LOGINLife was better than in my dream, and I couldn't have asked for it to be any different. Without Stein in my life, I was convinced I would live longer. I had died at 36, on my freaking birthday. Even though I was still 25 in this life, the future looked brighter with Adam by my side. “What would you like to have?” The Barista asked. Before I could place an order, Adam, who was hanging on my right arm, beat me to it.“We'll have two espressos, please.”I blinked at Adam. “Since when do you drink espresso?”He grinned, and his grey eyes crinkled at the corners. “Since I decided to pull an all-nighter for the swim meet tomorrow. Caffeine is my best friend.”“You're going to be jittery on the blocks.”“Worth it.” He bumped his shoulder against mine. I leaned down and placed a kiss on his lips. He blushed and averted his gaze, feeling shy. We moved to the pickup counter, and Adam held me close as if he were afraid someone would steal me from him. He shivered.“Cold?” I asked, already sh
A/NWhen I started this book, I knew it wouldn't end well. I planned to give it a sad ending and stop right there. So, according to my initial plan in April, the book was supposed to end yesterday. But halfway through, I decided to give Kai a happy ending because he deserves it after everything he went through with Stein. Stein, too. Even though he's an obsessive psycho, he deserves a happy ending and a forever with the one he loves, which is why I decided to give it an alternative ending. The following chapters are bonus chapters. I'm planning on 20 chapters. It might be less, but not more. And this book will end this month.*Phew*It's almost time to bid farewell to my characters.A NEW LIFEKAII've been having these recurring dreams since my 18th birthday. It was always about this one guy, who I couldn't escape. The life in my dream was almost like my current one, but some things changed.“Kai!”I groaned at the call from my younger brother, Max. In my dream, Max was my half-brot
STEINMy cheeks hurt from smiling. Kai had finally confessed his love to me again! He told me he loved me, and he actually smiled. Finally! Humming, I walked around the grocery store and got everything he wanted. For the fresh ingredients, I went to the farmer's market. It took me over two hours to get everything, but it was worth it.I sang on the drive back, smiling because I couldn't contain my happiness at finally getting what I had hoped for all week.I parked the car and grabbed the bags, taking the front steps two at a time. The house was quiet when I entered, but that wasn't unusual. Kai was probably upstairs resting, or maybe exploring the rooms I had denied him for weeks. I smiled, imagining him in the library, or standing on the balcony overlooking the garden.“Kai?” I called out, setting the bags on the kitchen counter. “I'm back, Schatz. I got everything on your list.”With the bag containing the wine I got for him, I took the stairs slowly. The bedroom door was ajar, and
I woke up to a birthday song. Stein was standing by my bed with a cake, singing. My face broke into a smile when I sat up. It was finally here. “Make a wish, Schatz,” he prompted when he finished singing, his eyes glowing in the candlelight.I closed my eyes and made a wish for them to be happy without me, and for this to finally end.I blew out the candles.“What did you wish for?” he asked, setting the cake aside and sitting on the edge of the bed.“Can't tell you." I smiled. “Or it won't come true.”He laughed. “Then I'll guess. You wished for Lukas to visit?”“Maybe.”“Or for me to unlock the chain?”I looked down at the silver band around my ankle. “Do I need to wish for that?”His expression softened. He reached into his pocket and produced the small key. “Actually,” he said, “you don't need this anymore.”My heart stopped. “What?”“I mean ..." He hesitated, turning the key over in his fingers. “You've been different these past few days. I'm ready to try once more with you.”I
KAII tried running again. This time, I broke the window and dragged the wood the chain was fastened to. I was almost there, but he came in before I could jump down the window. He pulled me by my hair and tossed me on the bed. “You're not going anywhere, Schatz!” He hissed, narrowing his eyes at me. “If you escape, I'll always find you. You're safer with me here.”“I'm not! Let me go, you bastard!”He smiled and reached out to touch me. I flinched, and his expression darkened. He took his hand back and glared hard at me. “If you ever try to run, I'll break your legs.”I shivered in fear. “If you can't willingly stay with me with both legs intact, then you don't need them.”“Stein —”“And if you still tried to run despite that, or hurt yourself, I'll kill you, then kill myself. You're stuck with me forever, Schatz. I'm never letting go. You'll forever be by my side!”My lips trembled in fear at the mad expression on his face. I knew he meant every threat. This man is mad, and he's t
STEINDid I finally break him? He had been cold for a week now. Though we talked most of the time, his eyes were now empty. Staring into them was almost like looking into a void. Was I wrong to hold him against his will? Would he regain that warmth if I let him go? But what would happen to me? I shook my head and clenched my jaw hard. No, I wasn't wrong. I did all those things because I love him. He would one day appreciate everything I did for him. “Dad!”I blinked, recalling that I was on a video call with Lukas. Edward had been disturbing Mary for a long time to see Kai. He didn't trust her word about me taking him out on a holiday and wanted to hear it from him, which is why I called and demanded that Lukas speak with Edward. That was one reason, though. I wanted to see if our son could bring that life back to Kai. I smiled. “I'm taking the phone to your daddy now.” I opened the door and stepped in. Kai looked up and let out a disinterested sigh. He was sitting up on the bed
KAIThe rest of the week went by in a blur. By the time Friday knocked on my door, I was drained. I'd stayed awake two nights, thinking of the bloody truce marriage and how to get the fuck out of it. I wasn't like Dad, who thought we needed this. We don't. We have been surviving all these years wit
KAIOnce again, I woke up to that depressing sight of cum sticking to my body. As if that weren't bad enough, there were also stains on the floor, and my reading desk, which I could have sworn was by my table, was in front of my bed, as if I had sat there before retiring to bed. The worst? I couldn
STEIN“I think it's time for you to settle down, Stein,” Dad said, his sharp voice cutting through the phone the second I took his call. “You're 25, and that's old enough to have a family. Your mother and I have found the perfect partner for you. We have a family dinner with them on Friday, and I n
KAIHis mouth found mine, stealing the questions on the tip of my tongue. Stein's hands were in my hair and on my jaw. He cupped my face like he was afraid I'd disappear if he let go. I didn't care. I kissed him back, and my fingers twisted in his collar to pull him closer. The taste of him flooded







