Se connecterI hit send, shoved the phone away, and turned back to lock my bedroom door with a sharp click.Then I walked down the corridor and stopped in front of the master bedroom.I raised my knuckles and knocked once."Yes. Come in," Tony’s deep voice vibrated through the heavy wood.I pushed the door open, my gaze immediately settling on him.Tony was sitting casually on the edge of the unmade king-sized bed, wearing nothing but the silk pants of his dark pajamas.His broad, muscular chest was bare, and his eyes slowly lifted from his phone screen to lock directly onto mine.Behind him, Lily was lounging back against the pillows.Her long fingers were moving in slow, rhythmic circles against the bare skin of his lower back."I'm heading to class," I said, stepping just an inch past the threshold, my voice tight."My babysitter is running late. I want to keep my room key with you. Please help me give it to her when she gets here."My eyes darted nervously between Tony's face and Lily’s cold
AVAOne Week LaterThe Glass Penthouse— 8AMI stood frozen in front of the expansive bathroom mirror, my hands gripping the cool porcelain edge of the marble sink as I stared at my own reflection.I was completely dressed.The light makeup on my face was blended so seamlessly into my skin tone that it looked practically nonexistent, a subtle cover hiding the exhaustion underneath.The baggy blue button-down shirt I wore felt light against my skin, fitting my frame perfectly but doing little to comfort me.My eyes flickered downward to my wrist.The hands of my watch showed a few minutes past eight o’clock.I still had time.My first class wasn't until nine.Yet, a tightening ache seized me deep in my lower belly, one that had nothing to do with the time.It had been over three weeks since my car had been stolen from the library lot. Three weeks of absolute silence. And now, I had begun to completely lose hope of ever recovering it.But what truly paralyzed me was him.Tony.For twenty
Tony’s expression remained distant, his eyes darkening slightly at the mention of all that had happened since he met Ava."Trust me. I've thought about that a few times.""You should be careful around her," Jerry continued, his voice dropping slightly. "Don't contract whatever negative energy she's carrying."Marcus let out a soft, mocking chuckle."Come on, Jerry. You don't actually believe in all that voodoo shit, do you?""What if it's real?" Jerry shot back, his eyes snapping from Tony to Marcus, dead serious.A very faint, razor-thin smile touched Tony’s lips, though it carried no warmth.Something cold and calculating flashed behind his eyes, and his voice dropped into a lower, darker register that made both of his friends go quiet."Whether it's real or not, I don't care. What I do know is that by the end of this week, if that car is not found... I will find a way to retrieve every single dime it cost from her. Every single cent."Marcus watched him for a beat, picking up on th
Moments later, the black McLaren turned sharply off the main road, its low nose sweeping into the long, paved driveway of Marcus’s flat off campus.The engine hummed with a deep, mechanical growl as Tony steered the supercar to a smooth halt behind Jerry’s Chevrolet Corvette and Marcus’s sleek Audi R8.Tony killed the ignition.Then reached down to the center console cup holder, he picked his phone and wallet, and pressed the door release. The dihedral wing door lifted smoothly into the air.Tony swung his legs out, lowering his feet to the pavement, and stood up, his tall frame cutting a sharp silhouette against the late afternoon light.With a casual downward pull, he brought the wing door shut with a solid, pressurized thud, clicking the lock button on his key fob without looking back.The McLaren beeped, its mirrors folding inward.Tony turned toward the front porch, his footsteps light but entirely confident as he navigated the tight space between the three high-performance vehic
TONYTwo Weeks LaterThe Glass PenthouseThe afternoon sun filtered softly through the massive dining area window, casting blocks of warm light across the sleek, polished surface of the table.Tony sat back in his chair, a half-eaten plate of rice resting in front of him. He unhurriedly scooped another spoonful, lifting it to his mouth under a heavy, unwavering gaze."How is it?" Lily asked.Her tone was sharp with inquisitiveness, her eyes tracking the movement of the spoon."Mmm-hmm," Tony mumbled around the food, nodding slowly.His mouth was entirely full, his brown eyes shifting from the plate up to her face."Mmm-hmm as in... good or bad?" Lily pressed, locking her gaze onto his.A single, perfectly sculpted eyebrow shot up in a demand for clarity.Tony merely nodded again, taking his time to chew and swallow the rice before attempting to speak.Across from him, Lily gestured lightly with her spoon, cutting a small arc in the air to prompt him.A gentle smile broke across Tony's
I 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
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
Minutes Later. The door clicked softly behind me as I stepped out of the examination room. The sterile scent of antiseptic still clung lightly to my skin. My shoes tapped quietly against the polished corridor floor as I followed the nurse. Tony’s footsteps were steady beside me. Controlled
The wide front doors of the maternity clinic swung shut softly behind us. Almost immediately, the familiar sounds hit me. Newborn cries. Soft conversations. The squeak of stroller wheels. The waiting area stretched before us, bright and spacious beneath rows of ceiling lights. Pregnant w







