Conrad POV The last few weeks had been a blur of work, endless meetings, and late nights at the office, all in a desperate attempt to keep my mind off Max. I’d been avoiding him like my life depended on it, dodging his calls, ignoring his texts, anything to keep that night—our night—out of my head.
Max POV I was pacing my apartment like a caged animal, a cigarette dangling between my fingers, the smoke curling up toward the high ceilings. My phone sat on the coffee table, mocking me with its silence. I’d been checking it obsessively, waiting for a call, a text, anything from Conrad. It’d be
The sun hung high over New York on July 20th, its golden rays bathing the Davies’ sprawling Victorian mansion in a warm summer glow. The air was thick with the scent of blooming jasmine and freshly cut grass, and the estate buzzed with the frenetic energy of preparations for Annie Davies’ eighteen
“Ew, gross!” Daniel’s voice broke the spell, and we pulled apart, laughing as our twins barreled into the kitchen, their sneakers squeaking on the tile. Stephen was right behind him, his dark curls bouncing, both boys grinning mischievously. “Mom, Dad, stop smooching!” Stephen said, fake-gagging. “
Laura POV The soft glow of dawn filtered through the kitchen curtains, casting a warm golden hue over the countertops as I bustled around, preparing Annie’s eighteenth birthday breakfast. It was early, the kind of July morning where the air felt fresh and full of promise, and the Davies household
The applause roared again, and I stepped back, my heart full but my eyes catching Madison storming off the stage, her heels clicking loudly as she stomped down the aisle. Her friends trailed after her, their heads bowed, and I couldn’t help but feel a surge of triumph. She’d tried to break me, jus