MasukNIKOLAII stared at her as if I blinked, she would vanish before my chest constricted sharply enough to cut through the numbness I had grown accustomed to.My first thought was confusion rather than relief as I questioned her presence in this place. She was dressed in hospital clothes, so it was clear she wasn't visiting.My gaze quickly swept over her, instinctively searching for injuries, anything that could give me an explanation, while my heart thudded uncomfortably.Was she hurt? Was she...?My thoughts faltered as I shifted my gaze to see her parents with her. Their table was a short distance away, half in the sun and half in the shade. And then I saw him—Levi Price—and everything inside of me dropped.The air left my lungs in a slow, burning exhale, leaving a dark and bitter lump in my chest as I questioned his presence here. No. A better question arose immediately afterwards.What was he still doing with her?My jaw tightened, and my fingers curled against the wheelchair's arm
REVALevi and I were still snuggled in each other's arms, our bodies still floating in the aftermath, when my stomach let out a loud, ungraceful growl that broke the silence between us. I laughed in surprise because I had breakfast, while Levi backed away, a slow smile spreading across his face.“Was that you?" he asked, amused, and I groaned, dropping my head. “It appears I have started eating for two."His smile softened. “What do you feel like?"I considered it for a second. “Not hospital food."He huffed a soft laugh. “What's wrong with hospital food?"I wrinkled my nose and said, “It's all healthy. I don't feel very healthy right now."That made him chuckle. This hospital had a menu that rivaled most restaurants I knew, but it was all healthy, which made sense for a hospital. But as bad as it may have sounded, given that the food I put into my body was no longer just about me, I wasn't feeling particularly health-conscious right now, and I knew my baby would understand.“Alright,
LEVIReva's words hung in the air as she told me she was pregnant, and my heart stopped for a brief moment before pounding hard and fast.I stared at her, trying to process what she had just said, but the words came in slow waves rather than all at once. She went on to say that she didn't know who the father was and how far along she was.Each word sank like a stone, and my chest constricted as something sharp and unfamiliar passed through me. I had told myself for years that I didn't want children.It had become a fact about me—something fixed and unchanging. But it wasn't always like that. Before everything that happened with Danielle, I had wanted children. I had wanted to start a family someday; I just wasn't ready when she told me she was pregnant.I never imagined myself as a father at sixteen because there were so many things I wanted to accomplish before starting a family.So I was terrified of the idea at the time. Then the miscarriage occurred, and everything changed. Somewh
REVA “Hey," Levi said softly. Concern was written all over his face as his eyes scanned me, as if he was checking to make sure I was all right.Just for a moment... I couldn't speak; I just sat there, staring at him. How did he know I was here?He came to a stop next to the bed, close enough for me to see the tension in his jaw and the way his grip tightened around the flowers, and that's when I snapped out of it.“Hey." My voice was quieter than I intended, and his next words made me pause.“May I hug you?" It was a simple question asking for something simple, but how the hell was I supposed to survive that hug when I wanted him to get into this bed and make me forget about everything that had brought me here, despite the walls I'd put up. I realized I had to heal on my own before I could be close to anyone. But as I stared at him, I wanted to ignore everything and pick up where we left off.I didn't realize I'd taken too long to respond until he asked if I was okay, and said that
LEVI I arrived at Reva's apartment building, my grip on the steering wheel tightening before I turned off the engine. On the way, I'd stopped to get flowers and chocolate—the kind she liked. I remembered them from our visit to Aspen.I grabbed both from the passenger seat and exited the car, exhaling as I entered the building. I was nervous, which was new for me because I had never been this guy before.I'd always been confident, and if a woman wasn't interested in me, she wasn't. It was simple, and I've never tried to make anyone feel something they didn't, because I was never attached enough to care.But this was different. I walked into the elevator and pressed her floor, feeling all kinds of things. Looking up at my reflection, I barely recognized the guy looking back, and the elevator ride felt too brief. Stepping out, I headed down the hallway, not knowing if she'd be there.Part of me expected her to have gone to her parents' house. But I had decided to start here. Even if sh
REVAMy parents' eyes welled up with tears almost immediately, and my mother was the first to break down, sobbing as she drew me into another gentle hug. My father also leaned in, his hand cradling the back of my head as they both held me, their joy pouring out.They congratulated me repeatedly, their voices thick with emotion as they learned they were going to become grandparents. I could tell they were genuinely happy, which warmed my heart.But beneath the happiness... I could see their sadness and worry over the unspoken complication brought by the pregnancy. As far as they knew, this baby was Nikolai's, and they knew how hard that made things for me.Pulling back and looking between them, I decided to be candid. Perhaps that would alleviate their concerns by providing them with an insight into my mental state regarding this pregnancy.“I wasn't sure if I wanted to keep the baby at first," I confessed. “But, when I thought I had lost the pregnancy... I realized I wanted it."My ha
NIKOLAIThe music cut out. “Security department, this is Mark speaking," a guy's voice came through from the other side of the line, and I straightened instinctively. “My name is Hunter Starling. I was transferred from reception to discuss security footage from Christmas Eve."“Yes, Mr. Starling,"
REVAMy stomach had already twisted into knots by the time my mother and I drove into the underground parking garage. I thought signing the divorce papers was the hardest part. But it appears to be only the beginning.“Are you alright?" Mom asked, turning off the engine and looking at me with that
NIKOLAIHunter’s fingers laced with mine as we walked into the law offices. It was still holiday season, and everyone was basking in the magic it brought, except my fiancé and me. While everyone was sipping hot cocoa in pajamas on their balconies, we were hard at work to ensure that the coming sea
NIKOLAI“I’m not taking her side. Did I say I was taking her side?” “You didn’t have to, Nik!” Hunter barked. “The fact that you’re questioning me is enough! Why would I screw Allen? Why would I cheat on you? Have you lost your mind?”“Why would Reva lie?” I fired back. “That’s what I’m trying to







