Three years ago, Hazel Vance made a choice that changed everything. One night of passion with a mysterious stranger at a masquerade ball left her with more than just memories—it left her with a son whose rare violet-blue eyes are a constant reminder of the father she'll never find.

Now a struggling single mother, Hazel desperately needs the executive assistant position at Sterling Group. The salary could finally give her two-year-old Leo the life he deserves. But her new boss, CEO Liam Sterling, is nothing like she expected.

Demanding, brilliant, and devastatingly handsome, Liam has a reputation for being impossible to work for. Most assistants don't last a week. When Hazel refuses to be intimidated by his cold demeanor and sharp tongue, something shifts between them. The attraction is immediate and electric, crackling through every professional interaction.

But it's his eyes that stop her cold. The same striking violet-blue shade that stares back at her every morning when she looks at her son.

As the tension between them builds and the lines between professional and personal begin to blur, Hazel finds herself caught between her desperate need for this job and her growing attraction to the one man who could destroy everything she's worked for.

She doesn't know that Liam has been searching for the mysterious woman from the masquerade ball ever since that night changed him forever. And he has no idea that the composed, fiery assistant who challenges him at every turn is the same woman who haunts his dreams.

When the truth finally comes to light, will it bring them together or tear apart the fragile new life Hazel has built for herself and her son?

The next morning, the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee pulled us from sleep. Miranda had already prepared an elegant breakfast spread for us. After crashing on makeshift beds scattered across the living room, we looked like survivors of the world's most enjoyable sleepover.


Leo burst into the room like a tiny tornado, bouncing between us with infectious laughter. Each of the girls competed to shower him with attention, and his delighted giggles filled the space. The bathroom became a bottleneck with all of us trying to get ready, creating a chorus of chatter and playful complaints that reminded me of college dormitory mornings.


Once Leo and I were dressed, we joined the breakfast table where conversation flowed as freely as the orange juice.


Chapter 86 - Chapter 86 - Casino Night Scheming