LOGINLena’s povI woke up because Eli was crying and not the normal cry where he wants milk or wants me to hold him this cry sounded weak almost as if he was uncomfortable.My eyes opened immediately and I sat up looking toward his crib beside the bed, "Eli?" I whispered before getting up quickly.The room was dark except for the small nightlight near the dresser I picked him up and instantly frowned he felt hot and fear hit me so fast my stomach dropped. "Oh God," I whispered touching his forehead again.His cheeks were red and he whined softly reaching for me."No baby, no," I mumbled carrying him toward the bathroom.I switched on the light and grabbed the thermometer with shaky hands. Ever since Ethan died I keep medicine and thermometers everywhere because being alone with a baby makes you paranoid.I waited and the few seconds felt forever before the number appeared and my chest tightened immediately I looked again hoping maybe I read wrong but I didn't and tears filled my eyes so qu
Ethan’s povI woke up irritated again and honestly I was getting tired of waking up feeling like this because every morning lately starts the same. My chest hurts for no reason, my head feels heavy and there is always this strange feeling sitting inside me like I forgot something important.I laid there staring at the ceiling for a few minutes before finally getting out of bed because sleeping doesn't help anymore because even when I sleep I wake up feeling exhausted.I walked into the bathroom turning on the light then stopped in front of the mirror I stare at the man infront of me I don't know why but lately I keep looking at myself longer than normal and the man staring back at me should feel familiar but he doesn't.I know my name is Ethan Moretti I know I survived an explosion I know I owned companies before everything happened and I know enough to survive but when I look at myself I don't see somebody I know. I see a man who looks like pieces of him are missing.I rubbed my jaw
Lena’s povI was sitting on the floor with Eli while he played with his blocks when I suddenly saw him pull himself up using the couch and my eyes widen immediately, "Dad!" I yelled making him rush into the living room."What happened?" He asked looking around.I pointed at Eli, "Look!"Dad looked over and his face soften seeing Eli standing while holding onto the couch. "No way," he laughed.Eli looked between us smiling proudly like he knew he did something good. "Oh my God baby," I whispered crawling closer to him.Eli let go with one hand trying to reach for me before falling on his butt making himself laugh.Dad chuckled shaking his head, "That boy really has no fear.""He got that from Ethan," I smiled softly before my smile slowly faded because Ethan should have been here for this he should have seen Eli trying to walk for the first time and he would have probably picked him up spinning him around like Eli just won a championship. My chest hurt thinking about it.Eli crawled ov
Ethan's povI was walking through the gardens outside the villa trying to clear my head when I heard somebody yell a name."Lena!"The second I heard it my whole body froze as pain hit my chest so hard I actually grab onto the stone railing beside me. What the hell? Suddenly flashes started hitting me one after another an ocean, white flowers moving in the wind and a woman standing barefoot near the water and then another memory hands holding mine, wedding vows, a ring sliding onto someone's finger and tears in someone's eyes.My breathing became uneven while more memories kept coming a nursery, a baby crib, tiny clothes folded on a chair and a woman crying while I held her against my chest. The pain in my head got worse making me shut my eyes tightly."Sir?" One of the guards asked sounding worried.I barely heard him because the memories kept coming a woman laughing while I kissed her, warm skin under my hands, ocean air coming through open windows and the feeling of loving somebody
Lena’s POVPregnancy feels different this time, and not because my body changed in some dramatic new way but because this time I was supposed to experience it with Ethan beside me from the beginning instead of carrying everything alone.When I was pregnant with Eli, Ethan had already walked away before I could even tell him about the baby and by the time he came back into my life properly, I was already close to giving birth, which meant he missed the cravings, the morning sickness, the fear, and all the tiny moments that slowly turn a pregnancy into something real.He missed everything except the end.This baby was supposed to be different.This time Ethan would have been there from the start.He would have attended every appointment even if he pretended to hate hospitals. He would have hovered over me every time I felt nauseous. He would have touched my stomach every night before falling asleep because lately he looked at me like losing me once had changed something permanent inside
Ethan’s POVThe human body heals faster than the mind does which means every day inside this villa feels divided into two separate battles one physical and one psychological and while my injuries improve steadily enough that the doctors seem satisfied with my recovery the growing sense that something is deeply wrong becomes harder to ignore with every passing day.The mornings are the worst every time I wake up there is a brief moment before full awareness settles in where confusion hits hardest because for a few seconds I forget where I am forget the explosion forget the strange emptiness inside my head and then reality returns all at once Italy, the recovery, missing memories and Maya.I stand inside the private gym connected to the lower level of the villa while rain falls steadily outside the enormous windows overlooking the lake and although my shoulder still protests sharply during certain movements I push through the discomfort anyway because movement gives me something else to
Keenan’s POVThe first thing I notice is the noise a steady beeping sound and air moving through a machine somewhere close to my head. It takes me a few seconds to realize that the sound is real and not part of some half-formed dream.My eyes don’t want to open they feel heavy as if someone glued t
Ethan’s POVI din’t sleep. I sit in one of those hard hospital chairs with my jacket still on, staring at the floor, at my phone, at the doors that keep opening and closing like maybe one of them will finally bring Lena back if I look hard enough.Keenan is back in surgery something went wrong and
Ethan’s POVThe room feels too quiet. The soft hum of machines and the slow, steady beeping of a heart monitor. The faint hiss of oxygen moving through tubes that sound is the only thing keeping me standing.She looks smaller in this bed and something about seeing her like this makes her look fragi
Lena’s POVMaya doesn’t rush she stands there in front of me las if she has all the time in the world like nothing outside these broken walls matters and like no one is coming. The two men stands a few steps back watching her more than they watch me waiting for her to decide how this ends.My wrist







