LOGINDANIELLE I awoke slowly, my body heavy, my mind slow to respond. And I felt the cold first, followed by the light.My eyes blinked open, and I stared ahead, disoriented, trying to figure out where I was. The balcony door remained open, the morning air soft but chilly, and I was on the floor.Thank God for the thick, plush rug, which had protected me from the full brutality of the hard surface beneath it. Nonetheless, pain shot through me the moment I attempted to move.I pushed myself up with a soft cry, realizing that my medication had worn off. Every bruise and scrape, every impact I had inflicted on my body the night before, came roaring back to life at once. And my muscles protested, my skin throbbing.I remembered the asphalt and impact from how I had repeatedly thrown myself down, desperate for my story to be believable.A knock pierced the memory, and I froze before scrambling up as quickly as my body could allow, ignoring the way everything screamed in protest.I forced my br
DANIELLEI did not get into the bed and remained standing in the middle of the room, listening to the silence before returning my gaze to the door Levi had just closed behind him, as if staring at it would bring him back to me.Reaching into my bag, I pulled out a cigarette and walked straight to the balcony, the night air stinging against my bruised skin as I stepped outside. I leaned against the railing and lit the cigarette.The first drag burned my lungs, and I exhaled slowly, watching the smoke fade into the city lights spread out in front of me. The penthouse was where I belonged. I wasn't supposed to be sent off to some faraway apartment as if I were something to be managed.Levi was where my home was. He belonged with me, not that nobody. My jaw tightened as I remembered the bitch's face and how she looked at me. I could almost still feel the way she had touched and spoken to me, so soft and careful, as if I were some charity case.I scoffed under my breath and took another dr
REVA Levi and I exchanged glances, the words lingering in the air. “Police?" I whispered to myself, wondering what they could want.“I have no idea what this is about," he said quietly, matching my expression as he pressed the button again. “I'm coming."I moved quickly, grabbing his shirt from where it was draped over a chair, but he was faster, approaching with a robe, which he slipped around my shoulders, his hands quick but careful as he helped me into it.He grabbed one for himself and pulled it on before briefly scanning me to ensure I was properly covered.“I'll be right back," he said, already moving to the front. It was clearly intended as a stay here. But there was no way I could stay behind.So I followed him a moment later, my heart pounding in my chest as I arrived in the hallway, just in time to see him open the door. My mind was still racing, but when the door opened, it came to a complete stop, and I froze.Danielle stood there, bruised and bloodied, and I let out a g
HUNTER I was half-drunk at a bar not far from Reva's house, planning how to spy on my bitch half-sister, whether to hire someone or do it myself, when I noticed her and Levi getting into his car, and that was all it took to get the plan started. Before I could think too hard, I was in my own car, following them at a safe distance.They took me straight to Levi's building, and getting in was easy. When security asked, I told them I was there to see Levi and let my confidence do the rest. People rarely questioned you when you appeared to fit in.I took the elevator up, but did not reach his door. I came to a halt just down the corridor, leaning casually against the wall, taking advantage of the dim lighting. From there, I had a clear line of sight without being noticeable.I didn't need much time; a few well-angled photos would suffice, and I'd have completed Nikolai's request without hassle. I got the photos I was looking for, but then I received texts from Alan, and I had paused talk
REVA Levi's voice broke through the tension. “Danielle?" he asked, a note of surprise running through his otherwise steady tone. “Hey—what are you doing here?"“I—" she began at the same time, the word tripping over his, and for a second, they both stopped. That's when I noticed how taken aback she looked to see me, her eyes flickering to me, then back to Levi, and my thoughts began to race.Did she have the key to his place? How had she just walked in as if everything was normal? Like she belonged here.Her gaze returned to me, and she took a small, controlled breath before returning to Levi. “Can.. I speak to you alone for a moment?" she asked politely but firmly.I hadn't finished processing the request when Levi responded, and my heart skipped a beat at his response. “You can speak in front of Reva."The firmness in his voice left no room for negotiation, and I sensed a subtle shift in the room before Danielle swallowed hard.It was quick, almost imperceptible, but I noticed how
REVA Levi and my father stood side by side, watching me twirl in the middle of the apartment, taking it all in. The place still smelled faintly of fresh paint and effort, of hours spent working together, and I couldn't help but smile. They had done an excellent job, and I told them so, my voice filled with awe as I turned once more, already imagining how it would look once everything was in place. The covers that remained draped over my furniture would be removed in the morning, when the lighting was better, and I had the energy to fuss over every detail. For the time being, the evening had settled in, and the two men in my life were getting ready to leave. They wanted to uncover everything, but I stopped them because the time was 10:30 p.m. Mom also wanted her man back. “Are you sure you don't want to come home with me?" My father asked again, his tone gentle. “Only for tonight. The place is still disorganized." I declined the offer with a smile as I approached him. “I'm sure,
NIKOLAIThe music cut out. “Security department, this is Mark speaking," a guy's voice came through from the other side of the line, and I straightened instinctively. “My name is Hunter Starling. I was transferred from reception to discuss security footage from Christmas Eve."“Yes, Mr. Starling,"
NIKOLAIHunter’s fingers laced with mine as we walked into the law offices. It was still holiday season, and everyone was basking in the magic it brought, except my fiancé and me. While everyone was sipping hot cocoa in pajamas on their balconies, we were hard at work to ensure that the coming sea
REVAMy stomach had already twisted into knots by the time my mother and I drove into the underground parking garage. I thought signing the divorce papers was the hardest part. But it appears to be only the beginning.“Are you alright?" Mom asked, turning off the engine and looking at me with that
REVAThe cup spun through the air and exploded against Hunter's shoulder, splattering coffee across his expensive coat and dripping on the table. There was a half-second of stunned silence before everything erupted. Hunter jumped to his feet so violently that his chair toppled backward. “Are you c







