Three days earlier…David had always prided himself on staying ten steps ahead of everyone else. But nothing could have prepared him for the shock he felt that afternoon.Maureen Williams.He was on the verge of losing it. Maureen. Of all the people. She had posed as the fake nurse and snuck into Emma’s hospital room.He stood up abruptly, his entire body tense with fury.Of all frigging people?! Maureen?!If anyone had told him that Maureen was capable of something like this, he wouldn't have believed it.Not because he trusted her—far from that—but for the fact that he hadn’t even considered her an enemy to Emma. In his mind, she was just a spoiled little girl with too many shoes and too much free time. Always trying to get attention like a child throwing tantrums in a toy store. That was all she was to him.But now… now, she had crossed a line.David stormed out of the surveillance room, unable to stay still. He walked down the hallway and stepped outside into the fresh air. The wi
Three days later… Maureen walked confidently into JFK Airport. She wore a white silk jumpsuit that hugged her tall frame and carried a glossy black Dior handbag over one arm. Her oversized Gucci sunglasses rested perfectly on the bridge of her nose. Her long black hair was pulled into a high, sleek ponytail, and her lipstick was a bold, commanding red. Beside her was her assistant, Flora, clutching a tablet and walking nervously in her flat shoes. Behind them were two bulky bodyguards in black suits, dragging Maureen’s designer luggage on gold-accented suitcases. It was a dramatic entrance, one that made heads turn. They reached the immigration counter, where a stern-looking officer, dressed neatly in a navy uniform and wearing a badge that read "Customs and Border Protection Officer," looked up as Maureen approached. "Good morning, ma’am," the officer said politely. "May I see your passport and visa, please?"
Three days later…Maureen walked confidently into JFK Airport. She wore a white silk jumpsuit that hugged her tall frame and carried a glossy black Dior handbag over one arm. Her oversized Gucci sunglasses rested perfectly on the bridge of her nose. Her long black hair was pulled into a high, sleek ponytail, and her lipstick was a bold, commanding red.Beside her was her assistant, Flora, clutching a tablet and walking nervously in her flat shoes. Behind them were two bulky bodyguards in black suits, dragging Maureen’s designer luggage on gold-accented suitcases. It was a dramatic entrance, one that made heads turn.They reached the immigration counter, where a stern-looking officer, dressed neatly in a navy uniform and wearing a badge that read "Customs and Border Protection Officer," looked up as Maureen approached."Good morning, ma’am," the officer said politely. "May I see your passport and visa, please?"Maureen handed them over with an air of impatience. "I hope this doesn’t ta
A wave of panic washed over David as the chief officer's words replayed in his head. There was still a murderer out there—someone still wanted Emma dead.The thought made his stomach twist. He couldn't ignore the sudden need to be near her, to check for himself that she was still safe. He didn't tell Christian or the officer; he just left.When he finally arrived at the hospital, David didn't wait for the elevator. He ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time until he reached her floor. As he opened the ward door, he paused—his eyes scanned the room, searching. And there she was.Lying still, pale but peaceful.Matthew, seated beside her bed, looked up, startled by the sudden entrance. He frowned at the sight of David’s frantic expression."You alright? What’s going on?" Matthew asked, standing from his seat.David sighed in relief. His eyes didn’t leave Emma as he walked closer to her bedside.Matthew raised a brow. "What happened? What about the investigation and questioning… any
Christian stood quietly at the edge of the sidewalk, his arms folded, watching as the police escorted Gavin into the station. The man looked disheveled, his hands cuffed tightly behind his back. His face was swollen from the earlier scuffle and his eyes darted around nervously, clearly realizing that his fate was no longer in his hands.Christian's jaw clenched. This wasn’t how he had planned it. If David hadn’t intervened, Gavin would’ve paid in a much more personal and painful way. Christian had always preferred handling such matters with his own hands. Quietly. Efficiently. Permanently. But David wanted justice done through proper channels. So, for now, Christian had to stand back.Still, prison was no safe haven for Gavin. Christian knew that. If Gavin seriously thought he had finally escaped his clutch... then he was clearly mistaken because he had plenty of friends in there—men who owed him favors. Gavin’s days of freedom were over, and even behind bars, he wouldn’t find peace.
The room was dark. Not just night-time dark—but heavy, suffocating darkness that swallowed everything. There were no windows, no cracks for light to slip in. The walls were cold and rough, and the air smelled of mold, urine, and damp rot. The floor was sticky. Rats squeaked somewhere nearby. Allison lay curled on the hard ground, her arms wrapped around herself, trembling. Her clothes were torn and soiled. Her lips were cracked from thirst. Her stomach had stopped growling hours ago—it was now a deep, hollow pain. Ruby had made sure to break her in every way possible. Beatings, starvation, harsh words. Sometimes silence. Other times loud screams. It was a place built to make someone lose their mind. Yet, somehow, Allison hadn’t broken completely. Bruised, yes. Starved, certainly. But there was still a flicker of pride burning in her chest. She had stopped begging. She hadn’t told them what they wanted to hear. She was still alive.And for her, that meant something. She wasn’t fre