LOGINAfter realizing that her new stepbrother was her one-night stand 'fish boy', a fantastic idea pooped up Isis Cepheus's brain. "Let's strike a deal, Sam" she demanded with a forced smile. Samuel Armani looked at her with an angry gaze, "What deal?" "Let's fake a date. If my mom and your dad sees we're in love, they'll get divorced" She opined. Samuel Armani wasn't foolish as to accept such ridiculous idea from the girl that made him lost the only gift his girlfriend gave him and almost made betray her . But since fate brought them together to meet as siblings again, after their first time chaotic meeting, he had no choice than to agree. However, as much as he wanted to hold himself back from assuming it was fake dating, the more he was drawning into his 'stepsister's' charm. First they had to hug tightly to oppress rivals. Second they had to kiss lightly in front of the parent. But nothing seems to be working not until they....
View MoreThanksgiving that year was different.Max had a heart attack in early November. Not massive, the doctors said, but significant enough to require surgery and lifestyle changes."He's going to be fine," Nora told Riley over the phone, her voice shaking despite the reassuring words. "But it was scary. Really scary."Riley and Samuel visited him in the hospital the next day. Max looked older somehow, diminished in the hospital bed in a way he'd never looked before."I'm fine," Max said when he saw their worried faces. "Stop looking at me like I'm dying.""You had a heart attack," Samuel said. "We're allowed to be worried.""It was a minor heart attack. Barely worth mentioning.""The doctors disagree," Nora said firmly. "You're on bed rest for two weeks, then cardiac rehab, then significant diet and exercise changes.""I'm an Alpha. I don't need bed rest.""You're a sixty-two-year-old man who just had a heart attack. You need bed rest."Max grumbled but didn't argue further.The incident s
Winter came early that year, bringing snow in late October. Riley stood at her office window, watching the flakes fall, thinking about how much had changed in the eight years since she'd first met Samuel. Eight years since that pool deck, that terrified moment when her world had shifted. Now she was thirty-five, mother of two, Alpha's mate, successful author and media entrepreneur. A life she'd never imagined possible. "You're being contemplative again," Diana said from the doorway. "Just thinking about time. How fast it moves." "That's very philosophical for a Tuesday morning." Riley smiled. "I'm allowed to be philosophical occasionally." "Occasionally, sure. But you've been staring out that window for twenty minutes. Everything okay?" "Everything's fine. Just... reflective." Diana left her alone, and Riley returned to her thoughts. She'd been feeling it more lately. The passage of time. Selene was nine now, growing independent and opinionated. Isaac was three and
Tiara's funeral was held on a gray Saturday in late November. Riley and Samuel attended together, along with Max and Nora. They sat near the back of the small chapel, not wanting to intrude on the grief of Tiara's sister and the few friends who'd stayed in touch over the years. The service was simple and beautiful. Layla, Tiara's younger sister, spoke about the vibrant woman Tiara had been before the accident. About her dreams of becoming a veterinarian, her love of old movies, her terrible singing voice that she used anyway. "My sister lost seven years of her life," Layla said, her voice breaking. "But in the time she had after waking up, she lived fully. She moved to Oregon, went back to school, made new friends. She didn't let what happened to her define her final chapter." Riley found herself crying. For Tiara, for the life cut short, for all the what-ifs and might-have-beens. Samuel held her hand through the entire service. Afterward, Layla approached them as they wer
The scandal broke on a Tuesday morning in October. Riley was feeding Stella when her phone started exploding with notifications. Messages, emails, calls, all coming in simultaneously. She opened the first message from Diana. "Have you seen the headlines? Call me ASAP." Riley pulled up the news with one hand while Stella nursed. Her heart stopped. "ALPHA SAMUEL ARMANI ACCUSED OF FAVORITISM AND CORRUPTION" read the headline from a major pack news outlet. The article detailed allegations that Samuel had been awarding pack contracts to friends and family members, specifically mentioning Riley's foundation and Pack Truth as beneficiaries of preferential treatment. "What the hell?" Riley muttered. She kept reading. The accusations came from a former pack council member, Douglas Chen, who claimed Samuel had pressured him to approve funding for the Tiara Moore Foundation despite concerns about financial oversight. "This is ridiculous," Riley said to Stella, who continued nursing, un






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