WILLOW'S POVHailey did most of the shopping, carefully selecting the best quality yet affordable clothing in each store at the mall. She emphasized, "Just because I'm rich doesn't mean I won't buy it because it's cheap." Surprisingly, we managed to spend not more than a hundred dollars.Returning before the deadline, Hailey suggested we try out the gowns she selected. Her fashion sense was exceptional. She opted for a black short gown, sleeveless, highlighting her flat abdomen and accentuating the curves of her tiny waist. She completed the look with matching black heels and a neatly tied bun."How do I look...??" She asked"Beautiful, I wish a dress would fit me perfectly like yours.." I unsuccessfully tried out ten dresses so far and they look horrible on me."Don't worry the goddess of fashion is here." She rummaged through the dress as she picked one, a red gown handing it over to me."I bought this especially for you. Go try it on and hide in the kitchen. Let me go get Tristan .
WILLOW'S POVThree rules broken in one night, Tristan kisses me roughly, nibbling on my lower lip and sucking on the upper lobe of my lip. His tongue brushes my lips, trying to force its way into my mouth. I let out a whimper; his eyes are shut, while mine, on the other hand, are wide open.The kiss took me off guard, leaving me with little time to react. I attempted to push him away, but he forced his body against mine, overpowering me. A sense of weakness swept over me, and as he slowly softened the kiss, every moment felt like an exploration of my mouth in ways I could never have imagined. His lips transformed from rough to tender, and he gently loosened his grip on my upper arm. What began as a forceful kiss evolved into something passionate.As he delicately brushed my lips with his tongue, his hands traced down my waistline, pulling me closer. I reciprocated, my hands finding their way to the nape of his neck, pulling him in. Our lips pressed softly against each other, and I tast
20 MINUTES EARLIERCADEN'S POV"Everyone, can I get your attention..." I tapped my glass gently as everyone took their glasses up, thinking I'm calling for a toast."Thank you, everyone, for coming to my engagement. It means a lot. I'm sorry to have wasted your money and your time for you to drive here, but the engagement is off..." Everyone gasped as Cora made her way to me."What are you saying, honey? Did you drink too much..." She chuckled frantically, dismissing my words like they didn't mean anything."I'm not drunk. I'm sorry, Cora , but I'm in love with someone else..." I told her. That wasn't the real reason, but using Willow indirectly as an excuse seemed to be to my advantage."And who is that?" she asked, trying to hold back the tears in her eyes."I can't tell you..." Everyone gasped, not expecting this to happen."Well, you better change your mind because all these people came here to see us engaged..." She spat."That's why I apologized; you'll be heavily compensated. Yo
TRISTAN'S POVThe podium crashes down, trapping me, and the fire's relentless advance shrouds everything in thick, black smoke. I struggle to see through the darkness, and with each breath, the harsh smoke tightens its grip on my lungs, leaving my throat parched and cutting off precious oxygen.Violent coughs rack my body as the fire rages, devouring everything in its path. My desperate gaze darts towards the elevator, but hesitation creeps in – a risky move, the fire might have invaded its metal confines. I contemplate the stairs; the carpet beneath me already melts, a precursor to the scorching danger ahead. Without a second thought, I sprint through the small, confining space, but disaster strikes as the rail breaks, burning and collapsing in the stairwell's heart. The heat intensifies, trapped in the confined space, amplifying my violent coughs. In a frantic moment, I shed my outer jacket, smothering the flicker of fire as I press onward, determined, up the stairs.In the midst of
TRISTAN'S POVAscending the stairs with urgency, my steps echoed, almost reaching the first floor. In the fiery blur, a fleeting figure descended; my heart raced, hoping for Willow. My disappointment deepened as Caden emerged. Descending to the inferno below, our eyes locked in a silent exchange amid the scorching flames, halting us both in an eerie standoff."Turn back, you're going to die," he grinned, a smug expression etched on his face. I pondered if that arrogance would wither away if he found himself engulfed in the flames he so callously dismissed."Move out of my way!" I shouted, determined to push forward, ignoring his taunts."Why should I? She's just an object," he hinted, referring to Willow. He knew she was up there but showed no inclination to help or persuade her to retreat. The tension heightened in the stairwell as our clash of wills unfolded."Everyone's just an object to you, isn't it? Easily discarded if deemed useless. Why call off the engagement while I was still
TRISTAN'S POV"She isn't Breathing." The nurse said as I pushed her away and made my way to Willow, who wasn't Breathing.I held her palm, checking her pulse; it went cold. Attempting to check her heartbeat, I was abruptly pulled out of the ambulance by two police officers."Stand by, citizen. Don't you see they are trying to do their job?" one of the policemen said as the back of the ambulance shut, and it started driving away."Willow..." I yelled as I raced to Jaxon, demanding his keys."Tristan, calm down," Jaxon said."How can I calm down? My mother's dead and Willow isn't breathing," I exclaimed."That doesn't mean we don't care for Willow too. We're worried too, okay," Hailey interjected."Then give me the keys," I insisted."Tristan ..." Jaxon half-yelled."Give him the keys, Jaxon. If she dies, don't come home," Hailey said, giving me a cold stare—the kind she gives her victims before she does away with them. Hailey may look like a stripper, and she is, but she's also a killer
CADEN'S POVMy face was ruined as the nurse tried to apply ointment and bandage the burnt part, while everyone looked at me in disgust. I was escorted to my limo with my entourage as we all drove away from the scene."Prepare a trip to Australia," I said abruptly, shocking everyone in the car."Why Australia?" one of them asked."That engagement cost me a fortune, and that bitch just burnt the building down. Her life isn't a well enough trade. After what she did to my face, her relatives will have a share in her punishment by joining her in hell. Book my private jet to Australia, and load on gunpowder and petrol. They will die the Same way she did," I declared with a chilling determination."As you wish, sir," they replied, the gravity of my command sinking in.TRISTAN'S POVI took an elevator to the third floor as my heart dropped at the thought Willow would die any moment now. She can't die; she won't die. I kept that mantra on repeat; it was my only hope, the only thing I could hold
HAILEY'S POVAs I and Jaxon opted for a taxi, Tristan drove off in the car. My phone rang with Tristan's name flashing on the screen. "She better be alive," I muttered anxiously. Answering the call, a female voice asked, "Is this Hailey?" Fearing the worst, I snapped, "Is Tristan fooling around with someone else?" The caller, a nurse from Cambridge Hospital, clarified, "No, I'm a nurse at Cambridge Hospital downtown." Confused and angry, I demanded, "Why do you have my brother's phone?" The nurse's grave reply hit me like a ton of bricks: "Your brother is teetering on the brink of death at the hospital right now.""Wait, what? Is Willow dead?" I gasped."I assume that is the name of the patient that just woke up after almost dying. I can't explain it right now, he's about to jump." I cut the call before I could hear the rest."Step on it, bastard." I brought out my gun as I pointed it over his head."But we can't go past the speed limit, the cops could arrest me.""Hailey, what are you