Katherine's POV*Two Years Later*The air felt thick and heavy as I stood by the window of the rundown motel. The curtains were thin, barely hiding me from the outside world. Every sound made me jump—a car door slamming, the shuffle of footsteps on the gravel outside. My world had come crashing down, and I had nowhere left to turn.For weeks, I’d been dodging police, hiding in places I never thought I’d have to set foot in. My once-loyal allies were gone, every single one of them scattering like rats when the ship started sinking. The life I had built, the power I once held, was nothing but ashes now.I stared at the duffel bag on the bed. It was all I had left—some cash, a fake passport, and a change of clothes. It wasn’t much, but it would have to do. I couldn’t stay here. The net was closing in, and if I didn’t leave soon, I’d be caught. Again. A knock on the door startled me. My heart leaped into my throat, and I froze, listening. It came again, louder this time.“Katherine,” a v
Danielle's POV The day started like any other. I was sitting in the living room, flipping through some documents for work, when my phone buzzed on the coffee table. I reached for it, not thinking much of it, but when I saw the name on the screen, my heart stopped for a moment.It was my adoptive mother.I hadn’t spoken to her—or my adoptive father—since everything came to light about my biological parents. Their reaction to the news had been cold and distant. They had accused me of being ungrateful, of turning my back on the life they had given me. I had tried to explain that finding my biological parents didn’t mean I loved them any less, but they hadn’t wanted to hear it.Now, months later, seeing her name pop up felt strange. My thumb hovered over the screen, debating whether to answer. But curiosity won out, and I pressed the button.“Hello?” I said, my voice cautious.“Danielle,” she said. Her voice was soft, almost hesitant. It was so different from the sharp tone I remembered
Jayden's POVThe house was finally quiet. The chaos of the last few weeks was settling down, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like I could breathe. Danielle had put our son to bed, and now we were alone. Just the two of us. It felt like the right moment—no interruptions, no lingering danger. I had been waiting for this, for a chance to talk to her without the weight of the world pressing down on us.I sat on the couch, staring at the soft glow of the lamp in the corner. I could hear her moving around in the kitchen, putting away dishes. Every little sound she made seemed to fill the room, making it harder to focus. I had been thinking about what to say for days, rehearsing the words in my head, but now that the moment was here, everything felt like a blur.When she finally walked into the living room, she looked surprised to see me sitting there. Her hair was loose, falling in soft waves around her shoulders. She wasn’t wearing any makeup, and she looked tired but beautif
Danielle's POVLucas asked to meet up after work so we could have a drink or two and talk about ‘Stuff’ he didn't bother to explain. When I arrived, Lucas was already sitting by the window, his profile outlined by the soft glow of the street lights outside. He wasn’t drinking his coffee—he just stared at it, his hands clasped tightly around the cup as if it were the only thing anchoring him. I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what I was walking into, before finally approaching the table.“Hey,” I said, sliding into the chair across from him. “You okay?”He looked up at me, and for a moment, his green eyes didn’t reveal anything. Then, slowly, his expression softened into something I couldn’t quite name—sadness, maybe, or determination.“I’m fine,” he said, his voice low. “Thanks for coming, Danielle. I know it might not have been convenient.”“Of course,” I replied, leaning forward slightly. “You’ve been there for me more times than I can count. What’s going on?”He didn’t answer ri
Katherine's POV I sat in the corner of a damp, crumbling room, listening to the faint hum of the city outside. My crew—what little of it remained—was scattered, arrested, or hiding like rats in the walls. Everything I’d built was gone, torn apart piece by piece by Danielle’s real parents.I had not seen it coming. Everything happened all at once and too fast. It had moved from Zeddy withdrawing his support and my Mafia colleagues asking what was wrong and why it was hard to fund them and fund myself, to being a scapegoat for Danielle's new parents.Everything I thought I had was an illusion. Perhaps, I never really did have anything. How had I been foolish enough to agree with Zeddy each time he said that I had everything was one thing I didn't understand. Perhaps, I didn't get enough from him when I could. I hadn't thought he'd leave so abruptly and now there was no way he was ever coming back. What if he was right and it was true that I'd never be able to get the revenge I wanted
Katherine's POV I sat in front of the mirror, the harsh lighting of the room illuminating every detail of my face. It had been a long time since I’d looked at myself this closely, and the reflection staring back at me no longer seemed like my own. I had to do this. I had to be unrecognizable when I returned to the town, to slip in without anyone knowing who I was. The police were still searching for me, and Danielle and Jayden were getting closer and closer to destroying me. I couldn’t let that happen. I couldn’t let myself be caught. Not now, not when I was so close to winning.I had made the decision. Plastic surgery. It would be painful, yes. But it would be worth it. I would erase every trace of the old Katherine, the one who was once seemed to adore, love, and respect. The one who had been so close to having everything. But now, I would return as someone new, someone no one could recognize. And I would bring Danielle and Jayden down.I had already scheduled the procedure. Ther