Mag-log inCeline's POV“You and Celine are boyfriend and girlfriend,” Jack says matter-of-factly, like he’s announcing the weather.My heart is pounding so loudly I’m sure everyone can hear it.“Why do you think that?” Claire blurts out.All heads turn toward her.She raises her hands quickly. “Sorry. Sorry.” She pretends to zip her mouth shut.Alex runs a hand over his jaw, eyes still on his son.“What makes you say that?” he asks carefully.Jack shrugs. “You look at her weird.”I choke on air.“And she looks at you weird,” he adds.Nash makes a strangled noise that sounds suspiciously like laughter.“Also,” Jack continues, ticking points off on his fingers, “you both disappeared at the same time earlier. And Mom was mad.”Alex’s posture shifts slightly.Jack looks between us, completely serious. “She called Celine your father’s girlfriend.”The room goes very still.Nash’s eyebrows shoot up. Claire slowly lowers her hand from her mouth.My heart drops to my stomach.Alex’s voice stays calm. “
Celine's POVJack opens the door before I even knock.“You’re late,” he says dramatically, even though I’m exactly on time.“I am not,” I laugh, stepping inside. “You just have no patience.”He grins and grabs my hand, dragging me toward the dining area where folders, printouts, and what looks like three different cake catalogs are spread across the table.The planner Daniel, I think stands when he sees me.“Miss Stone,” he greets politely.“Celine is fine,” I say with a smile, shaking his hand before sitting next to Jack.“Okay,” Jack says seriously, pointing at a layout board. “First of all, this theme is boring.”Daniel clears his throat. “It’s a classic.”“It’s basic,” Jack corrects.I press my lips together to hide my laugh. “Okay. Tell me what you want.”And just like that, he lights up.He launches into a passionate explanation involving interactive games, a live gaming truck, custom jerseys for his friends, and a dessert bar that’s “not childish.”I listen carefully, asking
Celine's POVSomehow, I've convinced myself to stop worrying about my uncle and Alex.Or at least I've convinced myself to try.There's this quiet feeling in my chest that tells me everything will be fine. I repeat it to myself until it almost sounds true. Until I actually start believing it.Alex and I haven't really seen each other. We haven't even talked properly. But we text. Short messages. Small check-ins. Enough to remind me he's there.I miss him.But he's right. He was right about fixing things with my uncle before we go any further. As much as I hate the distance, I understand it.Even though Alex and I haven't spoken much, I've been talking to Jack. He calls me every other day just to ask random questions or tell me dramatic updates about school like they're breaking news. I asked him about his new nanny, and he didn't give me much just that she's "serious," which coming from Jack could mean anything.I miss him too.So I've been filling my time with schoolwork, trying not
Alex's POVI don’t see or talk to Will for two days.Two.He doesn’t respond to calls. Ignores messages. Even Nash, who usually knows where Will breathes, couldn’t get him to budge.He seems to have mastered the art of avoiding me which is ironic, considering I’m nothing if not persistent.I show up at his place.He isn’t home, but his wife, Sybil, is around.Will and I have been close for years, yet Sybil and I have never really moved past polite greetings. Nothing against her. She’s perfectly fine as a person. She’s just… not a people person. And frankly, neither am I. So we’ve always stayed within the boundaries of courtesy and distance.Celine isn’t particularly close with her either, even though she’s her aunt. I never really asked why, but based on what I know about Sybil’s personality, it makes sense. Celine is the complete opposite. She’s warmth, light, laughter. People orbit around her without even realizing they’re doing it.“Alex?” Sybil says as she opens the broad penthou
Celine's POVCJ and I sit at a small bar just off campus, tucked into a booth near the window. The place is warm, dimly lit, and humming with quiet conversations and soft music. Normally I love it here. Tonight, it just feels like good to have someone non judgmental I can unload everything without thinking too hard.CJ listens quietly while I talk, his drink untouched, his full attention on me as I recount the last twenty-four hours.“Okay,” he says slowly once I finish. “Let me get this straight. Alex came over, you two fucked, he confessed he loves you, you two ordered pizza, things escalated… and your uncle walked in and found Alex naked in your bed.”“When you say it like that, it sounds worse,” I groan, dropping my forehead briefly onto the table.“It is worse,” CJ says bluntly. “It’s catastrophic, actually.”I glare at him, but he just shrugs, completely unapologetic.“I’m serious, Celine,” he continues, leaning forward. “How are you feeling about all of it? Not your uncle. Alex
Alex’s POVI’ve faced hostile takeovers, collapsing deals, and rooms full of men waiting for me to fail.None of that prepared me for the look on Celine’s face when her uncle opened that door.That expression has been following me all day.The shock. The humiliation. The way her eyes went glassy as if something inside her fractured all at once. I hated myself for it. Hated that I was the reason she looked like that, hated that I couldn’t protect her in that moment when I should have.Will still hasn’t answered my calls.Not one.I stare at my phone again, the screen lighting up uselessly before going dark. Three missed calls. Two messages. No response. Will doesn’t do this. When he’s angry, he explodes. This silence is something else entirely, and it’s worse.I lean back in my chair, dragging a hand down my face. The memory replays whether I want it to or not the door swinging open, the recognition in Will’s eyes, the second his voice came out sharp and unforgiving. I wasn’t supposed







