LOGINBy the time Kimberly finished her bath and returned to the bedroom, she expected to find Bryce there, sipping his tea.Instead, the room was empty.“Bryce?” she called softly, tightening the towel around her body.Water droplets slid from the ends of her hair as she walked back into the living room. Her gaze drifted to the bedside table, where two cups sat neatly. Hers was already empty. Bryce’s, barely touched.“God have mercy on this man,” Kimberly sighed, shaking her head as she moved toward the dressing mirror. “Even drinking tea is hard for him.”She applied lotion to her skin, muttering to herself.“Looks like I’ll be forcing him to eat now… like a child. Is he really any different from his daughter? So now I have two humans to monitor.” She scoffed lightly. “And one of them is a full-grown adult.”The thought made her chuckle.Once she was done, she stood and walked to the closet. It didn’t surprise her to find her clothes already there—neatly arranged, separate from Bryce’s.O
The smile on his face still disappear, it lingered for a long while. Because whether or not he knew when it started, he loved it. Every bit of it. And he wanted more of those soft, ridiculous, strangely warm mornings. He was about to take another sip of the tea when his phone started ringing. The cup paused midway to his mouth. His gaze drifted to the table where his phone buzzed, and he stood, dropping the cup. “Hey, Mr. Married,” Landon’s voice came through the second Bryce picked up. Bryce rolled his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose, already tired of his insufferable best friend. “What do you want, Mr. Bachelor-Who’s-Single-To-Stupor?” Landon’s laughter burst through the speaker, loud enough that Bryce had to lower the phone from his ear for a beat. “Someone had a really good night’s sleep. Your voice alone says it!” Landon teased. “Tell me, what’s the cause? Because the Bryce I know is a vampire who hates sleeping. So I want to know.” Bryce could practically see Landon
The morning light of the next pushed softly through the curtains, seeping in slowly. The storm from the night before had passed, leaving everything washed and strangely gentle, as if the world itself knew better than to interrupt them today.Bryce walked down the hallway with two cups of coffee, the steam curling from the lids. His hair was still damp from the shower he had just minutes ago, white shirt clinging slightly to his chest and shoulders. A color he rarely wore. He pushed the door open gently with his leg, finding Kimberly still asleep as he entered.She lay curled on her side, wrapped loosely in his sheets like she belonged there, which she actually did. The morning light painted her skin in warm tones, and a few strands of hair stuck adorably to her cheek.They had returned to their sweet home as early as anything the next day.A quiet smile tugged at Bryce’s lips as he fully walked in soundlessly, setting the cups down on the bedside table.He didn’t wake her immediatel
Neither Kimberly nor Bryce ever thought they’d be spending the night in a hotel instead of at home.Just when they had prepared to leave the hospital, the rain had suddenly come down relentlessly hard, drenching the city in minutes. What had looked like an ordinary cold New York night earlier had turned into a full-blown storm while they were inside, trapped between Nana’s teasing and naughty conversations.Driving home was out of the question.Bryce hadn’t even argued it. One look at the wet roads, the reduced visibility, and the way Kimberly hugged herself tighter in the passenger seat, and he’d made the call.If he were alone, he might’ve pushed through it. But with Kimberly beside him? Never. He couldn't just risk it.So here they were.The hotel room was quiet, warm and the lights were deem. The steady sound of rain tapping against the window wrapped the space in something private, sealed off from the rest of the world.Kimberly stood near the foot of the bed, rubbing her hands t
Keira kept talking, her voice turning small and worried. Nana's eyes watered a little at the tone of that voice.She felt terrible, hated that she was always worrying them, always burdening them with her illness. Hated that, somehow, it made them feel responsible for her pain. Especially Bryce.She had seen how tirelessly her grandson tried to keep her comfortable, how desperately he wished his wealth could do what it never could, heal her completely, erase the sickness, and make sure it never came back.Bryce watched the exchange quietly, something warm and steady settling in his chest. Though his heart still stung.“We'll see you soon, okay, baby?”And with that, the call with Keira had ended.Kimberly continued to smile, unaware of Nana’s gaze fixed on her, slow and deliberate, as if she were examining a cherished treasure.It was only when she lowered her phone that she became aware of those sharp, knowing eyes observing her with an unsettling level of awareness for someone who
Nana’s tired eyes fluttered open slowly, colliding with the harsh brightness of the ward lights.She winced, lifting the back of her hand to shield her face as she tried to sit up, but Bryce was already there, his hand closing gently around hers, guiding her back down.“Nana, please,” he said softly. “Just lie back. Don’t stress yourself.”“N–Bryce?” Nana called, her voice thin, and very much uncertain, like she wasn’t quite sure it was Bryce she was seeing.“Yes, Nana. It’s me.” Bryce leaned closer, brushing the back of her hand with his thumb. “I’m here.”Nana's head turned slightly, and her eyes widened a bit in surprise when they landed on Kimberly.A small, weary smile curved her lips.“Kimberly…” she murmured, as if saying the name alone steadied her.Kimberly rushed to her side immediately, careful and gentle as she leaned in and wrapped her arms around her.“Nana, I’m so glad you’re awake,” Kimberly said softly. “How are you feeling?”Nana lifted one trembling hand and touched
No answer.She knocked again, this time a little firmer. Still nothing.But then... she heard low voices. Laughter too.Her heart raced. Wait, was that a woman?The thought that a woman was in there with Bryce ridiculously hit her like a splash of ice water.She hadn't meant to, though. She didn't
It was almost 8 p.m. when Bryce finally returned home from dinner at the Moores’.He couldn’t even put into words how he felt, just that it was strange, heavy, yet oddly relieving at the same time. He had finally said out loud what he had been holding back for months, maybe years. The dinner hadn’
Kimberly dropped the last grocery bag on the counter with a tired sigh, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand. She had spent the entire day trying to stay busy. Folding laundry she didn't need to fold. Rearranged the fridge for the third time this week. And scrubbed the sink like her life
** Earlier Today In The Morning **It was supposed to be a routine visit.Bryce didn't come to Sophie's school often, but when he did, it was usually for donation matters.He had been making quiet contributions over the years to the school, a few orphanages nearby too. All in honor of his sick gran







