LOGINCassian guided the car along a familiar coastal road, one hand resting lightly on the steering wheel while the other remained intertwined with Selena’s. Soft sunlight filtered through the windshield, bathing everything in a warm golden glow.Neither of them spoke very much. They didn’t need to. Some journeys deserved silence.A few minutes later, the elegant entrance gates appeared in the distance. Selena’s eyes immediately softened.The property looked different. The large wooden sign that had once proudly displayed HeartLock was gone.In its place stood an elegant stone monument engraved with the resort’s new name.Beautiful gardens framed the entrance, and modern fountains replaced the old decorative pathway. “It really has changed,” Selena whispered.Cassian looked at her with a gentle smile. “Not everything.” He squeezed her hand before driving through the gates.After checking into their suite like every other guest, neither of them felt any desire to unpack.The room could wait
The first hint of dawn had barely begun to color the sky when Cassian quietly slipped out of bed.The house was still.Outside, the world hadn’t fully awakened yet.He glanced at the clock before leaning over and brushing a strand of hair away from Selena’s face.“Selena,” he whispered gently.She stirred, blinking sleepily. “What time is it?”“Early.” She frowned playfully. “That’s not a real answer.” He chuckled. “It’ll make sense soon.”She sat up, rubbing her eyes. “You still haven’t told me where we’re going.”Cassian smiled, the same mysterious smile he’d worn the night before. “I wanted us to come here together.”She studied him for a moment before sighing dramatically. “You know, one day your surprises are going to give me gray hair.”“I’ll love every one of them.” She laughed softly, shaking her head. “I suppose I’d better trust you.”“You always have.”The city was unusually quiet as they drove through the nearly empty streets.Soft music played through the speakers, but nei
Morning sunlight filled the kitchen. The once-empty house now felt comfortably lived in.Wedding photographs decorated the walls. Fresh flowers sat on the dining table. The bookshelves were fuller. The garden had grown greener.Laughter seemed to linger naturally within the rooms.Selena adjusted the sleeve of her blazer while finishing her coffee.Cassian grabbed his keys from the counter. “You’ll be late.”“So will you.” He walked over and kissed her forehead. “I’ll see you tonight.”“You promise?”“I always do.” She smiled.Together they walked to the front door.Before either of them stepped outside, Cassian reached for her hand. One quick kiss.Their morning routine. Simple. Perfect.Selena drove toward her office.Cassian headed for the recording studio, where the young artists he mentored were already waiting.Their lives were busy again. But now…They were building them side by side.As Selena stepped into the lobby of her office building, her phone vibrated. A message from Et
Cassian kept his eyes on the road, though the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth gave him away.“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”“You’ve been smiling like that for fifteen minutes.”“I just got married.”“Mm-hmm.”“And I’m driving with my wife.” She rolled her eyes dramatically. “You’re impossible.”“So I’ve been told.” She folded her arms, pretending to be annoyed. “Fine.”“Fine?”“I won’t ask where we’re going anymore.”“Good.”“I’ll just guess.” Cassian chuckled. “I can live with that.”Selena looked out the window. “The hotel?” “No.”“My parents’ house?” “No.”“Your parents’ house?” “No.”“The airport?”He laughed outright. “On our wedding night?” “You’ve done stranger things.”“I don’t think I have.”She tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Then…”She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “You kidnapped me.” Cassian gasped in mock offense. “I married you legally less than three hours ago.”“Exactly.”“That’s terrible logic.”“It makes perfect sense.”He shook his head, unab
The first gentle notes of the song floated through the reception hall.Cassian smiled as he looked into Selena’s eyes. “Ready?” She smiled back, her fingers tightening around his. “I’ve been ready for a long time.”Slowly, he guided her into the first step of their dance.For a brief second, both of them were overly careful, concentrating so hard that neither of them seemed to breathe.Selena couldn’t help laughing. “You’re thinking too much.”“I’m trying not to embarrass myself.”She raised an eyebrow. “You’ve performed in front of stadiums filled with people.”“I know.”“And?”“This is scarier.” She laughed, the sound soft enough that only he heard it. “No pressure then.”“None at all.” They took another step. This time it felt easier. Then another.Before long, the nervousness that had followed them onto the dance floor melted away.Cassian rested one hand gently against the small of her back while the other remained intertwined with hers.The music carried them naturally. They swa
The church became so quiet that the soft rustle of paper sounded louder than it should.Cassian unfolded the sheet in his trembling hands. For several long seconds, he didn’t read. He simply looked at Selena. Really looked at her.The morning sunlight filtered through the stained-glass windows, scattering warm colors across the white aisle. Her veil framed the face he had imagined beside him countless times during lonely hotel nights, exhausting rehearsals, hospital recovery, and quiet mornings when all he wanted was to come home.Now she was here. Waiting for him. His wife in only a few more minutes.A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “I rewrote these vows three times,” he admitted softly.Gentle laughter rippled through the guests. Cassian shook his head with a sheepish grin. “Actually…”He looked down at the paper. “…four.”Another wave of laughter filled the church. “I kept thinking I could find bigger words. Better words. Something worthy of today.”His eyes lifted back t
The villa felt different after Lie Detector Night.Too quiet.Too tense.Nobody trusted each other anymore.Contestants whispered in corners. Producers moved around nervously. Even the cameras seemed more invasive now.And Selena couldn’t stop thinking about Cassian’s answer.Yes.He had hidden som
And somehow, Selena kept thinking the same dangerous thought over and over again.How many secrets was Cassian Blake hiding?And worse—did she truly want to know the answers?“You’re staring again,” Cassian said softly.Selena crossed her arms quickly. “I’m thinking.”“That usually means trouble.”
Silence swallowed the entire lounge.Nobody moved.Nobody breathed.Vanessa’s hand rested against Cassian’s face intimately.Too intimately.Selena felt like all the air had been ripped from her lungs.Around the room, contestants exchanged shocked looks instantly.“Oh my God,” Nova whispered besid
“The contestants who already knew each other before entering HeartLock…” Orion repeated lazily, clearly enjoying every second of the panic spreading through the kitchen. “…will be exposed tonight.”Everyone started talking at once.“You’ve got to be kidding me.”“Wait—someone lied during casting?”







