تسجيل الدخولMarian's POVI watch Anna Brooks walk away, her hand protectively on the little girl's shoulder— Felicity's daughter, not hers— and feel the knot in my chest slowly begin to unwind.Breathe, Marian. Just breathe.The mall's air conditioning is too cold suddenly, making goosebumps rise on my arms despite my long sleeves. Or maybe it's not the temperature at all. Maybe it's the adrenaline finally draining from my system, leaving me shaky and weak.I cast a glance at Liam. A reminder of the future I'm building. The life I've earned. The man that's finally, finally mine after years of being second choice, second best, always waiting in the shadows while Anastasia Campbell held everything I wanted.But Anastasia is dead. Has been dead for seven years. So why does Anna Brooks make my skin crawl with recognition?"That was interesting," Liam says beside me, his voice low and thoughtful.I turn to look at my husband. He's staring after Anna and her group, his expression troubled. His crystal
Anastasia's POV Now they're really fishing. Trying to piece together Anna Brooks' history, looking for any connection to Anastasia Campbell."I've lived in several places— Seattle, Portland, briefly in San Francisco. I move where the work takes me." I keep my answers vague but confident. "Though I have to say, Los Angeles has been the best fit so far. For both of us." I glance down at Mia with genuine affection."Portland," Marian repeats, and something flickers in her eyes. "When were you in Portland?"Before I can answer, Felicity speaks up, her voice warm and natural. "Oh, we should really get going, Anna. We still need to pick up Mia's prescription before the pharmacy closes."Perfect timing. Bless Felicity for the save."You're right." I nod gratefully, then turn back to Liam and Marian with a polite smile. "It was nice seeing you both. I'm sure we'll see each other some other time."I start to guide Mia away, Felicity falling into step beside us. But Marian's voice stops us."W
Anastasia's POVTime slows to a crawl. Everything around me— the noise of the mall, the movement of shoppers, Felicity's hand on my arm— fades into background static. All I can focus on is Liam's eyes locked on mine.His expression shifts through a series of emotions I can read too easily after three years of marriage. Confusion first, then that sharp, calculating look that used to precede his cruelest moments. He's not surprised to see me— Anna Brooks, Alexander's fiancée. He's surprised to see me here, in this context, caught off guard without Alexander as a buffer.But I don't let any of my internal panic show on my face. Instead, I straighten my shoulders and meet his gaze with the cool confidence of Anna Brooks— a woman who has nothing to hide, nothing to fear."Well, well," Liam says, his voice carrying that familiar blend of charm and menace. "Anna Brooks. What a coincidence."Beside him, Marian's sharp green eyes sweep over me with that false warmth she's perfected over the ye
Anastasia's POV Mia emerges from the dressing room in her new jacket, cutting off our conversation. She spins around, the jacket flaring out. "What do you think?""I think you look perfect," I tell her, forcing brightness into my voice.After we pay for our purchases, we head to the food court for lunch. Mia gets pizza, Felicity gets a salad, and I get pasta that I mostly just push around on my plate."Mom, you're not eating," Mia observes."I'm just not very hungry, sweetheart.""Are you sick?""No, I'm fine. Just distracted."She seems to accept this and returns to her pizza. But Felicity gives me a knowing look that says we'll be talking about this later.After lunch, we wander through more stores. I'm in the middle of browsing a rack of scarves when I feel it— that prickling sensation of being watched. I turn slowly, scanning the crowd.And then I see them.Mr. and Mrs. Campbell. My parents. The people who raised me for twenty-three years and then threw me away like garbage.They
Anastasia's POVSaturday morning arrives with the kind of bright sunshine that feels almost mocking. I wake up with Alexander's words about loving me still echoing in my head and the weight of my secrets pressing down on my chest like a physical thing.I need a break. Just one day where I'm not thinking about revenge or investor dinners or the carefully constructed lies I'm living. One day to just be a mother, a friend, a normal person.Mia is already awake when I emerge from my room, sitting at the kitchen table with her coloring book. She looks up with a bright smile that makes my heart ache."Are we still going to the park?" she asks hopefully."Actually, I was thinking we could do something even better. How about the mall? We could get lunch, maybe do some shopping, make a whole day of it."Her eyes light up. "Really? Can we get ice cream?""We can definitely get ice cream." I ruffle her hair. "Let me call Aunt Felicity and see if she wants to come too."Felicity answers on the se
Anastasia's POVI leave Alexander's penthouse just before midnight, my heart in pieces. He loves me. Really loves me. Not Anna Brooks the strategic partner, but me. Or at least, the version of me he knows.When he finds out who I really am— when he learns that I'm the woman he helped prosecute seven years ago—bthat love will turn to hatred so fast it'll give me whiplash.In my car, I finally let the tears come. Not the controlled, delicate tears I showed Alexander. Real, ugly sobs that shake my whole body.My phone rings. Aaron."Sorry to call so late," he says. "But I wanted to give you an update. I reached out to a lawyer friend about representing you. Victor, he does corporate and estate law. He's agreed to meet with us Monday morning to review what we have.""Okay. That's good.""Ana, are you okay? You sound—""I'm fine. Just tired.""You're not fine. I can hear it in your voice."I take a shaky breath. "He told me he loves me. Alexander. He said he loves me."Aaron is quiet for a
Anastasia's POVThree months!I've been in this hellhole for three months, and every day feels like a year.My pregnancy is showing now— a small but unmistakable bump that draws unwanted attention from other inmates. Some are kind, offering advice or extra food from their trays. Others look at me w
Anastasia's POV The first week in the cell is the hardest. The noise never stops— clanging doors, shouting voices, the constant buzz of fluorescent lights. I can't sleep. I can barely eat the terrible food they serve. And the morning sickness is relentless.Every morning, I spend the first hour hu
Anastasia's POVThe holding cell reeks of disinfectant and despair. I've been here for six hours, sitting on a cold metal bench, my mind racing through everything that's happened. Every time I close my eyes, I see Marian's smug smile, and hear Liam's cruel laughter.They planned this. All of it.Th
Anastasia's POV "I'm leaving Los Angeles," I tell Felicity one evening as we sit in her living room. "I need a fresh start. Somewhere far away from Liam and Marian and my parents. Somewhere I can rebuild." "Where will you go?" She asks, though I can see she already knew this was coming. "I'm not







