LOGINMichael's POVI had walked into the doctor's office expecting answers, what I hadn't expected was another problem.It felt like my life had become a never-ending cycle of disasters, secrets, and people trying to destroy each other.My heart was still racing from everything that had happened tonight and now i was in the doctor's office."Mr. Carter"The formal tone immediately put me on edge and I leaned forward in my chair."Is Theo okay?" I asked.The doctor nodded as a small smile appeared."Yes" he replied.Relief immediately washed over me. I hadn't even realized how tightly my shoulders were clenched until that moment."The surgery was truly successful" he added.I let out a breath."Thank God."For a brief moment I thought the meeting was already over then I noticed the doctor's expression change.My stomach tightened."What is it?" I asked.The doctor glanced down at one of the files then back up at me."During our examinations we discovered something unexpected" he said.Immed
Fernando’s POVThe moment Michael disappeared down the hallway with the doctor, I made my decision to make ny move.I wasn't interested in speaking with nurses, I wasn't interested in sitting quietly in a waiting room and I certainly wasn't interested in pretending Theo and I could coexist peacefully.There was no way I was going to be okay being with the man who was trying to come in-between Michael and I.There was something that needed to be said, something that had been hanging over both of us since the night everything went wrong.I glanced toward Henry and Kim. They were talking quietly near the chairs and neither of them paid much attention to me.Perfect. There was no better time than the present. The last thing I needed was an audience.I walked toward Theo's room and the nurse at the station looked up so I gave her a polite smile.One of the benefits of money and confidence was that people rarely questioned you.She returned to her paperwork and as I pushed the door open, T
Michael’s POV"The surgery was a success but we still need to monitor him" the doctor said before leaving. The doctor had reassured us that Theo was stable and the surgery had been successful but hospital procedures meant none of us could immediately rush into his room.So we waited and waited.Kim paced nervously, Henry kept reassuring her while Fernando stood nearby with his arms folded.I sat quietly, occasionally glancing toward Theo's room. Every time a nurse emerged, my attention immediately shifted, every single time.Kim eventually stood up."They're really making us wait."Henry smiled softly."They just finished surgery.""I know, but I want to see him" she sighed dramatically.A nurse eventually approached us."You can begin visiting" she said.Kim immediately stood.The nurse pointed at her."One person at a time."Kim nodded so quickly it was almost funny."I'll go first" she said.She disappeared into the room and the door closed behind her while the rest of us resumed
Fernando's POVI knew exactly what was coming. The moment Theo woke up, everything would change, maybe not immediately or dramatically but eventually.The truth had a way of finding its way into the light and if Theo decided to tell Michael what really happened tonight, then the small amount of progress I had managed to make with Michael would disappear overnight.Or worse.Michael would take Henry and move even farther away from me and then New York would become impossible.The thought irritated me.For years I had watched from a distance, I had convinced myself it was necessary and I had accepted it.Now that they were standing in front of me again, I wasn't willing to lose them a second time, especially not to Theo.The hallway remained quiet.The only sounds came from nurses moving through the building and the distant beeping of hospital equipment.Michael sat in one of the chairs nearby. His elbows rested on his knees while his eyes remained fixed on the operating room doors.He
Michael’s POVThe silence that followed felt heavier than any argument we had shared all night.Fernando had stopped walking and now everyone in the hallway seemed to be waiting to see what I would say next.Honestly, I wasn't entirely sure myself.A few minutes ago, I had punched him, now I was standing here feeling guilty about it.Fernando turned around slowly, his expression calmer now. Though I could still see the redness on his jaw from where I had hit him.The sight made me feel even worse."Why did you stop me?" he asked.The question was simple but the answer wasn't."I shouldn't have punched you" I said.Fernando raised an eyebrow. That was apparently not what he had expected to hear.Ashley looked surprised, Nick looked equally shocked and Fernando stared at me for several seconds then a small smile appeared."I'll remember this moment forever" he said.I immediately regretted apologizing."Don't make it weird."His smile widened."I can't help it."I let out a long sigh an
Fernando's POVThe punch landed far harder than I ever would have expected from Michael.I staggered backward, the taste of blood immediately filling my mouth.For several seconds, I couldn't even process what had happened.Michael had hit me and the entire hallway had gone silent.A nurse stood frozen near us, Nick looked stunned, Ashley looked shocked and even Henry looked horrified.I slowly lifted a hand and touched my jaw."Damn," I muttered.Michael looked furious. His eyes were blazing, his chest rose and fell rapidly and his fists remained clenched at his sides.I had seen Michael angry before many times but this was different."What the hell is wrong with you?" he demanded.The hallway echoed with his voice and I stared at him, still trying to understand how things had deteriorated this quickly then I noticed something else.Beneath all that anger was fear and immediately I knew why.Theo.Of course.My jaw tightened as Michael took a step forward."Did you do it?" He asked.
Michael’s POV The heavy double doors had creaked open, and candlelight spilled across the marbled floor. For a moment, I had only stood at the threshold, unwilling to step further, unwilling to play into Fernando’s carefully staged drama. But the air of the grand dining hall had dragged me forwa
Michael POV The minute the doctor pushed open the double doors and stepped into the corridor, the air shifted. Everyone’s back straightened. Archer’s attention immediately shifted to the doctor. Marlo moved closer. I kept my mind clear and met the doctor’s gaze directly. He was a short man with
Michael's POV The chill of the air conditioning grazed my arms as I leaned against the side of a one of the shelves near the entrance of the store. The hum of fluorescent lights overhead buzzed faintly, mingling with the shuffle of people moving around buying things, crinkling chip bags, and pop
Marlo’s POV The scent of antiseptic burned faintly in my nose as I pushed open the door to Fernando’s hospital room. The hallway behind me was as silent as a mausoleum. Anabelle followed closely, the soft clack of her heels barely breaking the oppressive hush that weighed on this part of the hosp







