Mag-log inThe study was quiet and Elena stood before me. Too quiet. The kind of silence that pressed on the chest. I leaned back in my chair and watched her face. “How is she?” I asked. Elena hesitated. That alone told me everything. “She barely speaks,” she said softly. “She doesn’t eat unless I beg her. She just… sits there. Staring. Some days, I’m not even sure she hears me.” I nodded once, slow. “She’ll come around,” I said. “Grief needs time.” Elena’s eyes lifted to mine, full of doubt. “With respect, sir… I’ve been there. I lost a child too. Living like this—” she shook her head. “It kills you slowly.” Her words landed, but I didn’t let them show. “Try harder,” I said calmly. “Don’t give up on her. Everything will settle with time.” She didn’t look convinced. I studied her for a moment, then spoke again, quieter. “You know what Nyx means to me now, don’t you?” Elena said nothing. “I intend to make this work,” I continued. “For real this time. She will wake up from this nigh
Gabriel’s PovThe place was a mess.I stood there with Sandro and a few of the men, staring at what was left...trying to understand what I was seeing. Drawers torn out. The safe empty. Blood dried into the floor like a warning carved in red.“How did this happen?” I asked.Sandro shook his head. “I got here the same way you did. Everything was already gone.”I stayed quiet for a moment, then asked, “Do you have anyone in mind?”Sandro hesitated. “Aside from our own men… only people close to Renz would know about that safe. His old allies.”I exhaled slowly. “Marco is still walking free.” My jaw tightened. “If he’s the one stirring this shit, he should’ve stayed hidden. I won’t miss him twice.”Sandro scoffed. “Or maybe”—he paused—“maybe Nyx isn’t as innocent as she looks. Maybe she—”I turned on him. “Nyx is mine to handle,” I cut in coldly. “Watch your mouth. I'll look into her myself. ”The air went tight. Heavy.Then my phone rang.Elena.“What is it?” I demanded the second I answ
Nyx's PovI went to my room not long after Gabe left.He had taken a few things and walked out with his men like nothing had happened. I felt a small wave of relief wash over me. Whatever dark plans he had cooked in his mind were cut short—but I still wondered what could have scared him enough to leave so suddenly.I brushed the thought away.My day was already heavy. Gabe didn’t deserve more space in my head. Whatever problem he had run into, he would deal with it himself. Men like him never knew peace anyway.I stepped into my room and decided I needed a hot bath. My body ached, my mind even worse.In the bathroom, I paused in front of the mirror. My eyes looked tired. Older. I glanced down at my belly—rounder now, unmistakable. My hand moved there on instinct.“Daddy’s gone,” I whispered softly. “And I miss him so much.”My chest tightened, but I forced a small smile for the baby.And the thought of my little girl?Leaving her again had torn something open inside me. Walking back i
Mason's PovWe’d been parked in that damn car all day.Me and the boys… playing games on our phones, talking nonsense, wasting time, waiting for Nyx.And now the sun was dying behind the buildings.Night coming fast.Miles still left to drive.And Nyx was nowhere in sight.Most people would call me stupid for letting her go alone.But no.They don't know her like I do.Nyx isn’t the type to run.She hates Gabriel too much for that.She’ll stay close just long enough to destroy him properly… that was the kind of woman she was.I leaned back, smiling to myself.How much did I know her?Maybe more than I should.Since the day I came to this city to work under Gabe, I noticed her.Watched her quietly.Studied her.Nyx was beautiful without trying—raw, sharp, stubborn, glowing even when she was angry.Maybe I liked her more than I should.Hell… she was exactly my type.Gabe never deserved her.He let greed and jealousy swallow him whole.Now he thinks he owns her?Idiot.I didn’t know whe
I didn’t go straight home.I asked the taxi to circle town first. Left. Right. Long turns. Dead streets. Busy ones. I needed to be sure Mason and his men hadn’t decided to grow curious. By the time the car finally stopped in front of the house, my chest was already tight.I stared at the gate.For a second, I almost told the driver to take me somewhere else.What was the point of walking in if I’d be leaving again?I breathed out slowly, fixed my face, and stepped down.The door was open.And there—right in front of me—was the life I’d been running from.Dad sat by the window, chessboard laid out between his knees and Rynna’s tiny hands. My little girl was serious, brows furrowed, holding a piece like it might explode if she touched it wrong.I let out a shaky laugh before I could stop myself.Of course Dad would be teaching her chess.Tears burned my eyes.Why was he so determined to turn her into a miniature version of himself?“Nyx?”My mother’s voice broke through the room.Everyo
Nyx's PovI found Gabe in the sitting room, scrolling through his phone like he had nothing to worry about.I stood there, holding my calm like it was glued on my face.“I’ll be going to town today,” I said. “I have some school paperwork to sort out.”He didn’t look up at first. Then he did—slow, studying me like I was lying by simply breathing.“Fine,” he said. “As long as you go with your company.”I forced a small smile. “I actually want to go alone. I’ll be back before evening.”He laughed. A quiet, sharp laugh that hit my nerves.“Nyx… you look different these days. Calm.”His eyes narrowed. “But I still don’t trust a single word you say. And I know you’ll jump at any chance to ruin me.”I said nothing. Just stared.Pretended peace.Pretended softness.Pretended I wasn’t seconds away from cracking.Holding this fake kindness was starting to drain the life out of me.The truth?I didn’t have any school work.Ever since I saw Renz in my dreams, I hadn’t been the same.I woke up res







