Mag-log inRaven“Eat something,” Anaya says, holding out the plate she’s been trying to get in front of me for the last twenty minutes.“I’m not hungry.”“Raven.”“Anaya. I’m not hungry.”She sets the plate on the nightstand without arguing and sits beside me on the bed instead. Her arm comes around my shoulders and she pulls me into her side, and I let her because I don’t have the energy to pretend I’m fine right now.My phone lights up on the duvet.Roman.I turn it face down without looking at it properly.“Hey.” Anaya’s voice is soft. “Cry it out. I know how you feel. Don’t hold it in.”And just like that, everything I’ve been pressing down since I walked out of that garden breaks open.I sob into her shoulder the ugly way, the way that makes no sound for the first few seconds before it all comes out at once. She holds me tighter and says nothing, just keeps her arm around me, her hand moving slowly against my back.“That’s it,” she murmurs. “Let it out. You’ll be alright.”I don’t know how
RomanRaven is gone, and I blame myself for it—for not leaving the stage and going after her when I saw her walking away with her friend.I didn’t defend her enough against the cruelty Vivienne unleashed tonight, and she probably hates me for it.Right now, she’s out there thinking I got another woman pregnant.I pull out my phone and call her as I leave her bedroom. It rings, but she doesn’t answer.When I step into the living room, I find Vivienne halfway across it, and anger knots in my stomach.The audacity of her to still be here after pulling a stunt like that.“Pack up your things,” I say coldly. “You’re leaving.”“Too late, Roman. I’m pregnant, and we’re getting married tomorrow.”“You need to stop this nonsense right now. I’ve never touched you.”“I knew you’d say that.”Without breaking eye contact, she pulls out her phone, scrolls briefly, and turns the screen toward me.I watch the video.It’s from my office—late evening.We’re on the sofa, making out.Something cold slide
Raven“Did you know,” Vivienne continues, her voice carrying across the suddenly silent courtyard, “that your precious little stepdaughter has a whole diary dedicated to you?”Roman’s expression doesn’t change. “Stop it.”“Stop what? I’m just sharing something I found.”“You’re making a scene. Stop it now.”“I’m making a scene?” She laughs, short and disbelieving. “Why do you always blame me for everything? Fine. You don’t believe me?” She turns slightly, and someone behind her places a worn notebook in her outstretched hand. She lifts it up.I recognize it from across the room before my brain fully processes what I’m seeing.My diary.My stomach drops.The one I’ve kept for years. The one that’s supposed to be locked away inside my safe box in the estate.“What is going on?” Anaya’s voice is low and tight beside me. “This isn’t what we planned. Where is David? Can someone play the video? Play the damn video now.”I’m already moving toward the stage.“Give me that.” My voi
RavenRoman called me ten minutes ago, just to say he was on his way. No explanation for where he’d been, no apology for the timing. Just his voice, low, telling me he was coming.I didn’t ask questions. I just held the phone and felt something in my chest unknot. I was almost worried about him. Vivienne has been holding court near the entrance for the last hour, her smile working progressively harder as the evening goes on. She’s good at it, I’ll give her that. To anyone not paying close attention, she looks radiant, relaxed, a bride in her element.But I’m paying close attention. I watch her laugh at something one of her friends says, then slide her phone from her clutch and check the screen in the same motion. The laugh doesn’t quite reach her eyes when she looks back up.Anaya appears at my elbow.“Girl where Is your Dad? He got a cold fit and ditched her,”“Roman doesn’t run from problems.” I take a sip of wine. “If he wasn’t coming he’d have said so without apology. He
RomanI’m in Kingston’s territory.Tomorrow, I’m about to make the biggest decision of my life, one that will change the course of everything.But before that happens, there’s something I need to do.An old score that needs settling.Kingston’s territory hasn’t changed.Same warehouse on the waterfront, same two guards at the door who step aside the moment they see my face because they’ve been told to, same smell of salt and something industrial underneath it. Kingston likes to meet on his own ground. He always has.He’s standing at the far end of the space when I walk in, a glass of something amber in his hand, looking out through the high windows at the water below. He doesn’t turn around immediately.“I heard you’re hosting some fancy party tonight before the wedding,” he says. “Funny place for the groom to be.”My grip tightens around the folder.“I have something more important to deal with first.”That gets his attention.He turns then, his gaze sweeping over the fol
RavenI take my time getting ready.That’s new for me. I’m usually the kind of person who decides what to wear in five minutes and spends the rest of the time looking for my other shoe. But tonight is different. Tonight I want to look like someone who cannot be broken, because someone tried very recently and failed, and I want Vivienne Marie Cole to see that the moment I walk through the door.I choose a deep emerald dress that hits the floor, simple in cut but the kind of fabric that moves like water when I walk. My hair is down, loose waves, the way Roman always reaches for it first. My makeup is minimal except for my eyes, dark and deliberate.I look at myself in the mirror for a long moment, my hand drifting to my belly. There’s no visible bump yet, but it feels tighter than before.Then I pick up the single glass of wine I’ve allowed myself tonight.I haven’t had a drop of alcohol since I found out about Mason. But tonight is special. Tonight I’m going to watch Vivienne Cole
RavenI’m still shaking when I sink into Anaya’s couch.The tears come before I can stop them. The kind of crying that hurts. That feels like something breaking loose inside my chest that’s been held too tight for too long.This isn’t about Vivienne and Aria. God knows I’d never waste a single
RavenNo one spoke the entire ride back home.The moment we step into the living room, Roman’s voice cuts through the air.“Raven. Aria. Sit down.”It’s a very stern command.Vivienne pauses halfway to the stairs, looking between us with that practiced social smile that never quite reaches her eyes
RavenGoing back inside means watching Roman stand on that stage with his arm around another woman. Means smiling while my thighs are still wet with his release. Means pretending the last twenty minutes didn’t fundamentally alter something inside me.But I follow Jack anyway.The crowd has gathered
Raven “All those people who think they’re better than you. Who thinks you don’t belong? They will know not to mess with you because you are mine.” He pulls out slowly. All the way until just the tip remains. I can feel myself clenching around nothing. Feel hot wetness rushing out of me, running







