Jacob POV“I absolutely love it here. Don’t you just love it here?” Nancy ask no one in particular.Conversations with her are awkward and one-sided. Not like she notices—most of the time she’s talking about herself or her friends, neither of which I have any interest in.And yet, here we are.She’s been flaunting me around town like some kind of rag toy as soon as news spread that we’re engaged. Yes, I have a fiancé now. Am I happy? No, but that’s the price you pay for being a Collin.“Jacob, you haven’t touched your food, sweetie,” she harps.I look over at her plate, and she’s hardly eaten a thing. It’s just a bunch of leaves and salad dressing.“So, I’ve been thinking about where we should have the wedding. Your grandmother suggested we do it at the estate in the Hamptons. What do you think?” she asks again, not really asking at all.“Sure, whatever you want, Nancy,” I say, trying to feign interest.“You’re not listening to a thing I’m saying. This is your wedding, too. Also, we h

Jacob POVHonestly, I didn’t think she’d show up. And here she is, a vision in her tight jeans and strappy heels.“I didn’t think you’d come,” I say.Smiling, she confesses, “Neither did I.”I ask if she wants a drink.“I think I’ve had just about enough,” she says, and she lets out a little hiccup.We both start laughing. She moves to the sofa and slips off her heels. I spy a tattoo of a seashell on her left ankle. She sees me looking at it and blushes before crossing her legs and covering it up with her hand.“So this is the penthouse suite. I’m afraid to ask what it is you do,” she teases.“If I tell you, will it scare you away?” I flirt back with her.“It depends. If you’re in the business of selling body parts, then I’ll have to draw the line,” she says.“It’s worse than that,” I say.“How much worse?” she asks.I wave my hands around me and say, “The reason I can afford all of this is because people pay to see my feet on OnlyFans.”She gawks in response. “Really? Show me?” she a

Jacob POV“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”It’s a quote from Lao Tzu that’s been going through my head ever since Emily shut that door with me standing behind it.I wouldn’t call myself a romantic. Once upon a time, I didn’t even believe in love, but this woman has stirred my loins back to life. She’s like a fire burning bright, setting the darkness alight. The very thought of her makes me dizzy with desire, but I fear this morning may have been the last time I’ve ever seen her.The furious look on her face was something I’ve never experienced before. To think I am responsible for her pain is something that I can never forgive myself for.My cousin Mason walks in, distracting me from my thoughts.“Don’t worry, bro, the cavalry has arrived,” he says, holding two tumblers and a bottle of whisky.I called him immediately after leaving the hotel. He’s my closest ally and best friend. I needed someone to confide in and not j

Emily POVImagine planting a seed and watching it grow—from the first green shoots fighting to break though the earth, to the colorful flowers popping their buds as the roots become stronger and colonise their place in the dirt.My mom used this analogy once when I asked her what it was like having kids. It was one of the few tender moments we shared as mother and child. Being the nurturing kind wasn’t her strong point. But then again, neither was being a parent.I often think about what she said, knowing I didn’t have the chance to see my own son take his first steps or say his first words. It’s his fifth birthday today. Every year, like clockwork, I make him a cupcake and light a candle. I sing “Happy Birthday” and then send a silent prayer into the heavens, hoping he’s happy, healthy and safe.I often try to picture what he looks like at different stages of his life. Does he have my brother’s goofy grin? Who are his friends? Does he ask about me?Before leaving the apartment, I tak

Emily POVIf I could describe holding my son for the very first time, I would call it a cosmic shift. Jacob and I broke into big smiles when Liam called me Princess Aurora, convinced that I was still in character as the princess from the theme park.“Yes, she is, but she’s also your mom,” he says, waiting for a reaction from Liam.Without questioning his dad, he reaches up to me and I oblige by giving him the biggest hug. For that moment, it felt like we’re distant stars colliding into each other, setting off a series of explosions.His embrace feels warm and tender. He smells like cookies, dirt and innocence. If I could bottle it, I would.We stand like that for a long time, neither of us wanting to let go. When we eventually do, he whispers, “You’re so pretty,” and smiles a big, sheepish grin.I take a closer look at him and notice he’s wearing PJs two sizes too small for him.“Dad wants to chuck them, but I really like them,” he says. “Maybe we could get you a pair as well, then we