*Roanne’s POV*I was alone, the silence in my apartment deafening—a stark contrast to the chaos that had unfolded earlier. The heavy knock on my door shattered my solitude. My heart leapt, but when I saw it was Michael through the peephole, relief washed over me like a warm tide."Michael," I breathed as I flung the door open. His presence, so assured, enveloped the room. He was privilege and protection, wrapped in tailored clothes that clung to his athletic form."Roanne." His voice was a velvet caress. "What’s wrong?"Before he could finish his question, I was in his arms, clinging to him with a desperation I hadn't realized I possessed. I might not love him, but I cared so much for him, and everything that happened earlier just made me realize I couldn’t take Sebastian hurting him."Sebastian cornered me..." I began, my words tumbling out in a frantic whisper against the fabric of his shirt. I felt him stiffen, his hold tightening. I pulled back slightly, the intensity in his
*Aaron’s POV*The intercom crackled with Roanne's voice, laced with an edge of confusion that tightened my chest. "Yes?""Roanne, it's Aaron. I need to talk to you," I said, my voice steadier than the drumming of my heart. The concierge glanced up, a flicker of recognition in his eyes before he buzzed me through.I ascended, the elevator's plush silence a stark contrast to the turmoil within me. Her door swung open, revealing the opulence I had grown indifferent to, but something was different—Roanne's personal touch permeated the space. A stack of thick textbooks on the coffee table, a vibrant throw over the back of a leather chair, her scent lingering like a caress in the air.Michael stood there, embodying privilege and calm elegance. His gaze wasn't aggressive, but wary, sharp as a blade beneath a veneer of civility."Didn't expect a visit from you, Aaron," he said, the words measured, careful."Michael." I acknowledged him with a nod, noting how he positioned himself—a bar
*Roanne’s POV*The thump-thump of the bass from the speakers matched the erratic beat of my heart as I stepped into the event room, a space too small for the enormity of my paranoia. My fingers traced the delicate fabric of my dress, a shield against the stares that pricked my skin like needles. The forced smile on my lips felt as brittle as glass."Happy birthday, Roanne!" Lizzie, ever the effervescent soul, pulled me into a hug. Her voice, a soothing balm, cut through the loud noise."Make a wish that'll shake the stars," Anne Marie chimed in, her grin infectious. They were the ropes keeping my feet on the ground, their laughter a counter-melody to my internal tumult."Thanks, ladies," I managed, my voice a traitor to my distress. My gaze flitted across the room, catching sight of Lila, flushed and radiant, with Caleb and Nina crowding her like mischievous sprites. Their tipsy giggles punctuated the air, a reminder of simpler times."Is she drunk?" I whispered, a chuckle escap
*Aaron’s POV*I leaned against the cool marble of the balustrade, my eyes locked on Roanne as she stared at Michael. The air was thick with the tension between them, an almost palpable static charge."It’s your birthday, Roanne," Michael said, his voice a practiced purr of affluence. "This party... It's fitting for someone as special as you. Why don’t you just enjoy it? Stop this.""Thank you, Michael," she replied, though her words were edged with something brittle. “You organized a very good party, but you are still avoiding my questions.”I could see the effort it took for her to maintain composure, the way her knuckles whitened as she squeezed her hands in fists. My instincts screamed – something wasn't right. I needed to know what game Michael was playing."Maybe I just need to leave, you can continue the party for me," Roanne continued, deflecting. “You can tell them I was just too tired.”"Or we can go over there now," he insisted, stepping closer. His hand reached out,
*Roanne’s POV*Since Aaron came into the apartment and told us about Violet, Michael made one of the empty rooms his study. He wasn’t there all the time, but this morning he got himself inside and hasn't left since. What Aaron told me three nights ago, pushed my paranoia to new heights.Three nights ago many things happened, and Michael had been in his best behavior since, respecting my space, just small calls, placing things in his study, and working from there without interrupting me.The mahogany door of Michael’s private study was ajar, but it might as well have been a barricade. My heart thundered in my chest. I pushed it open with a trembling hand, the creak of hinges sounding like a scream in the silence."Michael," I said, stepping in. He sat there, settled in the leather chair comfortably."Roanne," he replied smoothly, as if we were nothing more than two old friends meeting for a casual chat. "What brings you here?""Michael," I stepped closer, my heels sinking into t
*Roanne’s POV*Aaron's chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm against my back, his arm a band of warmth draped possessively over my waist. The dawn's light was a thief, sneaking through the blinds, fragmenting the darkness that had been our sanctuary."Ro," his breath fanned hot against my neck, even in sleep.I shivered, entangled not just in the sheets but in his arms, his words, but his history of manipulation wrapped tighter than the silk that caressed my bare legs. My mind filled with doubts. I should have known better, I wasn’t going to easily let go of all the past actions and lack of.Gently, I peeled away his arm and slid from the bed, my movements a ballet of silent desperation. The cold floor bit at my feet, a stark contrast to the heat we had generated just hours before. I needed to escape."Where are you going?" His voice cut through the stillness, he sounded half asleep. I couldn’t look at him, it would disarm me."Just... bathroom," I lied, whispering a prayer he
-Violet-Violet’s chest heaved with a silent, seething fury as she stood alone in the dimly lit corner of her private library. The shadows from the towering bookshelves danced across her sharp features, mirroring the dark thoughts that churned within her. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides, the knuckles whitening with the grip of her rage."Those bastards," she whispered venomously, the words barely escaping her lips as if they were too dangerous to be fully unleashed into the world.The soft glow of her phone screen illuminated her pale face, casting an eerie light that made her green eyes flicker with malevolence. She scrolled through the encrypted messages, each one a confirmation that someone was prying, digging into the clandestine tapestry she had woven so meticulously around her Revenge Club.Her mind cascaded back to those earlier days, a rush of power and control flooding her senses. The flashbacks came in vivid bursts – the way the girls would look up to her, th
*Roanne’s POV*As I entered the old library for what I would hope to be one last time, I could see the dimly lit room was already in session with members moving around. The candlelight flickered, casting elongated shadows that reflected across the wine-colored drapes.The atmosphere was thick with anticipation, or perhaps it was dread; I came with one purpose only, and I intended to make it quick."Welcome, Roanne," Violet purred, the softness in her voice failing to mask the truth I already knew. "You're just in time."I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the decision clotting in my throat."Violet," I started, the words already heavy as they left my lips, "I came here to thank you for everything, I didn’t manage to get my ‘revenge’ on the one person who wronged me the most, but the missions here helped me grow, and I learned to move on. I just can't be a part of this any longer." My voice echoed in the room with the silence that followed.The club members' heads whipped to
*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