•~•Third Person’s POV
Dominic paced the length of the room, his polished shoes tapping rhythmically against the floor.
His jaw clenched, hands flexing at his sides as frustration tightened his chest.
Across from him, his father sat at his grand mahogany desk, fingers steepled beneath his chin.
The harsh, jagged lines of burn scars that marred his face caught the dim light, a reminder of the unfortunate events that had shaped him.
Though his posture remained composed, his eyes betrayed the rapid calculations running through his mind.
"You’re going to wear the tiles out with that pacing," his father’s deep baritone finally broke the silence, even and measured.
Dominic came to a sudden halt, his frustration evident in the sharp turn of his body.
"And what exactly do you want me to do, Dad?" His voice, usually controlled, now carried an unmistakable edge of irritation.
His father leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing as Dominic’s frustration grew.
"Melissa has already uncovered that Solane is Zane Lancaster’s daughter…It’s only a matter of time before she digs deeper and realizes she’s actually Irene—the same Irene she thought she killed five years ago.”
His father exhaled slowly, his expression unwavering. "Melissa won’t find out."
Dominic scoffed, shaking his head in frustration. "She will!" He stepped closer, his voice lowering, growing more intense.
"I told you from the beginning—we should’ve involved Irene in this, not Aziel. He’s reckless, a damn fool. And now, thanks to Irene’s impulsive move at that stupid dinner, she’s handed Melissa every reason to dig deeper."
Dominic’s gaze hardened as he added, "I mean, it’s ridiculous—her and her parents lying about Irene Lancaster committing suicide? That was a stupid move!"
His father let out a sigh, fingers tapping steadily against the desk, his calm demeanor unwavering. "It wasn't a stupid move. It was a risky one…”
“... And no matter how much you dislike Aziel or think he's a fool, he’s already committed to our cause. More so, he’s explicitly asked we fix this without involving Irene."
"But we don’t have a choice!" Dominic snapped, his voice rising with frustration.
"Whether Aziel wants it or not, we need her. She's the only option we have to fix this mess—or at least patch it up. And we’re bringing her in, with or without his permission.”
“…I could have prevented this from happening if Melissa hadn’t shut me out ever since the kidnapping in Paris. She doesn’t see me as reliable anymore—doesn’t trust me enough to share her plans. And that leaves us blind. I don’t like being blind.”
“It’s only for the time being,” his father said, his tone steady. “If she hasn’t fired you, it means she still sees some use in you.”
“That doesn’t make me feel better, Dad," Dominic replied, his frustration clear. "I mean, what if she suddenly decides to run a DNA test between Solane and Celeste Lancaster, just out of curiosity? That devilish mind of hers…”
Dominic’s jaw clenched as the weight of the situation pressed in. “We’d be done for by then. She’ll piece everything together. She’ll know exactly who Solane really is. We don’t have time to wait, Dad. We have to get ahead of this.”
Hesitation flickered across his father’s face, but it quickly morphed into determination.
"Give me the phone," he said, his voice cold and commanding.
•~•Third Person’s POV The sun bathed Celeste Lancaster’s garden in a golden glow.The air was thick with the sweet fragrance of blooming flowers, and well-trimmed hedges carved perfect pathways, guiding the eye to distant fountains and statues that radiated opulence.It felt like stepping into a paradise, and Melissa couldn’t shake the feeling of being out of place, overwhelmed by the sheer grandeur of it all.As they walked side by side, Celeste moved with the effortless grace of someone entirely at ease in her surroundings.Meanwhile, Melissa’s gaze flitted nervously from one perfectly arranged plant to the sweeping vistas of the estate, her discomfort growing with each step, though she masked it with forced small talk.They stopped by a koi pond, the calm water mirroring the bright sky above.Melissa’s eyes widened in surprise as she took in the sheer number of koi swimming beneath the surface.“Wow,” she breathed, her voice tinged with awe. “There are so many! You must have been
•~•Third Person’s POVMelissa slid into the passenger seat of her sleek black car, the door closing with a soft click.The vehicle pulled away from the Lancaster estate, gliding smoothly onto the road. But inside, her emotions churned with turmoil.Her fingers tightened into fists on her lap, nails biting into her palms as Celeste’s words rang in her ears.A thief. She had called her a thief.The nerve of that woman. If it weren’t for the fact that she needed the Lancaster family—needed their power to save her own crumbling empire, she would have put Celeste in her place right then and there. And then there was the DNA mess. Melissa’s teeth clenched, the anger bubbling just under the surface.She had thought she had everything under control, that the test would be her ace in the hole to get Zane to do what she wanted. But now, with Celeste knowing, everything had fallen apart.However, even if Celeste had seen her take Zane’s cup at dinner, how could she possibly know what it was all
•~•Solane POVI hadn’t been able to sleep. Not since the call.Even now, a full day later, no matter how hard I tried, the memory of that voice—cold, mechanical, and disturbingly calm—stuck in my head like a splinter I couldn't dig out.I sat on the edge of my bed, phone in hand, my mind racing with questions I couldn’t silence.———I had just stepped out of the bathroom, towel snug around me, damp hair clinging to my shoulders, when my phone rang.It was lying on the bed, screen glowing with an unfamiliar number.Still drying my hair, I picked it up. "Hello?"A mechanical voice answered, distorted like it’d been run through some kind of voice changer."Hello… It's nice to finally speak with you."My frown deepened, the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. "Who is this?""Who I am doesn't really matter," the voice replied smoothly, a calmness that only made me more uneasy.I gripped the phone tighter. "Is this some kind of prank? How did you get my number?"There was a long pause
•~•Aziel’s POVThe car was parked in the far corner of the lot, engine off, windows slightly fogged from my breath.I sat alone in the back seat, phone pressed to my ear, the voice crackling through.“I made the right call,” the voice said, calm and confident. “Involving Irene was the best decision. You might not see it now.”My jaw tightened.I clenched my fist against the leather seat, knuckles turning white as anger boiled in my chest. My brows furrowed, my breath shallow.“I don’t give a damn if you thought it was the right call,” I ground out. “I agreed to be your ally on two conditions… That Irene’s identity stayed a secret—and that you wouldn’t drag her into this. Ever.”I paused, my voice growing lower, more dangerous. “And I made that clear last time we spoke—you promised you'd handle it without her.”Silence stretched. Just static and shallow breathing from the other end.The voice returned, quieter now. “It was just this once. She won’t be part of anything going forward. I
•~•Solane’s POVI sat curled into the corner of the living room couch, the remote resting loosely in my hand as the television filled the silence.A female news anchor in a crisp red suit sat behind the broadcast desk, her voice calm but enthusiastic.“In a move that might have raised some eyebrows but wasn’t entirely unexpected, Grant Holdings has named Nathaniel Grant as its new CEO…”“…The twenty-seven-year-old—who recently married Solane Blackwood, niece of business mogul Zane Lancaster—steps into full leadership of the company he’s represented as its public face for the past seven years.”I leaned forward, eyes narrowing as the screen flickered with footage of Nathaniel at various press events—his wheelchair rolling through the crowd, his composure steady, his faint smile for the cameras.The anchor continued, her voice steady. “The announcement has sparked widespread attention, especially following the revelation of the attack Mr. Grant suffered a few months ago, which left him
•~•Solane’s POVI lay on the bed, eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling. I couldn’t sleep, no matter how tightly I shut my eyes.My heart kept pounding like it was trying to break free from my chest, and my mind wouldn’t stop racing. All because of him—Davian Foster.What the hell was he doing here?The last I heard, he was in Switzerland, working at some private physiatry institute—and now, suddenly, he’s here, in the Grant mansion? As Nathaniel’s new physiatrist?No. His presence here couldn’t be a coincidence.I turned on my side, clutching the blanket as a cold unease crept through me. He had acted like he didn’t recognize me yesterday afternoon—but what if he did? What if it was all just an act? I couldn’t shake the thought. And if I was right… What would that mean for my mission here at the Grant mansion?And then, like a punch to the gut, a thought hit me so hard I gasped.What if… what if he was the anonymous caller?The one who tipped me off about Melissa’s secret DNA test
•~•Solane’s POVI jolted awake with a sharp gasp, my chest rising and falling as I sucked in air like I had been drowning.My heart thudded violently as my eyes flew to my side. Nathaniel was still there, though asleep now, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm.I sat up quickly, scanning the room. Melissa wasn’t here.A breath rushed out of me. Just a dream.It was just a dream, I repeated in my head like it was some sort of reassurance.I placed a hand over my racing heart, trying to calm the pounding. There’s no way Melissa knows. She couldn’t have figured it out… not yet.I slipped out of bed, my feet sinking into the plush carpet, and moved toward the standing garment rack beside the walk-in closet.I grabbed the soft, velvet robe hanging on it and quickly wrapped it around myself.Afterward, I went back to pick up my phone from the nightstand, its screen lighting up my palm, and then slipped quietly out of the room.The hallway was dim, silent—everyone else was asleep.
•~•Solane’s POVI held his gaze steadily, weighing whether I could trust him with the truth. “Revenge,” I said simply.The silence stretched longer than before, heavy between us.Then, he chuckled slowly, like I’d just made a joke. “What? Did Nathaniel, like… jilt you in the past?” His tone dripped with mockery.“Yes,” I replied, my voice quiet but resolute.His smile faltered, just slightly, as he stared at me, waiting for more—expecting an explanation. I didn’t give one. I wasn’t sure yet if telling him more would be the right move.This keeps the weight of the moment and shows her hesitation in revealing more.He cleared his throat, trying and failing to put on a serious expression. “So what? People get jilted all the time. But unlike you, they don’t—”“I was pregnant, Davian.”His eyes widened. “You were what?”“I was pregnant, five years ago…” I repeated.I took a steady breath, my voice softening. “All those times during our sessions... Did you ever stop to wonder how I ended up
•~•Nathaniel POVThe glass vase shattered against the floor, the pieces skidding in every direction like the chaos in my chest.My hands were shaking—not from weakness, but pure rage.“Nathaniel!” my mother gasped, recoiling at the sound. “Please, calm down. If you get too worked up, your blood pressure could spike.”“Are you fucking serious right now, Mom?” I spun on her, eyes blazing.“How can I possible calm down when you gave that bastard my life! Had him pretend to be me—for five damn years! And now you want me to pretend too? To be Aziel fucking Grant while he keeps living as me?”She inched closer, hands raised like she was approaching a wounded animal.“Sweetheart, please… just lie down. You’re still recovering. I’ll explain everything—I promise. Just not now. Huh?”“No!” I growled, my voice tight with frustration. “I want an explanation now. And I want to know exactly how the hell you plan to fix this!”She sighed, her shoulders sagging like the weight of the truth had finall
•~•Aziel’s POVI sat up in the bed I shared with Irene, in my pajamas, staring at my hands like they were somehow going to fix the mess I had gotten myself into.The room was dead silent, except for Irene’s slippers tapping against the floor every now and then.She sat across from me, one leg crossed over the other, her eyes locked on me like she was trying to see through every fucking thing I had said or wasn’t saying.“Aziel…” she said, her voice trailing off, and my heart skipped one—no, two damn beats.It was the first time she said my name—Aziel.It sounded way too good coming from her lips, and for a split second, I thought about how it would sound if she moaned it.Wait, what the fuck?… I quickly shook the thought out of my head. Why the hell was I even thinking about that? I had way bigger shit to deal with than getting horny right now.“… That’s the name of the guy who looks exactly like you,” she continued, her voice flat, “Your identical twin brother?”I nodded once, keepin
•~•Aziel’s POVThe car came to a stop, and I felt the usual jolt of impatience hit me.As my driver, Matt, opened the door and helped me out, I quickly shifted myself into my wheelchair, wheeling forward with swift, practiced movements.My heart pounded in my chest with the weight of what I was about to do.I had been so sure, so confident that I could handle this. But now, as I wheeled myself toward the entrance, just like the last time I made up my mind to tell her but failed, doubt crept in like the dark shadows of a storm cloud.The door opened before I even reached it, and Irene stepped out, shutting it behind her.Her face was a mask—expressionless, cold. That was strange. She always greeted me with a smile, fake or not, so why the coldness? Or maybe I was just overthinking things.I took a deep breath, steeling myself."Come on," I said, gesturing to the car. "There’s somewhere I need to take you."Irene didn’t respond. She just kept her eyes on me, narrowed and studying.Then
•~•Solane’s POVI stared at him—lying unconscious on the couch.My heart was pounding, my thoughts racing, refusing to settle on anything solid.Nathaniel... he had left this house in a wheelchair this morning. I watched him go. So how the hell was he suddenly able to walk?I do believe in miracles—I survived a deadly fall, after all. So, I believe certain things are possible. But not like this. Not in a magical, impossible sort of way.My eyes swept over his body, his face, the steady rise and fall of his chest. He looked... pale. Like someone who hadn’t seen sunlight in days—or weeks.He also looked thinner. There was a hollowness to his face that hadn’t been there before. His jaw wasn’t as sharp. His lips were cracked. His hands looked fragile.This didn’t make any sense. He looked stronger this morning—lean, but with muscle and healthy weight.So why did he look so frail now? And why the hell had he called me Irene before passing out?I shifted uncomfortably on my feet, unsure whe
•~•Aziel’s POVI sat in the passenger seat of my car, parked just outside the hospital.The windows were up, and I’d already dismissed my driver so I could take this call in private.My fingers tapped once, twice against the door’s armrest before the line connected.“I need you to get rid of Davian Foster,” I spoke immediately. “But first, trace everyone he’s been in contact with since he arrived in the country—especially within the last twenty-four hours.”There was a pause. Then came a dry, faintly amused voice. “I'm guessing you'll tell me why I'd be doing you such a favor any moment now?”My jaw clenched. I stared through the windshield, the fading sun turning the sky outside a dull gold. “He has a voice recording of me. Of us. Talking about Irene—about who she really is…”“…And some other shit that can’t reach my mother or the public. He also has copies of the recording with a few of his so-called 'trusted men.'”“Strange,” the voice said casually. “I thought you had the balls to
•~•Third Person POVMelissa stepped out of Davian’s hospital room, letting the glass door slide shut behind her.Her expression shifted—tightening with unease. She lifted a hand subtly, signaling Dominic, who stood a few feet away, to follow.He fell in step behind her without question.Her phone buzzed. The name Dr. Alfred lit up the screen. She answered quickly and brought the phone to her ear.“Dr. Alfred, what is it?” Her tone was sharp, clipped.“Mrs. Grant…” The doctor’s voice trembled. “I’m very sorry, but—there’s a problem.”Melissa stopped in her tracks. A cold dread stirred in her chest. “What kind of problem?”There was a pause. Then, in a cautious tone he continued, “It’s your son… Mr. Grant. He’s gone missing.”————The tires gave a soft screech as the car pulled to a stop in front of the private hospital.Melissa pushed the door open before the engine had even fully died.Her heels struck the pavement in quick, sharp clicks as she made for the entrance. Dominic followed
•~•Aziel’s POVI wheeled down the sterile corridor, stopping in front of Ward 3B—the room the nurse had pointed me to at reception.Outside the room, the glass sliding door separated me from the people inside.My mother was perched on a chair beside the bed, leaning in with concern carved into every line of her face.Dominic stood behind her, arms crossed, silent. But it was the man lying in that bed that made my blood run cold.Davian Foster.Tubes snaked into his arms, his wrist wrapped in surgical tape. One eye was bruised and swollen, lips split.His skin was yellowed, sunken—like someone who had been dragged out of the grave and shoved into a hospital gown."Bastard," I muttered, the word bitter in my mouth. "I should’ve killed him that day.”————That day…The gunshot echoed through the room.Davian jerked violently, his eyes snapping open.He slowly reached up to touch his forehead—the exact spot where my gun had been pressed just moments ago—and blinked in confusion.His gaze
•~•Aziel’s POVThe conference room was silent, save for the woman’s voice at the far end of the table.The lights were dimmed, and the projector bathed the table in warm golds and cool greens as each slide clicked forward with the tap of her remote.“…and with the ocean breeze sweeping across the third hole, guests will experience premium golfing without ever leaving the resort.” She spoke, but I was hardly listening to most of what she was saying.I leaned back slightly, my index finger resting against my lips, nodding once to appear engaged.Across the long table, the board members looked impressed—some scribbling notes, others nodding in sync, most already sold on the idea. My phone vibrated once on the glass table beside me, the buzz sharp and insistent. I glanced at the screen.Unknown Number.My eyes narrowed. It was the anonymous caller.I swiped the call away without hesitation, my jaw tightening. This wasn’t the time.But barely ten seconds passed before it vibrated again.T
•~•Nathaniel’s POVSilence.Her breath caught. Her eyes shimmered. “Bastard?” she whispered.I cursed under my breath, dragging a hand through my hair. “I didn’t mean it like that.”“Then how did you mean it?” she fired back. “Because from where I’m standing, it sounded like you just denied being the father of our baby.”I stared at her, chest rising and falling fast. I needed to calm down. This wasn’t her fault. She didn’t know she’d been with my twin the whole time.I took a step forward, gently placing my hands on her shoulders. I kept my voice low. “I just mean… we still have so much ahead of us. A baby now would change everything. So maybe… we could just—”I trailed off, hoping she’d catch on.Her brows pinched. “We could just what?”Was she pretending not to understand?I hesitated, then said it. “Maybe… we terminate the pregnancy. And try again later. When we’re both ready.”She slightly pulled back like I had just slapped her.“You mean when you’re ready,” she corrected, her j