Aiden's POVI carefully descended the stairs, trying my best not to wince much. The pain was a throbbing presence on my left side, directly underneath my chest.Any higher, and I would have been dead.The cane provided some support, but it was a steady reminder of my vulnerability, of how Ricardo had peeled through my defenses and gotten at me. Nevertheless, I pressed on, taking the steps one at a time, with Joe steadily watching me.As I reached the bottom of the staircase, the first person I saw was Cook, who was smiling genially at me. "Mr. Blackwood, are you feeling better now?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine concern.I returned her smile, grateful for her kindness. "I'm getting there, Cook. Thank you for asking."She nodded, her eyes sparkling with understanding. "You're a resilient one, Mr. Blackwood. I'm sure you'll be back on your feet in no time."Her words of encouragement bolstered my spirits, and I felt a surge of determination coursing through me. "I appreciate

Lily's POVMy phone continued to flash and ring on the dresser, its sound cutting through the quiet of the room like a sharp knife. For some reason, a feeling of unease settled in the pit of my stomach, refusing to be ignored.I stared hard at the phone until it rang out, and for some reason, it terrified me. Whoever was on the other end of the call didn't have any idea just how restless it had made me.Just when I'd gotten my breath stable, another harsh, jarring ring came from the phone. I gave a small start, then flipped the bedcovers to one side. Swallowing hard, I pushed myself up from the bed, ambling towards the dresser as my heart pounded in my chest. Each step felt heavy as I made my way towards the source of the ominous ringing.With trembling hands, I picked up the phone. I hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to answer or ignore the call. But curiosity got the better of me, and with a deep breath, I swiped to the side and picked up the call.What came out of my mouth w

Lily's POVThe last word died in a strangled choke when his mouth covered mine. Pressed against my chair as I was, both hands on his chest, it was all I could do not to implode with desire.Wasn't this the same man I'd had sex with a few hours ago? A part of my desire-stricken mind screamed. How had my body grown so attuned to his that he merely had to give me a kiss to set me on fire?"Wait!" I paused, pulling away from him. Aiden was panting now, his eyes wide and dark, his lips swollen from the kiss."I'm sorry," he whispered. "I just cannot get enough of you..."I sat still, watching as a flood of unnameable sadness enveloped me. "This is pointless," I sighed, standing to my feet. "I think my dinner is over.""Lily!" Aiden called out as I walked towards the door, reaching out to grab my arm. "What....what is wrong? Is it the kiss? My apologies—""It isn't the kiss, Aiden. I'm just worried." I murmured, wrapping my arms around myself.His brows scrunched up in concern. "Worried abo

Ricardo's POVMy nose caught the booze oozing from his mouth before he even came closer. The better part of me wanted to see him out of my office as fast as he'd appeared, but I held myself.If he was here because of Aiden, he could have information that would be valuable to me.I raised an eyebrow, a spark of intrigue igniting within me. "Indeed? Please, have a seat," I gestured to the chair opposite mine. "Tell me more about this...ah, proposition."The man's eyes flickered with a mix of determination and caution as he settled into the chair. His voice carried a gravelly edge, revealing the weight of his experiences. "Mr. Ricardo, I've been following your rise in the shadows, and I have been watching your battle with Aiden Blackwood. I've come to offer you a deal—a chance to bring down Mr Blackwood.*A smile tugged at my lips, the thrill of possibility coursing through my veins. "Continue," I prompted, my voice laced with anticipation.The man leaned forward, his voice lowered to a

Lily's POVI paced back and forth in the stark, sterile lobby of Beth Israel Hospital, my heart hammering in my chest like a jackhammer. Each step echoed in the empty space, filling my ears and increasing my anxiety and fear.Lucas was in surgery, his life was hanging in the balance, and I couldn't bear the thought of losing him. What if the surgery didn't work? What if something went wrong?Tears stung at the corners of my eyes as I wrapped my arms around my waist and hugged myself tightly, trying to ward off the chill of fear that gripped me like a vice. I couldn't lose Lucas. He was my rock, the only thing I still had from a time in my life that I tried desperately to forget. He was the only good thing that came out of my era of Mitch.As I paced the lobby, my mind raced with a million different scenarios, each one more terrifying than the last. What if I never got to hear his laughter again? What if I never got to see his mischievous smile? What if I lost him forever?A sob caugh