LOGINLYNETTE'S POVWhen we stepped out of the building, Bradford’s chauffeur was already standing by the door of a black SUV, waiting for us.Bradford walked up to him and held out his hand. "The keys."The chauffeur blinked. "Sir?""I'll drive, Martin,” Bradford said when he noticed his surprised expression.Martin hesitated a moment before handing over the keys. “O-of course, sir.”Bradford then walked around to the passenger side, opened the door, and held it.I was still standing there watching him almost absentmindedly when he turned to me and asked."Aren't you getting in?"I blinked, pressing my lips together.Then I moved to get into the car and murmured a thank you just before he shut the door.He circled round to the driver's side, settled into his seat, and started the engine.We drove in silence for a few minutes, the car humming quietly.I stared out the window, watching the city whizz by. Buildings, people, lives I didn't know, lives that weren't tangled up in secrets and lie
LYNETTE'S POV I didn't remember the drive to Bradford’s office. I didn't remember riding in the elevator, getting out of it, and walking down the hallway.I only remembered his secretary, Sophie, calling after me when I strode past her desk without sparing her as much as a glance. And even her voice barely registered. I just continued walking fast, furiously, and focused on where I was heading.Sophie shot up from her seat. "Ms. Evans, you can't just…"I didn't stop. My heels were clicking loudly against the floor as I kept on walking."Ms. Evans, please, Mr. King is in a meeting,” she tried again, following behind me hurriedly. “Ms. Evans!"I didn’t bother knocking when I reached his office door, I just pushed it open and stepped in.I met Bradford sitting by his desk, leaning slightly forward as he looked down at some papers that were spread across the desk. His shirt rolled up to his elbow.And there was someone else with him, a man in a suit seated across from him. Their heads
LYNETTE'S POV I was at my desk, eating a sandwich with one hand and scrolling through design files with the other when my phone buzzed beside my laptop. I ignored it and kept working. But it buzzed again and again, and then it wouldn't stop. I let out a frustrated sigh, set the sandwich down, and picked up the phone to see what the buzzing was all about. My brows instantly drew together when I saw dozens of notifications of new followers and DMs from I*******m, all in the last few minutes. What the hell? I wasn’t an influencer or anything, I didn’t post much, and my studio's account was modest. So where did all the attention come from all of sudden? I stared for a moment, then I shook my head, ignoring it and setting the phone back down. I picked up my sandwich and continued working. The phone kept buzzing, but I paid no attention to it. Then the door suddenly opened, and Ashley walked in with a very bright smile. I'd normally be irritated that she barged in without knockin
BRADFORD'S POV The Thanksgiving weekend that always seemed way too long had come and gone again. I used to look forward to that holiday when my mother was still alive, but not anymore. Cause I now spent them with my father and a handful of relatives that I didn’t like talking to, and they never got tired of asking the usual questions: “When are you getting married? Is there anyone special?” And my answer didn’t change either: “No one special yet.” My father watched me from across the table with an unreadable expression when I answered their questions this time. He knew I was lying. He just didn't know about what. I was also the first to leave the dinner as always. On Monday morning, bright and early, I was back in the office, staring out the busy city of New York from my window, but my mind had already drifted to Lynette. She's another reason why this past weekend felt hellish and extremely long, because she still wouldn't answer my calls and I couldn't go to her o
GABRIELLE'S POVMy mother stared at me for a long moment, unable to utter a word in response, and with that look on her face that made my stomach drop lower.Then she blinked, smoothening out her expression. The fear quickly disappeared from her eyes and was replaced by something calmer, more controlled."Of course not," she said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Why would I hide anything from you?"I frowned slightly. "Mom…" I started to counter, but she cut me off gently, stepping closer to me."You know I'm always worried about you, darling," she reached out, touched my cheek, and I could feel her hand still trembling, just slightly. "I'm only trying to protect you from people in that world, so you don't go through what I went through,” she paused, then softly added. “That's all there is, nothing more."She held my gaze for another second, offering a faint smile, then she walked away before I could think to say anything else. I stood there watching her go. Her shoulders t
GABRIELLE'S POV I was curled up on the couch watching t****k videos when a call from a strange number flashed at the top of the screen. I stared at it with my brow raised for a moment, but something in my gut already told me who it was. I cleared my throat softly, keeping my voice cool before answering. “Hello, who's this?” A warm, playful, and familiar voice came through. “Would you like to take a guess?” I smiled quietly, I knew that voice. It's him just like I'd guessed, but I wasn't gonna make it that easy for him. I paused briefly, letting the silent stretch, like I was thinking. Then I said slowly, letting the surprise evident in my tone. “Benedict?” “The one and only,” he replied, and I could hear the grin in his voice. I rolled my eyes even though he couldn't see me, but I was fighting the urge to really smile. “How…how did you get my number?" I asked, putting on my best surprised voice now. “Well, you wouldn't give it to me. And it turned out the universe's on my si
BRADFORD'S POVThe shock on Lynette’s face was unmistakable. Her face turned pale and her warm brown eyes widened.She seemed to have recognised me even before I introduced myself. From magazines maybe, given that she's a fashion designer. She was staring at me like she saw something that wasn't r
LYNETTE'S POVI stood still, staring at the door Nicholas had just walked out through, tears streaming down my face.I cried for a few minutes.Then I suddenly wiped my face and walked out of the bedroom.‘He doesn't get to decide that.’“Nicholas?” I called out as I walked down the hallway.I sear
LYNETTE'S POV“Gabrielle, it's almost 5 pm,” I said, trying not to sound annoyed. “Why aren't you here yet?”“Sorry Lyn,” She said in a playful tone. “I'm almost at your studio.”“You said that twenty minutes ago,”I knew she was lying. She muttered something, and I could picture her biting her low
LYNETTE'S POV“What the hell?” I muttered.My brows drew together in shock and confusion as I stared at the screen for a moment before putting it back to my ear.“Lynette…” she breathed “tell me you're not kidding.”I frowned slightly even though she couldn’t see me. “I wish I was.” She probably d







