ログインMia's POVThe next morning, I woke up to soft kisses trailing across my cheek. I groaned quietly and tried hiding my face deeper into the pillow.“Nikolas,” I mumbled sleepily.“Mmm?”“Stop that, please. It's too early to be this annoying.”He laughed softly against my skin before kissing the corner of my mouth.“Get the sharpest knife and slice my neck for the crime of loving and showing my girlfriend affection.”I cracked one eye open slightly. Unfortunately for me, he looked ridiculously attractive first thing in the morning. His hair was messy, his voice was still rough from sleep, and the smug little smile on his face made me want to both kiss him and push him off the bed at the same time.Before I could respond, my phone started ringing loudly from the nightstand.I frowned at the sight of Miles calling me, then I ignored it immediately.Nikolas chuckled.“Your brother is persistent.”“He’s only being a menace.”The phone stopped ringing, then started again almost instantly.I g
Mia's POVThe drive away from what used to be my off-campus home was painfully quiet. I sat with my arms folded tightly across my chest, staring out the window while the city lights blurred past us. But honestly, I barely saw any of it as all I could think about was Eric’s face. Especially the desperation in his voice and the way he kept insisting he never touched my mother.I clenched my jaw harder.No, I wasn’t doing this. I wasn’t about to start doubting my mother because of a few emotional speeches from a man I barely knew.Beside me, Nikolas glanced at me carefully, then silently, he reached for his phone. A few seconds later, he placed a call.“Hey,” he said after someone answered. “It’s Nikolas.”I stayed quiet, still staring outside.“I need to know if there are any available flights to New York tonight.”At first, there was a pause, then another pause before he sighed softly.“None?”I frowned slightly but didn’t turn toward him.“Okay… what about tomorrow morning?”He listen
Mia's POVNikolas stepped forward immediately.“Sir,” he said calmly, “I think you should leave.”But Eric didn’t move, he didn’t even look at him properly. His eyes stayed fixed on me as he slowly walked closer.My entire body stiffened but I ignored him completely. Instead, I grabbed one of my bags and dragged it toward the trunk of Nikolas’ car.“Help me load these,” I muttered to Nikolas angrily. “So we can leave quickly since the rapist apparently doesn’t know when to go away.”The word hit him instantly, I saw it on his face.Eric stopped walking. “What?”I slammed the trunk open harder than necessary as Nikolas quietly picked up another bag, while Eric stepped forward again slowly.“Mia,” he said carefully, “I’m not a rapist.”I laughed bitterly under my breath.“Sure.”“I don’t even understand where this is coming from.”I ignored him.“Mia.”Still nothing, and his voice became more desperate.“If you wanted me to stay away from you, you could’ve just said so.”I shoved anothe
Mia's POVI stared at Eric Damon’s number on my screen for what felt like the hundredth time. My thumb hovered over the call button, but I couldn’t do it. I just couldn’t.I sighed sharply and started pacing across my room again, gripping my phone tightly while my thoughts spiraled.This was ridiculous. Why was I nervous? Why was I even hesitating?I hated him now. Didn’t I?Yes, of course I did.But every time I remembered the man from brunch, the man who laughed softly over the phone, the man who asked me how my morning was going, the man who looked weirdly happy just sitting across from me, my chest tightened painfully because none of it matched the story my mother told me, and that made everything worse.“Mia.”I ignored Nikolas and kept pacing.“Mia.”“I’m trying,” I muttered.“You’ve been trying for twenty minutes.”I stopped walking and glared at him slightly.“This isn’t easy you know.”“I know,” he said gently from the bed. “But you need to do it.”I groaned and rubbed my for
Bella's POVThe plane doors closed behind us as we settled and the exhaustion finally hit me. It was an emotional exhaustion... the kind that settled deep inside your chest and refused to leave.I leaned back against my seat as the private jet prepared for takeoff, my fingers resting against the armrest while I stared blankly ahead. Across from my husband and I, Miles already had his headphones on, completely absorbed in his phone like the world around him didn’t exist.I envied him.Beside me, Cole adjusted his seatbelt quietly. I could feel him glancing at me every now and then like he wanted to say something.And honestly?I already knew what it was. I just hoped he wouldn’t.The plane slowly began moving.Then finally—“Bella, baby.”There it was.I sighed softly without looking at him.“Yes?”His voice was calm.“Why did you tell Mia that Eric raped you?”I let out a small laugh.Of course, he went straight to it.I turned slightly toward him.“That’s what’s bothering you?”“Yes,
Mia's POVHis lips were still on mine when he suddenly slowed, and the kiss softened. Then he paused, and then he stopped completely.I blinked slightly, still breathless, my fingers curled lightly into the front of his shirt as I looked up at him. Nikolas stared at my face carefully.“What’s wrong?” he asked out of nowhere.I opened my mouth immediately to deny it.“Nothing.”He gave me a look.“Mia.”I sighed softly and looked away. The warmth that had filled the room only moments ago suddenly felt distant, and heavy thoughts came rushing back too quickly.Nikolas gently touched my chin, guiding my face back toward his.“Talk to me, babe.”His voice was soft and patient, and somehow that made it harder because I knew he genuinely cared.I swallowed then exhaled shakily.“A lot happened before graduation,” I admitted quietly.His expression softened instantly.“Okay, sweetie... what happened?”For a moment, I didn’t know where to begin. How did someone even start a conversation like
Mia's POVWhen we finally arrived at the house, the silence between Zara and me was heavy. I parked the car, turned off the engine, and just sat there for a moment, staring straight ahead, but I couldn't see anything in front of me because my head was still wrapped in what I saw at the cafe.“Mia,”
Mia's POVBy the time Alan finally called, my chest hurt in that deep, aching way that came from crying too much and thinking too hard. My eyes were already swollen, my head throbbing, my body exhausted from carrying emotions that were too heavy for one night and one morning. Zara was still beside
Mia's POVI turned on Zara.“You know what, Zara... why would you say that?” I snapped, pushing myself up from the chair. My legs felt shaky, but the anger rushing through me kept me steady. “Why would you tell him that?”Zara folded her arms defensively. “Because it’s the truth, Mia.”“That doesn’
Mia's POVThe days leading up to Nikolas’ birthday passed faster than I expected, almost like my life had suddenly shifted into fast-forward without asking for my consent. I kept telling myself it wasn’t a big deal. It was just a birthday party. Just a card from a stranger I’d met once.And yet, so







