-JOANNEI’ve never wanted something so bad. I couldn’t take my eyes of the enormous painting in the room, it was beyond amazing and alluring. I have never been to events like this in my dear life and despite the castle itself being fascinating, this painting was beyond words.It wasn’t just exquisite, exceeding clarity, temptation, and wholesomeness. It was getting me all excited and I couldn’t dare to take my eyes of it.Even when Trevor asked if he could get it for me, I had shifted my eyes from the paintings to him, only to have the image already imprinting in my brain. “Why would you?” I had to ask Trevor because it seemed like it would take my entire life to afford it.But I knew he was wealthy, and he would simply snap his fingers and obtain it for me. But why should he?We were not even close. arguably we spoke once when he celebrated his birthday. And just a few minutes earlier, we had been laughing and discussing about a waiter who was carefully trying to hide a glass of

HARDY- I Walked back into the grand ballroom and my eyes desperately started to search for Joanne. The infuriating prick who had immaturely sent out that confidential email had truly managed to irritate me tonight, pushing me to the brink of frustration. Maybe not just a bit. But a whole lot. The realization that the person responsible for Lisa's death was in the same room as Joanne and me left me feeling utterly dismayed. I was consumed with an overwhelming desire to take revenge, to inflict the same pain upon them as they had inflicted upon Lisa.Clearly, the person who sent that email and had Trinity deliver that message on their behalf possesses a level of intelligence far surpassing my own. They must be observing me closely from within the same room, meticulously monitoring my every action and noting how I periodically glance at my phone. It is evident that they have successfully encouraged panic and fury within me, precisely as they wanted.My anger consumed me, drivi

JOANNE- “Gracious goodness!” Trinity’s words, flushed cheeks and heaved breath made me burst out into an hysterical laugh, that didn’t stop even after five minutes. Her heavy gawk on the painting in my room was so funny, it needed a Framed picture.“Wh— how..She couldn’t find her words.I stopped laughing and walked closer to the painting that was now hanging in the wall of my roof.It looked more than perfect now as my own. It had arrived today after getting it two days ago and the drillers who did the job did exactly good and pinned it to the part where I wanted it on my wall.“This is too much,” Trinity cried.I laughed. “It’s perfect,”“No… trust me it’s way too…She shook her head.“Tempting?” I bumped my shoulder into hers.“Gosh,” she glared at me. “I was going to say sensual.”“It’s sensual, yes. And tempting, doesn’t it makes you feel like you want two masculine strong arms weighing you down and pinning you to a b—“Joanne please.” Trinity interrupted, a mixture of frig

JOANNE—I was crying furiously in my room, my chest heaving up and down as I tried to conceal the tears.Bailey had made no attempt to feel sorry for me. The door was pushed open, and Theo walked inside. "What did she say to you?" He entreated. I shook my head.“I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have let you meet them,” Theo said ruefully.“It’s okay,” I added. “It’s not your fault. Thank you for letting me meet her.” I wiped my tears.It instantly gave me more room to never stop feeling sorry for her.She has hated me for years.And I’ve been here all along, thinking she didn’t deserve any of these.When all she was scared about was snatching a life she thought I was enjoying,.“I’m sorry, they’ve been sent back,” Theo added.I wiped my tears and took a deep breath.Theo and I remained quiet and just let our thoughts settle in with the silence. Maybe me, because I couldn’t tell what he was thinking as he glanced at me once or twice.“It’s all going to be okay,” he sighed."Hopefully,” I mumbl

-HARDY-I walked out of the closet, fully clothed, to receive a text from Theodore.I immediately called.“How is it?” I asked.“She’s not revealing who sent her,” Theo continued.This Leilani bitch.I sighed.“Of course she won’t. We’ll let her go, but we’ll keep her on track. She’ll go to whoever sent her.” The only reason I’m here all of a sudden is to make the Dickhead culprit tail me.I brought Joanne here with me, unguarded and careless.Whoever it is, I knew they must have seen me leaving the mansion with no guard, no Theo, and just me and Joanne.I just have to make them believe I came here for a stupid vacation and not read my line about making Joanne bait.But I know I will take a vacation when I make one. It wouldn’t be in this crappy one-bed room with a woman I never want to spend time with.“Of course, I’ll make sure we don’t fail this time,” Theo’s voice says on the line, assuring.“Yeah—I paused when I noticed Joanne’s head poking out of the bathroom's parted door and