Se connecterKai’s POV My tour wasn’t over—not even close—but there was no way I was missing my mother’s birthday. I’d argued with my management for days, pushed schedules around, traded favors I’d probably regret later. Somehow, they made it work. A narrow window. A rushed flight. No rest. But I was here—and that was all that mattered. Still, the thought I couldn’t shake wasn’t about the party. It was Freya. The possibility that she might be our sister sat heavily in my chest. I’d tried to stay logical about it. Scarlett had warned me not to get ahead of myself, but how could I not? We’d been searching for a while now—false leads, dead ends, hope followed by disappointment. And then Freya appeared, almost quietly, slipping into our lives in a way that felt… familiar. Too familiar. I pushed the thought aside as I stepped fully into the venue. That was when I heard it. “Daddy! Daddy!” I barely had time to turn before Daisy came running toward me, her little legs moving too fas
Freya’s POV The drive was quiet. Too quiet. Kai kept his eyes on the road, Finn sat happily in the back seat swinging his legs, and I sat there with my thoughts crashing into one another. No one spoke, but my mind refused to rest. Their lost sister. The words replayed over and over, sinking deeper with every passing second. I didn’t know what to feel—fear, disbelief, hope, or something dangerously close to longing. My chest felt tight, like I’d opened a door I wasn’t ready to walk through yet. Without realizing it, my hand tightened around Finn’s arm. “Mommy, you’re hurting me,” Finn cried out, his small voice sharp with pain. I startled immediately, as if someone had poured cold water over me. My grip loosened at once, and guilt crashed into me hard. All the thoughts that had been pulling me in different directions snapped back into place. “Oh my God, baby, I’m so sorry,” I said quickly, turning fully toward him. I took his hand gently this time, rubbing his arm the way I a
Freya’s POV By the time I was done getting ready, the room no longer looked like mine. The dress Mrs. Harrison had insisted I wear hung perfectly on my body, soft and elegant in a way I wasn’t used to. I had dressed Finn too—one of the outfits she picked for him, neat and bright, making him look like a child who belonged in places I once believed were never meant for us. I stood there for a moment, staring at our reflection, barely recognizing the woman looking back at me. Just as I adjusted Finn’s collar, my phone rang. Scarlett. “The car is outside,” she said. “Hurry before I come and drag you myself.” I promised her I was on my way and ended the call. As I turned to grab my purse, Finn looked up at me with a wide smile—one so pure it made my chest tighten. “Mom,” he said proudly, “you’re very pretty today.” I smiled back. “Thank you, baby.” He nodded seriously. “Now my friends won’t laugh at me again.” The words didn’t sink in immediately. “Laugh at you?” I
Malum’s POVI had waited for this day.The day I would finally stand on the same level as the Harrisons—not beneath them, not circling the edges of their world, but right there, face-to-face, undeniable. I woke up with excitement thrumming through my veins, the kind that didn’t let sleep linger for long. Today held possibilities. Today could seal everything I had worked for.A contract with the Harrisons.As I got out of bed, that thought alone was enough to sharpen my focus. Every move I made felt deliberate, calculated. I was already dressed in success before I even stepped into the shower.That was when I noticed Freya.She moved slowly around the room, distracted, sluggish in a way that didn’t match the importance of the day. No excitement. No nervous anticipation. Nothing. She didn’t look like someone who had any interest in attending…anything at all.It irritated me more than it should have.I watched her for a moment, trying to read what she wasn’t saying, then finally asked h
Freya’s POV Since I got home after the shopping trip with Mrs. Harrison, the house felt too quiet—like it was waiting for me to think. And think I did. Remi’s words followed me from room to room, clinging to me no matter how hard I tried to shake them off. Your name is causing fights. It would be better if you kept your distance. The more I replayed her voice in my head, the more it sank in, heavy and uncomfortable, like a truth I didn’t want but couldn’t deny. I didn’t tell Scarlett. I knew if I did, she wouldn’t take it lightly. Scarlett would fight for me—loudly, recklessly. She would confront Clio, argue with Remi, and if it went far enough, she might even drag Mrs. Harrison into it. That was exactly what I didn’t want. Letting Mrs. Harrison know would mean I was enjoying the chaos her affection for me had caused. It would mean I liked being the reason her children were divided, the reason tension followed them around. And that wasn’t true. That had never been true. All I h
Sage’s POV Remi was already dressed when she asked me. “When are you coming for Mother’s birthday?” I didn’t even turn my head. My eyes stayed fixed on the ceiling, my jaw tight, my patience thinner than it had any right to be. “Go without me,” I said flatly. She paused, like she expected more—an explanation, maybe an apology. When none came, she simply nodded. Remi was smart like that. She knew I was still angry, and she knew exactly who I was angry at. Clio. She didn’t try to persuade me. She didn’t remind me how important tonight was or how much Mother would want me there. She just picked up her bag and walked out, the door clicking shut behind her. The silence that followed was heavy. I lay back on the bed, one arm thrown over my eyes, letting the anger roll through me in waves. I didn’t want to think. I didn’t want to talk. I especially didn’t want to pretend everything was fine when it wasn’t. My phone buzzed. Rowan. I ignored it. It buzzed again. I turned the pho







