LOGIN[Asher]"What are you doing here?" I asked, my brow creasing deeply.Her eyes went wide, and she immediately shoved her hand behind her back."I asked a question. What were you just doing?" I asked, my brows drawing together.She froze, staring at me, lips parting like she wanted to speak—then closing again."Sir… I came to check on Darian," she finally said. "Just to make sure he’s okay before I retire to bed."My frown deepened."When you came to put him to bed earlier, what did I tell you?"Her lips pressed into a thin line. "You said…you said you’d handle it.""So why are you here now?" I pressed. "And I didn’t see you pass through the living room."Something flickered across her face—too fast to name.She bit down on her lip, her gaze darting briefly to the door behind her. "I was just worried, sir. I wanted to be sure he was sleeping well. I passed through the back since I knew you were busy in the living room."She was talking too fast.My eyes dropped to the arm she was still
[Asher]"What do you think I should do, man? Her behavior toward me is slowly killing me."I swallowed hard as I stared at Tristan. He was watching me like I was speaking a language he didn’t understand.He let out a short chuckle, lazily twirling the wine in his glass before taking a slow sip."And how exactly do you want her to behave toward you?" Tristan snapped.Hell, when it came to Elena, Tristan had never been on my side. He would defend her anywhere, anytime. That wasn’t new. It never was."No, tell me," he continued, his eyes narrowing slightly. "How do you want her to behave? You want her to hug you every time she walks in? Kiss you? Smile at you like nothing ever happened?"My chest tightened sharply at his words."I never asked for that," I said quickly. "I just—man, you needed to see her face earlier. Her expression, when I told her I’d make sure Vienna was found wherever the hell she’s hiding."My chest constricted as her face flashed in my mind. Cold. Guarded. So damn d
[Elena]"Hi, Elena," Owen mumbled, his lips stretching into a bigger smile. "Looks like our paths keep crossing."My brow creased as I stared at him and before I could stop it, a smile curled up my lips."You again?" I chuckled. He nodded, taking a step closer to me."I must have saved an entire country in my past life, for the universe to love me this much." His smile widened even more, and that was when I noticed the dimple on his cheek."Really?" I shook my head, my eyes fixed right on his silver eyes.The way they looked so bright under the light."I'm happy to see you again," he mumbled. I stared from him to the car he was leaning on before staring back at him."So what are you doing here?" I asked, and he blinked immediately, his lips parted, but he shut it back, a small smile playing on his lips."Oh. I have a friend who works there, I just came to say hi to him." He said, those smiles still not leaving his face. "And what about you?""Came to say hi to my brother," I mumbled a
[Elena]It's been five days since we brought Darian home and things have been slowly improving.At least, that was what it looked like on the surface.But Vienna’s message still rang in my ears, looping endlessly no matter how hard I tried to push it away. I told myself she wouldn’t dare act—not now. Not when she knew exactly what she had done and why she was hiding.What she committed was punishable. She knew that.And yet, she still threatened me.Threatened me over my child.The child she ripped away from me for three years of my life.Three years I could never get back.How evil did someone have to be to do that and still feel entitled?"Are you okay?"Asher’s voice cut through my thoughts, pulling me back into the room. I blinked and looked up at him from where I was seated in his living room, my body stiff despite how familiar the place had become.This had been my routine for days. Driving here every single day just to spend enough time with Darian."I’m good," I mumbled, even
[Vienna]A slow, dark smile curled my lips as I stared at my reflection in the mirror.The woman staring back at me didn’t look defeated.She looked furious.Elena really thought she could have my child.My fingers tightened against the edge of the dresser, knuckles whitening as the thought settled in my chest like poison. She thought she could step into my life, rip something out of my hands, and walk away whole.After everything.After three years.Three years of sleepless nights, fevers, tears, and lullabies whispered into the dark. Three years of being called Mommy. Three years of building something from scratch, piece by piece, breath by breath.And now she wanted to claim him?Just like that?A bitter laugh slipped from my throat. "How fucking convenient."My jaw clenched hard as rage burned through me, hot and sharp. Elena had no idea what was coming for her. None. She was smiling now, probably holding onto that revelation like a prize, basking in it like she’d won something.B
[Elena]What the hell is wrong with this man?Asher took a step forward, then another, his face desperate, pleading. But before he could come closer, my hand shot out, rigid and sharp."Back off, Asher." My voice snapped, cold and fierce. My eyes darted immediately toward Darian, peacefully sleeping in his bed at the far end of the room.My jaw clenched so tight it ached. I stared past Asher, fixing my gaze on the door behind him. "You’re blocking the damn way. I need to leave."He shook his head, fingers tangling in his hair as if trying to pull the chaos out with it. "Elena, just listen to me, I—""Are you deaf? I've said it countless times that I don’t want to listen to you! Am I speaking a foreign language?" My voice came out harsher than I intended, slicing the air like a knife.Asher still stood rooted, eyes boring into mine. For a moment, it felt like he was searching for something there.I swallowed hard. My hand curled into a tight fist at my side. I hated this man. Hated him







