LOGINNora’s POVTuesday morning arrived wrapped in a soft, misty chill. Inside the dressing suite, the usual quiet routine had dissolved into a lively storm of small socks and overlapping chatter."Mommy, look!" Silas said, standing perfectly still in front of the full-length mirror as he adjusted his tiny navy blazer. "My solar system display has a motorized mechanism for Saturn's rings. I tested the ratios three times this morning with Maria. I am going to be the first presenter in the science wing.""And my painting is giant, Mommy!" Sage piped up from the edge of the bed, frantically trying to tie his own shoelaces. "It's a giant blue dragon making friends with a space rocket! I used all the glitter paint! The teacher said it was very good!""Mommy..." A soft, small hand wrapped around my index finger.I looked down. River was standing right beside my hip, wearing a darling ivory dress with burgundy ribbons in her dark curls. She held her stuffed rabbit in one hand while her small eyes
Nora’s POVI sat at the center of the delegation side, my posture flawless, wearing a tailored navy-blue suit. Flanked by Rosa and our lead distribution analyst, I didn't lean on my family's legacy. I didn't mention my father or my brothers.When the floor opened, I stood up, adjusting the cuffs of my jacket, and pulled up our live suite on the main wall display."Gentlemen, N & S Cosmetics is not entering the Midwest market to compete for secondary retail space," I began, my voice smooth, quiet, and echoing with authority. "We are establishing a new baseline for luxury skincare in North America."For forty-five minutes, I took the council through a masterclass in market positioning. I presented our exclusive Grasse extraction patents, our direct-to-consumer retention metrics, and our projected models for each of the four luxury plazas. When the lead commercial strategist questioned our capacity to maintain inventory during peak seasonal surges, I dismantled his objection using our ne
Nora’s POVThe dining room of the Sinclair Estate was filled with the rich, inviting aromas of roasted herbs, wine, and steak. A warm, golden glow from the chandelier above danced off the high mahogany paneling, casting a cozy light over the long, heavily set table.I sat near the head of the table, flanked by Silas and Sage, while River sat on my lap, her small hands curiously fiddling with the cloth napkin tucked into her collar. Across from us, Dominic sat chatting quietly with our younger brother, Sebastian, who was still wearing a faint, amused smirk after his earlier playful banter in the living hall.Before the soup could be served, the double doors of the dining hall swung open with a dramatic, energetic force."If I knew the kitchen was serving the eighteen-year-old vintage Bordeaux tonight, I would've pushed the Ferrari past two hundred on the interstate!"My third brother, Rafael, swept into the room, tossing his black leather racing jacket casually onto a side chair. He lo
Nora’s POVThe doors of the estate swung shut behind me, shutting out the damp Chicago afternoon air. It was an exhausting, incredibly long day of site inspections and supply chain meetings, but the moment I kicked off my heels, I didn’t head for the bath or the bed.I headed straight for the study.I set up my laptop at the large desk, surrounded by folders and endless stacks of financial projections. My fingers flew across the keyboard as I cross-referenced shipping manifests with regional inventory reports. The quiet of the estate was comforting, but my mind was too wired to rest.“Are you seriously working again?”I looked up from my laptop, only to find Dominic standing by the doorway with his arms crossed over his suit. He looked as imposing as ever, having just returned from a late board meeting. His tie was slightly loosened, but his dark eyes were entirely focused on me.“Good morning to you too, big brother,” I said smoothly, leaning back in the plush chair and offering him
Isla’s POVMy thumb hit the call button before I could even process the horror paralyzing my limbs. I pressed the phone against my ear so hard that the screen felt as though it were cutting into my skin, my rapid, shallow breathing echoing sharply in the dark dressing suite."Isla?" Zane answered on the very first ring. "Did you get the file?""I don't care about the file!" I shrieked, my voice breaking into an unhinged panic. "I need her full legal identity right now! Where is she living? Who is backing her? Why is she connected to N & S Cosmetics?! I want every single detail about her life, her family, and her schedule in Chicago!"A heavy sigh came over the encrypted line. "Isla, listen to me. This isn't some small-time socialite we're tracking. The corporate registration for N & S Cosmetics is private. We know she is either a principal owner or the chief executive officer of the entire enterprise, but confirming her registered birth name is taking time. Her security detail is tigh
Isla’s POVI sat at the polished vanity table in the master dressing suite of the Blackwell residence, applying a layer of rose-tinted lipstick with a steady, practiced hand.From the outside, my life looked flawless. I wore designer gowns, lived in the grandest mansion in Chicago, and drove luxury sports cars. The high-society gossip columns wrote about me as the future mistress of the Blackwell fortune, the woman who had stood faithfully by Adrian’s side after the tragic loss of his first wife.But inside these cold, silent walls, the reality was a nightmare.My eyes met my own reflection in the mirror, a bitter line forming around my mouth. Three years. It had been three long, agonizing years since that pathetic orphan Nora Blackwell had finally vanished from our lives. Three years of living under the same roof as Adrian, raising our son Leo, and catering to Adrian’s every need.And yet... he barely acknowledged my existence.He slept in his private study. He barely looked at me wh







