ANMELDENThe late afternoon sun spilled golden light over the waterfront promenade, the ocean shimmering as seagulls called overhead. Lily skipped ahead, her hand clutching a small paper bag of warm, sugar-dusted doughnuts. Dante kept a steady watch on her, his arm loosely draped around Monica’s shoulders.
The rain had stopped by morning. Light streamed through the wide windows of Dante’s estate, spilling across the kitchen where Monica stood barefoot, hair loose, wearing one of his shirts. She was stirring Lily’s oatmeal, the steam curling into the air. She didn’t even realize she was humming—an ol
The breakfast had been a slow, simmering torture. Monica sat rigid in the high-backed chair, her fingers curled around the delicate porcelain cup as though it might shatter under the weight of her pulse. Across from her, Dante lounged like a king who’d already won the war, one hand lazily draped o
Her cottage could fit into this place twenty times over. At the end of the hall, a set of double doors swung open. The dining room stretched long and wide, sunlight spilling through tall windows. The smell of coffee and expensive leather filled the air. And there he was. Sitting at the head of
Monica’s eyes snapped open. For a second, she thought she was in one of those luxury hotel commercials — the kind she used to mute while eating instant noodles because they made her feel broke. The ceiling stretched high above her, painted with pale cream swirls and gold accents. The curtains, h
A man stepped in like he owned the place — dressed in black from boots to gloves, black tactical vest, mirrored sunglasses even though it was night. The faint squawk of radio static came from the earpiece buried in his ear. And the rifle in his hands… that spoke louder than words. Monica froze. He
The metal of the chair scraped against the concrete floor as Monica shifted, her hands bound behind her back, ankles chained to the legs of the chair. The air was cold — industrial, thick with rust and silence. A single light bulb flickered above her head, swaying slightly from a chain, casting shar
Rachel walked through the polished marble lobby of Coles Group with elegance and quiet curiosity. The building radiated power, prestige—and secrets. She’d been here a few times before for charity meetings, always welcomed with respect as the elegant widow of a legacy family. But today, something fe
He buzzed the building. No answer. But he didn’t wait. He went around to the side, through the alley, just in time to see a side door click open and Monica slip out, hood up, bag in hand. He ran. “Monica!” he shouted. She turned with a gasp, her eyes wild. Their gazes met—his filled with fury, he
Rachel raised an eyebrow. “Think what?” “That you were safe,” Monica whispered. “That all this was just to distract Chase. I didn’t know he was using you. I didn’t know he was going to take everything from you, Rachel. If I had known…” Rachel stepped a little closer, expression still unreadable.







