LOGINMary’s POVThe humming of the private jet's engines piercing the night sky toward Chicago felt like needles in my ears. I sat leaning back, my eyes swollen. My body was too exhausted to even shed another tear. Both of my wrists were still tightly bound by thick silk ties to the armrests of this gold-plated leather seat.Meanwhile, my living nightmare sat right across from me.Ryder leaned forward. His long legs were spread wide, caging my feet so I couldn't move anywhere, forcing an intimate proximity that made my stomach churn. The man puffed on his cigar in silence, but his deadly dark eyes relentlessly skinned me alive. His gaze traced my pale face, traveled down to my slightly bulging stomach, and returned to my eyes. Over and over, as if I were a prey he had just successfully snatched back.I turned my face away, sickened by the sight of his strong jaw and the masculine scent I used to worship so deeply."Are you done crying over that dying bastard, Princess?" Ryder's deep vo
Mary's POVSeeing me trapped in Ryder’s embrace, the relief that had washed over Julian’s face just a second ago vanished without a trace. In its place, an ice-cold, murderous aura—far darker than ever before—took over every inch of my husband's body. With one lethal motion, Julian snatched his assault rifle from the marble floor and aimed it dead center at Ryder's forehead."Take your filthy hands off my wife, or I will blow your head off right this second," Julian hissed, his voice sounding as terrifying as the grim reaper itself.But Ryder didn't flinch in the slightest at the muzzle of the gun. Instead, the man offered a demonic smirk. Deliberately and full of provocation, Ryder shifted his hand, gently caressing and placing his palm right over my slightly bulging stomach—asserting his absolute claim over this baby.He leaned down, whispering in my ear, yet his eyes challenged Julian with a flash of pure arrogance. "Shoot, Kessler. Let's see how fast your bullet travels before
Mary’s POVThe moment Dante’s mocking words left his lips, Lexie moved. In a blur of motion, she reached under her white coat, drawing a concealed pistol. Relying on her sharp instincts, she aimed squarely at him. But Dante was a monster of a different breed. Anticipating her move, he launched a brutal roundhouse kick, sending the gun flying from her grip before she could even pull the trigger. It clattered uselessly across the room.With terrifying agility, Dante closed the distance, twisting Lexie’s arm forcefully behind her back and forcing her to her knees."It's useless trying to play the hero," Dante sneered, keeping a punishing grip on Lexie. "Dozens of my heavily armed men have this entire villa locked down. Just so you know, I was well aware of your arrival from the very beginning, little rat. Did you really think you could outsmart me by sneaking in alone?"Lexie’s jaw clenched, but instead of fear, a defiant smirk tugged at her lips. "Don't be too full of yourself, old m
Mary’s POV The monotonous beep of an electrocardiogram monitor was the first thing to welcome my consciousness. Slowly, I forced my heavy eyelids open. The sight of a white ceiling and the sharp stench of antiseptics immediately assaulted my senses. "Thank God you're awake, Miss." A cold, baritone voice made me flinch. I turned my head and found Dante standing in the corner of the room in his neat, tailored suit. My body tensed. The memories of my escape from Julian's mother's horrific mansion, the shattered glass, the agonizing pain in my abdomen, and how I collapsed on the side of the road all came rushing back. Unconsciously, my hand instinctively reached for my stomach. My baby. "Your uterus experienced severe contractions. You almost miscarried due to extreme stress and physical trauma," Dante stated, his face utterly emotionless. "But our doctors acted fast. Your fetus is safe. However, this means you are required to be on strict bed rest for the next few days if
Julian’s POVIt had been a grueling night. After being cooped up all day in sickening board meetings, my shoes finally stepped onto the marble floors of the mansion. Only one thing dominated my mind right now: craving my wife's warm smile and her gentle touch. It was the only antidote that could restore my sanity.Her embrace, her sweet kisses, everything about Mary was an intoxicating drug. Even though I had to suffer every single day, swallowing the bitter pill whenever I saw her swelling belly—carrying a fetus that wasn't my flesh and blood—I didn't care. I loved her. Loved her so much it drove me to the brink of insanity. In my hands, I carried a box of strawberry tarts from her favorite bakery that she had suddenly craved this afternoon.However, my steps came to an abrupt halt right in the main hallway.The air inside the mansion felt suffocatingly tense. The maids and security guards were huddled in the corners of the room, heads bowed low, their shoulders trembling in fear
Dante’s POV"Y-You?"Mrs. Mary’s eyes widened in sheer horror as she stared at me. Her body trembled violently, taking a step back even as her hand clutched her bleeding stomach. I knew that exact look. Seeing me was the same as triggering her trauma and memories of Mr. Ryder."Why are you helping me?!" she screamed, her voice cracking with despair and pain.Before I could answer, an enemy's bullet shattered Mary's car side mirror into pieces.Instinctively, I lunged forward, ducking down and pulling Mrs. Mary behind the door of my SUV to shield her. With my right hand, I fired three precise return shots at the pursuing car, hitting their tires and shattering their windshield."Mr. Vance specifically assigned me to watch over you. Get in quickly before you lose your baby!" I growled amidst the chaos of flying bullets.At the mention of the word 'baby,' the stubborn girl's defenses crumbled. For the sake of the fetus in her womb, Mrs. Mary was forced to take my offered hand. I pu
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
MARY'S POVFor the past month, I’d clung to a single, fragile lifeline: Henry would never abandon me.Not after nineteen years together. Not with the weight of his engagement ring still sitting on my finger. Not when the rest of my life had already shattered into pieces.I had scraped together the l
HENRY’S POVThat bastard's words rang in my ears on a loop, drowning out the frantic whispers of the students in the corridor.Mary Collins is mine now.My hands clenched into tight fists at my side. Nineteen years. For nineteen years, I was the only man allowed to hold Mary’s hand. I played the pe







