REBECCA'S POVThe first thing I noticed was the clean and unmistakably sterile scent.My eyelids were heavy—too heavy—but I snapped them open.Jessica was resting over the table, and the moment she noticed me, she sprang up from her seat.“Thank the heavens you’re awake. For a second, I thought you weren’t going to make it.” Jessica hugged me, but my attention was fixed on the room.I darted my eyes from side to side, hoping I was going to find a trace of him, but there was none.“Where is Kendrick?” I blurted out before I could even stop myself.“That’s the thing you ask after waking up? Geez, what’s going on between you two?”I didn’t have time for her silly jokes.So I ignored her, resting my back against the bed frame.“Hey, I’m just kidding. Kendrick had to leave for something important. He didn’t tell me though, but I just hope he gets some sleep because he stayed by your side throughout the night.”My heart drummed. “Did he?”Jessica nodded. “It’s surprising, right? My brother
KENDRICK'S POVHis body dropped to the floor. I stared at the gun resting in my hands.I hadn't even pulled the trigger.What kind of man shoots himself to avoid being cut? That's right—a fucking sociopath.I glanced around. There was no one."Re... Reyes." Rebecca brushed over my neck.I hurriedly tucked the gun over my belt. I wouldn’t want her to be scared. Although the woman I knew wouldn’t actually be—but still. She had been through enough for a day.Her body curled up over mine. "Shh, don’t say anything. You need your strength. I’ll take care of you."Her eyes tilted to mine, and slowly I reached out toward her hair. Her gaze snapped toward my hand and my heart flipped in my chest.I pulled my hand back before she could bite it off."Hold on to me. So I can get you downstairs."Her lips were chapped as she let out an exasperated breath. "Don’t treat me like that."My brows knitted. "Like what?""Like I’m an abandoned stray dog," she hissed, her teeth grinding together. "I fuckin
KENDRICK'S POVCall me crazy, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stay away—especially now that I knew there was a chance, a slight chance—probably something like minus 0.1 percent—that she might finally see me.“Protect her from a distance, watch her from afar”—those were the lies I told myself. But deep down, I always knew I was never a contented bastard.Sooner or later, I was going to want more—everyone does. But with Becca, it wasn’t just a want. It was a need. A craving that settled into my bones and refused to let go.My phone buzzed in my pocket, breaking through the stillness. I tore my eyes away from the hospital building—or more specifically, from the window of her room. Becca's window. The only one that mattered.Lewis’s name flashed across the screen, but I didn’t answer right away. I just stared at the light spilling through the night like a promise I couldn’t reach.I sat there in the back of my limo, engine silent. It was just me and that window. Watching her f
REBECCA’S POVWas this how my life was going to end?In this sterile, dark hospital with no one by my side.My hand tightened as I pressed my lips together, the sound of my heart drumming against my ears so hard it felt like it was about to rip open from my chest.After everything I’ve been through—the hurt, shame, and disgrace—only to be murdered in a hospital.The thud grew a little louder, inching closer. I widened my eyes through the darkness, trying to catch even the faintest sign of light, but there was none...Yet through the darkness, I could make out the figure towering toward me.No matter what happens, I couldn’t die...At least not today.Buzz, Buzz, Buzz.My eyes snapped open when my phone started ringing. The light from my screen flicked on, shimmering straight onto the figure that was already in front of me.Tall, lean, with broad shoulders. A mask was over his face, but his eyes were somehow unique… jade, with a faint glow of brown.His eyes widened, realizing I’d been
REBECCA'S POV"It seems you didn't hear me clearly." I arched a brow to face Anna. "I said get out."Anna rolled her eyes as she came beside me, Will trailing behind her. "We're sisters-in-law. Why do you have to be so harsh all the time?"The words made my head explode into a hundred chaotic thoughts. She had to be out of her mind if she thought pulling the family card would work on me.Not after everything she’d done.I still wondered how I hadn’t seen what was happening right under my nose. Anna used to be in a relationship with Felix, but allegedly it didn’t work out.So I was told—then she ended up with Felix's elder brother, who conveniently died not too long ago.Now that I thought about it, the whole thing was suspicious. But the Sterling mess was none of my concern."Anna, if you're going to leverage the fact that we married into the same family, maybe you should’ve thought about that before sleeping with my husband," I scoffed.Anna’s face hardened as she leaned closer. "It’
ANNA'S POVEverything was going fine.Every single fucking thing was going fine until she showed up.Just like the way she did five years ago.I stared at my own reflection in the mirror before letting out a heretical laugh. It tore through my lungs like there was no tomorrow.“Rebecca, you dumb fucking bitch!” I screamed at the top of my lungs, letting it vibrate through the walls.I was this close… and yet she ruined everything.Felix was supposed to secure the deal, make the announcement of our wedding, and we’d live happily ever after.The door opened and I hissed, turning to see the housekeeper rushing in, her steps filled with urgency as she hurried over to me.“Miss Anna, are you okay?” she asked, and my blood boiled all over again.I grunted, letting my palm land across her cheek. She staggered backwards with dread in her eyes.“Miss? How dare you call me miss. I’m the madam of this house. Address me properly.”Her eyes filled with tears. She was probably in her late forties,
REBECCA'S POVAs expected, Kendrick didn’t answer—just like he always did whenever I brought up the issue of his unusual behavior.I knew he was stalking me, but the question was why.The door opened again and the doctor stepped inside with a nurse beside him.I rolled my eyes. It was definitely time for another dose of those stupid drugs.“Don’t look so sour. You seemed pretty eager for the results, and now here it is. Enjoy it,” Kendrick frowned.I hissed, turning my gaze to him.Why was he seriously acting like a toddler?I had my reasons for acting the way I did. Soon they’d see the result, but for now, I just wanted to get better. Recuperate and plan my next strategy.Jessica placed her hand over my shoulder, her tone edged with worry.“Don’t even dare have that look in your eyes. I know you’re definitely planning something. You still need to rest.”Kendrick pushed himself off the wall and eyed me with a stern gaze. Then he ran his tongue over his lips. “Of course. I should have
REBECCA'S POVHis brow arched with that glimmer in his eyes that was clearly stating, dare me if you can.I squinted my eyes, body pushing forward to confront him because this was getting out of hand.First, he knew what my favorite shoe color was, and now this.My lips parted—his words made mine die inside my throat.“You should eat, now that it’s still hot. You don’t like to eat meals that are cold.” His tone was soft, and I felt my throat tighten.There it was again. The usual demeanor that made it seem like he knew everything about me.I felt so exposed under his gaze…There was no way I was going to let him get the last laugh.Jessica was just exchanging glances between the both of us, utterly speechless—but at the same time, who could blame her?Her brother was a nutcase…“You can take them away.” I rolled my eyes as I folded my hands over my chest, ignoring the pain in my lower abdomen.“I’m not hungry and besides…” I hovered my gaze until it landed on Kendrick. “These are not
REBECCA'S POVIt was all dark, the pulse of my heart drumming as I forced the air out of my lungs. Warmth seeped through my chest.Even as I peeked through my lashes, I couldn't figure out the man in front of me.Every day, I am plagued with that one question: what does Kendrick Reyes want?I used to think I was good at reading people, but after my experience with my ex-husband, I was definitely not so sure."You're awake." His eyes softened, and I felt my stomach churn. "I was getting worried that you weren’t going to regain consciousness soon."I fanned my lashes softly, as my gaze darted toward my palm, still intertwined with his.A sharp tug nudged my chest as my lips pressed together. The way his thumb brushed through my skin sent a deep wave of something I couldn't quite place or acknowledge.This man…I recoiled, trying to pull my hand away from his grip, but he only held on—tighter, even."What are you doing here, Reyes?" I blinked, feeling my whole body stutter from the pain.