CHLOE'S POVThe moment I saw the bank notification, a crooked smile curled across my lips.He sent the money.Of course he did. He had no choice. I had him hooked. Austin thought he was in control but I had him right where I wanted him.It wasn't lost on me. They thought they could get rid of me. Like I was just a bad memory they could bury and forget. But here I am. Breathing. Watching. Planning.He was sure he’d cleaned up well, covered his tracks perfectly. A calculated escape plan for Alexis, so smooth and silent. But I was the surprise waiting. I’d been watching—hiding, yes—but not disappearing. I’ve lived in the corners of their perfect little lives ever since I barely escaped the police that day at the warehouse. Every headline, every whisper, every smirk between them—I saw it all.And I waited.Because Chloe Packer doesn’t just vanish.Blackmailing Austin? That was easy. Almost too easy. He was shaking already—scared of what a single photo could do. A photo that could tear dow
AUSTIN’S POV “I wished I could've captured Owen’s face today and have it framed.” I said to myself, smiling broadly. I was driving back to my office after the conference meeting, drumming my fingers on the wheel feeling excited. I had destroyed Owen’s last chance and taken away his dreams of a life with Zoe. I was bursting with excitement and pride after seeing the look on Owen’s face when I told him I was marrying Zoe. His face showed pure shock and hurt. It was satisfying to see. Like I had landed a huge victory. I'd won. I had Jamie. Zoe said yes. I had the life I wanted within arm’s reach. All I had to do was move fast and seal it soon. A quiet wedding. No unnecessary guests. Just a celebration of the life I was finally building. For me. For Jamie.But one thing was holding me back. Chloe.I held the wheel firmly. Chloe. Of all people. I had completely forgotten about her. Why now of all times?She was the only crack in my perfect reflection. I never thought she’d be at a lo
OWEN'S POVIt was one of those mornings where the weight in my chest felt heavier than usual. Sleep hadn’t come easily the night before, not that it had in the past one week since Alexis disappeared. I couldn’t stop thinking about possibilities, dead ends and regrets. I was trying hard to find her, to prove her father was involved and help Zoe feel safe again. I was still holding on but each day away from Zoe felt like I was losing her more.The business conference at the Harbour Convention Centre had been on my calendar for weeks. I wasn’t up for it but my assistant said I had to attend. I had to put on a good face when I felt like I was breaking down.The hall was getting packed when I entered. People networked with fake grins and champagne. I smiled at people I knew, made small talk with strangers but I wasn’t paying attention. That was until I saw him—Austin.He spotted me too."Owen" he said, walking up to me with confidence. He had a big grin."Austin" I nodded firmly. "I wasn’t
AUSTIN’S POV I wasn’t sure I heard her right at first. “Let’s get married.”Her voice wasn’t shaky. It wasn’t unsure. It wasn’t swept up in passion either. It was calm—too calm. Like someone deciding it was time to move on due to circumstances.I paused, processing the words as Jamie rushed by laughing like nothing was wrong. Zoe just stood there with her arms folded loosely. She looked straight at me, tired but focused.“…Do what?” I asked not because I didn’t know but because I had to be certain. I wanted her to say it again.She didn’t blink. “Let’s get married.”My heart pounded. This was what I had wanted, wasn’t it? What I had envisioned when I watched her tuck Jamie into bed in my house, when she made toast in the kitchen barefoot, humming quietly while the sun came up. This was the family I had imagined building. Not broken pieces stitched together in chaos—but this. This still moment.So why did it suddenly feel like the ground beneath me wasn’t steady?I forced myself to t
ZOE’S POV The apartment was quiet except for the sound of cartoons playing on the TV. “When is daddy coming?” Jamie asked with his eyes still glued to the screen, totally into the animation. “He should be here soon, honey.” I replied. I curled up on the couch holding a cup of tea I had almost forgotten. I was in my own world.I took my phone, scroll through contacts. I wanted to dial Owen's number. But then I stopped and tossed the phone on the couch.‘He probably won't pick up.’It had been over a week since Alexis disappeared—slipped away like a ghost from the courtroom steps—and ever since, Owen had been pulling further and further away.I tried to convince myself it was temporary. That he just needed time. That maybe he was busy, or maybe something was going on behind the scenes with the case. But deep down, I knew better.Owen was avoiding me.He still came to the office occasionally, but only for what was absolutely necessary. Meetings. Reports. The kind of things that didn
OWEN'S POVI sat in the parking lot thinking about Zoe's words: “You've been going there everyday lately, Is something wrong?”She looked me straight in the eye with her soothing voice but I could tell she was curious maybe even suspicious. But I didn’t tell her the whole truth. Not even half of it.She looked at me intensely after I said it. She didn’t press further. She just nodded and said okay. I know she didn’t completely believe me. I wouldn’t have either.Honestly I've been keeping my distance. I don't want to but I have to. I'm too ashamed to be around her. I promised her Alexis would get punished for what she did. I told her I’d protect her. That she could trust me. But I failed… and now I’m not sure if I deserve another chance to try again.We haven’t really talked since the day of the trial that never happened. Since Alexis vanished like smoke, leaving only fear in her place. I see the pain in Zoe's eyes. The exhaustion. The dread. The distance.Which is why I have been g