Camilla.I’d never seen anything more perfect than the reflection staring back at me.There I stood, surrounded by soft white roses and warm sunlight pouring through stained glass windows, dressed in a gown that shimmered like morning dew. The lace bodice clung to me like it had been sewn by dreams, every detail flawless, every pearl and thread whispering, this is it. The long veil framed my face, and my makeup, soft golds, warm nudes, and just a hint of blush was so perfect I barely recognized myself.It wasn’t the wealth, or the grandeur. It was the peace in my chest, the steady rhythm of my heart that said: finally!"Camilla?" a voice called softly, and I turned as the door creaked open.Rachael stepped into the room, her eyes wide and full of warmth. Her hair was curled into elegant waves, her champagne-colored dress catching the light as she smiled."Wow," she whispered, her voice cracking a little. "You look like... every little girl’s fairytale."I tried to speak but only manag
Camilla.The harsh fluorescent lights buzzed above me as the doctor finished taping the last bit of gauze over my side. I hissed when his fingers pressed too hard against the stitched wound, and he gave me a tight smile."You're lucky, Miss," he said, straightening. "The stab wound wasn’t deep. It missed your organs, and there’s no sign of infection. You’ll be sore for a few weeks, but you'll recover just fine at home.""Great," I muttered, forcing a half-smile as I looked toward the hallway. "Can I go now?"He nodded. "You’re free to leave. But take it easy. No strenuous activity."If only he knew.Outside the exam room, Grey leaned against the wall, arms crossed, the muscle in his jaw twitching. The moment he saw me, his eyes scanned me with that mixture of concern and guilt he always wore when I got hurt because of him, or because of this world we were pulled into together."Are you sure you should be walking?" he asked, already at my side, one arm wrapping around me to support my
Grey."Carol," I whispered, my voice low but steady. "You stay out here. Be on guard. If anything goes wrong or someone comes out we need to know."Carol gave a tight nod. She was nervous, I could see it in the way her fingers danced on the grip of her handgun but I trusted her to handle things.Bryce stood beside me, adjusting the straps of his backpack. He was breathing faster than usual, and I didn’t blame him. This wasn’t some street brawl. We were walking straight into the lion’s den, and Camilla... God, Camilla was somewhere inside."I'm going in first," I said, voice like steel. "You stay on me. No sudden moves. No loud noises. We don’t get a second chance if they catch us."Bryce nodded, but I could already see the sweat glistening on his forehead.We slipped through a side gate Carol had found earlier, half-busted and loose on the hinges. Every step I took, my muscles coiled tighter, ready to spring. I kept my Glock drawn, eyes flicking from shadow to shadow as we crept into
Grey.I was sitting on the edge of the hard bench, staring down at the floor, trying to keep calm. My wrists rested on my knees, and I breathed slowly—like my therapist had taught me. One breath in, hold it, let it out. Repeat. Keep from spiraling.The officer’s shadow fell across the bars.“You’ve got visitors,” he said, unlocking the gate with a sharp click.My head jerked up. Visitors? Before I could say a word, he stepped inside and clipped the cuffs around my wrists.“Standard protocol,” he muttered.I didn’t protest. My thoughts were already racing. Camilla. Please let it be her.He led me down the hall. My boots scuffed against the concrete, each step heavy, each second dragging. We turned a corner, and I caught a glimpse through the narrow window of the visitation room. My breath caught.Bryce. Carol. And my lawyer. And obviously Camilla was not here.As soon as I was seated, I leaned forward. “Where is she?” My voice was low but tense. “Where’s Camilla?”Bryce shifted uncomfo
Camilla.I woke up to the sharp beeping of my phone, persistent and shrill. Grey’s arm was still draped over my waist, heavy and warm, his breathing deep and steady against the crook of my neck. Morning light filtered through the half-drawn curtains, casting the room in a soft glow.But something about that beep… it wasn’t a regular message alert.I reached out, fumbling for my phone on the nightstand, and when my fingers wrapped around it, I felt a sudden, inexplicable dread curl in my stomach. My screen was flooded—texts, notifications, missed calls.I clicked the first video, and my blood ran cold.Benjamin. Lying in a pool of his own blood. Dead.“Oh my God…” I whispered, my hand flying to cover my mouth.It wasn’t just a video. It was everywhere. The media, social feeds, conspiracy blogs, spinning stories at lightning speed. My heart slammed against my ribs.The captions said it all:"Benjamin Walker found dead in mysterious circumstances.""Alexander Grey rumored to be the prime
Julia.I stared at the contract papers on the coffee table, the words blurring together like smoke. My ears still rang from the sound of the boardroom gavel, echoing Camilla’s voice as she announced the takeover. Hostile acquisition complete. Just like that, everything I had worked for was gone."She played me," I whispered, the bitter taste of betrayal crawling up my throat. My hands trembled. I pushed myself up from the couch and stumbled into the kitchen. My mother, Georgina, hadn’t said a word since she saw the photo an hour ago. She stood by the window, staring out like a statue carved from rage and disappointment.I poured two glasses of water, one for her, one for me. My heart thudded in my chest like a war drum as I walked over to her. "Here," I said softly, offering the glass.She turned slowly, eyes bloodshot, lips pressed into a thin line. I could see it in her gaze, that seething disappointment, the kind that pierced deeper than any insult."You idiot," she spat, snatching