Mag-log inLia’s POVThe gunfire outside erupted again.The deafening cracks tore through the warehouse, echoing off the metal walls until it felt as though the entire building was trembling.Julian's smile vanished as he turned sharply toward the warehouse entrance, and another round of gunfire rang out. His attention shifted to Noah before returning to the entrance."Take them deeper inside."Three men stepped toward us instantly. But before they could reach us, another burst of gunfire exploded outside. One of the men near the entrance suddenly jerked backward as a bullet punched through the warehouse door beside him.He hit the ground instantly."Move!" One of the men shouted.Julian spun around and drew his gun, rushing outside the warehouse. The remaining guards rushed after him, and within seconds, they were charging toward the entrance.The warehouse, packed with armed men only moments ago, suddenly felt half-empty. Silence settled between us as Noah looked at me, and I looked at him too
Lia’s POVBy the time I reached the place Julian had sent, my hands shook so badly I could hardly hold the steering wheel. The cold metal kept slipping under my palms. At the same time, the old warehouse appeared ahead at the edge of the abandoned industrial area, surrounded by rusted containers and broken fences that sagged like forgotten bones under the dark sky. I sat inside the car for a long moment, my heart pounding hard against my ribs until it hurt, the clock on the dashboard counting down the little time I had left. Noah was still my brother, no matter how many times he had picked Selene, no matter the lies and betrayals that had ripped us apart, and I could not let him die alone in this empty place. I pushed the door open, the cold night air hitting my face like a warning, and stepped out onto the gravel that crunched too loudly under my shoes.The warehouse entrance stood open like a black mouth waiting for me, as if Julian had known exactly when I would come and what I
Lia’s POVDamien hadn’t even reached the door when Kade’s voice sliced through the room.“Who did it?”The question carried a dangerous edge, sharp and controlled, tightening the air around us. Damien paused mid-step and turned slowly, his shoulders tense. He didn’t speak right away, as the weight of the truth seemed to press down on him.“Julian.”The instant the name left his mouth, everything inside Kade went completely still, that familiar shift settling over him—the one I’d seen before everything turned to chaos. His eyes hardened, calculating.“What?” Kade said quietly.“They hit the safe house with precision. I don’t know how he knew the routes, the guard changes, and the timing. And it wasn’t just an attack.” He paused, his jaw clenched tight. “This is war.”Kade exhaled slowly through his nose, the sound barely audible. When he spoke again, his voice had dropped lower, colder. “Gather all my men. Tell them Julian doesn’t leave this alive.”Damien hesitated for half a second
Lia’s POVI didn't know how long I stood there after Kade told me Noah betrayed him. The apartment had grown quieter after Damien left to deal with the men outside. Broken pieces of wood still littered the floor near the entrance, a reminder of Julian's visit, but for the first time since I'd arrived there, I didn't feel like someone was about to kick the door down.Kade was standing near the window, speaking into his phone. His voice was low and controlled as he gave instructions to someone on the other end of the line.I watched him without meaning to.The last few days had changed him.Or maybe they had stripped away the parts he usually kept hidden.There was exhaustion written all over Kade's face. It showed in the dark circles beneath his eyes, in the tension locked into his shoulders, and in the way he rubbed the back of his neck after ending the call. It was the kind of tiredness that no amount of sleep could fix.When he finally turned around, he caught me staring. For a mom
Selene’s POVThe words hung in the air like a loaded gun. I watched Kade’s face closely, savoring the way his composure finally cracked—just a fraction, but it was enough. Shock flickered in those cold eyes, followed quickly by something darker.I let out a weak, pained laugh, pressing my hand tighter against my bleeding shoulder. The wound burned like fire, but the rush of power was stronger. Slowly, painfully, I reached under the sofa cushion with my good hand and pulled out the slim, leather-bound book I’d kept hidden there for months. I held it up, my fingers smearing blood across the embossed cover. “Noah gave this to me,” I taunted, my voice hoarse but triumphant. “He handed it over without a fight when I had him kidnapped and begged me to spare his life. Said he’d do anything. Pathetic, really. All that loyalty to you, and in the end, he chose to save his own skin.”Kade’s jaw clenched so hard I thought it might shatter. His gun hand wavered for the briefest second, his gaze
Selene’s POVThe city lights sprawled endlessly beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows of my penthouse, glittering like scattered diamonds against the dark water below. From up here, everything looked small—the people, the cars, the endless noise, all the petty problems that consumed everyone else.For the first time in years, a deep sense of calm settled over me. The engagement was over. Lia was gone. Kade’s perfectly controlled world was finally cracking apart at the seams. Finally, I thought, a quiet laugh bubbling up inside me. After all these years, it’s happening.For the first time in what felt like forever, a deep sense of calm settled over me. Kade didn’t die as I wanted but his poor little Lia was fighting for her life in the hospital. And Kade’s perfectly controlled world? It was finally cracking apart at the seams, piece by piece, just as I’d planned.I took a slow sip, letting the rich flavor linger on my tongue.If things keep going my way—and they will—he’ll finally see i
Lia’s POV“Please, Lia. Don’t walk away from me, not again.” Kade’s voice came out quieter than intended the moment his dark eyes held mine as though I would disappear if he looked away for one second.“I have to,” I whispered, “If I stay back, Selene will destroy both of us.” He shook his head, hi
Kade’s POVI sat in the corner of the boutique, which smelled like roses and money — the kind of place where everything was too good to be true. All I could do was watch Selene spin slowly before the mirror as the fashion designer fussed with the lace on her gown. But all I could think about was h
Lia’s POVIt’s been two days since that incident with Julian at the hospital's parking lot but the world felt quieter, and inside me everything was chaos.My phone buzzed on the counter, and I picked it up lazily to see the most shocking thing in my life, the phone nearly slipped from my fingers as
Lia’s POVI didn’t even bother looking back as I stormed away from Julian’s hospital room, my hair was soaked and my hands were shaking. The image of Selene’s smiling face in that picture wouldn’t leave me.It replayed in my head over and over, louder than the rain which was pounding heavily on me.







