로그인VICTORIAFour years laterThe air feels different today — softer, lighter, almost unreal.The sun pours gently over the gardens of Valemont estate, painting the marble white and the grass gold.Children run barefoot across the lawn, their laughter spilling through the breeze like music.I am standin
******************************************************************************************CHASEThe music floats across the beach, slow and warm, the kind that makes the night feel softer than it is.Fairy lights sway in the ocean breeze, and laughter ripples through the guests as I stand near the
VICTORIAThe sand is warm under my heels as we walk down the narrow path leading to the beach, the faint hum of waves mixing with distant laughter.My hand rests lightly on my belly, the other laced tightly with Chase’s because I still can’t believe this is real — that he’s this happy, that we are.
I pretend not to notice, but something cracks quietly inside me.On the jet, she wasn’t exaggerating about sleeping. The moment she sits down, she curls up, adjusts the blanket, and shuts her eyes without a word. I sit across from her and just… stare as the engines hum softly, clouds drift past the
CHASE“That’s it. Close that laptop; we’ll be late,” I say, standing from the couch at House of Valemont, telling her for the tenth time, pretending she didn’t hear me.Victoria doesn’t even flinch. Her eyes stay fixed on the screen, the faint light tracing her sharp cheekbones as she scrolls. “One
The entire ride to House of Valemont, I can’t calm down. I keep rehearsing my steps, my greetings, my smile. My mind runs wild with what-ifs—what if nothing’s the same, what if I walk in and everyone stares? What if I can’t do this? but I try to remain strong until we get there.Once we finally arr
I part my lips, ready to spit out Let me go again, but the words never make it past my throat before his gaze drops lower to my mouth.He lingers there for a beat, then a breath escapes him in a low, guttural growl, and before I can stop him—or myself—he leans down aggressively and crushes his mouth
VICTORIA’S POVIt’s been three days since I returned to New York, and I haven’t closed my eyes for more than an hour at a time.Sleep won’t come—not with my head spinning, not with Chase’s absence wrapping tighter around me like a vice. No calls, no texts, not even a careless email.At first, I trie
CHASEShe’s laughing. Actually laughing. The wind whips Victoria’s hair wild as she grips the wheel, her sunglasses slipping down her nose. The hat she’d been clinging to earlier is long gone, and the sound bubbling from her chest doesn’t belong to the woman who nearly fell apart an hour ago.“She i
Kathryn arches a brow. “What happened to you?”I roll my eyes and tug off my hat. “Wine.” That’s all I say.She scoffs and takes out a bottle of orange juice. “Fine. Mimosas it is.”I chuckle, sliding my hat back on nodding. “Now that, I can survive.”She pours a round—including one for Chase at the







