LOGINNicola Taylor I sat in the car, gripping the steering wheel tightly, staring at the entrance of Cole’s office building. I felt utterly defeated. Six years ago, my life had crumbled in his absence. And now, here I was again, stuck in an endless loop, except this time, I wasn’t competing with the
Cole Harrington I watched Nicola walk off, her retreating figure stirring something uneasy in my chest. The weight of the day’s events pressed down on me like a storm cloud refusing to dissipate. I felt suffocated, torn between what was happening and what I was inadvertently doing to the woman I c
Nicola Taylor The weight of her words hit like a tidal wave. I felt my chest tighten as I realized what she’d sacrificed, and I could see the shift in Cole’s expression. The anger in his eyes dimmed, replaced by something closer to heartbreak. “And you just… agreed to that?” he asked, his voice b
“Because I knew you wouldn’t let me go,” she said simply. “You would’ve fought him, and he would’ve come after you too. After Arabella. I couldn’t risk it. I couldn’t let him hurt you the way he wanted to hurt me.” The three of us stood in silence, the weight of Courtney’s confession hanging heavy
Nicola Taylor Arabella went back inside, her small figure disappearing into the house with a frustrated sigh. The heavy front door creaked as it closed, leaving just the three of us standing in the cool morning air. Silence settled over the driveway, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves i
Nicola Taylor The night was a restless blur. Aaron’s small, trembling body pressed against mine as he cried himself to sleep, his tears soaking through my shirt. I stayed with him, stroking his hair and whispering soft reassurances until his breathing evened out. Even then, I couldn’t bring myself
I raised an eyebrow at his words, a small smile tugging at my lips as I teased, “Hmm, true. You’ve got some catching up to do. Let’s start small.” His hand lingered on my back, and I felt my skin tingling beneath his touch. We reached the classroom, and Ms. Hoffman looked up, offering us a polite
Cole looked at me with a calm expression, as if the answer should have been obvious. “Bella’s room is too small for her now. I think she wants a bigger one.” His tone was so nonchalant that it only made my confusion and frustration grow. “So you’re just… demolishing your old room? Just like that?”
With a deep breath, I began the process of packing away the things that had once meant so much. The wedding photos, the little trinkets she’d loved, the carefully folded clothes—all of it was a part of our past, but it didn’t need to dominate my present. As I worked, I thought about Nicola—her laug
Still, I couldn’t help but lean into it. “What are you thinking about right now?” he asked, his voice quieter now, but still laced with that teasing edge. I shrugged, trying to keep my cool. “I’m trying to be careful of what I say and do around you,” I replied, though my heart was pounding. He no







