REBECCA’S POV“Hey…” Jessica’s voice was soft, but my chest was already tightening, my heartbeat climbing as tears blurred my vision.Her hands came up to cup my face, forcing me to meet her eyes. “Look at me… everything’s going to be fine. You don’t have to figure it all out at once. Take your time, but please… stop hurting yourself now because of something that happened in the past.”She was right. Deep down, I knew it. I was still gripping onto the anger and the pain like they were chains I couldn’t break. Last night made me realize something cruel—I wasn’t truly free.Freedom meant letting go. But if I let go… who would I even be?The anger, the bitterness, the ache of betrayal—they had been my solace. My shield. My fire. Revenge was the only motivation I had left after Felix’s brutal betrayal. To release it would feel like absolving him, like letting him walk away untouched. I couldn’t do that.My teeth clenched as my breathing turned ragged. Then came the sharp sting in my no
KENDRICK'S POVNow that I had crossed that line, there was no going back for me. That I knew about myself. But what about her?It was almost impossible to read what decision she would make. Sometimes she was unpredictable, though I had an idea where this might end.My eyes stared at the file Lewis had placed in front of me a few seconds ago, but the words were almost jumbled.My mind kept spacing out, as memories of last night flooded my head.Actually, I didn't have any form of important meeting, I just needed an excuse to get out of the house so she could have Becca space."Boss, you came to work really early today but you haven’t even gotten through the first page of the document. Are you okay?" Lewis shifted beside me.I exhaled, letting my head sling over the huge desk in front of me."You should sit. Don’t you ever get tired of stalking me?" As my face tilted to the side, I gave a soft smile. "You should get a life."Lewis chuckled, slinging onto one of the seats. "Something is
REBECCA'S POV"I…" my breath hitched, barely able to breathe at the closeness. What were we at this moment? I let myself get lost in the moment, totally forgetting that there was going to be the morning—a time when I would have to confront what I did."Eat…" Kendrick said, gesturing toward the toast in his hand. I quickly nibbled on it between my lips, almost grateful for the save, but I had a feeling that he wasn’t done yet. Sooner or later, we would have to have this conversation. I’d have to give an answer.Was I really ready to go down that line of commitment and relationship?As I chewed, the food lost its taste between my lips, and I couldn’t even swallow it.Kendrick’s chuckle filled the room as he ran his hand through my hair. "Stop thinking too much. You need to rest. If you need anything, all you have to do is call me. If you don’t want to go to work, then stay home. Don’t stress yourself. I’ll send Lewis to oversee everything in your absence. He’s quite capable."I nod
REBECCA'S POVMy lips plunged sharply into his, and his chest pressed hard against my palm. He moved toward my neck, and the more I let my hands roam over his body, the tighter his chest became, each motion sending a shiver through both of us.His groans, low and rough, reverberated in my ears, deep and intoxicating, striking something raw inside me.Felix had always been different—cold, mechanical. He kept my hands away from his body, and our encounters lacked chemistry, sparks, or even the smallest whisper of foreplay. After Liam, Felix stopped touching me entirely unless alcohol loosened his restraint.It was a cruel way to live, and worse, I had once believed I was living. I had believed I was happy.But Kendrick… Kendrick was different. His teeth sank into my shoulder, tearing a gasp from my throat, pulling me in so completely that I felt myself slip away, losing all sense of control and surrendering entirely to the fire between us.I knew this moment was going to be engraved
REBECCA'S POVI had to admit, the pull was so strong that my body leaned toward him before my feet even decided to move.His gaze stayed locked on me as I stepped between his legs, his thighs spread slightly apart, leaving just enough space for me to slip in. My heart raced faster than any marathon I had ever run, each beat drumming against my ribs like it wanted to escape.I caught the sound of him swallowing, a thick lump moving down his throat, and his Adam’s apple bulged as if the act itself took effort. The air between us thickened when my knees brushed against the solid line of his thigh. He was right at my center, close enough that my chest rose and pressed forward as I draped my arms around his neck.The moment my body lowered to meet his crouched form, his entire frame went rigid. My lashes fluttered as I felt the undeniable press of heat against me, a thick strain that pulsed beneath the fabric, hot and urgent, as though it carried the weight of everything he was trying to
REBECCA'S POVThe screeching sound, the gunshot, echoed in my ears as I turned my head. The images formed vividly before my eyes, and my breath sharpened with panic.Bang!I jolted upright, springing from the bed as if the sound had shot through my very bones. Pain flared along my spine, blasting through every nerve, every pore of my body. My shaky hand went to my head, pressing lightly as I tried to steady myself.My eyes went wide as I let out a long, trembling breath. It was all a dream. I was alright.I looked around, taking in the familiar surroundings of my room. Jessica was lying beside me, one of her hands draped casually over my waist. Relief and warmth crept through me, and I couldn’t help the smile that danced across my lips.The memory of fighting for my life in that basement came rushing back—the fear, the suffocating panic that I might never see Jessica again. That fear had nearly consumed me. I had thought I wouldn’t see my son, and him…My hand sank into the soft she