Angela’s POVI wasn’t even sure why I was here, standing in front of James’s study door in the middle of the night. My heart pounded as I clenched my fists, trying to steady my breathing. The question that had kept me awake finally drove me here, demanding an answer I wasn’t sure I wanted. But the uncertainty gnawed at me. Did he still love her?I took a deep breath, trying to muster what little courage I had left, and pushed the door open without knocking. The study was dimly lit, and James sat behind his desk, engrossed in paperwork. His jaw was set, his brow furrowed in that focused way I’d come to know well. When he looked up and saw me, a flicker of surprise crossed his face before he settled back into his chair, watching me carefully.“Angela,” he said, his voice low and composed. “It’s late. What’s going on?”I stepped forward, feeling the weight of his gaze on me. My legs felt weak, but I forced myself to hold steady. I couldn’t turn back now. “I… I need to know something, Jam
Lyra's POV I didn’t hear Angela come in. My world was already spinning as I sat on the edge of my bed, hands clasped tight around the pillow, my heart aching with an emptiness I didn’t know I was capable of feeling. It was supposed to be my life, my choices. Yet here I was, expected to marry a man who loved no one but himself. James had crushed every ounce of my dreams, and all that was left of me was a hollow shell. Why was Angela standing at my door now, looking at me with those cold, unfeeling eyes? The one person who should’ve understood, who should’ve stood by me, was glaring as if I’d stolen everything from her. A part of me wanted to scream, to tell her that I had no choice. That it was her friendship with James that brought me into this web of lies. But instead, my throat was tight, the words trapped as tears slid down my cheeks. Angela stepped further into my room, her heels echoing in the silence, a soft clack that filled the tense air between us. She looked so composed,
Angela POV As I left Lyra’s room, the air felt thick with tension, yet all I could focus on was the burn of her words. “Love? Fairytales?” Lyra had always been naive, but tonight, she’d taken it to a new level. Still, as her last words echoed in my mind, they stung in a way I didn’t care to admit. “Did she think I’d never know happiness?” I shook my head, my heels clicking angrily on the tiled floor. “How could she understand anything about my choices?”I took a sharp turn down the hallway, trying to shake off the strange hollowness her words had left in me. I was used to envy, to competition, to people looking out for themselves. That’s how the world worked. But love? The way she spoke of it, like some precious gem she could just hold in her hand, was infuriating.Just as I stepped outside to the veranda, hoping the cool night air would calm my nerves, I caught a group of people huddled by the grand fountain. Their voices were low, but I caught a name that made me stop in my tracks.
Angela’s POVI sat alone in the silence of my room, my heart racing, knowing I couldn’t escape the storm I’d set in motion. The phone lay heavy in my hand, and I felt the urge to call James back, to scream, to demand answers, to get any shred of remorse from him. But I knew better; it would be met with that twisted satisfaction of his, that smug amusement he never bothered to hide. The things he’d said echoed back to me, and his words refused to let me go.*“You think you’re any different from me?”* he’d sneered.My mind replayed it over and over. His laugh, mocking me. I wanted to escape it, but then… another voice began to invade my thoughts.Alice.I could still hear her voice from when this all began, cool and taunting, twisting the knife in as she threatened me. As if she were here again, taunting me.*“Angela,”* she’d said back then, *“did you think you could keep Lyra safe from all this? She’ll do whatever I tell her to. For you.”*“Alice,” I had whispered, my voice barely ste
Angela’s POVThe decision hit me like a lightning bolt. My guilt had paralyzed me long enough. Lyra wasn’t the weak one here. She was the kind, trusting one, and look where it had gotten her, pushed into a corner, married to a monster. I’d been sitting in the shadows, feeling sorry for myself, haunted by regrets and whispers of what could have been. But that pity was doing nothing for her, nothing for us. No more begging, no more silent tears. If I couldn’t shield her, then I’d do the next best thing, I’d take control.James had made it clear he wanted to see her suffer. His twisted words echoed in my mind, the satisfaction in his voice grating against my every nerve. But he’d made one big mistake: he’d underestimated me. My heart hardened as I replayed every mocking word he’d ever said, every cold laugh from Alice that I’d swallowed down. It all led to this moment.“Enough,” I whispered into the silence as if saying it out loud made it real.I needed leverage, something or someone th
Angela’s POVThe door clicked shut behind me, and the silence of the empty hallway seemed to echo. I could still hear Kurtis’s words in my head, cutting deeper than I wanted to admit. “The sister Lyra loved would never have done this.” As much as I tried to shake it off, those words felt like an anchor around my chest, dragging me down, suffocating me with every step.But something stopped me in my tracks. A knot in my stomach, a tension I couldn’t shake, like a hand tugging me back. My fingers itched against the door handle, and before I knew it, I was turning it, re-entering the room. Kurtis’s head jerked up, surprise flashing across his face. The look in his eyes held a challenge, daring me to do… what, I didn’t even know.I took a step forward, my heels striking the concrete in sharp clicks that shattered the tense silence. “You don’t get to sit there and judge me, Kurtis. You don’t know what I’ve been through, what I’ve had to do.”He scoffed, shifting in his chair as if testing
Lyra’s POVThe phone rang, pulling me out of my thoughts. I glanced at the screen and saw Sophie’s name. She rarely called this late, so I picked up immediately, a slight edge of worry in my voice. “Hey, Sophie, what’s up?”There was a pause on the other end before she spoke, her voice low and tense. “Lyra, I… I think something’s wrong with Kurtis.”My stomach tightened. “What do you mean?” I asked, trying to keep my voice calm.“I haven’t seen him in a couple of days, and I’ve called, messaged… nothing. You know how he usually is—he’s never out of reach. Even if he’s busy, he’d let me know he’s okay,” she said, worry seeping into her tone.Her words made my heart race. Kurtis never disappeared like this, not without at least telling me where he’d be. “You think he’s missing?” My voice was barely a whisper, but Sophie heard me.“Honestly, Lyra, I think something’s happened. It’s just… strange.” She paused, her next words coming out slowly, as if she were piecing them together carefull
Kurtis’s POVThe room was dark and silent, a chill settling over me as I tried to pull my mind from the constant aching in my wrists. But it was useless. Every time I closed my eyes, every time I tried to distract myself, her face surfaced in my mind.Lyra.I thought about the night I met her. Back then, I thought she was Angela, only to find out later that they were sisters two halves of a world I never expected to get lost in. I’d gone to that gallery with Angela on a whim, a favor to her, only to spot this quiet beauty who moved so differently, her calmness like a steady flame. I couldn’t look away. Her eyes caught mine that night, soft but curious, and the way she looked at me made everything around us fade. I fell in love at that moment, thinking it was Angela’s warmth yet I had been looking at Lyra all along.And when I realized it was her… everything clicked. She wasn’t Angela. She was her kind of mystery, and I’d fallen deeper, hopelessly drawn to the softness I saw in her.Bu
Lyra’s POV The day had finally arrived: my wedding day. The world outside seemed to know it was special, too. The sky was a canvas of soft blues and wispy white clouds, with the sun gently warming the seaside breeze. Every detail of the morning felt surreal, like I was walking through a dream I never wanted to wake up from. In my bridal suite, the air buzzed with excitement. Sophie, my bridesmaid and Angela’s closest friend, was helping me into my wedding dress. The dress was everything I’d imagined, sleek and elegant with delicate lace running down the sleeves and tiny pearls dotting the bodice. The train cascaded behind me like a flowing river of ivory silk. As Sophie zipped the back, I caught my reflection in the full-length mirror. For a moment, I didn’t recognize myself. “You look stunning, Lyra,” Sophie said, stepping back to admire me. Her voice was thick with emotion. I turned to her, my own heart brimming. “Do you think Kurtis will like it?” Sophie laughed. “Like i
Lyra's POV The next morning, I woke up to the smell of coffee drifting up to my room. For a moment, I stayed under the covers, savoring the warmth of my bed and the quiet anticipation that filled the air. Tomorrow, I would become Mrs. Lyra Hartley. The thought sent a flutter of excitement and nerves through me. Finally, curiosity got the better of me, and I padded downstairs, barefoot, my robe loosely tied. In the kitchen, I found Angela standing by the counter, a steaming mug in her hands. Her back was to me, and she seemed lost in thought. “Good morning,” I said, stepping closer, my voice soft so as not to startle her. Angela jumped slightly but quickly recovered, turning around with a faint smile. “Good morning. I didn’t mean to wake you. I just... couldn’t sleep.” I reached for a mug and poured myself some coffee, the rich aroma wrapping around me like a comforting hug. “You didn’t wake me,” I assured her. “But you being up this early is definitely unusual. What’s on your
Lyra’s POVThe morning light streamed through my bedroom window, painting everything in soft gold. My phone buzzed on the nightstand, jolting me out of my thoughts. I reached for it, my heart skipping a beat when I saw Kurtis’s name flashing on the screen. “Good morning, baby girl,” his deep voice greeted me. “Good morning,” I replied, feeling a flutter in my chest. Even after everything we’d been through, his voice still had that effect on me. “How did you sleep?” he asked. “Better than I have in weeks,” I admitted. “Knowing Alice is finally in custody helps.” There was a pause, and then he chuckled. “I knew that would ease your mind. But listen, we have something more important to focus on now—our wedding.” My heart soared. “You’re right. No more delays.” “Exactly. Can you meet me at the venue later today? I’ve already called a decorator and the caterer to start discussing ideas.” “Of course,” I said, excitement bubbling up. “What time?” “Around two. I’ll text you
Kurtis’s POVThe morning after James was arrested, I woke up feeling lighter, yet there was still a lingering weight on my chest. Alice. She was the real puppet master, the mastermind behind James’s schemes. If I let my guard down now, it could all be for nothing. I sat at the edge of the bed, watching Lyra sleep. Her face was serene, untouched by the chaos that constantly tried to invade our lives. I wanted to keep it that way. Standing up, I grabbed my phone and dialed Detective Harper. “Harper,” her voice was sharp and awake despite the early hour. “We’ve got to move on Alice,” I said, my tone firm. “If she gets wind of James’s arrest, she’ll bolt. We need to act now.” There was a pause on the other end of the line before Harper responded. “Agreed. Do you have anything concrete on her yet?” “Not enough to keep her locked up for long,” I admitted. “But James’s arrest is going to shake her. If we can catch her making a move, we’ll have something to work with.” “I’ll dispa
Kurtis’s POVI was still seeing the the moment the handcuffs clicked around James’s wrists, playing in my eye, how I felt an overwhelming sense of relief. It wasn’t just about justice, it was about keeping Lyra safe, about making sure that maniac wouldn’t come anywhere near her again. As the officers led him out, his defiance hadn’t wavered. “This isn’t over, Kurtis,” James hissed, his eyes filled with venom. “You think taking me down changes anything? You have no idea what you’re up against.” His voice echoed back in my ear.I didn’t respond. He could spit all the poison he wanted; his threats didn’t matter anymore. His reign of terror had ended the moment those cuffs locked into place. Once the police cars disappeared into the night, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. Detective Harper walked up to me, her expression grim but satisfied. “You did good tonight, Kurtis,” she told me.“I just did what needed to be done,” I replied, glancing at the warehouse where
Kurtis’s POVJames was a menace, a shadow that loomed over Lyra and Angela's lives for far too long. As I stood by the window of my penthouse suite, staring at the city lights below, the thought of letting him roam free even for another day was unbearable. Lyra’s safety wasn’t just a responsibility, it was personal. “I’m not waiting for him to make his next move,” I said, turning to Detective Harper on the other end of the phone. Harper’s voice was professional but tinged with determination. “We need solid evidence to make the arrest stick, Kurtis. What you’ve given us so far is compelling, but I need more to ensure he doesn’t wriggle out on a technicality.” I clenched my fist. “Then you’ll have it. I’ll send over every document, every email, every recording we’ve compiled so far. And I’ll make sure he has no place to run.” After hanging up, I paced the room, my mind racing. James was clever, but arrogance was his fatal flaw. He never imagined I’d play the long game, collectin
Lyra's POV Later that evening, as the hospital quieted down, I sat by Angela’s bedside, my mind a storm of thoughts. The air felt heavy, not just from the day’s events but from something I’d been holding back, something I needed answers to. I took a deep breath, summoning the courage to bring it up. Angela’s eyelids were drooping, but I knew she wasn’t asleep yet. “Angela,” I said softly, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. “I need to ask you something… and I need you to be honest with me.” Her eyes fluttered open, and she turned her head slightly to look at me. “Of course. What is it?” “It’s about James.” At the mention of his name, her expression shifted, a flicker of guilt flashing across her face. She didn’t say anything, so I pressed on. “You’ve been around him more than I have lately. You must know something about his intentions. What’s he planning, Angela? What does he want from me?” Angela hesitated, biting her lower lip. “Lyra… I don’t know if” “Do
Lyra’s POVThe cold, sterile smell of the hospital hit me the moment I stepped inside. My heart was pounding so hard it drowned out every other sound—the murmur of voices, the beep of monitors, the shuffling of feet. Angela. Critical condition. The nurse’s words rang in my ears as I approached the counter, my voice trembling as I asked, “Angela… Angela Hayes. Where is she?” The receptionist barely glanced up, typing away on her computer. “Room 115. Down the hall, second door on your left.” I didn’t wait for her to finish. My feet moved before my mind could catch up, rushing down the hallway, my breaths coming in short, panicked gasps. My legs felt like jelly, but I pushed forward, ignoring the ache. When I reached the door marked *115,* I paused, my hand hovering over the handle. I wasn’t ready to see her like this—to see my sister, my twin, lying broken and vulnerable. But I had to. I pushed the door open and stepped inside, my breath catching in my throat at the sight be
Angela’s POV The door slammed behind me as I left Lyra’s house, but the sound didn’t drown out the storm in my head. The cold evening air wrapped around me like a punishment, but it was nothing compared to the icy distance Lyra had put between us. I climbed into my car, letting the silence close in, but the quiet only gave space for my thoughts to scream louder. My hands clutched the steering wheel tightly, my knuckles turning white as I sat there, reliving every moment of the last hour. I had gone there to apologize, to mend the bridge I had set on fire. Instead, I’d been met with something far worse than anger, indifference. When she opened the door, her face was unreadable. For a moment, I thought she might slam it shut again, but she stepped aside, her cold eyes fixed on me. “What do you want, Angela?” she asked, her voice void of emotion. My heart had twisted at her tone, but I forced myself to speak. “I came to say I’m sorry, Lyra. I know I’ve been… awful. I know I’v