MasukFIRST PERSON POVParis had always smelled like sin. Expensive perfume, fresh rain, and the quiet hum of secrets that never stayed buried. I should have known that coming here would ruin me.The city glittered beneath the soft haze of twilight when I arrived at the rooftop event for Maison Voltaire, the fashion house that had somehow made me their new muse. Cameras flashed like lightning, champagne flutes sparkled, and somewhere above it all stood him — Adrian Voltaire, the billionaire CEO whose name could silence a room.I had only seen him once before. A brief, charged meeting in his London office when I signed my contract. His reputation preceded him — ruthless, brilliant, terrifyingly beautiful. He had looked at me like a man dissecting art, sharp eyes catching flaws no one else dared to see.Now, as I stepped onto the marble terrace, his gaze found me again.Adrian stood near the balcony, suit black as midnight, tie undone, the city lights gilding his features. Every woman in the
First Person POVThe rain had not stopped for days. It came in steady sheets, drumming against the carriage roof as I watched the wilderness of Thornfield stretch before me. The driver muttered something about the old hall being cursed, but I paid him no mind. My hands, gloved and trembling, rested on my lap as the manor came into view—its turrets stabbing the gray sky like accusing fingers.I had come to Thornfield Hall for one reason: to take up the position of private archivist to Lord Victor Ravenscroft, the last of his line. I told myself it was only work. But there was another reason—one I dared not name. I had read his letters before I ever saw his face, and those letters had awakened something inside me. Something I did not trust.When the carriage stopped, the iron gates groaned open as if they resented my arrival. A tall man waited at the entrance, his dark hair slicked back, his smile both inviting and unsettling.“Martha Ellis,” he said smoothly, bowing his head. “I was be
Third person POVThe wind carried the scent of pine and rain through the hills, whispering against the walls of the art retreat. It was a quiet place, far from the chaos of the city, where guests came to disconnect from the world and rediscover themselves. For Maya, it was supposed to be a clean slate.Years had passed since that night—the one she never dared to name. Life had moved on, or at least pretended to. She’d finished school, gone to art college, built a quiet reputation for painting emotion through abstraction. Yet, no matter how much time slipped by, her mind returned to that storm, to the firelight, and to Lila.She hadn’t spoken to her stepsister in nearly five years. After graduation, Lila vanished without a word, leaving Maya with nothing but memories and a sense of guilt that crept into her veins every time she closed her eyes. So when she received an invitation from an exclusive artist residency in the mountains, she took it without hesitation. She wanted distance—fro
Third person povI had planned my birthday staycation for weeks—a solo escape at the Grand Crest Hotel, famous for its skyline views and champagne service. Turning thirty felt like a milestone worth spoiling myself for. My suite had a private balcony, a hot tub bubbling by the glass railing, and enough space to make me forget I was still in the same city I lived in.By the time I checked in, I was already glowing with excitement. The receptionist, a cheerful young woman, handed me my key card with a smile. “Room 1407, Ms. Claire Morgan. Happy birthday.”When I entered the suite, it was perfect—rose petals on the bed, a fruit basket, and a bottle of chilled champagne. I slipped off my shoes, threw my purse on the armchair, and exhaled. For once, everything was about me. No deadlines. No phone calls. Just a night of peace.Or so I thought.A knock interrupted my serenity. I frowned. “Room service already?” I muttered, crossing the marble floor. But when I opened the door, it wasn’t a wa
THIRD PERSON POVThe vodka burned a path through the cold numbness inside Imogen. The world had taken on a fuzzy, pulsating edge, the music thudding in time with her aching heart. She scanned the crowded club, her gaze blurring until it snagged on a man leaning against the far end of the bar. He was tall, with a sharp, defined jawline and dark eyes that were watching the crowd with a detached amusement. He looked nothing like the fabricated 'Wilder'. He looked real, solid, and dangerously appealing.A fresh wave of bitter defiance washed over her. Fine. If reality was going to be ugly, she would grab it by the throat.Stumbling slightly on her heels, she closed the distance between them, planting her hands on the bar on either side of him, caging him in. The scent of his cologne, something dark and smoky, cut through the smell of stale beer.He raised an eyebrow, looking down at her with a mix of surprise and curiosity.Imogen leaned in, her words slurring slightly, but her intent cle
THIRD PERSON POVImogen’s phone felt like a live thing in her hand, buzzing not with a notification, but with her own nervous energy. On the screen was the profile of ‘Wilder_87’. His pictures showed a man with sun-kissed, tousled hair, a smile that crinkled the corners of his sea-blue eyes, and a penchant for hiking mountains she’d only ever seen on screensavers. For five months, he had been her highlight reel. His voice, a warm baritone through the phone, had talked her through a stressful project at work. His texts, witty and thoughtful, were the first thing she read in the morning and the last thing she saw at night.Today, after a flurry of excited messages, they were finally meeting.Can’t wait to see you in person, Immy. The real thing has to be better than the digital version, right? he’d messaged.Nothing could be better than your messages, she’d typed back, a flush of giddy anticipation warming her cheeks.She’d chosen the meeting spot with care: a chic, airy café near the S







