Chapter 209 Chapter 209: “Sleep well, Phoenix,” he whispered. Aurora walked into the lobby, her legs feeling unsteady. She felt safe. For the first time in weeks, the cold didn’t reach her bones. Inside the car, the warmth vanished the second the door closed. Elias picked up his phone. “Graves,”
Chapter 208 Chapter 208: “They can look,” Elias whispered into her hair. “But they can’t touch.” They stood there for a long moment, an island of heat in a frozen city. Five miles away, in the opulent silence of the Reed Mansion, there were no fireworks. Seven-year-old Noah Reed sat
Chapter 207 Chapter 207: The door of the lead SUV flew open. A figure jumped out. He was wearing a long, dark wool trench coat that billowed behind him like a cape. He didn’t duck his head. He didn’t run. He walked through the chaotic wind with a terrifying, singular
Chapter 206 Chapter 206: Aurora caught Vivian’s wrist. Her grip was iron. She held Vivian’s hand inches from her chest. Vivian froze. The fake concern vanished, replaced by a flash of genuine fear. “Your act is slipping, Vivian,” Aurora whispered. Her voice was low, barely a breath over the wind,
Chapter 205 Chapter 205: He didn’t nod back. He didn’t smile. He turned his back on her. It was a deliberate, physical rejection. A wall of black tuxedo wool presented to her face. He leaned in to the mogul, laughing louder than before, effectively erasing her existence. The sting was
Chapter 204 Chapter 204: The change in the room was instantaneous. It wasn’t a sound or a movement; it was a shift in atmospheric pressure. The terrifying, cold focus that Elias projected evaporated, replaced by something softer, something human. The corner of his mouth twitched, threatening a smile. Beatrice Thorne,
Chapter 203 Chapter 203: She pulled it out. It was a text from an unknown number. But she knew who it was. Get some rest. The war starts tomorrow. Aurora stared at the screen. A small, tired smile touched her lips. He always knew. He was watching. She typed a
Chapter 202 Chapter 202: “You’re right, Aunt Eleanor,” Aurora said, feigning submissiveness. “I should go.” She walked past Eleanor. As she turned the corner, her face hardened. The mask of the sad cousin vanished, replaced by the mask of the avenger. She had the proof. Now she needed the executioner.
Chapter 201 Chapter 201: Aurora locked the door behind her. She looked up at the camera lens in the corner. She didn’t block it. She simply tapped her earlobe twice—a signal she knew Elias would understand. He was watching. He would loop the feed. She approached the bed. “Sorry, Julian,”
Chapter 50 October—39 Weeks, 5 Days The National Maternity Hospital was supposed to be the calm, serene, spa-like sanctuary I’d envisioned when I booked the private suite months ago. Instead—it’s literal hell. I’m in agony. Real, biblical, kill-me-now kind of agony. ‘You’re doing amazing, sweetheart,’ Cole murmurs, dabbing my forehead
Chapter 49 A week after the fire, I’m finally home. Home. The word hits differently now. Not my penthouse in Ballsbridge. Not the Beckett mansion where I grew up. Cole’s house in Skerries. Or, our house, I should say. Sunlight spills through the glass as the sea crashes below the
Chapter 48 My lungs burn. The air tastes like chemicals and hell. Smoke coils through my office in thick grey ribbons, writhing across the ceiling, curling down the walls, creeping closer by the second. The heat presses against my skin in heavy waves, like someone’s opened an oven door and
Chapter 47 It seemed pointless rushing home when Zara was meeting a client after hours, which is why I’m at my office at the new Hartmann Hotel. I let Belle clock off for the day. She’s enjoying our stay in Dublin, taking in the sights after work each evening—especially the
Chapter 46 Ugh! He hasn’t spoken to me since he found out I’m with Cole. What the hell does he want now? I’m not in the mood for one of his lectures. I cancel the call and resume typing my message to Cole. Immediately, it rings again. Killian. I freeze.
Chapter 45 The summer sun beats through the floor-to-ceiling triple-glazed windows at Beckett Deluxe Design Agency. I wish to God I was on annual leave. I’m swelteringly hot. I feel enormous. My ankles are starting to swell like an elephant. And turns out baby brain is a real thing. Yesterday,
Chapter 44 It’s been two weeks since I officially met the Fockers—I mean, the Becketts. It’s also been two weeks since any of them called to visit their sister, bar Rian. In fairness to Sean, he’s out of the country on business, but the others have no excuse. The Beckett
Chapter 43 ‘So where did you two lovebirds meet?’ Killian drawls sarcastically, striding closer to tower over us. Rian drops into one of the other couches and motions for Rebekka to join him. Scarlett sits beside me, and James lowers himself into the space beside her. Slowly, one by one,
Chapter 42 ‘Wait outside until Zara is well enough for this conversation.’ I eye each of the Beckett brothers in turn, coldly. They’re vibrating with anger. James’s jaw is clenched so hard he’s liable to need emergency dental treatment. Caelon’s frown lines have aged him by ten years. Killian’s eyes
Chapter 41 My mouth drops open. Cole gasps, looking like he’s choking on air. ‘A… girl?’ I blink, staring at the screen as if I’ve misheard. ‘A girl,’ she confirms. ‘A very healthy little girl—strong like her mama.’ Dr Kensington beams at me. Cole’s jaw actually drops. ‘Wow,’ I whisper,
Chapter 40 ‘Are you excited?’ I turn to Cole as he takes my hand and lifts it to his lips. We’re sitting in the back of the SUV with Tate, outside Dr Kensington’s clinic. It’s in an old Georgian house on a narrow, quiet street on the outskirts of the