Chapter 11

HEATHER’S POVI kept the folded paper hidden beneath my pillow long after I discovered it. I wanted to open it again, but I was too tired to deal with another strange piece of my life that didn't make sense. After everything that had happened, my head already felt like it was about to burst. Eventually, exhaustion won, and I drifted in and out of sleep for most of the night, waking now and then whenever I shifted and remembered that I still couldn't move my legs.By morning, my back was sore, my body felt heavy, and I was getting tired of lying in the same position. I looked around the room and noticed the call button sitting on the other side of the bedside table. It wasn't far, but it was far enough that I would have to ask someone to come and help me again. The thought made me sigh. Why does everything have to be so difficult now?I had never liked asking people for help, and being unable to do even the smallest things without someone else was starting to make me feel helpless.I p

Last Updated : 2026-07-23

CHAPTER 12 — THE DOCTOR'S WARNING

HEATHER’S POV“I need to speak with Heather privately. Gentlemen, could you please excuse us?” the doctor said as he gathered his equipment, his calm expression making it clear that he wasn't asking because he thought something was terribly wrong, but because there were things he wanted to discuss with me without making me feel pressured by three anxious men hovering around my bed.Dominic looked like he wanted to argue, but after glancing at me, he finally nodded. “All right,” he agreed reluctantly as he stepped away from the bed. “But if there's anything serious, I want to know immediately.” Jermaine followed him toward the door, while Ryder gave me one last concerned look before leaving the room with them.The door closed behind them, and the room suddenly felt much quieter. I looked at the doctor as he put his equipment aside, trying to read his expression. “Am I in trouble?” I asked, attempting to make light of the situation even though my stomach was already tightening with w

Last Updated : 2026-08-20

CHAPTER 13: THE QUESTIONS

HEATHER’S POV“Can we wait until Ryder comes back?” I asked as I looked between Dominic and Jermaine, my attention briefly shifting toward the closed door through which Ryder had disappeared with the doctor. “He was the one who stayed with me throughout the examination, so I'd rather hear everything when he's here too.”Dominic studied me for a moment, clearly wanting an answer immediately, but he didn't argue. “All right,” he finally agreed as he pulled a chair closer to the bed. “We can wait for Ryder.” Jermaine simply nodded beside him, looking much calmer as he settled into the chair near the window.The silence that followed made me uncomfortable, so I decided to ask the question that had been bothering me since they rushed into my room that morning. “Why were all of you so frightened when I fell?” I asked as I looked from one brother to the other. “I understand that it looked bad, but the way Dominic reacted made it seem like something much worse had happened.”Dominic's expre

Last Updated : 2026-08-21

CHAPTER 14 — THE GIRL HE NEVER STOPPED LOOKING FOR

JULIAN’S POVFor a moment, I couldn't speak. I had imagined finding Elara for eighteen years, but none of those moments had prepared me for seeing her alive. She was sitting only a few feet away from me, looking at me with a cautious expression, while I struggled to understand how the little girl I had spent years searching for had become this woman.I studied her face, searching for the features I remembered. Her eyes were the same, especially the way they narrowed when she was unsure about someone. Even the slight crease between her brows looked familiar. I had carried those memories for so long that seeing them again felt almost unreal. I looked away briefly, trying to steady myself before facing her again.“I don't remember you,” she said quietly. I had already been warned about that, but hearing it from her still hurt. I forced myself to nod. “I know,” I replied. She hesitated before adding, “And my name is Heather.” “You don't have to call yourself Elara because I do,” I told

Last Updated : 2026-08-28

CHAPTER 15 — THE FIRST STEP

HEATHER’S POVThe next morning, I woke to sunlight falling across my face. The curtains were already open, and Julian was standing beside the window with his hands in his pockets, looking completely comfortable for someone who wasn't even a member of this household. I stared at him for a few seconds before asking, “What are you doing here this early?”He turned toward me with an amused expression. “You used to sleep through everyone calling your name when we were children.” I frowned at him. “I don't remember that.” “I remember it,” he replied, and there was something so casual about the exchange that I almost forgot I had only met him properly yesterday. I shook my head, but a small laugh escaped me.“You're crazy,” I told him. He smiled. “You said that a lot too.” I rolled my eyes before trying to sit up. The movement reminded me immediately that my legs still weren't strong enough to do everything myself. Julian noticed and stepped toward the door. “I'll get someone to help y