Masuk~Dominic's Pov~Everything unfolding around me wasn’t exactly how I had imagined it, not even close.Despite everything, despite my mother’s cold words, her public disowning, the way she had cut me off as if I meant nothing… I was still a Voss.That name… it wasn’t something you simply walked away from, it was blood and legacy and no matter how far I tried to distance myself from it, it still clung to me.I couldn’t just stand by and watch a rival tear down everything my father had built. I couldn’t pretend it had nothing to do with me.‘How would I face my ancestors in the future?’ The thought echoed heavily in my mind as I strode down the stairs, my steps firm, measured.Each step felt like a decision, a commitment and a burden I couldn’t ignore.I exhaled deeply, running a hand through my hair as a strange sense of relief settled over my shoulders.But even with that, the truth remained…the Voss company… it wasn’t entirely my responsibility anymore. It has Ronald now.But Aliyah?A
~Aliyah's Pov~The ride to Clara’s house felt longer than it should have.Every second stretched endlessly, each passing street making my heart pound harder against my chest. I sat stiffly, my fingers curled tightly in my lap, my thoughts racing ahead of me.What if we’re too late?What if something has already happened?The silence in the car didn’t help. Even with Dominic beside me, calm and focused, I couldn’t shake the unease gnawing at me from the inside.Finally, the car slowed and stopped.“We’re here,” Dominic said quietly.I didn’t wait.The moment the car halted completely, I pushed the door open and rushed out, my steps quick and unsteady as I made my way straight into the building.Behind me, I vaguely saw Dominic sorting out the payment, grabbing our luggage, but I didn’t slow down.I couldn’t.All that mattered was Clara.I reached her apartment door in seconds and knocked.Once.Twice.Three times.It was hard and urgent, but I got no response.My heart dropped instantl
~Ronald's Pov~I slept over at Clara’s house.Of course… it hadn’t been easy.Getting her to agree had taken more effort than I expected. She fought me, argued, resisted, demanded explanations, but in the end, none of it mattered. I took control of the situation the only way I knew how.I seized her phone.Took it from her hands before she could stop me. After restraining her, after making sure she couldn’t interfere, I kept the device close, my eyes fixed on the screen like it held the outcome of everything.Because in a way… it did.I had no real intention of hurting her, as that was never the goal, she was just… leverage.A means to an end.What I needed was Aliyah.And this…this was the only way to make her come back. To force her out of hiding and to make her choose.And as I stared at the message glowing on the screen, something dark and satisfied settled in my chest.She had responded.She finally took the bait.A slow breath left my lips as I read her message again, letting it
~Aliyah's Pov~Dominic stepped out of the bathroom, water still clinging to his skin, droplets sliding slowly down from his damp hair to his chin. A faint trail followed the line of his jaw before falling onto his shirt, darkening the fabric in small patches.He barely noticed, his eyes found me immediately and the moment they did, everything in his expression changed. The calm… disappeared, replaced by something sharper, urgent and concerned.“Aliyah…what’s wrong?” he asked quickly, closing the distance between us in long strides.Before I could even gather my thoughts, his hands were on mine, warm and firm, grounding, but it wasn’t enough to steady the storm raging inside me.I didn’t answer him.I couldn’t.Instead, with trembling fingers, I shoved my phone toward him, my grip unsteady as I forced him to look at the screen.“It’s Ronald,” I said, my voice breaking despite my effort to stay composed. “He kidnapped Clara… she’s in danger, Dominic.”The words came out rushed, panicked
~Clara's Pov~“What idea?” I asked cautiously, my voice slower now, more careful, as a quiet unease crept into my chest.He didn’t answer immediately, not even a word. Instead, he stepped closer.Too close.Close enough that the space between us disappeared entirely, close enough that I could feel the shift in the air, the weight of his presence pressing in on me. My breath caught slightly as I instinctively stiffened, my body reacting before my mind could fully catch up.And then I saw it, the intent in his eyes.Clear, unsettling and deliberate.“An idea that will make your dear friend come back to me,” he said softly, his tone almost calm—too calm for what he was implying.My stomach dropped.A cold, sinking feeling that twisted sharply, tightening with every passing second.“What…” I started, confusion and alarm blending together as I tried to process what he meant.But before I could finish…his hand shot out fast and sudden, grabbing my wrist hard.“Ronald, what the hell…let go o
~Aliyah's Pov~The room felt… quiet.But not in the way I had grown used to over the past weeks. Not the kind of silence that pressed in from all sides, heavy and suffocating, filled with tension and unspoken fear.This was different.Softer.Almost unfamiliar.It lingered gently in the air, untouched, undisturbed, like the world had finally paused long enough for me to notice it.And yet… my body didn’t seem to understand what to do with it.It didn’t know how to relax.Didn’t know how to let go.Because even though nothing was chasing me anymore, even though there was no immediate danger breathing down my neck, something inside me still felt wound tight, like it was waiting for the next thing to go wrong.We had barely settled in.New country.New space.New beginning.Each thought came slowly, one after the other, like I was trying to convince myself they were real.That this was real.That we had actually made it here.The idea alone should have made me feel lighter.Free.Like a
~Clara's Pov~I stared at him.Really stared at him.Not just a passing glance, not just a reaction, but a long, searching look, like I was trying to peel back whatever mask he had on and see what was actually underneath.Because for a second… I wasn’t sure I heard him right.“What exactly do you m
~Ronald's Pov~What does she mean she belongs to Dominic?The question circled relentlessly in my mind, refusing to settle, refusing to make sense.Damn it!I couldn’t concentrate.The file in front of me blurred, the words losing meaning no matter how hard I tried to focus. My eyes moved across th
~Aliyah's Pov~The moment the car stopped, I barely had time to breathe before Ronald yanked the door open.“Get out.”His voice was sharp and impatient.It cut through the space between us without hesitation, leaving no room for delay, no room for argument.For a split second, I didn’t move.Not b
~Aliyah's Pov~My thumb hovered over Ronald’s contact again.Call.End.Call.End.The screen felt heavier in my hand with every failed attempt, like the silence on the other end was mocking me.“Pick up…” I muttered under my breath, my brows drawn together in frustration.Nothing.I inhaled sharpl







