LOGINLayla’s POVThe next day,breakfast was quiet.The water ran over my hands as I rinsed the last plate we ate withI reached for the rack to place the plate down, then paused.Something was missing…I frowned slightly and looked again.Drey’s spoon was missingI checked the rack once more, then the counter.I didn’t see itI opened the drawer and moved things around.Still nothing.“Viktor?” I called.He was in the living room.“Yeah?”“Have you seen Drey’s spoon?”There was a brief pause before he answered.“I threw it away.”I turned slightly, leaning against the counter. “You threw it away?”“Yeah,” he said, walking in. “He knocked it off the table earlier. It cracked when it hit the floor.”I watched his face.“It had a sharp edge,” he added. “Didn’t want to keep something like that around him.”That made sense. I held his gaze for a second longer, then I nodded. “Oh. Okay.”I turned back to the sink and picked up the cloth again.“That’s fine.”The water kept running.Behind me, I he
Layla’s POVMy eyes stayed on the car stillThat same spot.That same feeling.“There’s someone in your car,” I said casually, my voice was light, like it didn’t matter.Elena pulled back just enough to look at me. “What?”“In your car,” I repeated, nodding slightly toward it.Her expression didn’t change much…. She kept it smooth.“No,” she said immediately. “There’s no one there.”I frowned slightly, like I wasn’t convinced.Then I glanced back again, but this time, the passenger seat was empty….Completely empty.I stared at it for a second longer than I should have.Still, Nothing. No movement, no shadow and no one.I exhaled quietly and shook my head. “Sorry. I thought I saw someone.”Elena gave a small laugh. “You’re probably just stressed.”“Yeah,” I said. “Probably.”But the feeling didn’t leave, It stayed under my skin.Jasper rushed into my mind and I pushed it down quickly.Now wasn’t the time.I turned back to her fully. “So… what did you want to talk about?”Elena hesita
Layla’s POVSuddenly , my phone buzzed against the table.Both Viktor and I looked at it at the same time.I first thought it would be Elena.But It wasn’t.“Naomi,” I said, picking it up.The moment I answered, her voice came rushing through. “Have you seen the news?”I leaned back slightly, crossing one leg over the other. “Yeah.”“Layla!…” she started, then lowered her voice. “Are you okay?”I glanced at Viktor. He was already watching me.“I’m fine,” I said calmly. “It’s a trap.”There was silence for just one secondThen…“Oh my God,” Naomi breathed, and then she burst out laughing. “You sneaky little….”I smiled despite myself.“You’re insane,” she continued. “I was actually worried. I thought you were done for!”“That was the point,” I said.Her tone shifted instantly. “Excuse me? And you didn’t think to tell me?”I rolled my eyes. “Naomi- -”“No, seriously,” she cut in. “I was over here calculating how much I could lend you without going broke myself.”I let out a small laugh.
Layla’s POVMy hand shook on the steering wheel.“Jasper?” I repeated, my voice was barely steady.A soft chuckle came through the line. “There she is.”My grip tightened. “How did you get this number?”“Does it matter?” he said lightly. “I wanted to hear your voice. That’s all.”My jaw clenched. “Why are you calling me?”There was a pause.Then he said , “Because I missed you.”I almost laughed- -but there was nothing funny about it.“You disappeared,” he continued. “You think at least… I had to lay low for a while. But I’m back now.”My stomach turned.“And I thought,” he added, “why not start with you?”“Don’t,” I snapped. “Don’t talk like we have anything left between us.”“Oh, we do,” he said softly. “You just don’t want to admit it.”“I don’t want anything with you.”“That’s not what I remember.”“Then your memory is broken.”He laughed again, like this was all some kind of game.“I’ll be visiting soon,” he said.My chest tightened. “No, you won’t.”“When I do,” he went on, ign
Layla’s POV“Who?”Naomi’s voice came swiftlyI looked at her.Her eyes widened. “You don’t mean—-” She leaned forward, her voice dropped a bit but still too loud. “You mean Viktor knows Drey belongs to—-?”I moved before she could say another word.I lunged across the space between us and clamped both hands over her mouth.“Are you insane?” I hissed, my heart jumped into my throat. My eyes shot toward the door. “Lower your voice. What if he’s passing by? What if he hears you?”Naomi pulled my hands away slowly, her brows lifted like she couldn’t believe me.Then she shrugged.I gave her a look. “You’re not even worried?”“I didn’t say that,” she replied calmly “I said I don’t think he knows. Not for sure.”I exhaled, but the tightness in my chest didn’t ease.“If not for that blabbermouth…” she muttered, then suddenly stopped mid-sentence.Her eyes narrowed at me.I frowned. “What?”Naomi tilted her head slightly. “You haven’t been snitching on me, have you?”“What?”She folded her
Layla’s POVElena’s smile faded.She looked around the room slowly, her eyes were moving from Naomi… to Viktor… then to me.Something in the air had shifted, and even she could feel it.“Did I say something wrong?” she asked carefully. “Is something… off?”No one answered her.I was still looking at Viktor , and he was looking at me.It felt like we were having a conversation without words. His eyes were searching. Mine holding steady and refusing to give anything away.Naomi cleared her throat.She stood up in one smooth motion and walked over to Elena. Without hesitation, she took Drey from her arms… not gently.Elena blinked, startled.Naomi adjusted Drey against her shoulder like nothing had happened, then looked straight at Elena.“I think you’ve overstayed your welcome,” she said flatly. “You can leave now.”Elena frowned.“I’m sorry?” she said. “Who are you to send me out of my friend’s house?”That was the wrong thing to say… she doesn't even knowNaomi’s eyes narrowed instan
Layla’s POV“I was hoping you would find me. You did” he said with the persisting wild smile.His voice slid across the room like oil on water, smooth, confident, already familiar in the worst way.My fingers curled into my palm before I realized they were shaking.“Who are you?” I asked, my voice
Layla’s POVTwo months passed in a blink, and somehow, everything in my life began to resolve around a tiny human who barely weighed anything but carried my entire world on his chest and eyes.Drey, my son.Every morning, I would wake up before the sun, not because I had to, but because I wanted t
Third person’s POVMilton drove with the calm focus of someone trying very hard not to get distracted by the chatter behind him. Drew sat in the passenger seat, stiff as a soldier, glancing back every few seconds to check on Layla.Naomi and Layla, however, were in their own world.Naomi leaned for
Third person’s POVLayla barely had time to inhale before Caleb’s voice hit her ear like a cold splash.“ I'm in town.need to see.” No greetings whatsoever then he added, “I’m already driving to your house.”Layla closed her eyes, letting her head fall back. The exhaustion pressed into her like gr







