LOGINTristan’s POVI didn’t say another word. I didn't trust myself too.If I opened my mouth again too soon, I might’ve done something worse than insult her.So instead—I walked straight past her, into the kitchen."Tristan?" Victoria’s voice followed, sharp with irritation. "What the hell is wrong with you?"I ignored her.I pulled my phone out of my pocket. My fingers were steady now.A cold kind of calm had settled over me.The kind that came right before everything snapped.Behind me, her heels clicked rapidly against the floor as she followed."Don’t you dare walk away from me when I’m talking to you," she snapped. "You don’t get to insult me and then just—what are you doing?"I set my phone down on the kitchen counter, camera facing us."Tristan," she said again, slower now, suspicion creeping in. "What. Are. You. Doing?"I didn’t answer immediately. Just adjusted the angle slightly.Perfect.Then I hit a record on Instagram live.Let them see. Let everyone see.I turned back to he
Tristan’s POVThe drive to Amelia’s house felt longer than it should have. Every red light dragged. Every turn stretched out.And through it all—My mind wouldn’t shut up.One single pill. That’s all it had taken.One tiny, insignificant-looking pill lying on the floor. One Victoria hadn’t noticed in her frantic attempt to gather the rest.At the time, I hadn’t even fully understood why I picked it up. Just… instinct. Suspicion that had been lingering for far too long.The way she’d panicked when I tried to help. The way her so-called illness only seemed to appear when it benefited her.It hadn’t made sense, but I had ignored it. Because it was easier to believe her. Easier than questioning the foundation of my entire marriage.I tightened my grip on the steering wheel."Idiot," I muttered under my breath.I had taken that pill straight to the lab. Demanded immediate testing. Pulled every favor I still had left.And when the results came back—I hadn’t been prepared."These are inert,
Amelia’s POVFor the first time in what felt like forever…My life was quiet.I sat curled up on the couch, a soft blanket draped over my legs, my phone resting loosely in my hand as I scrolled through the latest headlines.And there it was again.Tristan Lancaster.His name seemed impossible to escape."Scandal Deepens: Financial Fraud Investigation Widens.""Sources Claim Gambling Losses Behind Missing Funds.""Lancaster Family Feud Turns Public."I let out a slow breath, locking my phone and letting it fall beside me."Unbelievable," I murmured.But not surprising.My hand had drifted to my stomach, resting there protectively. Still flat enough that no one would notice.But I could feel it. A subtle change. A quiet presence."I won’t let them hurt you," I whispered. "Any of them."After everything that had happened—the lies, the manipulation, the chaos—I had finally stepped away.From Rowan.From Tristan.From all of it.And in the weeks since the court case… life had become someth
Victoria’s POVAt first— I’ll admit it, Tristan’s plan didn’t seem entirely idiotic.Risky, yes. Reckless, absolutely. But there was something there. A thread of opportunity buried beneath the chaos. A way to recover, to rebuild, to claw our way back into relevance.Or at least… that’s what I told myself.Because the alternative?Was unthinkable.That is until I stood in the living room a few days later, scrolling through the news on my phone. My stomach tightened with every headline that flashed across the screen."Scandal in Lancaster Enterprise: VP Pembroke Imprisoned for Attempted Takeover.""Tristan Lancaster Removed Permanently from Board Amid Financial Investigation."My grip tightened around the phone."Fuck," I muttered under my breath.The word had barely left my lips when my phone rang.Of course.I didn’t even need to check the name.I already knew.I took a slow breath before answering."…Hello, Dad.""WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON, VICTORIA?!"I pulled the phone slightly awa
Tristan’s POVVictoria tried. God, she really tried.If there was anyone who could twist a situation back into our favor with nothing but a sharp mind and a well-placed smile, it was her.And for a moment—just a moment—I almost believed she might actually pull it off."Rowan," she said smoothly, as if she hadn’t just walked into the middle of a disaster. "This is clearly a misunderstanding."Rowan didn’t even blink."Is it?" he asked coldly.Victoria’s lips curved into that practiced, disarming smile. "Of course it is. Tristan was simply—""Don’t," Rowan cut in sharply.The word landed like a slap.Victoria faltered for half a second, but recovered quickly."Let’s not be hasty," she continued, her tone softening, almost coaxing. "We’re family. There’s no need to escalate this into something… unpleasant."Rowan let out a quiet, humorless laugh."Unpleasant?" he repeated. "You think this is unpleasant?"He held up the folder with evidence."This," he said, his voice dropping, "is crimin
Tristan’s POV"I don’t care what protocol says," I barked into the phone, pacing slowly across the expansive office. "Just authorize the transfer. It’s already been signed off."I stopped in front of the massive glass window overlooking the city, my reflection staring back at me—sharp suit, controlled expression, a man who belonged here.At the top.Finally."You’re overthinking it," I added smoothly. "It’s a restructuring. Internal movement of assets. Perfectly legal."The man on the other end hesitated.I exhaled impatiently. "Listen carefully. By the time anyone questions this, it’ll already be done. So either you process it now… or I find someone who will.""…Understood, sir," he said finally.A slow smile spread across my face."Good," I said quietly. "Do it."I ended the call and lowered the phone, my gaze drifting across the massive office.Standing here, at the very top of Lancaster Enterprises, I could already feel it—the shift. The power. The inevitability of it all.This em
Amelia’s POV"Amelia! Stop right there!" Rowan’s voice cut through the cold air behind me as I stormed down the mansion steps.I didn’t stop. My heels hit the stone path hard, every click echoing my fury.But his footsteps approached fast. Too fast. Then his hand caught my arm—strong, desperate, t
Amelia’s POVGabriel’s eyes searched mine. "I double-checked the details before telling you. The IP address was logged from a home network tied to his property."For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. My mind spun in circles, replaying every look, every argument, every moment Rowan had tried to control
Rowan’s POVI read the email with a deep frown, scanning every line twice. Amelia’s name glared up at me from the sender line, her tone clipped and professional—but the content hit hard. She was threatening to sue Sienna for a false plagiarism claim."She’s blaming you?" I asked slowly, my voice e
Amelia’s POV"Jeez. What is it today with people barging in here without knocking?" I muttered under my breath, slamming my laptop shut.Rowan’s tall frame filled the doorway, his expression dark as thunder. "Amelia," he said, his tone low and edged. "Answer my question. Are you planning to leave?"







