Chapter 51

PAIGEWeeks pass. The apartment fills up.Couch. Table. Curtains. Plates that match. The plant is still alive. I water it every Tuesday."Paige." Marcus is in the kitchen. Making breakfast. "Sadie's coming over.""When?""Today. Lunch."I look at the calendar. "It's Wednesday.""She wants to see the place.""She's seen the place.""She wants to see it with furniture."I laugh. "Fine. I'll make food."---SADIEShe shows up at noon with wine.Three bottles. Red. White. Something pink I can't pronounce."You're early," I say."I'm excited.""It's an apartment. Not a circus.""With you, it's always a circus."She walks in. Looks around. Whistles."Paige. This is actually nice.""The couch was Marcus's idea.""The curtains?""Mine.""The plant?""Julian's."She walks to the window. Touches a leaf. "It's alive.""Barely."She turns. Grins. "I'm proud of you.""For what?""For building something. For staying. For not running."I hand her a glass of wine. "It's not always easy.""Nothing wor

Last Updated : 2026-05-24

Chapter 52

PAIGEThe quiet lasts six days.Then Marcus's phone rings at 7 AM.His mother's name on the screen."Marcus." Her voice is cold. Polished. "We need to talk.""I'm busy.""This isn't about the board. It's about your father's will."Marcus sits up. I sit up beside him."What about it?""There's a provision. One I didn't tell you about.""Mother—""Come to the house. Today. 2 PM. Bring your... partners."She hangs up.Marcus stares at the phone."Marcus." I touch his arm. "What is it?""I don't know." He looks at me. "But I don't trust her.""Then don't go.""I have to. It's about my father."Haruto appears in the doorway. Julian behind him."What's going on?"Marcus tells them. The phone call. The provision. The invitation."It's a trap," Julian says."Probably.""Then why go?""Because if there's something in my father's will that she's been hiding, I need to know."Haruto nods. "Then we go together.""Together," Marcus agrees.---MARCUSThe Whitmore estate is cold.Stone walls. Iron

Last Updated : 2026-05-25

Chapter 53

PAIGEThe lawyer's name is Helen.She comes to the apartment on a Tuesday. Gray suit. Gray hair. Gray eyes that miss nothing."Mr. Whitmore." She opens a folder. "I've found something."Marcus leans forward. "What is it?""Your father's will. The codicil. It was signed two weeks before he died.""I know that.""Do you know who witnessed it?"Marcus shakes his head."Two of your mother's employees. Both have since left the company. Both have refused to speak to anyone.""That's suspicious," Julian says."It's more than suspicious. It's potentially illegal."Marcus stands. Paces."What are you saying?""I'm saying your mother may have coerced your father. Or worse. The timing is questionable. The witnesses are compromised. We may have a case.""A case for what?""To have the codicil thrown out."The room is quiet.Paige takes my hand. "Marcus. This is good.""It's something," Helen says. "Not a guarantee. But something."---HARUTOAfter Helen leaves, we sit on the couch.The plant is b

Last Updated : 2026-05-26

Chapter 54

HARUTO"Pack a bag. We're leaving."Paige looks up from the couch. "Where?""The cabin. Upstate. Just us."She sets her book down. "When?""Now."Marcus walks in. "Everything okay?""Everything's fine. I just need to get out of the city."Julian appears in the doorway. "The legal battle—""Can wait two days. I can't."Paige stands. Walks to me. "Okay. Let me pack."She disappears into the bedroom.Marcus looks at me. "Haruto. What's going on?""I've been having dreams. About my father. About the hospital. About not being there.""You're not running.""I'm processing. There's a difference."Julian nods. "Take the time you need.""I will."---PAIGEThe drive takes four hours.Haruto drives. I watch the trees blur past. The city disappears. The sky opens up."Haruto.""Yeah.""Talk to me.""I don't know what to say.""Then don't talk. Just drive."He reaches over. Takes my hand.I hold on.---The cabin is beautiful.Wood and stone. A lake in the distance. No neighbors. No traffic. Just

Last Updated : 2026-05-27

CHAPTER 55

PAIGEHis lips don't leave mine.Firelight dances across his face. His hands are in my hair, then on my back, then pulling me closer like he's afraid I'll disappear."Haruto.""Don't talk.""But—""Don't talk." His voice is rough. "Just feel."He lays me down on the blanket. The fire crackles beside us. The cabin is dark except for the glow.His hand traces my face. My jaw. My neck."You're shaking.""I know.""Good or bad?""Good." I pull him down to me. "Very good."---HARUTOShe's warm beneath me.Her dark hair spreads across the blanket. Her eyes are half-closed. Her lips are parted."Beautiful," I whisper."You've said that before.""I'll say it again." I kiss her neck. Her collarbone. Her shoulder. "Beautiful. Beautiful. Beautiful."Her hands find the hem of my shirt. Push it up. I sit back, pull it off. Her hands touch my chest. My stomach. My hips."You're staring," I say."I'm allowed.""You're making me nervous.""Good."I laugh. Low.Then I kiss her again.---PAIGEHis ha

Last Updated : 2026-05-29

Chapter 56

PAIGEWe drive back to the city on Sunday.The trees blur past. The sky is gray. Haruto's hand is on my thigh."You're quiet," he says."I'm thinking.""About what?""About the cabin. About us. About what happens now.""What happens now is we go home. We see Marcus and Julian. We tell them we're okay.""And then?"He glances at me. "And then we fight. Together."I take his hand. Squeeze."Together."---MARCUSThey walk in at 4 PM.Paige first. Haruto behind her. Both of them lighter than when they left."Hey," Paige says."Hey yourself."Julian appears in the doorway. "How was it?""Good," Haruto says. "Needed."Marcus walks to Paige. Pulls her into a hug."You look better.""I feel better."He looks at Haruto. "You too."Haruto nods. "I processed some things.""Good things?""Necessary things."Julian pours coffee. Hands out cups."Sit," he says. "Tell us everything."---PAIGEWe sit on the couch.The plant is by the window. The curtains are open. The city is loud."We talked," I s

Last Updated : 2026-06-01