FAZER LOGINLeon’s POVI stared at the large, outstretched hand in front of me with hesitation. The hand was encased in a black leather glove, exactly like the ones my father owned. Slowly, I accepted it. The mysterious man's grip felt so solid, effortlessly pulling my small body up to my feet with just one light tug."Thank you, Sir," I mumbled, patting the dust off my pants.The man didn't answer. He bent down with an elegant motion and picked up my favorite hockey stick lying on the floor. His dark, sharp eyes examined the stick for a moment before he looked at me."Your grip on the stick is wrong, Champ," he said in a deep, calm baritone. "I saw your reflection in the glass when you swung it earlier. If you hold it too far down like that, your shot won't have any lethal power."The man then twirled the stick in his hand with incredible skill, demonstrating the correct grip. His movements were so natural, as if he were born to hold the object."You have to place your dominant hand here. U
Five Years LaterMary’s POVFive years was a long enough time to heal wounds and rebuild a life. Beneath the peaceful Swiss sky, my life had finally found its perfect rhythm. Now at twenty-five, I had shed all the fragile, naive memories of my girlhood, transforming into a beloved wife and a young mother to two little angels."Careful, Chloe! Don't run too fast, Sweetheart!" I called out from the back terrace of the mansion, watching the four-year-old toddler laughing joyfully as she chased butterflies in the garden.Chloe Kessler. She inherited my auburn hair and warm brown eyes. That little girl was the absolute center of the solar system in this house, especially for her father, Julian.In another corner of the garden sat a five-year-old boy. Unlike the cheerful Chloe, he was tying his roller skates calmly and with intense concentration. Leon Kessler, my eldest son.Every time I looked at Leon, a strange pang always pinched my heart. The older Leon grew, the more the absolute
Mary’s POVMonths had passed since that bloody night in Chicago. Winter had begun to blanket the Swiss landscape, bringing a bone-chilling, freezing wind.I stood in front of my father's white marble headstone, pulling my thick wool coat tighter over my now perfectly rounded, protruding belly. Being nine months pregnant had slowed my steps, but my monthly routine here was never skipped."Dad... your grandson will be born soon," I whispered softly, laying a bouquet of his favorite Lilies on the grave. I stroked the headstone with a sorrowful smile. "Promise me you'll watch over him from heaven, okay?"The wind blew gently, as if answering my prayer. After wiping away my remaining tears, I turned and walked slowly down the cemetery path.At the end of the path, Julian was already leaning against the door of his luxurious limousine. Wearing a long navy coat, he looked incredibly handsome and flawless. Seeing me approach, Julian turned off his phone screen, walked up to me, and kissed
Mary’s POVThe sound of metal being shredded by bullets was deafening. The SUV driven by Julian shook violently every time the muzzles of the three pursuit cars behind us spat hot lead."Julian! We have to go to a hospital! My dad... the bleeding won't stop!" I screamed hysterically. My hands trembled uncontrollably as I tried to press down on the gaping wound in my father's abdomen using the shredded fabric of my dress. However, fresh blood kept seeping through, pooling on the leather seats with a metallic stench that made my stomach churn."No! We can't go to any public hospital in Chicago, Mary! Victor has definitely hacked their security systems and planted his men there!" Julian roared hoarsely, swerving the steering wheel to dodge a hail of bullets. "My private doctor is already waiting at our hidden jet runway! We are heading there right now!"In the backseat, Roman, who had been returning fire through the shattered window, finally pulled the trigger on his rifle until it cl
Mary’s POVAfter those horrifying words left Dante's mouth, it took a few seconds for my brain to process the reality: Ryder's father was coming for my head.I clamped both hands over my mouth, stifling a scream of pure terror. My father swiftly grabbed my mother's hand, holding it in a tight grip."We have to go. NOW!" Dante grabbed my arm roughly, ushering us out of the master bedroom.However, we had barely run a dozen steps down the penthouse corridor when a deafening sound made my heart stop.TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT!A brutal barrage of gunfire echoed from the direction of the main penthouse lobby behind us. The sound of shattering glass and the wild shouts of guards thundered through the air. My blood instantly froze. They had breached the perimeter. My mother trembled violently beside my father."They're attacking from the main entrance! Hold this corridor! Deploy all your weapons!" Dante roared to his remaining guards through his comms radio. He then turned to me. "Hurry, Mi
Ryder’s POV The bloody night in London was over. Through the glass window of my private jet, which was climbing high to pierce the clouds, I could still see the bright orange flames devouring the Starling residence down below. One threat had been eradicated. No one would ever dare disturb my wife and child's peaceful sleep again. I leaned my head against the leather cabin seat, closing my eyes to soothe the adrenaline still boiling in my veins. The air inside the cabin was completely still, accompanied only by the faint hum of the jet engines speeding above the pitch-black expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. However, that silence was brutally torn apart. "Sir!" Silas suddenly yelled from the cockpit, his voice filled with a panic I had never heard before. "Radar is detecting high-speed projectile movement! Anti-aircraft missiles have locked onto our coordinates!" My eyes snapped wide open. My muscles tensed. "What?!" "Evasive maneuvers! Dive this plane right now!" Silas
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
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







