로그인ARIELLA We found Margaret was placing the last bowl on the table. “Everything ready, Margaret?” I asked. “Yes,” she said. “Everything’s ready.” “Okay, I’ll go get everyone.” Maria shook her head, already taking a seat. “I’ll just stay here. Why don’t you go and get them?” I paused, looking at
ARIELLA I froze. It wasn’t inappropriate. It wasn’t… that. But it was.... Familiar. Too familiar. Asher laughed, reaching up to ruffle her hair, messing it up playfully as someone would do with a younger sibling. “Hey, stranger,” he said. Leon stood beside them, smiling brightly, clearly loving
ARIELLA I exhaled. “Okay.” “I’ll see you later,” he said. “Don’t be late for dinner,” I responded. “I want a promise.” A small smile slipped into his voice. “Okay. I promise.” “I love you.” I couldn't help myself. “I love you too.” The call ended and I stayed there for a moment longer, star
ARIELLA The truth was… maybe I did. Maybe I had seen them before. Maybe I had grown up around them. But I didn’t actually know who had died. “I don’t know,” I said honestly. “Maybe.” Leon frowned again. “Then why didn’t you go to the funeral?” I hesitated. “I guess I should have,” I admitted
ARIELLA After breakfast, I tried to keep the morning as normal as possible. For Leon, and most importantly…For myself. “Mom,” Leon said, looking up at me, “should we go and prepare my study room? You told me that I could help.” “Of course,” I said. But before we walked out, I turned toward Marg
ARIELLA I held his gaze. “I can’t survive without you,” I said again. “You won’t have to,” he replied quietly. “I’m going to be okay. I’ll come back. I have to. You and Leon are waiting for me. I won’t break that promise.” He lifted my chin gently so I had no choice but to look at him. “I just
Luca only smiled.NA cold, twisted smile that sent shivers down my entire spine. “Since I can’t touch you and leave all the frustration and anger on you,” he began, his voice low and venom-laced, “not just because I know Asher will kill me for it... but also because there’s this tiny little part in
She wouldn’t just leave without saying anything. Would she? I sat down again, uneasy now. My fingers fiddled with a napkin on the table. A few minutes passed, maybe longer before Alan returned. His face was unreadable. “Hey,” I said quickly, standing up. “What did they say? Are they okay?” “The
After dinner, things settled into a quiet lull. It was clear Rosie and Leon were getting restless, both of them squirming and yawning. Rosie kept tugging on Alan’s ankle until he finally chuckled and said, “I would’ve loved to spend a few more minutes getting to know you, Ariana, but it looks like
Luca drives. And drives. And drives. At some point, I must have dozed off. When I blink back to consciousness, we’re parked in front of a building, not nearly as grand as the one I’d just left behind when Asher found me. It’s not terrible, but it’s older, and worn down. The kind of place where no o







