CYRIL’S POVRaine’s scent was still stuck in my head as I pulled away. I was fighting every damn instinct to turn back and hold her again. I managed to walk away from her, from the comfort of her arms, and headed straight to the asshole I’d spotted behind her.That damn therapist leaned against the wall, his chin up like he owned the place, sipping chardonnay way too expensive for a piece of shit like him. My blood boiled the second our eyes locked. Smug bastard didn’t even blink. I didn’t give a fuck about the crowd or the music pulsing through the speakers. I strode toward him with one thing in mind: end whatever bullshit he was playing at. But just as I got closer, some bald guy I hadn’t met before stepped right in front of me. “Mr. Vale. Big fan. I’ve been following your work for years. I’ve got a proposal. Listen, I’m an actor, alright?” He said with this slick-ass grin. “Been in some indie stuff. Good reviews. Raw talent.” Then he proceeded to hold my arm. My eyes zoomed in
RAINE’S POV“Thanks,” I whispered, swallowing the lump in my throat. Just like that, the anger and tension from last night waned. Something about him wearing a tie that matched my dress made everything feel okay for a minute.“Zayne,” Cyril said, calling out to his son behind him. “Stay close, okay?” Zayne nodded, but his eyes were already darting toward the buffet table. Cyril turned back to me. “I don’t want to take over your night. Just wanted to quickly give you this. You and your friends should have fun. I’ll be somewhere in the crowd if you need me.” I nodded, clutching the flowers a little tighter. “Thank you.”He winked at me and then disappeared into the crowd like some boss-level ghost. “Okay, okay,” Chloe said, pulling me back to reality. “I guess it’s time to have fun.” I sighed, but nodded. She was right. I wasn’t going to spend my birthday party hiding in a corner. The tension between Cyril and me had disappeared. It was time for me to have some fun. We started weav
RAINE’S POVGuests had already started arriving. I mingled with them, smiled for pictures, and hugged familiar faces. A few people I hadn’t seen in forever showed up, old modeling contacts, influencers, stylists, and even a couple of photographers.“Raine! Girl, it’s so good to see you.” Helena Rodriguez stopped me midway. She was a photographer I’d worked with in the past, and I remembered her big hugs. I’d missed them so much. Helena was a nice person, and I always had a feeling she was never pleased with the photos my mom made me take. “It’s good to know that you’ve disappeared from the club scene. The blogs don’t post about that anymore,” she beamed at me. “Yeah,” I said with a shrug, “Been working a lot.” “You look amazing though,” she added. “Grown and glowing.”I smiled. “Thanks.”I spotted Tyler across the room, his glittering two-piece not hard to miss. The minute those hazel eyes landed on me, he ran in my direction, letting out a gleeful squeal the second he got closer.
RAINE’S POVI sat on the edge of my bed, my arms wrapped around a pillow as I stared at the floor like it held all the answers to the questions swirling in my head. My wet hair was still wrapped in a towel as I’d just gotten out of the shower. Across the room, the blue dress Chloe had chosen for me to wear for my party tonight hung on the closet door, but I barely saw it. My mind was elsewhere. I couldn’t stop thinking about Cyril and our last conversation. On the fact that he hadn’t come back. Why did I always have to mess things up? “I can’t believe it’s finally here, your birthday party!” Chloe said, for like the tenth time today as she walked in with a hairbrush in hand. Her orange copper locs were pulled up into a cute bun, framing her slim face. Her makeup was all done, but it was her fiery orange eyeshadow that immediately caught my eye. She looked ready to party. Meanwhile, I was still trying to wrap my head around how to survive the night ahead. “What’s wrong?” She asked
CYRIL’S POVThe morning chill welcomed us as the jet touched down at the estate. Fluffy clouds floated across the pale blue sky, but I was in no mood to admire shit. Zayne yawned as we stepped out. His shoulders were still tense, like he was unsure if this peace was real or some kind of twisted calm before another blow. I could feel how anxious he was. I wasn’t going to let him out of my sight ever again.“You want to crash at the villa?” I asked him, heading toward the black SUV waiting on the tarmac. “Or take your old room here at the estate. It’s your call.” He looked up at me, eyes still heavy from the flight. “I think staying here would be better … it’ll feel just like old times.” I nodded. “Good. You’ll sleep better here anyway. And I’m sure you’ve missed Martha’s cooking.”On the drive down to the mansion, he stared out the window while I responded to a few emails and sorted out yet another mess at the firm. By mess, I meant Vince. He’d found out that Bobby or was it Robby,
CYRIL’S POVI still had Diane by the fucking arm, gripping her like the venomous snake she was. Her eyes were darting around, maybe hoping someone from her flower cult would jump in and save her. Not a chance.“Cyril. I need you to believe me when I say I don’t…”“Shut the fuck up, Diane. I’m not going to believe any words from your mouth. I know you laid your hands on Zayne.” I snarled again, dragging her a few steps toward me. “It’s sad that you think you can just disappear into some goddamn lavender-scented fantasy land after everything you did.”The minute those words left my mouth, I heard a voice I hadn’t expected so soon.“Dad… that never happened.”I turned my head to get a good view of Zayne. He was wearing that stupid linen shirt they make you wear in these retreats, trying to look calm, but his eyes, his eyes were begging me to stop.“You don’t have to do this,” he said, stepping forward, hands slightly raised.I tightened my grip on Diane. “You’re defending her now?” I as