Thank God they weren’t heading back to the Blackwood Estate. That’s the only silver lining. I didn’t need Drew’s smug, annoying face anywhere near my personal hellscape or his mother’s. The last time I saw him was right after Nadia’s funeral and I promised myself then I wouldn’t grace his infuriating presence ever again. I hated that family. All of them. And the fact that he had something going on with Beatrice, my twin, my mirror, my stranger made my skin crawl. Who was she really? Because honestly, if you have a husband like Alex and still find time to roll around with his good-for-nothing stepbrother? You deserve your own Lifetime crime special. And then it hit me. I didn’t even ask the name of my other sibling. The one that doesn’t look like me. What kind of person am I? After hanging out with Candice, I stepped outside into the unholy heat of New York, only to find Orbot already waiting. He was chilling in the car, thank God. Not under the sun, obviously.
“It’s good to see you again, sister.” The voice was sweet…too sweet. Celeste, with her flawlessly curled blonde hair and those sparkling blue eyes, walked in like she owned the air we breathed. She pulled me into one of her signature tight fake hugs. My arms stiffened at my sides. It can’t be real. She called me sister. No, no, no. “I saw you,” I whispered, stepping back from her grip. “In the hospital. The same one my mom was in. You were there with… with a man you called your father.” Celeste tilted her head, a sly smile playing on her lips. “And?” I turned to Joseph. “She can’t be my sister.” Alex now perched on a chair several feet away, deep in hushed conversation with a man in spectacles. He didn’t look up, didn’t glance in my direction. “Daddy!” Celeste cooed, strutting over to Joseph like a runway model. She bent to kiss his cheek, her fitted dress rising just a little too high. I didn’t miss the smug flick of her eyes in my direction. Joseph simply repli
“You should stop me,” Alex murmured, his teeth tugging at my nipple, making a strangled hiss escape my dazed mouth. Yes, I should, I thought to myself, but how could I? How could I stop him when there was this strange heat pulling me toward him…. toward the sinful place where his suit-clad thighs now rubbed gently against my body? I was an idiot. A total fucking idiot. My hands instinctively tangled in his thick hair, still damp from the shower he definitely took on his way here, the strands not fully dried. I could feel the wetness against my fingers, and it only made everything more intense. He suddenly moved his mouth away from my nipple with a soft pop, raising his face to mine. His silver eyes were now a deep blue, glazed over as he took me in. His gaze burned into me. What did he see? Did I look dazed with desire like him? I wouldn’t know. The next moment, his warm breath seized my jaw, and his lips crashed down onto mine, kissing me with a heat that made me shiver. The
His hand was still on my waist, warm and grounding, as his breath brushed the side of my neck.“What was she like?” I asked in a whisper, my eyes fixed on the ornate patterns carved into the door in front of us. My heart pounded softly.He didn’t hesitate. “She was… a handful,” he murmured, voice low. “But Father loved her.”A strange tightness twisted in my chest. The thought of him being madly in love with her and still sleeping with Celeste made my stomach churn. But then again… Beatrice had been sleeping with Drew.“We met in Bangkok,” he said, his voice barely above the hum of memory. “When I took over Blackwood Holdings. But even then, I was already doing business with the Martin Muir. So when I found out Martin had another daughter i was… shocked. I’d only ever known Celeste, and I realized she wasn’t a fan of bragging about being a twin.”He paused. The silence between us stretched thin.“It turns out Joseph never really put her in the spotlight,” Alexander said quietly, his b
“Did you kill her because she chose Mr. Drew over you?” The question came with a loud snap of a camera, followed by a chaotic chorus of shutters and shouting. The reporters descended on us like vultures. “We just need one statement, sir!” A ginger-haired female reporter shoved a tiny mic into the partially open car window, her eyes wild with the thrill of a potential headline. When Candice had sent that message, I hadn’t even gotten the chance to show Alex. We were already pulling into the estate’s driveway—and then the swarm hit. Flashbulbs, voices and Chaos. These people should really give it a rest. “You okay back there?” Alex glanced at me from the front seat, his voice way too calm. “Yes, I guess,” I said. No, I wasn’t. The lights were blinding, relentless. Reporters kept closing in, waving mics like weapons. The guards were barely managing to hold them off. “Is it true you killed her to punish Drew for taking your inheritance?” “Were you in a passionate rela
My legs moved before my thoughts could catch up. I sprinted down the hallway, heart pounding louder than my footsteps, past rooms filled with quiet groans and nurses who turned too slowly. The further I went, the heavier my chest became.She wasn’t in her room.She wasn’t in her room.She wasn’t—Oh God.“Where is she?!” I yelled, but no one had an answer. Not the nurse with trembling fingers, not the receptionist who suddenly couldn’t meet my gaze.A growing noise rang in my ears as an unbearable pressure built in my chest.I don’t even know how I got there. Maybe I flew. Maybe I fell. Maybe I ran with so much desperation that my limbs forgot their limits.But I found myself pushing past the familiar white door that led to the hospital’s back garden.It smelled like damp soil.And there, through the trimmed hedges, beyond the faded wheelchair ramp—Was a form.A pale form lying still in the grass.My breath caught in my throat.No.No, no, no please.My feet made a muffled sound agai
Something creaked open. I wasn’t sure if it was the door or a drawer, but I felt the subtle shift in the air, the tug at the edges of the room. Then, without warning, a burst of brightness spilled through my closed lids, painting the back of my eyes in a blinding orange hue. My face tensed, and my eyes squinted instinctively, trying to protect themselves from the light. But the curtains… they were open now. The light streaming in was soft but persistent. “Good morning, ma’am,” a familiar voice said gently. Then a warm hand settled against my forehead pressing gently across my skin, as though checking for a fever. The gesture was so careful it made something ache inside me. My lashes fluttered as I fought the pull of sleep. My eyes opening slowly, adjusting to the soft glow of daylight. crouched beside me was lucy. The sight of her made something inside me loosen. Her round face, slightly tired but full of concern, was framed by her brunette hair, now styled differently.
“Have they found out who did it?” I asked, my voice low and scratchy as I strained my neck from the pillow, trying to sit up. A dull ache tugged behind my eyes, but I ignored it. I caught sight of Lucy emerging from the dressing room, dragging the hoover behind her like it weighed a ton. She avoided my eyes as she walked past the bed, heading toward the door with her back to me. “It was dark, from what I heard, ma’am. The person who drugged you… they turned off the power.” I frowned. “But how is that possible?” My voice was sharper now, edged with confusion. “They’d have to know this place inside out to even figure out where the breaker is.” Lucy paused at the door, hand gripping the frame, then looked over her shoulder. “Don’t stress yourself too much, ma’am. I’m sure Mr. Blackwood is sorting everything out with your father.” My stomach twisted. “Can you stop calling him that?” I muttered. “I only just found out he existed a few days ago, and you saw how that parasite of a sis
I blinked, snapping back to reality as I stared at the same receptionist who had once led me into this very building when I came to sign the contract. Now she was leaning slightly over the front desk, her expression politely blank, her voice lined with confusion. “What?” I asked again, this time more sharply. I’d called his line earlier, sure. But I’d assumed he was just busy. Not… unavailable. “Did he say why?” I asked, forcing my voice to stay even. She squinted at the open file on her desk, her bright blue eyes narrowed slightly beneath long lashes. Dressed in a fitted black skirt and matching jacket, her high ponytail was perfectly slicked back—not a single hair out of place. She looked really pretty and professional. “No, ma’am,” she said, looking up again. “He didn’t inform us. We tried contacting him too, but his line isn’t going through.” I folded my arms and tried to act unbothered. “Right. I see…” There was a pause. Then she said, “You’d probably know what’s goin
It would seem my twin was far more crazy than I ever imagined because every single one of her diary entries was laced with obsession. Page after page, she wrote about a man with blue eyes that she’d been stalking. It was night now, and I’d already retreated to bed after a quiet, draining dinner of half-warm noodle soup in the living room. Mom still hadn’t come downstairs. So I did what I always did, left her food at her door without a word. I carried the empty lunch plate back to the kitchen. At least she ate everything. The ceramic gleamed beneath the kitchen light, like it had been licked clean. Somehow, that made me feel better. A little. I felt kinda bad for going over to Alex’s house and… stealing. Well… scratch that. I didn’t steal anything. Not really. Besides, those were things I needed to see, needed to know. Regardless. What I did know now was that Drew was definitely back from Manchester. My accusations to Joseph had started off as pure bluff— But the look that fl
It made more sense in my head, at least. “What? Where do you… where do you even get such claims from?” Joseph pressed, eyes narrowing as I stared at him. “You needed him to look for me. You knew he’d find me after you lost Beatrice. After she ran away from you.” “She didn’t run away.” “She left you. Because of your—” “My what?” he snapped. “You know nothing. You absolutely know nothing.” “Hey!” A voice called from behind. I turned to the door. Seriously. They don’t knock in this company? Of course—it was Celeste. She walked in with that stupid suit then settled into a seat at the back. “I’m so sorry if I interrupted you, Daddy… Sister. But the meeting is still ongoing, and we can’t proceed without your presence. If you’ll excuse us, Sister. Daddy, please.” Joseph’s eyes shifted to her, then back to me looking almost apologetic. “Oh, it’s fine,” I muttered. “Actually, it’s fine. I’ll be going now.” “Wait—” “No, really. It’s fine.” I stood, casting one last
“I need to see you.” I whispered into the phone, my voice barely carrying over the soft tap of rain against the window. It had been raining since morning. I stood by the window, watching fat droplets slide down the glass like tears. Mom hadn’t left her room all day after our little…. Misunderstanding. I hadn’t bothered to knock either. I left her breakfast by the door hours ago, untouched. No thanks. Nothing. And honestly? I didn’t have the strength to beg for connection anymore. I needed to see Joseph. I knew he couldn’t come here. Not with Mom in the house—she’d probably hurl something at his head if she so much as heard his voice. But this wasn’t about them. It was about Beatrice. If she had really been out there, roaming free… then he needed to know. Because if Joseph didn’t get a grip on his daughter soon, she was going to do something unspeakable. And I wasn’t going to sit back and wait for it to happen. “Okay, um…Is everything alright?” “No, it’s not,” I rep
It was a Saturday and a rainy one at that. The kind that made the world feel quieter, like nature was trying to hush everything for a while. I had just finished my morning jog. Yeah, I’m one of those people now trying to stay active, trying not to be that couch potato waiting around for the next person to come kidnap me in my sleep. Not anymore. The rain began just as I bent over to dust off my sneakers, my breath slow and steady, a thin sheen of sweat clinging to my skin. I peeled the towel from around my neck and dabbed it over my face, sighing as the first drops splattered against the porch railing beside me. “Good thing I didn’t get wet,” I muttered, though oddly enough, part of me had wanted to. Wanted to feel the rain on my body like a restart. But I knew better. That wouldn’t be a good sight for the neighbors. Not that I knew them. Inside, the house was heavy with silence. Mum was here now. I’d finally discharged her from the Blackwood Hospital. She hadn’t said a single wo
“How did you know I lived here? Surely Joseph didn’t tell you… or was it Celeste?” I asked, folding my arms across my chest, watching him from the doorway. Alex arched a brow at me, the corners of his lips twitching with mild amusement. “I really hate when you ruin things by mentioning your sister’s name,” he said casually. “And yes, I found out because I followed you yesterday. Saw you outside your porch… with some very…. friendly MALE friend of yours.” He said it like it was the most natural thing in the world like stalking someone was a totally normal behavior and how was that even possible? The stalking i mean because i literally saw him drive past us yesterday unless… I scoffed, shaking my head as I pushed the door open a little wider but made no move to invite him in. “We didn’t exactly end things on a good note yesterday,” he continued, his tone easy, almost playful. “Thought I’d come over and be a gentleman.” At that, a laugh escaped my lips before I could stop mys
“Surprised you still remember me,” he chuckled, stealing a quick glance at me before fixing his eyes back on the road. His hands stayed steady on the wheel as he veered past a rumbling commercial truck, the engine growling in the distance. Honestly, I hadn’t expected to see him again. And truth be told, I wasn’t exactly waiting for it either. Not that I disliked him or anything… but the memory of him felt like something better left behind me. “You look… different from the last time I saw you,” I said, my voice trailing off as I shifted my attention to the window. A long crack spidered across the glass, clumsily patched up with black tape. Very professional. “You look different too, sweetheart,” he tossed back casually. “Where’s the blondie?” Realizing he meant Candice, I winced inwardly. I hadn’t really kept her updated lately. It made me feel like a terrible friend. “She’s good. I’m sure,” I said, forcing a casual shrug. What I really wanted to ask was what he really me
I was on cloud nine, and Alex was the one taking me there. Right in front of the damn golf course.His mouth crashed into mine like he was starving—urgent, hungry, reckless. Our bodies moved in sync, lips dragging, tongues clashing. My purse had fallen somewhere by the lounge chair, its screen lit up and beeping but I was… occupied.His kiss held the same intensity he’d used to swipe his tongue between my thighs that night—and the second the memory struck me, so did the heat between my legs.God.His hands slipped under my gown, like he knew exactly where to go. His fingers grazed my thighs, slow and deliberate, climbing higher until—He froze.Then groaned into my mouth.I wasn’t wearing underwear.The sound that tore from him sent a jolt straight through my stomach. He didn’t say anything, just gripped me tighter and lifted me like I weighed nothing. My legs instinctively wrapped around his waist, and I gasped, my breath faltering as his mouth found that tender spot behind my ear. M
“If you strike with ease, it’ll land just where you want it… See?” Alex’s voice was low, almost bored. He swung his club smoothly, sending the golf ball sailing across the trimmed green. It landed near the flag without much effort. Of course it did. Because nothing ever missed when Alexander Blackwood was the one swinging. He stood shoulder to shoulder with a sharply dressed man whose name had flown over my head the moment we were introduced. He had a sharp accent, a polite smile, and a name that my Bronx tongue had fumbled within seconds. So I called him what I could in my head. ASIAN DUDE. Now, you might be wondering what the hell I was doing on a golf course at 5:30 in the afternoon, playing trophy wife to a man who barely looked in my direction unless it was for business. The answer was simple. Appearance. Turns out, the so-called “Asian dude in the suit” was no ordinary man. He was Alex’s late father’s personal lawyer. And judging by the stiff way Alex’s jaw ha