ROSALIE'S POV~I stood before the large mirror, staring at my reflection. It was a gold-plated mirror worth millions of dollars, gifted to me by one of Ezra's investors. I took in the sight of the woman I had become - stronger, more beautiful. But even with all my strength, there was something missing - revenge. It was something I wanted more than anything in life right now. Damien had crushed my dreams, and I was determined to crush him in return.I glanced down at my makeup palette, spotting several shades of lipstick. A cold smirk played across my lips. Damien had always hated red shades, insisting I stick to nude tones.But I was no longer under his control. I picked up the red lipstick and applied it, puckering my lips. The vibrant shade felt empowering. I twirled in my sleeveless gown that revealed my bare back, a style Damien had always forbidden me to wear.Satisfied with my appearance, I left my room and made my way downstairs. Ezra was waiting for me in his Rolls Royce, an
ROSALIE'S POV~ As the music faded and the chatter stilled to a hush, the mood in the hall seemed to shift. Ezra’s hand slid around my waist, and he pulled me closer to him as if to stake his claim. Damien’s eyes glinted with fury as he looked on, clearly not appreciating the gesture. A ripple of whispers and murmurs made their way through the hall, though I could barely hear them over the pounding of my heart. I allowed a small, dangerous smile to play across my lips as Ezra threw Damien a challenging smirk. Then, the Vice President’s voice cut through the stillness, his words carrying through the microphone to every corner of the hall. "Thank you all for being here tonight," he said, his voice smooth and powerful. "We are so grateful for your support of our new initiatives. I hope you’ll all enjoy yourselves this evening." The guests applauded, and the Vice President left the stage. As the music began again, I turned my gaze back to the two men standing before me. The look
ROSALIE'S POV~I took a step closer, champagne still in hand, and let my eyes move lazily between them. The taller one had sharp features and a face too used to being obeyed. The other had that casual elegance that said he never heard the word “no.” Perfect.“Do you remember me?” I asked sweetly, cocking my head like I wasn’t already three moves ahead in this little game.They exchanged a quick look. The taller one cleared his throat, clearly trying to remain polite but already uncomfortable.“You’re Damien’s… ex-wife, aren’t you?”I grinned—wide. Like he’d just complimented my dress or told me I didn’t look a day over twenty-five.“Yes,” I hummed, letting the word roll off my tongue like silk. “Look at that memory of yours. No wonder you’re one of the most powerful men in the room. You see everything, don’t you?”He gave me a stiff smile, unsure whether to feel flattered or threatened. Probably both.“Indeed,” I went on, raising my glass just a little. “Damien’s ex-wife. And I’ll al
ROSALIE'S POV~I didn’t rush. I moved slowly, one step at a time, like a predator who knew its prey was already cornered. Chloe backed up instinctively, her back bumping against the porcelain sink.“Relax,” I said softly, reaching past her face. Her breath hitched when my fingers barely grazed her cheek on their way to the tissue roll. I peeled a single sheet, dabbed an imaginary smear from my hand, and then smiled at her.“Why’s your heart racing, Chloe?” I murmured, my voice low and wicked. “You’re breathing like it’s cardio day. Is that what being Damien’s backup plan feels like?”She gritted her teeth and attempted a sugary smile, but it was so stiff it looked painful. That tickled me.I laughed—an honest-to-God laugh. And God, it made her scowl.“You look good,” she said, tight and bitter. “I mean, I don’t know how you managed to vanish for three years and then suddenly show up again. Just like that.”I clicked my tongue and tilted my head to the side, like I was admiring a paint
ROSALIE'S POV~Everywhere turned deathly silent.You could hear a pin drop from the far end of the hall, that was how quiet it had gotten. My chest rose and fell, slowly, as shock spread through my veins like liquid nitrogen. I felt frozen—absolutely paralyzed by the absurdity of what I was seeing.Blood. Chloe’s blood. Not from me. But from her own goddamn madness.I looked down at my hand, now smeared with red—her doing. I blinked, trying to make sense of it, but before I could say a word, her screams shattered the silence.“She—she stabbed me! Oh my God!” Chloe’s voice pierced the air. She pointed a trembling finger at me, staggering just enough to seem dramatic, but not quite injured enough to faint. “She threatened me! Said she was going to ruin me! You all heard her!” Her voice cracked. “She tried to stab me in the stomach—I swear, I just managed to shift and it caught my side instead. She could’ve killed me! She’s crazy!”I stared at her, lips slowly curling into a grim lin
EZRA'S POV~She moved.A subtle twitch at first—then a groan, like something feral and worn had been kicked awake.I leaned forward, fingers tightening around my jaw. I'd been sitting here for hours, but I didn't move an inch until her lashes finally parted.Her hand reached out blindly, brushing against my thigh.She froze. Her breath hitched.And her eyes snapped open—right into mine.Panic. Guilt. A thousand thoughts running behind those lashes.I saw all of it.I didn't blink.She looked between me, the doctor, and Sebastian—who stood like a damn statue, arms folded, jaw tight, waiting for my signal if I so much as flinched the wrong way.But me?I stared at her like a god staring down his prey. Calm. Detached. Boiling inside.Something was off.It started hours ago when I found her wrecking the living room like a possessed animal, eyes wild, voice broken. I'd seen fury before. Hell, I’d fed on it. But this was deeper. This was pain. A pain I hadn’t put there—and that was the prob
DAMIEN'S POV~I didn’t drive home. Couldn’t. Not with this fucking wildfire scorching through my chest, my head pounding with rage, humiliation clawing at my throat like a rabid dog.The office was dead quiet when I pulled in. Weekend silence. The only movement came from the slow, robotic nods of the guards stationed near the elevators. I didn’t acknowledge them. I wasn’t here for formalities. I was here to breathe. Or maybe to destroy.Chloe trailed behind me like some lost puppy. Not a word out of her mouth. Good. I wasn’t in the fucking mood to hear her voice. If she so much as sighed, I’d snap.The elevator dinged, and I stormed out the second it opened. My office door scanned my palm and clicked open like it sensed I needed space from the world.I didn’t even hesitate. I swung the door open so hard it slammed against the wall with a crack. My box of pens? Gone. I flung it across the room, the contents scattering like tiny grenades. That satisfying crash did nothing to ease the st
ROSALIE'S POV~I kept scrolling, eyes flicking from one article to another, fingers moving over the trackpad like a woman possessed. My coffee had gone cold, forgotten at the edge of the table. Damien’s name was everywhere. His latest business endeavors. Photos of him and Chloe at charity galas, red carpets, in press releases like some perfect power couple.I sneered.Chloe had somehow wormed her way deeper into Damien’s world, attaching herself to every single piece of his brand like a goddamn leech. She was no longer just the assistant or arm candy. She had launched a skincare line under his company’s umbrella. That snake was thriving, wearing the exact life that used to be mine.A knock echoed through my room. I stiffened, irritated, and slammed the laptop shut with more force than necessary.I padded over to the door and pulled it open, only to be met by one of Ezra’s guards. Tall, armed, and sharp-eyed.“Ma’am,” he greeted, giving a slight nod. “Were you expecting a delivery?”My
ROSALIE'S POV ~I swallowed hard when our eyes met. Ezra was standing at the door, his gaze hard, a cocktail of rage and worry fighting for dominance. He didn’t even hesitate—his boots thudded on the floor as he walked straight to my bed, and Dr. Asher stepped back, giving him the space he clearly needed.I couldn’t look at him for too long. But I didn’t miss how his eyes roamed over me, lingering on my bruised arms and the pale face that reflected nothing but exhaustion.“She okay?” His voice was low, rough with the worry he didn’t know how to mask.Dr. Asher nodded. “She just needs rest. She’ll be alright tomorrow.”Ezra didn’t seem convinced, but he nodded along anyway. “If you say so.”“Rest, Risalie. Please.” The doctor offered a tight, polite smile before excusing himself, leaving me alone with Ezra. I didn’t want him here. I didn’t want to hear his voice, feel his concern—it was too much. So, I leaned back into the pillow, keeping my face averted.Ezra’s sigh was loud, like he
ROSALIE'S POV~The room smelled too clean.Sterile, like the hospital room I’d once woken up in, empty arms and a hollow body. The walls were soft beige, the light dimmed to be gentle, as if that would ease the chaos inside my head. Nothing would. Not anymore.I sat on the couch, rigid, unmoving. My coat was still on. I hadn’t spoken a word since they brought me here. Not to the driver. Not to the guards. Not to the therapist who was now sitting across from me with a too-soft voice and patient eyes.She crossed her legs, flipping through her notepad gently. “Rosalie… I understand today must have been a lot. Would you like to talk about what triggered the reaction at the site?”I blinked slowly. My jaw clenched. I said nothing.She tilted her head slightly, like I was a wounded bird she was trying not to scare off. “Sometimes trauma shows up in ways we least expect. It’s okay to feel angry. It’s okay to feel confused—”“Do you have a child?” I asked suddenly, my voice brittle.She froz
DAMIEN'S POV~I sighed, the kind that came from deep inside my chest—tired, annoyed, fucking done.I was already fighting hell behind the scenes. Ezra Montgomery was pushing through my shares like a vulture pecking at a corpse. Half my investors were jumping ship, the media was circling like rabid dogs, and now this—this disaster.Chloe had gone out without guards, without a second thought. She’d rushed out into the damn public like some stray looking for scraps. She was all over the blogs already—hair disheveled, pale as chalk, and vomiting in broad daylight. Filmed. Tagged. Mocked. All because Rosalie had fucking meddled, drawing Chloe out when I’d explicitly told her to keep her ass hidden until I got this mess under control.And now I had another mess to clean up. Another headline. Another screw-up dragging my name down while I was barely keeping my own head above water.The sound of Chloe retching again made my eye twitch. I didn’t move. Just sat there, eyes blank, jaw ticking.D
ROSALIE'S POVI leaned away from Diana’s mic slowly, a smile still painted on my lips. The moment my heels clicked back onto the pavement, Isla was already there, holding out the blueprint with both hands like an offering.I took it.“Ladies and gentlemen,” I said, my voice calm, laced with that careful syrupy sweetness that people never know to fear until it’s too late. I held the rolled blueprint high in one hand and uncurled it with the other, turning to face the crowd with a quiet grace that made the flashing cameras fall still. “I believe it’s time the city knew the truth.”A hush swept over the paparazzi.“This—” I tapped the large, faded layout in front of me, “—is the original structural blueprint of this building. Chloe Lancaster’s cosmetics hub. An illegally constructed property… built on stolen permits, funded through ghost investors, and unfit for human habitation.”Gasps. Murmurs. Eyebrows raised behind camera lenses.“And more importantly,” I went on, voice soft now, the
ROSALIE'S POV~I still remembered that night like it was yesterday.I had just gotten back from one of those endless meetings Damien liked to drag me to. My mind was clouded with his accusations, his insults—more of his slow, silent push to make me feel like I was losing grip on everything. He’d been distant, colder than usual, but I’d convinced myself it was just stress.Then I found Chloe.She was sitting on the couch in the living room when I walked in. Her eyes flickered up at me, those sad, sweet eyes. She knew I was upset. But she always knew how to comfort me.“Rosalie, you’re just overwhelmed. Damien’s under a lot of pressure right now, you know that,” she said, brushing her hand over mine with that fake warmth of hers. Her voice, soft and soothing, felt like silk against my skin.But I wasn’t fool enough to miss the undercurrent in her tone—the way her words just didn’t sit right. She’d been my friend, my sister in this hell, or so I thought. But I could hear the lies hidden
ROSALIE'S POV~The weight of the world felt like it was pressing down on me, but it's nothing compared to the emptiness that gnawed at my chest. I sat alone, staring at the ground beneath me, the place where my baby should have been. The silence in the room was deafening, and yet all I heard was the echo of what was taken from me—what was stolen. The tiny heartbeat I would never hear again. The small hands I would never hold.I didn’t think I’d survive it—honestly, I still don’t know how I am. I moved, I breathed, I spoke... but nothing felt real anymore. All of it—everything I’ve done to build myself up, to reclaim what was lost—felt meaningless.Chloe’s empire was crumbling, piece by piece, and I felt no satisfaction in it. I should be relishing this victory. I should be smiling, should be celebrating. But the only thing I felt was the hollow ache of a mother who would never see her child grow up. Never hear them laugh, never hold their hand while they walk to school, never have th
EZRA'S POV~*PRESENT DAY– MEETING HALL*The noise was a headache. The air was saturated with fake laughter, the sound of over-polished shoes pacing on marble, and investors who thought name-dropping billion-dollar partnerships would be the secret code to winning my attention.It wasn’t.I stood still in the center of it all—stone-faced, unreadable, hands in my pockets—watching them clamor for favor like starved wolves circling a fresh kill.Some fat bastard in an overpriced checkered suit was practically sweating through his pitch, waving a tablet in front of me. “Mr. Montgomery, if I may—our logistics software is fully AI-integrated, your branches will never experience a delay again and—”“Ezra,” another man chimed in, interrupting, smug and silver-haired, “our portfolio saw a 200% increase in green energy returns last quarter. You want us on your side before the government rolls out the next climate bill.”Another chimed in. “I’ve personally worked with the Prime Minister’s—”God.I
CHLOE'S POV~I didn’t even realize I’d been pacing until I saw my own reflection in the hallway mirror—hair disheveled, mascara smudged like war paint down my cheeks. I looked unhinged.The envelope still lay on the floor, but my phone buzzed again. And again. The vibrations were relentless, like a warning drum.I snatched it from the coffee table with trembling fingers and finally flipped it over.24 Missed Calls.14 New Messages.News Alerts: “Emergency Recall on Chloe Lancaster’s New Cosmetic Line After Reports of Skin Burns.”My chest tightened.I clicked one of the notifications. The screen filled with a video—news anchor, grave-faced, reading off a statement.“Several users across New York have reported second-degree burns after using the recently launched Chloe Cosmetics skin serum. The company has yet to release a public statement, but an emergency recall has been issued. This comes just days after Chloe Lancaster was filmed physically assaulting Rosalie Stone at a charity gal
ROSALIE'S POV~The moment we pulled into Ezra’s estate, Naomi practically squealed in my ear.“Oh my God, Rosalie, is this seriously where you’re living now?” she gasped, sticking her head out the window like a damn puppy. “Girl, this looks like something out of Architectural Digest. Is that marble? That’s marble, right? Wait—is that a freaking indoor fountain?!”I stifled a smile as the maids came out to help with her luggage, clearly overwhelmed by the number of designer suitcases she had. Naomi never traveled light. She waved at one of the maids like she was the queen of England and stepped down in her pink Dior slides, sighing dramatically as her feet touched the driveway.“My soles are crying. Who knew first-class still had a way of breaking your damn heels?”I held the door open for her, and once we were inside the grand sitting room, she flopped onto the couch like she owned the place. “Okay, I need a foot rub, a mimosa, and someone’s rich husband to stare at me for the next te