Chapter: SIDE STORY (2)The first time I have a sleepover at Millie’s house, I almost get banned from ever stepping foot there again.It isn’t my fault. Not entirely.Okay, maybe seventy percent my fault, but I have reasons.Millie and I are seven, inseparable as always, and she has been begging me to come over for weeks. Every day at school, she leans over and whispers conspiratorially, “Gracie, just ask your mom. It’s not like you have a bedtime anyway.” Which, first of all, rude. I do have a bedtime—it just isn’t strictly enforced.But after relentless pleading (and Millie practically bribing my mom with her big green eyes), I finally get the okay.The plan? Fun, chaos, and destruction.The reality? Worse.It starts with an innocent idea. We are in Millie’s room, surrounded by an explosion of toys, her bed covered in a mix of stuffed animals, half-dressed Barbies that I bring with me, and one sock that she swears isn’t dirty. I’m wearing my best purple pajamas, and Millie is in her favorite dinosaur onesi
Last Updated: 2025-02-06
Chapter: SIDE STORY (1)The arcade is alive with flashing neon lights, the constant clinking of coins, and an upbeat playlist thumping through the speakers. The air smells like buttery popcorn, sweet candy, and the distant tang of something fried—bacon, maybe. It’s chaotic, loud, and smells a little questionable, but it’s undeniably fun. Millie, of course, is thriving. The squeak of my rental shoes matches my groan as I chuck the basketball toward the return box. “This is so unfair,” I whine, crossing my arms in defeat. Millie chuckles next to me, effortlessly sinking another ball into the hoop with that confident smirk of hers. She glances my way, her green eyes glinting under the neon lights. “What’s not fair?” she asks, tossing the ball back like she does this every day—which, I mean, she kind of does. I huff, pointing dramatically at the scoreboard. “I suck at basketball, and you’re basically a pro. This is a scam. I’m calling foul.” She shrugs, effortlessly tossing another ball through the hoop, not
Last Updated: 2025-01-28
Chapter: BONUS: A CHRISTMAS STORYMILLIEThe snow falls in a quiet rhythm, dusting the streets of our little town in white, like some Hallmark movie—except this one has its fair share of chaos.Grace and I trudge along the sidewalk, arms linked and breath misting in the air. She's bundled up in her ridiculous oversized scarf that could double as a damn blanket, her cheeks red from the cold. She looks adorable, not that I'd ever admit it outright. Not right now, at least. I'm saving the sap for later."Are you sure it's this way?" she asks, narrowing her eyes as she squints up at the barely lit street sign."Trust me, baby," I say, giving her hand a squeeze. "Have I ever steered you wrong?""Do you want me to list the times or—""Okay, okay," I cut in, laughing. "Not tonight, Dimples. Tonight, I am a woman with a plan."We're headed to Samantha's annual Christmas bash, a tradition infamous for being equal parts festive cheer and utter debauchery. The last time we attended, someone set the tree on fire—not exactly the k
Last Updated: 2025-01-14
Chapter: FIFTYTaking a deep breath, I turn to face the crowd. Their faces blur under the haze of party lights and the glare of too many phone screens, like vultures waiting for a spectacle. My hands tremble slightly, gripping the microphone as though it’s the only thing tethering me to this moment.I’ve been a coward for so long. Scared of rejection, judgment, and whispers behind my back. But now, watching Millie stand there, her green eyes shimmering with defiance and something deeper—something only I see—I know I have to be brave. Not for me. For her.“This might be fun and amusing for all of you,” I start, my voice cracking at first but gaining strength. “But it’s not for us.”A hush falls over the crowd, their curiosity sharpening like blades. I dare to meet their gazes, my chest tightening, but I refuse to look away.“Millie and I... we’ve been friends for a long time. Since we were kids.” My voice softens, the weight of the years tugging at my words. “I’ve loved her even before I realized wha
Last Updated: 2025-01-14
Chapter: FORTY NINEThe pool area is a chaos of sound, light, and bodies. Music blares from hidden speakers—something loud, raw, with a bass drop that rattles my chest. It’s not Kendrick Lamar, but it’s close enough. The crowd surges with movement, students packed like sardines in costumes that range from ridiculous to barely-there. My grip on Jugyoung tightens as I’m jostled on all sides.“I can’t find her,” I mutter, my head darting around to scan the sea of faces. “Do you see Harley Quinn?”Jugyoung raises an eyebrow. “Who’s Harley Quinn?”“Millie.”“Your Harley Quinn? Cute,” she smirks and stretches on her toes to search. Even with the extra height, no luck. I’d texted Millie, but there’s no response, and the more time passes, the more restless I feel.The music is cut, leaving only Shawn Jones’s voice echoing through the speakers. The poolside party transforms into an attentive audience, fixated on him as he stands at the center of the lounge area, bathed in dim orange lights. He’s decked out in an
Last Updated: 2025-01-14
Chapter: FORTY EIGHTThe night air claws at my skin like icy fingers, making me regret every single life decision that led to me standing in front of Kenzie McCoy’s house underdressed and freezing my ass off. The house is loud enough to be mistaken for a concert venue, pulsing with music that spills out like the lifeblood of the party, dragging half the damn school into its chaotic orbit. Different colored lights flash through the windows like the place has been turned into a second-rate nightclub, and the garden is already trashed.“This better not turn into another ‘strip or swim’ situation,” Mariam groans beside me, tugging at the brim of her pointy black witch hat. She looks great, honestly—classic and witchy, though the scowl on her face doesn’t quite scream "magical and mysterious."Millie leans in closer, a devilish glint in her eye. “If it does, it might be funny to see you finally skinny-dipping.”Mariam spins around, shooting Millie a glare that could freeze molten lava. “Not happening.”I arch
Last Updated: 2025-01-14
Chapter: ISLASleep is a ghost I can’t seem to catch.The hours bleed into one another, marked only by the slow, suffocating tick of the grandfather clock in the hallway. My laptop screen is the only source of light in the room, casting a harsh, artificial glow against the silk sheets I’ve twisted around my legs.My eyes burn. My head throbs with a dull, rhythmic ache behind my temples. But I can’t look away.Raven Co.The name mocks me from the digital document.I’ve read the file three times. Then four. Then five. Desperate to find a mistake, a glitch, a misinterpretation. I want Andy to be wrong. I want this to be some elaborate accounting error, a dummy file Mathieu created for a case study, a simulation—anything other than what it clearly is.But the numbers don’t lie.Three months before the fire.March 12th. A transfer of two hundred thousand dollars to an offshore account in the Caymans.March 28th. Another transfer. Three hundred thousand.April 15th. Five hundred thousand.The label on th
Last Updated: 2026-02-19
Chapter: ISLASleep is a ghost I can’t seem to catch.The hours bleed into one another, marked only by the slow, suffocating tick of the grandfather clock in the hallway. My laptop screen is the only source of light in the room, casting a harsh, artificial glow against the silk sheets I’ve twisted around my legs.My eyes burn. My head throbs with a dull, rhythmic ache behind my temples. But I can’t look away.Raven Co.The name mocks me from the digital document.I’ve read the file three times. Then four. Then five. Desperate to find a mistake, a glitch, a misinterpretation. I want Andy to be wrong. I want this to be some elaborate accounting error, a dummy file Mathieu created for a case study, a simulation—anything other than what it clearly is.But the numbers don’t lie.Three months before the fire.March 12th. A transfer of two hundred thousand dollars to an offshore account in the Caymans.March 28th. Another transfer. Three hundred thousand.April 15th. Five hundred thousand.The label on th
Last Updated: 2026-02-16
Chapter: ISLABefore the silence grows heavy, Mom pipes in, her tone light and hopeful, “We should go out for dinner tonight. Somewhere nice. Celebrate you being here.”I look up, caught off guard by the sudden shift, but I smile, softening. “That’s nice.”She returns the smile, a little proud, a little wistful. Dad is already pulling out his phone. “I’ll make the reservations then. I know just the place.”Mom turns to me, her eyes gentle. “Don’t exhaust yourself so much, Isla. You’re still young. There’s time.”Her voice trails as she adds quietly, “Mathieu worked too hard too…”Her eyes drift to the floor, and something in her expression darkens, fades. A memory flashes behind her gaze like the after-image of a flame.I tense. My brother’s name always draws a shadow in the room—like a ghost still sitting in the corner, waiting for someone to acknowledge him.I can’t let her go there. Not again. If she thinks about Mathieu, she’ll fall too deep into it. And she won’t know how to climb back.So I s
Last Updated: 2025-05-07
Chapter: ISLA I check my watch—8:03 AM. Three minutes past eight, and still no sign of Ciaran Valente. I press my lips together, inhaling slowly as I adjust my sunglasses. I had been very clear in my email—sharp at eight. Apparently, the ruthless CEO of Valente Corporation has a flexible definition of punctuality. Sighing, I glance down at my phone, skimming through my emails while I wait. There’s still so much to get done. I need to finish the site assessment by eleven so I can head to my parents’ house. It’s the weekend, and they’ve been asking me to visit. I haven’t seen them in a month, so it’s only fair. Especially since I’ll be flying to Florida tomorrow for a week-long business trip. Today is my only chance. My gaze lifts from the screen to scan the historical site in front of me. The old monument, weathered and crumbling, stands as a reminder of the past. It’s located in Battery Park, Manhattan, just a twenty-minute drive from my company. The project’s blueprint involves incorpora
Last Updated: 2025-04-14
Chapter: CIARAN The dining table is covered with an obscene amount of food, like we're hosting a fucking banquet instead of just two people sitting across from each other in stifling silence. Fresh oysters on a bed of crushed ice. Lobster thermidor, its golden crust glistening under the chandelier light. Seared scallops drizzled with truffle butter. Wagyu steak, cooked to perfection, sliced thin. A bottle of Château Margaux sits between us, the deep red of the wine almost mocking in its elegance. It's all high-end, perfectly curated by Maria, but none of it makes me hungry. I pull out my chair at the far end of the table, settling in as my father sits opposite me. His blazer is draped over the chair behind him, his brooding expression set in stone, the same fucking look he always wears like it's a second skin. Maria moves around the table, serving the food. No one else is allowed to do it. She's been in charge of this house since before I could walk, and even now, she's the only person my fath
Last Updated: 2025-04-02
Chapter: CIARANFuck.I should've walked away the moment she ran that pretty mouth of hers.But Isla Moreau is a goddamn menace—one that knows exactly how to test me.The way she tilts her chin in defiance, her pulse fluttering beneath my fingers, drives something sharp and volatile through me. A challenge. One I'm dangerously close to accepting.Her eyes, blue and fucking daring, hold mine like she's just as willing to play this game.She has no fucking idea.I tighten my grip—just enough to feel the slight hitch in her breath. Not enough to hurt, but enough to remind her exactly who she's provoking."Do you really want to find out?" I murmur, my voice low, taunting.She doesn't back down.Of course, she doesn't.Her lips part slightly, her breathing uneven, and for a split second, I wonder what kind of sounds she'd make if I took this further. If I leaned in, if I bit that sharp little tongue of hers just to shut her up.I exhale through my nose, forcing myself to pull back before I do something st
Last Updated: 2025-03-26
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