Continued (Mila’s POV)The rain started not long after midnight. It hit the windows in soft, steady taps, filling the silence between us. Jayden’s arm was around me as we sat on the couch, the faint light from the fireplace painting our shadows across the room. For a few fleeting minutes, it felt like peace.But peace never lasted for us.Jayden’s voice broke the quiet. “When are they coming?”I hesitated before answering. “Soon. My father’s men don’t wait long once they get orders.”He tensed, jaw tightening. “And what are their orders?”“To bring me back,” I said. “And make sure you stay out of the picture.”He gave a dry laugh, though his eyes stayed dark. “They’ll have to go through me first.”I looked at him. “You don’t understand what they’re capable of. These men don’t negotiate. They don’t threaten. They act.”Jayden turned to me, his hand tightening over mine. “Then you should’ve let me go when you still could.”“I tried,” I said quietly. “Every time I walk away, it feels li
Jayden’s POVThe city felt heavier that night. Every light outside my office window blurred into streaks of gold and white, the kind that used to calm me. Tonight, it only reminded me of everything I was losing control of.Logan’s name was all over the studio’s private reports. Every whisper, every backroom meeting, every shift in decision had his fingerprints on it. He was too smart to leave proof, but not smart enough to cover the trail completely.I’d made sure of that.The flash drive I gave Mila was only part of what I’d found. The rest was encrypted, locked behind passwords even I wasn’t supposed to have. But I knew Logan better than anyone. His secrets always came with patterns.He’d always been the one with charm, the one people trusted. Our parents believed in him more. The board listened to him more. And now, he was using that same charm to crush someone who didn’t deserve it.Mila.I ran my hand through my hair, staring at the table covered in files. I’d stayed up two night
Mila’s POVThe next morning, I woke to a quiet apartment and sunlight streaming through the curtains. It should have felt peaceful, but peace was the one thing I didn’t trust anymore.The world outside was still talking about me. I knew that without checking my phone. Every whisper, every headline, every photo still carried my name. They wanted me humiliated. They wanted me gone.But I wasn’t going anywhere.By the time I reached the studio, I felt like I had armor on. My hair was tied neatly, my blouse crisp, my expression unreadable. The security guard gave me a cautious nod as I walked past. Maybe he’d read the headlines too.Inside, the air was thick. People spoke in lower tones when I walked by. The looks followed me, half pity, half curiosity.I ignored them all.When I pushed open the rehearsal room door, Hedda was there, talking with a producer. Her laugh stopped when she saw me.“Well,” she said, her tone sharp, “look who decided to show up.”I met her gaze, calm but firm. “I
Jayden’s POV The house felt emptier after she left. Her perfume still lingered in the air, soft and fading, like a memory refusing to let go. I sat on the couch, staring at the door she’d walked through. My thoughts wouldn’t quiet down. Every word she said replayed in my mind, sharper each time. Don’t confront anyone. Don’t ask questions. That wasn’t like her. Mila had never been afraid of the truth. She used to chase it, no matter how ugly it was. Now she looked terrified of it. I leaned back, running my hand over my face. The clock ticked on the wall, steady and loud. Midnight. The kind of silence that made you hear things that weren’t there. I picked up my phone twice, thinking of calling her. Each time, I stopped myself. She needed space. But the unease stayed, crawling under my skin. Something was wrong. And not the kind of wrong you could fix with a conversation. I stood and walked to the window, pulling the curtain slightly. Outside, the streetlights cast long
Mila’s POV Jayden’s house felt different that night. Too quiet, too still. Even the faint hum of the refrigerator sounded loud against the silence. I stood by the window, watching the city lights flicker in the distance, pretending to be calm while my thoughts spun like a storm. Jayden was somewhere behind me, pacing. I could hear the soft shuffle of his steps against the floor. He had barely spoken since I arrived. I hadn’t planned to come, but when he texted, “Come over, we need to talk,” I couldn’t ignore him. “Are you going to keep standing there?” he asked finally, his voice low. I turned. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, his hair messy like he’d been running his hands through it for hours. There was exhaustion in his eyes, but something else, too: confusion, worry, maybe guilt. “I needed air,” I said. “It’s quieter here.” He studied me, then moved closer. “You’ve been different lately,” he said softly. “Since the studio meeting. Since everything.” I looked away. My
Jayden’s POVSleep didn’t come easily that night. I lay awake, staring at the ceiling, the faint hum of the city pressing through the window. Mila was asleep beside me, her breathing soft, uneven. She hadn’t let go of my hand since she drifted off, and I hadn’t tried to pull away.Her trust felt like both a gift and a burden. Because deep down, I knew the truth. All of this—the photos, the whispers, the sabotage—was because of me. Because of my brother.Logan’s voice still haunted my thoughts, the same calm tone he used years ago whenever he wanted to remind me who held the power. “You were always too soft, Jayden. Too predictable.”He was right about one thing. I was predictable when it came to Mila. I’d do anything to protect her, and he knew it. That was his advantage.I slipped out of bed quietly and walked to the kitchen. The clock on the wall read 2:43 a.m. The apartment was dark except for the glow from the streetlights outside. I poured a glass of water and leaned against the