LOGINTessa steadied, her breath uneven as she pulled back—Her fingers brushed against the sleeve of his shirt and her eyes lifted to meet his finally.Broad shoulders. Dark shirt, sleeves rolled just enough to reveal strong forearms. The same rigid posture she remembered. The same sharp jawline— Older now. Harder.Her eyes widened in shock.“Wha—what are you doing here?” she asked, surprised.“Tessa—” the man said.“Don’t touch me,” Tessa snapped, pulling herself out of his arms. “Why are you—how did you know where I was?”“The real question is how the fuck did you get into my house?” Roman’s voice cut in sharply.He stepped forward now, his gaze dragging over the stranger— Taking him in and measuring him.“Who the hell are you?” Roman asked. “I’m Daniel.” The man answered. “Daniel Quinn. Tessa’s brother.”Everyone went silent for a moment.“Tessa’s what?" Alec murmured, almost to himself. But Roman had no reaction.“Well…Daniel Quinn.” He said. “Do me a favour and get your sister the fu
Roman pushed open the front door of Blackwood Mansion and stepped inside with Salima right behind him.For a moment, the house was unaware. Then Nandini looked up from the living room.Her eyes widened. “Roman!”She screamed his name and ran straight toward him, throwing her arms around him so hard he took a small step back.“Oh my God! You’re here!” she said, holding his shoulders and looking at his face like she needed to confirm it was real.“I’m here,” Roman said with a small breath.Alec appeared from the hallway, stopping abruptly when he saw him.For a second he just stared.“What the hell…” he muttered under his breath before walking over quickly and pulling Roman into a tight hug.“What happened?” Alec asked as he pulled back. “I thought they were transferring you.”Roman shrugged slightly.“They just told me I could go,” he said. “Apparently Eleanor’s lawyers backed down.”“Backed down? Why?” Roman shook his head. “I have no idea.”Alec frowned slightly but nodded. “Well… I
Roman pulled the car to a stop in the hospital parking lot. “Stay here, Mom,” he said as he reached for the door.Salima turned toward him immediately. “Roman, what are you doing?”“I’m here to see Grayson,” he answered, already pushing the door open.Salima grabbed his arm.“No, you won’t,” she said firmly. “You just got out of jail. And you’re still angry. The last thing you need is more trouble.”Roman paused and looked at her. “I’ll be fine, Mom. I want to talk to him.”She searched his face, still worried.“I promise,” he added quietly. “Trust me.”Salima hesitated. Then she nodded slowly. “Okay… don’t stay long.”Roman gave a small nod and stepped out of the car.Inside the hospital, the air smelled faintly of antiseptic.Roman walked straight to the reception desk.“I’m here for Grayson Thorne.”The nurse checked her computer, then pointed toward the elevator. “Upstairs. Room 314.”Roman nodded once and headed down the hall.He got into the elevator and pushed the button to Gra
“What? How’s this possible?” Eleanor asked, shocked. “What are you doing here?”Roman stood there — suit rumpled, jaw bruised, eyes blazing with quiet fury.His grip tightened around Eleanor’s wrist.“Let me go, you son of a bitch!” she growled, trying to pull free.“Don’t,” Roman said quietly.His voice was calm, but it carried a warning that made the room feel suddenly smaller.“Don’t you ever think you can lay a hand on my mother,” he continued, his eyes fixed on her. “Ever again.”For a moment, neither of them moved.Then Roman released her sharply.Eleanor jerked her arm back immediately, rubbing her wrist where his fingers had held it. Her eyes burned with fury as she stared at him.Salima still hadn’t moved.She stood there frozen, staring at Roman as if she wasn’t sure he was real.Roman turned to her.“Are you okay?” he asked quietly.Salima blinked, as if waking up from a dream.“Yes… I— I’m fine,” she said quickly. Her eyes scanned his face, lingering on the bruise on his
Salima sat at the head of the table, hands clasped tight.“How long until the lawyer gets here?” she asked for the sixth time in the past fifteen minutes.Victor glanced at his phone.“He said he’s on his way,” he replied calmly. “Traffic.”Salima exhaled slowly but didn’t relax.Across from her, Alec leaned back in his chair, staring down at the table.After some minutes, the front door opened somewhere down the hall.Footsteps approached quickly and a moment later the lawyer stepped into the dining room, loosening his tie.“Sorry I’m late,” Marcus said. “The courthouse held me longer than expected.”Salima leaned forward immediately. “Well?” she asked.The lawyer hesitated.Victor noticed it first. “What happened?”Marcus placed his briefcase on the table. “It’s not good news.”Alec straightened. “What kind of not good news?”“The judge denied the emergency review we requested tomorrow,” Marcus explained. “Roman’s next hearing stays where it is.”Salima frowned. “When is that?”Marc
Tessa walked slowly along the empty road, her arms wrapped around herself as if she could somehow hold the pieces of her heart together. Her steps were uneven, her heels scraping the pavement more than walking on it.Roman’s voice wouldn’t leave her head.“There is no “us.””Her throat tightened when she remembered.“Hate requires emotion. What I feel for you now… is nothing.”A sob escaped her before she could stop it.Her eyes were swollen, her vision blurred with tears she couldn’t seem to stop. She wiped at them with shaking hands, but more kept falling.“Before I come home, I want you out of my house.”Tessa stumbled slightly, gripping onto a streetlight. Her breathing came out in broken bursts as the memory of his cold eyes replayed again and again.She kept walking. She didn’t even know where she was going.Then a car pulled up slowly beside the road ahead of her, its headlights cutting through the darkness. The engine idled quietly.Tessa didn’t notice.The driver’s door sudd
Roman stepped out of the shower, his hair plastered across his face. His mother had left him a while ago. He had tried to get some sleep…anything to take his mind off the chaos his life had turned into. He spotted his shirt on the bed, the white T-shirt Tessa had picked out for him. The one that w
Roman’s smile froze mid-breath as the scream tore through the ballroom.For half a second, no one moved. The applause died unevenly, confusion rippling across faces.Roman’s eyes drifted instinctively toward the staircase.He saw the blood first.A dark, spreading stain against the gold marble floo
“Is this supposed to be a joke?” Roman asked, flipping through the pages again. Silence fell across the room. No one said a word. Salima’s hand drifted to her throat. Grayson’s jaw tightened. Davin’s posture shifted—subtle, but ready. Roman’s voice came again, quieter this time, but it shook
The private terminal in Chicago was polished steel and glass, quiet in the way money demanded. No crowds. No noise. Just the low hum of engines and the sharp winter air rolling across the tarmac.Roman Blackwood stood at the base of the stairs, coat buttoned neatly, hands in his pockets, eyes fixed







