LOGINLooking up at her window, only the high fence stood between them.His wolf stirred, restless, voice low and wary inside his mind.Lilune… did she send us back to Lara?Does this mean she has decided to leave for good?A sharp breath tore from his chest.No… that face—John, could it mean—? They are…He didn’t finish the thought.Crane cut him off abruptly, senses flaring.A shadow moved toward the window.Then, within seconds, Lara appeared.She stood there quietly, framed by the faint glow from inside the room. Crane saw her lift a hand and gently wipe at her eyes, blinking as if trying to steady herself. Her chest rose and fell in soft, uneven breaths.She opened her palms slowly.The little white bird resting with her chirped softly, as if answering a silent call, then fluttered from her hands and disappeared into the night sky.Crane’s breath hitched.She was about to turn away—to close the window—when she suddenly froze.Her head tilted downward.Their eyes met.For a single, susp
The dining room felt strangely quiet that evening. Lara sat at the long polished table, pushing a piece of roasted potato across her plate. The clatter of cutlery was softer than usual, almost hesitant. Even the chandeliers seemed dimmer, as though the house itself was holding its breath. Alex sat across from her, trying to act normal but failing miserably — his smoke flickered every now and then, betraying his nerves. Peter stood by the wall, stiff as a statue, watching the doors like he expected an attack at any moment. But more than any of them… Crane’s empty seat burned. Lara glanced at it for the fifth time. She took another small bite — only because Alex had begged her earlier — but the food tasted like dust. Her stomach twisted, not from pregnancy, but from worry. “Is… is Crane still working?” she asked quietly. Three men froze. Alex’s fork paused mid-air. Peter looked away. Yousef, seated beside her, cleared his throat softly. The silence told her every
Back at Corey's mansion, the air was heavy. The chandeliers hung like silent witnesses, their crystals catching the late-afternoon light and fracturing it into thin, nervous shards. Corey sat up on his king-sized bed, shoulders rigid. Derrick stood like a shadow by his side, and Greyhem lounged on the couch opposite him, one leg thrown over the arm as if the room were still someone else’s show. Doc sat quietly, watching the way the men moved — cataloguing fear, loyalty, and the slow burn of plans being born.After a few minutes, Greyhem’s phone popped up with a ding sound. Everyone adjusted immediately and turned toward him. Unlocking the phone, his eyes ran round the screen for a few seconds and then they lit up.“Booyah… there we go,” he said, smiling.“What did you get?” Corey asked impatiently.“Hand the phone over already, Greyhem.” Corey’s voice rang out again.“Woah, woah hot-blooded human, take a chill pill,” Greyhem mocked Corey, and then turned to Derrick. “You, bring the la
“Go change into clean clothes and come downstairs for lunch, Maya,” James said. Maya pouted. “Okayyy, big brother.” She blew a kiss toward Janis’s tummy. “I’ll be right back in a jiffy, baby!” she said and ran upstairs, her footsteps thudding before her door slammed shut. James chuckled, shaking his head. “Her Maya,” he muttered, waving at the guard who’d been standing by since Maya arrived. The guard bowed and went outside, driving both cars into the garage beside the house. Janis finally sat down, eyes still exploring the glass walls. “Won’t people see us from outside?” she asked, her tone soft and innocent. “Of course not,” James said, smiling. “But we can see them from here. Top security measures.” “Oh.” Moments later, Maya came running back in, now in a clean white dress and shiny shoes. The three of them had a heartfelt lunch — James’s cooking filling the air wit
The drive was silent.Janis kept stealing glances at James behind the wheel of a sleek black Aston Martin DBX707, its scent of new leather mixing with the soft hum of power beneath her. James, aware of her gaze, only tightened his grip on the steering and reached across to lace his free hand over her smaller one.She stayed quiet until she noticed him take a right turn instead of the left — the turn that should’ve led back to the old apartment.Her brows furrowed. “Aren’t we going home? Why the right turn?”James smiled, eyes still on the road. “Of course, Jan-Jan… we’re going home. A new home.”The words hit her like a whisper from a dream. She blinked, staring out the window as they drove off the bustling streets into a quiet, opulent estate. The guards at the towering gate bowed the moment they saw the car, waving them through without question.Her heart thumped faster. This was the Peaches Estate.The same estate that only the richest of the rich could step foot in — celebrities,
The heavy doors of the dark mansion swung open. James walked in, his polished shoes clicking sharply against the marble floor — click, click, click — echoing through the silent hall like a countdown.His suit jacket hung open, unbuttoned down to the fourth button, revealing a white shirt loosened at the collar. His usually calm face was tight with worry. He didn’t spare a glance at the guards bowing as he passed, his steps unbroken, purposeful.Reaching the study, he pushed the door open without knocking. Vince sat behind his desk, speaking quietly with Bruno.James dropped the briefcase he’d been carrying onto the table with a thud.“Where is she?”Vince paused, eyes slowly lifting from Bruno to James, a slow smile curving his lips.“Well… welcome back to the country, CEO. And good afternoon to you, too,” he said, voice dripping with mock politeness.James exhaled sharply, running a hand through his slicked-back hair.“Yeah, my bad. Hi, boss.” He turned slightly toward Bruno, giving







