LOGINShe stared at the ring in the box, confused. It wasn’t an engagement ring, which of course, she knew. But she knew the ring she was staring at right now, was overly expensive. With the way it looked, it might be more expensive than the first one he had bought for her the day she signed the marriage papers.Her breath shakily steadied.“Bryce…. why did you get me this?”That wasn't exactly what she wanted to ask though. Because she had been the one worried that he hadn't gotten her another ring since she lost the other one, right? And neither had he talked about it, or asked her why she wasn't wearing it.But however, she couldn't think of a better question to ask than that.Bryce took a step closer, then he took another one.... slow, almost deliberate. Like he didn’t want to overwhelm her.He didn’t touch her. At least not yet.“Because you’re not wearing the old one anymore,” he said quietly.Kimberly froze.Her lips parted, but no sound came out.She felt the floor tilt beneath her
After a few long, quiet minutes.... minutes where neither of them moved, where his breathing slowly steadied and their hearts seemed to calm in sync, Bryce finally exhaled and pulled back just an inch.... enough to see her face.His hands lingered on her waist before he reluctantly let them slide away.He then cleared his throat. That soft, awkward kind of sound a man makes when he’s trying to get control of himself again.“I, uh.… I got something for you,” he said, the words low, almost hesitant.“You got something for me?” Kimberly repeated his words, blinking up at him.He nodded once.Then he stepped away from her, his movements slower than usual, as though leaving her warmth took effort. He walked to the small desk by the wall, where he’d dropped a matte-black gift bag earlier she hadn’t noticed it.Of course she hadn’t. She was too busy gushing over a drawing and hugging him like he was the last person on earth.Bryce picked up the bag, turned back to her, and held it out.“Here
He saw himself again.... small and helpless, curled in a corner with his palms pressed so hard over his ears they stung. Trying not to hear. Trying not to shake. Trying not to cry.Trying to be a “man” even though he was just a boy.And then, worse.....He saw the nights he did run out to stop it.Nights where his mother screamed his name. And his father turning on him with the same drunken rage.The night where he gave his mom a scar.... the same scar that led to her déath a few years later.Bryce blinked hard, jaw clenched so tight the muscles in his neck trembled.For a short moment, he wasn’t in that warm room anymore.He was back there.Back in that house.... back in that nightmare.His chest rose sharply, breath hitching.He didn’t even realize his fingers had curled into fists, until he felt a sudden warmth.So soft, gentle and immediate.Two slender hands slid around his waist from behind, then a body pressing lightly against him.Bryce stiffened instantly as Kimberly hugged
He didn’t say a word. He didn’t even try to call attention to himself.He just continued to watch them quietly.Keira was still humming her song softly.... the one only she knew what it was all about, as she wrapped her tiny arms around her mother’s legs.Damn! Those were his girls.Something in his chest shifted, tightening and loosening at the same time. It was stupid, really..... how just seeing them like this made him feel like the entire world had dropped into place. He’d drawn that damn sketch in the middle of those chaotic days he and Kimberly were fighting, but looking at them now, he realized he hadn’t even captured half of how they made him feel.He let himself stay there in the quiet, invisible and content with it for quite some minutes, until a pair of big, storm-gray eyes finally darted his way.Keira’s lips parted, a tiny gasp escaping them.“Da—”Bryce’s eyes widened slightly, shaking his head, and he lifted a finger to his lips with a playful shhh, silently begging her
He was probably got caught up in work again.Sighing, she tied her hair into a loose bun and decided to do some working on her phone before going up to shower. Anything to distract herself right now.She had just fished out for a when she heard tiny footsteps, and she was already giggling before the little girl could appear.“Mommy's home. Yay! Edna, Mommy's home!”Kimberly turned, her smile wide, and heart warm. “Hey, baby.”Keira came rushing in, clutching a folded paper like a top-secret treasure. Her curls bounced with every step she took, eyes so bright and sharp, letting Kimberly know she had some reports to tell.“Mommy, come see what I drew!” Keira announced proudly, waving the paper.“Baby, you didn't even ask how Mommy's day went. You didn't ask if Mommy is tired. If she needs a glass of water or juice.” Kimberly said with mock seriousness.“Oopsis! Sorry, Mommy! I was just too excited to see that you're home.” Keira beamed. Before Kimberly could say anything, the little gi
Kimberly walked away, her steps steady, but inside, everything stung.She slipped into the restroom, closing the door softly behind her. The moment the latch clicked, her composure broke.Leaning over the sink, she gripped the edges so hard her knuckles turned white, staring at the reflection that stared back.It was the same face people loved to misjudge.... soft eyes, quiet smiles. A face that looked too gentle to fight back unless pushed to the edge.“Home wrecker,” she whispered bitterly. “She called me a home wrecker.”Her voice trembled, the word tasting like poison.“Am I really one?”Her throat tightened as she swallowed hard. She had never let Clara’s words get under her skin before , not really. But this time, they did, and she wasn't happy that she had let her succeed.She looked at herself again. Her makeup was still perfect. Her hair, not a strand out of place. To anyone else, she probably looked like she had everything under control.But her eyes gave her away.“God,” sh







