Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 11 - Chapitre 20

Caelen POVI woke tangled in expensive sheets that still smelled faintly of lavender detergent. My mind replayed last night again and again. The gala and Adrian’s cruel words. Aldric’s hand on my face last night, close enough to something I wasn’t ready to name. The way he said we should talk, really talk, before pulling away like touching me might burn.Sleep had been impossible after that.Morning light filled the room through the tall windows, and I knew I couldn’t hide forever. Sooner or later, I would have to face him and face whatever this was becoming between us.I showered and dressed in casual clothes, jeans, and a soft sweater, taking my time. By the time I went downstairs, it was nearly eight. That was late for this house, where everything ran on strict schedules and quiet efficiency.The breakfast room was empty when I stepped inside, and relief loosened my shoulders. At least I could sit for a moment and collect myself. Aldric was probably already at the office or locked

Caelen POVThe video call came during breakfast on Tuesday, three days after Aldric left for Spain.I was sitting in the smaller breakfast room that overlooked the garden. I was eating yogurt and fruit while scrolling through my phone. When Mira’s name appeared on the screen, my stomach dropped.I had not spoken to her since before the wedding, before everything changed.I answered the call and forced a smile. “Hey.”Mira’s face filled the screen, and she looked furious.“Do not say ‘hey’ to me, Caelen Ryn,” she snapped. “I had to find out from the internet that you got married. The internet.”My mouth went dry. “Mira, I can explain.”“You disappeared,” she said, talking over me. “You stopped answering my calls. Then I scroll through social media and see photos of you at some fancy gala with Aldric Fenmore, and the caption says ‘newly married.’ How could you not tell me?”Her voice shook, and her eyes were wet.“I am so sorry,” I said. “Everything happened too fast, and I did not kn

Caelen POVI had never been on a private jet before.Standing on the tarmac at London City Airport, watching the sleek Gulfstream shine under the early morning sun, I felt completely out of place. The stairs leading into the cabin looked too steep, as if they were meant for people who belonged in this world.People who were not me.“Ready?” Aldric stepped beside me, carrying both our bags even though I had already protested. He was dressed casually for travel, wearing dark jeans and a black sweater that made his shoulders look broader than usual. His sunglasses hid his eyes, but I could feel his attention on me.“This is insane,” I said honestly. “Do you actually own a plane?”“I charter it,” he replied. “There is a difference.” A small smile appeared. “Come on. You will like it.”The inside of the jet was nothing like a normal flight. The cream leather seats looked more like armchairs than airplane seating. Polished wood tables and warm lighting made everything feel calm instead of s

Caelen POVThe hotel suite felt different the moment we returned from the post-race celebration.Nothing about the room itself had changed. The furniture was still in the same places. The wide windows still framed the harbor below. The soft lights still cast the same warm glow across the walls, and yet, something fundamental had shifted. Maybe it was us. Maybe it was the fact that Aldric’s hand had not left mine since we walked out of victory lane together.He closed the door behind us and leaned against it, watching me with an intensity that made my breath catch in my chest. His eyes followed every small movement I made, like he was trying to memorize me.“Champagne?” he asked, nodding toward the terrace where a bottle rested in a silver bucket. Someone from the hotel must have sent it up while we were gone.“Sure,” I said, even though my voice sounded rougher than I meant it to.We walked onto the terrace together. The night air was cool against my skin, and Monaco glittered below u

Caelen POVMornings changed after that.Before Monaco, my mornings were empty. I would wake alone, dress alone, eat alone, and fill the hours with whatever I could find to keep the silence from pressing too hard.Now I woke with Aldric's arm across my waist and his breath warm against the back of my neck. He woke before me most days, but he did not rush. He stayed still, watching me come to life slowly, and sometimes when I opened my eyes, I found him already looking at me."Morning," he would say, his voice rough from sleep."Morning," I would answer.It was simple and unremarkable, just the kind of thing couples did every day without giving it much thought.But for me, it was everything.We shared the bathroom without awkwardness, which surprised me. Aldric brushed his teeth while I showered. I dried my hair while he dressed. We moved around each other like we had been doing this for years instead of days.Breakfast was our ritual now. Not the formal table where we once sat in pain