MasukTwo days.Sebastian said forty-eight hours, and I've been counting every single one of them.Monday drags by slowly.The morning starts with me finally unpacking properly. Yesterday, in my distracted state, I had shoved things randomly. So I pull everything out and start again.Every time I pass Jane's boxes in the corner, my heart beats faster. I know I should look through them. Sebastian told me to keep my eyes open, to search for anything else suspicious. But I can't make myself do it. Not with Jane just downstairs, humming in the kitchen while she makes breakfast. Not with the risk of her walking in and catching me elbow-deep in her belongings.So I leave the boxes alone and finish unpacking my own things instead.Around noon, Jane insists on driving me to work. She wants to see the café, she says. Wants to know more about my life before her hospital shift for the day starts. So I spend twenty minutes trapped in her vanilla-scented car while she chatters about her day ahead.When
Sebastian is quiet for a long moment."I don't think this coat proves anything," he says finally. "But, I don't like unanswered questions either. You might be reaching. Hell, you probably are reaching. This is most likely exactly what it looks like, an old robe from an ex that she forgot was in her storage."He pauses, making a turn that takes us along the waterfront. "But," he says again, "your logic isn't entirely flawed. Moving across the country and keeping that specific robe means it's something important. And either she lied to Rowan about her name, or she's holding onto something from someone she's never mentioned. Are you absolutely sure she doesn't have a middle name? Sure enough to stake money on it?"I hesitate, replaying the conversation in my mind. "Rowan said her full legal name was Jane Morgan. No middle name. When I kept pushing, he got worried and asked what was going on. He was very clear about it."Sebastian nods slowly. "Alright," he says. "I'll help you. My bre
The hours crawl by. I'm supposed to be unpacking. That's what I told myself I'd do today. Organize my new room, make this space feel like mine, settle into this strange new life I've chosen. But I can't focus. My hands move on their own, pulling clothes from cardboard boxes and stuffing them into drawers without any real thought about where things should go. Socks end up mixed with t-shirts. My favorite sweater gets shoved into the bottom drawer where I'll probably forget about it.My mind is somewhere else entirely.It keeps circling back to that coat. To those two silver letters embroidered on expensive Italian silk. Every time I try to convince myself it means nothing, my brain comes up with another question. Why would Jane have someone else's custom-made robe? Why would she pack it so carefully and bring it all the way from Los Angeles? Why keep it at all if it belonged to an ex or a friend or anyone from a past she's supposedly left behind?It doesn't make sense.And the more
I wake to the sound of laughter. It's loud. So loud that it pulls me straight out of sleep. For a disorienting moment, I forget where I am. Then it all comes rushing back. I'm in Rowan's apartment. In the room Jane decorated for me. In the space where I'm supposed to start my new life as the third wheel to their perfect relationship.And last night, I found Jane's coat. The one with the wrong initials embroidered on it.J.S.My heart starts racing all over again just thinking about it. I grab my phone from the nightstand, squinting at the screen. 7:42 AM. Sunday morning. The first full day of living here.I throw off the covers and practically stumble across the room to the corner where the boxes are stacked. My hands are shaking slightly as I crouch down and open the one I searched through last night.The coat is still there, right where I left it, folded beneath layers of expensive lingerie.I pull it out carefully, my fingers finding the silver embroidery almost immediately. Thos
Move in with them. With Rowan and his girlfriend. No, his soon-to-be fiancée. Watch them be domestic and in love every single day. Watch them share a bed, share breakfast, share a life that I've been dreaming about since I was a kid with scraped knees and a crush I didn't understand yet.My coffee sits untouched in front of me, going cold while I try to process what Rowan just asked."I..." My voice trembles. "Why would you want me to do that?"Rowan shifts in his seat, his face lighting up with enthusiasm. He looks excited. Actually excited about this terrible, horrible idea that's going to destroy what's left of my sanity."Well, Jane mentioned that she's new to the city and doesn't really know many people yet. And since you're my best friend, she thought it would be nice to have you around. Get to know you better. And honestly, Nova, I think it's a great idea."Of course Rowan thinks this is great. Why wouldn't he? In his mind, this is perfect. His girlfriend gets a friend. His bes
I lay on my bed that night, staring at the ceiling, thinking about Sebastian's offer.The club was one thing... just a distraction, a few hours of pretending I could be someone different. Someone who isn’t painfully in love with her best friend. But this? This second offer is something else entirely.'I can help you get Rowan.'The words echo in my head, over and over.They sound too good to be true. Of course I could use help. God knows I've spent years failing on my own. Maybe I do need someone like Sebastian. Someone calculating and ruthless and willing to do whatever it takes.But here's the part that makes me uneasy. What's the point of getting Rowan to notice me, to love me, if I have to betray his trust to do it?Can I live with the guilt? Can I look Rowan in the eyes every day, knowing I sold him out for my own selfish desires?But then again... maybe I can. Maybe once he's in love with me, it won't matter anymore. He'll be too wrapped up in us to care about whatever informati







