MasukTristan’s POV“Liam!” Sophie screams, making a break towards the tree line.But thankfully, I grab her arm just in time. She turns around and tries to pry my fingers off her arm, and I know that I shouldn’t grip her too hard, but I hold on.“That’s my brother in there!” she yells at me. “Penny says it’s dangerous there and he can’t be alone! Please let me go!”“I can’t do that, Sophie,” I say, keeping my eyes at the spot where Liam disappeared. “You can’t follow him. You said so yourself, it’s dangerous. So why don’t I follow him?”Sophie’s eyes start to well up in tears. Everything inside me starts to scream in urgency. I don’t want her to cry. I don’t like seeing her cry. Every cell in my body just wants to protect her and I can’t take it.“Please.” I hold her shoulders and kneel so she can see through my eyes. “I’m going to look for Liam. Just go back to Penny, and don’t follow us. I got this.”At last, Sophie nods, and I take that as my cue to head out into the forest. I look back
Elena’s POVCloser. Alexander’s breath is warm on my lips. The tension in the air is thick. I have nowhere else to look at but his eyes. Even closer….“You have a lash on your nose,” Alexander suddenly says, blowing hot breath on my face. “There. It’s gone. God, it’s been bothering me all this time.”He lets out a laugh, and I step back as though scalded. For a moment there, I thought he’s going to kiss me. Am I stupid for thinking that? Of course he wouldn’t. He’s like a supermodel, and he probably only messes around with people who are as vain as him. Also, I don’t want to kiss him. I don’t want to kiss anyone, full stop.So why am I so embarrassed and annoyed right now?“Well, thanks for that,” I mumble, raising the box and waving it at him. “I really appreciate it. Do you need a ride back to the cafe?”Alexander immediately recognizes my shooing cue, and thankfully, he understands it because he says, “No, I got it. Thank you for the offer, though.”He starts to walk away, and I ma
Elena’s POVAfter already such a stressful day, the last person I wanted to see was Alexander.And yet here I am, sitting across him from a cafe, watching him stir some sugar into my coffee. He’s humming, clearly happy, and I have to admit that seeing his happiness is making me annoyed.“Do you have any plans to tell me why you called me here?” I ask. “Because otherwise, I’m just wasting my time.”“Sure.” He slides my coffee cup to my side of the table. “I’m sure you’d like to go back to the building in fifth avenue and order around your little boytoy.”My eyes go wide. “Are you spying on me?”Alexander shakes his head. “No. It’s just that I own that building, and our deal hasn’t been finalized yet. But you gave orders to the men—MY men—who are doing construction there. They told me about it.” He shrugs. “Was that your ex-husband?”“It’s none of your business,” I snap, but my face is hot.I know, doing that to Tristan was out of character. I’m not one to like seeing people suffering l
Tristan’s POV“Just a few more bags,” Elena says sweetly as she watches me carry two bags of cement over my shoulders. One of them bursts, and I have to hurry up so as not to spill the powder all over the place. Her expression doesn’t change. Not an ounce of pity in there. “I do have to go somewhere and meet someone, so if you would hurry up….”“I’m trying,” I groan as I set down the bags. “Just… let me do this.”“Of course,” she says with a fake stiff smile.Is she even the same woman? I ask myself internally. Elena never had a single malicious bone in her body. Or at least, she didn’t use to. When I got stressed from work, she would always offer to massage me or cook for me to help me relax. I can’t imagine this version of Elena doing that for me.I carry more bags until I get the last one done. I shake off the dust off my clothes and face her.“I did what you asked for,” I say. “It’s time for you to fulfill your other end of the deal. Let’s talk about the business.”I take out the
Tristan’s POVMira puts down the drink on the table, rubbing my back as she sits down next to me. I don’t know if I should push her hand off me or not. I don’t know what to feel.Part of me is still at the restaurant, even though I’m already home, wondering why Elena still wants to push through with the divorce.Wondering how she clawed her way to the top.What did she have to do? What did that old bastard ask of her?What acts did he make her commit? How dirty did he treat her?And how much did she like it?My anger floods my chest. I take the drink and down it in one go, feeling it burn its way down to my throat. I see red. All I see is red.“Hey,” Mira whispers, resting her chin against my shoulder. “Calm down, okay? We don’t know, Elena’s probably lying about it. There’s no way she’s the owner of Émeraude. I mean, does she even design jewelry? How can that company be hers?”I don’t say anything. I just pour myself another glass of scotch and down it in one gulp.Mira continues to
Elena’s POVNo. I will not let them ruin my confidence. Not tonight. Not after everything.For the past six years, I did my best to avoid any news about Tristan. Any small article, any business news coming from New York… I distanced myself from all of it. I vowed never to hear from him, or anything about him. I buried my old ‘family’ deep into my mind until I ceased to think of them.So it’s even more jarring now, seeing Mira with him.They ended up together after all.Tristan doesn’t look particularly happy, but then again, he’s the type of person who’s never cheerful. Mira is talking animatedly, and I have to admit that they look good together.They also deserve each other.“Of all the places.” My voice is low, but it’s not from fear. I realize that the shockwave of emotion I felt is centered mostly around anger. “This is where I see them. When I’m about to do something important.”“I know, but it’s alright.” Uncle Marcus is already steering me away. “Don’t let this get to you. Let’







