INICIAR SESIÓNJames lifted the champagne flute to his lips, letting the crisp, dry taste linger as his gaze swept across the hall.The ceilings soared high above, lined with intricate molding picked out in soft gold, catching the glow of the chandeliers that hung like suspended constellations. Each crystal shimmered under the warm lighting, scattering reflections across the polished marble floors below.Along the far wall, enormous panels displayed curated artwork. Clusters of guests moved between them, their voices low as they talked, laughter rising now and then like a soft ripple across water.Waiters in tailored black uniforms moved seamlessly through the crowd, offering trays of champagne, hors d'oeuvres, and small, artful desserts that looked almost too perfect to eat. Somewhere in the background, a live string quartet played.It was, James thought, exactly the kind of event a conglomerate like Winters would host.He took another sip of his champagne, his gaze drifting briefly to the figures
Annabelle let out a soft breath through her nose, something between a sigh and a quiet laugh. “No,” she agreed. “He isn’t.” She tilted her head slightly, her lips curving in a faint smile. “He already has a plan,” she added.Andre’s brow lifted just slightly, inviting her to continue.“He wants James to charm the Winters heiress at the gala. Sweep her off her feet, make her fall in love with him.” Her smile sharpened. “Once that happens, apparently, I’ll be… unnecessary.”Amusement flickered in Andre’s eyes. “Is that so?” he murmured.Annabelle huffed out a quiet laugh. “As far as plans go,” she said dryly, “it’s certainly ambitious.”Andre’s lips curved, not quite a full smile, but enough. “I expect David will have quite a shock when that time comes.” By now, he was standing close. Very close.She could smell his cologne that was now familiar to her after their night together, something edged with pinewood and it wrapped around her senses, making it harder to focus on anything else.
Annabelle lingered in the driver’s seat longer than necessary, her hands resting lightly against the steering wheel as she stared ahead without really seeing anything.The underground parking lot of the Winters company headquarters stretched out before her, quiet and dimly lit, the hum of fluorescent lights filling the stillness. She had pulled in without thinking, her mind elsewhere, Now that she was here though, she had to ask herself: What exactly was she doing?She exhaled slowly, leaning her head back against the seat for a moment before letting it fall forward again. Across the lot, a familiar SUV caught her eye, parked neatly in its designated spot. It was Andre’s car.Of course he was still here and working late, no doubt. Annabelle let out a small, humorless huff. After leaving the gallery, she had intended to go straight home.The evening had gone exactly as planned. Better, even. Seeing Lila’s face light up when Dominic appeared had been worth every bit of effort it had tak
For a heartbeat, she simply stared. Her mind struggled to catch up, to make sense of what she was seeing, but her heart had already leapt ahead, racing wildly in her chest. Her lips parted, a gasp forming but no sound came out.Was she dreaming? It would make sense, wouldn’t it? That her mind, still tangled in missing him, in everything she had left behind, would conjure him here of all places.She blinked once, then twice.He didn’t disappear. If anything, the details only sharpened: the familiar lines of his face, the happiness in his eyes, the way his mouth curved into that unmistakable grin.“I missed you,” he said, his voice gentle. “More than you’ll ever know.”That was all it took. Lila closed the distance between them in an instant. She flew into his arms, her hands gripping onto him as if she needed to prove, to herself more than anything, that he was real. That he was here, solid and warm and enti
Lila stepped out of the hotel lobby and into the cool evening air, the faint hum of the city wrapping around her as the doors slid shut behind her. For a moment, she paused at the top of the steps and her gaze swept the curb, landing on Annabelle.She was leaning against the hood of her car, one ankle crossed over the other, her posture relaxed. When she saw Lila, her face lit up, her smile immediate and bright. Lila felt her own lips curve in response as she made her way down the steps.There was something reassuring about that smile, even if when she came closer she caught the faint shadow behind it. There was a sadness in Annabelle’s eyes that didn’t quite match the ease she was projecting. Lila didn’t comment on it.Instead, she stepped into the space between them, opening her arms and Annabelle closed the distance first, wrapping her arms around her in a tight embrace. It was firmer than Lila expected.For a brief second, Lila was surprised. Then she returned the hug just as tigh
“This company survived before Winters,” he went on, his voice rising. “It will survive without them.”Annabelle tilted her head slightly, her expression shifting into something curious. “I’d love to see how,” she said, her tone edged with mockery. “Really. I’m very interested in how you plan to dig us out of this without the one solution that’s actually on the table.”David’s lips pressed into a thin line, but there was no hesitation in his response. “You think I’ve been sitting here waiting on you?” he shot back. “You think I would put all my hopes in your hands?” His gaze flicked to James. “No,” he said. “I have a better option.”James stiffened slightly under the sudden attention as his father pointed at him now.“This,” David said, “is your opportunity to make up for everything.”James frowned, unease creeping into his expression. “What are you talking about?”David leaned forward slightly, his voice lowering just enough to carry a sense of importance.“I’ve received information f
Annabelle gripped the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles turned white, her foot pressing harder against the gas pedal with each passing mile. The early morning light bathed the countryside in golden hues, but she barely noticed the scenery rushing past her. Her mind was a storm of fury, her t
The words landed like a thunderclap. The room fell into a stunned silence and James’s rant cut off mid-sentence. His mouth opened and closed as he stared at Annabelle, his fury momentarily giving way to confusion. Rachel, who had been clutching her cheeks and avoiding eye contact, froze com
The truth Annabelle had revealed had opened a floodgate and Lila couldn't stop the memories flooding her senses, dragging her back to a time she had tried so hard to bury.It was the third time she and James had tried and failed this month alone. The third time a pregnancy test had shown h
Lila tossed and turned in her bed. Her mind was too restless for her to sleep. Annabelle’s revelation about Andre’s involvement with the Robinson family refused to leave her mind, and it had rattled her more than she had admitted to Annabelle.She had left her past behind with







