Adrian’s POVIt was not my first time cold-walking into a company and requesting to see the president or CEO. I knew very well how audacious it sounded. And I also knew that sometimes, you have to bend your own rules a little, even compromise on confidentiality, to get what you truly want.Maison Vivre wasn’t a startup—it was a massive, well-established conglomerate. Accessing the president of such a place wasn’t something that happened just because you showed up with confidence. It didn’t matter if I had once met her in a dim tavern in Portugal. That brief encounter, real or not, wasn’t a golden ticket. Right now, I needed to offer a hint of value—just enough to make my presence worth the exception.I took a slow breath and leaned closer to the counter. My smile widened, not with arrogance, but with calm certainty. I softened my tone and began to speak again, this time with a more open approach.“I know the rule is the rule, and I fully respect that,” I said, looking the receptionist
Adrian’s POVWe arrived at the Maison building, a tall structure that exuded prestige and power. Without hesitation, we stepped right through the grand entrance, my head held high.Ordinarily, any business owner seeking a partnership would have informed the conglomerate beforehand. They would’ve sent proposals, waited patiently for a response, and maybe even scheduled a meeting weeks in advance. That’s how most people did business—by the book. But I wasn’t like most people. That was never my way.As I stood by the door, I found myself pausing—just for a second. A memory washed over me. The younger version of me. The one who had nothing but grit and hunger. The boy who once sold candy on street corners just to buy his next meal. The boy who dreamed of making something of himself.I had not been born with a silver spoon in my mouth. Nothing was handed to me. Everything I have today, I fought for. I carved my way through rejection, failure, and doubt. I worked my ass off for it. And toda
Gabriel’s POVThe moment the papers were signed, everything changed. My inheritance was officially mine. I was now the president of my own branch of Maison Vivre. It should have been a moment of pure triumph. A moment of fulfillment.But strangely, it didn’t feel like I thought it would.Yes, I had finally earned my title. My name was printed in gold on the letterhead. My seat at the table was no longer questioned. And yet, as I stood there with the signed documents in hand, I already found myself thinking about what would come next.Of course, the name Maison Vivre would have to go. That name still felt tied to Eunice, to everything that wasn’t mine. I didn’t have the new name ready yet, but in my mind, I was already processing possibilities. Something bold. Something sharp. Something that would stand separate from the past.The branch I had inherited wasn’t located in Green City. It was based in another country entirely—Eerie Lake.A country I had never visited. In fact, I had never
Eunice’s POVThe dream happened the night after the burial, and even now, in the light of morning, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It clung to me like a shadow.Why did Tyler call me a murderer in my sleep?Was I truly a murderer? Had I killed him in some way, even if I never held a gun or a knife? The thought circled in my head like a vulture. It refused to leave.Still, life waited for no one.I was already completely dressed up by my makeup artists. Today was a brand new day. Many insisted I should rest, that I deserved more time to grieve. They said my companies were in capable hands, that I should take a break and breathe. But I wasn’t ready for rest. Not yet.Why?Because Gabriel was still on my back. He believed, deeply and stubbornly, that I had tried to cheat him. And with this heavy accusation hanging over us, I knew I needed to take immediate action.This brother who had suddenly appeared, this man who thought I had tried to rob him of what was rightfully his—we were sup
Adrian’s POVThe instant I laid my eyes on the photograph, I recognized her. It was Josie Morgan. Not just any Josie Morgan—the Josie Morgan. There was no mistaking it. Her features were distinct, unforgettable. They somewhat looked alike too, especially if you looked at her from a particular angle.And with that, the pieces fell into place. I believed him. From that point on, I knew whatever was going on between her and Eunice had to be family related. Nothing else made sense.It was not our place to interfere. If it had been something criminal, we would have called the cops and had him arrested right there on the spot. But this was delicate, personal. So we stepped back.I turned slowly to my bodyguard and nodded at him. That simple gesture said everything I needed to say.Without a word, he understood. He stepped back, giving the man a little space, his expression unreadable but alert.“You may leave,” I said quietly, but with firmness.The man hesitated. His eyes searched our face
Gabriel’s POVHe walked me away from the cathedral without saying a word. I didn't know who he was, but something about his presence made it impossible for me to resist. His grip on my arm wasn’t rough, but it was commanding. Like he knew exactly where he was going, and that I had no business arguing otherwise.Not far from the cathedral was a warehouse. Abandoned, dusty, and hauntingly quiet. The kind of place people passed by without noticing. It looked like no one had been there in ages. We got to the metal door, and surprisingly, it opened with just a simple turn of the handle. The iron creaked loudly as it swung open, revealing the emptiness inside.I couldn’t understand how the owner of the warehouse had left it unlocked all this time. The place should’ve been chained and padlocked. But somehow, this man knew the door would open. It felt almost planned—like he had researched the space, like he had been here before. Like I was walking into something I didn’t understand.If it wer