~Ethan~"Please tell me you’ve got everything you need on that phone," I said as I paced restlessly across the living room floor. John and Darla sat rigidly on the couch, clearly bracing themselves for whatever answer was coming next.“I managed to recover some deleted messages and emails,” he said. “Turns out she’d been in contact with this Bernard guy. And I don’t think it was just about taking Mia out of the picture—there was something else going on. Something... romantic.”My jaw tightened. I shut my eyes, shook my head slowly. “A romance with a criminal? That’s not what I want to hear,” I muttered, casting a glance at Darla, whose expression had shifted into one of growing concern and confusion.“I… I think she did it to protect you,” he added, his voice quieter now.My brows pulled together in a deep frown. “What’s that supposed to mean?” I scoffed.“Bernard and his boss were planning to come after you. Eliminate you, make sure you disappeared. She must’ve known that. I think sh
MiaEvening had draped itself across the sky, painting the mountains in a hue of fire and gold. I sat outside the house, knees drawn to my chest, staring blankly at the sun as it dipped behind the peaks. My fingers trembled around the pregnancy test Giulia had handed me—two red lines, unmistakably positive.The truth was in my hands, but my mind was somewhere else entirely.“Hey.” Giulia’s voice cut through the silence like a soft blade. I turned my head slowly, blinking back to the present. She walked over and eased down beside me, her presence grounding—but barely.“Hi,” I murmured, managing a hollow smile.She chuckled lightly, though there was a flicker of concern in her eyes as she studied me. “How are you holding up?”I inhaled sharply, eyes returning to the horizon. “I don’t know, Giulia. Everything feels… unreal.” My voice cracked around the edges. “You know what’s insane? I lied about being pregnant just two days ago—and now… now it’s real. Maybe I jinxed myself. Maybe I sho
~Sienna~I drove down our street, heart pounding with a mix of excitement and wicked satisfaction. Everything was falling into place—my plan had worked. Perfectly. Mia? Gone. Bernard? Cut off completely. No more dead weight. No more distractions.Now, all that was left was to play it cool—bide my time, keep my guilt tucked away, and slip back into Ethan’s arms like nothing ever happened. Easy.Music pulsed through the car speakers, my fingers tapping the steering wheel in rhythm. I was practically glowing—until the car gave a sudden, violent jerk.“What the hell?” I muttered, tightening my grip as I eased the car to the side of the road. The dashboard lights blinked at me like an omen. “Oh, come on! Not now—I’m already running late for work!”I climbed out, still hoping it was something minor. But the second I crouched down, my stomach sank.The back tyre was flat.I blinked, rubbed my eyes, and looked again. It was Slashed. A clean, deliberate cut sliced through the rubber like a war
~Mia~Soon, the car rolled to a stop in front of a house that looked anything but modern—secluded, worn, and quietly tucked away from the bustle of the city. I stepped out and glanced around, realizing he hadn’t exaggerated—this place was truly peaceful.Behind the house, towering mountains stood like silent guardians. I could hear the gentle rush of a nearby river and the melodic chirping of birds in the trees.It was… perfect. Exactly the kind of calm I didn’t know I needed.“Come on,” Aleandro said with a bright smile as he stepped out and reached for my bags.“Thanks,” I murmured, returning his smile softly and following him, my eyes flicking around, soaking it all in.The house, though clearly aged, was spotless. The furniture and decor were outdated, no doubt, but they carried a charm that made them feel oddly comforting.“Honey?!” Aleandro called as he pushed open the front door and set the bags inside. Before he could even straighten up, a woman burst out from one of the rooms
~Ethan~I got to John’s place and let myself in—he’d told me to—then made my way to the living room. There he was, cozied up on the couch with Darla. They looked snug, but the vibe felt...off. A little tense.“Heyyy, dude,” John greeted, flashing a big grin as I approached.“Hey,” I replied, trying to match his energy. “Hi, Darla,” I added, turning to her. She beamed.“Ethan! Hi. You look nice,” she said warmly.I let out a short scoff, rolling my eyes. “This is what I wear every day—nothing special.” Then I softened a bit. “But thanks,” I added, and she gave a small nod.I took a seat on the couch opposite them, and Darla stood up. “I’ll get you some water,” she offered. I gave her a brief nod as she walked off.Once she was out of earshot, John looked me over, his brows pulling together. “You don’t exactly look like someone who’s happy about finding his girlfriend. What’s going on?” he asked.I clenched my jaw, fingers laced tightly. “She came back home... then left again,” I s
~Mia~I dragged my bags out of the house, and with every few steps I took, I couldn’t help glancing back at Ethan. He stood at the door, waving endlessly, sadness clouding his eyes.My Uber was already on its way to L’Aquila—a city about two hours from Rome. Just far enough to feel like a new beginning, yet close enough to home… because no matter where I went, my heart wasn’t ready to let go of Ethan.I offered him a faint smile as the driver packed my bags into the car and held the door open for me. I blew Ethan a kiss, my throat tightening as fresh tears welled up.“I love you, Mia!” he shouted.I let out a shaky laugh as the tears finally spilled over. “I love you too!” I called back, climbing into the car.I rolled the window up and leaned my head against the glass, letting the sobs take over.I didn’t want him to see me break down. Even though I knew I needed this distance, it still hurt like hell. The truth was, I’d never imagined my life without Ethan. But maybe… that was exact