جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 78

SUMMER'S POVThe heavy rain sheeted down against the tall glass windows of the estate, washing out any possibility of an outdoor dinner date. The storm outside was relentless, howling against the pane, but inside, the living room felt entirely insulated from the rest of the world. With Eleanor away on a multi-day trip out of town, the grand house belonged entirely to the two of us.Instead of letting the weather ruin our plans, we improvised. We traded fancy restaurant reservations for an indoor setup right on the plush carpet of the living room, surrounded by takeout boxes, soft throw pillows, and the ambient glow of the fireplace."Alright, movie expert," Kingsley murmured, tossing the remote control onto the coffee table and turning to look down at me as I sat cross-legged on the rug. "The floor is yours. What are we watching? And no, you can't pick a three-hour documentary on jazz tuning."I gasped dramatically, pressing a hand to my chest in mock offense. "Jazz tuning? On a date

KINGSLEY'S POVThe heavy slam of the music lab doors echoed off the tile walls long after George was gone, leaving a suffocating silence in his wake.I stood frozen in the middle of the room, my jaw clenched so tight my teeth ached. I looked down at Summer. She was standing a few feet away, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, her face pale and tracked with fresh tears. The guilt radiating off her tore right through my chest, instantly pushing my own frustration aside."Summer," I murmured, stepping forward and reaching out to gently touch her shoulder. "Hey, look at me."She slowly raised her eyes, her lower lip trembling. "It's all my fault," she whispered, her voice breaking. "If I had just told him months ago... if I hadn't kept hiding everything... we wouldn't have lost him.""You didn't lose him," I said, keeping my voice as steady and reassuring as I could, though a dark, burning anger was already starting to coil in my gut. "He's hurt, and he's reacting out of anger. Give

FELIX'S POVThe atmosphere inside the house had been suffocating all morning. Between Kingsley’s brooding silence, the lingering fallout with George, and the heavy tension hanging over Summer, staying at the house felt like waiting for a lightning strike. I couldn't take it anymore. Needing to clear my head and escape the oppressive quiet where nobody was talking to anybody, I grabbed my keys, jumped into my car, and headed downtown toward the familiar neon lights of the club district. I just wanted a drink, some loud music, and a temporary escape from my friends' collapsing lives.Parking a block away from the venue, I shoved my hands into the pockets of my jacket and navigated the crowded sidewalk.Right as I rounded the corner near the entrance of a quiet lounge, my shoulder collided hard with someone walking in the opposite direction."Watch it—" I started, steadying myself, before looking up into the face of the person I had bumped into.The words died instantly in my throat.St

SUMMER'S POVThe digital screen of my phone flashed blank, the automated voicemail clicking off with a harsh, frustrating beep. Kingsley wasn't picking up. The manila envelope holding the faded polaroid felt like a burning weight inside my pocket, scorching against my skin as the panic and betrayal fought for dominance in my chest.If Kingsley wouldn't answer, I knew someone who would.My thumb flew across the screen, tapping on Felix's contact, and I slammed the phone to my ear as I marched down the sidewalk.It rang twice before a familiar voice picked up."Summer? Hey, where are you?" Felix's voice drifted through the line, sounding slightly distracted and distant."Felix," I breathed out, my voice tight and trembling with adrenaline. "Are you with Kingsley? Did you already arrive at the place?""Uh, yeah. Actually, yeah," Felix answered, his tone shifting into something a bit more cautious. "Kingsley is right here with me in the studio. We're just waiting for you and George to sho