LOGINELIAS’s POV The bedroom was heavy and still.Outside, the freezing winter rain drummed against the thick glass of the balcony doors, casting long shadows across the floor. Inside, the room was warm, filled with the soft, steady hum of the bedside humidifier and the faint, sweet scent of lavender oil.I sat on the edge of the mattress, my elbows resting on my knees, staring down at my hands.Beneath the heavy velvet duvet, Thea was finally sleeping. Her breathing was deep and even, different from the lingering panic from earlier in the night. But her face was still pale, and the dark circles under her closed eyes told the silent story of the violent fever that had wracked her body just hours ago.Every time I closed my eyes, I could still hear the raw, terrifying agony in her voice as she thrashed against the pillows during her delirium.“Doctor... why won't you let me breathe? My chest hurts... Elias... where are you? Why aren't you coming to save me?”The words felt like physical bl
The heavy wooden doors of the Vance estate in the Swiss mountains clicked shut, echoing loudly through the massive, quiet house.Serena stood in the middle of her bedroom, her hands clenched into tight fists. On the velvet armchair across the room, two broad-shouldered security guards stood at attention, guarding the door. On the table rested her vanity case, completely empty. Her father had stripped away her private mobile phone, her laptop, her credit cards, and her passport before locking her inside the estate."You have brought enough embarrassment to this family, Serena," her father had cold-bloodedly told her before locking the door. "You will stay here under strict supervision until you learn how to behave."Tears of pure, boiling rage spilled over Serena’s eyelashes, running down her pale cheeks.She hated Elias. She hated her father. But above everything else in this world, she hated Thea Sterling-Vane. Thea had stolen Elias, stolen the spotlight, and now forced Serena to li
Back at the Vane estate, the afternoon sun had begun to set, casting long, dark orange shadows across the grand bedroom suite. Elias sat on the edge of the bed, holding a pair of soft, cashmere baby socks in his hands. He looked up as Thea walked into the room, holding two warm mugs of chamomile tea. She walked slowly, resting one hand behind her back to support the weight of her belly. Elias immediately set the small socks down, stood up, and hurried over to gently take the mugs from her hands, setting them on the nightstand before guiding her to sit comfortably against the soft bed pillows. "You shouldn't be carrying heavy trays, my love," Elias gently scolded her, sitting beside her and wrapping a soft wool blanket around her legs. Thea chuckled softly, leaning her head against his broad shoulder. "It was just two cups of tea, Elias. I am fine." Elias wrapped his arm around her shoulders, gently pulling her close against his chest. He reached down, resting his large, warm palm
Four months passed in a blur of quiet days and soft autumn air.Inside the Vane estate, time seemed to move at a slow, peaceful pace. The garden leaves turned from bright green to deep shades of orange and brown, and the cool breeze carried the crisp scent of late autumn.Thea stood before the tall mirror in her dressing room, wearing a loose, powder-blue wool sweater. She reached down, placing both hands over her rounded stomach. Her baby bump was now visibly prominent, a firm, beautiful curve that made her heart swell with warmth every single morning.In her heart, these past few months had brought a kind of peace she had never known. Elias had kept his word. He remained on his extended leave of absence, spending almost every hour of the day beside her. He walked with her in the private garden, read to her in the evenings, and personally oversaw every single meal prepared by Martha.Yet, as the weeks rolled on, a quiet, subtle weight began to settle over her chest.The estate had g
The atmosphere inside the executive suite of Vane Group was heavy and silent.Outside the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, the city moved under a overcast sky. Down on the ground level, four heavy black security SUVs stood parked across the front gates of the building, keeping three persistent media vans parked half a block away.Inside the office, Elias stood behind his mahogany desk, his dark eyes fixed onto the sleek tablet resting in front of him.The digital scrub had cost six million dollars, but it had worked with terrifying speed. Within two hours, every single article, thread, and social media post referencing Thea’s old clinic records and her quiet pregnancy had been permanently deleted from the web. The three independent gossip sites had taken down their domain links, replaced by blank error pages.Liam stepped into the office, carrying a steaming mug of black coffee. He set it down on the corner of the desk and checked his phone screen."The web scrubbing is completely fini
Inside the master suite of the Vane estate, the morning sun shone brightly through the sheer white curtains, casting a warm, peaceful glow across the room.Thea sat at the small dining table by the window, wearing a soft, cream-colored house dress. A small plate of fresh fruit, warm toast, and a cup of mild herbal tea sat before her. Elias sat across from her, wearing a tailored navy-blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms. He buttered a piece of toast, cut a small slice of fruit, and placed it gently onto her plate with a tender smile."You need to eat properly this morning, my love," Elias said, his voice smooth and warm. "The nurse said maintaining your iron levels is important."Thea chuckled softly, picking up her fork. "Elias, you are treating me as if I cannot even butter my own bread. I feel fine.""I am simply making sure my wife is cared for," Elias replied smoothly, pouring her a fresh cup of tea.Before he could take his seat, his mobile phone buzzed quietl
THEA’s POV In my first life, that voice would have made me jump. My father had a way of making me feel like I was five years old and failing a test. I used to spend my allowance buying him expensive watches just to get a "thank you" that never came. "Thea!" My mother’s voice joined in, high-pit
THEA’s POV “Tell him,” I said.I walked toward the dressing room.The walk-in closet was the size of a small house, filled with rows of suits in muted grays and navy blues, colors Elias liked. I used to dress like a shadow so I wouldn’t offend him.I found a pair of scissors on the mahogany island
THEA’s POV Elias was still leaning over me, his face so close I could see the dark blue flecks in his eyes.I looked at him, and for a split second, I didn't see my husband. I saw a jailer. In my last life, I would have cried. I would have begged him not to say such scary things. But that Thea die
THEA’s POV The morning news was a bloodbath. I sat at the long, marble breakfast table, sipping my coffee and watching the television mounted on the wall. The headline scrolling across the bottom made the bitter caffeine taste like nectar: "STERLING ARCHITECTURE DROPS 40% AS MAJOR INVESTORS PULL







