LIZ POV. I should be terrified. I was terrified. This same man had tried to kill me, not once—twice! But this—this felt different. I felt his breath on my neck, and I shivered. It wasn’t from fear but something deeper, something I wasn’t ready to name. At that moment, I felt something hard. It pressed right against my stomach causing my breath to hitch. My legs clenched and a low heat curled inside me. What was that?I swallowed hard. I could tell—I could tell he was already hard and it was making me wet too. His hesitation made me restless. I closed my eyes, feeling a strange pull—like déjà vu. I leaned in before I could stop myself, pressing against him. What are you doing, Liz? My head screamed at me to run, but my body betrayed me—it wanted his touch even more. A moan slipped from my lips. “Jake…” Do it! My mind urged. Kiss me!“Fuck it,” he growled. He gripped my neck gently, tilting my head back. His lips hovering just above mine. Every nerve on my body was on fire. His
LIZ POV.“I can explain!”Hazel’s jaw tightened and her fist clenched tight. “Start explaining!” I opened my mouth, but no words came out. No excuse, not even a lie could form in my head. Before I could react, Hazel grabbed a fistful of my hair and pulled hard. “You stubborn little thing. You're going to get us in trouble again.” She snapped. “Wait, wait! Hazel…” I gasped, gripping her fist but she wouldn’t let go. Then an idea struck my mind. I stopped struggling. My body went limp, slumping forward in her grasp like life had left me. Hazel froze. “Liz?”I stayed still, my breathing slow and shallow. Her fingers loosened slightly. “You better not be playing games with me now, Liz.” I still didn’t move. My acting skills were perfect. I needed enough time for her to get distracted so I could run. I could see her hesitation shift to panic. Then she exhaled sharply, tapping my cheek. When I didn’t react, she began to panic. “My God! Liz, get up please.” Her voice cracked. “Water,
LIZ POV. The next morning, I woke up to an empty room. I shot up realizing that I was late. Why didn’t they wake me up? I wondered as I made my way to my room. Before I could open the door, thoughts of Hazel still being mad at me crossed my mind. But knowing her, she’d probably be drowning in chores by now. I hurried inside, took my fastest shower, and wore my uniform quickly. My stomach was already crying from hunger by the time I was done, so I headed straight to the kitchen. As soon as I got to the kitchen, the smell of delicious food made me salivate. The chef’s focus was on the food, so he didn’t notice my presence.“Good morning,” I greeted, walking in.The chef turned from the stove, arching a brow. “You’re late.”“I know,” I muttered.“You’ve gotta be careful around here now that the whole family’s back,” he warned, flipping something on the pan. I nodded absently. My thoughts were on food. I was about to grab a clean plate when suddenly, he stopped me.“Dishes first,” he
LIZ POV. Jake shot up from his seat, his hand stretched toward our direction as if to stop her. “Mom, no. She’s not the one.”Mrs. Blackwell’s brows furrowed, and she blinked twice. “Oh, dear lord.” She let out a heavy sigh, placing a hand on her chest. “Then who the hell is she, and why is she here?” Jake exhaled. “She just has a slight resemblance to her. That’s all. She’s not who you think.” A slight resemblance? My stomach twisted as I stared at them. Who the hell was this person they kept talking about?Mrs. Blackwell scoffed, taking a step closer. “This ain’t no slight resemblance.” Her cold stare sent shivers down my spine. “Why did you choose to work here in the first place?”I opened my mouth, but before I could speak, Jake interrupted.“Mom—”“No!” She turned on him angrily. “I won’t have this! I don’t want a damn resemblance of an enemy in this house.” Enemy? The word struck me like lightning. “I—I don’t understand,” I stammered. My voice felt small, weak. “You don’t
JAKE POVI left the living room in rage, my hands clenched into fists as I fought back tears in my eyes. But no matter how much I tried, a few drops of tears still spilled. Thankfully, my mask hid them from anyone who might be watching.Each time the realization struck me that no one—not even my own mother gave a damn about me, it pierced my heart like needles. They used me all this while. I was nothing but a tool to build their hotel up for them. I hurried my steps as soon as I got to the hallway; I was headed to my room when suddenly, I heard footsteps from behind me. “Stop right there, son.” My body stiffened at the sound of her voice. I didn’t have to turn around to know it was her. I exhaled sharply, controlling my tone. “I already said I’m not doing it, Mom. What else do you want from me?”“Jake, try to understand. The company’s ranking has dropped. Soon, it won’t even be in the top five in New York anymore. I scoffed, shaking my head. “I don’t care! Jesus, why aren’t you g
JAKE POV. That morning? I woke up with a whole new feeling. There was this weird feeling in my chest. Nerves? Maybe. But I also felt alive. I had a long hot shower, stepped out and picked my best suit—it was a navy-blue suit. I hadn’t worn it since the whole tragic incident. I slid into it, buttoning it up while staring at my reflection in my mirror. Then I heard a knock on my door. I grabbed my mask from the table and put it on immediately. It had already become a habit. As soon as I opened the door to see who it was, I froze. Liz stood there in her maid uniform, head bowed, holding a food tray. My heart kicked hard. I didn’t understand why that happened. “Good morning, sir,” she said in a low tone, her voice calm. “Do you mind if I come in for just a few seconds, sir? I have something to say.” Her voice cracked near the end. She sounded scared. Not of me, exactly… just uncertain. Like she’d been rehearsing those words all morning. I stepped aside. “Sure. Come in.” She walked
JAKE POV. The second I stepped into the hotel lobby, everything froze. Conversations cut off mid-sentence. Phones slipped. A pen fell to the floor somewhere near the reception desk. Dozens of eyes snapped toward me, wide and startled—like they’d just seen a ghost.I didn’t stop walking. My steps were calm and measured. Silence stretched a few more seconds before I cleared my throat.“Is that how you welcome your general manager back?” I asked, voice sharp enough to slice through the tension in the air.Everyone scrambled to stand. “G-Good morning, sir!” they echoed, their voices shaky.I didn’t respond. A commotion at the far end of the reception desk caught my attention. A man, who seemed to be around his forties, stood with one of the receptionists, slamming his hand on her desk like he commanded the hotel.“No, I’m not taking this! That room’s always mine! Give it to me!” he shouted.“Please, sir,” the receptionist said, her voice steady. “Someone else already checked in earlier.
JAKE POV. I’d barely let Charles’ body heat fade from his chair when Audrina finally stood up. She’d been silent the whole time, perched at the far end of the boardroom table. Her hands were folded neatly on the glossy surface, back straight, posture perfect. But I saw through it. She wasn’t here. She felt distant. She cleared her throat, soft but deliberate, commanding just enough attention to shift every eye in the room her way. When she spoke, her voice was crisp, measured, every word sharp and professional as she spoke.“Ladies and gentlemen, it is with great honor that I formally welcome back the man who built Shark Hotels into a global luxury powerhouse. The man who set the gold standard across all our New York branches and beyond…”Her eyes flicked to mine.“…Jake Blackwell has officially resumed his position as General Manager for all Shark Hotel branches across New York City and all associated regions across the country.”She paused for a while, then she smiled. “Welcome b
JAKE POV. My phone wouldn’t shut the hell up. I rolled over to the empty space beside me. No Liz. The bedsheets were still warm, so I knew she’d left early. Silly girl. She had me wrapped around her finger, and I couldn’t even fight it.I buried my face into the pillow and smiled like an idiot. God—was I really falling for the maid?But then the ringtone blasted again. Same damn unknown number. I hissed and dragged myself up, groaning as I reached for my phone across the nightstand.“Hello?” I answered, voice rough.“Sir, we have a patient who was just rushed in. Your contact was saved as ‘Big Brother’ on her phone. That’s why we called. Please… come immediately.”I froze. “Wait—what?! What happened? Who is this?”“We’ve emailed the hospital address. You need to come now.”Just like that, the line cut. And just like that, my whole world shattered.I stood there, stiff, numb. I didn’t even realize I wasn’t breathing until the burn hit my lungs. Audrina. It was Audrina. I mean, I had j
LIZ POV. The mansion didn’t feel the same anymore. Something about the air had shifted—it was heavier, more tense. Everyone looked like they were walking on glass, even the ones who used to laugh too loud in the hallways. Mrs. Blackwell’s mood had been unpredictable. She had been a storm cloud all week, snapping at the maids, firing people for breathing wrong, and hiring new ones almost immediately. Mr. Blackwell was worse—he didn’t yell, but the silence around him was terrifying.And Hazel… she was quieter now. She barely talked, and when she did, it wasn’t really her. She’d been in and out of the mansion lately, always claiming she was fine. I asked her a hundred times to take me to Mom. She just kept repeating, “When the time’s right.”Right time? What the hell did that even mean? I needed a right time to go see my own mother?And as for Jake, he’s been buried in work ever since he resumed. I barely even see him these days. I missed him. More than I cared to admit. Most nights, I
AUDRINA POV.Just like that… she walked away. My own mother. I knew it was going to turn out bad. I expected nothing, but I didn’t expect the worst—this was worse than I expected. I stayed frozen, not even blinking. The silence that followed was loud—louder than the yelling had been.Jake reached across the table and pulled me into his arms, like he knew I’d fall apart without him. And maybe I really would’ve. More tears fell. They wouldn’t stop. I felt my heart crack open and everything was spilling out.“Shhhh… it’s okay, Princess. I’m here with you.” His voice was soft but strong. I pulled back just slightly, my words slurring through the sobs. “How come you don’t hate me, brother? I brought shame home… I’m a disgrace.”He held my cheeks gently, forcing me to look at him. “Hate you? No, Princess. Never.” His eyes were glassy. “I’m gonna be an uncle soon. Isn’t that great?”And then, he smiled. A real smile. “Damn, I’m gonna finally be a cool uncle. Wow… thank you, Princess.”Some
AUDRINA POV. I stood by the window in my robe, heart heavy, staring out at the back garden, watching the roses sway with the morning breeze. They looked beautiful—perfect even. But one of them caught my eye. A pale pink bud, separated from the rest, a little bent like it didn’t belong. That one? That was me. Alone. Quiet. Out of place.My palm pressed lightly to the glass. “Funny how even flowers have company,” I whispered.I didn’t have friends in the States. The few I had back in the UK? Barely texted anymore. But could I blame them? I wasn’t exactly good at maintaining friendships. Always the one who didn’t call back, who missed birthdays, who pushed people away when they tried to get close. I didn’t know how to be a good friend growing up.This was the period where I needed someone by my side. More than ever. And there was no one.I placed my hand on my stomach, gently. A small tear slid down my cheek as I rubbed in slow circle. Three days ago, the doctor confirmed it. One month
JAKE POV.I didn’t sleep much. The light cutting through the blinds hit me in the face and I groaned. Morning, already?I pulled myself up with a grunt, rubbing my neck. My body still buzzed from last night—like the chaos hadn’t drained out yet. I used to be out the door by seven sharp, pressed and perfect in a suit. But since I resumed, I didn’t feel the need to rush. I was the boss. I could walk in at ten and no one would say a damn word.But I still believed in showing up early. I hated when people slacked off. Especially those women who strolled in like they were models on a runway. “Oh, there was a lot of traffic, sir.” Save it.I walked into the bathroom, flipped on the faucet, and grabbed my toothbrush. As I brushed, everything that happened yesterday flashed through my mind. From work, to the boutique, to the files I forwarded to the blogger. I rinsed my mouth, wiped my face with a towel, and grabbed my phone off the counter. One glance at the screen, and my lips stretched in
JAKE POV. “Well, well, if it isn’t our superhero,” Vivian said with a wicked smirk, her arms folded like she had something to prove.I groaned, voice low and angry. “And what does that make you? A hoe? While your sister was burning, you were cuddling with her fiancé.”Vivian’s smile never wavered. “Oh, you mean… my husband?”I shook my head in disgust. No shame at all. None. How the hell was that even legal? Why would she marry her sister’s fiancé, pretending to have saved the day. And where the hell did Victoria even run to that day?I was about to throw that question at her when a loud laugh broke behind me.The hell?I turned—and there he was. Michael Sterling—bending slightly, hands on his knees, laughing his ass off like we were in a comedy show. The sound grated my nerves instantly.“What the hell’s funny?” I asked.He didn’t answer at first. He just kept laughing until it turned into a wheeze. Then he straightened up, pointed right at me.“You—cousin brother,” he said, grinnin
JAKE POV. I’d barely let Charles’ body heat fade from his chair when Audrina finally stood up. She’d been silent the whole time, perched at the far end of the boardroom table. Her hands were folded neatly on the glossy surface, back straight, posture perfect. But I saw through it. She wasn’t here. She felt distant. She cleared her throat, soft but deliberate, commanding just enough attention to shift every eye in the room her way. When she spoke, her voice was crisp, measured, every word sharp and professional as she spoke.“Ladies and gentlemen, it is with great honor that I formally welcome back the man who built Shark Hotels into a global luxury powerhouse. The man who set the gold standard across all our New York branches and beyond…”Her eyes flicked to mine.“…Jake Blackwell has officially resumed his position as General Manager for all Shark Hotel branches across New York City and all associated regions across the country.”She paused for a while, then she smiled. “Welcome b
JAKE POV. The second I stepped into the hotel lobby, everything froze. Conversations cut off mid-sentence. Phones slipped. A pen fell to the floor somewhere near the reception desk. Dozens of eyes snapped toward me, wide and startled—like they’d just seen a ghost.I didn’t stop walking. My steps were calm and measured. Silence stretched a few more seconds before I cleared my throat.“Is that how you welcome your general manager back?” I asked, voice sharp enough to slice through the tension in the air.Everyone scrambled to stand. “G-Good morning, sir!” they echoed, their voices shaky.I didn’t respond. A commotion at the far end of the reception desk caught my attention. A man, who seemed to be around his forties, stood with one of the receptionists, slamming his hand on her desk like he commanded the hotel.“No, I’m not taking this! That room’s always mine! Give it to me!” he shouted.“Please, sir,” the receptionist said, her voice steady. “Someone else already checked in earlier.
JAKE POV. That morning? I woke up with a whole new feeling. There was this weird feeling in my chest. Nerves? Maybe. But I also felt alive. I had a long hot shower, stepped out and picked my best suit—it was a navy-blue suit. I hadn’t worn it since the whole tragic incident. I slid into it, buttoning it up while staring at my reflection in my mirror. Then I heard a knock on my door. I grabbed my mask from the table and put it on immediately. It had already become a habit. As soon as I opened the door to see who it was, I froze. Liz stood there in her maid uniform, head bowed, holding a food tray. My heart kicked hard. I didn’t understand why that happened. “Good morning, sir,” she said in a low tone, her voice calm. “Do you mind if I come in for just a few seconds, sir? I have something to say.” Her voice cracked near the end. She sounded scared. Not of me, exactly… just uncertain. Like she’d been rehearsing those words all morning. I stepped aside. “Sure. Come in.” She walked