MasukGwen led me through the house with effortless authority, bypassing all the scans and security as if they didn’t exist. Like she owned everything. Well, she is his girlfriend, so I guess she is the new authority here. I followed hesitantly, my stomach tight, every nerve alert. We walked upstairs in silence, the soft thud of our footsteps on the polished floors echoing in the empty corridor. When the door to Leo’s room opened, I braced myself, ready to unleash my anger and waiting for him to accuse me of being insecure again. I expected him to be sitting there, looking at me with those questioning eyes. But that wasn’t what I found. Leo was curled under a duvet, shivering, his pale face peeking out from the folds. His hair was mussed, his eyes half-lidded and glassy with fever. The whole room smelled faintly of medicine. I froze. Confusion replaced the anger that had been coiling inside me all the way from Miami. “Is… he sick?” I whispered, more to myself than anyone. “Obvi
We had just stepped onto the beach of the private island when the assistant, who had been about to make a call, froze.She let out a quiet sigh and tilted her head toward the water.I followed her gaze.A figure was swimming, far enough at first that I couldn’t make out much.But then she rose from the ocean like a mermaid.The water cascaded down her body in rivulets, glinting in the sunlight.Each step she took on the sand was effortless, poised,every movement measured, like a model striding down a runway.Her hair was red and wet, clung to her shoulders, dripping water in tiny streams that sparkled as she shook it back.The orange bikini was so good on her skin tone and that of her revealing long, elegant legs.Her face—perfect, symmetrical, radiant—caught the sun.High cheekbones, full lips, cat eyes that seemed so fierce and yet soft.She looked so beautiful.More than beautiful.I felt a surge of something bitter in my chest as she started walking toward us like she owned the b
I woke up with a sharp gasp, my chest heaving like I’d been underwater.My hands flew to my head as the last image clung stubbornly to my mind.The image of Zoey and Leo laughing as I collapsed on the floor.Thank God it wasn't real.I pressed my palm to my chest, breathing slowly.It was all a dream.“Ma’am.”I flinched.Leo’s assistant stood a short distance away."Em....Hi?"She gave me a look.“We’ve arrived. You are in Hawaii.”I looked around, disoriented.The private jet was immaculate—soft leather seats, dim ambient lighting, a blanket still draped over my legs.Never been in one before.So comfy that I slept as soon as we took off and slept throughout the flight.My body felt heavy."Thanks for your help," I replied hoarsely.Then I swallowed, embarrassed by the lingering tremor in my hands.“How long have we been here?”“Only a few minutes,” she said. “I didn’t want to wake you unless necessary.”I exhaled slowly and stood, steadying myself against the seat for a moment."Th
I couldn’t stand it anymore. “Leo!! Zoey!!!” I yelled out in a deep voice I didn’t know I had. They turned and separated instantly. “Charlotte, you’re here,” he said. His voice was flat, and when he said my name, it felt devoid of the warmth that used to curl around it. It was just a word now. “You,” I whispered, the sound scraping my raw throat. My eyes darted from his stoic face to Zoey’s unrepentant one. “With… her?” Zoey rolled her eyes. Leo looked at her, and she gave him a smile. They kissed, and he pulled her closer, his large hand wrapping around her waist. “This isn’t how I wanted you to find out,” Leo said, running a hand through his hair. A broken, hysterical laugh bubbled from my lips. “Wanted me to find out that you’re having a lovely time betraying me with my sister?” “Charlotte, please,” Zoey groaned. “You can’t possibly think he was in love with you. How foolish are you?” “Foolish?” I repeated, my voice rising, echoing in the cavernous room. “You are the fo
I can't believe we landed in Hawaii and I was standing in front of Leo's mansion, the beach and everything looked just like I remembered. But my heart won't stop racing. Leo's assistant, led me to a side door, I didn't know existed before, maybe he only allows visitors from there. “We have few security sensors,” she stated, as if explaining the weather. She tapped on a tablet, her fingers flying, disabling the security protocols. A soft click echoed and the door opened to a lonely passage. It was really a secret passage. "Hi KC?" I whispered. No answer, the assistant turned to me like I was crazy. “He’s at home,” she said, her voice low. “Just follow the tunnel you will another elevator that will take you up. l will wait here.” My heart was a trapped, frantic bird against my ribs. This was it. I would see him finally and demand the truth I needed to see his face when he gave it. The passage way down the tunnel seemed to stretch and contract. My breathing was shallow, my
For some reason, I found myself standing in Leo’s house.I let the door close behind me and didn’t move for a long moment. Even though my new place was filled with the most expensive furniture I could buy—imported couches, marble counters, things people only admired from a distance—it didn’t compare to this.This house felt like home.Maybe because of the faint scent of his cologne still clinging to the air. The memories we shared in here.It wrapped around my chest before I could stop it.“Stupid,” I whispered to myself.My eyes blurred anyway.When I’d told Angela I wanted to come back here, I’d lied—said I forgot something important. She’d known. Of course she had. Angela always knew when I was pretending.“It’s okay if you’re still hurting,” she’d said gently.“It’s okay if you haven’t unloved him yet.”“Charlotte, it’s only been three days. Nobody heals that fast.”Now, standing in the middle of the living room, I understood exactly what she meant.I sank onto the couch and pres







