LOGINAliyah.The afternoon sun cast a warm, golden glow across the quiet hillside cemetery, but a sharp, biting chill lingered in the air as I stepped out of the car. My fingers clutched a single, polished silver ring—Ronald’s wedding band—which had stayed safely tucked away in my jewelry box for months. Tomorrow was my wedding day, and before I could walk down the aisle toward a brand-new future with Dominic, there was one promise I needed to keep.I walked down the narrow, gravel-paved path, my boots crunching softly against the stones, until I found the familiar headstone resting beneath the shade of a sprawling oak tree."Hey, Ronald," I whispered, dropping to my knees right in front of the marble plaque. My voice hitched, but I forced a small, watery smile as I traced the engraved letters of his name. "I told you I was going to live, didn't I?"The wind rustled through the branches above me, sounding almost like an answer."Tomorrow is the big day," I continued, holding up the silver
~Aliyah's Pov~I blinked against a thick, suffocating haze, looking around in confusion as an impenetrable wall of absolute darkness surrounded me. For a terrifying second, there was nothing. And then, slowly, a familiar silhouette materialized through the shadows.“Ronald!” I screamed at the absolute top of my lungs, casting aside all hesitation as I rushed forward and threw my arms around him in a desperate embrace. “You’re alive! You’re actually alive!” I sobbed against his shoulder.Ronald didn’t return the hug with force; instead, he simply rested a gentle hand on my back, a soft, sorrowful smile touching his lips. “Aliyah, you shouldn't be here. He needs you down there,” he murmured softly, gesturing toward the void. “They all do, so go back. Go back and live freely.”“You—!” I stammered, my heart aching to ask a thousand questions, but the words caught in my throat.“I love you, Aliyah, more than words can say, but I want you to live a long, full life,” he added, his form begin
Aliyah.After days of meticulous planning and relentless preparation for the final takeover, the long-awaited D-day finally arrived. A sharp, heavy knot of guilt twisted in my stomach. I could vividly imagine the unimaginable torture Clara had been forced to endure over the past few days because of this war.Without breaking my focus, I reached for Ronald’s cold, heavy gun, sliding it securely into the waistband of my trousers.“Are you sure you are ready, Aliyah?” Dominic asked, his voice softening as he reached out to pat my head affectionately.Meeting his gaze, I stood tall. “I have never been more ready or determined in my life before!” I answered, my fingers moving steadily to button his shirt. “Now don't try to talk me out of it, and let's go!” I added firmly, leaving no room for argument.Without uttering another word, Dominic turned on his heel, and I fell into step right behind him. He started the engine, and we zoomed off toward Victor’s hidden stronghold—the very location
~Aliyah's Pov~“What the hell are you doing here?” Victor demanded, his voice barely above a harsh, disbelieving murmur, every trace of his earlier composure entirely shattered.A sly, triumphant smile spread slowly across my face as I met his wide, panicked gaze. Leaning in close, my voice dropped to a razor-sharp whisper right beside his ear. “I'm here to correct all wrongs, you murderer!”Almost instantly, blinding camera flashes began exploding across the hall like lighting. The press team we had surreptitiously smuggled into the venue surged forward, microphones raised and sharp questions already flying before Victor could even process what was happening.“Mr. Hale! You claimed she destroyed the Voss family—why is she here with you tonight?!” a reporter shouted over the growing din.“She—” Victor stammered, his mouth opening to spin a defense, but I cut him off before he could find his footing.“Everyone, I would love for you to give me a listening ear,” I announced, my voice ca
~Aliyah's Pov~It had been exactly one full month since the world lost Ronald, thirty long days defined by nothing but relentless planning and cold, calculated strategy. Grief had not been given space to breathe; instead, it was meticulously weaponized. The critical evidence hidden away back then had ultimately served a massive purpose, laying down the exact blueprint needed to dismantle Hale’s corporate empire piece by piece.Tonight was the night that structure began to collapse and tonight, Victor would finally get an excruciating taste of his own poison.Glancing up at the display, the wall stood covered in pinned newspaper clippings—a paper trail of targeted public ruin. One headline in particular burned brightest, its slanderous print practically echoing aloud: ‘Aliyah Voss, a woman who married the two Voss brothers, just to ensure she steals the Voss company.’A low, bitter chuckle escaped as those absurd words flashed once more through memory. Reaching across the wood, the
~Dominic's Pov~“Aliyah, please tell me that you love me!” Ronald said suddenly, his weak voice cutting through the heavy air and completely catching us off guard.It was an unbelievable sight. He was lying there on the hard ground, helpless and covered in bright red blood from his injury, and yet that was all he could think of in his final moments. Out of everything happening around us, his only worry was how she felt about him.Standing there, I was incredibly surprised by his words, but at the exact same time, I was curious to know if Aliyah still loved him after everything that had happened between them. Did she still feel something for him? Did she still have a warm spot for him somewhere deep inside her heart? I watched her closely, waiting for her answer.“I do love you, Ronald!” Aliyah said suddenly, her voice cracking as the tears spilled over. “I loved you with everything in me, but you broke it…” She paused for a moment, swallowing hard as she looked down at his pale fac
~Aliyah's Pov~“Do you understand me now?” he said at last.His voice was quiet, dangerously quiet, the kind that vibrated against the walls rather than cut through the air. A whisper soaked in rage.“Do you understand?” he repeated, and this time his tone sharpened, climbing higher, edged with imp
~Aliyah's Pov~I stared at the contract in my hand like it was a grenade counting down seconds before blowing my life to pieces.The pages felt heavier than paper should, too stiff, too clean, too clinical.My fingerprint smudges on the corner already looked like stains.My name sat at the top in b
~Aliyah's Pov~The living room crackled with a tension so thick it almost felt like the walls leaned in to watch. Ronald’s voice boomed first, low and dangerous, a growl barely restrained beneath the veneer of speech.“And who are you to tell me where to take my wife?” Ronald asked, each syllable c
~Dominic's Pov~I had told myself, sworn to myself, again and again, that the only way to keep Aliyah safe was to stay the hell away from her.Distance.Silence.Discipline.Cold, ironclad rules I repeated like scripture. Like commandments carved into my ribs. Every time her face flickered behind m







