I deeply apologize for the lack of updates last week. I was admitted and under observation due to hypertension and couldn’t focus on anything but my health. This is also my due month, so I’ll likely be away for a few more days. However, I do have a few days in hand before that happens, so I’ll try my best to write as many chapters as possible. I’m not promising anything, as I may not be able to keep it. That said, I’m incredibly grateful to all the readers who are still here and supporting me throughout this journey. I appreciate you all so much—hopefully, you’ll bear with me a little longer. Thank you.
I push against his chest, hard, but he doesn’t budge. Doesn’t even flinch. His grip tightens, and his eyes blaze down at me like he’s barely holding it together. Like he’s one second away from losing control.“You think I wanted this?” he growls, voice low and dangerous. “You think I woke up hoping to screw it all up again?”“Let me go,” I hiss, trying to jerk my arm free. “I don’t want to hear any of your pathetic excuses—”But I don’t get to finish.Because the next second, his mouth crashes down on mine.Hard. Unapologetic. Ruthless.It’s not tender, or sweet, or even remotely careful.It’s desperate. Possessive. Like he’s trying to prove something—with his lips, with the way he crushes me against him like he’ll die if he lets go.And for a stupid, stupid second… I let him.I freeze, breath caught in my throat, heart hammering like a war drum. My fists clench against his chest, but I don’t shove him away. Not immediately. Not when his kiss tastes like guilt and need and everything
[Astrid]“You have nothing substantial against my client, officer—no evidence, no grounds. I trust you understand why there is no legal basis to continue holding her any longer than you already have.”My dad’s advocate, Mr. Darwin Shaw, makes his final point before standing up and motioning for me to do the same.I stand up, all right, inwardly thinking of all the ways I’ll destroy Vivienne Richardson.That bitch is the reason I’m in this fucking state, the reason Caden called the cops on me, and why I had to spend the last three hours in holding.The officer in question frowns. “We have witnesses.”“The witnesses? One of whom was found in possession of the weapon?” Mr. Shaw says coolly. “Let’s allow the judge to determine how credible that sounds.”Five minutes later, we’re standing outside the precinct, my eyes on the sky as I watch the dawn break.“Your father wants to see you,” Mr. Shaw reminds me. “You should contact him now.”“I will,” I say, watching a car pull up in front of us
His words shouldn’t sting this much—but they do.Each sentence lands like a blow, not out of malice, but out of truth. Hard, unrelenting truth I’ve spent years pretending didn’t exist. And now, sitting here beside the man who’s supposed to know me best, I realize how much I’ve kept from him. How much I’ve kept from everyone.“I didn’t mean to shut you out,” I murmur, my voice rough. “I didn’t even realize I was doing it most of the time. It’s just… it became second nature. If I didn’t talk about it, it wouldn’t be real. Or at least, it wouldn’t hurt as much.”I hear him sigh.“Pretending was easier. Safer. I thought if I kept the pain buried deep enough, it wouldn’t follow me here. But I was wrong. It followed me into my marriage. Into fatherhood. Into this house.”He doesn’t say a word. Just watches me.“I didn’t tell you about my son because…” I pause, the shame crawling up my spine like fire. “Because I didn’t want to mess it up before I even had a chance. I didn’t want to watch yo
[Caden]After the tragic confrontation with Samuel, Mom and Dad look more than just devastated—they are heartbroken.I drive them home.Once we reach the mansion, Dad heads straight for the bar, and Mom simply goes upstairs, neither of them uttering a single word.I don’t know what to do—or say. I don’t even know if saying something would help or just make it worse. Maybe they need to figure this out on their own. Maybe we all do.When I enter my bedroom, I try calling Vivienne several times, but she never answers. I know she’s mad. And I know it’s for a good reason. But why can’t she answer me once? Even if it’s just to say she wants nothing to do with me.For some reason that makes too much sense now, I miss her with everything I am. I miss her voice, her touch, her smell—her. I miss the way she smiles, the way she holds my hand, and looks into my eyes. The way she says so much without saying anything at all. The way her silence sounds louder than a scream. The way her smile can bri
[Caden]Just like I feared, the moment mom and dad walk into Samuel’s recovery room, he cries out everything.Standing outside his slightly opened door, I hear everything he’s trying to scream and yell. Although he gladly leaves the part where he abducted Vivienne and Axel, and almost killed the latter. Perhaps he doesn’t know I’m here.That fact alone makes me want to wrap my fingers around his neck and squeeze as hard as I can. Not because I hate his guts for lying through his teeth, but because, for the first time in my life, I do want someone dead.“Are you done spewing nonsense?” I say as I open the door ajar and walk inside. “Or should I give you a few more minutes to come up with something even dumber?”The moment his gaze lands on me, he stiffens. His whole face pales, and his jaw literally drops.“You…” he gasps, eyes wide with panic. “You shouldn’t be here.” He scrambles pointlessly against the bed, already lying down like a fool. “Mom? Dad? Why the hell is he in here? Didn’
[Caden]I fucked up.But the good thing is: I’m not even surprised anymore.Maybe it was the barrage of emotions that erupted inside me—knowing Vivienne and Axel were taken by Samuel—followed by the absolute relief that slammed right into my chest, and probably my brain, that made me happily ignore all the other danger signs and warnings in my head.How could I not have seen this coming?It was so damn obvious. Right in front of my eyes. So close, I could’ve touched it if I’d just tried.But I didn’t. And like a sweeping idiot, I revealed something so important so casually.I should have known she didn’t know. And how could she?I never brought it up. I completely forgot that five years ago, I let her believe everything she accused me of—even the act of two-timing, which I never did.Shit.It hasn’t even been an hour since Alexander backed off and let me have this second chance, and I’ve already royally fucked it up.“Vivienne, wait!”But she doesn’t wait. She doesn’t even turn around