[AVA] I paced back and forth in Brian’s penthouse living room, gnawing on my nails. It had been two days since Beau’s arrest, and I’d spent most of that time with my parents, trying to support them both. I couldn’t shake the guilt I felt for not understanding my mom sooner. How had I missed such a huge thing? I used to blame her for being self-centered, but now I knew that I had played an equal part in driving us apart. I’d been so caught up in my own life that I hadn’t noticed the pain she was going through. And I hate myself for it. I hate myself more than anything. Just like any of us, Max was barely keeping it together after he learned about what had happened. He was furious, to say the least. Max even went to the station to confront Beau and ended up punching him in front of everyone. As a result, the police arrested Max as well. Dad and Brian had to intervene and go to the station to get Max released. I had been lost in my thoughts when Brian walked in, carrying a tray of tea

[SEAN]In hindsight, it was clear that he was the culprit all along. I couldn’t understand why I had been so reluctant to accuse him of something so obvious. He had a clear motive for his actions, and given our history, it should have been easy to see through his deception. Instead, I had found it easier to point the finger at Coraline.How could I be so stupid?I parked the car in his driveway, and as soon as it came to a stop, I flung open the door and slammed it shut with a loud bang. My hands were trembling slightly as I hit the button for the elevator and waited impatiently for his floor to arrive. When it did, I marched down the hallway until I reached his door, my heart racing with anticipation.I pushed the buzzer aggressively, impatiently waiting for Aaron to answer. The anticipation was killing me, my hands were shaking with an adrenaline rush.When he finally opened the door, his eyes widened in disbelief at first, before a smirk curled at the corner of his mouth. He took a

[AVA]I took a deep breath, trying to calm the butterflies fluttering in my stomach as I stared at the towering penthouse before me. Seeing Brian again after such a long time filled me with a mix of excitement and nerves.I had arrived in the city just a few hours ago and immediately made my way to Brian's penthouse. It was a spontaneous decision, but I couldn't bear to wait any longer to be in his presence. Perhaps it was unconventional that I hadn't even informed my parents about my arrival, prioritizing seeing Brian above all else. But the truth was, my heart led me here, and I couldn't deny the pull I felt towards him.Despite being away from my hometown for two years, I had managed to meet Brian a few times during my time in Canada. He would surprise me by showing up at the restaurant where I worked, and we would steal a few precious hours to catch up on each other's lives. Those encounters were bittersweet, as they reminded us of the physical distance separating us.I hadn't rev