LOGINEdrick's povWe got home, but still, my mind had a thousand things going on.Jason, work, Aria...Everything was getting to me at once."I'll go check on Clover," Alina said.She practically flew up the stairs after that, leaving me to myself.I sat on the living room couch, my head resting on my hand."You're back."Hannah's voice interrupted my mini thought session.I raised my head to meet her eyes."I thought you left for work," I said dryly."I did. I just came back early."She sat across from me, her eyes glued to me."What do you want, Hannah? Dad sent you to ask more questions?" I groaned.Her face squeezed into a frown."No," she said. "But you know Uncle wants what's best for us. Right?""And Alina isn't what's best for me?""No!" She almost yelled."The thing is, it's just a lot to take in. Alina and...""Hannah!" I yelled."It's overwhelming, Edrick. She came back from the dead after betraying you! She came back with a child and says it's yours.""Because Clover is mine! S
Alina's POV“Aria is…” John trailed off.“She’s what?” I asked.I didn’t even know why I had asked to see her.I just wanted to.“She had a breakdown the last time she had a visitor,” John stated.I tried to think.What visitor? Because when we had visited her, she was so composed.Too composed.So why and how did she end up having a breakdown?“Who?” The word left my mouth the moment I got it.Mom.“Your mother,” John said, confirming my thoughts.“We have decided it’s better she stays confined and meets fewer people. We don’t want any more triggers,” he said.I nodded.I wanted to say, “I understand.” But if I did, I would be lying.I rested my head and tried to remember again.My eyes closed. Minutes passed, and still, only the haunting images and sounds came to my head.“Just…”My voice trailed off. I opened my eyes and stared at John.“Just what?” he asked.I swallowed.“I need to see her.”John’s expression tightened.“I already told you, Alina. It isn’t a good idea right now.”
EDRICK'S POVFinding his old shabby apartment was harder than I had thought. Thankfully, after about 30 minutes of digging, I found it.I walked up the shabby stairs, my legs moving as fast as they could.Room 304.I knocked.Waited.Nothing.I knocked again. This time harder.By the third knock, I was close to breaking down the door.“Who the fuck is that!” he yelled from inside, earning a smile from me.It took him almost a minute to get to the door and unlock it.“Hitting my door just because I owe rent?” he mumbled as he opened the door widely.His eyes met mine.He froze.Confusion, shock, and then fear.All three emotions flashed through his eyes.He gulped.I smiled.He then entered panic mode and tried to push the door and shut it in my face, but it was too late to do that. My hands were already pressed firmly against it, making it impossible to move.“Jason,” I smiled.The more I stared at him, the more the panic grew in his bones. The harder he tried to close the door.Final
Alina's POVIt's like the cold intensified the moment Edrick stepped out of the room.I followed him with my eyes and watched until the door shut behind him."Alright, Alina, do you remember the date of your kidnapping?" Detective Harris's question brought back my attention.The date...I closed my eyes, thinking if that would help me remember. But the more I tried, the more I started feeling an ache in my head."It's okay. You don't have to remember," Harris said.My eyes fluttered open."August," I said. "Something in August, towards the end," I added."Uhmm. August." He wrote in his note.Yes, I remember finding out about my pregnancy that same month."So, can you tell me how that day went? How the kidnapping happened?"I gulped, but gave an approving nod.I have already locked up those memories and put them on a shelf that I thought I'd never need to touch.But here I was.This is for justice... For Clover.I reminded myself before starting."I wanted to leave town that day," I st
Edrick's POVI didn't know where to go to or what to even do next.Anna, Anna, Anna...The frustration she was causing me was getting out of hand, from the messy room, to how terrible she looked, to the fact that she was at Adrian's house, wearing his clothes, or the refusal to cooperate."Hey!" Alina called my name. I hadn't realized I had gotten to our room and was even walking past the door."What's wrong?" Her voice snapped me back to reality.I shook my head."How are you?" I asked.She smiled. "Good?" She shrugged her shoulders.Again, she really did look good. Dad's words did not get to her, and I was proud of her for that.But then, I need to warn him never to say something like that to my wife."Edrick, when are we going to give the statements?" she asked as we both entered the bedroom.I let out a breath."What?" she asked. "Is something wrong?"Of course, something is wrong, but the last thing I'd do is add to her problems by telling her."No. I'll speak to John. Just get r
Edrick's POVShe can't move out. I would have known. I would have noticed.Fuck, no. She was here yesterday."Hey," I almost jumped at the sound of the voice."Hannah!" I called."Sorry, did I scare you?" My cousin rested on the door, hands folded as she gave me a knowing smile."What?" I asked."She's not in here?" she asked, eyes scanning the room."No."I said, stepping further into the room.Hannah followed."So..." she said, sitting on the bed."You and Alina..."God, whatever it was she wanted to talk about, this was not the time. I needed to talk to Anna."Yeah." I smiled."I'm confused," Hannah said, her eyes locked on mine, waiting for answers. Answers I knew she wouldn't give up until she got."And Aria?""She's going to rot in jail. That's all that I can say."She gave me another weird nod."What?" I almost yelled."Nothing. I just hope everything works out in the end."I rolled my eyes."Spill it, Hannah. What is it you really want to say?"She shook her head. "Nothing rea
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 POVShe was shaking so hard I thought she might break in my arms. And for some reason, it felt like I was the one falling apart. My chest tightened with every sob that escaped her lips, and I held her closer, like maybe if I held on tight enough, I could stop her pain from spilling any fur







