LOGINJason didn't move from the doorframe. His gaze zeroed in on Anna through the mirror. Her eyes were wide and red-rimmed, damp strands of hair sticking to her flushed cheeks.His hand tightened around the straps of her heels as his gaze dropped to her lips, bruised from her biting on it. She did that whenever she was overwhelmed or nervous. His brows furrowed as something thumped hard in his belly. Seeing her like this stirred things in him—things he had no business feeling. Things he would never admit. Not anymore.His gaze dropped to her stomach as he stepped in, shutting the door behind him without looking away. Her gaze broke away from him, dropping to her stomach as well, and as though realizing her hand hovered over it, quickly dropped her hand to her side. His eyes lingered on her stomach. She was carrying a baby in there.His baby.The realization landed differently this time. Not as a possibility. Not as something everyone else had suddenly discovered but as something... real.
Oh God. Oh God. That was the only thought Anna could manage. Her breath quickened, dread rising into her throat. She bit down on her lower lip, trying to get her breathing under control. “Pregnant?” Elena repeated, as though completely unaware of the bombshell she'd just dropped. Anna didn't look up. Not with Jason sitting directly across from her. “Act normal,” she murmured to herself. “Act normal.” But she sat frozen, her heart in her throat, her chest rising too rapidly for any of this to pass as normal. “Who's pregnant, Elly?” “She meant there'll be one eventually,” Leah said quickly, grabbing Anna's hand beneath the table. Anna gripped it for dear life. There. Leah handled it. It was fine. Everything was going to be…Elena gasped, realizing what she'd blurted. “Oh my goodness. Annie, I'm so sorry.” Anna squeezed her eyes shut, feeling the ground shift from under her. She suddenly felt woozy, even though she hadn't had a drop of alcohol. A sharp clink of silverware against
There were four cars already in the driveway. It told Jason he was the last of the lot. He could easily point out the cars Ethan and Cole had driven—the Porsche was Cole's because… well, it was Cole. The BMW was Ethan’s. Jason knew because he’d gifted it to him on his last birthday. He could vividly picture Leah driving the Cabriolet with its roof down, one hand on the steering wheel and the other in the air. She was the kind of woman who would love a dramatic entrance. She'd probably be best friends with Cole. Jason adjusted the wooden box in his hands as his gaze lingered on the Range Rover. There was no way she'd have driven that, but then, she was the only one unaccounted for. A few members of the staff moved around the property, but before he could ask one of them where their boss was, laughter drifted toward him. He followed the sound, his steps slowing as he drew closer. His conversation with Julian the night before surfaced in his mind. He'd been about to share the good n
"We wanted somewhere they could actually grow up," Julian said quietly as they walked out of the children's wing. "Not just somewhere beautiful."Elena slipped her arm through his, beaming up at him. Anna hung back in the group as they descended the wooden staircase. Julian and Elena led the way, arm-in-arm, with Gideon and Leah following. That meant Anna could watch Leah without her realizing. Gideon kept glancing at Leah every few seconds, and with each one, Anna could feel rather than see Leah tense further. But she didn't let go. Instead, she leaned further into Gideon. Because no matter what she was hiding, Gideon was her safe place. He was home. Anna released a breath, forcing her eyes away from them to the banister, her fingers tracing its polished wood. The staircase was dark, polished wood, its carved balusters and sweeping handrail giving it an old-world elegance that made the entire house feel like it belonged to another century.“Did this staircase come with the castle
Anna remained seated at her vanity long after she'd finished getting dressed. Her finger swept lightly over her elegant low bun, tucking an escaped face-framing strand back into place. She picked up the muted rose-red lipstick she had on, capped it and popped it into her handbag. Cubic zirconia stud caught the light at her ears while a delicate white-gold necklace rested against her collarbone. Simple and elegant. Exactly what she'd been aiming for. Focusing on lipstick shades, earrings and hairstyles had given her mind something to do besides replaying yesterday's heartbeat... and wondering what tonight would bring.Just as she slipped into her silver heels and stood, her phone lit up on the vanity. She reached for it immediately. Crazy Bitch🙄🤍: I'm downstairs, Mademoiselle… come wow me😉Anna smiled despite herself and headed for the door. Leah was being, well, Leah… again. It didn't wipe away what had happened yesterday. If anything, it made it glaringly obvious Leah was hidin
The waiting room wasn't nearly as intimidating as Anna remembered. Or perhaps it only felt that way because this time, she had Leah and Elena with her. Leah had commandeered the chair beside her, scrolling through her phone while her crossed leg bounced restlessly every few seconds. Every now and then, she shot Anna a poorly concealed look of concern.Elena, meanwhile, had somehow managed to strike up a conversation with an elderly woman knitting a tiny yellow sweater across the room."...So your granddaughter's due in September? That's so cute!"The woman laughed. "My daughter.""Oh… sorry. I spoke out of turn.” Leah didn't even look up. "You usually do."The woman chuckled. Elena glared at Leah. Just then, a young woman who looked to be in her early twenties walked out from the office, both hands on either side of her waist. She was heavily pregnant. The older woman stood immediately, packed her knitting stuff into her bag and hurried over to the young woman. “What did the doctor
Anna had never told anyone the full, ugly version of what happened in high school. Only a few people knew the watered-down version—her therapist back in college and Leah. Elena knew only… bits. As always, she'd chosen to protect her little sister from the mess—her mess. She couldn't say the same f
By the time Anna got to her apartment, she'd ignored calls from Dr. Pierce, the four musketeers—Sierra, Brooke, Madison and Jack—respectively, and several from Elena. As she stepped out of the elevator, her phone buzzed again. Without even looking, she silenced it. Jason's words drowned everything
The silence that stretched after Jason and Elodie disappeared through the double door was loud and judging. Anna stood rooted to the ground, staring at the door. “Well, it was nice catching up,” Cole said, already sounding done. And with that, he made his exit, following his friend. Anna stood, u
Jason stiffened as his gaze locked onto Anna standing in the middle of his office. Her scent already hung in the air—the sterile bite of antiseptic softened by jasmine and a faint trace of lavender he knew too well. Dark glossy tendrils framed her delicate face, and the hand that rose to tuck them







