LOGINPOV: Claire Desmond
Gareth Hamilton stood before me, his hands shoved deep into his hoodie pockets.
He looked like he had just rolled out of bed, yet somehow, he managed to look infuriatingly handsome.
“Good morning, Claire,” he greeted me. His baritone was a low, gravelly rasp that vibrated in the quiet air.
“What on earth are you doing here at this hour?!” I hissed, m
POV: Gareth HamiltonFour months later...The New York autumn sun hung low on the horizon, fracturing into a thousand golden shards against the glass towers of Manhattan.It was that specific hour where the city looked less like a concrete jungle and more like a kingdom of light.I reached up and loosened the knot of my silk tie, exhaling a breath I felt I’d been holding since eight this morning.That familiar relief washed over me—the kind that only came the moment I stepped out of the heavy bronze doors of Hamilton Heritage Capital.I walked across the sidewalk, my footsteps steady and rhythmic.I stopped beside the idling black limousine. Vincent Vale stood by the door, his silver hair catching the amber light. He looked as sharp as ever, a man who seemed to breathe corporate strategy."Vincent," I
POV: Claire DesmondThe white silk sheets felt like ice against my palms, a sharp contrast to the sudden heat crawling up the back of my neck.I sat frozen on the edge of the king-size bed. It felt too big, too vast, like a desert of expensive fabric. My fingers white-knuckled the hem of my ivory silk slip, wrinkling the smooth material until it bunched in my fists.Outside the balcony, the Mediterranean Sea crashed against the Amalfi cliffs. It sounded like a restless heartbeat—heavy, constant, and thick with a pressure I couldn't name.The dim glow of the nightstand lamp bathed the room in amber, stretching long, dancing shadows across the villa walls. I didn't need to look to know he was there. I could feel Gareth behind me.His footsteps on the parquet floor were nearly silent, yet his presence was so absolute it felt as though he were siphoning all the oxyge
POV: Claire DesmondThree days have passed since the echoes of applause in The Plaza’s grand ballroom finally faded.Yet, my soul still feels like it’s lingering there, suspended beneath a thousand crystal chandeliers, caught in the rhythm of a dance that hasn't quite ended.It was a long journey across the Atlantic. We’ve finally reached a point where the world map seems to simply stop at the edge of a cliff. Alana is back in New York, safe and undoubtedly drowning in a whirlwind of affection that surely borders on the excessive.My mother and Nora have fulfilled Shannon’s prophecy with terrifying precision; they are currently competing to see who can spoil my little girl the most.Andrea is likely busy commissioning miniature couture gowns from her favorite designers, while Nora probably has Alana out in the Riverdale garden, teaching her how to plant peonies i
POV: Claire DesmondShortly after Shannon left, a group of parents from Alana’s class approached us. Gareth had personally insisted on inviting them—a gesture I deeply appreciated, as it showed he never forgot the roots of his "barista" life.Toby’s mother led the way, holding the hand of her son, who looked adorable in a tiny suit. The moment Toby saw Alana, he let go of his mother’s hand and ran toward her, joining the other children."Congratulations, Mr. Hamilton, Claire," Toby’s mother said sincerely. She looked around the ballroom in awe before turning back to Gareth."To be honest, none of us expected this. The man we saw who was so modest at the school gates... we had no idea you were this powerful."Gareth flushed slightly, a faint hint of red appearing at the tips of his ears. He shook the hand of Toby’s father warmly. "I’m still the same man, sir. I’m
POV: Claire Desmond8:00 p.m.The Plaza Grand Ballroom had undergone a total metamorphosis tonight.If weeks ago this place felt like a cold, suffocating glass prison, it had now been reborn as a lush, ethereal spring garden. Thousands of white roses bloomed in every corner, their petals still holding a faint, glistening dew under the glow of the massive crystal chandeliers.The hanging lights cast a warm, golden hue that danced across the surface of crystal flutes filled with vintage Krug champagne, carried by a fleet of impeccably uniformed servers.The scent of fresh flowers dominated the air—no longer cloying, but crisp, like a clean breath of new life.I stood beside Gareth, greeting a never-ending stream of guests offering their congratulations. My wedding gown felt weightless, as if the thousand-ton burden that once anchored my feet to
POV: Claire DesmondGareth obsidian eyes didn't blink. He watched me as if every other soul in that room was nothing more than a blurred, irrelevant shadow.To the side, Gary Vale stood like a sentinel, his hands clasped in front of him. His face was a professional mask, but there was a flicker of genuine pride in his eyes as he watched his boss finally take what he had fought so hard to protect.Shannon was in the second row, right behind my mother. My best friend wasn't even trying to be "High Society." She was clutching a handful of tissues, sobbing openly—full-on, mascara-ruining tears. She gave me a frantic, shaky thumbs-up through the waterworks.Nora and Nathan were there, too. Nora’s smile was wide and watery, while Nathan gave me a slow, supportive nod that said you made it.And there, right by Gareth’s feet, was Alana. Our flower girl. She looked like a
POV: Claire DesmondI sat on the pillion, wrapping my arms around Shannon’s waist. My heart hammered. The last time I had been on a moped was during a summer in Rome, and even then, I wasn't the one worrying about my job.
POV: Claire DesmondThe neighbor’s rooster didn't just crow; it committed a felony against my eardrums.It was a sharp, jagged sound, devoid of a snooze button, tearing through the paper-thin walls of the Astoria rental with a rhyth
POV: Claire DesmondHeat flared in my cheeks, a sudden, violent flush that had nothing to do with the cold. My mind traitorously flashed an image of being held against that charcoal t-shirt, the strength of those arms anchoring me."Shann
POV: Claire DesmondThe white Volkswagen Golf slowed to a crawl, its tires crunching over loose gravel before coming to a smooth, silent halt. The engine died with a final, metallic sigh, leaving us submerged in a pool of thick, suburban silence. 







