LIV'S POV It was just after sundown when we finally left Rose's place. It was always an amazing time whenever we were together and today with Kaelon around and the news of my baby, it made it much more merrier.But once the door closed behind us and the quiet wrapped itself around Kaelon and me like a velvet shawl, something shifted inside me.We slid into the sleek, dark interior of his car. The city lights outside blurred as the tinted windows dimmed the world, giving us a little bubble of solitude. Kaelon reached for my hand, pressing a gentle kiss against my knuckles. His thumb brushed the back of my hand as he started the engine."You were quiet as we left," he said, glancing at me. "Did something happen?"I hesitated for a breath, staring out the window at the moving silhouettes of trees and buildings. "I want to see my dad."Kaelon's hand tightened slightly around mine. "Tonight? It’s late, kitten. How about we go tomorrow? I can clear my schedule."I shook my head, firm but
LIV'S POV It had been five days since the chaos died down, since the walls that once held nothing but tension and accusations had quieted into something softer. Something more livable. More breathable. The air around me wasn’t so thick anymore. Kaelon’s mansion had transformed into a sanctuary mostly because Viv was now in rehab, Aaron had started therapy, and the baby was with my mother and Mr. Preston.I smiled to myself as I checked my reflection in the mirror one last time before stepping out. I had on one of my favorite sundresses. A pale pink, off-shoulder number with delicate lace details around the hem. Kaelon had insisted I was glowing lately, and I wasn’t about to argue with that. Maybe peace suited me. Maybe love did. Maybe finally feeling like I belonged had brought a softness I didn’t know I was capable of.Today, I was headed out to see the girls. Rose had invited me over, saying it had been too long since we all got together without drama or men or wine-induced ther
LIV'S POVBy the time we arrived at the office, I was still reeling from everything that had happened. The wind from the limo's speed hadn’t managed to carry away the chaos in my head, but Kaelon’s teasing had helped more than I’d care to admit.I smiled to myself, cheeks warm from the memory of the kiss we shared just moments ago. It still lingered on my lips, wild and hungry. Kaelon had a way of making everything outside of him seem like background noise, like his presence alone was a melody I couldn’t stop humming.“You’ve been grinning like a thief,” he whispered behind me, his voice low and teasing as we stepped out of the car and into the building.“Can’t help it. Someone keeps biting my lips and making bold promises.”He chuckled. “Bold promises?” he echoed. “Kitten, I never promise. I deliver.”I rolled my eyes and was about to take the turn toward my office when he gently caught my wrist.“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked, eyes dancing with mischief.“My office? To
KAELON'S POV The moment the ambulance doors shut with Viv inside, I felt the lingering tension easen up a bit.Her screams had faded, swallowed by the sterile interior of the vehicle and the urgency of the paramedics. I reached into the inner pocket of my coat and retrieved my phone, thumb already scrolling to the number I knew by heart.It rang once."Sir?" a calm voice responded on the other end."I want the baby's DNA tested as soon as it's born," I ordered, steel tightening around every word. "I want confirmation—immediately.""Understood. We’ll have a team on standby."I ended the call and tucked the phone back in place.Aaron was pacing like a caged animal, his jaw clenched tight enough to snap teeth. Without a word, he pivoted and stormed toward his car. Martha tried to stop him, trailing after him with outstretched arms."Aaron, wait. Please…" she pleaded, her voice already thick with emotion.He spun on his heels, rage pouring off him like heat waves. "No! Leave me alone! Go
AARON'S POV I never imagined the day would come when I would question the very choices that brought me here. For everything I did with Viv, I just realized it wasn't worth it. But standing there, in that room of too many truths and unforgiving silences, I saw clearly. Too clearly. And it hurt.Viv, seated like a queen gone mad, crunched on chips while smiling like she hadn’t destroyed a fraction of my life. Kaelon stood near her, arms crossed, eyes sharp, unrelenting. Liv…God, Liv. Her silence was louder than anything else in that room, her eyes wary but strong. And my mother… My mother was here too. The very root of all this chaos.“You,” I said, my voice thick with disbelief, my eyes locked on Martha. She looked startled, like she hadn’t expected the blame to land on her shoulders. But where else could it go? I pointed at her, my finger trembling with fury. “You caused all of this!”“Aaron,” she whispered. “Please, don’t…”“No!” I snapped. “Don’t even try. Why did you have to le
LIV'S POV Kaelon stood silently near the railing, a dark shadow under the afternoon sun, the wind tugging at his coat as if daring him to lash out. But he remained eerily composed. I knew that stillness, I had learned it. It was the way Kaelon always got when he was trying to hold in an eruption. I could sense the burn of his fury just beneath the surface.And in that moment, I realized something. He had known. Maybe not everything, but something. Something about Viv's sudden disappearance, about how she'd reappeared with a conveniently timed pregnancy. He'd kept her out of sight, away from the mess she'd made. It wasn’t to protect her—not really. It was to contain the chaos. Kaelon had been managing this entire narrative like a seasoned strategist.He turned, his gaze landing on Martha, sharp and deliberate."Martha," he said coldly. "Please, repeat what you said to Liv in her office."Martha stiffened in her seat, visibly recoiling from the sudden attention. Her lips thinned, bu