LOGINSERENAI honestly almost thought about heading back home six times that night. But I’d promised Lily I’d come, so I had to put my game face on. The house was already loud when I arrived though, and that was unnerving enough. There were voices drifting out through the open front doors, music playing softly somewhere deeper inside, accompanied by the clinking of glasses and laughter that sounded a little forced. The driveway was lined with sleek cars that probably cost more than my entire childhood home, and for a moment I just stood there with my hand resting against the curve of my belly, breathing in slowly and reminding myself that I had agreed to this, and that I was allowed to leave whenever I wanted.Gary’s driver had dropped me off with a polite nod and a “Have a good evening, Miss Hale,” and then driven away like this was the most normal thing in the world. I adjusted the strap of my bag on my shoulder and walked up the steps, feeling a little bit like I was crashing a party I
SERENAAdrian’s study was too quiet for my liking.I was sitting on one of the leather chairs near his desk, my hands folded over my belly without thinking about it, and my foot tapping against the rug even though I kept telling myself to stop. The room smelled faintly of coffee and wood polish, and everything was arranged in a way that felt deliberate, like nothing there had been placed without intention. The desk was spotless except for a closed laptop and a neat stack of folders, and the windows behind it overlooked the city in a way that made me feel small even when I wasn’t trying to.Adrian was leaning against the edge of the desk, checking his watch for the third time in five minutes.“He’ll be here,” he said calmly, like he was reassuring me and not himself. “Gary Winchester is never late. He prides himself on it.”“I’m not worried,” I said automatically, even though I clearly was, and my voice gave me away.He looked at me for a second longer than necessary, then smiled faint
AIDENBy the time I made it through the front doors of my building, my legs felt like they belonged to someone else, and they were no longer cooperating with what my brain was asking them to do. The doorman noticed immediately, because he always did, because I looked like shit and because I was leaning too hard on the marble counter like my life depended on it. "Mr. Knight," he said, already moving toward me. "Are you alright?""I'm fine," I lied, because that was what I always said, and because correcting myself felt like too much effort.He didn't argue, which I appreciated, and instead he slipped an arm around my back in a way that was professional and careful and not pitying, and he guided me toward the elevators while pretending this was normal and happened all the time. I let him, because fighting him would have meant falling, and I wasn't interested in adding humiliation to the growing list of shit I was dealing with that day.The elevator ride was slow, and my head tipped bac
SERENAI think I stayed in that room for over four hours, not really doing anything and just deciding to scroll on my phone. I didn’t want to go outside and run into Maria again, the evil bitch who’d made it very clear that she didn’t want anything to do with me while I was here. I just wanted to stay out of her way and wait until this whole stalker issue was sorted out. But eventually, a little bit before midnight, I had to come downstairs because the hunger finally won. It wasn’t dramatic or sudden, and it just felt like that slow and hollow feeling that had been building for hours until my body made the decision for me. I tiptoed quietly down the stairs, still half-aware of Maria’s warning echoing in my head, and I kept my steps careful out of habit, like I didn’t want to announce myself to the house.That was when I heard voices.I stopped at the edge of the hallway, just before the living room opened up, and instinctively stayed where the shadows were deeper. Adrian’s voice was
SERENAMaria did not wait for the door to fully close before she lost it.The sound of the lock clicking shut had barely finished echoing when she turned on Adrian, her heels striking the marble floor sharply as she stormed toward him, her eyes immediately dropping to the small suitcase in my hand and the overnight bag slung over my shoulder.“What the hell is this?” she snapped, her voice already pitched high with anger. “What is she doing here?”Adrian didn’t even flinch. He set his keys down slowly on the console like he was bracing himself for something he already knew was coming.“She’s staying with us for a while,” he said evenly. “She’s not safe on her own.”I froze where I stood, my fingers tightening around the handle of my suitcase as if that might somehow ground me. I suddenly felt very aware of how out of place I looked standing in the middle of his penthouse with my messy hair, flat shoes, and hospital bracelet still around my wrist.Maria laughed, but there was nothing a
SERENALeaving the hospital felt strange, like I was stepping out into the world too soon even though the doctor had said I was fine and kept repeating that word like it was supposed to mean something solid. Adrian walked beside me the entire time, close but not touching unless he absolutely had to, his hand hovering near my elbow whenever I slowed down or hesitated, like he was afraid I might crumble if he let me out of his sight.“You don’t have to rush,” he said quietly when I paused near the elevator. “We’ve got time.”“I’m not rushing,” I replied, even though I probably was. “I just want to leave.”He nodded and didn’t argue, which I appreciated more than I wanted to admit.The elevator ride down was silent except for the faint hum of movement and the soft ding when we passed each floor. I leaned back against the wall and closed my eyes briefly, feeling the weight of the last twenty four hours press down on me all over again. Adrian stood in front of me, angled slightly like he w







