LOGINNICHOLAS.“Oh my God." I exclaimed. In front of me was a metal door that led into a tightly sealed chamber. I froze for a second as Harry walked up to me. He was accompanied by the safe's manager who had the key to this century-old chamber that contained a big fortune. The scent of cash and wealth filled the air as my pupils dilated at the sight of freshly printed money and minted coins piled upon one another. I turned to him, trying to contain my own shock.My father was this rich. Rich enough to leave all of this behind. "This is over a hundred million dollars!” Harry held up a bundle, flipping through the edges with his fingers and he threw it over to me. I caught it almost immediately.My eyes fell on all the money and it just didn’t make any sense. I had no idea my father had this much money.“I can’t believe this.” My voice was low and my countenance was reluctant. "It's more than enough, Nicholas." Harry was the exact opposite of me in this moment."Cheers to saving the comp
EVELYN."So tell me what happened?" Alex asked, leaning against the table behind him. The kitchen was a lot darker because it was well into the night and the only source of light was a bulb turned on in the corridor to the left. I looked around his house and there was still this familiar homely scent that trickled up my nose as I walked further in. I finally came to a halt when there was a safe distance between us.Safe in the sense that those feelings and emotions I once felt for him didn’t come fluttering in my chest and stomach. I wasn’t entirely sure I’d be able to control myself around him. Seeing tonight had completely thrown me off guard and made my knees weak.Alex was different now, he had grown a full beard that made him nearly unrecognizable. But there was that voice of his that was still registered in a part of my brain after so many years. That even if he had completely lost his face, as far as he was able to speak, I would know without a doubt that it was him. But that
KAYLA.My eyes were fixed on the swaying transparent curtains as they drifted alongside the winds that flushed through the cabin windows. I was lying across the bed when the morning shore scent breezed through my nose mixed with the chef's early breakfast aroma.Milan was as different from Seattle as it could possibly be. The breeze from the sea was cold and the sights were more beautiful. There was a traditional bustling vibe you got and the feeling of community when you drove into the city.Having spent a majority of our vacation days on the beach however, Josef and I had become accustomed to the diversity and enchante of the place. Enchante, because most people would argue that Milan was just as much of a city of love as Paris was.I parted my eyes open after an adrenaline-filled night and my hands softly traced the edges of Josef’s skin. When I lifted my gaze, it was immediately met by his eyes which were already open and he scoffed lightly. "Hey, sleeping beauty." He croaked wi
NICHOLAS."We think we might have located the car that she left in,” The sheriff sauntered into my living room. I sat at the edge of the couch, my head buried in my palms but the moment I heard his voice, I got up immediately.“Hazel took a cab to the train station and I think she might have gotten on it.” He added. My hands balled up in a fist. It had been twenty-four hours since Hazel went missing. I didn’t want to hear where she got off. I wanted someone to find her.I charged at the sheriff in a fit of rage, pinning him against the wall."I want you to fucking find Isabella!” I roared. “I don't want to know how you do it or whether or not she went on a fucking train, I just want you to find her and bring her back to me!" Fear stilled in Joe’s eyes and he pushed a lump down his throat.I let go of him and he dusted his shirt. He’d never seen me this angry. Hell, I couldn’t remember the last time I was this angry. "Is that understood?" I let out a deep breath but before Joe could r
EVELYN."Oh my God!” I got out of bed. For a good ten minutes, I pounced around every post and corner of the house until I burst through the front door, my hands running through my hair.I couldn’t believe what Nicholas was telling me. That Agnes was dead…and Hazel was missing. It wasn’t possible. I heaved in a breath, an attempt to fill her lungs with fresh air. The news was so sudden."Hold on, for how long has this been going on?" My voice was shaken, ridden with guilt as my arms fell to my hips. "It's been three weeks. " He replied. It was also three weeks since I left Seattle and it turns out a lot had happened in those three weeks.“Do you have any idea where she could have gone?" Nicholas asked me which was why he called in the first place. He thought she’d been with me. But Hazel wasn’t. She hadn’t even called me."If she's with you Evelyn just tell me.” He damn near begged and I shook my head as he could see me. “She’s not with me, Nicholas. She can’t be with me.” I said. Th
EVELYN."So this is one way of you when you were thirteen," Dylan’s soothing voice went through my ears as he pointed at a photo in the album he held in his hands. I took a seat next to him, taking off my kitchen mitten. I’d been making cupcakes, his favorites.I remembered how Jenna would always make fun of his sweet month. Dylan hadn’t changed, he was cheesing in excitement when I brought out the recipe book. The oven flames cackled at a distance from where we sat down. I had about an hour or so left."You had just started a new school here, I remember,” He squinted, fighting through his already foggy memory. But he was trying his best."I remember this one!" I pointed to the book and he nodded with a smile. "Ah yes, this was when we newly moved and our neighbors hosted us for dinner. They were so friendly and their boy used to come around to help but I think it was only because he wanted to see you,” Dylan chuckled.“That boy used to have the biggest crush on you,” He looked up at
EVELYN.I was sitting across the table from Eden in this dimly lit city restaurant. He’d proposed we had dinner out together for a change tonight so there I was in my fitted black dress and my eyes buried in the menu on my phone, away from him. "Have you already placed your order yet?" He broke th
SHERIFF JOE.I walked through the hollow halls of the Seattle Correctional Facility before branching off into the room where Elijah was sitting waiting for me, his hands firm in metal handcuffs.Immediately the door opened, his eyes shot open and we both shared a hostile gaze. I took a seat in fron
HAZEL."I can’t believe this, Hazel.” Evelyn let out an exasperated sigh. Her jaw was still hanging. “How are you sure it’s him?” She asked. “It is,” I nodded. There was nothing I was more sure of. “Nicholas was the man I slept with seven years ago. He’s the father of my kids.” I had told Evelyn t
GISELLE."Tell me!" Hazel raised her voice, her patience growing thin."Tell me where my children are!" She yelled. I cupped my chin for a moment before looking back up at her. I regretted it and in that moment, the sheriff burst in through the doors.I realized he’d been listening in on our conver







