SEVENTY THREE

KELLAN'S P.O.VMy fingers loosened by my side, and my body went liquid and tight all at once.I just stared and stared.I didn't know how or when I crossed over, but I soon found myself standing in front of a nursery.A pink nursery Something in my heart leaped, then shark then exploded.A girl.The little crib, the blush pink curtains, and the pink and white walls all began to blur. I swallowed the lump in my throat, willing myself to breathe.I hadn't expected it to hit me like this. I didn't know my heart would constrict this tight at the sight of a room. No. It wasn't just any room. It was more. I didn't know how long I stood there at the doorway of Ashley's nursery, but I felt her when she came to my side, felt her soft fingers thread through mine, and squeezed tightly Then I looked—at her. I looked as if I could already see the daughter she was carrying.Ashley's eyes were a mirror to mine—glassy too. Her lip quivered a bit and her expression bordered on sadness and something

Last Updated : 2025-09-30

SEVENTY FOUR

ASHLEY'S POVBeing in Dallas again should have freaked me out. It should have, not when I still have nightmares of Genevieve's threats, not when her icy words and death promise were what held me back from telling Kelena the truth.But somehow I wasn't scared. I was not afraid.How could I be, when Kellan's been by my side like he was bound on protecting me at all times. We'd left Austin immediately, taking his private jet here and all the while, he gave me these sweet foot rubs that made the heaviness in my lower back lessen I was already dozing off when we landed, a car waiting for us too, and Kellan took the wheel, driving straight to his Gran's home— Margery.I loved the woman, she's sweet and kind with a sense of humor that has me cackling each time. My throat tightened at the lie Kellan and I had agreed to tell her, the facade that we promised to keep.Play husband and wife. Simple I had no doubt that Kellan's father— Seb, already knows of our fallout, and my heart ached at

Last Updated : 2025-10-06

SEVENTY FIVE

ASHLEY'S P.O.VSeb—Kellan's father, arrived a minute laterAfter a warm hug to me and an unreadable glance at Kellan, both men leaned by the wall and wordlessly stared at Gran's engagement ring like it might come to life.Despite myself, despite knowing that Seb was fully aware of Kellan's and my failing marriage, even though I was lying to Margery through my teeth, I smiled.I've never seen both men so fazed.Gran totally ignored them while she ushered me to sit down and gave me one of her crocheted throw blankets. The scent of butter and apple pie made my mouth water.Margery made the best pies.“That's too much” I protested when she kept heaping my plate like a mountain.Her lips pulled into a mock frown. “Too much? You're eating too much, Ashley."Pressure built behind my eyes, and I blinked it away, focusing on the food in front of me. Later I can wallow in guilt, but not now. Not here Gran threw a pointed look at Kellan, “You better be feeding my granddaughter-in-law well. I do

Last Updated : 2025-10-06

SEVENTY SIX

ASHLEY'S P O VI forgot how chilly the cabin could be at night.Especially windy nights. Nights like these It was windy on our first night here too.“I've missed it here” Kellan muttered beside me, A soft smile broke through my face at the way he said those words. I adjusted my eyes to the faint glow of Gran's old lanterns. “Yeah?”Besides me, the bed dipped as he shifted to his side. I dragged my eyes away from the wooden ceiling and met his, in the dim light, Kellan's green eyes were darker, unguarded.Sparks shot through every nerve in my body, it's been months since we shared a bed. Months since I felt that living tension between us.Kellan propped his head on one hand, his elbow sinking into the mattress, studying me like he was trying to memorize my face in the half-light, I felt my heavy, tender breasts push against my nightdress. His eyes darkened a shade further, noticing too. “Yes,” I really love the quiet and the sound of the lake, plus...”My breathing fluttered when he

Last Updated : 2025-10-08

SEVENTY STEVEN

KELLAN'S P.O.VThis was the place my life began. Truly began.I had tears in my eyes that day.For some reason, the back of my eyes prickle now. It could be from too much laughter this morning while watching Dad wince and beg Grandma to reconsider this ‘whole escape’ of getting married again.I glanced at where Dad sat behind me, waiting for Gran with a frown. Dad's friends, two of whom insisted on attending his mother's wedding, teased him for having a stepfather at forty-nine.I smiled.While the idea of Gran getting married had been odd to me at first, I've come to accept it, admire it even. To make such a decision at this age, to go this length for one person...I understood.I understood it, too.The courtroom was filling with guests, mostly Gran’s and Bob’s friends from the community board games. Bob sat at the front in a tux that somehow fit.Dinner with him was... something. Bob laughed at his own jokes, smiled, and teased her till she smacked his hand and told him not to make

Last Updated : 2025-10-10

SEVENTY EIGHT

ASHLEY'S P.O.VThe path he led us through was beautiful.Lined with flowers and soft grass, the scent of pine in the air. I didn't understand why Kellan was so tense. He's been like this since we woke up this morning.It's like something happened during the night that he didn't tell me.The last time I had seen Kellan this nervous was during our wedding, when I read my vows. Then, he watched me as if waiting for me to bail out and run away. I tried not to think of where he was leading us, or whatever was making him this taut. Kellan's steps were deliberately slow to keep with mine, his breath was ragged, like he was contemplating something, and even though he looked down at me and smiled every two seconds, I knew he was disturbed.The sky overhead was bright but not hot as we walked down the beautiful path, lined with trees and spring birds chipping in the air, and a house came into viewIt was beautiful.Surrounded by flowers and trees and soft grass that brushed my ankles, the hous