LOGINRhys’s POV The walk back to my room didn’t feel like something I was entirely in control of, my steps slow and uneven, as though something unseen had wrapped itself around my chest and was pulling tighter with every breath I took, refusing to let me settle, refusing to let me think clearly. All I could see was that moment we were almost caught, Mirabel’s voice in the hallway. Her footsteps getting closer, and the door opening. I exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down my face as I pushed the memory away before it could finish. A few seconds, that was all it would have taken. A few seconds earlier, and she would have seen everything. The thought alone made my chest constrict painfully. I didn’t even want to imagine the look on her face if that had happened, the confusion, the disbelief, the quiet disappointment that would follow, because it wouldn’t be loud with Mirabel, she wasn’t the type to explode or create a scene, she would just look at me differently, and somehow tha
Alicia’s POV My heart pounded loudly against my chest as Mirabel dragged me out of the library, her fingers wrapped tightly around my wrist like she hadn’t even noticed how close everything had come to falling apart just seconds ago. I could barely feel my legs as I followed her down the hallway, my mind still trapped in that room, replaying every single second over and over again. The way his hand had been on me, the way his voice had dropped, the way his strong thighs felt beneath my bum. And the way the kiss calmed and stirred everything in me. I swallowed hard, forcing the thought away before it could fully form. We shouldn’t be doing this. I had said it, I meant it. And yet my body still hadn’t caught up with that decision. “So help me Lord,” I muttered under my breath. Mirabel didn’t slow down as she pulled me along, completely unaware of the storm raging inside me. Or maybe she just didn’t care. She didn’t know. She couldn’t know. Because if she did, she wouldn’t b
Rhys’s POV I’d been twisting and turning since we left the dining table, unable to take my mind off Alicia’s life, and unable to contain my happiness having confirmed from Hayes that she was truly the lady from that night. Her words at dinner kept replaying—the plane crash, the foster homes, the father who’d vanished before she was born. Who in their right senses abandons a pregnant woman? The joy of finally finding her warred the guilt. This was Mirabel’s best friend. The girl she called her sister. The one who’d helped her through exams, late nights, everything. If Mirabel found out… if she knew we’d ever met and had that kind of an encounter, she’d be disappointed in me. I sat up in bed, the sheets pooling around my waist. The clock on the nightstand read one thirty-eight a.m. The house was silent, the kind of silence that came with everyone being fast asleep. I rubbed my face, trying to shake it off. I needed water or anything cold to cut through the heat in my veins. I swun
Alicia’s POV We slipped back into Mirabel’s room after dinner, the hallway lights dimmed low and the house settling into that deep, quiet hush that only big rich homes can achieve. The pasta sat warm in my stomach, but the conversation at the table lingered heavier—Rhys’s gray eyes across the candles, the way he’d asked about my family like he was searching for something. I’d answered honestly, but the truth felt like a confession I hadn’t meant to give. Mirabel kicked off her flip flops and jumped onto her massive bed. “Shower first? I smell like garlic and travel.” I nodded. “You go. I’ll grab my stuff.” She disappeared into her en-suite bathroom, the door clicking shut behind her. I stood in the middle of the room for a moment—posters of indie bands on the walls, fairy lights looped around the headboard, a stack of books on her nightstand. It felt safe. Familiar. Like every sleepover we’d had in the dorm. Except now the house belonged to him. I changed into my sleep shorts and
Rhys’s POV Dinner ended quietly. Mirabel yawned through the last bite of tiramisu, stretching her arms overhead and declaring she was “officially in food coma mode.” She kissed my cheek, hugged me, and dragged her best friend upstairs with promises of a movie marathon in her room. “Don’t stay up too late, Dad,” she teased over her shoulder. “You’re old. You need your beauty sleep.” I managed a half-smile. “Goodnight, sweetheart.” The dining room fell silent after they left. Maria cleared the plates without a word, giving me a soft “Good night, Mr. Connell” before disappearing into the kitchen. The candles were still burning low, wax pooling on the holders. I stayed seated, staring at the empty chair across from me where Alicia had been. I had a lot of thoughts running through my mind, half of them were me thinking about how lonely she felt. Not having a family is a lot, especially for a young, vibrant lady like her. Alicia Brown. I repeated her name, like I was trying to memorize
Alicia’s POV The dining room glowed softly under the warm lights. Mirabel and I kept chatting—about nothing and everything—while the clink of cutlery and the scent of garlic and tomato filled the air. From the corner of my eye, I glanced at Rhys. He was on his phone, his expression unreadable. He’s probably working, I thought. Mirabel moaned as she twirled another forkful of pasta. “Dad, this is so good honestly. I can’t get enough of this meal, even after serving myself another portion. Maria deserves a raise.” Rhys smiled faintly and slipped his phone back into his pocket. “I’ll tell her. She’ll be thrilled.” I took a small bite, chewing slowly, my eyes fixed on my plate. Every time I glanced toward him, I found his gaze already on me. Each time it happened, a jolt of electricity ran down my spine. He poured wine for all three of us. “Alicia,” he said smoothly, “I hope you’re enjoying the meal. Do you need anything?” I adjusted my posture and looked straight at him. “I
Rhys’s POV The phone rang as I stepped onto the front porch, coat already buttoned against the December chill. Mirabel’s name flashed on the screen. I answered immediately. “Dad—we’re here!” Her voice burst through, bright and breathless, the faint rumble of a car engine and traffic noise in th
Alicia’s POV Mirabel’s voice rang bright and happy, slicing through the crisp air like nothing was wrong. Like the entire world hadn’t just tilted sideways in the space of one heartbeat. I stood frozen on the gravel, my fingers clenched so hard around the handle of my duffel b
Alicia’s POV Mirabel looped her arm through mine, tugging me out of the library with that bubbly energy that always made everything feel lighter. I let her drag me along, my legs still unsteady from the close call with Rhys. His question echoed in my head like a warning bell, but I shoved it down
Rhys’s POV The words left my mouth before I could stop them—soft, and polite, just like the perfect host. But inside my chest, something violent was happening. She stood about two feet away, still on the threshold, coat still buttoned, and her cheeks flushed from the cold and from… something el







