LOGINCHANDLER
I arrived at the private lounge I had reserved for this meeting, a quiet, upscale spot tucked away from the city’s usual chaos. The kind of place where serious conversations could happen without interruptions. Valentino was already there when I walked in, seated at a corner table with a glass of whiskey in front of him. He looked up as I approached, his expression guarded but not hostile
DIANAI drove straight from the mansion to the hotel where my mother was staying, my hands shaking on the steering wheel the entire way. My face was still streaked with dried tears from earlier, and my chest felt tight with a mix of anger, exhaustion, and something that felt dangerously close to clarity. The confrontation with Roxette and Chandler had shattered something inside me. Learning that he wasn’t my biological dad, that Valentino was, that Roxette was my half-sister… it had been too much. But instead of breaking completely, something had shifted. I was tired. So tired of the lies, the manipulation, the endless cycle of revenge that had defined my family for years.When I reached her suite, I didn’t knock softly or wait for permission. I used the spare key and pushed the door open. My mother was on the phon
ROXETTEThe café Dahlia had chosen was quiet and upscale, the kind of place with soft lighting and private corners that made serious conversations feel almost civilized. Chandler and I arrived together, his hand resting lightly on the small of my back as we stepped inside. I had dressed carefully that morning in a soft, flowing maternity dress in deep emerald green that made my growing belly look elegant rather than hidden. My hair was down in loose waves, and I wore the simple gold necklace Chandler had given me weeks ago. I wanted to look strong. Composed. Like the woman who belonged at his side, not the girl Dahlia had once tried to intimidate.Chandler had been quiet on the drive over, but I could feel his reluctance. He still didn’t want to see her. “We can turn around right now,” he’d offered one
ROXETTEIt had only been a few days since Chandler’s meeting with Valentino and my emotional conversation with Diana on the kitchen floor, but the air in the mansion already felt different. Heavier with the weight of everything that had come to light, yet somehow lighter because truths were finally out in the open.I had spent those days mostly resting, eating whatever my pregnancy cravings demanded (which lately included an alarming amount of mangoes and grilled cheese sandwiches), and trying not to overthink the chaos swirling around us. Chandler had been attentive as always, checking in on me constantly and making sure I wasn’t stressing too much about the baby.We had even talked a little about wedding ideas in quiet moments, though nothing formal yet.
ROXETTEI was still in the kitchen when I heard the front door open. The sound of Chandler’s footsteps echoed through the mansion, steady and familiar. I had been sitting there for a while after Diana left, the half-eaten cake still on the table in front of me. My appetite hadn’t faded. If anything, the pregnancy had made me hungrier than ever. I had nibbled on more of the cake while waiting, letting the sweetness distract me from the whirlwind of emotions the day had brought. Diana’s breakdown, our unexpected hug, the raw honesty between us… it had left me feeling both drained and strangely hopeful. Things were messy, but they were moving. And now Chandler was home.I stood up as he appeared in the doorway, his tall frame filling the space. He looked tired but lighter somehow, like some of the weight he had
CHANDLERI arrived at the private lounge I had reserved for this meeting, a quiet, upscale spot tucked away from the city’s usual chaos. The kind of place where serious conversations could happen without interruptions. Valentino was already there when I walked in, seated at a corner table with a glass of whiskey in front of him. He looked up as I approached, his expression guarded but not hostile. It had been years since we had sat across from each other like this, not as allies, not even as rivals in the open way we used to be, but as two men with too much history between us.I sat down across from him without preamble. The server brought me a glass of water. I wasn’t in the mood for anything stronger right now. I needed a clear head for this.“Valentino,&
ROXETTEWe stayed like that on the kitchen floor for what felt like a long time, the hug between us awkward at first but slowly softening into something real. Diana’s sobs gradually quieted into shaky breaths, her body still trembling against mine. I didn’t let go right away. My arms stayed wrapped around her, one hand gently rubbing her back the way I imagined I might one day comfort our baby.The floor was cold and hard beneath us, but I didn’t care. In that moment, all the anger and resentment from the past few days seemed to fade into the background. She was hurting. Deeply. And even after everything, the insults, the shove in Paris, and the accusations, I couldn’t turn away from that.Eventually, Diana pulled back a little, wiping her face
DIANACalvin carried me to the bedroom like I weighed nothing, his mouth never leaving mine. The moment my back hit the soft mattress, he was on top of me, stripping off his hoodie and shorts in one impatient motion. His body was still warm from practice, muscles tight and glistening with a light s
ROXETTEI had just stepped through the grand front door of the estate when a bright flash of light hit my face.I winced hard, blinking against the sudden glare. Sunlight reflecting off glass…or something worse.I spun around quickly, heart already picking up speed.There, standing just outside th
ROXETTEAfter the last class ended, Diana turned to me with a mischievous grin as we packed our bags.“I’m not coming home tonight,” she announced. “Calvin and I are going to our condo unit. We need some… alone time.”I raised an eyebrow and teased her immediately. “Oh? Did you shave?”Diana laughe
CHANDLERI stood motionless in the dark living room, eyes fixed on the staircase as Roxette’s small figure disappeared up the steps. Her back was straight but her shoulders were still slightly hunched, like she was trying to hold herself together with nothing but willpower. My black long sleeve p







