Lexi “So…” Elise began cautiously, breaking the silence. “Are you going to keep the baby?” “Of course,” I finally said, my voice firm. “I can’t afford to hurt my baby.” Elise nodded, her eyes soft with understanding. “It’s a lot to take in, Lexi. You’re dealing with so much already.” My jaw tightened. “I know. But one thing’s for sure—Julian will never know about this baby. He doesn’t deserve to.” Elise frowned, tilting her head. “Are you sure about that? I mean, it’s his child too, Lexi. Don’t you think—” “No,” I snapped, cutting her off. “He’s been living with Alexa, thinking she’s me, trusting her, loving her. He couldn’t even tell the difference between us, Elise. That’s unforgivable. He lost the right to know anything about me or this baby.” Elise leaned back, studying me carefully. “Alright,” she said finally, her tone careful. “But what’s your plan, then? You can’t hide forever, Lexi. If you’re going to take your life back, you need to figure out how to get to the pentho
Lexi I leaned back in my chair, my hands clenched into fists. “We’re getting closer, Elise. I can feel it.” Elise nodded, though her expression was cautious. “We are. But we need to be careful, Lexi. Carla isn’t the only enemy we’re up against. Alexa, Catherine… they’re all working against you.” “Let them,” I said fiercely. “I’ve been hiding for too long, Elise. It’s time for them to see what I’m capable of.” Elise smiled faintly, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Just promise me one thing, Lexi.” “What?” “Don’t lose yourself in the process. Revenge can be a dangerous thing.” I didn’t respond, because deep down, I wasn’t sure I could keep that promise. Catherine I sat in the sterile room, the walls around me a dull shade of white. The asylum was quiet, the only sound the faint hum of fluorescent lights above. The door creaked open, and I looked up, expecting another nurse or doctor. But when I saw who it was, my heart stopped. Lexi. The asylum was surrounded by tall
Lexi paced the length of Elise’s living room, her mind racing. The plan was coming together, but every step forward felt like walking a tightrope. She had managed to stay hidden this long, but one wrong move could bring everything crashing down. Elise leaned against the kitchen counter, her arms crossed. “You’ve been pacing for ten minutes, Lexi. Sit down before you wear a hole in my floor.” Lexi stopped mid-stride, running a hand through her auburn hair. “I can’t help it. There’s too much riding on this.” Elise softened her tone. “I get it, but we’ve got a plan now. Daniel’s finding Carla. Once we know where she is, we can use her to get back to the penthouse and expose Alexa.” Lexi dropped onto the couch, exhaling sharply. “It’s not just that. It’s…” She hesitated, her voice dropping. “It’s Julian. He’s so blind to all of this. I can’t decide if I’m angry or hurt.” Elise grabbed two mugs of tea from the counter and handed one to Lexi. “Both are valid. But you need to focus. Ju
Elise Watching Lexi prepare for this plan was like witnessing someone light a fuse and wait for the explosion. She was determined, fierce—but there was this sadness in her eyes that she refused to show. “Are you ready for this?” I asked, leaning against the hotel dresser. Lexi didn’t look at me right away. Instead, she stared into the mirror, adjusting the black jacket she’d put on. “Ready? No. But I don’t have a choice, do I?” I walked over, placing a hand on her shoulder. “You do have a choice, Lex. You always have a choice. You don’t have to go in there alone.” She turned to me, her hazel eyes blazing. “I appreciate you, Elise. I really do. But this is something I need to do myself. Alexa took everything from me—my life, my identity, my trust. I have to be the one to take it back.” “And Julian?” I asked cautiously. “What happens if he’s there? If he tries to stop you?” Her face hardened, but there was this flicker of pain in her voice when she answered. “Julian made his choi
Elise My breath caught in my throat as Julian stepped into the room, his eyes locked on Lexi—the real Lexi. For a moment, everything froze. Alexa’s eyes flickered with panic, but Lexi was calm, steady, unshaken. Then Julian’s gaze snapped between the two of them, his confusion evident in the way his brow furrowed, and his mouth parted as if he couldn’t process what was happening. “What’s going on here?” Julian’s voice trembled slightly, filled with disbelief. He glanced from Lexi to Alexa, his eyes narrowing as he tried to make sense of the scene unfolding before him. Alexa took a step forward, her voice turning desperate. “Julian, don’t listen to her. She’s lying to you. She’s just trying to ruin everything.” But Julian didn’t look at Alexa anymore. His eyes were fixed on Lexi, his confusion deepening. “What… what is this?” His voice cracked, the weight of realization dawning on him. “How are you… you’re not…?” “Don’t tell me you didn’t notice,” Lexi shot back, her voice bitin
Julian I stepped outside, my mind spinning so fast it felt like I might lose my balance. The cold night air barely registered—I could still hear Lexi’s voice in my head, still see her standing there, her hazel eyes burning with anger and something else. Something deeper. Something real. But how? How had I not seen it? How had I spent months with someone who wasn’t even her? A hand touched my arm, and I turned sharply, my body still tense from the confrontation. Elise stood beside me, watching me closely. “I figured you might need a minute,” she said. I exhaled sharply. “A minute? Try a lifetime. None of this makes any damn sense, Elise.” I ran a hand through my hair, my pulse hammering against my skull. “I was living with a stranger, Elise. A stranger who looked exactly like Lexi, talked like her, acted like her. And I had no idea.” Elise let out a slow breath. “That’s the thing about deception, Julian. It’s easy to believe what you want to believe. She played the part perfect
Julian I walked the hallway outside Lexi’s room, my mind racing. Elise sat nearby, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Neither of us spoke for a while. “She’ll be okay,” Elise finally said, her voice softer than usual. I dragged a hand through my hair, frustration clawing at my insides. “She shouldn’t have to be okay. This shouldn’t have happened in the first place.” Elise sighed. “We both know that’s not how life works.” I clenched my jaw, my fists tightening. Alexa had been right under my nose, pretending to be Lexi, and I hadn’t seen it. I had trusted her. I had lived with her. And now Lexi was lying in that hospital bed because of my blindness. Without another word, I turned on my heel and stalked down the hall. “Where are you going?” Elise called after me. I didn’t stop walking. “To end this.” Julian The fluorescent lights of the asylum buzzed faintly overhead, casting a sickly glow on the white walls. The air smelled like antiseptic and something stale—something
Lexi The world felt heavy. My body ached, my mind foggy as I forced my eyes open. A dull beeping echoed in my ears, the sterile scent of antiseptic filling my lungs. The hospital. I was still alive. But then I saw her. Alexa. She stood near my bed, one hand idly playing with the oxygen tube beside me, her golden eyes gleaming with something twisted—something cruel. I tried to move. Tried to scream. Nothing. My throat was raw, my limbs weak, my voice trapped in my body. Alexa smirked, tilting her head. “You just won’t die, will you?” she mused. Panic shot through me. My heart pounded against my ribs as I struggled to move, but my muscles wouldn’t cooperate. Alexa traced her fingers along the oxygen tube, twisting it slightly. Not enough to cut off my air—but enough to make her point. “You should’ve stayed dead,” she whispered. “Do you know how easy it would be for me to finish this right now?” I willed my body to move. To do something. She leaned in, her breath brushing a
Elixir’s POV The night stretched endlessly before me, dark and intoxicating. A storm lingered in the air, the scent of rain mixing with the ocean breeze that drifted through the open balcony doors. The world outside my estate was quiet, too quiet, but that only made the pulse of my own thoughts louder, clearer. I had always preferred the night. It was in the darkness that true power thrived, where people’s worst fears came to life, where shadows whispered secrets that daylight tried to bury. The night had always belonged to me, just as much as it had once belonged to Alexa my sister. But Alexa had been weak. Impetuous. Too desperate for vengeance, too obsessed with proving herself. And that desperation had been her downfall. A smirk curled my lips as I shifted the weight in my arms, glancing down at the tiny figure wrapped in a soft white blanket. My daughter stirred, a soft whimper escaping her lips as her small hands reached for something unseen. I watched her, my heart tigh
Lexi’s POVI wasn’t sure why I kept coming back.Maybe it was guilt. Maybe it was curiosity. Or maybe it was because a part of me, despite everything, still wanted to believe Kayla could be saved.But with each visit, that hope faded a little more.The clinic was quiet, the kind of quiet that felt heavy rather than peaceful. It had the sterile scent of disinfectant mixed with something unplaceable—something that made my stomach turn every time I walked through the doors.Kayla’s room was at the end of the hall, tucked away from the others. A nurse nodded at me as I approached, her expression unreadable. I wasn’t family. I wasn’t even a friend. But no one ever questioned why I was here.Maybe they saw the hesitation in my steps, the wariness in my eyes. Maybe they knew that whatever had brought me to Kayla wasn’t simple.I stepped inside, my breath catching in my throat.She was by the window again.She always was.Her hair, once meticulously styled, was now unkempt, strands falling in
Lexi’s pov The night was a blur of toasts, laughter, and stolen glances between Julian and me. Friends and family gathered, congratulating us, offering their blessings. Even Alexander, dressed in the tiniest little tuxedo, was passed around like royalty.And through it all, Julian never left my side.When the night was winding down, and it was just the two of us again, he pulled me into his arms, resting his forehead against mine.“Ready to be my wife?” he asked, his voice low.I smiled, my fingers threading through his hair. “I was ready the moment I fell in love with you.”His kiss was slow, deliberate. Full of promises.Promises I knew he’d keep.The WeddingJulian didn’t just plan a wedding. He orchestrated an event.It was extravagant, breathtaking, and absolutely perfect. Every single detail was meticulously arranged, from the grand venue to the candlelit pathways that led to our vows.The ceremony took place in a private estate overlooking the ocean. White roses lined the aisl
Lexi’s POVThe night Julian proposed, I barely slept. Not because I was restless or uncertain, but because every time I closed my eyes, I replayed the moment over and over again. The way he looked at me. The certainty in his voice. The way his hands trembled just slightly when he slipped the ring onto my finger, as if this was the one thing in his life that truly mattered.I spent the rest of the night lying in his arms, listening to the steady rhythm of his breathing, feeling the warmth of his body against mine. It felt like a dream—one of those rare, beautiful ones that you never want to wake up from.But it was real.I was engaged to Julian Blackwood.When morning came, the first thing I saw was the ring. The delicate diamond glinted in the soft sunlight, a quiet reminder of everything that had changed. My heart clenched with something fierce and overwhelming.I turned my head, finding Julian already awake, watching me.“Morning, fiancé,” he murmured, his voice still laced with sle
Julian’s POVI had never been a man of grand gestures. My world had always been one of precision, control, and ruthless efficiency. Sentiment had no place in my life—until Lexi.She changed everything.She softened the edges of a man who had never known tenderness. She made me want things I never thought I could have. A family. A home. A future.And now, I was going to make sure she was mine forever.I had planned every detail of this night with the same meticulous care I applied to everything in my life. Nothing was left to chance. Lexi deserved the perfect moment, and I would give it to her.When the evening arrived, I found her in the bedroom, getting ready. She stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her earrings, completely unaware of what was coming.“You look breathtaking,” I murmured, stepping behind her.She smiled at me through the mirror. “You’re being suspiciously charming tonight.”I smirked, running my hands down her arms before pressing a kiss to her bare shoulder. “May
Julian’s POVThe moment I stepped into our penthouse, I knew Lexi was waiting. The tension in my shoulders eased just slightly at the sight of her sitting on the couch, Alexander cradled in her arms. She looked up as soon as I entered, her gaze scanning my face for answers.She knew.“Julian,” she murmured, her voice softer than I expected. “You’re back.”I walked over, leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead before glancing at my son. He was asleep, his tiny chest rising and falling peacefully.“It’s done,” I said simply.Lexi’s expression faltered. “Victor?”I met her eyes. She already knew the answer, but she still wanted to hear it.“He didn’t make it.”She swallowed, nodding slowly. “I figured.” There was no sorrow, not really. Just an understanding. A quiet acceptance. “I guess he was too far gone, huh?”“He made his choice.” My voice was calm, absolute. “And he paid for it.”Lexi sighed, adjusting Alexander in her arms. “It’s just… a shame, that’s all.”“He would’ve never
Julian’s POVI should’ve seen it sooner.The missing shipments. The subtle miscalculations. The way the enemy always seemed one step ahead.And now, the fire. The attack. The taunting video.All of it led back to one man.Victor Hale.I stood in my office, my fingers curling into fists as Henry laid the last piece of evidence on my desk—a bank transaction, large sums funneled into an offshore account.Victor’s account.My closest men stood around me, their faces hard, waiting for my command.Henry exhaled sharply. “He’s been working against you for months, Julian. He didn’t just steal from you. He fed intel to your enemies. He gave them access. He—”“Where is he?” I cut in, my voice like steel.Henry’s eyes darkened. “We tracked him to a private safe house. He thinks he’s covered his tracks.”“He thinks wrong.”I grabbed my gun.Tonight, this endsJulian’s POVThe moment I stepped into Victor’s so-called safe house, I felt nothing but cold fury.He sat there, comfortably swirling a gl
Julian’s POVThe air was thick with tension. I sat in the backseat of my car, fingers tapping against my knee as Henry drove. The city lights blurred past, but my mind was razor-sharp.We had a lead.A warehouse worker had come forward—nervous, fidgety, but alive. He had information, something about missing shipments and seeing people he shouldn’t have.We were on our way to meet him.Henry’s grip on the wheel was tight. “Something about this feels off.”I nodded. It did. Too easy. Too convenient. But I wasn’t about to ignore it.The moment we pulled up to the meeting point—a rundown building near the docks—I knew.We were too late.The smell of blood hit first. Then, the sight.The worker was slumped against the wall, a bullet hole clean through his skull. A message carved into his chest with something sharp.“Too slow.”My jaw clenched. Whoever was behind this wasn’t just covering their tracks—they were taunting me.Henry crouched down, checking the body. “Still warm.”I turned to m
Julian’s POVI sat in my office, fingers steepled, staring at the whiskey in my glass. It was untouched. I wasn’t in the mood for it. Not when my mind was sharp, dissecting every possible angle of this betrayal.A single thief? No. That would’ve been too simple. Too careless.There was something bigger at play.Henry walked in, his usual calm demeanor slightly strained. I knew him well enough to recognize when something didn’t sit right with him.“What did you find?” I asked.He set a file on my desk. “It wasn’t just him.”I already knew that, but hearing it confirmed sent a slow burn through my chest.“Go on,” I said evenly.Henry opened the file, revealing documents, security logs, and numbers that didn’t match up.“We’ve been missing shipments for months,” he said. “Small amounts. A bar here, a bar there. Nothing too obvious. But it adds up.”I flipped through the pages. The calculations were clear—whoever was behind this had been careful. They knew how to move just enough to avoid