ntense blue eyes, the same shade as Hector's but colder, sharper, darted between us, taking in our flushed faces and the charged atmosphere

ately shifting, becoming more subdued.

ld," she snapped, her gaze still fixed on me. "

assumed it was my fault. It was always my fault in her eye, even when I'

htly but with a newfound resolve, "your son was just exp

larm, and Juliet's face ha

uliet said, her voice dangerous

his face pale. He knew better than to lie to

urning their full attention to her s

bell rang, its shrill sound cutting

s at that door is none other than the important investor who might change our family'

questions and dawning realizations as the visitor walked into the ro

or. Was he the investor? The man who held the future of the Woods family business in his hands.

ub, the magnetic pull I had felt towards him – it all suddenly felt tainted, shadowed by this un

ation. Being in the same room as Hector was already a trial, every glance a painful reminder of his betrayal. Bu

convince him, obviously not reading the tension in th

ously between Caspian and his stern-faced companion. "Yes... of course. Please, come in

gering for a brief moment on me. There was a flicker in his gray eyes, a hint of somethin

idn't feel. My cheeks flushed as the memory of our kiss flooded back, the reckless ab

te of the business, her words laced with an almost desperate eagerness to impress Caspian. Hector sat beside her, his usual boomin

ht of Caspian's presence was palpable. Even when he wasn't directly speaking to m

interactions, subtle shifts in his gaze, a lingering moment of eye contact that sent a jolt of awareness through me. It was as if there was a

who held their fate in his hands. The meeting stretched on, each minute feeling like an eternity. I tried to focus on the business talk, the figures and projections that Juliet was so eagerly presenting, but my mind kept

"Thank you for your time, Mrs. Woods, Mr. Woods," he said, his voice cool and professiona

. Sterling, we are so confident that you will

aspian, a flicker of something akin to fear in his blue eyes. "Caspian,"

Hector. If there's anything further, my associate, Mr. Davies, will be in contact." H

fell. "But...

one leaving no room for argument. He turned his attention

smile touched his lips, a smile that held a hint of something dangerous and knowing. "Avery,"

ing behind his words and his gaze, he turned and walked