ANMELDENFiona's POVSoft piano notes floated through the elegant space like a gentle caress, while warm candlelight flickered across the white tablecloth between us. It was magical and breathtakingly beautiful. Almost as if Jalen had orchestrated every single detail with the kind of care that made my heart ache in the best possible way.He had been unusually quiet throughout dinner, though we still laughed over cherished old memories, reminisced about the steamy moments in school days, his demanding company, my growing passion for painting, and even teased Paris for her relentless efforts after all the storms we had weathered together. But beneath that familiar, charming smile of his, I could sense the depth of his emotions simmering just below the surface.He was nervous, and it was obvious. I had never seen Jalen like this—so vulnerable and raw. He sat across from me with a quiet intensity that made my pulse race.As dessert arrived, he set his spoon down with gentleness and looked at
Jalen’s POVHarry’s question hit me like a punch to the gut. We sat in the quiet hospital hallway, the fluorescent lights buzzing overhead. “Have you really thought about how I’ll feel when you’re with my daughter, Jalen? Truly thought about it?”I froze. My mouth opened, but no words came out. The question touched a raw part of me I hadn’t fully confronted—the part that felt selfish, inconsiderate for falling so deeply in love with my best friend’s daughter. Guilt twisted in my chest. Harry had been like a brother to me once, and here I was, entangled in a relationship that had brought danger into his only child’s life.The silence between us stretched, deafening and heavy. I could hear the distant beeps of monitors from nearby rooms, my own heartbeat thudding in my ears. Harry watched me patiently, his eyes filled with a mixture of pain, love, and exhaustion.Finally, he spoke again, his voice low and measured. “I’ve come to terms with it, what's between you and Fiona… It’s strong.
Jalen’s POVMorning was filled with so much relief and hope, and my hopes were getting high. I had just ended the call with Mason; he had invited me to court for Marian's sitting. Hours later, I arrived at the courtroom that immediately felt suffocating, heavy with the weight of justice finally catching up. I sat rigidly in the gallery, my jaw clenched so tight it ached. Marian stood before the judge, her usual arrogance cracked but not entirely gone. Jude sat a few rows away, our eyes meeting briefly in shared resolve. We had both testified—laying bare every threat, every manipulation, every moment of terror she had inflicted on Fiona. My voice had been steady as I described the fear in Fiona’s eyes during that video call, the gun pressed to her head, the explosion that nearly stole her from me forever.The judge’s gavel came down like thunder as she called out the order. Ten years in prison for Marian, thanks in part to her father’s lingering influence pulling strings for a lighter
Marian’s POVI cut through the woods as fast as I could, my breath itched so hard but I kept going. The woods were a nightmare of snapping branches as I cracked through them, my designer heels long discarded, my bare feet tearing on roots and stones I could barely feel the pain. Jordan gripped my hand tightly, pulling me forward. Behind us, distant shouts and flashlight beams sliced through the trees—Mason’s team was closing in fast on us.“Faster!” I hissed, my breath ragged. Adrenaline surged through my veins, mixing raw fear with a wild thrill. We had the money and the documents. If we could just slip away…A bullet whizzed past, embedding in a tree with a sharp thunk. Jordan cursed and yanked me to the left, deeper into the shadows. Our escape was precarious, every second was a gamble. Mason’s voice echoed commands through the night: “Fan out! They’re heading north!”After what felt like hours of brutal running, we burst into a small clearing. A forgotten cottage stood there—almo
Fiona’s POVThe blindfold had become my prison, sealing me in a darkness so complete that every sound felt like a gunshot in the void. My knees throbbed against the cold concrete, and the ropes had long since rubbed my wrists raw, sending sharp stings up my arms with every tiny shift. Jordan’s presence lingered like a shadow—his cologne thick and nauseating, and his occasional low chuckles made my skin crawl. I used to think he liked me back in Marian's house, but his switch was the craziest I've experienced. Marian paced nearby, her heels clicking with predatory rhythm. My heart raced at the two hours ticking time I had left before I finally died lonely.Suddenly, Marian’s phone rang. She answered like she had been expecting the call for a while, her voice clipped and confident at first. “Yes?” she paused. Then, just like the bad news, her entire demeanor shattered. Her breathing hitched audibly, quick and shallow. I sensed her freeze mid-step, the air around her growing with panic.
Fiona’s POVMy heart hammered violently against my ribs, every beat threatening to crack them open. I felt a fabric pressed tightly against my eyes, sealing me in suffocating darkness. Marian’s fingers finally released my chin, but the ghost of her grip lingered on my skin. Even without sight, I could feel the weight of her cold stare savoring the terror that radiated from me.A soft chuckle escaped her lips, sending a fresh chill racing down my spine.“Relax, Fiona.”Her voice was deceptively soothing, like poisoned honey.“I don’t intend to kill you, maybe not immediately. Because if you agree with me, you do deserve to be killed.”My breathing came in shallow, ragged gasps, my chest rising and falling too quickly. The ropes binding my wrists behind the metal pole bit deeper into my flesh with every twitch, rubbing raw against my already tender skin. The warehouse air was thick with dust and dampness, clinging to my lungs.“What… What do you want from me? I already left Jalen alone,
Jalen’s POVSleep didn’t come easily that night.I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her voice replaying in my mind — soft, pleading, dangerous. “What if I don’t want anyone else? What if I want you?”Those words had struck me harder than I’d ever admit. I had tried to get rid of the fucking recu
“Jude? Paris?” I called. “Fiona,” Jude answered, gazing at me with something familiar flickering in his eyes. He smiled. Paris lounged forward, standing close to me, her eyes filled with worry and concern.“Gúrl, are you okay?” “Yeah, why are you guys here?” I asked. Squinting my eyes. “You’ve
The room was quiet, so quiet that I could hear my own heartbeat echo against the chest. The faint scent of his cologne lingered in the air, blending with the soft rustle of the curtains. The night breeze slipped through the slightly open window, brushing against my bare arms and making me shiver.H
“None of your business, clumsy,” I answered curtly.“Yo, relax, babes. At this point, you might fight me for every little thing,” he teased. I rolled my eyes, doing my best to ignore his charming face. He looked much more handsome now that I was actually calm enough to notice him. Paris, on the oth







