Karden’s POVI slammed the door harder than I should have. Didn’t even care if Ethan heard it. My chest was burning, my head buzzing, like every word we threw at each other was still stuck in my throat. I kept walking, fast, my bag sliding down my arm. Damn strap wouldn’t stay on.The night air outside was heavy, almost damp, as I dragged my suitcase across the sidewalk. The wheels rattled against the uneven ground, loud enough to make me grit my teeth. My chest still burned from the fight with Ethan. His voice, his accusing eyes, the way he had looked at me when he saw those pictures—like I was poison. Maybe I was. Maybe that’s all I’d ever been.I didn’t care anymore. Not about him, not about Noah, not about River. Let them all rot together in their happy little circle. I was finished.The Uber driver had called me twice already. He was waiting down the street. I should have just kept walking. But instead, I stopped under the glow of a street lamp, yanked my phone from my pocket, an
Ethan’s POVKarden’s voice cut through the air, sharp and angry.“What are you doing with my phone?”I froze, the phone still in my hand. My chest tightened, my throat dry. The glow of the screen burned against my skin like it carried poison. His words slammed into me, but my eyes kept drifting back to the messages I had already seen. I couldn’t unsee them. The pictures. Him and Daniel. His bare body tangled with someone else’s. His hand on Daniel’s chest. The smirk on his face. And then the worst of it, those same pictures sent to a reporter.Slowly, I lifted my gaze to him. He was standing there in the doorway, cold eyes locked on me, his jaw tight. He didn’t even look scared of being caught. He looked annoyed.“Karden,” I said, my voice low but trembling. “What the hell is this?”He stepped forward, his hand reaching for the phone. “Give it back.”But I pulled it closer to my chest, my fingers clutching it tight like if I let go, the truth would slip away. My heart pounded. Anger a
Ethan’s POVI came back from my shift at the café, tired and sticky with the smell of coffee and milk on me. My shoulders ached from carrying trays and my hands still smelled like sugar syrup. All I wanted was to throw myself on the couch, maybe take a shower later, and watch Love Island since I've been busy to follow up the latest.But the moment I opened the door, something felt off.Karden was sitting at the edge of the couch with his phone in his hand, his head bent low, scrolling fast like he didn’t want anyone to see what he was doing. I froze in the doorway for a second, watching him. Then my eyes drifted past him, and I saw the suitcase. Not just one, two. Neatly zipped, sitting by the door. His backpack was leaning against it.My stomach sank.“What’s going on?” I asked, stepping inside, my voice tight without meaning to be.Karden lifted his head, and his face was blank, too blank, like he had practiced this look. His phone was still in his hand, but he quickly locked it and
River’s POVMy phone buzzed on the nightstand. The sound was sharp in the quiet room, making my chest tighten. For a second, I thought about ignoring it, pretending it was nothing, but my hand betrayed me. I reached for it.The screen lit my face in the dark.Coward, you really went into hiding but don’t think I wouldn’t find you.The words burned into me like fire. My throat closed, and my fingers trembled around the phone. Months had passed since the last message. I almost believed the stalker had finally given up. But no. He was still there. Watching. Waiting.I wanted to throw the phone across the room, but before I could lock the screen, Noah stirred beside me. His voice was low, rough from sleep.“What’s that?”“Nothing.” My voice cracked.“River.” His tone sharpened. I could already feel his eyes on me even in the dim light.“It’s nothing,” I repeated, slipping the phone under the pillow, hoping he’d let it go.But Noah never let anything go.He sat up, his shadow falling over
River’s POVThe light from the window was soft when I opened my eyes. It was morning, and the world felt quiet. I could hear Noah’s slow, steady breathing beside me, his arm heavy across my waist, holding me like he was afraid I would disappear if he let go. My body was sore, marked, still carrying the heat of last night. His scent clung to me, strong and possessive, mixed with sweat and something that felt too raw to describe.I didn’t move at first. I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, my chest rising and falling too fast for someone who was supposed to be calm. The truth was, I wasn’t calm. Not even close.Last night had been messy, overwhelming, everything tangled in anger, jealousy, and want. It had been Noah’s mouth on mine, his hands gripping me like he wanted to break me apart, his voice rough when he told me I was his. And I had let it happen. I had wanted it too, more than I wanted to admit.But now, in the light of day, with silence pressing down on me, I felt the ques
River’s POVThe room was quiet except for the sound of Noah’s breathing. Deep, steady, like nothing could shake him. I lay on my side, staring at the ceiling, my body still sensitive from everything that had just happened. My skin was marked with the kind of touches that felt like both comfort and warning. His hands had been everywhere, his lips claiming me again and again until I gave in completely. Even now, I could still feel the weight of his body, the way he held me down like I might run.Possessive. That was the word that stayed in my head.Noah wasn’t just a lover tonight. He was something else. A wall, a cage, a storm. I couldn’t tell if it was protection or control. Maybe both. And maybe I liked it more than I should. That thought scared me.I turned my head slightly, watching him in the dim light. His arm was draped over me like he owned me, heavy and firm, pinning me to the bed even in his sleep. His chest rose and fell, calm, while my mind was anything but.I liked him. T