LOGINRachel POV
Leo stood in the doorway, barely awake, his pajamas wrinkled and his hair sticking up in every direction. Tears were already dripping down his face, but he didn't move-just stood there and cried."Leo," I breathed, my voice breaking.For a moment, we just stared at each other.He had bandages on his arms. A bruise darkening his cheek. His eyes were red and swollen like he'd been crying for days.But he was standing. He was alive. He'd survived the fall.MyRachel POV Leo stood in the doorway, barely awake, his pajamas wrinkled and his hair sticking up in every direction. Tears were already dripping down his face, but he didn't move-just stood there and cried."Leo," I breathed, my voice breaking.For a moment, we just stared at each other.He had bandages on his arms. A bruise darkening his cheek. His eyes were red and swollen like he'd been crying for days.But he was standing. He was alive. He'd survived the fall.My vision blurred with tears."Mama?" His voice was so small and broken. "I'm here, baby," I whispered. "I'm here."That broke him.He stumbled forward to my bed, throwing his arms around me and hugging me so tightly I winced at the pressure against my injuries.But I didn't care.I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him close, burying my face in his hair."I'm so glad you're well. I'm so glad you're safe," I muttered into his hair as he wept into my neck; loud, unbo
Rachel POVI woke up to the car slowing down.I blinked, tired and dizzy. Sleeping on the way hadn't helped my exhaustion at all. I realized I had slept on Damien's shoulder.We had left the compound early in the morning before dawn broke.And now we were parked in front of an unfamiliar place."Where are we?" I asked. "This isn't the manor."Alessandro spoke from the passenger seat. Vance was driving."This is a safe house. You and the kids will be here for now. It's isolated from the city and safe," he answered, glancing at me.I blinked slowly. "Wait. Are you saying I'm going to be cut off from everyone?""Just for a short time, Rachel. Until this is handled," Damien said quietly from beside me.I didn't respond. I averted my gaze, and that gave him the hint to open the door and help me out of the car carefully, his hand steadying me.There was another car behind us, and Mark and another guard walked out.I stared at the new home ah
Rachel POVIt was already getting dark and I was hungry.I tried to ignore it as I walked beside Mark in the darkening woods, tired.We continued walking until I noticed a small puddle of water and walked to it, washing my face.Mark stopped in his tracks before sitting down, exhausted. "We can stop here."I nodded as I splashed water on my face to wash off the exhaustion.I sighed, confused, as I stared at my rough reflection in the water.What am I doing?I wondered, glancing at Mark who was resting his eyes against the tree.If I was to leave Damien, where would I even go?I'm not even thinking straight.I sighed, my face in a deep frown.Why is Marcus doing this?That was the question. I bit my lips, more confused. I needed to know his motivation. Maybe I could talk to him.He won't kill me.He cares about me.I wasn't so sure.Nothing was fair. I was stuck between two sides and now dragging Mark with me into possibly betraying Damien."Are you okay?"Mark's voice snapped me out o
Damien POVI wasn't concentrating on the sounds of fighting and gunshots as Alessandro and I ran up the stairs. Lorenzo stayed below, coordinating the assault."Rachel!" I called out, hoping she would appear.Nothing.My jaw tightened.Where is she?I can't lose her. I have to keep my promise to Leo."Look at what we have here," Alessandro's voice called out.I followed and entered the room.Alessandro stood over a woman-bleeding from both legs, shoulder wound. She was on the floor, trying to drag herself forward with her arms. Blood smeared everywhere.Jane.Her face was red, streaked with mascara and tears. Eyes wild.I didn't waste time. I stepped on her wounded shoulder.She screamed."Where is my wife?!"She looked up at me, face twisted in rage and pain."THAT BITCH!" she shrieked. "That bitch DID THIS TO ME!"I frowned, confused.Alessandro crouched down. "Who did what?""HER!" Jane screamed, spit flying. "Mrs. Montrel! She SHOT me! She-she-"She dissolved into sobs."I had her
Rachel POVMark dragged me out of the room, running urgently as the alarm rang in our ears.I tried to keep up as much as I could. I could hear frantic sounds all around us-footsteps, shouting, doors slamming.Mark pulled out the radio, keeping the volume low as he pushed me into a corner to hide.Static crackled. Then voices:"Top floor clear.""Check the storage units and vents.""She couldn't have gotten far."Mark pulled me forward again. "We need to move fast. They'll check down here soon."I nodded frantically.Then-gunshots. A scream that made me shiver."What was that?" I whispered, trying to keep pace."Ignore it," Mark said. "Just keep moving."We kept running. Down another hallway. Around another corner.Then we stopped.A guard stood there. Jane was with him, speaking urgently into a radio.The guard saw us and raised his weapon."There!" he shouted, speaking to the radio. "She in the-"Mark's gun came up to silence him at onceBut Jane was faster.She raised her gun and s
Rachel POVI couldn't stop crying, tears streaming down my face.Mark tried to pull me to my feet, his face a mix of urgency and sadness."Rachel, we have to move," Mark said. "Right now. We can't be here for too long.""My brother tried to hurt me," I sniffled. "No-he did hurt me. Marcus-""I know, but we need to move. Please. He's going to see the empty room any time soon, and when he does, this entire building will be looking for us." His voice was firm, but his eyes softened. "We need to contact the boss and get out."I stared at him, my eyes blurry, confused and lost. "What if I don't want to go to Damien?""What?!" Mark's eyes widened."If I go, Damien will know Marcus is my brother and he'll hurt him. Or kill him. I don't want him hurt. I can-I can go and meet Marcus now and talk to him. Maybe it's all a misunderstanding. Maybe Marcus will hold me and apologize and stop this-""Rachel," Mark said softly, crouching in front of me. "I don't know your brother. But I do know he's t
Damien POVI stood from her bed, the movement abrupt. I needed to put physical distance between myself and the vulnerability clinging to the air like a ghost.I had become acutely conscious of our proximity—how the scene might look to an outsider, even if it had been a simple moment of co
Damien POV He was barely conscious, his face a bloody pulp, one arm hanging uselessly. But in his other hand, held with trembling, unwavering determination, was his smoking gun. For a moment, everything was frozen. The echo of the shot faded into a ringing silence. T
Damien POVI pushed open the white door to Leo’s room, my eyes needing a moment to adjust to the vibrant chaos of colour. A stark contrast to the rest of my manor.Leo was seated on a small stool, arms crossed in a defiant pout. “No bandage till Papa is here.”A frustrated sigh c
Rachel POV The big lecture hall was already filling up by the time I slipped inside. Students shuffled into their seats one by one, chatting, laughing, living their normal lives. Meanwhile, I was still dying inside from Eli’s rejection. My cheeks burned with the memo







