LOGINAunt Sophia was still keeping malice with me.She refused to speak to me, claiming I betrayed her over “some outsider who sings.” The funny part was, she had already made up with Uncle Mason.I tried getting Dad to help me talk to her, but he shut it down immediately.“I’m not getting involved,” he said. “You’ll drag me in to make peace, then the moment you reconcile, I’ll be the one looking like the problem. I’m staying out of it.”Mom wasn’t any better.“You should have thought about it before choosing that ticket,” she said, not even letting me explain.Even Uncle Mason, the same man I helped, refused to back me up.“I just got out of the doghouse. I’m not going back in because of you.”I scoffed. “Next time, don’t call me.”He laughed. “I’ll just make it impossible for you to say no next time.”If I went over to Aunt Sophia’s place, she wouldn’t talk to me. She’d just sulk and throw passive comments like, “It’s always your family.”It was dramatic. Completely unnecessary. But it w
After spending some time with Adrian, he decided to drop me off.He parked a little distance from the house because I didn’t want Dad or Mom spotting us in case they were already back.I told him goodnight and reached for the door, but he caught my wrist lightly. “That’s it?” he asked.I glanced back at him. “What do you mean?”He tilted his head. “You’re missing something.”I already knew what he meant. I rolled my eyes but leaned in. “You’re doing too much,” I muttered before pressing my lips to his.He didn’t let it stay simple. His hand came up, pulling me closer as he deepened the kiss.A sharp tap on the glass made me jerk back. I turned and saw Aunt Sophia standing there with a small, knowing smile. “Oh my God,” I whispered under my breath.“Who’s that?” Adrian asked.“My aunt.”He straightened immediately and wound down the window.“Aunt Sophia, please… not now,” I pleaded, already embarrassed.She ignored me completely and looked straight at Adrian. “You must be Adrian.”He n
Jason and I tell each other almost everything. Maybe because it’s just the two of us.So I told him about Adrian. How it started, how it went wrong, and where we were now. When I finished, he went quiet.Then he smiled. “You never miss a chance to get into trouble.”I frowned. “Did you even listen? I didn’t know who he was at the start.”Jason shrugged. “Still doesn’t change the outcome.”I rolled my eyes. He leaned back, amused. “The relationship coach with relationship problems. Interesting.”“Jason,” I warned.He ignored me. “I’m the fake boyfriend. You’re the two-weeks girlfriend. We’re doing great.”“Jason, stop it,” I groaned.He chuckled, then his expression shifted as his gaze moved past me for a second before returning. “Why did it have to be a Valecrest?” he asked.I sighed. “I know. It’s messy. But I guess life doesn’t care how complicated things get.”He studied me. “Do you really love him?”I hesitated. “It doesn’t matter. We’re ending things anyway.”Jason didn’t push it
Jason and I worked side by side in Dad’s office.He handled a few things Dad had left for him, speaking to him briefly on the phone now and then, getting updates and instructions. Watching him, I understood why Dad trusted him enough to leave things in his hands. Jason was good.Really good.I found myself wondering how long it would take me to get to that level.Close to lunch, I nudged him. “Teach me something in negotiations.”He glanced at me, then pulled out a file. “Alright. We’ll both study this, then negotiate based on it.”We went through it separately first. When we started, I thought I was doing well—holding my ground, pushing back where it mattered.Until I wasn’t.Jason turned it around so smoothly I didn’t even see it coming. One second I thought I had him, the next, I was completely cornered. I just stared at him, stunned.He leaned back, laughing.“You crook,” I accused.“It’s business.”“How did you even do that?”“One of the perks of starting early and having a fathe
I woke up the next morning to a good morning text from Adrian, cheesy and over the top, very him.As I read through it, a smile slowly formed on my face. I’d agreed to the two weeks. To be his girlfriend again.In high spirits, my day started on a good note. I got out of bed and headed straight to the bathroom. By the time I was done and came back out, another message had come in.Adrian: Where’s my good morning text? I want to start my day right too.I shook my head, smiling as I typed one back.A few seconds after it delivered, another message came in.Adrian: Something’s missing.Me: What?Adrian: Check how mine ended.I scrolled up and saw it.I love you.I hovered over the screen, then typed back.Me: I love you too.His reply came in immediately—hearts, kisses, entirely too many emojis.I dropped my phone on the bed and went to my closet to get ready for work.When I stepped out, I headed to the dining area, expecting the usual, but did a double take when I saw my brother seated
I wrapped up quickly and left Dad’s office.A few minutes later, I pulled up and saw Adrian standing a few steps away, exactly where he said he would be.He smiled when he saw me. I parked, and he opened the passenger door and got in.I turned to him. “What is your problem? Why are you so determined to get me into trouble?”He didn’t answer. He just sat there, looking at me, smiling.“What’s funny?”“I’m just happy. You’re talking to me. Even if you’re yelling at me.”I rubbed my forehead. “What do you want? Be quick.”“I want to take you out on a date.”I stared at him. “Are you actually insane? I’m not going anywhere with you. There’s no way I’m risking being seen outside with you.”“You didn’t even ask where we’re going.”I gave him a look. He reached over, typed his address into the map, and leaned back. “Drive.”I let out a short laugh. “No.”He fastened his seatbelt and shut his eyes. “It’s fine. I don’t mind sleeping here, not when you’re here.”I glanced at him, then sighed an
My mom stepped into my room to check on me before leaving for a client meeting. She asked if I’d still be around when she returned, and I told her I’d probably head back to Liam’s.She gave me that mom look, the one that allowed no argument. “Eat before you go. You can starve yourself, but not my g
After a few days tucked away at Liam’s other house, we finally returned to the main one, carrying between us a secret Cassie could never know and an unspoken agreement to guard it as if it were worth more than gold.Sophia attached herself to my side the moment we walked in, slipping into full prot
The morning after, I woke up light, happiness had settled into my bones overnight.Liam was already awake, propped on his side with his arm resting across my waist like I might roll off the bed without him.His eyes were soft, but there it was again, that flicker of worry, like he could check the b
Sophia appeared almost the moment I screamed her name.The fear in her eyes when she saw me crumpled on the floor nearly undid me. She didn’t spare Cassie a glance, not even when Cassie started stammering, “It was a mistake, I’m sorry, it was a mistake…” over and over like a broken record.Sophia s







