All Chapters of Ties That Bind: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

PIPER’S POVRowan’s jaw ticked. “This isn’t your lane, Piper.”But at this moment, I just want to do what I want and not someone bossing me around. Maybe it was time for me to take on Diana’s advice.“Well, apparently it is now,” I countered, eyes locked on his. “Since I'm here, working like everyone else. Getting burned—literally and figuratively. So if I’m going to be used, might as well make it worth something.”Rowan stared at me. I stared right back.Max raised his hands. “Okay, wow. Married tension in HD. I’m just gonna go ahead and say, that level of chemistry? It’s gold. The press will eat it up.”“Drop it, Max,” Rowan snapped, but his voice lacked its usual bite.I didn’t miss the way his leg bounced under the table after that.But my heart was full of smiles , it’s high time I freed myself and enjoyed the moment and what I have.The rest of the meeting went by in a blur. Sales charts. Marketing slides. Projections and expansions. But none of it registered. My brain was stil

ROWAN’S POVFor a moment, I stood frozen by the door, her voice echoing louder in my mind than it had in the room."Maybe you can sleep in our room tonight."I didn’t turn immediately. I couldn't. My hand rested against the knob, cold metal grounding me against the heat creeping up the back of my neck. What the hell did she mean by that? Was she testing me? Or worse… was she starting to mean it?When I finally looked over my shoulder, Piper was already on her bed in the room, pretending to adjust her pillows like she hadn’t just cracked the atmosphere wide open. The silk robe she wore barely brushed her thighs, and her hair was a messy halo down her back, she had already covered her self but it was just her legs.Nothing about her looked calculated but everything about her felt dangerous.“I said maybe,” she added quickly without looking up. “You don’t have to act like I asked you to climb into bed with me.”I exhaled sharply, the corner of my mouth twitching. Of course, she had to

ROWAN’S POVIt was morning, I felt light as I glanced over at the bed and noticed Piper's absence, my mind raced back to the night before as I wondered what she was discussing with my father.I went into the bathroom as I quickly freshened up , I made way for the stairs as I noticed Piper seated comfortably on the dinning eating breakfast.She didn’t even glance up, I took the chair opposite hers, a maid placed a plate in front of me, and I muttered a quiet thanks without looking away from Piper.She was focused on her food, but I could see it—the faint tightness in her jaw, the way her fingers lingered a fraction too long on the fork. She was thinking about something. Hiding something.I cut into my toast, chewing slowly, though my mind wasn’t on the meal.
What exactly did my father tell you? 
Or… what did you tell him?The questions buzzed like static in my head. Ruben had a way of turning a casual conversation into a game of manipulation, and Piper… Well, she was still figuring h

ROWAN’S POVThe moment Aurora stepped in, the air thickened. She already smelt like trouble — all red dress, smoldering perfume, and that sly smile that always came before chaos.When she leaned in and pressed a kiss to my cheek, whispering, "Happy birthday, Rowan," I caught Piper’s face from the corner of my eye.
She was trying to play it cool, but I could read her too well. Her posture was rigid, her lips pressed into that polite line she used when she was hiding something. But her eyes… they were burning.Aurora followed my gaze. “Why are you looking at her like that?” she asked with a small, knowing smirk.
Piper arched a brow, her voice steady but sharp. “Why are you looking at me at all?”Aurora’s smile widened, tilting her head just slightly like a predator who’d scented blood. “Don’t worry, love. I’m just here to wish him a happy birthday. That’s all.”I cleared my throat, trying to ease the tension. “Aurora…” I warned lightly, but she wasn’t having it. 
She took a step close

PIPER’S POVI was halfway up when the question slipped out. “Why are you even back, Aurora? You’re the one who left.”She didn’t hesitate. “Because I miss him.”The words landed like a sharp sting in my chest, but I forced my face into neutrality. “That’s… interesting,” I murmured, gripping the railing a little tighter.Her eyes flickered over to me, reading me like she always seemed to do. “But you don’t have feelings for him, right? So why can’t you just let me have him?”I stopped for half a second, my heartbeat ticking louder in my ears. I turned to her, meeting her gaze head-on. “Same with you,” I said evenly. “Just that I’m married to him. So don’t you think you should leave my husband alone?”Her smile curved into something sharper. “I wouldn’t leave him, Piper. It’s just a contract marriage… and until proven otherwise, I still have a chance.”I didn’t answer right away. There was too much in her tone — confidence, challenge, and that subtle cruelty she wrapped in silk. I just