(Leo's POV)Upon hearing that Violet had been found unconscious in the gardens, I postponed the rest of my meetings and raced back home. Despite the backlash I was to face, all that consumed my thoughts was making sure she was alright. Bursting through the front doors and up a curved staircase, I didn't even pause when passing my father and Violet's Aunt.I would later find out that the harm done to Violet was intentional and inflicted by her own aunt. Before I could throw that devious excuse of a human off the property, Violet wobbled in front of me, her expression unreadable.“Why won't you let me help you?” I had asked, but my aching heart was soon silenced as she made it clear that there was no trust between us. After Violet returned to her room, warmth still lingered in my chest and provoked me to do what I did next.I carefully opened the door to Violet's room and placed the crisp flower on the floor. The house echoed with hushed whispers as I then proceeded to take confident

(Violet's POV) Many days have passed since Leo and I last saw each other. After the incident, I was graciously granted permission to go out on my own, so long as I had a bodyguard. Aunt Bella strangely left me alone and was scarcely seen on the property. On this rainy day, I braided back my black hair and requested that Jason, my assigned guard, escort me to the movie theater to catch a showing. I had long since adjusted to the constant surveillance placed on me, but lately it seemed bizarrely tailored to my habits. “Jason, is everything alright with Leo?” I asked during the drive. He gives a kind smile and glances back using the rear view mirror. “You need not worry, Ms. Bennet. Mr. Whitlock is merely occupied with work,” he reassures me. I slump in the backseat as the trees roll by. To someone else, it might seem as though I was worried about him cheating. After all, it was still common knowledge that we were engaged. “Not for much longer, probably,” I think as my harsh wo

(Violet's POV) As the moon gave way to the sun, I awoke to Leo's sleeping form laying beside me on the ground. I softly remove his arm from under my head, careful to not make a sound. I lean down and kiss his forehead, readjusting the blanket over him before rising. Not one to leave a mess, I quickly gathered the extinguished candles and empty plates before making my way inside to obtain some breakfast for us. Making sure to include lots of toast, I stuff all the components for a complete breakfast into a makeshift basket and return to the pond. My heart catches in my throat when he is no longer sleeping peacefully. In fact, Leo is nowhere to be seen and I fear the worst. “Where did you go?” I hear his voice ask from behind the tree. Leaning up against the trunk, he was gazing at me concerned. I hold up the basket and approach. Leo squints, conflict evident in his features. “I'm not much of a morning person, but you are. I wanted to surprise you,” I confidently declare.

(Leo's POV) My pleasant mood was impenetrable as I casually meandered through the work day. In brief moments of blissful silence, the delicate image of Violet’s blushing face graced my mind and brought a foolish grin to a normally serious expression. Her dark waves framing her fair skin as she lay comfortably on the ground beside me and the thought of her gentle kiss as she allowed vulnerability to show, made my heart race faster than a formula one car. “She's just amazing,” I think as the piles of papers dwindle down till they're gone. After gaining more and more support from numerous parties in the vote against my father, it was practically a done deal. However, that did not stop the allies who would suffer from this decision to go out of their way to make more trouble. Countless meetings and phone calls pestered me relentlessly as the company prepared for a change that, though not exceptionally impactful, would shift things in a new direction. At the end of one particular

(Violet's POV) The slimy looking man gave a ridiculing scoff as he purposely spoke his next words loud enough for all those nearby to hear. “Oh my! It seems that the glass was still wet from washing. No real loss though given that a gold digger like her doesn't suit such a dress,” he snicker with obvious pleasure. The swarm of hushed whispers was annoyingly loud as they conspired amongst themselves. “Sir, you must apologize,” a very nervous looking waiter started to say before the lunatic aggressively cut them off. “For what?! I told you it was an accident and even if it wasn’t, what are you or anybody else gonna do about it?” he yelled as if it was something to be proud of. The silence of the room was deafening as nobody was certain of the correct action. Slowly, almost menacingly, I rose from the chair with a neutral expression and turned to face the moron. With all my might I curled my hand into a fist and landed probably one of the best uppercuts of my life on that exc