INICIAR SESIÓNGrace barely slept. The voice from the blocked number echoed in her head like a warning bell.
“They’re watching all of you.”She lay curled in bed beside Jullian, his arm tight around her, both alert, both pretending sleep was still an option.Every time she closed her eyes, the voice returned, gravelly, insidious, like someone standing right beside her.By 5 a.m., she was already dressed, coffee in hand, and pulling up every flagged case file they had, heThe soft hum of the coffee machine had become a comforting background score to mornings at Jones & Co. Monday arrived in its usual blur of caffeine, spreadsheets, and semi-organized chaos. Grace was already at her desk, the scent of her Mochachino latte wafting through the air, while Jullian strolled in with the swagger of a man who’d finally learned how to work a filing cabinet.“You’re five minutes late,” Grace said without looking up.“I was delayed,” he replied, dropping a croissant on her desk like a peace offering. “Some kid challenged me to a race on a scooter. I couldn’t say no. I have a reputation to maintain.”“Of being what? Cheshire’s most easily distracted private investigator?”“Investigator-turned-semi-accountant, thank you. My CV’s very confused.”Their flirtatious sparring had become background noise to the office, much like the printer that never quite worked and the radio that played the same four songs on a l
Grace barely slept. The voice from the blocked number echoed in her head like a warning bell.“They’re watching all of you.”She lay curled in bed beside Jullian, his arm tight around her, both alert, both pretending sleep was still an option. Every time she closed her eyes, the voice returned, gravelly, insidious, like someone standing right beside her.By 5 a.m., she was already dressed, coffee in hand, and pulling up every flagged case file they had, her fingers moving like lightning across the keyboard. The sun hadn’t even risen yet, but her instincts told her the game had just changed. Again.At 5:22, Jullian joined her at the kitchen table, hair still damp from the shower and phone to his ear. He didn’t speak right away, just placed a hand on her lower back, a small gesture, but grounding.“I’ve got we're busy tracing that number. I'll cross-reference it with old Inovar records and employee data.” He set the phon
The London wind cut a little sharper than the Amalfi breeze, but Grace barely noticed. Wrapped in Jullian’s coat, her oversized sunglasses perched on her nose, and her hand tightly clasped in his, she stepped off the plane smiling.“You realise we just left paradise for spreadsheets?” she teased, lips curving as she looked up at him.Jullian slung an arm around her shoulder. “Spreadsheets and private investigations. Don’t undersell the glamour.”Their chauffeur was already waiting by the Bentley, loaded with lattes and a playlist Grace had curated before their honeymoon. As they slid into the back seat, the reality of their return began to hum beneath the surface, emails, board meetings, whispered deals, and unfolding mysteries. But right now, all Grace could do was sigh and rest her head against Jullian’s shoulder.“Think we’ll get a day before chaos hits?”He kissed her forehead. “If by day, you mean thirty-five minutes before my phone
The next morning, Jullian handed her a small white envelope.“What’s this?” she asked, blinking sleepily.“Your real surprise.”She opened it and gasped.It was a letter confirming her honorary fellowship with the Board of ChartedAccountants, a prestigious award given only deserving .“But—how—”“I nominated you months ago,” he said softly. “Before the wedding. And they saw what I saw, your work, your vision. You deserve it.”Grace stared at the letter, tears blurring the words. “I don’t know what to say.”“Just say you’ll keep doing what you do best, crunching numbers."She tackled him back into bed, kissing him all over. “How did I get so lucky?”He grinned against her neck. “You seduced me in a hospital. The rest is history.”The sun began its slow descent over the Amalfi coast, casting the sky in hues of orange and pink. The villa’s terrace was bathed in golden light as Grace and J
The Amalfi villa was drenched in golden morning light, its shutters flung open to a breeze thick with salt, citrus, and flowers, but inside the master suite, the only scent filling the room was them, their sweat-slick skin, musky arousal, and the unmistakable heat of lovers refusing to come up for air.Grace arched beneath Jullian with a gasp, her hands gripping the sheets while his mouth dragged a path along her inner thigh, slow, languid, deliberate.“You’re going to kill me,” she whispered, breathless.He looked up from between her legs with a grin that was pure sin. “Not yet, but I do plan to ruin you a few more times before breakfast.”She rolled her eyes, but it dissolved into a moan as his tongue slid back over her folds, teasing, tasting. One of her legs draped over his shoulder, and he reached up, fingers laced through hers, pinning her down while his mouth worked magic.She writhed, trembling on the edge. “Jullian—”“I want to hear you come, Mrs. Hemmingway.”That did it. He
Eight months laterThe mid-spring breeze carried the scent of roses and lavender through the grounds of the Hemmingway estate in Alderley Edge, where a grand marquee had been erected between rows of flowering dogwoods and sprawling oaks.Beneath its billowing white canopy, guests gathered, laughing, sipping champagne, adjusting hats, and dabbing at the occasional happy tear.The sky was a soft blue streaked with feathery white clouds and golden light that kissed the grounds in a warm glow. Music from a quartet floated through the air like the wings of butterflies.Camilla surveyed the setup with a proud gleam in her eye, brushing an imaginary wrinkle from her lilac silk dress. “It’s exactly how Grace wanted it,” she murmured.Beside her, Bradford adjusted his cufflink and smiled. “She deserves perfect,” he said. “They both do.”Behind the marquee, one of the guest cottages had been transformed into a dressing suite. Grace stood in front of an antique mirror, the morning light casting
Victoria had played her game carefully, weaving her revenge with precision, but all carefully laid plans had one fatal flaw, the moment you think you’re in control is the moment you start losing it, and Victoria had just hit that moment.Victoria sat in the dimly lit café, fingers tappin
Victoria wasn’t one to back down. If they thought they had seen the last of her, they were dead wrong.She had spent the last two days making calls, meeting with certain people, and ensuring she wasn’t going down alone.The Hemmingways had power, sure. But she had something bett
The cold, damp air of Buckingham clung to Greg’s skin as he paced up and down the old warehouse. His mind raced. Jullian Hemmingway was on their foot path. "Would Jullian discover who he was? Of course he would. He was no fool."Greg ran a hand down his face, waiting for Adelle
The hospital corridors were quieter now. The chaos of earlier was replaced with an eerie stillness. But inside Michelle’s room, James couldn't find peace. His fingers gently traced the back of her hand, his thumb running over her wedding ring."You scared me tonight, love," he whispered,







