LIZ POV. Then I saw him. He stood right in front of me, shirtless. The faint glow of light from the hallway caught on the water dripping from his skin. A towel was wrapped loosely around his waist, making it obvious to me that he had just stepped out of the shower. I couldn’t stop my gaze. I started from his feet, moving slowly up. Drops of water slid lazily down his chiseled abs, making the air around me feel heavier. His body looked like it was sculpted gently into perfection. I swallowed hard as my eyes went upward to his face, but his piercing eyes burned into mine with a force that made my heart skip. He had a mask on, but those eyes were sharp. I wanted to look away, but it was hard. A force—an invisible pull—urged me forward. My hands trembled as they moved forward to feel if what I was seeing was real. Before I could, he grabbed my wrist.“Don’t,” he growled. His deep voice sent shivers down my spine. His hands went to my face, his touch—tender. My breath hitched as his
JAKE POV.The water poured over me relentlessly as I stood under the shower, but it wasn’t enough to cool the storm inside me. It had been over a week since I locked myself in my room like a monster. Not a single day passed without regrets. I shouldn’t have gone that night. My fingers tightened into fists. The thought sent a fresh wave of rage through me, causing my fist to slam into the tiled wall. It ached, but it was nothing compared to the fire I still felt on my left face. My fingers grazed the scarred flesh, tracing the rough skin that was once smooth. Once admired. My eyes squeezed shut as tears poured, mingling with the water washing over me. I had risked everything for her, but in the end, I lost everything. I’ll make them all pay. Victoria…Just then, I heard it—a sound. I was certain someone was creeping around in my room. Quickly, I grabbed my towel and my mask, anger burning within me. Slowly, I stepped forward. My gaze over my dimly lit room, then it landed on her
LIZ POV. After our morning duties, it was finally time to eat. We all lined up in the staff’s kitchen, holding a tray. The scent of eggs and toast bread filled the air, but my stomach felt tight. It wasn’t hunger—it was the way the maids kept glancing at me after what had happened earlier. Worst was that Hazel refused to talk to me after everything. She stood few feet away with her arms crossed, acting like I didn’t exist anymore. My heart ached, seeing my own sister ignore me. Suddenly, some maid spoke to me.“Hey, newbie!” A voice rang out. “How the hell did you do it? She asked, tilting her head. I had not been there for long, but I managed to learn their names. Her name was Maya. Before now she’d been ignoring me, but now all of a sudden, she was talking to me.Amber— her friend, spoke next. “Yeah, Liz. How exactly did you pull that off?” I frowned. “Pull what off?” Maya let out a short laugh, exchanging glances with the others. “Oh, come on. Don’t play dumb.” “You went int
LIZ POV.“Liz, wake up!” A voice called out, but I buried my face deeper into my pillow. “I said wake up!” A sharp tap landed on my shoulder. I shot up so fast I almost fell off the bed. “I didn’t go in this time, I swear!” Hazel’s brows pulled together. “Huh?” My heart dropped immediately—shit. Hazel sighed. “You’ve forgotten? The Blackwell family will be returning today! You’re sleeping too much, Liz.”My eyes widened. “Oh my God! Why didn’t you wake me up? And how long have I been asleep?”Hazel shrugged. “I don’t know. Don’t forget—I wake up early before anyone else. Been helping Madam Olivia with some arrangements.” I groaned, swinging my legs off the bed. “How do I face Madam Olivia now? I don’t wanna scrub toilets for waking up late again!” Hazel chuckled, arms crossed. “Well…” she dragged, smirking. “If you hurry and get down there on time, you might make it there before she notices. And maybe—just maybe—I won’t tell on you for being late.” I gasped. “You wouldn’t dar
LIZ POV.“What’s wrong? Want me to help you take it off?” Audrina crouched down, her smirk widening. Anger burned in my veins. I clenched my fist so hard, and for a moment, I wanted to smack that look off her face. “I’ll do it myself,” I said in a low tone. “Oh! Be fast then. You’re wasting time.” She snapped. I glanced at Hazel. She shook her head gently, but enough for me to understand the warning in her eyes. It made me wonder what she was really scared of, and why she looked tense. My hands went to my mask, and I was ready to remove it. Suddenly, the maids and security lowered their heads. What’s going on?“Good evening, Sir.” They greeted in unison. I barely had time to process before Audrina’s excited voice screamed. “Brother!” She practically launched forward, sprinting like a little kid. My eyes snapped towards the new arrival, and the moment I saw who it was, my breath hitched. Even with his mask on, the aura, his broad shoulder, the way he carried himself—Gawwd. H
JAKE POV.The long dining table stretched before me, covered in an extravagant spread. On the table were different kinds of meals—roasted chicken, lobster, caviar, creamy mashed potatoes, ruffled pasta, expensive wine bottles, and so on. Maids stood around us in silence, ready to take orders. While others poured wine into the delicate crystal glasses on the table. This used to feel special. Sitting here and sharing meals with my family. Now, it felt forced—like I wasn’t supposed to be here. I gripped my knife, my fist clenching hard onto the handle as my gaze landed on the man sitting across me—my father. My jaw clenched, along with my fist, but then a flash of cold fingers against mine made me soften. I thought of her again, that maid… Liz. No doubt she had a spell on me, and I couldn’t shake it off. I could still feel the way she trembled under Audrina’s torment—helpless. I was glad I got there just on time to save her from sister’s torment—I couldn’t watch that.A sharp throa
VICTORIA POV“Help! Someone help me, please…” I cried out, but no one seemed to hear me. Everyone had evacuated the building. The flames were burning hot. The heat clawed all over my skin. I was beginning to suffocate from the intense thick smoke. This wasn’t how I had thought I’d die, especially not on my 25th birthday. “Michael! Michael! Honey, where are you?” I cried out for my fiancé to help me but even he was out of sight. I managed to leave that spot. I was so weak, so I supported myself with the walls. I clutched my hands because even the walls were already hot. I didn’t know how, but I really wanted to survive.Soon, I began to feel dizzy, and every breath I took felt hotter than the former, burning through my heart and down to my lungs. My vision began to blur, causing me to collide with a falling wood. The pain caused me to vibrate like that of an electric shock. My knees hit the cold tiles hard, and my body fell flat to the hot tiles. I lost hope as I slowly took what
JAKE POV.It wasn’t my birthday, but I came dressed like the celebrant anyway, stealing the spotlight as usual. It’s something I don’t need to stress over; I could get any woman in that hall if I wanted her, with just a snap of my fingers. Let’s be realistic—what else do women want? I was handsome, tall, rich, a multi-billionaire, and, of all importance, a pro in bed. But tonight, it wasn’t just anyone’s birthday, it was HER birthday—Victoria Langston. It’s crazy how I was obsessed with my enemy and rival, maybe it was just how much she hated me that drove me crazy every time she moaned my name in my bed. She sat not too far from my table, gisting and laughing politely, but I could tell how distracted she was from her frequent side glances.“Jake?” One of the models sitting close to me called out. “You’ve been so quiet. I’ve been watching you since you got in.” She bit her lip in a sexy way. “If you want, I could take the boredom away, Daddy.” She slid two of her fingers from my
JAKE POV.The long dining table stretched before me, covered in an extravagant spread. On the table were different kinds of meals—roasted chicken, lobster, caviar, creamy mashed potatoes, ruffled pasta, expensive wine bottles, and so on. Maids stood around us in silence, ready to take orders. While others poured wine into the delicate crystal glasses on the table. This used to feel special. Sitting here and sharing meals with my family. Now, it felt forced—like I wasn’t supposed to be here. I gripped my knife, my fist clenching hard onto the handle as my gaze landed on the man sitting across me—my father. My jaw clenched, along with my fist, but then a flash of cold fingers against mine made me soften. I thought of her again, that maid… Liz. No doubt she had a spell on me, and I couldn’t shake it off. I could still feel the way she trembled under Audrina’s torment—helpless. I was glad I got there just on time to save her from sister’s torment—I couldn’t watch that.A sharp throa
LIZ POV.“What’s wrong? Want me to help you take it off?” Audrina crouched down, her smirk widening. Anger burned in my veins. I clenched my fist so hard, and for a moment, I wanted to smack that look off her face. “I’ll do it myself,” I said in a low tone. “Oh! Be fast then. You’re wasting time.” She snapped. I glanced at Hazel. She shook her head gently, but enough for me to understand the warning in her eyes. It made me wonder what she was really scared of, and why she looked tense. My hands went to my mask, and I was ready to remove it. Suddenly, the maids and security lowered their heads. What’s going on?“Good evening, Sir.” They greeted in unison. I barely had time to process before Audrina’s excited voice screamed. “Brother!” She practically launched forward, sprinting like a little kid. My eyes snapped towards the new arrival, and the moment I saw who it was, my breath hitched. Even with his mask on, the aura, his broad shoulder, the way he carried himself—Gawwd. H
LIZ POV.“Liz, wake up!” A voice called out, but I buried my face deeper into my pillow. “I said wake up!” A sharp tap landed on my shoulder. I shot up so fast I almost fell off the bed. “I didn’t go in this time, I swear!” Hazel’s brows pulled together. “Huh?” My heart dropped immediately—shit. Hazel sighed. “You’ve forgotten? The Blackwell family will be returning today! You’re sleeping too much, Liz.”My eyes widened. “Oh my God! Why didn’t you wake me up? And how long have I been asleep?”Hazel shrugged. “I don’t know. Don’t forget—I wake up early before anyone else. Been helping Madam Olivia with some arrangements.” I groaned, swinging my legs off the bed. “How do I face Madam Olivia now? I don’t wanna scrub toilets for waking up late again!” Hazel chuckled, arms crossed. “Well…” she dragged, smirking. “If you hurry and get down there on time, you might make it there before she notices. And maybe—just maybe—I won’t tell on you for being late.” I gasped. “You wouldn’t dar
LIZ POV. After our morning duties, it was finally time to eat. We all lined up in the staff’s kitchen, holding a tray. The scent of eggs and toast bread filled the air, but my stomach felt tight. It wasn’t hunger—it was the way the maids kept glancing at me after what had happened earlier. Worst was that Hazel refused to talk to me after everything. She stood few feet away with her arms crossed, acting like I didn’t exist anymore. My heart ached, seeing my own sister ignore me. Suddenly, some maid spoke to me.“Hey, newbie!” A voice rang out. “How the hell did you do it? She asked, tilting her head. I had not been there for long, but I managed to learn their names. Her name was Maya. Before now she’d been ignoring me, but now all of a sudden, she was talking to me.Amber— her friend, spoke next. “Yeah, Liz. How exactly did you pull that off?” I frowned. “Pull what off?” Maya let out a short laugh, exchanging glances with the others. “Oh, come on. Don’t play dumb.” “You went int
JAKE POV.The water poured over me relentlessly as I stood under the shower, but it wasn’t enough to cool the storm inside me. It had been over a week since I locked myself in my room like a monster. Not a single day passed without regrets. I shouldn’t have gone that night. My fingers tightened into fists. The thought sent a fresh wave of rage through me, causing my fist to slam into the tiled wall. It ached, but it was nothing compared to the fire I still felt on my left face. My fingers grazed the scarred flesh, tracing the rough skin that was once smooth. Once admired. My eyes squeezed shut as tears poured, mingling with the water washing over me. I had risked everything for her, but in the end, I lost everything. I’ll make them all pay. Victoria…Just then, I heard it—a sound. I was certain someone was creeping around in my room. Quickly, I grabbed my towel and my mask, anger burning within me. Slowly, I stepped forward. My gaze over my dimly lit room, then it landed on her
LIZ POV. Then I saw him. He stood right in front of me, shirtless. The faint glow of light from the hallway caught on the water dripping from his skin. A towel was wrapped loosely around his waist, making it obvious to me that he had just stepped out of the shower. I couldn’t stop my gaze. I started from his feet, moving slowly up. Drops of water slid lazily down his chiseled abs, making the air around me feel heavier. His body looked like it was sculpted gently into perfection. I swallowed hard as my eyes went upward to his face, but his piercing eyes burned into mine with a force that made my heart skip. He had a mask on, but those eyes were sharp. I wanted to look away, but it was hard. A force—an invisible pull—urged me forward. My hands trembled as they moved forward to feel if what I was seeing was real. Before I could, he grabbed my wrist.“Don’t,” he growled. His deep voice sent shivers down my spine. His hands went to my face, his touch—tender. My breath hitched as his
LIZ(VICTORIA) POV.“No! I’m not doing it!” I yelled, standing in the mansion’s sitting room, angrily. “You can’t make me!”Hazel didn’t flinch. She crossed her arms, her voice low yet sharp. “You have no choice, Sis. You wanna starve? How else are you gonna feed?”“I don’t care! I’m not cleaning toilets, washing dirty dishes, or scrubbing floors!” My voice cracked.Hazel stepped closer, her eyes narrowing. “Now hear yourself clearly, Liz. What’s your next plan then, huh? You gonna run away? Again?”“Maybe I will!” I snapped, tossing the maid uniform back to her. “Don’t follow me!” I said firmly. I stormed past her, my direction clear. My steps, firm and intentional—each a rebellion against the life being forced upon me. “Liz! Stop right there!” Hazel’s voice rang out behind me, but I didn’t turn back. My eyes fixed on the gate. “Stop following me!” I shouted, quickening up my pace. “Leave me alone!”Hazel caught up, grabbing my arm and spinning me around—I almost tripped. “You have
LIZ (VICTORIA) POV.I woke up to a cold splash on my face. I gasped, sitting up, using my fingers to wipe water off my cheeks. My surroundings slowly came back into focus as it hit me that it was reality and not a dream at all. “Good morning,” she said calmly, her face hovering close to mine. Her deep brown eyes stared at me, framed by long lashes that seemed to be weighed down by sadness. They depicted not just sadness but experience—experience of hardship and silent battles. I blinked at her, still struggling to shake off the sleepy haze. “Good morning,” I muttered.Hazel just continued staring at me, as if trying to pierce through my mind. I glanced forward, a small plate of rice and chicken catching my attention.“Did you…?” I trailed off, my eyes wandering. My throat suddenly felt dry so I swallowed saliva.“Eat up. You don't want it getting cold.” she said, motioning her head towards the direction of the food. I crawled towards it, my stomach growling impatiently. It wasn’t
VICTORIA POV.“Mike, you’re joking right?” My voice wavered as I stared at him. He stood tall by the door with his arms crossed, as if preventing me from running away from this harsh reality he’d just revealed. “What sort of games are you playing with me?” “Games?” He tilted his head. “You think this—all this is a joke?” His voice echoed disbelief. “I just helped you escape your wedding. I got you out so you could flee to your real family. Wasn’t that what you asked for?” His brows furrowed. “Yes—but…” “But what?” He cut me short. “You should be thanking me instead, not stand there acting all high and mighty.” His lips curled into a sneer. His words sliced through me sharp like a blade. My heart sank from the seriousness on his face, making me realize that he meant his words. “You forgot so much, sister.” Hazel’s trembling voice broke my focus. She stood a few feet from me with red rimmed eyes locked on me. “I’d have never thought that day would come when you’d reject your own fa