Mona povI jolted upright in bed, my heart pounding as heavy knocks echoed through my tiny apartment. The unmistakable rhythm was enough to drag me from sleep, though my eyes resisted opening.Who the hell knocks on my door this early?I groaned, annoyance settling in my voice, and pulled myself out from under the covers. Another knock followed, sharp and insistent."Who is it?" I shouted, rubbing the sleep from my eyes with one hand, determined to shake off the drowsiness.The next knock was paired with a voice—one that definitely wasn’t Ian’s."Sorry, ma’am. I have a message for you." The tone was calm, too calm.I clenched my jaw. Ian was unpredictable, but even he wouldn’t sound so collected. Realizing it wasn’t him only fueled my curiosity. Who else would be hammering at my door at this hour?“Ugh…” I muttered under my breath, forcing myself out of bed, my body resisting the effort.I padded to the door, each step feeling laborious as I neared what felt like a confrontation. I pe
Ian's POVI watched as Mona stormed out of the dining room, her posture radiating fury. The door slammed with enough force to rattle the expensive china. A grin tugged at the corners of my mouth. She was furious, that much was clear, but there was something deeper in her eyes—an unmistakable determination. This wasn’t going to be easy, and I reveled in that fact. It was all part of the game I played with her.Resistance was expected, especially from Mona. I thrived on it; she was a challenging puzzle I intended to solve. I wasn’t about to let her slip away, especially when I had plans that included her."Ah, Mona," I muttered to myself, watching her retreating figure. "You make this far more interesting."I turned away from the table, placing my coffee cup down with purpose. I could almost taste the satisfaction waiting for me when she finally came around. But I wasn’t in a rush; I had all the time in the world.Just then, my phone buzzed on the counter, interrupting my thoughts. I gl
Mona's POVI sprinted down the hallway, heart racing. I needed a landline, and I needed it fast. Ian had been holding me captive in his penthouse, demanding money I didn't have.Days had passed since I last heard from my mother, still in the hospital after our last call. I promised to visit her, but Ian's grip tightened, making it impossible to leave.Leaning against the balcony door, I scanned the city below, feeling smaller than ever. But today, that would change. I refused to let Ian control me any longer.Suddenly, I saw him. Ian was heading to his car, distracted by some business deal. I held my breath, thankful for his momentary absence, whispering a quick prayer.After ensuring he didn’t return, I rushed down the staircase, adrenaline fueling my urgency. I needed to talk to my mom.In the living room, I spotted the landline and lunged for it. Days without hearing her voice was unbearable. My hands shook as I picked up the receiver.I dialed her number, the phone ringing repeate
I released a breath I hadn’t realized I had been holding, my heart pounding as adrenaline coursed through my veins. I knew I had to keep my composure; collapsing now would mean giving in to the chaos. My mother was still on the line, her voice a comforting tether to reality, and I could not let her sense my vulnerability. Not now.“Mama?” I said, trying to steady my voice, but it came out a little shakier than I intended.“Mona?” Her voice crackled through the receiver, laced with concern and worry. “What happened? Are you okay?”I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to push back the tumult of emotions threatening to spill over. Gritting my teeth, I let out a shaky breath. “I’m okay, Mama. Just… just a little more trouble. But I’m fine. I promise.” I hoped my words could mask the turmoil churning within me.“Stay strong, Mona. Stay strong,” she urged softly, her voice a gentle beacon of support even through the crackling phone line.I nodded, even though she couldn't see me, feeling the war
Mona’s POVI turned at the sound of my name, my heart nearly jumping out of my chest. Of course, it was Ian. Who else would it be? I barely had time to compose myself before I felt his hand on my wrist, dragging me toward his car like I was some sort of property. I pulled back, but his grip tightened, and I could already feel the anger rising in my chest.“What the hell are you doing here, Ian?” I hissed, barely managing to keep my voice from shaking.His grip was still firm, his fingers pressing into my skin, sending an uncomfortable jolt through me. I wrenched my wrist out of his hand, but he was already on me again, too quick. “I should be asking you that,” he growled, dragging me across the parking lot with surprising strength. “You think you can just walk away from me without consequences?”“Consequences?” I raised an eyebrow, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “You mean the ones where you make me your prisoner? Those consequences?”“Don’t play games, Mona,” he snarled, his grip tig
Ian's povI looked up from my desk as Mia's voice pierced the silence of my office. “Ian, what’s that witch doing in your penthouse?”I sighed, rubbing my face to ease the tension that rushed in. I knew exactly what she meant.“Who?” I asked, keeping my voice steady.“Mona. The woman in your penthouse. What’s she doing there?” I let out a dry laugh, brushing my hair back. “Mona isn’t your concern.”“Don’t dodge the question, Ian. I know who she is,” she shot back, her eyes narrowing with anger.I stood up, my body tense. “Stop calling her names, Mia.You don’t know what you're talking about.”She scoffed, a laugh escaping her lips, hollow and mocking. “Oh, I get it now. You are with her, aren’t you? This is how it ends? Do you have the guts to cheat on me, Ian? You don’t even care about what we had?”It was like a slap to the face. But instead of recoiling, I stepped closer, my voice barely above a whisper, hard and cold. “Our relationship ended a long time ago, Mai.”She froze, her
Mona's POVI lay on my small bed, staring at the cracked, peeling white ceiling, struggling to breathe through my swirling thoughts. My mother’s voice echoed in my mind, demanding things I didn’t think I could achieve. Even in the silence, her presence felt heavy, filled with expectations that weighed me down.I rolled onto my side, each breath growing heavier. The bed felt constricting, and I swung my legs over the edge, miscalculating the distance to the floor. My heart raced as I teetered, almost losing my balance. A rush of panic hit me, but I steadied myself, trembling from the close call.I muttered a curse, breaking the silence, before trying to gather my scattered thoughts. I reached for my shoes, which were hidden under the bed. I brushed my fingers against the cool wooden floor but found nothing. Frustration built within me—how could finding a simple shoe feel so hard?Leaning down, I carefully searched again, feeling the smoothness of the floor beneath my hands. Overwhelmed
Ian's POVMy heart raced as Mona’s body collapsed against mine. At first, I thought it was just her exhaustion catching up to her, but then I felt the dampness on her skin. Sweat. Her body was burning up, trembling against me in a way that sent a cold shiver through my spine.I moved quickly, my hands gripping her shoulders, steadying her as panic surged within me. Her breaths came in sharp, shallow gasps, and I noticed her skin growing pale, a strange rigidity starting to seize her limbs.“Mona,” I said firmly, my voice tight with urgency. She didn’t respond. Her head lolled back, and her eyes flickered open for a brief moment before shutting again, a glassy look in her eyes making the world around me feel suffocating.I didn't waste another second. I scooped her up, cradling her against my chest, feeling the weight of her fragile form in my arms. My body tensed, every muscle primed to power through the fear pushing me forward."Stay with me, Mona," I insisted, determined that she c
Ian’s POVThe room was packed—executives, lawyers, shareholders, even a few smug interns pretending they belonged. Everyone looked polished, precise, pretending they weren’t all silently judging the delay. The air was stiff with anticipation, sharp like glass about to shatter.I couldn’t sit still. The deal was moments from collapsing. The final signature? Mia’s. The genius behind the entire project. The brains, the blueprint, the only one who could pull it off. And she was nowhere.I checked my phone. Nothing. Not even a ghost of a delivered message."Where the hell is she?" I mumbled, pacing behind the long glass table while everyone avoided my eyes.I stepped out of the conference room, heart hammering in my throat. The hallway felt colder. I dialed her again—voicemail. Again. Straight to voicemail.“Pick up, Mia. Come on…”Fifth call. Sixth. I stared at the screen as if it owed me answers.Still nothing.My throat tightened. I called her mother.“Ian?” she answered, surprised. “Mi
MONA – POV“Mona? Mona, are you okay?”The voice felt distant—like it was echoing through a long tunnel. I blinked slowly, my head swimming, limbs heavy. Was I dreaming?“Mona!”SMACK!My head snapped to the side from the force of a slap. My eyes flew open.“What the hell?!” I gasped, jerking upright.I was on the couch. My chest was heaving, heart racing like I’d just run a marathon. My tongue felt thick. My mouth was dry. My limbs? Numb. I looked up to see Ian standing over me, a look of concern mixed with exasperation on his face.“You slapped me!” I barked, dragging my legs off the couch.“You weren’t waking up!” Ian shot back, throwing his hands up. “I’ve been trying for ten minutes! How long have you been out?”I blinked at him, my brain still foggy. “I don’t know—when did you get back?”He checked his watch, then crossed his arms. “I got home over three hours ago.”Three. Hours.I screamed.Ian jumped back, startled. “Whoa! Okay—calm down!”“Three hours? Are you serious?!” I wa
Author's POVShe ran like hell was licking at her heels. Her breath tore from her throat in jagged gasps, eyes wide and glassy, barely seeing where she was going. The night was cool but her skin burned, slick with sweat, heart pounding loud in her ears like war drums. She didn’t dare look back. Not once. She didn’t need to. Brown’s rage was enough to propel her forward, each step screaming with a desperation that only comes when you know—know—you’ve just danced with death and somehow slipped away with your soul.Her boots pounded against cracked pavement, weaving through alleys until she burst into the open light of the main road. Neon signs blinked like watching eyes. Cars hummed by, indifferent to the storm in her bones.And then—tires screeched.A black car jerked to a stop right in front of her. She stumbled back with a startled gasp, ready to bolt again, until the driver’s window rolled down.“Well, damn. That you?”The voice was like velvet and trouble wrapped in sarcasm. Her ey
Brown's POV"What the hell are you saying? You can't bring the documents containing Ian's business deal with the Europeans?" I growled, my voice rough as gravel, slicing through the air like a blade. My fist slammed into the oak table with a thunderous crack, shaking the glass and papers that sat on its surface. She flinched, her body recoiling instinctively. Her wide, glossy eyes stared at me—frightened, wounded. She looked like a cornered animal, ready to bolt, but too broken to run."I—I'm trying my best, Brown. It's not easy to work as a help in a toxic home just to get valuable documents," she stammered, voice trembling, hands wringing together. Her lip quivered as she took a shaky step back, brushing her knuckles over her cheek.“I killed their cook… in the name of getting this…” Her voice cracked, and she swallowed hard, trying to compose herself, but the fear in her gaze betrayed her strength.The words hit me like a slap. Killed? That was unexpected, even for her.She backed
Flynn’s POVBut Mona wasn’t having it. She stepped into the doorway, blocking my exit. Her presence filled the space, making the already small hallway feel even more suffocating."No, no, no, Flynn," she said, shaking her head in mock sympathy. "You’re not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on." She crossed her arms tighter across her chest, making sure I knew she wasn’t backing down. "You don’t just sneak out of here without telling me where you’re going. You work for me, remember?"I bit my lip to keep from snapping. Mona had this habit of reminding me of my position every chance she got, and it never failed to get under my skin. I didn’t want to fight her, but I knew I had no choice. If she got curious enough, she’d find out more than she needed to, and that would put me in even more danger."I’m just... taking care of some things. Personal stuff." I repeated, my voice a little more forceful this time, hoping she'd buy it.But Mona was no fool. Her sharp eyes bored into
Flynn’s POVI was still rolling from one end of my bed to the other, wrapped in my comforter like a burrito, when my phone rang. Loud. Way too loud. Like, offensive-to-my-eardrums loud.I groaned, blindly flinging a hand over the bed, searching for the buzzing traitor that had the audacity to disrupt my sleep. My fingers finally landed on the screen, and I yanked it up toward my face, my eyes squinting like the sun itself had just slapped me.“Who the hell—” I mumbled, my voice scratchy, crust still in the corner of my eyes. I blinked. The caller ID was just a string of numbers, no name. Suspicious. Rude.I debated tossing it back under my pillow. Whoever it was could wait. Or not exist. Preferably both. But just as I was about to end the call with a swipe of my pinky, a loud voice boomed through the phone speaker:“FLYNN!”I flinched so hard I nearly dropped the phone on my face.Oh. No. That voice.“Shit,” I whispered, sitting upright with the speed of someone who just realized they
Ian’s POVI was hearing voices downstairs—raised, sharp, female voices—and my stomach dropped like a stone in a pond.At first, I thought I was imagining it. I’d barely made it down the driveway, needed a damn breather after that phone call, but the moment I got out of the car, the shrieking tone of Mai’s laugh sliced through the quiet like a chainsaw in a library.What the actual hell?I took the porch steps two at a time and threw open the front door.And that’s when chaos hit me square in the face.Mona came flying at me like a human missile, barefoot, hair wild, wearing nothing but my shirt and righteous fury. She launched into my arms like a hurricane had possessed her.“She came here!” she shouted, voice muffled against my chest. “She came here like the devil on a bender, Ian! She was in the kitchen, giggling and scheming and trying to possess your soul or some crap like that!”I blinked. “Uh… who?”She pulled back, eyes blazing. “MAI!”Behind her, Flynn raised a hand like a wea
Mona’s POVI watched him leave, the front door closing behind him with a finality that settled in my bones like a slow, creeping frost. Ian didn’t even look back.I should’ve been angry. Furious, maybe. But all I felt was hollow. My chest ached, the silence stretching out in the room like a punishment. And all because he answered a damn call. From her. Mai.That good-for-nothing, manipulative, arrogant... illiterate.I hated how it made me feel. Jealous. Insecure. Like I was twelve again and being picked last for the team, only this time the prize was Ian, and I was the one losing.I ran a hand through my tangled curls, eyes burning as I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. The house felt colder without him in it. Colder and quieter.I pulled his shirt tighter around me—the one I slept in last night. The hem brushed mid-thigh, soft cotton and his scent wrapping around me like a second skin. I padded toward the stairs barefoot, each step a whisper against the polished wood.
Mona’s POVIan?Wait—what the hell are you doing here?I blinked once. Twice. But no, I wasn’t hallucinating. It was him. Ian Devereux, standing like a ghost from a past I had just buried — in broad daylight, in front of my favorite corner café, where I was supposed to be minding my business and my cappuccino.I narrowed my eyes, instantly on edge. “I thought we got things over. You chose Me over me, remember? So what’s with the long face? She not reading bedtime stories anymore?”He looked like he hadn’t slept in days. His hair was messier than usual, like he’d been running his hands through it out of habit. He wore the same black coat I once stole to sleep in, and the way it clung to his frame made him look colder, heavier… like guilt had a physical weight.“Mona,” he said my name like it was an apology in itself. I didn’t flinch.“No, seriously,” I continued, folding my arms across my chest. “What do you want, Ian? Closure? A sequel? Or are you just here to remind me that I was stu