LOGINMom claps. “See? Good sense.”Dad groans, drops into a chair, and rubs his forehead. “Fine. Sparklers. But I get to choose the color.”“Deal,” I say, leaning over to kiss his temple. He pretends not to smile but I see it anyway.I never thought I would have this again—a father who tries, really trie
Maya’s POVFrance changed me. I did not expect it to. I thought all I wanted was revenge, a reckoning, a balancing of the scales that would make everything feel right again. But standing at the kitchen window of our townhouse with the late-morning sun warming the old stone, watching Oscar toddle aft
After a few minutes, Emma sits beside me, nudging my shoulder. “How are you really,” she asks, her voice softening.I smile. “Good. Really good. For the first time, everything feels... quiet.”“You deserve quiet.”I nod, my eyes warming. “He is different now. Softer. Present. You should see him read
Emily’s POVSix Months LaterI wake before the alarm, before the morning light even filters through the curtains, to a soft flutter beneath my ribs. A tiny kick, gentle but unmistakably there. I smile into the pillow, pressing my palm over the swell of my stomach. The baby is awake, stretching, gree
Damian’s POVI do not think I exhaled until the plane door shut behind us.No reporters.No blinking notifications.No family emergencies.No corporate disasters waiting like open jaws behind every email.Just Emily beside me, fingers loosely threaded with mine, her head resting on my shoulder as if
Emily’s POVThe morning light over the farm looks unreal, soft as milk, drifting across the grass in wide strokes that make everything glow. It is the kind of light you only see on days you remember forever. A gentle breeze carries the smell of lilac and fresh earth, the decorations swaying slightly
Emily's POVThe ride home was quiet, but not uncomfortably so. The city lights flickered past the car window, casting shifting shadows over Damian’s face as he drove. My wrist throbbed dully, a reminder of the hours I had spent pouring drinks, shaking cocktails, and carrying trays with more flourish
Emily's POVDamian’s gaze flickered toward me, his expression unreadable as he lifted the phone to his ear. I braced myself, instinctively holding my breath. The moment his grandfather’s voice crackled through the speaker, the atmosphere in the room shifted. A cold authority filled the air, his word
Emily's POVThe heat from the stove warmed my face as I plated the final dish, hands moving with practiced ease. This was the highlight of our family’s meticulously crafted event—my best creation, unveiled in the most dramatic, eye-catching manner. The crowd hushed as I skillfully waved the ladle,
The car rolled to a slow stop in front of my house, and the weight of the night pressed down on me like a thick, suffocating fog. My head swam, my body heavy with exhaustion, but beneath the drunken haze, a sharp edge of dread coiled in my chest. I knew my family was waiting for me behind that door.







