FAZER LOGINMARCUSThree days pass.I don't leave the apartment. Don't answer calls. Don't check emails.Paige brings me food. Haruto sits with me in silence. Julian watches from the window."Marcus."Paige's voice. Soft."Yeah.""You need to eat.""I'm not hungry.""You need to eat anyway."She hands me a plate. Eggs. Toast. Coffee.I take a bite. Then another."Haruto called his lawyers.""For what?""To fight your mother."I set the fork down. "No.""Marcus—""No. I'm not dragging you into this.""You're not dragging anyone. We're jumping."I look at her. Those dark eyes. Full of everything."Paige—""We're a family, Marcus. That means we fight together."I pull her into a hug."What would I do without you?""Starve. And wear ugly clothes."I laugh. Real."Okay. Call the lawyers."---HARUTOThe lawyers come to the apartment.Three of them. Expensive suits. Serious faces."Mr. Whitmore." The lead lawyer opens a folder. "We've reviewed your case. Your mother's position is strong, but not unassa
PAIGEThe week after the wedding is quiet.Too quiet.Marcus goes to work. Haruto goes to work. Julian goes to work. I stay home. Unpack boxes. Hang curtains. Watch the plant grow."Paige."Sadie's voice. Through the phone."Yeah.""How are you?""I'm fine.""You're lying.""I'm unpacking.""That's not an answer."I set the box down. Sit on the floor."I think Eleanor is planning something.""Like what?""I don't know. That's what scares me."Sadie is quiet for a moment. "Have you talked to Marcus?""He says I'm paranoid.""You're not paranoid. You're paying attention."I lean against the wall. "What do I do?""You trust your gut. And you keep your friends close.""You're not helping.""I'm helping. I'm just not telling you what you want to hear."I laugh. Small."Thanks, Sadie.""Always."---MARCUSMy phone buzzes at work.My mother's lawyer.Mr. Whitmore. A reminder that the board meeting is Friday. Your presence is required.I type back.I'll be there.Your mother will also be att
PAIGEThe garden is full of people I don't know.Women in expensive dresses. Men in tailored suits. Everyone holding champagne. Everyone staring."You're causing a scene," Marcus whispers."I'm breathing. That's not a scene.""You're breathing loudly."I elbow him. He grins.Haruto is on my left. His hand is on my lower back. Julian is on my right. His grey eyes scan the crowd like he's counting enemies."Relax," I whisper to Julian."I am relaxed.""You look like you're about to kill someone.""That's my relaxed face."Marcus laughs. A woman walks toward us. Older. Elegant. Cold."Marcus." Her voice is polished. "You came.""Hello, Aunt Patricia."Her eyes move to me. To Haruto. To Julian."And you brought... guests.""My partners."She blinks. "Partners?""Paige. Haruto. Julian. This is my aunt, Patricia."I extend my hand. "Lovely to meet you."She stares at my hand like it might bite her. Then she shakes it. Brief. Cold."I've heard about you.""Hopefully good things."She doesn't
MARCUS“ phone buzzes at 9 AM”. Amelia. Her name lights up the screen. I haven't spoken to her in months. Maybe longer."Marcus." Her voice is bright. Too bright. "You're coming to the wedding, right?""What wedding?""Mine. Saturday. The family estate. Didn't you get the invitation?"I look at the stack of unopened mail on the counter. "It's probably in there somewhere.""You should come. Bring a date."I pause. "A date?""Someone special. Mother said you've been seeing someone."My mother. Of course."I'll be there.""With a date?"I look across the room. Paige is on the floor, reading a book. Haruto is beside her, pretending to read but really watching her. Julian is by the window, coffee in hand, grey eyes on the city."Yes," I say. "With a date."---PAIGEMarcus hangs up. Walks to me."Who was that?" I ask."My cousin Amelia. She's getting married Saturday. She wants me to come.""Are you going?""We're going."I set my book down. "We?""You. Me. Haruto. Julian. All of us."Har
PAIGEThe world doesn't end.The sun rises. The city wakes up. People go to work.And we're still here. On the floor. In our empty apartment. Together."Paige."Marcus's voice. Soft."Yeah.""It's morning.""I know.""Did you sleep?""A little.""Me too."He pulls me closer. His chest is warm. His heartbeat is steady."We survived," he says."We survived."Haruto stirs beside me. His hand finds my leg."What time is it?""Eight.""Too early."Julian sits up. Grey eyes already open."I made coffee.""When?""An hour ago."Haruto groans. "You're insane.""I'm awake. There's a difference."---MARCUSMy phone has stopped buzzing.The reporters got bored. The board scheduled a meeting for Monday. My mother hasn't called back."Marcus."Paige is beside me. Coffee in her hand."Yeah.""How are you?""I'm fine.""You're not fine."I look at her. Those dark eyes. Full of everything."I'm scared," I admit."Of what?""Of losing you. Losing them. Losing everything I just fought for."She sets h
PAIGEThe Chronicle arrives at 10 AM.Her name is Sarah. Blonde hair. Kind eyes. A notebook in her hand and no judgment on her face."You must be Paige," she says."I must be."She looks at Marcus. At Haruto. At Julian. All three in black suits. All three standing in our bare living room like soldiers before battle."This is quite the setup," she says."It's quite the relationship," Marcus replies.She sits on the floor. Crosses her legs. No chair yet. No couch. Just boxes and a plant and four people who love each other."Where do you want me to start?"Paige sits across from her. "At the beginning."---HARUTOSarah looks at me first."Haruto. You were her first love.""Yes.""You lost contact for six years.""My father kept us apart.""And now?""And now I'm not letting anyone keep us apart again."She writes something in her notebook. "Marcus. You were her college boyfriend. You broke up because of family pressure."Marcus nods. "My mother. She didn't think Paige was good enough."
PAIGEHaruto texts me at four.Haruto: Dinner tonight? Just us. A real conversation this time. I'll pick you up at seven.I stare at the message for a full minute. My heart does that thing where it forgets how to beat normally.Me: Okay. Seven.Sadie watches me from the couch. "You're smiling at yo
PAIGEThe walk from the restaurant to my apartment is slow.Not because it's far. It's not. Just a few blocks through streets that glow yellow under streetlights. But Haruto holds my hand the whole way, and neither of us wants to rush.
PAIGEHaruto points a gun at Marcus.Marcus points a gun at Julian.Julian points a gun at Haruto.Three men. Three weapons. Three faces twisted with hate.I stand in the middle, frozen. Can't move. Can't speak. Can't breathe."She's mine." Haruto's voice is cold. Hard. Nothing like the man who kis
PAIGESaturday morning sunlight cuts through my curtains like a blade.I squeeze my eyes shut. Pull the pillow over my head. Breathe.Three more hours of sleep. That's all I need. Just three more—The pillow disappears."Rise and shine, sleeping beauty."Sadie. Of course.I crack one eye open. She'







