MasukNINA'S POV Cassian's words don’t just land—they detonate, ripping through my chest so violently that for a second, I forget how to breathe, and then the rage comes, hot and blinding, clawing its way up my throat like I might choke on everything I didn’t say.“Oh my god…do you fucking hear yourself? DO YOU HEAR YOURSELF??” My lips are moving, but the voice is not mine. Cassian's face goes white as sheets, and he takes a step back, but I take a step forward, face tilted to his.“Nina —”“You want to love me for a WEEK? Go on, Cassian, say it again. Say it again, you…bastard!” I whirl around and storm out into the hallway. I hear his feet padding behind me, and I want to break into a run, to hide in my room and rip my sheets to shreds.Instead, I stop short, turning to watch him slow.“Can you stop? Can you just…stop following me?” “It's not that simple, damnit!” His voice shakes, and he pauses for a breath. “I'm trying! Can't you see how tied my hands are?!”“As a matter of fact, no.
NINA'S POV The ceiling above me doesn’t belong to me, and neither does the hand pressed tight against my chest like it’s trying to hold me together.Good morning, Nina. Rise and fucking shine. Last night was a shit show, but it will not ruin the day we have planned. Who am I kidding? I don't want to get out of bed, to face him and his…stupidly handsome face. I don't want to hear him say my name, or feel him reach for me.I should have thought of that before applying for this job. My eyes flutter shut with a groan, but I pray them open and remind myself that there are other things to be excited about, like being in Scotland.The blinds are still drawn on my windows, but sunlight streams in from the slits, casting a zigzag glow through my room.I turn to look at the bedside alarm, sighing when I see that I still have time. A whole hour. What should I do? The sheets ruffle as I sit up in bed and reach for my laptop on the polished bedside table. My throat itches for some coffee, but
CASSIAN'S POV She moves like she’s untouchable, like every step away from me is a reminder that I’ve already lost—and I hate it more than I’ve ever hated anything in my life.The smell of rain clings to my lungs as I stalk up the short flight of stairs to the front door where Nina stood, hands folded to mask her shiver. The door yawns open before I get there, and a middle aged man in a monkey jacket steps out, grinning from ear to ear when he sees me.“Mr Cross, I'm Varney, and I'm the new butler…” “So I heard. Is the fire going?” “Yes, sir, but I —”“Good.” I turn to Nina's shivering frame. “Go sit by the fireplace, so you can…get warm.”Her jaw works like she wants to say something, but she decides against it, brushing past me with a suppressed breath. Shamelessly, I let my eyes linger on the sway of her hips, stopping only when the butler shifts on his feet. “Okay, Varney, get our bags inside and er…retire for the night.” A smile tugs at his lips, and he bows slightly. “Tel
NINA'S POV I’ve always believed that if something hurts you enough, the only logical response is to stop reaching for it. Funny how I hardly ever listen to my own advice.If I could just think before making decisions, maybe I wouldn't have followed him home that first night. It would have been easier to avoid him, to exist without the memories piercing through my mind.The jet is landing, and I feel my heart drop with each second the tarmac draws closer. I grit my teeth through the light turbulence and keep my gaze fixed on the window until the jet cruises to a stop.All this time, I feel him staring. His cold stare weighs heavy on my skin, settling on my neck like he could wrap his fingers around it and pull me in.I'm doing it again, fuck.My fingers unclasp my seatbelt and I rise from my seat the same time as he does. The door hisses open, letting down the airstairs. My cheeks feel hot, and my heart pounds as he smoothes his shirt and walks out into the cold. You can do this, N
NINA'S POV The girl staring back at me in the mirror looks like she’s grieving something she was never supposed to have, and I curse under my breath.My throat feels sore, and the taste of metal rests on my tongue. I unzip my purse with numb fingers and pop a breath mint.My phone screen flickers on, and I realise that we still have five hours left. Did I just cry for a whole hour over a married man? I really need to get it together. I went from avoiding him, to hating him, to being obsessed with his scent and the way he looks at me.Pathetic is the word you're probably thinking of…yeah.I brush back my hair until the bun looks slick, and my makeup sits on my face, shielding the world from my misery. Shielding him.I have done my research on toxic relationships, and it doesn't take a genius to know exactly what is happening here. He's not mine, and he never will be. There's no use pretending this will go anywhere, but I fear I might have cursed myself, for every moment spent away f
NINA'S POV I used to think fear made you run, now I realise that sometimes, it makes you walk straight into the fire.My feet halt beside the empty seat, heart pounding in my ears. My jaw moves on its own, and I hear my voice,“Whatever you have to say, make it quick.” If my words annoy him, he does a good job at hiding it, and watches with a straight face as I sink into the seat and set my purse on the fold out table between us. Every nerve on my neck stands on end, and I tuck my fingers in my lap to hide their trembling.How wrong I was, to think that I could sit so close to him and not catch on fire. And what a silent fire he is, watching me with grey eyes that trail up my skin and rest on my face.“Spit it out, Cross.” My voice sighs.“Just sit there and be quiet. I'm trying to decide what to do with you.” He leans back like he already knows the outcome of this conversation.“Is the world ending? Mr Cross is out of ideas. Or…have you finally lost control?” I fold my hands acros
NINA'S POVI swallow the bile of frustration rising in my throat, staring up at him across the desk.It's a wonder how one man can make me simultaneously furious and ridiculously alive.The nerve on this man to drag me in here and threaten my job and my office? My purple haven?Now it's clear why h
NINA'S POVThe mirror doesn’t care that my world is unraveling…it only asks that I look presentable.I don't.My towel is wrapped tight around my waist and my wet hair sticks to my skin and drips into my eyes. I stare at my background in the mirror.My running clothes are strewn across the floor an
CASSIAN'S POVThis is what responsibility looks like, I remind myself, even though it tastes exactly like regret.My feet weigh heavier with each step, and I can't help but accept that no matter what I do, it won't matter.There is no version of this where I come out clean. Any of us.It's time to
CASSIAN'S POVI shouldn’t be here, not like this.But I am, and I can’t stop feeling like I’ve let her down.She holds my gaze for what feels like an eternity. Her brows crease in a frown and I expect her to curse me out.To call me a heartless monster. But she just shrugs and says “Okay then. Cong







