*Roanne’s POV*The door clicked shut behind Aaron, and the silence loomed over me like a threat. The room felt colder, emptier, as if his presence had been the only thing giving it life. I curled up on the edge of my bed, knees to chest, my heart pounding against my ribs.My phone lay discarded on the nightstand, its screen casting an eerie glow in the dim room. Two missed calls from Michael. One message blinked at me: "I hope you are ok." His words, simple, yet they sliced through the fog in my mind, sharp and poignant.I let out a strangled sob, the sound foreign and raw in my own ears. Tears blurred my vision, hot and relentless. Aaron... he was Sebastian's shadow, a dark echo of the past I couldn't shake. He said he was not his friend, he said it twice, but I didn’t believe him. No, he used that to manipulate me, he knew I had a crush on him before, and now he acted on that to satisfy his twisted desires.The pain of betrayal twisted inside me; the ache of leaving Michael for
*Roanne’s POV*The insistent trill of my phone shattered the morning silence. I fumbled for the device, disoriented, the remains of a dark dream clinging to the edges of my consciousness."Roanne! Are you awake? Have you seen it?" Lizzie's voice came through in a frantic burst, crackling with urgency and barely contained hysteria."Seen what?" I mumbled, my voice thick with sleep as I struggled to match her pace, to comprehend the chaos she was spilling into my ear."The university—it's upside down. *The Golden Secret* dropped the bombshell on Professor Grant and the cops... they took him!" Her words tumbled out, each one laden with shock and a thrill that tingled through the line.I shot upright, the last tendrils of sleep snapping as if cut by a blade. The image of Professor Grant, always so composed and pretentious, being led away in handcuffs splintered through my mind, sharp and unexpected. My pulse hammered at the thought, a mix of horror and a dark, sinful excitement at t
*Aaron’s POV*The glossy pages of the magazine turned softly under my fingertips as I flipped through the latest scandalous expose. A smirk played on my lips, the rich aroma of coffee wrapping around me deliciously. There it was, emblazoned in bold print—the names that would shake the university to its core. Each one linked to Professor Grant’s disgrace, a sweet symphony of downfall."Another?" The waitress's voice cut through the din of the restaurant, her presence barely registering as I gave a curt nod without lifting my gaze. She poured steaming bitterness into my cup, the black liquid mirroring the dark satisfaction blooming in my chest.The door’s chime signaled his arrival. Heads turned; whispers fluttered like disturbed pigeons. My father's silhouette sliced through place, his aura commanding attention and respect. But not from me. Not now."Son," he boomed, voice resonant with power. Calloused hands, gripped the back of the chair across me. He sank into it."Father." My
*Roanne’s POV*The door clicked shut behind me, and I was enveloped by the quiet of my dorm room—a stark contrast to the chaos that had become my life in recent weeks. My gaze swept over the small space, lingering on the bed that was too narrow, the desk cluttered with textbooks and papers, the corkboard peppered with reminders and deadlines.It was here, in these four walls, that everything had changed. The memories were the only remnant of the night Aaron had been here, his touch full of fire, now tainted with the memory of his possessiveness. I shuddered, pushing the thoughts away."Dating you, however, would forge us both a new image." Michael's voice echoed in my mind, smooth as velvet, yet weighted with an offer that could alter everything. One of his apartments. Luxurious, secure—a world away from this cramped cell where my scholarship tethered me.I paced the length of the room, my steps quick and uneven. The possibility of leaving it all behind seduced me, whispering swe
*Roanne’s POV*The scent of food mingled with a hint of fresh air from the trees as we huddled in the corner of the university cafeteria, a safe haven carved out among the crowd. We were having lunch, and I felt nervous for what I wanted to tell her. My hands trembled slightly, betraying my nerves as I leaned closer to her."Michael asked me to move into a place he owns," I whispered, eyeing the caution that immediately veiled Lizzie's features. "It's more spacious, secure.""Roanne," she started, her tone laced with surprise and concern, "Are you sure about this?"I bit my lip, a knot forming in my stomach. "I haven't said yes... yet." My mind flashed back to Sebastian's sneer, the way his fingers had dug into my skin. "But considering what Sebastian's capable of, I..." I shuddered. "I feel unsafe."Lizzie's eyes softened, and she reached out, her touch grounding. "You deserve to feel secure, Ro. If this is what it takes..."Her encouragement felt like a warm blanket, and I exha
*Roanne’s POV*The door to my cramped dorm room swung open, its edges scraping against the pile of textbooks that served as makeshift doorstops. Michael stood in the threshold, his tall frame almost filling the space, his eyes scanning the chaos of my life boxed up in cardboard and strewn across the floor."Quite the collection," he said, a half-smile playing on his lips as he stepped over a stack of philosophy texts."Sorry, it's a mess," I muttered, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear, feeling suddenly self-conscious under his gaze."Nothing we can't handle." Confidence laced his every word, his every move.Lizzie burst in moments later, vibrant and determined, her presence a stark contrast to the controlled calm that Michael exuded. "Okay, team, let's make this quick and painless.""Michael's bringing help for the heavy lifting," I added, glancing at him."Good. Roanne, you and I will tackle your wardrobe jungle." Lizzie grinned, pulling open a drawer and grimacing
*Roanne’s POV*The moon had been a cold, distant sliver in the sky, and my bed an ocean of tangled sheets that swallowed me whole. I turned and turned, again and again, in the current of my own thoughts, the realization that I was leaping into the unknown, into Michael's world, was not letting me sleep. The apartment he offered – a blank space in my mind, never seen, only imagined.My heart jackhammered against my ribs, a relentless ticking that matched the early morning clock. The anxiety was eating me alive.A knock startled the silence, sharp and commanding. I lurched to my feet, smoothing down my hair, an attempt at composure. The door swung open, revealing Michael, he wore a smirk that knew too much, his eyes glinting. Behind him stood two men, broad-shouldered silhouettes against the gray dawn."Good morning, babe." His voice was soft and yet firm, the tint of amusement at the use of the nickname he gave me made me chuckle."Michael, dear," I breathed, the sound barely a w
*Roanne’s POV*The room was thick with the scent of cardboard and dust, a tangible testament to the chaos of moving. I stood back, hands on hips, surveying the landscape of boxes that now littered the apartment. With each box I had placed, it felt as if I were piecing together a puzzle of my future, one that was still missing crucial parts.It was a blank canvas waiting to be painted with the colors of a new chapter. The space was unfamiliar, but the promise of possibility lingered in the air.The boxes, labeled with my scrawled handwriting, stood like eager companions ready to unveil the treasures within. With each box opened, a piece of my past found a new place in this uncharted territory.I started with the essentials I bought on the way here, setting up the kitchen with the precision of someone who had mastered the art of dorm room microwave meals. Pots and pans clinked together as I arranged them in the cabinets. The familiar scent of coffee grounds filled the air as I unpa
*Roanne’s POV*The trial was over, yet the fizzling remnants of Sebastian's presence haunted me. His shadow loomed in every corner of my life, and though I felt safe and protected, I could still sense there was never going to be complete peace in my life until he was found.Then, as if fate had finally given me a gift, the call came. Aaron’s words from the other end were a like a victory song: "Sebastian was apprehended—false papers." My pulse quickened, adrenaline flooding my veins.I asked Aaron to take me to the secure station where he was held. He agreed to it and an hour later we were heading there, he drove with confidence, but there was also something behind his eyes, satisfaction.The room was sterile, cold—like his gaze. He sat cuffed, a fallen and desperate man grasping at straws. Our eyes locked, and the world fell away, leaving only the intensity of this final encounter."Roanne, you bitch!" Sebastian lunged, his voice filled with anger and rage. "You've ruined me!"
*Roanne’s POV*My heart pounded as Aaron led me into a dimly lit room in his house, the anticipation of meeting Bianca Kingsley overwhelming my senses. There was a thick tension in the air and the room, and I could feel my body reacting to it, a mix of fear and excitement coursing through me."Roanne, meet Bianca Kingsley," Aaron said, gesturing towards the impeccably dressed woman sitting across the table. Her piercing gaze held mine, assessing me, and I couldn't help but shiver slightly in response. Aaron had told me about her, she was ruthless, a queen in the stand. It was the kind of woman we needed to lead the case against Violet."Nice to meet you," I murmured, trying to keep my voice steady. Bianca's eyes never left mine, her stare unyielding and intense."Likewise," she replied, her voice low and calm, I already admired her. "Now let's get down to business. We don't have much time to prepare your testimony against Violet.""Right," I agreed, taking a deep breath to stead
*Violet’s POV*The walls of my empire, once unassailable, were crumbling like a sandcastle at high tide. The realization was a cold blade twisting in my gut, and with it came the bitter taste of desperation. My corrupted networks, a web I had spun with such precision, now ensnared me in their collapse."Everything's falling apart," I muttered to myself, pacing the dimly lit room where I'd holed up. The shadows seemed to mock my predicament, whispering of betrayal and downfall.I tugged at my hair, once a mane to be flaunted, now a tangled mess reflecting my inner turmoil. My mind raced, thoughts sharp as shattered glass. There had to be a way out – one final card to play in this high-stakes game. And then it struck me, a plan as dark as the circles under my eyes. Roanne Mailen."Sweet, naive Roanne," I whispered, a serpent's hiss escaping through my clenched teeth. My lips curled into a smile devoid of warmth. She was the key, my bargaining chip, the ace up my sleeve. If I could ta
*Aaron's POV*The coldness of the night seeped through the windows, a stark contrast to the heat that boiled within me. Roanne was huddled on my couch, her body still not recovering from the memories that haunted her. That fucking Sebastian."Hey," I murmured, sitting down beside her, "I'm here for you." My voice was a promise. Her eyes, wide and vulnerable, flicked up to meet mine. She was not only mine, claimed, but she was also someone I cared for."Everything... it's just too much," she whispered, her voice quivering as if each word took her a lot of effort to make. I could feel the weight of her pain.She wasn’t like us, like Lizzie, Michael, me. We were born with silver spoons and parents that molded our personalities, detachment hardened our spirits. I felt I was on top of the world on a daily basis, but I was only half way there. Roanne was the piece of my puzzle missing."Shh," I soothed, pulling her close, wrapping my arms around her. "You're safe here with me." My heart
*Roanne's POV*I sat on the edge of Lizzie's futon, knees to my chest, the fabric scratching against my bare skin. The air in the apartment was thick with tension and the remnants of fear, a stench that clung to us, unwelcome but impossible to shake.“Aaron, I am so happy to hear your voice. Is Blake ok?”I heard a grunt of pain, followed by Blake's voice. “I am sort of, ok.”I felt the relief of hearing him safe, it meant all went well. “Blake! You are well! I am so happy to hear that!” A shuddering breath escaped me, relief washing over in waves. I relayed the news to Lizzie and Anne Marie, their faces showed the same relief I felt."Thank God," Lizzie whispered, sinking into the couch, her nervousness evident as she scooped another mouthful of ice cream, the spoon clinking against the bowl."Roanne," Aaron's voice crackled through my phone, it was distant yet brimming with urgency. "Lock yourself in the house, Violet escaped, and now Sebastian is heading your way,”My pulse h
*Aaron's POV*I had two hours left before Violet's deadline, and the clink of ice against crystal in a dimly lit room was the only sound that accompanied my entrance. Mr. Henderson, his silver hair slicked back, eyed me with suspicion. Mr. Atwood, his fingers steepled and eyes sharp, nodded slightly. Mrs. LeCroix, draped in silk, regarded me with an unreadable expression."Evening," I said, voice low, the word hanging heavy with implication."Cut the pleasantries, Aaron," Mrs. LeCroix's voice was dangerously soft. "What's this about?"I slid the documents across the mahogany table, their contents splayed like a gambler's final hand. My father had given them to me just a moment before my entrance, his aid making the difference. He had everything to lose if Violet managed to get control over the other families, including ours.They flinched as they recognized their own secrets, intertwined with Violet's scrawled treachery. The air thickened, tension coiling around us."Mutual enemi
*Roanne's POV*The dim glow of the computer screen was the only light in the room, casting shadows across Caleb's concentrated face. My heart was beating fast and hard against my ribs as I watched him, his fingers dancing over the keyboard. He was an expert, knew what to look for and how to find it."Got it," he growled, and the satisfaction in his voice was exciting. He turned to me, eyes glinting with triumph. "They had you bugged six ways to Sunday, Roanne. But don't worry, I've just neutered their spyware."His hands moved over my phone and laptop with a deftness that was invasive but needed, deleting lines of code that had lurked unseen, monitoring my every move. With each keystroke, I felt a piece of myself being returned to me, mixed with an unsettling vulnerability. How much of my soul had they peered into?Violet managed to get deep into our lives in ways I never thought possible. If it weren't because Caleb asked if he could check the room we were at to catch bugs that wo
*Roanne’s POV*The cold bite of the autumn air clawed at my skin as I stepped out onto the pavement, Jonathan gave me his scarf and we walked and the remaining steps. He managed to balance his life while still watching over me, and I did my best to try and coordinate with him when I was going out alone, so he could keep an eye on me.“Be nice to him, remember he worried enough for you to hire me,” Jonathan said as he started to stay behind, becoming a watchful shadow. I tilted my head to look at him and nod with a smile.Michael had texted me earlier in the morning, and asked us to meet. I felt like I owed it to him, and to us. He became a very important part of my life during the last couple of weeks, making it so I could mature, grow, and overcome my past.I reached the corner and there he was, Michael Morgan, leaning against the black iron railing that bordered the café terrace. His silhouette cut a sharp figure against the dimming sky, the last rays of sunlight glinting off h
*Aaron’s POV*It was needed, and I had no remorse using all the influence my father left in the safe in order to get what I wanted. I called upon the most important names on his list and it took them less than 12 hours to coordinate and make it to our meeting spot.It was impressive. The room reeked of old money and older secrets, the dark mahogany panels swallowing light and whispers alike. Shadows clung to corners where power was brokered silently, fiercely. Was this what my father was used to? How far did he planned to keep me in the dark about the shady dealings he made for a living?I stood at the head of the long table, heart pounding like a drumbeat in my chest, my father's steely gaze fixed on me from the other end."Violet Flanagan is not just a thorn," I began, my voice steady despite the tempest brewing inside, "she's a goddamn poison ivy wrapping around us all."Murmurs rippled across the room, the heads of elite families that made it shifting in their leather chairs