LOGINAzrielle’s POVJasper briefly glanced over at me, his eyes dead serious, filled with a sharp, warning chill as he navigated the afternoon traffic."Trust me, Azrielle... he isn't the helpless, regretful guy you think he is. He's far more dangerous than his father ever was."I stared down at the classified financial documents resting heavy on my lap, my mind spinning into a dark, stormy abyss. If Declan had an entire offshore shadow network and a private intelligence grid at his fingertips this whole time, why the hell was he pretending to be so helplessly trapped under Harrison’s thumb? What was he really after?"Az, we're here," Mireille’s voice snapped me out of my downward spiral as Jasper smoothly pulled the sedan into the private medical center’s underground parking bay.I shoved the manila folder straight into my handbag, masking my internal chaos behind a calm, composure-filled face. We took the private elevator straight up to the pediatric wing.The moment I pushed open the do
Declan’s POV"You don't mean it... you actually threatened your father?!" Marcus yelled, nearly jumping out of his leather chair the second I finished recounting my confrontation with Harrison in the arena courtyard."Oh yes, I needed to," I said calmly, pouring myself a glass of ice water."Declan, have you finally lost your mind?!" Marcus snapped, pacing across the hardwood floor of my private penthouse suite. "You know he’s going to start digging into everything now! He’s going to investigate every single step you take! You are completely exposed—can't you see that?!""And when wouldn't I be?" I rasped, looking out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the glowing skyline. "If I can't even protect the woman I love, then what the hell was the point of me building this entire shadow network for the last five years?"Marcus stopped pacing, letting out a long, heavy breath as his shoulders slumped. He looked at me, his eyes softening with genuine concern."Yes, I get it," he said softly. "Bu
Azrielle’s POV"Coach, we all know he didn't purposely punch him that day. He doesn't really have to be suspended for three straight games," I said, leaning over Coach Peterson’s heavy mahogany desk, my arms folded tightly across my chest as I held his gaze.Coach Peterson let out a weary breath, massaging his temples as he looked up from the official match penalty reports scattered across his desk. "He said it himself, Azrielle. He walked in here, owned every single second of it, and didn't show a single drop of remorse.""Coach, we can suspend him for just one game instead," I pushed, keeping my voice clipped, analytical, and strictly professional. "After all, he is the captain. On opening night, the team clearly felt his absence on the ice during those final minutes. Having him sit out for three straight games might permanently damage the team's momentum and fracture their morale."Coach Peterson paused, leaning back in his leather chair. He narrowed his eyes, studying me with a sl
Harrison’s POV"I must have been too soft on that lady... too soft to make her forget her damn place. How dare she? How dare she remove Declan from playing!"I growled, my knuckles turning white as I squeezed the glass in my hand, staring furiously at the glowing television screen displaying the post-game reports."Prepare the car!" I barked to the guards standing near the doors.My assistant hurried down the hall behind me, adjusting his suit jacket. "Young lady is playing with fire," I muttered under my breath, my blood boiling at the sheer audacity of Azrielle Vance."Boss," my assistant spoke up quietly, keeping pace with my heavy strides. "What if we teach her a real lesson? After all, she has completely passed her boundaries now. All this while, you didn't do anything to her... even when Mr. Declan came asking why you set that fire at the arena back then. You just claimed responsibility for the arena fire back then just to force him to stay away from her.""Declan is too young,"
Declan’s POVI bid Asher goodbye, pulling his tiny blanket up to his chin, and slipped out of the hospital suite. I drove straight to the private hotel suite where Marcus had asked me to meet up.He was already there when I walked in, pacing back and forth across the hardwood floor with a stack of Manila folders in his hands."Alright, Marcus," I said, setting my keys on the counter. "Can you tell me what exactly happened?""You remember our original plan to expose your dad's shell companies to the league board that night if not for the bone marrow procedure?" he asked, stopping in his tracks."Yes, I know," I replied, pulling out a chair. "How does this involve Azrielle in any way?""Specifically... she got close to you after the day your dad and her spoke, just to get information about those shell companies from you," he said cleanly.I let out a sudden, dry laugh, shaking my head. "Do you even know what you're talking about, Marcus? Don't play that kind of joke right now. I know sh
Mireille’s POVI felt my entire body shiver beneath his, my fingers twitching against his wrists as if deciding whether to push him away or pull him closer."Reyes..." I finally whispered, my voice trembling just a fraction as I locked my eyes onto his. "You're not drunk at all, are you?"His smirk widened, leaning in until our lips were practically touching."Does it really matter?" he rasped softly, his thumb caressing the soft curve of my cheek with maddening slowness. "Or are you finally going to stop fighting what's right in front of you?""Reyes, you are out of your mind. Get off me," I snapped, trying to summon the strength to push his chest away.What he did next shocked the absolute hell out of me. Before I could process another thought, he slammed his mouth onto mine, kissing me with a sudden, overwhelming intensity. I was too stunned to react, my mind going completely blank as the heat radiated straight down my spine.He withdrew just a fraction, pulling back to look into







