LOGINThird person POVTwo days later…The beach house felt lighter and warmer now.Peace had settled in, not perfectly, but enough to smile without forcing it.For the first time in a long while, everything felt… right.At this moment,Viktor stood near the door, holding Drey in his arms. He lifted him slightly into the air, pressing a kiss against his cheek.“My boy,” he chuckled. “You’re getting heavier by the day.”Drey made a soft sound, reaching for Viktor’s face, his tiny fingers grabbing at his nose.Viktor laughed.“Hey, easy there.”He shifted him comfortably, then raised his voice.“Layla! Naomi! We need to go. Visiting hours are almost over!”From inside, laughter echoed.A second later, Layla and Naomi walked out together.They paused at the doorway, then looked at each other… and burst out laughing again.They were wearing almost the same thing.“Did you plan this?” Layla asked, still laughing.Naomi shook her head. “I should be asking you that.”Viktor turned toward them… and
Layla’s POVI didn’t remember when I started crying….Only that I couldn’t stop.It came in waves at first… shaky breaths and tears slipping down my face without sound, then it broke. Everything I had been holding in cracked open all at once.My chest hurt badly…I pressed my hand against it like that would help but it didn't.Naomi didn’t say anything.She stayed right by me always making sure her hand was on my back,making sure I didn’t fall apart completely.Maybe I already had.I cried for everything….For my parents… the truth… the years I lost…. And the people I trusted.The name Caleb alone made something twist inside me.I trusted him…I defended him.At some point…I even liked him.The thought made me feel sick.How could I have felt anything for someone who took everything from me?Who made me an orphan.Who watched me suffer and said nothing.My breathing hitched again.“I hate you…” I whispered, though he wasn’t there.But even that felt weak.Because hate didn’t even begin to
Layla’s POVI walked into the room first and took a seat without hesitation. The others were brought in one after the other, officers positioned at every corner.Caleb didn’t wait…The moment he sat down, he leaned forward like he had been holding it in too long.“I went there for you,” he said quickly, his voice tight. “Everything I did… it was for you.”I let out a quiet scoff.“How convenient.”His jaw clenched, but he pushed on.“I went to Stanley to negotiate. I wanted him to leave you alone. I thought… if I gave him something, if I made a deal- -”I cut him off, my eyes narrowing.“Negotiate with my uncle? With what exactly?” I leaned back slightly. “Your property?”His silence lasted a second too long.“With Drew?” I added, my gaze shifted “Who just conveniently showed up in America without me knowing?”Drew shifted in his seat.I turned fully to him.“When did you know Caleb was alive?”He hesitated…then answered.“From the beginning.”The words landed hard.“I stayed in contact wit
Layla’s POVWe moved in quietly, every step was well planned and calculatedThe warehouse felt bigger from the inside. It was cold, hollow and supported by thick concrete pillars that gave enough cover for each of us to spread out without being seen.The officers moved like they had done this a hundred times, I followed, alerted and focused.Viktor stayed close behind me, I could feel it without turningI didn’t argue, right now, we had the same goal. I slowed near one of the pillars, pressing my back lightly against it as I leaned just enough to scan ahead, and then I saw them. Two men, standing with their backs to us.something about them made me pause.It wasn’t just that they were here, it was the way they stood, the shape of their shoulders, the way one of them slightly tilted his head while talking.He looked …. too familiarmy eyes narrowedno… it couldn’t be.But my body knew before my mind caught up. Ssharp breath left me quietly, I lifted my hand and pointed.“There,” I whi
Layla’s POV“Layla… what’s wrong?”Elena’s voice pulled me back.I hadn’t realized how tight my grip had gotten around my phone until she said it. I exhaled slowly, easing my fingers and slipping the phone into my palm.“It’s nothing you need to worry about,” I said at first.She didn’t look convinced.Her eyes stayed on me.I held her gaze for a second, then sighed quietly.“You remember the message you sent me?” I asked. “The one that said ‘help me’?”She nodded weakly.“I acted on it immediately,” I continued. “Before I even got to you.”Her brows pulled together slightly.“I made a call,” I said. “I hired a drone surveillance team. Gave them your location and told them to watch the area. Anyone suspicious leaving, anyone coming in… I wanted eyes on everything and where they would be moving to.”Elena blinked at me.“You… did that?” she asked softly.I nodded.“I didn’t tell Viktor,” I added. “I needed it to stay quiet.”For a moment, she just stared at me.Then something shifted in he
Layla’s POVI was already on my feet before the nurse finished speaking.I stood up quickly,I felt some sort of relief.Behind me, Viktor ended his call when he saw me standing up.“What happened?” he asked, stepping closer.I turned to him.“She’s awake,” I said. “She wants to see me.”Something shifted in his expression.“Good,” he said quietly.I nodded once, then turned and walked down the hallway without waiting.I didn’t trust myself to say more.When I reached her door, I paused for half a second, my hand resting on the handle.Then I pushed it open quietly.The room was dim and calm.Elena lay on the bed, her eyes were closed, her face was pale and bruised, but alive.I stepped inside and closed the door softly behind me.The sound must have reached her because her eyes fluttered open slowly.It took her a second to focus, then she saw me.“Layla…” she whispered.I moved closer immediately, pulling a chair beside her bed and sitting down.“I’m here.”I reached for her hand, h
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







