تسجيل الدخولHappy New Year, my beautiful readers 💖I hope this year finds you healthy, happy, and thriving. Thank you so much for the love and support you’ve shown this book—it truly means the world to me.If you’re enjoying the story, I’d really appreciate it if you could vote with gems and leave a comment on the main page, sharing what you think about the book so far. Your thoughts, reactions, and feedback not only motivate me but also help the story gain more exposure and reach new readers.Every vote and comment makes a difference, and I’m so grateful for each one of you.Thank you in advance, and sending you lots of love 😘
**Shawn's POV** The secret location Konstantin wanted me to meet him alone is an abandoned textile factory that sits on the edge of nowhere—exactly where rogues like Konstantin prefer to conduct business. No witnesses. No cameras. Just rusted metal and broken dreams. I pull my SUV into the gravel lot and kill the engine. Through the windshield, I count at least fifty vehicles. Maybe more hidden behind the main building. Konstantin didn't come alone. He brought an army. That's good because we're going to need one to take down Hank and his men. I check my watch: 11:07 AM. Less than three hours until Stella needs to pick up her son. The air bites cold as I step out of the SUV. January in the city is unforgiving—gray skies, wind that cuts through leather, the kind of weather that makes you want to stay in bed. But I haven't slept since I got the call about Stella. I move toward the east entrance, my boots crunching on broken glass. The factory door hangs crooked on its hin
**Stella's POV** "Prove it," Hank demands, his eyes boring into mine with sharp calculation. I swallow hard, my mind racing. "Call Ace Industries. The main corporate line. Anyone there can confirm—" "You don't know your own father's personal number?" Hank's eyebrow arches, amusement creeping back into his voice. "How convenient." Heat floods my face. "That is because I don't exactly have a normal father-daughter relationship where I have him on speed dial." "How tragic." Hank's tone drips with mockery. "So let me get this straight—you claim to be the daughter of one of the most powerful rogues in the city, but you can't prove it beyond asking me to call a public corporate number?" "Yes." I force the word out with more confidence than I feel. "Call them. Ask for Victor Ace. Tell them you have Stella Matthews. He'll know exactly who I am." Hank studies me for a long moment, clearly weighing whether this is worth his time or an elaborate delusion from a desperate captive. "Fine.
**Stella's POV** "I didn't plan anything." Cole's smile says otherwise. "Sabrina made her own choices. I just... took advantage of an opportunity when it presented itself." "You're going to let me lose my son—" "I'm going to let you face the consequences of your actions," he corrects. "You filed that custody case. You dragged me before the Council. You tried to take my heir away from me. Did you really think there wouldn't be repercussions?" "He's my son too—" "Not after two o'clock, he won't be." Cole checks his watch with deliberate casualness. "You have approximately three hours and forty-five minutes to figure out how to get yourself out of this mess. Better start thinking fast." Sabrina is watching this exchange with barely concealed glee. "Come on, baby. Let's not waste any more time on her." "You're right." He turns away. "She's not worth it." "Wait!" The scream tears out of me. "Cole, please! I'm begging you! Just—just pay the ransom! I'll do anything! I'll drop
**Stella's POV** Sabrina turns around so slowly that I know—with sickening certainty—that whatever comes next is going to hurt. Her face is composed now. Calm. The tears have dried up like they were never there, and when she looks at me, there's nothing but cold amusement in her eyes. "You'll repay every cent?" She repeats my words back to me, her tone almost thoughtful. "That's very generous of you, Stella. Really. Very noble." Something in her voice makes my stomach drop. "But I have to ask—" She tilts her head, studying me like I'm a particularly interesting insect. "—with what money, exactly?" The question hangs in the air. "I'll find a way," I force out. "Once I'm out, I'll get a job, I'll—" "A job." Sabrina's laugh is light, delicate, and utterly cruel. "Oh, sweetheart. You're so adorable when you're desperate." She takes a step closer to the cage, and I see it now—the woman who's been playing this game far longer than I ever realized. "Let's be realistic for a moment
**Stella's POV** Sabrina's confusion vanishes, replaced by something calculating. “I went to talk to Stella,” she says. Her voice softens, dips into something fragile and vulnerable. “I wanted to reason with her. She’s taking Noah away from his birthright, and I couldn’t just stand by and let that happen. I thought—if I talked to her calmly, maybe she’d listen—” What? Rage coils tight around my chest. After everything I did for her, she’s lying. Again. "That's a lie." The words rip out of me before I can stop them. Three pairs of eyes snap to me. I'm still slumped against the wall, probably looking half-dead, but I force myself to meet Cole's gaze. "That's not what happened," I continue, my voice rough. "She didn't come to talk. She had rogues kidnap me from my home, drug me, and drag me to Hank's warehouse. I woke up tied to a spelled rope while she stood there taunting—" "She's lying!" Sabrina cuts in, her voice rising. "Cole, please, you have to believe me! I would nev







