HAZEL’S POV: My heart aches as I think of Sammy who has to remain at hospital for I have no idea how much longer. Our bills have already reached thousands of dollars since he became an in-patient just a few days ago. Without Marius’ help, we won’t be able to sustain it.I grab the bag, heavy with fresh clothes, and step out of my house. The sand crunches softly beneath my feet as I make my way to the bus stop. While waiting for the bus to arrive, the sound of an approaching BMW catches my attention. It glides by, followed by another, and then another. Then, a chill runs down my spine when I notice the plate numbers: WTL. T-that’s… The Whitlocks! What are they doing here?! Why do the people of my past keep reappearing now all of a sudden?!Men in black suits begin to emerge from the cars, their faces hard and menacing. Some of them I’ve seen, and even talked to before. They’re Carter’s bodyguards!Panic surges through me, and without thinking, I bolt towards the nearest convenienc

“Marius Thorne, I’ll give you twenty-four hours to surrender my wife and my child to me. Otherwise, you’ll lose everything you hold dear.” Carter and his bodyguards have left, but the threat of their return lingers. How much else can he do? Can he really destroy Marius, a man who also belongs from another powerful family? If Carter can find me here, in the supposed safe place of Marius, it means that I’ll never be truly safe anywhere else. Back in the penthouse, I sink on the sofa while Marius paces by the floor-to-ceiling window, his jaw set in a grim line. “Marius, I’m sorry that you were dragged into this,” I say. Marius moves to sit beside me, then takes my hand and squeezes it. “Don’t worry about me, Carter won’t dare harm me. If he will, I’ll make sure to retaliate. I’m not the only one who’s gonna go down, he will too.” “Will you really fight this battle with me?” I ask. Marius nods. There’s a determination in his gaze. I squeeze his hand back as I straighten my shou

CARTER’S POV: This is an official declaration of war! I thought I could control them, but they’re proving to be more resilient than I’ve anticipated! My hands tremble slightly as I pick up the divorce papers I just received, the bold signature of Hazel and Marius as her divorce lawyer, glaring back at me. I crumple the papers and hurl them to the trash can. Hazel wants to play dirty? So be it! She couldn't and wouldn’t win. Not over me! I snatch my phone and call Attorney Culpo, the best lawyer I could ever think of. "I want all legal rights to search Marius' penthouse as soon as possible!" I bark, pacing my office. "I want to take my son from Hazel, and I want full custody… no matter what it takes!" -[“Mr. Whitlock, we need to be strategic about this. Barging in—"]- “I don’t care how you do it! Just make it happen!” I interrupt, before dropping the call. I storm out of my office, my bodyguards falling into step behind me. My first official battleground: the Thorne’s residen

HAZEL’S POV: I clench the handles of the heavy bags full of Sammy and my belongings. As I descend the staircase, I find Marius in the living area, his eyes red-rimmed and filled with an anguish that mirrors my own. Before I can utter a word of farewell or gratitude, he pulls me into a tight embrace. “I want you to stay,” Marius chokes out between sobs. “I really do, but I don’t wanna be selfish. Sammy needs you more than I do.” He pulls back slightly, cupping my face with trembling hands. “I promise, I’ll get you and Sammy back. You just wait.” His vow echoes my very desire. Yet, I shake my head. “It’s alright. I can endure everything as long as I’m with my son. You don’t have to ruin your future for us, but know that I truly appreciate every—” My words are cut off, my bags dropped, as Marius’ lips slam at mine in a sudden, desperate kiss. My mind screams at me to pull away, but my heart urges me to sink into the moment. In the end, I kiss him back, matching his passion. When we

My disgust surges to the surface, contorting my features into a mask of revulsion. "No, never again." The hope drains from Carter's eyes, leaving a hollow, desperate man. Without another word, I turn on my heel and leave him behind. Thankfully, he doesn’t follow.Carter will grow more desperate, I can sense it, and I need to find a way to escape before his desperation turns even more dangerous than it already is.Later that afternoon, Elmyra invites some of the Whitlock women for afternoon tea, a tradition steeped in formality and thinly veiled contempt. She makes sure to extend the invitation to me as well. When I refuse, her voice becomes cold and threatening."You don’t know what I’ll do if you don't show yourself to the rest of the Whitlocks," She warns. Oh, I know! She’ll tell Carter about it, and Carter will get mad at me for disrespecting his beloved mother."Wear your best clothes. I’ve sent over your old ones,” she adds, before leaving.Fine! I’ll go, but I have no intenti