جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 30

Third person's POV The phone rang again.A second buzz, then a third, slicing through the heavy silence in Jackson Maddox’s bedroom like a blade. He lay still, his body stiff against the mattress, the same shirt from yesterday clinging to his back with sweat. He hadn’t showered. He hadn’t eaten. Sleep had only come in patches, haunted and brief.He rolled onto his side, staring at the glowing screen.Unknown Caller.His stomach knotted. He knew. Somehow, even before he answered, he knew.With a slow breath, he picked up. “Hello?”At first, only static answered. Then a voice—filtered, metallic, impossible to trace—emerged.“Jackson Maddox.”He sat up, heart thudding. “Who is this?”“You already know.” The voice was low, deliberate. “You got the pictures. That’s just the beginning.”His throat dried instantly. He could still see them in his mind: the vivid, undeniable photos of him and Liam. Kissing. Naked. Touching. Intimate in ways the world—and especially their families—weren’t supp

Third person's POV Liam said goodbye to Jackson with a kiss that lasted too long and not long enough. There was hesitation in Jackson’s eyes when they parted, like he didn’t want him to go. Like the world outside that hotel room was about to bite them both in the ass. Liam didn’t want to admit how right that feeling was. The air outside was hot, thick with heat and tension as he stepped into the bright sunlight and headed toward his car.He rolled his sleeves up, loosened his collar, and clicked the unlock button. The car beeped. As he opened the door, a cold rush spread down his spine.There, right on the passenger seat, sat a plain brown envelope.No name. No markings. Just there, bold as hell, like it belonged.He looked around immediately, his pulse going loud in his ears. The parking lot wasn’t full, but there were cars around. People walking, talking. Anyone could’ve left it there. But nobody should’ve.His hand trembled as he reached for it, heart racing now, because in hi

Third person's POV The second Liam stepped out of the restaurant, he felt the tension drag across his shoulders like an overfilled weight vest. The city hummed around him, oblivious to the conversation he’d just had. Mr. Jefferson, one of the longest-standing board members of Maddox Co-op—had looked him square in the eyes and said the words he wasn’t ready to hear:“You’re next in line to lead Maddox Co-op, Liam. Temporarily. But effectively.”The words hadn’t even cooled in the air yet. Liam couldn’t breathe under them.He climbed into his car, gripping the wheel until his knuckles were white. His thoughts were racing about Jackson, about Avery, about everything this would cost if he said yes. It wasn’t just a business decision; it was a betrayal, no matter how well Jefferson had dressed it up.He pulled out his phone.Liam: Are you still at the office?No response.He stared at the screen, waited a beat, then tucked it down and put the car in drive. Screw waiting. He needed to see

Third person's POV Liam stood in their bedroom, looking tired and frustrated. He stared at Avery for a long moment, then slowly shook his head from side to side."You're not thinking clearly right now. You need to get some sleep, please," Liam said in a gentle but firm voice.Avery let out a sharp laugh that didn't sound happy at all. She walked across the room, getting closer to where Liam stood. Her eyes were bright with anger and hurt."I am thinking clearly, Liam. I'm thinking more clearly than I have in months," she said, her voice getting stronger. "Now answer me. Answer the question you've been running away from for such a long time. Are you cheating on me? Are you having an affair with someone else?"Liam's face grew hard. He looked at her like she was being unreasonable. "I've been answering this same question over and over again ever since you started having these crazy ideas in your head. I am not cheating on you. But if you keep acting like this, if you keep accusing me o

Third person's POV In the Evening As the sun began to set and the sky turned orange and pink, Liam drove his expensive car through the busy city streets. He was heading to the hotel address that he had given to Jackson earlier that afternoon. The hotel was a tall, fancy building with bright lights and a doorman standing outside in a uniform. Liam parked his car in the hotel's parking area and walked through the large glass doors into the lobby. The inside of the hotel was very elegant, with marble floors, crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, and expensive furniture everywhere. He walked across the shiny floor to the front desk where guests check in and out. Behind the reception counter stood a very beautiful young woman. She had smooth dark skin, bright eyes, and a warm smile. She was wearing the hotel's professional uniform - a navy blue blazer and a name tag that showed she worked there. "Hi," Liam said as he approached the counter. "Good evening, sir. How ca