LOGINAlina’s POVMary is Edrick’s mother. His mother.He never talked about her. The few times he had, every word had been negative. I could not wrap my head around it.The Mary I know was a pure soul. But it seems Edrick and Anna had dealt with a different version.As we drove away from the inn where we had left her with Adrian, my thoughts slowly drifted away from her and settled on the problem at hand.Clover.We had just driven a few minutes in when Edrick’s phone began to ring.My first thought was that it was John, so I quickly picked up the phone, but the caller was an unknown number.I raised the screen to show him, but he was still in his feelings, eyes glued to the road. He didn't even glance my way.I sighed, putting the phone down.The call ended and began to ring almost immediately after.The same number.Edrick was still unmoved, so I ignored it too.By the third call, I couldn't ignore it anymore. What if it was important? What if it was about Clover?“Here, they keep callin
ARIA'S POV.It was dark even in the middle of the day. Dust clung to every surface, coating my skin until I could barely remember what clean felt like.I hated it. I hated everything. I hated the way I looked. I hated that my long, beautiful hair was now gone. I hated it all. And more than anything, I hated the little girl sleeping on the cold floor with marks of dried tears drawn down her cheeks.I hated how beautiful she looked. I hated that she looked exactly like me. I hated that my gut kept screaming that she was Alina's daughter. Killing her would be the wise thing to do. But I couldn't. I couldn't. I hated that I did not want to see her hurt.Fuck! I am losing my mind.I walked back and forth, peeping at the outside world through the tiny attic window, watching the city move on with its daily routine, the day in motion while I was here, stuck in a dusty attic that belonged to an even dustier old man.I needed to get my plan moving. We could not stay here for long.Though the co
Edrick’s POV.“What’s going on?” Alina asked, looking between me and Mary.‘Mary.’ Of course she changed her name to Mary. How else would she go around acting like an innocent person?Seeing her standing there alone made my stomach churn. Every hair on my body stood on end.No.It couldn't be her.How dare she? How dare she worm her way into Alina's life?“Edrick? Mary?” Alina called again, and this time, it broke the staring competition between us.I was the first to tear my gaze away.“Alina, this woman is dangerous,” I whispered, loud enough for ‘Mary’ to hear.Alina’s frown turned to confusion.“No, Mary is a good person.”But I wasn’t listening to that.“I don’t want any trouble. I will leave once Clover is found.” She was almost in tears, but there was no way I was buying those crocodile tears. Not today.“Pack your bags and leave this city this instant! Your presence disgusts me!” I spat, and I swear she flinched back at the intensity of my voice.“NO!” Alina stood between us,
Adrian’s POV.“You really want me around, don’t you?” Those were the first words Annalise greeted me with the moment I stepped into the house.She was sprawled across the couch, one leg hanging over the armrest as she lazily munched on a bag of chips, looking far too comfortable for someone who was supposed to be gone.“I asked you to leave a few days ago.” I sighed, dropped my work bag on the stand as I took off my shoes.Of course, her eyes travelled to the bag, staring at it as she fought back a gulp. I snatched the bag from the table and tightened my grip around it. If I know anything about Anna, it’s that she can pounce on me anytime just to get her drugs from me.That is what has kept her in my home for so long. The drugs.She won’t leave until I give it to her, and I refuse to do that.“Adrian,” she said my name in that tone. That tone that made it sound like a melodic chant.No.I shook my head, trying to chase away the dangerous warmth her voice stirred inside me before I did
Edrick’s POVWhat did I do? What have I been doing wrong? So wrong to ever make her feel uncertain?I asked myself the same question over and over again as I watched Alina slowly drift to sleep.Oh, Alina. My Alina.I hate that I was not clear enough with my intentions, that I did not reassure her enough, or put confidence in her. That I made her fear what life would be after the chaos was over.The look in her eyes when she had walked in still haunted me.They keep trying to break her, and I hate that I have not put an end to all this shenanigans already.I took a deep breath, my hands playing with her hair softly.Her cheek was pressed against my chest, her face softly relaxed in what I prayed was peace.She looked so peaceful in her dreams that I wished I could restore that peace. I wanted my baby to live the life she deserved with no fear, no chaos.> > > I did not know when or how I had fallen asleep. My eyes pushed open and immediately met with bright blue eyes. Alina was sitti
Alina’s POVMy chest burned so badly that I thought my heart had stopped working. It was hard to breathe. Hard to swallow. Even standing felt impossible. I wanted to scream until my throat bled, but no sound could carry the weight of what I was feeling.I was still in her arms, letting the bullshit she had just said replay in my head.“We can fix this. We can make her bring your daughter back. You will leave her marriage alone. That’s all we need for peace to reign.”Was this just a joke to her? Or did I just matter so little to her?I wanted to push her and scream in her face. Scream that her beloved got me kidnapped, tortured, and had no problem burning me alive. That same beloved has my daughter now, doing whatever lunatic ideas she had on her. She could do worse to my princess. My baby is innocent. She has no business in this mess. But no matter how loud I screamed this in Mom's ears, she would still find a way to support Aria.“Leave her marriage alone,” she had said.Replaying t
Alina’s POVI practically ran into the club.My lungs burned, my head still slightly heavy from the fever, but I forced myself forward. The bass was already thundering through the walls. I slipped behind the counter just as my boss turned around.“You’re late,” he barked.“I’m sorry,” I said quickl
Aria’s POVI did not stop running until I reached the part of the house where I could crashout in peace. The library.No one ever comes here. The door slammed shut behind me, but it did nothing to quiet the noise in my head. My chest rose and fell too fast, anger and humiliation burning through me
Edrick’s POVTwo dates a week. Flowers every night. No staying late at the office. No excuses. No distractions.I was doing everything right, or at least everything a man in my position was supposed to do. On paper, I looked like the perfect husband. Attentive. Present. Trying. But none of it felt
Edrick's POVAfter a few seconds of contemplating, I picked up, keeping my tone even. “Hello, Father.”“Edrick,” his deep voice came through. “How are you? How are things going with your wife?” Of course, he would ask about her. He knows I have no interest in this marriage at all.My eyes flicke







