LOGINThe helicopter blades sliced through the night air as Roman scanned the coastline below. Searchlights swept across the dark water, illuminating nothing but empty sand and restless waves.“East sector clear,” the co-pilot reported through the headset. “No movement along the shoreline.”Roman pressed the receiver closer. “Expand the search radius. Check the cliffs and every cove.”“Copy that.”His hand remained braced against the console while his eyes searched every shadow under them. Every passing second stretched unbearably long. Each dark shape on the beach made his pulse spike before dissolving into nothing.His personal phone vibrated in his pocket, but he ignored it.A moment later, it vibrated again. Roman frowned and pulled it out to find Leo’s name glowing across the screen.A crease formed between Roman’s brows. Leo wouldn’t call him randomly. And he hadn’t spoken to him since he left Trevinia. The only calls he’d made were to Theon and Finn, the cybersecurity specialist resp
Evelyn was deep asleep.The name Avery, Lena's warning, Roman's desperate pleas—all of it faded into the dark. The weight of the day pulled her under until she was floating in a dreamless void.Then someone grabbed her shoulders.“Evelyn. Evelyn!”She stirred, her brow creasing.The voice sounded urgent and familiar. “Evelyn, wake up!”Her eyes fluttered open.Lena hovered over her, tears streaming down her face. Her lips were moving, but Evelyn’s mind was still clouded with sleep. She blinked several times, trying to make sense of what she was seeing.“Lena… what’s wrong?”Lena struggled to steady her breathing. “It’s Noah… he’s… he’s gone.”Evelyn stared at her. The words refused to register.She was still wrapped in the warmth of the duvet, her thoughts moving far too slowly.“…What?”Lena shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. “Mrs. Chen took him for a walk. I only looked away for a few minutes… and when I turned back…” her voice gave way. “They were gone.”Every trace of
WARNING: R–RATED SCENE 18+; STEAMY SCENE AHEAD.Roman didn’t answer. His gaze drifted to her lips before returning to her eyes. His thumb traced the curve of her jaw with reverence, afraid that if he looked away for even a second, she might disappear.“Evelyn.” He muttered under his breath. “I can’t lose you.”She opened her mouth to speak, but he rested a finger against her lips before a single word could escape.“Don’t.” His eyes searched hers in desperation. “Just let me hold you tonight. Let me know you’re still with me.”Evelyn could hear the crack in his voice. “Roman…”He kissed her before she could finish. Every touch of his lips felt like a silent confession, as if he was pouring everything he couldn’t bring himself to say into that single kiss.Evelyn’s fingers slipped into his hair, grounding her self in the kisses.When he finally drew back, he rested his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. “Tell me you’re mine.”“Roman—”“Please.”She cupped his face, her palms war
The voices downstairs grew louder as Evelyn and Lena made their way down the staircase.A security guard stood at the entrance with one arm raised, trying to block the man before him. Another lingered behind him, looking completely at a loss.Standing in the middle of the commotion was Roman.His coat was wrinkled, his usually immaculate hair was in disarray, and the exhaustion on his face was impossible to ignore. Dark shadows rested beneath his eyes, making him look as though he hadn’t slept in days.Evelyn slowed to a stop. “Roman?”The moment he heard her voice, he brushed past the security guard without another glance and crossed the room in long, hurried strides.Before Evelyn could react, he pulled her into his embrace.His arms wrapped tightly around her waist, holding her with a desperation that caught her completely off guard. His face disappeared into her hair as he drew a deep, uneven breath, as though having her in his arms was enough to steady him.Evelyn stood there in
The darkness was thick and suffocating.Roman stood in the middle of a white cold room. The smell of antiseptic burned his nostrils.A woman sat on a metal chair in the center, crying. Her hands were bound, with her dark hair spilling all over her face."Please… help me…" her voice echoed off the walls. "I'm in pain…"Roman tried to move, but his feet wouldn't obey. "My daughter…"He heard his own voice, strong and clear. "She's disrupting the process."He wasn't saying it, but it was his voice.A man stepped out of the shadows. Roman couldn't see his face, he only saw the outline of his frame. "Catherine, I own you. You can't escape from me. You're mine forever."The woman lifted her head.Roman saw her face clearly for the first time. Catherine Hayes stared at him through tears."Evelyn…" she whispered. "My Evelyn…" her eyes locked onto Roman. "You knew."Roman tried to speak, but no words came out."You knew and you did nothing." Her voice cracked. "You let me die. You killed ME!”
Roman lifted the lid.Nestled inside the faded velvet lining lay a deep red ruby pendant. Even under the bedroom’s warm lighting, the gemstone seemed to trap every strand of light, glowing like a dying ember hidden beneath ash.Everything inside him stopped.He reached toward it almost unconsciously, his fingertips brushing across the cold surface before lifting it from the box.“…No.”The faint smile on his face vanished. ‘It couldn’t be. It wasn’t possible.’Roman remained rooted to the spot. The pendant suspended between his fingers as countless memories crashed through his mind.Every choice he had made. Every secret he had buried. Everything he had convinced himself was safely locked away.His breathing grew uneven. “How… how did this end up here?”His thoughts scattered in every direction.Unable to trust his own eyes, he lowered his gaze to the ruby once more, turning it over carefully. The familiar weight, the tiny imperfection near its edge, the pale gold chain woven through
Evelyn couldn't believe what she was seeing. Parked beyond the soft glow of the runway lights was an enormous, gleaming private jet. Its silver body reflected the night sky like polished glass, faint golden lines tracing along its sleek length. The stairs were lowered, each step lit with a gentle
“Stay put,” Roman said.Evelyn didn’t move. She sat stiffly on the edge of the bed, trying not to look at the spots where her skin still burned. Every time she shifted, her palm throbbed, and the sting along her side and thighs flared like a warning.Roman walked out.For a few seconds, the room fe
Evelyn woke to bright light spilling through the curtains.For a while, her brain refused to work. Everything felt thick and slow, like she was underwater. Her body was heavy. Even lifting her fingers felt like effort.She blinked again.‘Where am I…?’Her head ached dully. She tried to sit up, but
“ROMAN!” Evelyn cried out, her voice cracking with fear.Mrs. Chen and Mrs. Hartwell rushed into the kitchen the moment they heard her scream.“Oh my God!”Mrs. Chen’s face drained of color as she saw Roman on the floor. She spun to Mrs. Hartwell immediately.“Quickly—call an ambulance!”Then she d







