"You have no idea what you're talking about," she snapped, her composure finally cracking. "You come in here, throwing around wild accusations—" "Wild?" I slammed my hands down on her desk, making her jump. "Is that what you call murder?" "Murder?" She tried to scoff, but I could hear the tremor i
As I pulled away from my father's house, a weight lifted from my shoulders. I knew I would have to face him sooner or later, tell him everything I needed to. Show him the results of his actions. I didn't destroy this family, he and his inability to stay faithful to a woman who stood by him throug
AMELIA My hands trembled violently against the leather steering wheel as I weaved through traffic, the car responding to my every desperate movement. The rearview mirror had become my lifeline—every few seconds, my eyes darted to it, watching the sleek black vehicles that seemed to materialize fro
Men in black tactical gear emerged from the vehicles with military precision, their movements synchronized and practiced. They surrounded my car in a perfect formation, their stance and bearing speaking of extensive training. These weren't common thugs—these were professionals, soldiers for hire who
ROMAN I stood there amid the carnage, my breath still coming in controlled bursts, adrenaline singing through my veins. Blood dripped from my knuckles, staining the pristine white of my shirt sleeve—designer silk now ruined by violence. But none of that mattered. All that mattered was Amelia, safe
"Here," I said softly, holding out my hand. "Close your eyes if it makes you feel better." It was a weak attempt at protecting her from what she'd already seen, but I had to try. Had to offer her some way to distance herself from the violence, from this version of me she was never supposed to know e
I was naked before I stepped under the shower, though for some reason I had no memory of taking my clothes off beneath the haze of my thoughts. I let the cold water cascade down my skin with the highest pressure, the chill a punishment, a lesson. Just as I tried to gather my thoughts, to prepare
ROMAN Our bedroom was silent except for Amelia's steady breathing, her warm body curled trustingly against mine as she slept. I was ashamed to even admit it to myself, I'd tired her out even more. I couldn't help myself, after holding back for so long, it felt like all of my pent up emotions had
Once the cabin was secure, I called Jessica again, needing to hear a friendly voice. "The place is beautiful," I told her, staring out at the lake. "Peaceful. I can see why someone would come here to disappear." "Maybe that's a sign," Jessica replied. "Maybe you're closer than you think." I sighe
I hesitated, torn between my duty to my family and the pull of something I couldn't name. Jessica reached out, taking my hand. "Go," she said simply. "Find him. Be back in a few days, with or without him. But at least you'll know and so will Greece," she finished with a small smile. Twenty-four h
"I know," I whispered. "I just need to see him. To explain. After that, if he wants me gone, I'll go,” A strong part of me believed he wouldn't want me around, it would break me but I would still do it. This wasn't just about me. Jessica leaned over to hug me, her baby bump pressing against my s
"I can make some inquiries," Nikolai replied, his voice careful, measured. "Roman Wellington is not an easy man to find if he doesn't want to be found." I gripped the phone tighter, my knuckles turning white. "But you can do it, right? You have connections I don't." There was a pause on the other
Now, I found myself reaching for the phone, my thumb hovering over his name. The photo I'd assigned to his contact was still there, Roman laughing, his eyes crinkled at the corners, hair slightly mussed from my hands running through it. It had been taken on the yacht, during those perfect days befor
I twisted the shower knob with more force than necessary, setting it to cold. As I peeled off my clothes, letting them drop in a heap on the marble floor, I caught sight of myself in the large mirror. I looked the same as I had this morning, the only difference was…my eyes. They were slightly wide
The drive back to the manor was silent. Oppressively silent. The kind of silence that rings in your ears and makes your skin feel too tight. Jessica kept shooting worried glances my way, her hands gripping the steering wheel so hard her knuckles were white. I couldn't bring myself to care. My mind
Hi, hope you're doing good and the year has been going well for you? You must've noticed the lack of updates and I sincerely apologize for it. After my grandma's passing, things haven't been the same and I'm sad to admit that I went down a spiral and I had to take a step back for my mental health
That now seemed like a lifetime ago. A lifetime of promises I broke. "I know," I whispered, reaching across the table to take her hand. "And I'm so sorry, Greece. I was wrong, and I was selfish, and there's no excuse for it." She didn't pull away, but her eyes remained full of hurt. "Do you have