LOGIN“Not yet,” Adrian replies. “She’s got a lot going on right now, but once things settle, I’ll tell her… I’m not about to let her slip through my fingers.”His words land heavier than they should. It’s just a simple confession, but it hits me like a two-edged blade, slicing somewhere in my heart.I do
NOAH.I’m sitting across from Adrian and Gunner, my mind still reeling from the hard truth they just hit me with.I can’t deny it. Back then, I would’ve shut down anyone who dared to speak against Chloe. I would’ve defended her without question. But now, after reading that entry, after the illusion
He studies me, waiting for the rest.“I kept my mouth shut because you were happy,” I continue. “And it wasn’t my place to blow up your marriage just because I thought she was two-faced.”His jaw tightens and silence settles over the table, but for once, Noah actually listens instead of snapping bac
ADRIAN.I walk into the private whiskey lounge after dropping Sierra at home, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t still riding that high, especially when I remember her beautiful smile.This has been our favorite place for years. Inside, warm amber light washes over dark mahogany walls and deep leat
“Inhale through your nose,” she continues. “Slowly. Deeply. Let your ribs expand.”I breathe in.“For four… three… two… one. Hold. And release.”The room fills with the sound of synchronized exhaling and honestly, it’s strangely powerful.We move through gentle stretches, supported child’s pose with
Then I see it. A low, cream-colored building tucked into the greenery. Large windows. Wooden accents. A stone pathway leading up to double glass doors. There’s a small wooden sign near the entrance with delicate script burned into it.Willow Grove Prenatal Wellness.I blink at it.“Adrian…”He parks
I send the email to Benji, hoping they’ll be able to fix the mess Jocelyn made. Once again, she butchered my report because she's convinced I lack the skills and that her assessment was somehow superior. At this point, I’ve stopped believing it’s a mistake. I know exactly what she’s doing.She’s try
We stand at the door and wave as the car drives away. The moment the taillights disappear, the air in the house changes. It’s like someone lets go of a held breath. I exhale slowly and so does Noah.“That was…” I start, then stop. “Unexpected.”“That’s one word for it,” he mutters.I can’t tell if h
I held on until I couldn’t anymore. Until the memories hurt more than they healed. Until surviving required letting him go.He’s still standing where I once stood. Still holding on. Still grieving... and somehow, knowing that, seeing it, makes my heart burn and soften at the same time.I take a smal
Noah.I stare at Brook and wonder if I missed something all those years ago. If maybe, just maybe, Lilly and Sierra had been right all along, and I’d been too blind to see a fucking thing.The woman standing in front of me isn’t the girl I thought I knew. Her eyes are red and burning, her mouth twis







