Victor Kane might have buried Julian Grey, but shadows of his past continued to haunt him, slipping through the cracks of his otherwise carefully guarded mind. Despite all the wealth, power, and success he’d amassed under his new identity, there were moments—quiet, intrusive moments—when memories of happier times with Eva and Ethan invaded his thoughts, stirring an ache he couldn't ignore.Late at night, as he sat alone in his penthouse, overlooking the glittering city skyline, Victor found himself drifting back to a time when life had been simpler, filled with hope and love. He could still remember the laughter, the camaraderie, the moments when the three of them had felt like family. Eva’s smile, the way her eyes sparkled when she looked at him with love and admiration. Ethan’s loyal support, the way he’d always been there to lift Julian up during the hard times, like a brother.They had once been the people who meant everything to him. Now they were his enemies.Victor clenched his
Victor Kane had never been one for idle conversation, especially with journalists. They were often prying, opportunistic, and far too eager to dig into matters that didn’t concern them. So when he first encountered Madeline Sinclair—a fiery, ambitious journalist whose work was gaining rapid attention—he instinctively braced himself, ready to fend off the questions he knew would come. Yet, as she approached him, he found himself intrigued in spite of himself.The setting was a high-profile corporate event, one Victor had reluctantly attended to keep up appearances. The grand ballroom was buzzing with influential people, all vying for attention and eager to network. Victor was used to these scenes, the superficial smiles, the empty handshakes, and the way everyone hid their true intentions behind polite conversations. He had nearly managed to slip away when he noticed her.Madeline Sinclair. He’d seen her name in the press, known for her hard-hitting articles on corporate malfeasance an
The sun was beginning to set over the city skyline, casting long shadows across the glass windows of the high-rise office that Julian Grey occupied. At 29, Julian had already achieved what most people could only dream of—a promising career as a lawyer at his father’s prestigious law firm, a fiancé who seemed to be his perfect match, and a best friend who had been with him through thick and thin. Life, in Julian’s eyes, was as perfect as it could be.His fiancée, Eva Carter, stood beside him in the office as they looked out over the city below. She was everything Julian had ever wanted—intelligent, beautiful, and from a family that had the same social standing as his. Their engagement had been the talk of the town, a symbol of their bright futures together. Her smile was radiant, a reflection of the life they were building, a life that seemed destined for greatness.“I can’t believe we’re finally here, Julian,” Eva said, her voice soft with excitement. “Your father’s law firm is going
It started with something small—a missed text message on Eva's phone. It was just a glance as he reached for his jacket, a moment of curiosity he would later regret. But what Julian didn’t know was that this single, innocent moment would shatter the world he had spent years building.Eva’s phone buzzed on the kitchen counter, the screen lighting up with a name Julian knew all too well: Ethan Brooks. He wasn’t the type to snoop—he trusted Eva implicitly. But there was something in the way her smile faded when she picked up the phone, something in her eyes that made Julian pause. She had always been open with him, always. So why was she hiding this? He couldn’t help it. He picked up the phone, not with the intent to invade her privacy, but out of a gnawing feeling he couldn’t explain.The message was brief. A simple, almost innocent exchange at first glance:Ethan: "You up for tonight?"But it was the second message that froze Julian in place:Ethan: "Can’t wait to see you, baby. It’s b
The sun had barely risen, but Julian was already standing at the doorstep of his apartment, his fists clenched by his sides. His mind was a whirlwind of emotions—hurt, betrayal, and a deep, burning anger that he couldn’t suppress. Every part of him screamed to walk away, to leave the destruction of his life behind, but there was one thing he needed more than anything: answers. He had to hear it from their lips. He needed to confront them, face to face, and hear the truth.He had already made his decision. There would be no more running. No more silence. He had been broken, yes, but he would be damned if he let them destroy him without facing them head-on.Julian pushed open the door with a force that echoed through the quiet apartment. Inside, the space was still, and the sunlight that filtered in through the large windows cast an almost haunting glow over everything. It should have been peaceful, but it felt suffocating. Eva was sitting on the couch, sipping a cup of coffee, her expr
Julian had barely slept since the confrontation. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Eva’s tear-streaked face, heard Ethan’s empty apologies. But it wasn’t just the betrayal of trust that kept him awake—it was the realization that they hadn’t just hurt him emotionally. They had orchestrated a conspiracy, a plot to take everything from him, and it was something Julian had never expected to face.He had spent years working alongside his father to build the law firm, a legacy that had been passed down through generations. It was his future, his inheritance, his birthright. But now, with the weight of their betrayal settling in, Julian began to see the full picture. His father’s firm wasn’t just a symbol of his success—it was the target of an elaborate scheme that Eva and Ethan had planned all along.He sat in his office late one night, the dim light from his desk lamp casting long shadows over the piles of papers in front of him. His mind was racing as he sifted through documents, cont
Julian stood in the middle of his penthouse, the city lights casting a cold glow through the floor-to-ceiling windows. His empire, everything he had worked for, felt like it was slipping through his fingers. The papers on his desk were scattered with the remnants of his former life—contracts, legal briefs, the blueprints for what should have been his future. But it all felt hollow now.The truth was clear: the moment he had discovered Eva and Ethan’s betrayal, his life had ceased to have any real meaning. He had built everything on the belief that trust, love, and loyalty mattered, but now, all of it felt like a lie.Eva was gone. Ethan had betrayed him, taken everything he cared about. The law firm—his father’s legacy—was in their hands, and he had no power left to stop them.There was only one thing left to do.He couldn’t stay in a world that had once felt like home, now shattered beyond recognition. The betrayal had hollowed him out, and the only way forward was to sever all ties,
Julian sat alone in his private office, the city lights casting long shadows across the room. The weight of everything—the betrayal, the humiliation, the crumbling of his empire—had become unbearable. He stared at the documents in front of him, the very same papers that had once held his future, his legacy, his dreams. They now seemed irrelevant, like the remnants of someone else’s life.The law firm was gone. His social standing was shattered. Eva and Ethan, the two people he had trusted more than anyone in the world, had stripped him of everything he held dear. The world he once belonged to—his career, his reputation, his relationship—was slipping away, piece by piece.The pain was almost too much to bear, the hurt too raw. But beneath it, there was a simmering anger, a fury that fueled him. The kind of anger that made him wonder if it was all worth saving, or if it was time to let it burn to the ground and walk away.It was at that moment, when everything felt like it had fallen ap