen min
The air turned electric as Darius’s boots pounded the forest floor, his rifle cradled tight against his shoulder. His men moved ahead of him like shadows, silent, fast, lethal.Their coordinated breaths were drowned out by the distant echoes of gunfire erupting from the estate.Alexander was still fighting.He was alive.But for how long?“Alpha to all units,” Darius growled into his earpiece, “entry on my mark. Hostile count is high. Primary objective, get Alexander out alive. Secondary level anyone who tries to stop us.”“Copy that,” came a chorus of calm, battle hardened voices.Behind him, the night swallowed his words.But not all of it.He turned briefly, his sharp gaze locking onto Sarah, who stood beside the black SUV Darius had arrived in. Her body trembled, her eyes red from tears, but she had not collapsed.She hadn’t fallen apart.And that, Darius admired deeply.“Can you drive?” he asked, voice hard but not unkind.Sarah blinked, startled. “What?”“If this goes south, we’
SarahShe sat on the floor, trembling hands curled around a piece of porcelain, a broken teacup she’d stashed away after a “servant” delivered tea hours ago.The sharp edge glittered in her shaking grip.She was pale.Her lips cracked from dehydration. Her dress hung off her like it didn’t belong to her anymore. Her eyes were void. Empty.As if she was no longer here.“Just one cut,” she whispered to herself. “Just one cut and I’ll see him again.”She looked up, eyes glassy, smile fragile, as if she could see someone standing in front of her already.“Alexander,” she breathed to the ghost in her mind. “I’m sorry I didn’t wait. I couldn’t. I’m just... so tired…”She raised the shard to her wrist.And a hand caught her.Real. Warm. Strong.Her eyes widened in horror and disbelief. “No…”She turned, and for a heartbeat, she didn’t believe it.But he was there.Kneeling before her.Alexander.His chest heaving from the run. Dirt on his clothes. Gun holstered at his side. Eyes red, wild, b