Haley's POV:I sat in the far-left corner of the conference room, half-hidden behind the curtain of flashing cameras and long-limbed tripods. The room was tense, flooded with reporters, photographers, and television crews. The scent of coffee, sweat, and stale press ink mingled under harsh lighting.Logan stood behind the podium, looking calm—too calm. His charcoal suit fit him perfectly, his tie knotted neatly, his face unreadable. But I knew him. I could see the flicker in his eyes. This wasn’t calmness. It was controlled fury.The police chief stood beside him, clearing his throat into the mic.“We have concluded our preliminary investigation,” he began, glancing once toward Logan before continuing. “It has been confirmed that the vehicle involved in the crash was tampered with. This was not a mechanical failure. It was sabotage.”Gasps filled the room. Pens scratched harder on notepads. Fingers moved quicker on phones.I folded my hands tightly in my lap, keeping my expression sti
Haley's POV:I was setting the table when I heard the sound of the front door unlocking. The scent of grilled lemon chicken lingered in the air, mingling with the warm aroma of buttered vegetables. A quiet hum of music played from the speaker on the counter, low enough not to disturb the stillness of the evening.Logan stepped in, wearing a navy coat and a familiar tired expression—but this time, it wasn’t weighed down by dread. His eyes met mine across the room, and for the first time in days, he smiled.“You’re home,” I said, stepping around the kitchen island.“I am,” he replied, dropping his keys into the bowl near the door. “And—” he held his arms out as I approached, “I come with good news.”I melted into his hug, the comfort of his presence slowly soothing the storm that had been clawing at my chest for days. His jacket was cold, but his arms were warm.“Tell me everything,” I murmured into his shoulder.He pulled back just enough to press a kiss on my forehead. “Let’s eat firs
Author's POV:Vivian sat alone in her penthouse, dressed in a deep emerald satin robe that shimmered under the warm light. The floor-to-ceiling windows framed the glittering skyline, but her attention was fixed solely on the flat-screen TV mounted on the wall. Her long, manicured fingers wrapped around a porcelain teacup, the steam rising gently as she took a slow, deliberate sip.The news anchor’s voice echoed crisply through the room. “BREAKING: Business Tycoon’s Mother in Critical Condition After Mysterious Car Crash.”A shaky dashcam clip replayed the scene — Logan’s mother’s silver car spinning out of control, tires screeching before smashing into the divider. A still image followed, showing the mangled hood, a firefighter crouching beside it.Vivian turned the volume up. Her cold brown eyes narrowed.The reporter explained the authorities suspected brake failure. “It appears the brakes failed moments before the impact,” the anchor said gravely. “Police are continuing their inves
I met Erin at a small corner café later that morning, after dropping Lily off at school.The place smelled like cinnamon rolls and fresh coffee, and there was a gentle hum of people chatting and typing away on laptops. I spotted Erin near the window, already seated, her hair pinned up and her blazer as crisp as ever. Her expression was serious.I felt a knot begin to form in my stomach.She looked up as I approached and stood to hug me quickly. “Hey. Sit down, Haley.”I slid into the seat across from her, trying to read her face. “Everything okay?”She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she opened her tablet and pulled up a page.“Have you checked the comments on your comic lately?”I blinked. “No. I’ve been too busy.”Erin took a deep breath and turned the screen toward me. “You might want to see this.”There they were. Comment after comment after comment.Negative. Sharp. Cruel.“She clearly doesn’t know how to write.”“Another pretty face thinking she can draw.”“This is garbage. W
The next morning, I woke up to a silent bedroom. Logan’s side of the bed was cool and empty. My fingers slid over the empty sheet beside me, as if hoping for warmth that had long faded. My heart sank for a moment, heavy with the weight of missing him, but the rising sun poured through the curtains, reminding me that the day awaited—and so did I.On the nightstand, my phone buzzed. I picked it up and saw a text from Sebastian:“Issue at work is fixed. All systems are green.”I exhaled slowly, feeling a sense of relief bloom in my chest. I typed back quickly:“Thank you. Can I ask about Jordan?”Seconds later, another ping. He sent me a photo of Jordan at the kitchen table, elbows bent over a jigsaw puzzle, face completely focused. His lips were slightly parted, tongue pressed against his cheek like he always did when he concentrated hard. A smile tugged at my lips—soft, maternal, and full of love.“Look at him—hard at work.”I tapped back:“He looks really happy. Thanks.”That image st
The afternoon sun cast long shadows over the school parking lot as I stepped out of the car. The air was cool, crisp with the scent of turning leaves. I adjusted my scarf and looked toward the school entrance, the sound of children laughing carrying faintly in the wind.Just then, I saw Jordan walking out, backpack slung lazily over one shoulder. His eyes caught mine, and a small smile tugged at his lips.“Hey, Mom,” he called, heading toward me.“Hi, sweetheart,” I said, opening my arms as he came in for a quick hug.“I told the teacher today,” he said, pulling back. “About transferring schools.”I blinked. “You did? That fast?”He shrugged. “Yeah. I wanted to. I even told them to start the paperwork. They’re planning a little farewell for me. Maybe cupcakes.”“Cupcakes, huh?” I gave him a soft smile. “Well, I guess you always liked making a big exit.”Jordan gave a half-laugh, stuffing his hands into his hoodie pocket. “I just… I want something new. I think it’ll be good for me. New