(Cheryl’s POV)The soft hum of my aunt’s radio floated through the house as I stepped out of my room, the delicate necklace still resting in its velvet box on my vanity. I’d returned it there after my conversation with Aiden, the cool weight of it lingering against my collarbone, a ghost of his touch that I couldn’t quite shake.I padded down the hallway, my fingers brushing the cool banister as I descended the stairs. The early afternoon sunlight spilled through the windows, casting golden streaks across the hardwood floor. I tried to focus on that warmth, to let it seep into my skin and drive away the chill that had settled over me since I hung up the phone.Aiden’s final, clipped words still echoed in my mind, his cold, dismissive tone cutting deeper than I cared to admit. I’d told him I needed space, that I needed to breathe without his shadow darkening every corner of my life, but the truth was... I still felt the pull.I paused in the living room, the smell of fresh coffee and c
Cheryl’s POVThe morning sun filtered through the thin white curtains of my bedroom, casting soft, golden patterns on the wooden floor. I stretched beneath my sheets, the events of last night replaying in my mind, the feel of Oliver’s lips still warm against mine, the taste of the sea salt on my tongue, the sound of the crashing waves still echoing in my ears. I smiled to myself, curling deeper into my blankets, letting the warmth of the moment linger a bit longer.I was startled by a gentle knock on my door. I blinked, pushing myself up onto my elbows, the sheets slipping down my bare legs as I glanced towards the door.“Come in,” I called out, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.The door creaked open, and my aunt poked her head in, her short, graying curls bouncing slightly as she stepped inside, still dressed in her soft, floral-patterned pajamas. She held a small, neatly wrapped box, a card, and a bouquet of fresh, white lilies in her hands.“These just came for you, dear,” she said,
OLIVER'S POV“Where are we going?” she asked, her voice cutting through the low rumble of the engine.“Somewhere we can breathe,” I replied, my tone lighter than I felt.I felt her gaze linger on me a moment longer before she turned back to the view, her smile softening, her shoulders relaxing a fraction.The road finally leveled out as we reached a small, hidden turnoff, the headlights sweeping across the rugged cliffside before revealing a narrow path leading down to a secluded stretch of beach. The waves crashed against the rocks in the distance, their white crests glowing in the moonlight, the salty breeze filling the car as I killed the engine.Cheryl’s eyes widened slightly as she took in the view, the vast expanse of the sea stretching out before us, the moon casting a silver path across the water.“Wow,” she whispered, unbuckling her seatbelt and pushing the door open, stepping out onto the sand.I followed, the cool, damp air wrapping around me as I shut the door behind me. I
Cheryl’s POVI stood there, frozen, my champagne glass suddenly feeling like a lead weight in my hand. Sabrina’s words echoed in my head, a sharp, biting reminder that I had once again stumbled into someone else’s game, a pawn in a world that never seemed to stop testing my patience.Oliver needs to get his inheritance, and the only way to do that is to get married.Sabrina shot me one last, knowing smirk before she turned on her heel, her sequined dress shimmering under the lights as she strode off to join a cluster of guests across the room. I watched her go, the sway of her hips and the confident tilt of her head only fueling the anger simmering beneath my skin.I exhaled slowly, my pulse thrumming in my ears.I drained the rest of my champagne in one long, bitter gulp, the fizzy liquid burning slightly as it slid down my throat. My gaze flicked around the grand hall, taking in the glittering chandeliers, the elegantly dressed guests, the polished marble floors – a world of opulenc
CHERYLThe stairs wound up like a twisting, polished spine, the rich mahogany steps gleaming under the soft, golden light of the overhead chandeliers. Each step brought us closer to the main event hall, where the low hum of music and mingling voices grew louder, the air thickening with the clinking of glasses and the soft rustle of designer fabrics.Oliver’s hand remained at the small of my back as we reached the landing, his touch firm yet oddly comforting. I could feel the heat of his palm through the thin fabric of my dress, a steady reminder of his presence, his breath brushing my ear as he leaned in to speak.“Are you ready?” he whispered, his voice a teasing rumble.I turned to meet his eyes, catching the faintest glint of mischief beneath his polished exterior. “For what?”He smirked, leaning in even closer, his lips just a breath away from my ear. “To see my world.”I managed a nervous chuckle, my heart fluttering against my ribcage like a trapped bird. His world. The thought
Cheryl’s PovI took one last look in the mirror, adjusting the thin strap of my black silk dress as it curved perfectly around my shoulders and fell gracefully down my body. My hair was swept into a loose, elegant bun, a few tendrils framing my face. I’d kept my makeup subtle yet striking—red lips, a touch of highlighter, and dark, winged eyeliner that gave my eyes a sharp, confident edge.I felt a nervous flutter in my stomach as I slipped on my black stilettos, the thin straps hugging my ankles. It had been a long time since I’d dressed up like this, and I hoped I didn’t come off as trying too hard.Grabbing my clutch, I stepped out into the night, my heels clicking against the concrete as I made my way to my car. The drive to the event was a blur, my thoughts tangled between excitement and a strange, unshakable apprehension.When I pulled up to the towering glass building, I felt my breath hitch. Barker Technologies. The name glowed in sleek, silver letters against the darkened sky
CHERYLFor a moment, I couldn’t tell if the thudding in my chest was from the alcohol or the words he’d just said.“Because I don’t plan on holding back.”Oliver sat there so calmly, like he hadn’t just dropped a live grenade between us. His face gave away nothing—no nervous twitch of the lips, no uncertain glint in his eyes. Just that same cool, casual mystery that had always surrounded him, even back when he was just the quiet kid in science class with ink-stained fingers and oversized glasses.But he wasn’t that boy anymore.He was something else now. A little rough around the edges. Confident. Measured. Attractive in a quiet, dangerous kind of way that made your mind wander where it shouldn’t.My fingers tightened around the base of my wine glass. “Oliver…” I started, then stopped. I didn’t even know where I was going with that. I wasn’t prepared for this—him—to come storming into my life with this kind of certainty. Not when everything else felt so undefined. Especially Aiden.Es
CHERYLI hadn’t laughed like that in a while.Not the polite kind of laughter, This was different. It was real. The kind that made my cheeks warm and brought tears to my eyes. The kind I used to have back when life was simpler and happiness didn’t feel like some expensive thing you had to earn with heartbreak.Oliver Barker.I couldn’t believe I’d run into him—here of all places, looking like he had just stepped out of some casual fashion catalog: dark jeans, a grey henley that clung to his arms in a way that hinted he’d been doing more than reading books lately, and that same untamed hair, a little longer now, brushing his forehead like it had a mind of its own. There was still something reserved about him—like he existed a beat away from the world—but that was part of the charm.I remembered him instantly.Back in high school, he was the quiet one in science class who always got the formulas right, the typ who wrote the answers with a bored flick of his wrist while everyone else scr
CHERYL“Oliver,” I repeated, like tasting a name I hadn’t spoken in years. “Is it really you?”His smile deepened, soft and unreadable, like he was trying to decide if I was real too. He looked the same, and yet completely different. The boy I remembered had worn oversized glasses and carried too many books for one person. Now, he stood tall and self-assured, the years having carved definition into his jaw and stillness into his presence. There was something easy in the way he looked at me, casual—but veiled. Like he knew more than he let on.“I didn’t think I’d ever run into you here,” he said, stepping closer beneath the café’s warm glow. “It’s been… what? how many years?”I laughed softly. “More or less. You look good.”He glanced down at himself with mock curiosity. “I clean up better without the braces and the broken voice, huh?”“Definitely an upgrade,” I teased, a grin tugging at my lips before I could stop it.His eyes twinkled. “You haven’t changed much, Cheryl - you still lo