Emily's POV.I wasn’t expecting company.Not today. Not ever, really.But when the doorbell rang, the house was too quiet except for the distant murmur of the bodyguards outside. I knew…whoever it was, they weren’t just dropping by for fun.I pulled the door open, and there she was.My mother.She stood at my doorstep in a beige coat, a silk scarf loosely wrapped around her neck, her short hair styled perfectly, as if she had stepped out of some magazine cover. She always had a way of looking put together, even when things were falling apart.Her eyes swept over me, taking in the sight of me in my oversized sweater, barefoot, my hair loosely tied up. Then she met my gaze, hesitation spreading across her face."Emily," she said, her voice softer than I remembered.I didn’t answer. I just stared at her, at the woman who had walked away from me like I was nothing more than an afterthought.She had attended my wedding. She had sat in the front row, smiling like she was proud, as if she ha
Cole's POV.I sat at the head of the massive conference table in one of Hart Enterprise’s top floors, my fingers tapping lightly against the polished surface. The room was filled with executives, analysts, and my own team from Greyson Corps, all engaged in the discussion about the latest stock performance. The numbers on the screen were clear…profits were rising, our partnership was thriving, and every projection pointed to further success.But despite all that, Richard Hart was still determined to burn it all down.I leaned back in my chair, arms folded, as one of the financial strategists finished his presentation. The others nodded in agreement, throwing in additional points about projected growth and potential expansions. The collaboration between Greyson Corps and Hart Enterprise had been nothing short of a powerhouse move, securing us as one of the most influential business alliances in the country.And yet, here I was, trying to make sense of a man who wanted to destroy somethi
Cole's POVI walked into the mansion, my mind was still boiling from the meeting with Richard Hart. The city lights poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows, but I barely noticed. My grip on my phone was tight, my jaw clenched so hard it ached.Richard was really out of his damn mind.Not only was he still trying to tear Emily and me apart, but now he had the audacity to bring in another man…some billionaire from Spain…to replace me like I was nothing. Like Emily was just a chess piece he could move around.I tossed my suit jacket onto the couch, rolling my sleeves up as I walked toward the bar. I needed a drink, something to take the edge off, but before I could pour myself a glass, I heard footsteps.Emily stepped into the living room, her phone in one hand, her other arm crossed over her stomach. She was dressed in one of my oversized shirts, her short hair slightly messy, probably from running her fingers through it. She had been waiting for me.Her eyes locked onto mine, sharp
Cole’s POVI had just started calming Emily down when the doorbell rang.She was still pressed against my chest, her breathing steadying, but I could feel the tension in her body. My hand rested on the small of her back, my other one brushing her hair as I exhaled. The last thing we needed was more bullshit tonight.James, one of my security team members, stepped in. His posture was stiff, his expression unreadable. But his eyes flicked toward Emily, then back to me.“A package just arrived, sir. Addressed to Mrs. Greyson.”Emily pulled back, frowning. “For me?”My shoulders tensed immediately. There was no way in hell anything arriving at this hour was good news.“Who sent it?” I asked, my voice sharp.James hesitated. “There’s no return name, but…”“Then she’s not opening it.” I cut him off, my tone final.Emily huffed, crossing her arms. “Excuse me?”I shot her a look. “You and I both know who could’ve sent that. Vanessa? Your father? Maybe someone worse? You’re not touching it.”H
Vanessa’s POVThe motel was a dump.Peeling wallpaper curled at the edges, revealing dark stains underneath. The carpet was stained with things I didn’t want to think about. The whole place reeked of old cigarettes, mildew, and cheap beer, the kind of filth that clung to your skin no matter how hard you scrubbed. The bed creaked under me as I shifted, the springs groaning in protest.Ronan had made me disguise myself before we even got close to this hellhole. He had taken scissors to my hair, hacking off just enough to make me look different. I had nearly clawed his eyes out for that. Then he shoved an oversized hoodie at me, one that drowned my frame, and told me to wear it along with a pair of cheap sunglasses. The final insult was a baseball cap he tossed at me like I was some runaway teenager instead of Vanessa Kings.I used to wear couture. Silk, cashmere, the kind of fabrics people only dreamed of touching. Now I was drowning in polyester and denim that didn’t fit. My nails dug
Vanessa’s POVThe rain pelted against the windshield as we sped down the empty highway. The motel was miles behind us, swallowed by the darkness, but my pulse was still racing. Ronan’s hands gripped the wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white. The only sound was the tires skidding slightly on the wet pavement and the low hum of the engine.I sat in the passenger seat, my hoodie pulled low over my face, my fingers drumming against my knee. The air inside the car was thick, tense. I could tell Ronan was pissed.He hadn’t said a word since we left.Fine. I didn’t care.I stared out the window, my mind still burning with the same rage. Emily. Cole. They were all that mattered now. I wasn’t going to spend the rest of my life running like some helpless little girl. No. I was going to take back control.Then…Flashing lights.Blue and red, dancing in the rearview mirror.Ronan cursed under his breath.“Shit.”I turned my head sharply, my heartbeat picking up.A cop.His patrol car was righ
Cole’s POVMateo was about to learn that power meant nothing when you had no control.I sat in the backseat of my car, parked a block away from his hotel, scrolling through the latest report on Vanessa. She was still on the run, slipping through every crack like a damn ghost.This morning, I’d gotten an update…Vanessa had killed a police officer. Slit his throat right there on the road, like it meant nothing. But what caught my attention more? She wasn’t alone.A man was with her.Ronan.From what I’d gathered, he wasn’t some criminal mastermind or hired gun. Just a guy who had made the mistake of getting tangled up in Vanessa’s mess. Maybe he thought he was helping her. Maybe he had no idea who she really was.Didn’t matter. He was shielding her now, and that made him a problem.But Vanessa could wait. Tonight, I had something else to handle.Mateo.…7:00 PM.Mateo walked into the hotel like he owned the city.Four bodyguards surrounded him as he strode across the marble floors of t
Emily’s POVThe cool water wrapped around me like silk as I drifted on my back, staring up at the evening sky. The pool lights had blue shimmer, reflecting against the marble tiles of the mansion’s courtyard. It was quiet…peaceful even. For the first time in days, my mind wasn’t racing. No thoughts about Mateo Vasquez, my father’s ridiculous attempts at controlling my life, or Vanessa’s insanity. Just silence and the soft ripple of water.Then, I heard it.A commotion. Raised voices.I blinked, lowering my body into the water. My fingers clenched into a fist as I turned my head toward the mansion’s entrance. Something was happening.I swam to the edge of the pool, pulling myself up. My wet hair clung to my back as I grabbed a towel and wrapped it around myself. The voices grew louder, and I caught sight of multiple black SUVs parked in the driveway. The headlights were still on, casting long shadows over the garden.Men in suits. Guns strapped to their sides.My father’s men.And the
Cole’s POVThe water was still now. Calm, undisturbed.A few hours ago, Emily had been swimming in that pool, her hair slicked back, droplets sliding down her skin. I was absent when she went out to swim but I knew exactly what she looked like. Now, the pool was empty. Just like the house. Just like me.I leaned against the balcony railing, gripping it tight. The clock on my phone read 11:07 PM. Four hours since she left. Four hours since her father had forced her to go.And I had done nothing.I exhaled sharply, running a hand down my face. The weight in my chest had been growing, pressing harder with every passing minute. Just standing here, waiting, doing nothing…it was killing me.Then…SCREECH!The violent sound of tires skidding against the ground snapped my head toward the gates. My entire body locked up.A car.A black Camry, speeding toward the estate like it had been chased by the devil himself.The guards rushed to block it, guns drawn…Then, suddenly, the passenger-side wi
Emily’s POVThe drive felt like a funeral procession, only I was the corpse being dragged to my own execution. The two female bodyguards sat on either side of me, their presence suffocating. I didn’t fight them anymore…not because I had given up, but because I refused to give my father the satisfaction of watching me struggle.But my hate? That was alive. Burning.I stared out the tinted window as the city blurred past, my nails digging into my palms. My father’s men drove in silence, the car’s engine the only sound in the stifling air. I could still feel the rough grip of those women on my arms, the way they had dragged me through the house, down the grand staircase, and into the car like I was a damn piece of luggage.My father had finally resorted to brute force.Typical.The car pulled up in front of an expensive restaurant…one of those exclusive places where rich men made dirty deals over overpriced steak and wine. The entire building screamed wealth, from the polished black exte
Emily’s POVI sat on the edge of my old bed, my arms wrapped around myself, my nails digging into my skin. My body was still wet from the pool, my swimsuit clinging to me like a second skin, but I didn’t care. The cold air in the room did nothing to cool the fire burning inside me.Everything about this place made my skin crawl.The walls were the same dull beige, the curtains the same expensive silk my father insisted on. The chandelier overhead glowed too bright, the same way it had when I was a teenager locked in this house, suffocating under his rules.Four months.That was how long it had been since I left this place. Since I married Cole and walked out of here.And now I was back.Dragged here like a puppet in my father’s twisted game.I clenched my teeth, my jaw tight, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might break through my ribs. The fury inside me was a living thing, coiled and waiting to explode.I should have fought harder.I should have screamed louder, clawed at him,
Cole’s POVI couldn’t breathe.She was gone.I stood there, fists clenched so tight my nails cut into my palms, staring at the empty driveway where the car had disappeared. My mind couldn’t process what had just happened. It felt like someone had reached inside my chest and ripped my heart out while I was still alive.Emily had walked away.Not because she wanted to. Not because she stopped loving me. But because she was trying to protect me.That thought made it worse.I ran a hand through my hair, pacing back and forth like a caged animal. My men were still there, waiting for my command. The tension in the air was thick, like it hadn’t settled even after Richard Hart had taken her. My own bodyguards had their hands on their guns, still on high alert.I should have stopped her. I should have grabbed her, thrown her over my shoulder, and locked every door in this damn house. But I knew Emily. She wasn’t someone I could cage, no matter how much I wanted to.I let out a sharp breath and
Emily’s POV“If Cole tries to stop me, there will be bullets in the air.”My father’s words still rang in my ears, making completely unsettled.And then, it happened.A gunshot.Loud. Sharp.My heart nearly leaped out of my chest as the sound tore through the tense silence, echoing across the courtyard. One of my father’s men had fired into the air, his grip steady, his face blank.For a second, everything froze.Then, chaos erupted.Cole’s bodyguards moved instantly, pulling their weapons with the precision of trained professionals. The men my father had brought with him did the same, their guns raised, their fingers twitching near the triggers.The air became charged, electric with the promise of violence. My breath hitched as I stared at the two groups facing each other, weapons drawn, ready to fire at the slightest provocation.One wrong move, and people would die."STOP!" I screamed, my voice cracking with panic.No one moved.My father stood tall, his expression blank, unmoved b
Emily’s POVThe cool water wrapped around me like silk as I drifted on my back, staring up at the evening sky. The pool lights had blue shimmer, reflecting against the marble tiles of the mansion’s courtyard. It was quiet…peaceful even. For the first time in days, my mind wasn’t racing. No thoughts about Mateo Vasquez, my father’s ridiculous attempts at controlling my life, or Vanessa’s insanity. Just silence and the soft ripple of water.Then, I heard it.A commotion. Raised voices.I blinked, lowering my body into the water. My fingers clenched into a fist as I turned my head toward the mansion’s entrance. Something was happening.I swam to the edge of the pool, pulling myself up. My wet hair clung to my back as I grabbed a towel and wrapped it around myself. The voices grew louder, and I caught sight of multiple black SUVs parked in the driveway. The headlights were still on, casting long shadows over the garden.Men in suits. Guns strapped to their sides.My father’s men.And the
Cole’s POVMateo was about to learn that power meant nothing when you had no control.I sat in the backseat of my car, parked a block away from his hotel, scrolling through the latest report on Vanessa. She was still on the run, slipping through every crack like a damn ghost.This morning, I’d gotten an update…Vanessa had killed a police officer. Slit his throat right there on the road, like it meant nothing. But what caught my attention more? She wasn’t alone.A man was with her.Ronan.From what I’d gathered, he wasn’t some criminal mastermind or hired gun. Just a guy who had made the mistake of getting tangled up in Vanessa’s mess. Maybe he thought he was helping her. Maybe he had no idea who she really was.Didn’t matter. He was shielding her now, and that made him a problem.But Vanessa could wait. Tonight, I had something else to handle.Mateo.…7:00 PM.Mateo walked into the hotel like he owned the city.Four bodyguards surrounded him as he strode across the marble floors of t
Vanessa’s POVThe rain pelted against the windshield as we sped down the empty highway. The motel was miles behind us, swallowed by the darkness, but my pulse was still racing. Ronan’s hands gripped the wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white. The only sound was the tires skidding slightly on the wet pavement and the low hum of the engine.I sat in the passenger seat, my hoodie pulled low over my face, my fingers drumming against my knee. The air inside the car was thick, tense. I could tell Ronan was pissed.He hadn’t said a word since we left.Fine. I didn’t care.I stared out the window, my mind still burning with the same rage. Emily. Cole. They were all that mattered now. I wasn’t going to spend the rest of my life running like some helpless little girl. No. I was going to take back control.Then…Flashing lights.Blue and red, dancing in the rearview mirror.Ronan cursed under his breath.“Shit.”I turned my head sharply, my heartbeat picking up.A cop.His patrol car was righ
Vanessa’s POVThe motel was a dump.Peeling wallpaper curled at the edges, revealing dark stains underneath. The carpet was stained with things I didn’t want to think about. The whole place reeked of old cigarettes, mildew, and cheap beer, the kind of filth that clung to your skin no matter how hard you scrubbed. The bed creaked under me as I shifted, the springs groaning in protest.Ronan had made me disguise myself before we even got close to this hellhole. He had taken scissors to my hair, hacking off just enough to make me look different. I had nearly clawed his eyes out for that. Then he shoved an oversized hoodie at me, one that drowned my frame, and told me to wear it along with a pair of cheap sunglasses. The final insult was a baseball cap he tossed at me like I was some runaway teenager instead of Vanessa Kings.I used to wear couture. Silk, cashmere, the kind of fabrics people only dreamed of touching. Now I was drowning in polyester and denim that didn’t fit. My nails dug