Aiden's POVAs I sat in the chair, observing Lily and Lucas sharing their tender, loving moments, a pang of realization hit me deep within. It was in that precious instant that I understood what had been missing from my own life—a real family.In their embrace, I witnessed a bond so strong, so unbreakable, that it touched a part of my heart I didn't know existed. Lily's strong love for her brother and the lengths she had to go through for him humbled me.Hell, they weren't even biological siblings!For most of my life, I had been living my life solo, lacking the warmth and unconditional love that a true family provides. I had built walls around my heart, protecting myself from the vulnerability that comes with opening up to others. But in that moment, those walls began to crumble.Seeing Lily willing to live with and surrender her body to a man she hated me, and seeing her endure everything just to make sure her brother's surgery was paid for, was the highest form of love I had ever s

Lily's POVAs I watched Aiden drive off, a pang of worry shot through me like a bolt of lightning. He looked so troubled, so burdened by something heavy on his mind. I couldn't shake the feeling that he was keeping something from me, something important."What's wrong with him?" I muttered to myself, my brow furrowed with concern. "Why won't he tell me?"The thought gnawed at me, like a persistent itch I couldn't scratch. I wanted to reach out to him, to offer him comfort and support, but I didn't know how to break through the wall he was slowly building around himself again.It reminded me too much of that time, a few months ago, when I'd just met him, and he'd been a dark, sullen man.I sighed heavily, my shoulders sagging with the weight of uncertainty. Ever since Cook's death, things had been difficult for both of us. Aiden had been distant, lost in his own thoughts, and even though he had tried to hide it for my sake, I could still see it.I could see right through him like clear

Aiden's POVAs I leaned back against the table, observing the hustle and bustle of my men around me, a sense of unease settled in the pit of my stomach. Joe's words echoed in my mind.Mitch, Mitch....That man was always up to something, no matter what. If he wasn't trying to stir up a rebellion at HQ, then he was trying to run away from work."Are you sure about this, Joe?" I asked, my brow furrowing with uncertainty.Joe met my gaze, a steely look in his own eyes. "Positive, Boss," he affirmed, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "No one had seen or heard from Mitch in over ten days, or so I've heard."I pondered Joe's words, a sense of foreboding gnawing at the edges of my mind. Mitch's sudden disappearance raised countless questions, each more troubling than the last.With a thoughtful frown, I stroked my chin, mulling over the possible implications of Mitch's absence. The man was notorious for his cunning and stubbornness, and I couldn't shake the feeling that his disappearance w

Lily's POVAs Aiden led me out of the room, hand in hand with Lucas, I couldn't shake the feeling of relief flooding through me. The tension that had gripped my heart since the moment Rocco appeared finally began to ease, replaced by a sense of gratitude towards Aiden and his sudden appearance.I glanced at Lucas, noticing his slight limp as we walked down the corridor, and I frowned with worry. "Are you okay?" I asked.Lucas flashed me a reassuring smile. "I'm fine," he replied, his tone casual despite the circumstances. "Just a scratch. As long as those bastards who tried to kill me are dead and out of the picture, I'm good."We made our way to the hospital's lobby, where Joe stood watch, his gaze sharp and alert. I watched as his grip tightened on the gun at his side as we approached, and I could see the worry etched into his features."Everything good over here?" Aiden asked as we arrived at the lobby.Joe's eyes flicked between Aiden and me before settling on Aiden. "I heard guns

Ricardo's POVA cold fury swept through me at the mention of Aiden's name. How dare he interfere with my plans again, to disrupt everything I had worked so hard to achieve? I found myself gripping the table behind me almost convulsively. This felt like a constant thorn in my side, determined to dig in no matter what I did to pull it out.With a growl of frustration, I reached out and grabbed the man's neck again, pulling him closer to me. The man scampered forward, whimpering like a child.I tightened my grip on the man's neck, my nails digging into his skin. "Tell me everything," I demanded, my voice a low snarl. "Where is Aiden now? And what does he plan to do next?"The man's eyes widened in terror as he struggled to form coherent words. "I...I don't know," he stammered, his voice barely a whisper. "He's...he's coming for me... He's coming for all of us, please, Mr. Ricardo, you have to protect me!"I felt a surge of revulsion at the man's weakness, his pathetic pleas for mercy. I