Войти[Elena]He looked mildly confused at first, his brow furrowing, but the moment he caught on, his expression softened. I didn’t stop myself this time. I opened my arms and walked into him, slowly.His arms came around me easily, naturally, and I let my eyes shut as I wrapped myself around him, breathing him in without meaning to. For a brief second, the world narrowed to just that — his warmth, the quiet night, the closeness that felt familiar and strange at the same time for reasons I can't even name."I really want to stay like this for the rest of the night," Owen said, his voice low, almost hesitant.The words settled in my chest, heavier than I expected.I swallowed.I waited for my heart to react the way it should, for that rush I expected, for something undeniable to take over. Instead, there was only a soft flip in my tummy— not unpleasant, but not what I had been expecting either.My lips pressed together as I forced a smile, inhaling slowly before easing myself out of his arm
[Elena]"Are you okay?" My lips pressed tight as I asked Owen, leading him toward the lot. The night air felt heavier than it should have.He nodded, but his eyes betrayed him instantly. They were darker somehow, guarded. "I’m good, Elena," he mumbled.But I know he wasn’t.Even after I’d asked my brothers to give it a break, they only paused for a few minutes before pulling him aside the moment dinner ended. They said they wanted to speak with him privately. I hadn’t heard a word of it, but when Owen stepped back inside, something in his expression had shifted. His shoulders were tighter, his smile forced."You really don’t want to tell me what they told you?" I asked again as we got closer to his car, my steps slowing.Owen turned and leaned against the driver's side of his car, folding his arms loosely like he was trying to look relaxed. "You worry too much, Elena. You know that, right?""I just… I mean…" I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry. The words felt clumsy in my mouth. "You
[Elena]Have my brothers always been this intimidating?Matteo nodded in agreement, his plate completely forgotten in front of him.Owen gave a nervous chuckle, shifting in his seat for what had to be the hundredth time tonight.He glanced at me, and I quickly offered him a small reassuring smile — anything to steady him."I don’t have any secret intentions toward your sister," Owen said. "And I'm not after anything."Raphael only chuckled.The sound wasn’t amused.It was skeptical.I turned to my mom silently, begging her with my eyes to intervene. To say something. To calm them down.But she adjusted her napkin and looked away like she was enjoying every second of this interrogation."I find it hard to believe you don’t have secret intentions," Raphael said, leaning back slightly in his chair. "You approached her, knowing she was a Thorne and...""He didn’t know I was a Thorne," I cut in quickly, my voice firm. "He found out later. He had no idea at first."Raphael and Matteo both t
[Elena]Maybe this wasn’t a good idea.Having Owen come over for dinner just because my mom suggested it suddenly feels like the worst decision I’ve made in a while. I should have found an excuse the moment I noticed my brothers were both present.I swallowed hard, shifting my attention from my plate back to Raphael. He hadn’t taken his eyes off Owen for a second.And he wasn’t just looking at him.He was glaring.His brow was creased, jaw tight, shoulders stiff like he was holding himself back from saying something reckless."Mommy, who is that man?"Here we go again.I swallowed, trying to push down the sudden lump in my throat as I looked at Darian. He was seated quietly beside me, his small body leaning slightly against my arm while he tilted his head, staring at Owen who sat on my right.I leaned closer and placed a soft kiss on his cheek."Baby, you’re not eating your food," I murmured gently. "You should eat so your nanny can take you for bath time.""I don’t want bath time." H
[Asher]That did not stop me from trying.I made sure to leave a bouquet behind each time, along with a nearly handwritten apology explaining how stupid I had been and how sorry I was for everything.The second time almost didn’t go well. Her mother walked in just as I was placing it in the usual spot.The woman had looked like me like some disgusting piece of shit. I mean I don't need anyone to spell it out on how much the family hates me.Elena's mother looked me in the eyes and told me that I was only wasting my time and should focus on coming to see my son.It hurt. It fucking hurts badly knowing that I have nowhere to hold onto.Not Elena. Not her mother. And definitely not her brothers.I haven't set my eyes on the Thorne twins ever since the incident and a part of me was grateful for that. Because if I run into them, during any of my visits, those two might just look at me and decide to remind Elena exactly why I shouldn’t set foot in that house again.I swallowed hard, pushing
[Asher]My jaw clenched as I stared at the message on my phone for what felt like the hundredth time.It's been over ten minutes since I sent Elena a message, and still, there has been no reply from her.I gritted my teeth hard, turning my attention back to the window.This can not be a coincidence anymore. Yes, I'd once thought so a few weeks back when Tristan called my attention to the hotel where Owen and Clara walked into— just a few minutes apart.I told him that there was nothing suspicious about it, that it was a hotel and everyone had the right to enter. I made him understand that he was overthinking itBut that didn't stop me from looking into it, just as I said that day.And I did, I fucking did and you can't trick me into believing that something isn't going on.First, it was Vienna's burial. Yes, I got the news of how she shot herself from Raphael. He'd sent the message and told me what happened, I mean, that wasn't my business, and I didn't see a reason why he had to info







