Astrid Valerian's life takes an unexpected turn when a single moment of betrayal pulls her into the arms of Jace Lysander, a man as enigmatic as he is dangerous. Their rushed union is shrouded in secrets, their connection electric yet fragile. But as Astrid steps into Jace’s world, she realizes her own past is far darker and more twisted than she ever imagined. In a house filled with whispers of deceit and a family bound by treachery, Astrid must navigate the delicate line between loyalty and survival. Jace’s gaze promises both salvation and ruin, and every step forward uncovers another devastating truth. As the walls close in, trust becomes a deadly gamble, and Astrid finds herself questioning not just her husband’s motive but her own place in a game she never agreed to play. In a tale of love, revenge, and shattered illusions, one question looms above all others: how far would you go to uncover the truth?
View MoreJACE POVBy the time the wheels of the jet touched down in Italy, the afternoon sun was casting a golden hue over the private tarmac. I glanced at Anna beside me, watching as she took a deep breath, her fingers unconsciously pressing against her belly. She was nervous. I reached over, intertwining our fingers. “We’re home,” I murmured. She didn’t say anything, just nodded slightly, her gaze fixed on the window. I knew what she was thinking—what awaited us. My family. The people who had driven her away. The people I would protect her from, no matter what. The drive from the private airstrip to the estate was quiet. Anna sat beside me, her hands resting on her belly, her eyes scanning the familiar roads with a mix of emotions. I knew what she was thinking—what awaited her behind those gates. The memories, the pain, the people who had driven her away.I squeezed her hand. “You okay?”She exhaled softly, nodding. “As okay as I can be.”I brought her hand to my lips, pressing a
ANNA POV.Italy. The word alone sent a cold shiver down my spine. I sat still, fingers gripping the sheets as if they were the only thing grounding me. My mind was already racing ahead, painting vivid images of the last time I was in that country. The humiliation. The heartbreak. The way Jace’s mother and Vanya had torn me apart, piece by piece, until I had no fight left in me. And now, he wanted me to go back. I shook my head, my heart pounding. “No. Absolutely not.”Jace, who had been sitting beside me, turned fully to face me. “Anna—”“Jace, no!” My voice came out sharper than I intended, but I didn’t care. “I am not going back there. Not after everything.”“It won’t be like before.”I let out a bitter laugh. “You don’t know that.”“I do.” His jaw tightened. “Because I won’t let them treat you like that again.” “You think your mother will just suddenly change? That she’ll be welcoming, excited to see me? She already won, Jace. She got what she wanted. You were about to m
JACE POVThe next morning, I woke up to the soft warmth of Anna curled against me, her steady breathing a quiet reassurance that she was here, real, and mine again.Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a golden hue over her skin, making her look even more breathtaking than I remembered. For a long moment, I just lay there, watching her, committing every detail to memory—the gentle rise and fall of her chest, the way a few strands of her hair had fallen across her face, the peaceful expression she wore. She stirred slightly, mumbling something incoherent before her eyes fluttered open. Sleepy and soft, she blinked up at me, confusion giving way to recognition. A slow, drowsy smile spread across her lips. “You’re still here.”I cupped her cheek, running my thumb along her jaw. “I told you, Anna. I’m not going anywhere.”Her smile widened just a little before she buried her face into my chest. “What time is it?”“Time to find out if we’re having a son or a daughter.”That
ANNA POVI had been pacing in the living room, my heart hammering in my chest. The moment Jace opened that door, I knew it was Anton. And I hated that my first reaction wasn’t anger but exhaustion. I was tired of him, tired of the constant calls, the uninvited appearances, the fake concern. But more than that, I was tired of this part of my past that wouldn’t stay buried. The voices outside were growing louder, and when I heard Jace’s low, dangerous tone, I knew this wasn’t going to end well. I took a deep breath and moved toward the door, gripping the handle before pulling it open. The cold evening air hit my skin, but it wasn’t nearly as chilling as the scene in front of me.Jace stood in the doorway, rigid with barely restrained fury, while Anton had that same damn smirk on his face—the one that used to fool me. Not anymore. “Anna,”!Anton turned to me, his expression shifting in an instant. “Finally. Maybe now we can have a rational conversation.”I crossed my arms. “A
JACE POVFinally, she let out a slow breath. “I didn’t want to believe them,” she admitted. “But everything was falling apart. You barely spoke to me. It was easier to believe you never cared than to believe I had been that easy to discard.”My chest tightened. “Anna, I have never—” “You let me leave, Jace!” she cut me off, her voice rising. “You let me walk away like I was nothing to you!”I didn’t even realize I had moved until my hands were on her shoulders. “Because I was stupid and angry and hurt!” I rasped. “I thought you didn’t love me! And by the time I figured it out, you were gone.”Her breath hitched, her eyes darting to my face. “It doesn’t change anything.”“It changes everything.” I lowered my voice. “I love you, Anna. I loved you then, and I love you now.”Tears welled in her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away, stepping back from my touch. “Even if I wanted to, Jace… I can’t go back with you.”My stomach dropped. “Why not?”“Because your family will never accept u
JACE POVAnna’s car disappeared into the distance, leaving me standing in the middle of the street, stunned. I had known she would be furious, but the pure rage in her voice still rattled me. And Anton. What the fuck was he doing in New Zealand? The thought of that bastard lurking around Anna made my blood boil. Had he followed her here? Was he trying to worm his way back into her life? I clenched my fists. If he so much as breathed in the wrong direction around her, I would make sure he regretted it. My phone buzzed in my pocket. I exhaled sharply, running a hand down my face before answering. “Yeah?”“We have her location,” the PI said. “She’s staying in a neighborhood near the city center. I’ll send you the address now.”I let out a slow breath. “Thanks, but I already found her.”There was a pause. “That was fast.”“I got lucky,” I muttered, my mind already spinning. “Send the details to my phone.” I cut the call.Anna was pregnant. That meant she had found out ba
ANNA POVI should have left the moment I saw him. The second my eyes locked onto Jace’s through that cafe window, my body screamed at me to run. To slip out the back, to vanish before he got close enough to see what I had been hiding. But I had hesitated and now it was too late. His voice cut through the thick, suffocating air between us. “You’re pregnant.”A statement. Not a question. His eyes—those piercing blue eyes that once made me feel safe—were locked onto my stomach, his expression shifting from shock to something I couldn’t quite name. Pain. Anger. Desperation. I hated that part of me wanted to explain. That part of me still ached at the look on his face. But I had spent months piecing myself back together. Months convincing myself that I didn’t need his validation, his understanding. And yet, here he was. Standing in front of me. Blowing apart the careful distance I had built. I forced myself to stay still, even as my pulse thundered. “Would it have made a
JACE POVThe hum of the jet had long faded, replaced by the distant murmur of the airport as I stepped onto New Zealand soil. A rush of cool night air hit me, but it did nothing to ease the anxiety tightening in my chest. She was here. Somewhere in this country, in this city—Anna was here. And I was too damn late. I knew she would have seen the email by now. Hours had passed since the lawyers sent it. What if she had already signed it? What if, at this very moment, she was finalizing the last step that would sever us forever? The thought made me sick. I forced my legs to move, heading toward the nearest transport hub. There were car rental options, but I wasn’t thinking straight. My mind was a whirlwind of regret, frustration, and the desperate hope that I wasn’t too late. Instead, I boarded a bus bound for Auckland, blending into the quiet crowd of passengers. The ride was long, giving me too much time to think. I stared out the window, watching the blurred city lig
ANNA POVThe cramping started early that morning, a dull ache that made me pause as I reached for my phone. I pressed a hand to my stomach, exhaling slowly. It wasn’t unbearable, but it was enough to make me uneasy. I had read that cramps could be normal during pregnancy, but the anxiety still crept in, filling every corner of my mind. I should probably get checked. Just to be safe. With that decision made, I reached for my phone to book an appointment, but before I could dial the clinic, a notification popped up. Anton Clyde: We need to talk, Anna.My stomach twisted—not from the cramps this time, but from the sheer frustration of seeing his name. 5 weeks had passed. A whole month and a week, and he was still doing this. Calling, texting, emailing. No matter how many times I ignored him, he just wouldn’t stop. I still didn’t know how he had gotten my new number, but I had my suspicions. He must have stalked my social media, piecing together clues like a desperate man grasp
Anna'S P.O.V. I held on to the white roses as I struggled to hold my bag and open the car door. My face lit up as I saw a light from the room, he was home. I had specifically gotten these white roses knowing Anton loved them and what better way to celebrate our three years anniversary? I pushed the door open with my foot and a familiar laughter reached my ear that made me confused, that wasn't Anton. I placed the flowers on the table and walked upstairs while my heart raced, something didn't feel right, the voice grew louder, and I felt a weight against my shoulder. I pushed the bedroom door open and my eyes stung with tears as I watched Anton laid upon my twin sister with the sheet wrapped around them and his head immediately snapped towards me “Anna, baby, it’s not what it looks like!” Anton scrambled to sit up, his words tumbling over each other. “It's not what it seems? You're in bed with my sister!” “Oh, don’t be so dramatic, Anna. It’s just sex.” Rose mumbled still traili...
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