*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
*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
*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
*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!"
*Aaron’s POV*I leaned against a pillar in the courtyard, surrounded by my usual crew as we watched the incoming students on their first day back from summer break. It was a tradition for us to scope out the new sophomores and size up the competition.A blonde girl with a modest outfit and a stack of books clutched to her chest caught my attention. She wasn't like the other female students preening for attention."Who's that?" One of the guys asked, with a nod in her direction.Another one turned to look. "No clue. Kinda plain though, huh?"I studied her face. What was Roanne Mailen doing here? The last time I saw her was three years ago. But now here she was, walking across the university campus I called my kingdom, like she belonged here or something."What's up, man? Do you know her or something?" Another one asked, noticing the scowl on my face.I turned my head, ignoring the question."Plain? She's cute in a bookworm sort of way," one said appraisingly.I cut him a
*Roanne’s POV*Sebastian’s words slurred around the edges as he joked with someone I couldn't see. "Didn't think bookworms partied this hard," he quipped upon noticing me, a lopsided grin spreading across his face."Maybe bookworms are full of surprises," I shot back, my words more confident than I felt. Everything in me was screaming to get away, but I couldn’t show him that."Care to surprise me with a dance?" he held out a hand, but it was more challenging than invitation, his eyes darkened by the alcohol."Another time, maybe," I replied. It was a lie as big as I could muster, but in a public place like this, I needed to keep peace and avoid the drama."Playing hard to get? I like it," he said, his tone teasing but his eyes serious, probing."Or maybe just playing smart," I countered, holding his gaze for a moment longer than necessary before breaking away. I refused to let him see the panic forming inside of me.I turned back to Lila and Ryan, forcing a smile, letting the
The clamor of the university cafeteria swirled around me like a storm. The air was thick with the scent of brewed coffee and the tang of disinfectant, battling against each other in an olfactory war.I finished browsing for locksmiths in the vicinity before I spotted Lizzie sitting at a table, her auburn hair catching the light like strands of fire."Roanne!" Her voice cut through the din, warm as a summer breeze."Hey, Lizzie!" I replied, the affection I felt for her bubbling up in my chest and spilling over into a wide smile. I hugged her tightly and immediately slid into the chair opposite her, the metal cool beneath my fingers."Tell me everything," she urged, leaning forward, her eyes sparkling with genuine interest. "How was your first day back?"I hesitated for a moment, relishing the anticipation that tingled on my tongue. "It was... intense," I began, my mind flickering to what happened last night.Around us, the symphony of student life continued—laughter punctuating th
*Roanne’s POV*As I moved between classes, the weight of my textbooks in my arms was like a shield against the world. Some days, the Ivy League halls felt like a fortress, my sanctuary from memories too raw to touch. The familiar scent of old books and the murmur of ambitious minds were a balm to the chaos that once threatened to consume me."Roanne! Wait up!" A voice pierced through the hum of activity, and I turned to see Jenna, a new friend I made yesterday, her smile an anchor in the sea of faces. We fell into step, navigating the throng of students spilling out of lecture halls."Did you finish the assignment for Professor Klein?" she asked, her eyes bright with the unbridled enthusiasm of someone who had not tasted darkness as I had."Last night," I replied, tucking a stray lock of hair behind my ear. "I couldn't sleep, so I figured I might as well be productive.""God, you're a machine," she said with a laugh, nudging me playfully. "How about we grab coffee after class?""
*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