Riven Vale is Hollywood’s star boy—talented, handsome, untouchable. But when a late-night scandal with a billionaire’s son explodes across every tabloid, his once-soaring career crashes to dust. To quell the frenzy, his team ships him off to a sleepy coastal town in Maine, ostensibly “to rest and recharge.” Unofficially? He stumbled onto something dark: a clandestine meeting between studio executives and a shadowy investor, planning to traffic stolen military tech.He refused their hush-money,and the threats began. At the edge of a misty harbor stands Kael Quinn, a rugged carpenter with a haunted gaze and zero patience for movie stars. Riven doesn’t recognize him at first, but Kael remembers the boy who crushed a small-town heart in high school—and walked away without a second glance. This time, he’s not letting Riven leave until he makes amends. Only, Kael doesn't just want an apology; he wants the truth, the whole story, and he’s ready to use every tool in his belt to pry it out. “Tell me, Hollywood—do you kiss better when you're lying, or when you're scared?” Tension ignites into obsession as Riven fights to stay alive—and to win back the man he once broke. With every secret laid bare, they’re drawn together by danger, by guilt, by the promise of something more. But the label’s mercenaries are closing in, and in a town too quiet to be safe, love might be the deadliest risk of all.
view more"Ugh!" Suara lenguhan panjang terdengar memenuhi ruang kamar saat Andi menyelesaikan permainannya.
"Enak," ucap Andi, merasakan nikmat yang tiada tara. Namun berbeda dengan Febby yang tidak merasakan klimaks sama sekali. Wajahnya menyiratkan kekecewaan mendalam. "Sudah keluar Mas? Kok cepet banget, ngga sampai satu menit. Perasaan baru masuk." Febby mengeluh sambil menghela napas panjang. Sudah sering dia mengatakan kalau dia tidak pernah puas dengan permainan suaminya. Dia juga tidak pernah merasa ada yang keluar dari bagian inti tubuh, yang menandakan dia belum mencapai puncak. Namun Andi seolah masa bodo. Yang penting nafsunya tersalurkan. "Aku lelah. Tadi itu aku udah berusaha untuk lama, tapi malah keluarnya cepet." Selesai melampiaskan hasrat, Andi berbaring di sebelah istrinya tanpa merasa bersalah sama sekali. Raut kesal dan kecewa terlihat jelas di wajah Febby, yang selama dua tahun menjadi istri sah Andi. Selama dua tahun itu dia tidak pernah merasakan klimaks saat berhubungan dengan suaminya. Kenikmatan hanya dirasakan oleh Andi, bahkan Andi tidak pernah membuatnya nyaman di atas ranjang. Andi juga kurang perhatian, hanya memikirkan diri sendiri. Pernikahan dua tahun terasa semakin hambar bagi Febby. Namun tidak ada yang bisa dilakukan. Toh Febby yang memilih laki-laki itu menjadi suaminya dan mereka sedang menjalani program kehamilan. Ya, Andi dan Febby sudah didesak oleh kedua orang tua mereka agar secepatnya memiliki anak, tetapi sampai detik ini tidak ada tanda-tanda Febby mengandung buah cinta mereka. "Kamu mau langsung tidur Mas?" tanya Febby pada suaminya yang baru saja pulang kerja dan meminta dilayani. Selesai dilayani, Andi berbaring di ranjang sambil memejamkan mata. "Iya, aku ngantuk. Kamu masak makan malam aja dulu. Kalau udah mateng semua, bangunin." Febby menghela napas panjang, turun dari ranjang lalu memakai pakaian satu per satu. Matanya melirik Andi yang terlelap, padahal baru saja kepala suaminya itu bersandar ke atas bantal. Tidak ada ucapan terima kasih. I love you. Atau gombalan yang keluar dari mulut Andi, membuat Febby merasa tidak dicintai sama sekali. "Mandi dulu dong Mas, masa langsung tidur." "Hem," sahut Andi datar. Selesai memakai pakaian, Febby melangkah mendekati pintu lalu keluar. Sedangkan Andi sudah jauh mengarungi mimpi. Langkah kaki Febby dihentikan oleh ibu mertua di ambang pintu dapur. Wanita paruh baya itu menatap wajah menantunya yang lesu sambil mengerutkan kening. "Kamu kenapa, Feb?" "Ngga apa-apa Bu," jawab Febby, pelan, melanjutkan langkah kakinya mendekati kulkas. Ratih mengikuti Febby ke dapur, membantu menantunya menyiapkan bahan makanan. Sejak kemarin wanita paruh baya itu menginap di rumah kontrakan dua kamar tersebut. Satu bangunan rumah yang baru dua bulan ditempati itu berada di komplek perumahan Melati. Rencananya Andi ingin mencicil rumah yang mereka tempati sekarang agar tidak bayar kontrakan lagi. "Suami kamu mana, Feb?" tanya Ratih. "Mas Andi tidur Bu. Katanya capek," jawab Febby seraya mengeluarkan bahan makanan dari dalam kulkas dua pintu. Beberapa jenis sayur dan ikan segar dia letakan di dekat wastafel untuk dibersihkan. "Kamu udah konsultasi lagi ke Dokter Kandungan?" tanya Ratih pada menantunya. "Udah Bu, katanya aku sama Mas Andi harus sering minum vitamin biar subur. Aku udah dikasih resep vitamin itu. Semoga aja ada kabar baik bulan depan." "Amin," ucap Ratih. "Selain berkonsultasi ke Dokter, kamu juga harus pergi ke Dukun beranak. Atau ke mana kek. Biar kamu cepet isi." "Udah Bu, tapi emang dasarnya belum dikasih aja. Kalau memang belum rejekinya, ya mau gimana lagi." "Kalau gitu, coba kamu konsultasi ke Dokter lain. Misalnya ke Dokter Dirga. Dia sepupunya Andi. Siapa tahu dia bisa bantu kalian. Kasih saran apa untuk membantu mempercepat kehamilan kamu." Febby terdiam. Sebenarnya sudah beberapa kali mereka gonta-ganti dokter, tetapi tidak ada perubahan sama sekali. Beberapa dokter juga menyarankan untuk memeriksa kesuburan satu sama lain, namun Andi selalu menolak dan mengatakan kalau dia sehat. Sementara, selama berhubungan Febby tidak pernah merasa puas. Bahkan durasinya hanya sebentar, tidak sampai tiga menit langsung crott. "Lebih baik kamu coba dulu saran Ibu," ucap Ratih yang selalu mendesak Febby agar cepat hamil. Andai kehamilan bisa dibeli, Febby akan membelinya agar bisa secepatnya memberi gelar ayah pada sang suami. "Kalau kamu ragu, mending komunikasikan dulu sama Andi. Biar kalian lebih yakin. Ibu sih percaya sama Dokter Dirga. Banyak kok pasien dia yang berhasil hamil." Febby menghela napas panjang. "Nanti aku coba bicarakan sama Mas Andi. Kalau dia mau, besok aku dan Mas Andi ke tempat praktek Dokter itu." Ratih tersenyum, "Nanti alamatnya Ibu kasih ke kamu. Kamu dan Andi langsung ke sana aja. Nanti Ibu bikin janji biar kalian ngga antri." "Iya Bu, makasih." Saat sedang berbincang, Andi datang mendekati kedua wanita di dapur. Pria yang memiliki tinggi 170cm itu duduk di depan meja makan dengan lesu. "Bikinin aku kopi," katanya memerintah Febby. "Tunggu sebentar Mas. Aku lagi masak." "Ck! Aku maunya sekarang!" Andi mengeraskan suaranya, membuat Febby terhenyak kaget. Ratih dan Febby saling tatap, Ibu mertuanya itu memutar bola mata meminta Febby menurut saja. "Biasa aja dong Mas, jangan marah begitu," sahut Febby kesal. "Kamu ini. Suami minta kopi malah nanti-nanti. Utamakan melayani suami dulu, baru yang lain! Gimana sih!" cecar Andi memarahi Febby. Ratih hanya diam, tak membela menantunya ataupun menasehati Andi. Baginya pemandangan seperti itu sudah biasa terjadi. Dia pun mengalami di rumah. "Sabar Mas." Terpaksa Febby menunda masakannya dan membuat kopi untuk Andi yang sudah tidak sabar. Dengan perasaan kesal, Febby meletakkan kopi hitam pesanan suaminya ke atas meja. "Mau apa lagi Mas? Sekalian aja, aku mau masak." Andi melotot, menatap istrinya seperti ingin menelan hidup-hidup. "Kamu ngga iklhas?" "Bukan ngga ikhlas Mas, aku kan cuma nanya sama kamu. Kamu mau apa lagi? Biar aku ambilin sekalian." "Ngga ada, aku cuma mau kopi." "Ya udah," sahut Febby pelan. Ia kembali melanjutkan memasak makan malam, meski perasaannya kesal. Sikap dingin Andi sudah berlangsung lebih dari satu tahun. Tanpa alasan yang jelas, Andi tiba-tiba jadi kasar dan bahasanya tidak pernah lembut seperti dulu. Febby curiga suaminya memiliki wanita idaman lain di luar sana, namun ia tidak pernah mendapatkan bukti apapun perselingkuhan itu. Suasana hening. Di ruang dapur yang tidak luas itu hanya terdengar suara dentingan sendok dan panci. "Mumpung ada Andi di sini. Ibu ngomong aja langsung sama kalian berdua." Ratih membuka pembicaraan di ruang sunyi itu. Andi mendongak, "Ngomong apa Bu?" tanyanya datar. "Ibu mau ngasih saran, gimana kalau kamu dan Febby konsultasi aja ke Dokter Dirga. Sepupu kamu itu. Dia kan Dokter kandungan terkenal. Kebetulan dia buka praktek di Jakarta. Kalian bisa ke sana. Kalau kamu mau, nanti Ibu bikin janji sama dia. Biar kalian ngga antri panjang. Maklum, pasien dia kan banyak." Andi manggut-manggut. "Oke, aku setuju. Aku dan Febby akan ke sana." Ratih tersenyum. Ia tatap menantunya yang tengah sibuk mengaduk sayur di dalam panci. "Kamu dengar kan. Suami kamu setuju. Kamu juga setuju kan?" tanya Ratih pada menantunya itu. "Iya Bu, aku setuju," jawab Febby.“You call that a plan?” Ari’s voice cracked through the hum of the tires. “Because from where I’m sitting, we almost died for nothing.”The SUV rattled down the forest road, headlights cutting through wet branches. Kael’s hands stayed steady on the wheel, jaw locked, eyes fixed ahead. Riven, hunched in the passenger seat, twisted toward Ari in the back.“Nothing?” His voice was sharp, frayed with exhaustion. “Roman’s jacket was there. His jacket, Ari. That means he’s alive.”Ari scoffed, rubbing blood from his temple with the back of his sleeve. “Or it means someone planted it there so you’d keep chasing ghosts.”Riven’s chest burned. He twisted back toward the windshield, fists clenching. The trees blurred by like black scars.“Enough,” Kael said quietly. Not loud, but it cut through the air like a blade.Silence dropped. The kind that presses on your chest and makes you sweat.No one spoke again until they hit the driveway.---Inside the safehouse, Bea was waiting at the kitchen ta
Riven sat rigid in the passenger seat, his hand still curled tight around the burner phone. He’d been checking it obsessively the entire ride, screen lighting up his jawline in quick, nervous bursts. No new messages. No calls. Just silence.“Here,” Kael said, voice even but tight. “This is as close as we can risk driving.”Riven finally looked up, scanning the stretch of woods that opened into shadowy fields. “So this is it? The ranch?”Kael gave a single nod. “Mason’s family land. Old, secluded. They used to run cattle through here, but his father turned it into a fortress. Half the fences are rigged, and I’d bet money they’ve got cameras tucked in the trees.”Riven swallowed hard. “And Roman… he could be inside.”Kael’s gaze flicked toward him, unreadable in the dark. “That’s why we’re here.”The doors creaked open, loud against the oppressive hush. Ari, Harlow, and Jesse climbed out from the back, each bundled against the chill. Mrs. Bea had insisted on staying behind in town, clai
The paper sat in the center of the kitchen table like it might explode.Two words, still damp, black ink bleeding into the fibers.Tick, tick.No one touched it now.The house groaned against the morning wind, wood creaking in its bones. It was supposed to be shelter. It felt like a trap.Kael leaned forward, palms flat on the table, his voice even but hard enough to cut through the tension. “Nobody leaves this room until we figure out how the hell that got inside.”Ari scoffed, shotgun still in hand, jaw tight. “What do you mean, how? Someone waltzed in while we were sleeping like it was nothing. That’s how.”“That’s not what I’m asking.” Kael’s eyes flicked to each of them, sharp and measuring. “I’m asking which one of us let it happen.”The silence that followed was thick, sticky, dangerous.Riven’s chest clenched. “Don’t—don’t start turning this into some witch hunt.”Kael didn’t look at him. “They don’t just walk past locks and alarms unless somebody helps them. Somebody here sli
Kael came in from the porch just as the first strips of weak light slipped through the blinds. His boots tracked mud, his shoulders heavy with exhaustion, but his jaw was set like he’d swallowed a fight whole. He didn’t look at Riven right away.Mrs. Bea was already at the stove, her back straight, her hair pinned up neat like always. She moved slow, deliberate, the kettle clattering down with more force than needed. “You boys look like death warmed over,” she said without turning, voice steady but sharp.Ari was stretched out on the couch, shotgun leaning against his knee. His head lolled back, but his eyes were open, bloodshot and hollow. “I stayed up watching the treeline,” he muttered. “Swear I saw movement more than once.”“Paranoia,” Kael said flatly. He leaned against the counter, folding his arms, but his gaze flicked to the window as if to check for himself.“It ain’t paranoia if they were here,” Ari shot back.No one laughed.Riven hadn’t moved since Kael walked in. His eyes
Riven leaned against the counter, arms folded tight across his chest, his leg bouncing like it was trying to run away from him. Ari sprawled on the couch with a shotgun resting across his lap, eyes alert despite the casual slouch. Mrs. Bea had taken the rocking chair, hands wrapped around her rosary, lips moving in silent prayer.Roman’s absence hung like a noose. Jesse sat near the stairs, face pale and raw, one of Kael’s hoodies swallowed around her small frame. Every so often her eyes darted to the door, as if expecting her brother to walk in.“Someone talk,” Ari muttered finally, voice sharp from the tension. “Or else I’m gonna start singing, and trust me—none of you want that.”No one laughed.Riven spoke first. “That message—it wasn’t just a threat. ‘House without a chimney’? That’s a clue. Roman’s alive, Kael.” His voice cracked at the end, but his stare was steel.Kael dragged in smoke, then crushed the cigarette out. “And what if it’s bait? Mason wants us moving blind.”“The
His thumb hovered like maybe one more press would unlock something. But there was nothing. Just the words. " When you go rome, you act like that Romans. Will Roman join or rebel"?.Kael leaned against the counter, arms folded, watching him. He hadn’t spoken for a long time. Finally he said, low and steady, “It’s bait.”Riven snapped his head up. “Don’t start with that. It’s not bait. It’s proof. Proof he’s alive—”“Or proof they know exactly where to hit you,” Kael cut in. His voice wasn’t sharp, but it was solid, like a wall Riven couldn’t push through.Across the room, Jesse shifted. She’d been quiet for most of the night, curled up on Bea’s old recliner with a blanket around her shoulders, but now her voice trembled. “What does it mean? Are they… are they going to hurt him if you don’t—”“No one’s hurting him,” Riven said too fast, too harsh. He ran a hand through his hair, restless. “They can’t. They wouldn’t—”“Don’t lie to her,” Kael said quietly.Bea’s hand came down on Jesse’s
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