MasukSOPHIA POVSophia had decided weeks ago to let Kira be.The whole point of this thing from the beginning was very simple. Make Kira leave Elijah. Break them up. Get him back or not.And it did work, or so she thought. They had their fight in Santorini. Elijah had left for Korea. The relationship was over.Mission accomplished.Sophia should have left the Ashford family then. Should have broken up with Marcus and disappeared back to whatever life she’d build next. But she wasn’t entirely sure the breakup between Kira and Elijah was permanent.Relationships ended and restarted all the time. People fought and made up. Distance made hearts grow fonder or whatever that stupid saying was.So Sophia decided to stay back and play the role of Marcus’s devoted girlfriend. Kept living in his house on the estate. Kept waiting to make sure that when Elijah came back from Korea, he wouldn’t go running straight back to Kira.She’d even decided to pause on the threatening texts and all the other tac
ADRIAN POVAdrian couldn’t stop thinking about Ethan’s face when he’d blown out those candles.The way his son had looked at him and Kira standing on opposite sides of the cake. The quiet “me too” when Adrian had said he hoped the wish came true. The weight behind those two simple words.Adrian knew exactly what Ethan had wished for.He’d wished for his parents to get back together.The realization sat heavy in Adrian’s chest while he helped clean up wrapping paper and load presents into cars. While he made small talk with parents picking up their kids. While he watched the trampoline park slowly empty until it was just family left.Lily was showing Catherine something on her phone. Marcus and Sophia were gathering leftover pizza into boxes. Kira’s parents were helping the staff break down decorations which they weren’t supposed to be doing.And Kira was standing alone near the entrance, checking something on her phone.Adrian walked over to her. She looked up when she heard him appr
KIRA POVAdrian kept to his promise and brought in more securities, although they’ve been following Kira like flies everywhere. Emily and David meeting also went well, they’ve sped up the findings and investigation. Saturday arrived with clear blue skies and temperatures warm enough that Kira didn’t need to bring jackets for the kids.Perfect birthday weather for them.She stood in the trampoline park entrance watching staff members finish setting up the private party room. Dragon banners hung from the ceiling. Balloons in shades of green and gold clustered in every corner. The tables were covered in themed tablecloths and matching plates.Adrian walked in carrying two large boxes of party favors.“Where do you want these?”“Over there by the cake table.”He set them down and stepped back to survey the room. “It looks good.”“It does. The kids are going to love it.”“Speaking of which, where are they?”“Still at home getting ready. My mom’s bringing them in about twenty minutes. I
Adrian’s POV Adrian didn’t return back home that night. After the security detail arrived and he’d introduced Dante to Kira, he checked on the kids and assured them everything was fine, after the sun had set and the estate had gone quiet, he still couldn’t bring himself to leave. He sat in his car in the driveway with the engine off, staring at the main house. All the windows were dark except for one on the second floor. Kira’s room. His phone buzzed. A text from his assistant asking if he’d be in the office tomorrow. Adrian ignored it. The front door of the house opened and Kira stepped out. She walked across the driveway toward his car and knocked on the window. Adrian rolled it down. “Are you planning to sleep in your car?” she asked. “I was thinking about it.” “That’s ridiculous. You can come inside.” “I don’t want to impose.”
ADRIAN’s POVAdrian was in the middle of reviewing a contract when his phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and smiled.Lily.She’d started calling him randomly throughout the week just to chat, most times about school. Sometimes about what she was having for dinner. Sometimes about absolutely nothing.He loved it.“He picked the call. Hey sweetheart. What’s up?”“Daddy, something’s wrong.”The smile dropped from Adrian’s face immediately. Lily’s voice was shaky, almost breathless.“What do you mean something is wrong? Are you hurt?”“No, but Mommy is really upset. There are police cars here and they took her car away on a truck and she was crying on the phone speaking to someone.”Mummy never cries.Adrian was already standing up, grabbing his jacket.“Where are you right now?”“In my room with Ethan. We were outside playing basketball and then all these
KIRA POVKira drove aimlessly for about twenty minutes before she realized she had no destination in mind.She wasn’t going to the restaurant or the Brooklyn site. She wasn’t going anywhere specific. She was just driving.Her phone kept buzzing in the cup holder. More calls and texts kept coming in. More notifications about the interview that was apparently blowing up across social media.Kira ignored all of it.She took the exit toward the waterfront and found a parking spot overlooking the Hudson, she killed her engine and just sat there staring out at the grey water.Lucky am privileged.The word kept circling in her mind. Her phone rang again. This time it was her mother.Kira answered. “Hi Mom.”“Sweetheart, are you alright? Marcus called and said you left upset.”“I’m fine. I just need some air.”“I saw the interview.”Of course she had. Everyone had apparently seen the interview.“That woman was very unkind, considering y’all were once best friends, ” Elena continued. “And ver
The boutique manager returned with the red dress carefully wrapped in black tissue paper and placed in an elegant garment bag with the Maison Delacroix logo embossed in gold. “Miss Ashford,” she said, handing it to Kira with a warm smile. “Happy birthday.” Kira blink
**KIRA**The convoy stopped in front of the Ashford International Events Center.Kira looked out the window. The building was huge. Glass walls, expensive cars everywhere, photographers standing behind ropes with their cameras ready.A lot of people.More than
**KIRA**The front doors of the Ashford Estate opened before Kira even reached them.And there, standing in the foyer with his hands in his pockets and that familiar smirk on his face, was Marcus.“Surprise,” he said.Kira’s breath caught. She let go of Lily’s
Elijah stood frozen in the doorway, staring at her like she might disappear if he blinked. Kira’s heart beat very fast. Nine years. Nine years since she’d seen that face, heard that voice, felt the weight of everything she’d walked away from. “Elijah,” she said again, quieter this time. He cro







