LOGINMary’s POV
Instead of surrendering to despair and merely crying, a wild, untamed maternal instinct took over my entire consciousness.Before Victoria’s guards could touch me, I lunged forward, snatched the porcelain teacup from the table, and smashed it against the corner of the glass table. Without a second thought, I pressed the razor-sharp porcelain shard directly against my own neck. Fresh blood instantly dripped from my palm, sliced open by gripping its jagged edge."Mary’s POV"Wake up, Baby. We've arrived."A heavy, husky whisper brushed against my ear, accompanied by a warm kiss on my temple. I opened my eyes lazily. The private jet we were on had finally landed smoothly at the Chicago airport. In the opposite seat, Julian sat leaning back, looking bored with black sunglasses hiding the sharpness of his eyes.I slightly pulled back the jet's window curtain. My eyes widened instantly. Outside, beyond the airport security barricades, hundreds of reporters and paparazzi were pushing against each other frantically. The news of our crazy wedding in Switzerland yesterday had blown up, becoming the number one trending topic worldwide.When the three of us finally descended the jet's stairs, the blinding flashes of cameras struck us. The Vance Group's security detail immediately formed a layered shield, but the journalists surged forward like starving sharks."Ms. Mary! The world is spotlighting you as the luckiest woman of the century for conqueri
Mary’s POV Standing before the altar of this magnificent cathedral, I felt as if time had slowed to a crawl. My body was draped in a beautiful white silk wedding gown that cascaded to sweep the floor. My fingers, encased in white lace gloves, tightly gripped a bouquet of white roses. Yet, my eyes gazed sorrowfully toward the closed cathedral doors, looking past the silent rows of empty wooden pews. This wedding was held in strict privacy. There were only a few trusted guards stationed in the corners of the room, along with a handful of exclusive journalists invited specifically to broadcast the Vance and Kessler alliance to the rest of the world. There were no other guests. Today was my wedding day with Ryder, exactly as I had promised. However, a corner of my heart felt hollow. My eyes kept searching for Julian's silhouette. Ever since our explosive argument that day, our relationship had grown strained. Julian seemed to have vanished, and I hadn't spoken a single word to him
Mary’s POVThe mansion's main hall felt completely silent. The hundreds of camera flashes and the uproar of the journalists outside had been completely blockaded by the security forces, leaving only the three of us in this room.I stood frozen. The air around me felt as if it had turned to ice as Julian's fiery gaze pierced right through me. The man stood a few steps in front of me, demanding accountability for my insane declaration in front of the world an hour ago."You truly disappoint me, Mary..." Julian hissed. His voice was low, yet heavy with severely wounded pride. "You made me look like a fool who is willing to share his wife in front of the whole world! I would rather rot in prison than have my pride trampled on by your ridiculous whim!""Do you think I had a choice?!" I fired back, cutting him off with a hoarse voice. "What would happen to the children if you were imprisoned? Tell me!!" I looked into his eyes sorrowfully. "If the two of you keep trying to kill each other
Ryder’s POVThe suffocating silence of the night shattered instantly. Hundreds of camera flashes exploded toward me, blinding my eyes like a barrage of artillery fire."Oh my God! Isn't that Mr. Ryder Vance?!" a journalist exclaimed, breaking through the ranks. "So the rumors are true? He was held hostage here?!"Like a pack of predators catching the scent of blood, the reporters immediately charged, breaking through the police barricades and swarming me as I sat in the wheelchair.Julian, still standing with his hands cuffed near the transport vehicle, turned to look at me with a sharply creased brow. His deep-seated hatred and towering pride fiercely rejected my actions. "What are you saying?! Stay out of my business, Vance!" he growled sharply.However, his voice was drowned out by the sea of humanity surging forward. Thousands of questions bombarded me from all directions."Mr. Ryder! Please explain what really happened!""Why are you saying Mr. Julian is innocent?! Then why
Ryder’s POV"Let go of Dad, Leon... be happy with your mother."Julian's voice sounded so heroic, making my jaw clench until my teeth ground together. From this hospital bed, I sat frozen, staring at him. Slowly but surely, Julian unpried Leon's tight grip from his trouser leg. The bastard stood up, turned around, and walked away without so much as a backward glance."Julian!"That scream tore through the silence of the room. My heart felt as if it were being crushed when Mary called out to that man. Ignoring all rationality, I watched the woman I loved run with unsteady steps, chasing Julian out of the clinic room.My chest felt as though it had been struck by an invisible sledgehammer. A storm of anger and jealousy exploded within, shredding the remains of my pride.Leon, left behind in the room, slowly turned to look at me. The little boy cried hysterically, stepping closer and tugging at the hem of my shirt, still stiff with dried blood. "Dad! Please... bring Dad Julian back
Victor Vance’s POVThin smoke billowed from the espresso cup on my desk, but it did nothing to calm the anger boiling in my skull. I sat in my grand chair at the pinnacle of Vance Tower, glaring at the expanse of Chicago city lights with a clenched jaw. The fate of Ryder, my son and the sole heir to my business empire, remained uncertain inside Julian Kessler's lair.My office door opened. George, my right-hand man, strode in with a tense expression."There is still no word from Rico, Sir. Our connection to him was lost since the failure of your jet's landing in Switzerland two days ago. Looking at Kessler's track record... I doubt Rico is still alive," George reported, bowing his head.I slammed my fist onto the mahogany desk, making my espresso cup rattle. "Even though that bastard managed to infiltrate their lair, how could he fail to execute the plan?! Incompetent!""And Gideon... he cannot be reached either, Sir.""Damn it all! Not a single one of them can be relied upon!" I
Ryder's POVThe chime of the elevator shattered the silence of my penthouse. I didn't move from where I leaned against the marble pillar, letting the damn smirk I'd been holding back since last night finally etch itself clearly onto my lips.I could barely focus on anything all day. I even had Dant
MARY'S POVI pulled my scarf tighter as the freezing Chicago wind lashed against my face.Vance Tower rose arrogantly above the city skyline, all black glass and steel, towering over everything around it like a silent threat.Of course Ryder Vance lived here.The Vance family owned half of Chicago.
Mary's POVTime blurred. The only constant was the steady beep of the hospital monitors and the sight of my mother lying motionless on the bed. I sat there half-asleep, resting my cheek against her cold hand—my only escape from the nightmare my life had become.Footsteps approached, and a gentle ha
Ryder's POVMary Collins was crying over Henry Davis again.The same girl who used to walk around Chicago with two bodyguards trailing behind her was now standing alone in Kingsley Arena wearing a cheap sweater and clutching a discarded engagement ring like it was the last thing keeping her alive.I







