LOGINThe drive home was quiet, almost unbearably so. The soft hum of the engine filled the car, punctuated only by the occasional turn signal or the subtle swish of tires on wet pavement. I kept my hands folded in my lap, though I could feel every inch of my body hyperaware of Ace sitting beside me. His presence was magnetic, suffocating in the way that made me conscious of every shift, every subtle movement.I stole glances at him through the corner of my eye, catching the faint glint of streetlights reflecting off his sharp profile. The way his jaw flexed as he focused on the road, the slow rise and fall of his chest—it all made my stomach twist in knots. I wanted to speak, to break the silence, but every time I opened my mouth, my thoughts scattered. The words I’d rehearsed didn’t exist anymore.His arm brushed against mine once, light, almost accidental—or at least, I told myself it was. I swallowed hard and felt a shiver run down my spine. My knees pressed together instinctively, my
The second Ace left, the silence in my room felt almost unreal. My heart was still fluttering from our conversation, from the way he’d looked at me, so firm and commanding, yet gentle in the same breath. I sank onto the edge of my bed and hugged the dress bag to my chest, my cheeks heating without me even realizing it.A small laugh escaped me — nervous, breathless. Why am I even like this? I thought, shaking my head. My palms tingled where they’d brushed his hand moments ago. My mind kept replaying his words: “You’re coming. Stop making excuses.”I couldn’t help it. I had spent so long dodging him, second-guessing every interaction, trying to stay invisible. And yet, tonight, he had made the choice for me. For me.With a shaky exhale, I set the bag down and unfolded the dress. It was a soft, flowing fabric, the kind that hugged the curves in all the right places without being flashy. Pale blue, almost like the summer sky just before dusk, delicate but confident. My fingers lingered o
I stopped outside Lily’s door, the soft weight of the dress bag pressing against my side. I’d made sure it was perfect — simple, elegant, something that would make her feel like herself but still pull her out of her usual routines. I exhaled, steadying the pulse in my veins. My hand hovered over the door before I knocked, hesitant for just a second, and then I rapped firmly, three sharp knocks.“Lily?” My voice was low, calm, but carrying enough weight to get her attention.I waited, the quiet stretching long enough to make my stomach twist. Then I heard the faint shuffle of movement on the other side. The door cracked open, and there she was. Lily, looking at me through slightly widened eyes, cheeks flushed, her hair pulled back simply, nothing fancy, just her. There was a kind of soft defenselessness about her in that moment, and it made my chest tighten more than I expected.“Hey,” I said simply, keeping my tone even. “I… brought something for you.” I held up the bag, letting the s
I sat in the study, the house quiet around me, my thoughts louder than any sound could be. My gaze kept flicking toward the living room, replaying the scene from earlier—the way Lily had handled Alice. How she’d managed the chaos without breaking a sweat, without letting Alice spiral out of control. The kid had a temper, that much was obvious, but Lily had handled it like it was nothing.And somehow, in that moment, I felt it. That pull. That… satisfaction, mixed with something I wasn’t entirely ready to name.I leaned back in my chair, running a hand through my hair, and frowned. What the hell was I thinking? I’d spent months keeping my distance from her, keeping things professional, keeping my heart out of it. Or at least, I thought I had.And yet… the memory of her sighing softly at Alice, gently taking control, giving the kid what she needed while still maintaining authority—it made me want to… I don’t know… reward her?I frowned again. Reward her. The thought made no sense. I had
I stormed into my room like a hurricane, slamming the door behind me with enough force to make it rattle in its frame. My fingers clawed at the edge of my desk, scattering papers, pens, and a half-empty perfume bottle. The scent of something floral and expensive filled the air, sharp enough to sting my senses.And I didn’t care.I wasn’t going to care. Not now. Not after what had just happened downstairs.My heel caught a loose rug, and I stumbled for a split second before regaining my balance. My fists clenched, and I swept a vase off the dresser. It crashed to the floor in a spectacular explosion of glass and water. I didn’t flinch. I didn’t even blink. My heart pounded in my chest like it wanted to tear itself free.“Ella!”The scream came from the doorway. Willow. She stood there, hands on her hips, face a storm that almost rivaled mine. Her heels clicked sharply against the floor as she crossed to me.“You need to calm down!” she snapped.I turned slowly, a smirk tugging at the c
Alice had been unsettled all afternoon.Not fussy exactly—just off. Like something inside her couldn’t quite settle. She clung to my hand longer than usual, dragged her feet when I tried to guide her upstairs for her nap, kept glancing toward the hallway as if waiting for someone who hadn’t arrived yet.“Hey,” I murmured, crouching in front of her. “What’s going on in that busy little head?”She shrugged, lower lip wobbling.My heart tightened. I brushed her hair back gently. “It’s okay. I’m here.”Her arms wrapped around my neck instantly, small fingers gripping my sweater like she was afraid I might disappear if she let go.Behind us, I could feel eyes.I didn’t need to turn around to know who they belonged to.Ella sat on the sofa, posture composed, hands folded neatly in her lap. Willow stood near the window, phone in hand, gaze sharp and assessing. They’d been hovering all day—present but distant, polite but watchful.I ignored them.Alice mattered more.“Let’s sit down, okay?” I
The night air felt colder than I expected.Not the kind of cold that bit at your skin, but the kind that sank deeper, into your ribs, into your spine, into the places exhaustion already carved hollow.My backpack weighed almost nothing, yet my shoulders ached as if I’d carried my entire life inside
I didn’t realize I was shaking until the door to my room closed behind me and the silence rushed in all at once.My legs gave out before my mind caught up, and I sank onto the edge of the bed, then tipped backward until I was flat on my back, staring up at the ceiling like it might explain what had
I had spent years mastering restraint.It was a discipline, like anything else—learned, sharpened, perfected through necessity. Control wasn’t just a preference for me; it was survival. It was order carved out of chaos. It was the only reason anything in my life functioned at all.And Lily had step
I walked through the front door, letting the click of it closing behind me echo in the empty foyer. It was quiet and the silence felt wrong. The house had a rhythm, one I knew intimately, and this stillness was off-beat. My eyes immediately found Margaret, standing stiffly near the desk, her postur







