MasukHello, my gorgeous readers đ¤â¨
First of all, thank you sooo much for being patient with me these last few days. I know I havenât been updating any chapters, and I truly appreciate how understanding and supportive youâve all been.
Your kindness honestly means more than you know â¤ď¸.
I took a much-needed break to recharge and refill my creativity tank, so I can come back with fresh energy and give this story the emotion, drama, and chaos it deserves. In the meantime, Iâve been going through all your comments⌠yes â ALL of them đ â and your engagement, theories, reactions, and opinions are why I love going on this journey with you.
The good news is Iâll be back starting Monday, and to make up for the missed days, Iâll be posting 2 chapters a day going forward so we can jump right back into the madness together.
I promise you⌠Youâre going to want to stick around because whatâs coming next? Oh, youâre going to LOVE it!
See you soon, bestiesđŤśđ˝.
NATHANIELI am halfway through a conversation with my two university friends, whom I havenât seen in years, when the sound of glass tapping sharply against glass cuts through the room, and every conversation dies at once.I turn, irritated, wondering what the hell is happening now, only to find Amanda standing on a small podium I somehow failed to notice all evening, her posture perfectly composed as her gaze sweeps across the room with unmistakable satisfaction.âHello, everyone,â she begins brightly. âNathaniel and I want to thank you all for coming today.âHer hand gestures toward me, and dozens of glasses lift in my direction, making eye contact.Fuck. I hate being the center of attention, and she knows that better than anyone.âAs you all know,â she continues smoothly, âwe have an announcement, and we wonât beat around the bush.âI swallow hard before taking another sip of what must be my eighth glass of champagne tonight, the cold liquid doing very little to dull the unease sett
BETTYâBaby, are you awake?â I whisper as I tiptoe toward her side of the bed, reaching carefully for the bedside lamp before switching it on.Soft light fills the room before I reach for her pillow instinctively. Itâs Empty.I straighten immediately, confusion giving way to something sharper as realization settles in. She isnât in her bed.Panic crawls up my spine so quickly I stumble backward.âWhere the hell is she?â I murmur, my heartbeat already picking up pace.I walk to the other side of the bed first and check, irrationally hoping she somehow rolled off and fell, before crouching to look underneath it despite knowing how ridiculous that is.I check her bathroom next, the door swinging open against tiles, and nothing.I run a hand through my hair, the blanket draped over my shoulders slipping to the floor without me noticing.âGrace?â My voice lowers instinctively. âWhere are you?âI scan the room one last time, forcing myself to look properly this time, searching corners and s
BETTYI am sitting curled up on the patio attached to the guest house, my legs tucked beneath me and wrapped in a soft blanket that barely keeps the evening chill at bay.A mug that was supposed to have hot chocolate is resting between my hands as I stare toward the main house, glowing in the distance.I had walked into the kitchen fully intending to make it, craving something warm and harmless that would give my mouth something to do while the night unfolded without me, but somewhere between reaching for the kettle and opening the cabinet, my attention drifted toward the small bar tucked beside the dining table.The wine bottle felt easier. Safer.I donât say it out loud, but I know why I chose it. Getting through tonight requires a little courage.Soft yellow fairy lights line the edge of the patio railing, their glow gentle enough to feel comforting rather than festive, and beyond them, the lawn stretches into darkness before opening toward the estate where headlights sweep across
NATHANIELGlasses meet one another constantly throughout the hall, the sound carrying above polite conversation and carefully measured laughter between guests.Most of the faces surrounding me remain unfamiliar, even though they stand on my familyâs estate, their comfort obvious.Amandaâs family and her friends.They occupy the space naturally, filling it with energy I neither encouraged nor resisted, because the truth is, I never felt inclined to invite anyone myself, only a few colleagues and two friends from university.As far as family goes, only my mother is attending, and she is positioned near one of the tall windows with effortless composure as she speaks quietly with a guest who listens more than contributes.Harriette declined entirely. Respectfully.She visited my chambers this morning and sat across from me with an expression that suggested conversation rather than confrontation.âIf this is what you truly want, Nathaniel, then I wish you happiness.â She said. No argument
BETTYI park outside Rhysâs club and pull down the sun visor, angling the vanity mirror toward me.The brightness that filled my eyes when I left Mrs. Marshallâs meeting is gone, replaced by something heavier. Disappointment. Settling where excitement used to live.I should have come here instead of going home. The thought slips through my mind as I reach into the dashboard and pull out my nude gloss, carefully reapplying it across my lips.But then I wouldnât have seen Grace. So maybe it wasnât entirely terrible.I press my lips together gently, studying my reflection before pulling the pins from my loose bun and letting my hair fall freely over my shoulders.âThere,â I whisper to my reflection. âBetter.âI lean closer to the mirror, adjusting a strand near my temple, and that is when my gaze drops straight to the center of my shirt.âFuuck,â the word slips out before I can stop it.I had completely forgotten about the stain. The entire reason I rushed back home. I rub at it instin
BETTYFor a fraction of a second, the words do not register. Then they do.âExcuse me?â I raise a brow as my gaze darts between them, searching their faces as though one of them might suddenly laugh and admit this is some poorly timed joke.Amanda takes another step toward me, crossing her hands over her chest, her posture relaxed in a way that feels deliberately territorial.âYou heard right,â she confirms. âWe are finally announcing our relationship. The one thing that was keeping us apart is out of our way now. Consider this your invitation.â She gives me a slow once-over, her eyes lingering just long enough to make the meaning unmistakable. I am the obstacle she is referring to.My stomach tightens so abruptly it feels physical, and I swallow carefully, tasting something metallic at the back of my throat.He really didnât waste any time. I glance at Nathaniel, waiting for the final twist of the knife. A comment. A smirk. Something to add salt to the wound, but he says nothing.He







