DAMIENI stood in the middle of the beach, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore filling the air. The sun was beginning its descent, casting a golden glow over everything. It was perfect. Simple yet breathtaking, just the way I knew Shawna would love it.The gentle breeze carried the salty scent of the ocean, blending with the faint fragrance of the flowers we had carefully arranged along the aisle. White chairs stood neatly in rows, facing the beautifully decorated arch where we would say our vows. Fairy lights twinkled in the early evening light, creating a magical ambiance. The entire setting was intimate, just family and a few close friends, exactly what I wanted for Shawna.“Dad, are we sure this is enough?” Phoebe asked, looking around with excitement. Her small hands clutched onto the hem of her dress as she took in the scene.I turned to her with a smile, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.“It’s perfect,” I assured her, ruffling her hair. “Your mom doesn’t
SHAWNAThe day had been long and full of emotions. Damien had disappeared early in the morning with the kids, leaving me to spend time with my mother. I appreciated the quiet moments with her, but I couldn't shake the curiosity about where he had gone. He hadn’t said much before leaving, just kissed my forehead and told me he had plans.Later in the day, I was surprised when Damien’s mother showed up at the house. I had expected tension, maybe another disagreement, but instead, she looked almost... apologetic.“I owe you an apology,” she said, sitting across from me in the living room.I blinked, surprised. “For what?”“For how I spoke to you yesterday. I wasn’t being fair. I was so caught up in my own vision of the wedding that I didn’t stop to consider what you and Damien truly wanted.”I exhaled softly, the weight of our previous conversation still lingering. “I appreciate you saying that.”She sighed. “I see how much Damien loves you, how much the kids adore you. I was wrong to tr
SHAWNAI watched as Damien loaded the last of the suitcases into the car, his movements quick and efficient. There was something about the way he handled everything that made me smile. He had a way of taking charge, but at the same time, he always made sure I was comfortable with every decision."You know," I said, folding my arms and leaning against the car. "I never thought I'd be this excited to leave. But I am."Damien turned to me, a smirk playing on his lips. "Oh? And here I thought you’d be all sentimental and teary-eyed about leaving everything behind."I shook my head. "Not a chance. I’m ready for a fresh start. No baggage, no bad memories, no regrets. Just you, me, and a new beginning."His smirk widened, and he pulled me close. "That’s what I love about you, Shawna. No hesitation. No second-guessing. Just full speed ahead."I looked up at him and grinned. "Speaking of full speed ahead, you do realize you haven’t mentioned any honeymoon plans, right?"Damien blinked, then ru
SHAWNAThe flight felt endless. Even with the luxury surrounding me—the plush leather seats, the soft hum of the engines, and the attentive flight attendants—I couldn’t shake the feeling of irritation. I kept shifting in my seat, trying to find a comfortable position, but nothing seemed to help. The cabin was too quiet, too empty. Every time I reached for my phone, I was reminded that I had no service, no messages from Damien checking in on me.I sighed and stared out the window, watching as the sky slowly shifted from a deep blue to a golden hue. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow over the clouds. It should have been beautiful, but all I could think about was how much I hated flying alone.After what felt like forever, the pilot’s voice crackled through the speakers, announcing our descent. I straightened up, stretching my arms before fastening my seatbelt. Finally. At least this lonely trip was almost over.The plane glided smoothly onto the runway, the tires touching
KYLEI adjusted the cuffs of my suit, barely listening as my father droned on about business strategies. Ever since Damien left, he had been more determined than ever to mold me into his perfect successor. I had humored him for a while, but deep down, I knew I didn’t want to stay in New York.Sitting across from him in his grand office, I nodded at the right moments, pretending to be engaged. The large windows behind him gave a stunning view of the city skyline, but even that didn’t hold my interest anymore. New York had always felt like a temporary stop for me, never truly home.“Kyle, are you even listening?” My father’s sharp voice cut through my thoughts.I blinked, meeting his expectant gaze. “Of course,” I lied smoothly.He sighed, rubbing his temples. “This is important, Kyle. With Damien gone, the responsibility falls on you. The company needs leadership. I need you to step up.”I leaned back in my chair, resisting the urge to sigh as well. “I understand that, but let’s be hon
EUGENEI watched Kyle pace the room, his jaw clenched, his hands running through his hair in frustration.“This is reckless, Eugene,” he said finally, stopping to face me. His blue eyes burned with an intensity that made my chest tighten. “You can’t keep thriving on violence. It has to stop.”I folded my arms, feeling the weight of his words press down on me. “I need justice, Kyle.”“Justice?” He let out a bitter laugh. “Is that what you’re calling it now?”“Yes,” I shot back. “My mother was murdered, Kyle! I can’t just let that go.”He sighed and shook his head. “I know how much you loved her. I know how much this hurts. But revenge won’t bring her back. It won’t heal you. It’ll only drag you further into the darkness you’ve been fighting for so long.”I swallowed hard, unwilling to meet his gaze. I hated that he was right. I hated that deep down, I knew he was right. But the anger in my chest refused to let go. The pain still clawed at me, demanding justice, demanding retribution.“
PHOEBESEVENTEEN YEARS LATERThe obnoxious beeping of my alarm clock yanked me from sleep. I groaned, slamming my hand down on the snooze button before rubbing my eyes. My room was still dim, the early morning sunlight barely creeping through the curtains. I blinked at the ceiling for a moment before the reason for today’s excitement fully registered.Mom and Dad’s seventeenth anniversary.A smile spread across my face as I sat up, stretching my arms over my head. Seventeen years of marriage—that was something worth celebrating. I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and got to my feet, shuffling toward the bathroom. Splashing cold water on my face, I shook off the last bits of sleep and pulled my hair into a loose ponytail. I wanted to be the first to wish them a happy anniversary.I threw on a pair of cozy sweatpants and a hoodie before padding downstairs, the scent of coffee and syrup filling the air. The faint hum of conversation and the occasional clatter of silverware told me
SHAWNAThe moment Phoebe’s words left her mouth, I felt the air shift in the room. "I’m moving out soon."For a second, there was only silence. Then, I let out a small laugh, assuming she was joking. "Phoebe, sweetheart, the mansion is big enough for you to have your own wing if you need space."Phoebe sighed, shaking her head. "It’s not about space, Mom. I just feel like I’ve outgrown living at home. I need to be on my own, start making my own decisions."Billy frowned. "Why are you talking like that? The house is big enough. We literally go days without seeing each other if we wanted to."Jasper nodded. "Yeah, and if not for Mom’s family traditions, we probably wouldn’t even eat together half the time."I forced a smile, though my heart ached. "Sweetheart, we can talk about this after the anniversary, okay? Let’s not make any decisions right now."Phoebe hesitated before nodding. "Okay."I turned and walked toward the hallway, trying to keep my emotions in check. My chest felt tight
PHOEBERichard didn’t react at first. He just stared at me like he was trying to read my thoughts.“I’m sorry for coming unannounced. I just… I really need your help.”I heard my own voice tremble. My eyes darted briefly to the floor before finding Richard’s again. I hated that I sounded so desperate, but I was. Completely and utterly desperate.Richard frowned, his brows pulling together. “What’s going on? Is something wrong?”I nodded slowly, my fingers wringing each other nervously in front of me. “It’s Ramon. I’ve been trying to find him all day. His apartment’s locked up. It looks like no one’s there. Curtains drawn. Door locked. Lights off. I knocked, I waited… nothing.”Richard’s expression changed subtly. Concern started creeping in.“I tried calling him. Several times. But his number’s not going through. It’s not even ringing.” I paused, struggling to keep my voice steady. “And I’ve spoken to some people who used to see him often…security at his place, a few mutual friends. N
PHOEBELater that day, I was still sitting at my desk, staring at the resignation letter in my hands like it might change if I looked at it long enough. It didn’t. The words stayed the same.I stood up and walked over to Clara’s desk. She looked up from her computer and gave me a soft smile before bowing to greet me.“Clara,” I said, holding up the letter. “Do you know where Ramon is? I need to speak with him.”She frowned and shook her head. “Oh… he left early this morning. Said he had something urgent to take care of. He didn’t say where he was going.”I felt my chest tighten. “Did he seem okay?”Clara paused, thinking. “I don’t know. He was quiet. Didn’t really talk to anyone. Just packed up his stuff and left.”“Packed up?”She nodded. “Yeah. Said he wouldn’t be coming back for a while.”That made my heart drop. What the hell was going on?I left the office immediately. I didn’t even bother to grab my bag. I just walked out, got into a cab, and told the driver to take me to Ramon’
PHOEBEI sat on my bed staring at nothing. My eyes were sore from crying, but no more tears came. I felt empty. Numb.A soft knock pulled me out of my thoughts. I blinked and looked up."Come in," I said quietly.To my surprise, it wasn’t Winnie. It was my grandmother."Grandma?" I said, standing up.She walked in slowly, her eyes scanning my face like she could read every thought running wild in my head. She didn’t say anything at first. She just came straight to me and pulled me into a hug. No words, no questions, just warmth. And in that moment, I cracked."Oh, my sweet girl," she whispered into my hair. "What’s wrong?"I hugged her tighter, and the tears came again, harder this time. I couldn’t stop them even if I tried. The sobs came from somewhere deep, somewhere I didn’t know still ached this much."I feel like I don’t know him," I sobbed, my voice shaking. "I feel like everything I believed was a lie."She didn’t say anything right away. Just rubbed my back gently, like she us
RAMONThe moment I saw her, my heart stopped.There she was, Phoebe. Standing by the garden path with the sun behind her, making her hair glow like it always used to when we’d sit on the porch together. I couldn’t move at first. I just stared.“Phoebe,” I said, finally stepping forward.She looked up, and our eyes met, but the look on her face hit me like a punch in the gut. No warmth. No relief. Just surprise… and something that felt like pain and disappointment rolled into one.She turned away instantly, like she couldn’t get away fast enough.“Wait…Phoebe, wait!” I rushed forward.She didn’t stop. She picked up her pace, but I caught up to her. I reached out and lightly grabbed her arm. “Please. Don’t go. Just let me talk.”“Let go of me, Ramon,” she said, her voice low and cold.I did. I stepped back, hands raised. “Okay. I’m sorry. I just… I wasn’t expecting to see you. I didn’t think you’d come out here.”“Well, I didn’t think I’d run into you,” she snapped. “Yet here we are.”“
BILLYI watched the door close behind Phoebe as she walked out of the room. My eyes followed her, but she didn’t even glance back. She just left.Jasper was standing beside me, arms folded, a puzzled look on his face. We both turned slowly to look at Winnie, who was still sitting on the edge of the bed. Her hands were clasped together, and she looked like she was trying not to say too much.“What’s going on?” I asked, breaking the silence first. “She just left us standing here.”“Yeah,” Jasper added. “She looked upset. And Ramon walked out earlier, looking like someone kicked his soul out. What’s happening?”Winnie looked up at us and sighed. “It’s… complicated.”Jasper raised an eyebrow. “Complicated how?”She stood up slowly, smoothing her shirt. “It’s something you should really hear from Phoebe.”“But she’s not exactly giving out answers right now, is she?” I said. “We’re her brothers. We have a right to know what’s happening with her.”“I agree,” Jasper added, nodding. “Did she r
PHOEBEThat morning, I woke up to the quiet hum of birds outside the window. For once, I didn’t have to rush to work or pretend everything was fine. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, trying not to think too much.The soft floral curtains swayed gently with the breeze, and for a moment, everything felt peaceful. But that peace didn’t reach inside me. I felt like I was just floating, present in body, but far from okay. My eyes were heavy from lack of sleep, and my chest ached from holding in tears all night. Still, I stayed there, wrapped in Winnie’s guest blanket, letting the silence stretch as long as it could.Winnie had helped sneak me into her house late last night, and I was grateful."Are you going to tell your parents you’re here?" she asked softly that morning as she came into the room with a cup of warm tea.I sat up slowly, blinking away the crust from my eyes. "There’s no need. They’ll just ask questions I’m not ready to answer."She nodded and handed me the cup. The mug
RAMONI stood there for a long time, watching Phoebe walk away. Her words echoed in my head like a sharp slap: “I never want to see you again.” I wanted to chase after her, to make her listen, to explain everything. But I couldn’t. Not when I didn’t even have the answers she needed.Not when everything in my life was already broken beyond repair.Maybe she was right to leave. Maybe this was the best thing for her. That’s what I kept telling myself as I dragged myself back to my uncle’s house. It was late, and the street was too quiet, like even the night wanted nothing to do with me.When I stepped inside, Uncle Richard looked up from the couch. He was lounging like a king in his robe, glass of whiskey in hand, the flickering TV light painting shadows across his aging face. He looked too calm for someone who had just helped me destroy the only thing that ever made sense in my life.“Well, look who’s back,” he said, a slow smile curling at the corners of his lips. “I take it she finall
PHOEBEMy whole body was sore. My dress was torn, my wrists burned from the ropes, and my eyes stung from crying. I was huddled in a corner of that cold, dark room, shivering as the last of the men ran out like rats. One second, they were setting up cameras, saying the most disgusting things, and the next, they were gone. Just like that.It made no sense. None of it did. Why would they leave me? What scared them off?I was too weak to stand, too confused to think straight. My head was pounding, and I could still feel whatever they had drugged me with swirling through my system. My heart was racing so fast I could barely catch my breath. My legs were pulled to my chest, arms wrapped tightly around them, as if I could make myself disappear if I just curled up small enough.And then I heard footsteps.Fast. Heavy. Coming closer.My eyes shot to the door.I froze.My heart shot to my throat.Were they back?Did they forget something?Were they going to finish what they started?I couldn’t
RAMONI stood in that hotel lobby staring at the manager as if he'd just announced a death. Maybe he had. Because knowing Phoebe had been taken right from under my nose felt exactly like that, like something had died inside me."She was in your care!" I shouted. "She was supposed to wait for me here!""Mr. Ramon," the manager said nervously, "we thought it was authorized…""By whom? My uncle?" I spat. "You took her because my uncle said so? Did she look like she wanted to leave? Did you even ask her that?"No answer. Just that sick, silent guilt on their faces.I didn't waste another second. I turned on my heel, stormed out of the hotel, jumped into my car, and sped straight to Richard's estate. My hands gripped the wheel so hard they ached. My mind was a storm, rage, fear, regret. I kept seeing her face in my head, her smile, the way she had trusted me. And now...She was gone.When I got to the mansion, the guards at the gate crossed their arms."Sir, Mr. Richard said not to let you