MasukSirius stared at Elias with absolute hatred. The muscle in his jaw twitched as he fought the urge to leap across the desk and strike the younger man. Elias remained completely still, his face an unreadable, cold mask, his dark eyes looking down at his cousin with quiet disdain."Grasping at straws?" Sirius spat out, letting out a harsh, bitter laugh. "You really think I'm just playing games, don't you? You sit up there on the top floor wearing grandfather's custom suits, acting like you built this company with your own hands when it got handed over to you like dog requesting treats.""Whether I was given the company easily doesn’t matter, grandfather understood I could run this company because I am capable, Sirius," Elias said smoothly, his tone remarkably calm compared to the rage radiating from across the desk. "He chose me because you were too busy using the Vane name to cover up your illegal gambling dens. Like he said, you lack discipline."Sirius leaned forward, slamming his pa
ELIAS’s POV I walked down the quiet executive hallway toward the main conference room, my father following closely behind me. Through the clear glass walls, I could see the entire board of directors sitting around the massive mahogany table. At the far end stood my cousin, Sirius Vane, gesturing wildly with his hands as he tried to look deeply concerned."I am telling you, I’m well informed in matters like this and you should be taking it serious, we cannot risk the company's reputation!" Sirius was shouting as I pushed the heavy glass doors open. "The permits are unstable, and my private sources indicate a massive security breach! Postponing the banquet by just one week is the only responsible move!"The room fell dead silent the moment I stepped inside. Every board member turned to look at me.I didn't rush. I walked slowly to the head of the table, setting my leather folder down with a quiet thud. I looked at Sirius, whose pale face twitched slightly when our eyes met.“Who’s sta
Elias’s POV I stood by the large table near the front entrance, fixing my watch strap. Outside, the morning sun was bright, shining through the large glass doors of our estate.I turned around to see Thea walking toward me. She was wearing a simple, comfortable dress, her soft eyes looking straight at me. She looked much better than she did last night, rested, calm, and completely focused."Are you leaving now?" she asked softly, stopping a few feet away."Yes," I said, stepping closer to her. I reached out and gently smoothed down the collar of her dress. "I would like for you to stay home today, Thea. You don’t need to go to the news office, I’m sure they can work without you for a day. Just stay inside the estate gates. The guards are on high alert, and you'll be safe here."I had assumed she might have argued with me. And that she would launch into a rant of how she had work to do or that she didn't need a team of guards keeping tabs on her movements. But today, she just looked a
Sirius Vane sat on the balcony of his private penthouse, taking a slow sip from a cup of bitter black coffee. The Friday morning sun was rising over the city, casting a bright, golden light across.Sirius set his cup down on the glass table, resting his chin on his hand as he looked out at the skyline. "Today is the final setup," he muttered to himself, a small, confident grin touching his lips. "Tomorrow, everything changes."He was waiting for a call. Or better yet, a visit. He expected Maya to show up with something or at least, files she could have stolen from that journalist she claimed she had so they could finalize their attack for the Saturday Charity Banquet.But Maya has been no show since last night. He sent out his men to find her and now he was expecting some good news. The heavy glass doors behind him slid open. His chief henchman, a tall, thick-set man named Vince, stepped onto the balcony. Vince looked extremely nervous, his head bowed low and his hands twitching at h
Thea’s POV The heavy, suffocating darkness of the night slowly melted away, replaced by the pale, soft gray of early morning.I opened my eyes, blinking against the soft light filtering through the sheer velvet curtains. My head was resting against the warm, steady rise and fall of Elias’s chest. His broad arm was still wrapped securely around my waist, his long fingers loosely intertwined with mine, keeping me tight against him all through the quiet hours.For the first time in days, my mind felt clear. The bitter, toxic rage that had consumed me in the basement was gone, replaced by a quiet, comforting stillness. The terrifying memory of Maya’s shrieks seemed small and distant now, completely washed away by the steady rhythm of my husband’s heartbeat.I shifted slightly, trying to move closer to the warmth of his body."Are you awake?" Elias’s voice was a low, morning rumble, thick with sleep.I looked up to find his dark eyes already watching me. The intense, lethal edge he carr
Elias’s pov The room was brightly lit by harsh white overhead bulbs. In the center of the damp concrete space, Maya Sterling sat tied securely to the heavy steel chair.Her hair was a tangled, greasy mess covering her face. Her hands and wrists were bright red from fruitlessly struggling against the thick nylon ropes binding her arms. When she heard the loud metallic scrape of the door opening, she snapped her head up, expecting to see Thea coming back for another round.Instead, her bloodshot eyes met mine.For a brief, fraction of a second, absolute terror flashed across Maya’s face. But almost immediately, she forced a bitter, ugly sneer onto her cracked lips, trying to hide her trembling frame behind sheer arrogance. "Ah, the great CEO himself," Maya mocked, her voice hoarse, raspy, and unpleasant. "Did your sweet little wife run upstairs crying into your arms? I told her the absolute truth, Elias! She's weak, pathetic, and deep down, you know it!"I didn't utter a single word.
ELIAS’s POV Elias felt like he was being trapped. His own parents were turning against him. Serena was standing there like a vulture, waiting for him to fall. "Thea is my wife," Elias said. "Whatever happened in that cabin... there is a reason for it. I trust her so you can stop with the delusion
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 The hospital room was too quiet. I lay there, my body feeling like it was made of lead. I couldn't move my fingers. I couldn't open my eyes. All I had left was my hearing, and the sound of the heart monitor's steady beep... beep... beep... "Is it done yet?" That was Maya’s voice







