LOGINVANESSA'S POV"Maya is here!" Elijah said again, his voice full of innocent excitement. "She came over to play, and we've been playing games together!"The air left my lungs in a rush.Maya.Maya Lancaster.The same little girl who had lied about my son.Who had told everyone—teachers, parents, and the school administration—that Elijah had pushed, hurt and assaulted her.A lie that had gotten CPS called to my house.A lie that had resulted in my son being ripped from my arms, screaming and crying for me while I collapsed on the floor, helpless to stop them.A lie orchestrated by Isabella to punish me for existing."Elijah," I managed to call out over the phone, my voice shaking. "Baby, what is Maya doing there? I thought—I thought I told you to stay away from her.""I know, Mommy." His voice got quieter, more uncertain. "But she came over with her nanny, and Sarah said it was okay, and... and Maya also said she was sorry for what she did.""She said she was sorry?" I repeated, my hear
VANESSA'S POVNicholas's mouth was on mine, and for a moment I let myself get lost in it.In him.In the way his lips moved against mine, the way his tongue swept into my mouth with a confidence that made my toes curl.But then reality came crashing back."Wait," I gasped, turning my head to break the kiss. "Nicholas, wait. We can't.""We should," he murmured against my jaw, his lips trailing down to my neck in a way that made me almost speechless."We really shouldn't, Nicholas." I tried to push against his chest, but my hands seemed to have forgotten their purpose, instead they were spreading themselves across his hard muscle. "I don't think—I don't think this is right.""It feels pretty right to me, Vanessa...""Nicholas, please—"He kissed me again, harder this time, swallowing whatever protest I was about to make.And God help me, I kissed him back.My arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer even as my mind screamed at me to stop.Then suddenly the world tilted.Nicholas
VANESSA'S POVThe moment we arrived back at the Lancaster family mansion, Nicholas practically dragged me through the entrance, past the startled staff, and straight to the east wing.To our suite.He didn't say a word the entire way, his hand still gripping mine like he was afraid I'd disappear if he let go.The door to our suite slammed shut behind us with a finality that made my heart race.Nicholas finally released my hand, stalking across the room to the window, his shoulders tense, and his breathing still rough.I stood there by the door, suddenly feeling the full weight of everything that had just happened crash down on me.The funeral.Patricia in the grave.Isabella on the ground.Sebastian bleeding.The fight."Oh God," I whispered, my hands starting to shake. "Oh God, Nicholas, what did I do?""Vanessa—""I ruined it." My voice cracked. "Grandma Mae's funeral. I completely ruined it. She deserved better than that. She deserved a dignified, peaceful ceremony, and instead I—I
VANESSA'S POVEverything happened so fast.One moment Sebastian was in my face, screaming at me about his mother.The next, Nicholas's fist was connecting with his jaw in a brutal, bone-crunching punch that sent Sebastian staggering backward."Nicholas!" I gasped, but he wasn't listening.He wasn't listening to anyone.Sebastian recovered quickly, his hand going to his bleeding nose, his eyes blazing with shock and anger."You fucking bastard!" Sebastian lunged at Nicholas, tackling him around the waist.They both went down hard onto the manicured lawn, rolling across the grass in a tangle of expensive black suits and flying fists.Nicholas got on top first, landing another punch to Sebastian's face—this one to his cheekbone—that made the crowd gasp."Stop!" I shouted, moving toward them. "Both of you, stop!"But they weren't stopping.Sebastian managed to throw Nicholas off, rolling them over so he was on top now. His fist connected with Nicholas's ribs, then his jaw, brutal hits tha
VANESSA'S POVFor a moment, Patricia just stood there, her hand on her reddening cheek, staring at me with wide, disbelieving eyes.Then the shock transformed into pure rage."You bitch!" she shrieked, her composure completely shattered.Her hand flew up, aiming for my face in retaliation.But I was ready this time.My hand shot out and caught her wrist mid-air, my fingers wrapping around it like a vice.Patricia's eyes widened further as I held her arm suspended between us, stopping her slap before it could land."Don't even attempt to slap back!" I snapped quietly, my voice deadly calm."Let go of me!" Patricia hissed, trying to wrench her arm free.But I held firm.That's when Isabella came rushing forward, her face twisted with indignation."How dare you!" she screamed at me. "You can't—"I released Patricia's wrist and turned to Isabella in one motion.My hand connected with her face before she could finish her sentence.CRACK!!!The slap was even harder than the one I'd given Pa
VANESSA'S POVThe moment I stepped out of the car, I felt every eye in the parking lot turn toward me.Especially the Lancaster family.Good.Let them look.Let them see that I wasn't the scared, broken woman they'd tried to make me into.I removed my sunglasses, handing them to Thomas without looking back, and started walking toward the entrance.My heels clicked against the pavement with each step—sharp, definite sounds that seemed to echo in the sudden silence that had fallen over the crowd.I could see the shock on their faces.The scandalized expressions.I didn't care.I kept my head high, my shoulders back, my expression calm and serene even though my heart was pounding so hard I thought it might burst through my chest.I was almost to the entrance when two security guards stepped forward, blocking my path."I'm sorry, ma'am," the larger one said, though he didn't sound sorry at all. "We're going to have to ask you to leave."I stopped, looking up at him with what I hoped was p
SEBASTIAN'S POV Three days had passed since I'd taken Elijah into my home. Three days of the boy living under my roof, sleeping in the guest room next to Maya's, slowly adjusting to the reality that his mother wasn't coming for him. Three days of building a case that would ensure he stayed mine fo
VANESSA'S POVI couldn't believe I'd just fallen.I'd just fallen on the dance floor and everyone had laughed at me.I stared at Nicholas's outstretched hand, my face burning with humiliation as laughter still echoed around us. Every instinct screamed at me to run, to hide, to disappear.But I took
VANESSA'S POVSebastian's hand remained extended, his eyes locked on mine with that infuriating confidence that said he knew I had no choice but to accept.The entire ballroom was silent, waiting.I didn't know what to do.My heart hammered against my ribs as I stared at that outstretched hand, par
VANESSA'S POVNicholas had just seen me naked.Completely, utterly naked.Still dripping wet from the shower where I'd just touched myself to thoughts of him—where I'd made myself come while imagining his hands on me, his mouth on me, his cock inside me.And now he was here, in the bathroom with me







