ANMELDEN"Owen... you need to cut yourself some slack," she says gently, reaching up to lightly brush her thumb against my cheekbone. "You don't have to be the invincible counselor right now. You just lost your mom, honey. I know how much she meant to you. I know how much you loved her, and I know how hard y
I watch Sydney walk away from me, her spine perfectly straight, her head held high like a queen marching out of a ruined kingdom. Her words—sharp, icy, and dripping with disgust that makes my skin crawl—still echo in the quiet space of the dining room. "While you're busy playing love and playing h
My heart drops into my shoes, a sickening wave of nausea swirling in my stomach. He sharply pulls away after a beat, his hands coming up to grip her shoulders, his face a mix of shock and discomfort. "Camille, what are you doing here? How did you even get past the gates?" "Oh, Owen, I came the sec
I lean in across the dark wood, my jaw tight, waiting for the genius to drop some mind-blowing corporate strategy. Owen slides his glass entirely out of the way, his eyes tracking mine with a sudden, sharp intensity. "The first thing we need to do," he says, leaning his forearms on the table, "is p
I don't wait to hear another word. A blinding, white-hot rush of pure adrenaline and rage explodes in my chest. Before I even realize what I’m doing, my arm whips forward. I throw my phone across the bedroom with every ounce of strength I have left. It hits the far drywall with a sickening smack,
I sit on the edge of the mattress, the silence of my locked bedroom pressing in from all sides. My scalp still burns from where I was aggressively pulling at the tangles earlier, but I barely care. I slowly run a hand through my hair, letting out a long breath that shudders against my teeth. The r
But I have nothing. My company’s stocks are performing a spectacular swan dive into the pavement, and the "Newton" name is starting to feel more like a lead weight than a golden ticket. But then... an idea hits me. It’s a small spark, but it grows fast. Why did Tobias invite me? He’s a shark. He d
Why am I even here? I mutter the question under my breath, the words getting swallowed by the swell of a string quartet and the mindless chatter of a thousand people I mostly despise. I’m navigating through a sea of tuxedo-clad vultures and women wearing diamonds expensive enough to fund a small
The door to my office swings open with a force that suggests the person on the other side doesn't believe in the concept of a waiting room. I blink, checking my watch. I just hung up the phone with Owen Kingston ten minutes ago. Ten. "Wow," I say, a dry chuckle escaping my throat. "That was fast.
"OWEN!" I bolt upright, my heart hitting against my ribs like a trapped bird. For a split second, I’m convinced it’s the shadow woman from my dreams, calling out to me from the void. I blink, trying to orient myself. I’m in a room that smells like vanilla and flowery soap. Right. Sydney’s place.







