LOGINAfter a week, I was finally discharged from the hospital. The first thing on my mind was how to get the documents back.Jason stayed home with me the entire time, not bothering to go to work.“I’m sorry for all the trouble,” I said softly. “I didn’t know everything would spiral this fast.”“It’s alright, Alexa,” he replied gently. “I’m here for you. We’ll get through this—together.”He held my hands and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead.Just then, my phone rang.An unknown number.I glanced at Jason nervously. He gave me a reassuring nod, rubbing my shoulders gently.I answered the call.“Hello?”“Hey, Alexa Leonard… or should I say, Alexa Anderson?”My grip tightened around the phone.“Who’s this?” I asked, my voice tense.A soft, mocking chuckle echoed from the other end.“Oh, don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten my voice.”My heart skipped.“Mrs. Stone?”“That’s right, darling,” she replied, amused.Jason’s hand tightened
PRESENT — HOSPITAL ROOMThe hospital room remained silent after my mother finished speaking.No one moved.No one even dared to breathe too loudly.The weight of her story hung heavily in the air like a storm cloud.I stared at Mom in confusion, trying to process everything she had said so far.None of it made sense yet.Why were the families connected?Why was Mrs. Stones so desperate for the documents?And what exactly happened years ago?Yet the pain in my mother’s eyes told me every word was true.She looked exhausted… like someone forced to relive a nightmare she had spent years trying to bury.Slowly, she lowered her gaze.“After that night at the club,” Mom continued quietly, “everything changed.”YEARS AGOA week after the murder incident, we discovered the man Katey killed was part of a powerful mafia organization.Fear consumed me immediately.That night haunted me endlessly.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw blood.I saw his body collapsing onto the restroom floor.I heard
JESSICA’S POVLooking back now, I wished I had kept my mouth shut that morning.If I had known what that single conversation would lead to… maybe everything would have turned out differently.Maybe our lives would not have been ruined.I walked into school that day with excitement bubbling inside me. For the first time in weeks, I actually felt happy.Ryan Leonard.Just thinking about him made my cheeks warm.I hurried toward our usual table where Suzan and Katey were already seated.The moment I dropped my bag dramatically onto the chair, Suzan narrowed her eyes suspiciously.“That smile on your face is dangerous,” she said.I grinned.“Girls… I have something to tell you.”Suzan leaned forward immediately. “Spill.”I tucked my hair behind my ear and tried to hide my excitement.“So… I might be getting engaged.”Suzan nearly screamed.“At seventeen?”“Not now,” I laughed quickly. “Our parents just want us to start courting first before marriage.”“What kind of billionaire arrangement
JESSICA’S POV“Jessica, your dad has plans for you, okay?” my mother said, gently cupping my face.I frowned. “What plans exactly, Mom?”She only smiled. “Just behave yourself tonight. We have visitors.”“Who are they?”She paused for a second before answering.“Your in-laws.”I let out a short laugh. “What do you mean? I’m seventeen.”“You’ll understand later,” she replied calmly. “Just don’t create a scene tonight.”And with that, she walked out.That morning had already been strange.My mom—who barely had time for me—suddenly took me shopping. She picked out dresses herself, carefully, like she actually cared. For a moment, I thought something had changed. I thought maybe… she finally noticed me.But now I understood.It wasn’t about me.It never was.I had everything money could buy—cards that never ran out, luxury, comfort—but no real family warmth. No siblings. No closeness. Just distance, hidden behind wealth.Still, I didn’t question it then.I just enjoyed the moment.Later t
The school gates buzzed with attention as three luxury cars pulled in, one after the other.Students paused mid-conversation.Eyes followed.Whispers spread.“They’re here…”The doors opened, and the trio stepped out—effortless, confident, dressed in designer outfits that screamed wealth and influence.Heads turned everywhere.“I heard their parents are close,” a student whispered.“They’re so lucky,” another sighed dreamily.“Keep dreaming,” someone scoffed. “People like them don’t notice people like us.”A third girl rolled her eyes. “Can we go to class now?”************After their first lesson, the three girls headed to the cafeteria.Katey dropped into her seat dramatically.“I’m exhausted. That class was painfully boring.”Jessica scoffed. “You weren’t even paying attention.”Suzan tried to speak but burst into laughter instead.Katey shot her a glare and raised her middle finger.“Relax,” Jessica teased. “It’s not like he even notices you.”Katey smirked. “He will. Very soon.”
JASON’S POVI held her hand, staring at her pale face.The steady beep of the monitor filled the silence.Three days.Three long, unbearable days—and still no improvement.I hadn’t left the hospital once.Not for food. Not for sleep.I couldn’t.Because the moment I did… something might happen.And I wouldn’t be there.My world felt completely upside down.I tightened my grip on her hand.“I’m sorry…” I whispered.Sorry for not protecting her.Sorry for failing her.My chest ached.I had been here before.Waiting.Hoping.Praying for someone I loved to wake up—Only to lose them in the end.My mother.Ella.Both gone… while I waited helplessly.“No…” I muttered under my breath. “Not again.”I couldn’t go through that again.I wouldn’t survive it.A tear slipped down my face.I brought her hand to my forehead, closing my eyes.For the first time in years—I prayed.To a God I never believed in.“Please… don’t take her.”The past few days had been nothing but chaos.The fire.The missin
ALEXA’S POVI knew it.I was right not to get my hopes up.Last night, I expected Jason to continue being… different. Softer. Warmer.Instead, he walked past me at dinner as if nothing had changed. Cold. Distant. Back to being the grumpy, unreadable man I married.I shouldn’t have expected anything
JASON’S POVI stepped out of the conference room after a long meeting with my associates and department heads. We were currently finalizing preparations for the grand opening of my new boutique complex in Georgia. Expanding the business had always been my goal — regardless of Jace’s recent laziness
SYDNEY’S POV“So, Mom, what exactly are you trying to do? And who is this man?” I asked sharply, irritation clear in my voice as my eyes settled on the stranger seated across from us.“Well,” my mother said calmly, “this man is helping me with Gresham’s documents.”I stared harder at him. The stran
Mrs. Leonard paced the living room restlessly, phone pressed tightly to her ear.“Dylan, make an appointment with Mrs. Hart immediately,” she ordered sharply. “She must find a way to stop these rumours about my daughter.”She ended the call and turned angrily to Austin.“Austin, do something too. W







