LOGINANDREA’S POV I reached for the door handle, my pulse still racing from the tension on Ryder’s face and pulled it open only to freeze in place as two familiar figures stood in the hallway. Lily launched herself forward the second the gap widened, her small arms wrapped tight around my waist, she pressed her face against my stomach.“Mommy I missed you so much,” she said, her voice came out muffled against the fabric of my shirt and her fingers clutched at me with real force. Grandfather stood just behind her with a calm smile and a small overnight bag at his feet as he waited for the hug to finish. I dropped to my knees right there in the doorway and pulled Lily fully into my arms. I breathed in the scent of her shampoo and felt the solid weight of her against me. “I missed you too baby,” I answered as I stroked her hair and held on a moment longer before rising again with her still clinging to my side. Ryder stepped up beside us and ruffled her hair before he nodded at his grandfa
RYDER’S POV I stayed on my side of the bed with the hard ache throbbing between my legs as Andrea’s soft breathing filled the quiet suite and her body stayed turned away under the duvet. There was no way in hell I would push her into anything she did not want so I kept my mouth shut and eased out from under the covers without disturbing her. My bare feet met the carpet as I crossed the room and dropped onto the couch by the window while the city lights glowed beyond the glass. Thoughts of Elena and Dante came forward as I sat there with my elbows on my knees and my head bowed. The old betrayal still sat heavy even after all the years of separation and the drawn out divorce that dragged on longer than it should have. She had lived with him, they raised their son together while I fought to cut every legal tie and yet the mess refused to stay buried. The more I tried to sort through those problems the sharper the memory of Andrea’s hips grinding against me returned and the ache in my
ANDREA’ S POV My arms stayed crossed over my chest as I fixed Ryder with a steady look and pointed toward the bathroom without hesitation. “Go take a shower and get in bed,” I said as my voice stayed firm and left no room for argument. He had been acting like a big baby all evening and I couldn’t take it anymore. I had no energy to coax him, all the energy I had was to be used on his daughter. He opened his mouth for a second then closed it again with a short nod, then he headed straight into the bathroom and clocked the door behind him. The water started running almost immediately. Steam began to seep out from under the door while I settled onto the edge of the large bed and let my bare feet rest against the soft carpet.My thoughts turned over the reality of this marriage as I sat there alone with the distant sound of the shower filling the quiet suite. This arrangement had never been built on pure love and I knew that from the start yet I had accepted the ring and the vows for
ANDREA’S POV I woke up to sunlight filtering through the hotel curtains and reached across the bed only to find Ryder already up. He stood by the window checking his phone with his shirt half buttoned. I slipped out of bed and joined him just as a soft knock sounded at the door. Blair walked in with Lily right behind her, the little girl still rubbing sleep from her eyes.“Mommy!” Lily charged straight into my arms and I lifted her high before spinning her once. She giggled against my shoulder while I breathed in her familiar scent. Ryder stepped over and ruffled her hair then pulled both of us into a quick hug that made my chest feel warm and full.We dressed quickly and met Grandfather downstairs in the hotel lobby. He waited with a newspaper folded under his arm and a patient smile. Blair gathered her things and gave me a tight squeeze. “I need to head out for a quick meeting but I’ll meet you up at the mall for shopping, I promise. Take care of our girl.” “Mommy,” Lily called ou
RYDER’S POV I slid the keycard into the lock and pushed the door open for Andrea. The suite smelled of fresh linen and faint vanilla from the candles the staff had lit earlier. Soft lights glowed across the sitting area and spilled into the bedroom where a massive king bed waited with rose petals scattered over the covers. Blair stood just behind us in the hallway with Lily’s hand in hers and my grandfather beside them.“Time for us to head home,” Blair said as she gave Andrea a quick hug. Lily bounced on her toes and threw her arms around my legs first then reached up for Andrea.“Night Mommy. Night Daddy.” Her voice carried that sleepy happiness that hit me square in the chest.I scooped her up for a moment and kissed her forehead. “Sleep well, princess. We’ll see you soon.” Grandfather clapped me on the shoulder with a firm nod before they turned and walked down the corridor toward the elevator. The door clicked shut behind us and suddenly the suite felt quieter, more intimate, j
ANDREA’S POV I stood in the upstairs bedroom, warm sunlight streaming through the tall windows and casting a golden haze over everything. The stylists moved around me with gentle precision, their fingers weaving through the soft waves of my hair, pinning delicate strands into place with practiced care. Ryder had gone to the venue to final check-ins. It was just a couple of minutes to the ceremony and I could feel the anxiety coursing through my body. The dress clung to my figure in all the right ways, the smooth fabric whispering against my skin as I turned slowly before the full-length mirror. I barely recognized the woman staring back at me, radiant, hopeful, whole. Lily bounced nearby in her sweet flower girl dress, the layers of tulle floating around her like a cloud. She clutched her little basket of petals tightly, practicing her walk across the room with exaggerated care, her small feet tapping softly on the hardwood. Every few steps she glanced up at me, her eyes sparkling
ANDREA’S POVThe smell of coffee nearly killed me. One moment, I was sitting at the kitchen counter with my laptop open in front of me, pretending to answer emails while secretly staring at Marcus and Riley’s pre-wedding photos on Instagram. The next, my stomach twisted so violently that I shot out
RYDER’S POVI woke to silence and an empty bed. Sunlight cut through the half-open curtains and landed on the rumpled sheets where Andrea had slept. I reached out instinctively. Cold. She had been gone for a while. I sat up slowly, my head clear despite the whiskey from last night. Every detail rem
ANDREA’S POV “Come with me,” he whispered as he led me through the throbbing crowd, his fingers locked tight with mine. The bass vibrated through my bones, but all I could focus on was the heat pouring off his tall frame and the slick ache building between my thighs. We pushed past grinding bodie
ANDREA’S POV I stood in front of the mirror in the small apartment I shared with Marcus, smoothing down the emerald green dress that hugged my curves. The fabric shimmered under the warm light, and I turned slowly, checking the back one more time. Tonight marked four years with him. Four years of







