LOGINI remained standing entirely alone in the empty hallway, the crushing weight of what had happened pinning my feet to the floor.---TONYAfter Returning to His RoomTony strode into the master bedroom, his face a mask of simmering tension, and sat heavily on the edge of the king-sized bed.Lily closed the heavy door behind herself, her eyes locked on his rigid posture.She walked over with a slow, deliberate grace, settling on the mattress right beside him."Is that all you'll say?"Lily began, turning her head to study him.Tony raised his gaze from his lap, turning his head toward her.Their eyes met, and he slowly raised a single eyebrow."Is that all you'll say?" Lily repeated, her voice dripping with an intense, quiet gravity as they locked eyes."I overheard your conversation out there."Tony shook his head softly, his gaze shifting away from her to stare blankly across the room."What would you have me do?""I don't know. Maybe more," Lily spoke again, reaching out to place her
Tony blinked.The silence in the hallway of the penthouse became suffocating.“What do you mean you lost the car I bought for you?”His gaze stared straight down into my soul, heavy and pinning me to the spot.I couldn't bring myself to respond.My throat felt like it was coated in ash; no words came out. My lips parted slightly, but the air in my lungs refused to form a syllable."Ava, talk to me."Tony spoke again, his voice dropping into a low, dangerous tone.He took a heavy step closer, entirely closing whatever space was left between us, his massive frame looming over me.“What do you mean you lost the car I bought for you?” he repeated, his brown eyes narrowing, his gaze fixed on mine.My breathing became loud, ragged, and entirely audible under the crushing weight of his stare.My fingers twitched violently at my sides, instinctively clutching the fabric of my sweatpants.I know you’re not deaf,” Tony said, staring at me with a confused frown.Still, the paralysis held me.I c
I rolled from my back onto my side, eyes slowly parting open as my hand reached for the phone beside me on the bed. My room was still dim at 6 a.m., faint dawn light barely touching the windows. I tapped the screen awake. The glow lit up my face. I squinted, heart lifting with fragile hope as I scrolled through notifications, inboxes, the school’s social pages, news apps— anything that might say my car had been found.Nothing. No messages. No updates. Just silence.I dropped the phone onto the mattress with a soft thud and rolled onto my back, staring blankly at the ceiling. My chest rose and fell slowly beneath the blanket. For a few seconds I just breathed in the quiet, eyes tracing the faint shadows above. A quiet breath escaped me. How do I tell Tony? The thought spiraled, tightening my stomach.I shut my eyes briefly, then opened them again with another sigh. Pushing the blanket off, I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and rose to my feet. I padded quietly to Liam’s crib. He
Without a word, she extended her arm, my bedroom key glinting in her palm."Liam is asleep. I’ll be back tomorrow.""Thank you," I whispered, taking the cold metal from her fingers.Maggie didn't say anymore words.She brushed past my shoulder, her coat rustling as she stepped out onto the porch before I could utter another apology.I whirled my head around, watching over my shoulder as her rigid silhouette marched down the driveway, climbed into the very cab I had just vacated, and vanished down the street.The car's headlights swept across the glass facade of the penthouse as it turned the corner, plunging the front yard back into shadow.I let out a long, ragged breath, turned back around, and quietly clicked the front door shut.As I crossed the expansive, minimalist living room, my eyes locked onto Lily.She was lounging on one of the plush white couches.The moment our eyes met, a sharp smirk spread across her lips.I immediately rolled my eyes and looked away.I had absolutely
Moments later, the soft electronic chime of the ride-share notification vibrated against my cupped right palm, pulling my eyes downward.I held the phone over my lap, the screen illuminating my pale face in the dim library waiting room.Your driver has arrived.A hollow, heavy breath escaped me.It did absolutely nothing to ease the sharp, aching knot tightening deep in my lower belly.The very last thread of hope— the fragile delusion that maybe, just maybe, my car would be recovered before I had to leave— evaporated into thin air.I pushed myself up from the plastic chair.At the sudden movement, the eyes of the two campus security officers seated across the room flickered sharply toward me.My gaze shifted between them."I'm leaving. I have to go home."The first officer gave a solemn nod.The second leaned forward, hands resting on his knees."I know you're stressed, but the school is doing everything we can to recover your vehicle as we speak and bring the thief to justice. I’ll
My heart began to beat a frantic rhythm against my ribs.I started to walk slowly through the wide lot, my eyes sweeping across every single SUV. My thumb pressed steadily down on the lock button of my key fob, so it would chime to life or flash its lights if I passed it without noticing.It never did.The faster I moved through the rows of parked cars, checking them one by one, the harder my heart hammered.I circled the entire parking lot three agonizing times before the terrifying reality finally dawned on me:My car had been moved.Maybe stolen.My legs felt heavy, dragging like lead weights as I turned and stumbled back toward the library entrance where two campus security officers were stationed."Excuse me," I said as I reached them.My voice was shaking violently, and I gestured weakly toward the lot."Does it... does it happen that tow trucks come into the parking lot and tow vehicles away?"“What do you mean, tow trucks coming into the parking lot and towing vehicles away?”
A Week Later.MARY'S POV— AVA'S Friend.The School Library.Mary sat alone at one of the tables in the middle section of the library, a thick textbook spread open before her.The morning sun filtered through the tall windows, casting pale streaks of light across rows of shelves and study desks.Th
The Following Day.At 9PM.A Fitness Gym Off Campus.Lily’s sneakers moved lazily against the treadmill belt.Step.Step.Step.Slow.Far slower than her normal pace.On her right, Megan jogged steadily, her ponytail bouncing with every stride. On her left, Hailey maintained an easy rhythm of her o
Hours Later.TONY.The Glass Penthouse.His black McLaren W1 cut into the gravel driveway with a soft mechanical hum that died the moment the engine shut off. The silence that followed swallowed the evening air whole, leaving only the distant rustle of trees around the glass penthouse.Tony stepped
LILY.Three Days Later.The Master's Bedroom Of The Glass Penthouse.1PM.Her eyes parted slowly open.A low, almost soundless yawn slipped from her lips as she stared blankly at the ceiling for a moment.Wine-colored hair lay scattered across one side of her face.The afternoon sunlight filtered







