Lights Out

Regina's POVI stared at the photo.Michael Anderson.The man who ruined my childhood, faked his death, tried to kill me, and somehow still had the audacity to show up... breathing.Nicholas took the phone from my hand and zoomed in. "It's definitely him.""But how?" I whispered. "Gabriel exposed everything. Kimberly's gone. What else does he want?"Nicholas looked at me.Then at my belly. Then he said nothing. Which said everything.Julia dropped her teacup. Literally.Porcelain shattered against the marble floor as the image of her dead husband flashed on my phone screen."No," she breathed. "No, that can't be—he's dead. I saw the casket. I buried him. I cried."Mike stepped forward, expression grave. "We've sent the photo to facial recognition. Early scans are showing a 92% match to Michael Anderson's last known medical profile.""Then the bastard faked it," Julia whispered, staring at nothing. "He faked it all."I took her hand gently. "Julia—if he's alive, we need to stop him bef

Last Updated : 2025-06-25

Live video

Regina's POVJulia collapsed before I could even catch her."Nicholas!" I screamed, dropping to my knees.He rushed over, flashlight trembling in his grip. "Move, let me check her pulse."It was faint. But there.Still alive. Barely."Call Mike," he ordered. "Tell him to bring the backup team now. This place is compromised.""Power's dead. No signal."Nicholas muttered something savage under his breath and pulled out a device from his pocket one of those satellite communicator things. He sent a single pinged message.Then looked at me."Help me get her to the couch. Now."Her lips were cracked. Skin pale. Blood under her nails..She looked like a ghost.Except her eyes burned with clarity."Michael..." she whispered. "He never died.""I know," I said softly. "We saw the photo."She turned to me. "You don't understand. I saw him. Tonight. He brought me here. Then... he let me go.""Let you go?" Nicholas asked, frowning. "Why would he—?""Because he wanted her to know the truth," she sai

Last Updated : 2025-06-26

No hesitation

Regina's POVI watched the video over and over again. It wasn't the betrayal that shocked me Lloyd had always been a snake.It was how easy it looked. Like ordering coffee."I want the girl dead."She nodded with No hesitation.Like my life... like my baby's life didn't even matter.Nicholas had gone still beside me, fists clenched, jaw ticking like a time bomb."This was posted on a private server, meant for black-market contractors," Mike said, pacing the room. "Someone hacked it, probably to sell the hit. But the hacker sent it to me instead. Said they 'like rooting for the underdog.'""That makes two of us," Jenna muttered.But me? I couldn't speak.Because I felt the target on my back now. It wasn't paranoia anymore. It was real.And I wasn't ready. Not for what came next.Nicholas shoved our emergency bags into the trunk of a nondescript black SUV."I'm not risking another ambush," he muttered. "We move again. Tonight."I touched his arm. "We can't keep running forever."His eyes

Last Updated : 2025-06-26

Hiding game

Regina’s POVThey said giving birth was the hardest part. They lied.The hardest part was holding your baby while staring at a death threat written in elegant cursive on hospital-grade paper unsigned, unbothered, and soaked in the scent of power.Nicholas barged into the room just as the nurse slipped out with a knowing look.His shirt was wrinkled. His sleeves rolled up. His hands. Blood.“Nicholas!” I gasped. “What—”He crossed the room in three steps and dropped to his knees beside my bed.“I’m okay,” he said hoarsely, brushing hair from my sweaty face. “But… he’s not.”My chest tightened. “Elias?” He nodded slowly.“Self-defense,” he said. “He tried to kill me. He failed.”I swallowed. “The police?”“The Keepers handled it. Covered it like a heart attack. No trail.” My body relaxed for half a second.Then I remembered the note. And held it out to him.He read it once. Then again.And then the fire returned to his eyes..Hope was sleeping.Which meant I had maybe twenty minutes befo

Last Updated : 2025-06-27

Blocked

Regina's POVHope cooed softly in my arms, completely unaware that her entire existence had become a bargaining chip.I stared at the photo on my burner phone again.Julia Tied up with Blood on her face.Eyes wide in terror, but still alive.Barely. And that message..."Bring the child Or bury the mother." I nearly dropped the phone.Jenna, sitting across from me on the jet, saw the color drain from my face. "What is it? Regina?"I showed her. She didn't scream. Didn't cry.Just clenched her fists so tight her nails drew blood."We have to turn around," I whispered. "Now."Jenna grabbed my wrist. "No. That's exactly what he wants. You go back with Hope, you're handing him the power.""But Julia—""Wouldn't want you risking your daughter's life for hers. You know that."I stood, pacing the narrow cabin. "Then what do I do? Sit here while that monster tortures my mother? I can't, I won't!"She was quiet for a long moment. "Maybe... you don't need to go back alone."I arrived at the Ande

Last Updated : 2025-06-28

The Forgotten One

Regina's POVHe's waking up. Three words. That was all.But something about them turned my blood cold, colder than when Dan betrayed me, colder than Lloyd's insults, colder than waking up in a hospital after my coma, afraid my baby wouldn't make it.Nicholas read the message over my shoulder.And for the first time in months, I saw something I never expected in his eyes. Terror."Nicholas..." I whispered. "Who's he?"He didn't answer. Not right away.Not even as Julia gasped for air behind us, or as Mike rushed into the estate with backup like we'd just survived a hostage crisis—again.Only when the ambulance took Julia away, and I held Nicholas's hand tight enough to draw blood, did he speak."The first heir." We were alone. Sitting in the back of the van.Hope safe, Julia sedated, Mike and Jenna watching every window like assassins would crawl through them any minute. I faced Nicholas."You better start talking."He took a long breath. Then dropped a bomb."My grandfather didn't lea