登入Noah's POV The moment I got back to my room, regret hit me. Hard. I dropped onto my bed and stared at the ceiling. The image of Julia standing in the studio kept replaying in my head. The confusion on her face. The hurt in her eyes. The way she had looked genuinely shocked by my reaction. I groaned and covered my face with my hands. I had overreacted. Again. The problem was that nobody had discovered my secret before. For years, that studio had been mine alone. The one place where I could escape. The one place where I could sing without being judged. Without my father finding out. Without anyone asking questions. Then Julia had walked in. And I had panicked. But the more I thought about it, the worse I felt. She hadn't done anything wrong. She didn't know why music was such a sensitive subject in this family. She didn't know about my mother. She didn't know why my father hated singing. She didn't know anything. Yet I had treated her l
Julia's POV I couldn't sleep. Again. Ever since moving to London, sleep had become harder and harder to find. Maybe it was because everything had changed so quickly. Maybe it was because I missed Chicago. Or maybe it was because my life had become far more complicated than I ever imagined. I rolled over and glanced at the clock. 1:17 AM. Great. I groaned and threw the blanket aside. There was no point lying in bed any longer. Maybe a glass of water would help. Quietly, I slipped out of my room and made my way downstairs. The mansion was completely silent. The staff had gone to bed hours ago. The only sound came from the grandfather clock somewhere down the hallway. The kitchen lights were dim. I grabbed a glass and filled it with cold water. After drinking it, I leaned against the counter. Still not sleepy. I sighed. Maybe some fresh air would help. I headed toward the back doors that led to the gardens. But before I reached them, move
Noah's POV The second those words left my mouth, I regretted them. "Not again." I wasn't supposed to say that out loud. Especially not in front of Julia. For a moment, neither of us moved. The music from inside the house was muffled now, barely audible through the closed doors. The cool night air should have helped clear my head. Instead, it only made me angrier. Julia was staring at me. Confused. Curious. Suspicious. "What does that mean?" Damn. I looked away. "It means nothing." She crossed her arms. "You're a terrible liar." I almost laughed. Almost. "Good thing I'm not trying to convince you." Her eyes narrowed. The stubborn girl actually took a step closer. "Then explain why you punched him." I shoved my hands into my pockets. "He wouldn't take no for an answer." "So?" I stared at her. "So?" She shrugged. "You clearly hate me." I blinked. What? "I don't hate you." The words escaped before I could stop them.
Julia's POV The moment I stepped inside the party hall, I was overwhelmed. Music blasted from giant speakers, shaking the walls and floor beneath my feet. The room was packed with teenagers and young adults. Some were dancing wildly in the center of the room, while others gathered around tables drinking and laughing. Flashing lights filled the space. The entire place felt chaotic. For a moment, I stood near the entrance, feeling completely out of place. I scanned the crowd, searching for a familiar face. Then I found them. Noah and Mason were standing near the bar. Both were looking directly at me. Mason's face immediately lit up. Noah's expression didn't change. He simply stared. Mason excused himself from Noah and made his way toward me. His smile widened as he approached. "Wow." I laughed. "What?" "You look beautiful." I rolled my eyes. "You're being dramatic." "No, seriously." His gaze swept over me. "You look amazing." "Thank you."
Noah's POV I hated parties. Which was ironic because according to every gossip magazine in London, I spent my life partying. Every week there was a new headline. **NOAH SINCLAIR SPOTTED WITH MYSTERY GIRL.** **LONDON'S MOST ELIGIBLE BILLIONAIRE HEIR PARTIES UNTIL DAWN.** **NOAH SINCLAIR'S WILD NIGHT OUT.** None of it was true. Well, not completely. I attended parties. That didn't mean I enjoyed them. Most of the time I showed up because Mason wouldn't stop bothering me. The rest of the time I showed up because staying home was worse. Home meant silence. Home meant memories. Home meant my father pretending everything was fine. And lately, home meant two new people living in my mother's house. I stared out the floor-to-ceiling windows in my bedroom. The sun was beginning to set over the estate. The gardens below glowed orange and gold. Beautiful. Peaceful. A complete lie. Because nothing about my life felt peaceful. A vibration from my pho
Julia's POV The Sinclair mansion was so huge that getting lost had become part of my daily routine. After spending most of the morning in my room, I decided I couldn't stay indoors any longer. I needed fresh air. I needed space. Most importantly, I needed a break from thinking about Noah Sinclair. Unfortunately, that last one proved impossible. I walked through the gardens behind the mansion, admiring the colorful flowers and perfectly trimmed hedges. The grounds seemed endless. Money really could buy almost anything. As I strolled along a stone pathway, laughter caught my attention. I glanced toward the pool. The same three people I had seen from my bedroom window yesterday were there again. Noah. The blonde girl. And the dark-haired guy. The girl was lounging beside the pool while the two guys were in the water. I immediately considered turning around. The last thing I wanted was another awkward encounter with Noah. Unfortunately, fate had other
Arabella found herself resting against Edwin’s chest beneath heavy blankets while firelight danced across the room. His arm wrapped securely around her waist. Protected. Possessive. Safe. She listened quietly to his heartbeat beneath her cheek. “I should leave before sunrise,” she whi
Edwin forgot how to breathe. Arabella stood before him wrapped in candlelight and pale silk, her dark cloak pooled at her feet like surrender itself. For several dangerous seconds, he could only stare. God. She had come to him. Not by accident. Not through coincidence. But willingly
After Edwin left the garden, Arabella remained standing among the roses long after the sound of his horse disappeared into the distance. Her entire body still felt warm from his touch. The memory of his hand against her cheek replayed endlessly in her mind alongside the quiet intensity in his
Edwin did not sleep that night. Long after Arabella quietly returned to Hamilton Manor, he remained beside the pond staring at the dark water beneath the moonlight. His body still burned with the memory of her. The softness of her skin beneath his hands. The way she trembled when he kisse







