AUDREY POVThe night air was cool against my skin, the sound of gentle waves filling the silence between us. Michell was watching me—I could feel it. But for once, I didn’t try to read into it. I didn’t try to analyze what this meant or where we stood. For now, I just wanted to be here. Ease the tension and nervousness about dancing on the stage after all these years.The past few days had been exhausting, emotionally and physically. Between the competition, Michell, and everything else weighing on me, my mind had been a battlefield. But as I sat there, staring out at the water, I allowed myself a moment of peace. I needed to focus on one thing—dancing. Life had given me a second chance, and I wasn’t going to waste it. After a while, Michell glanced at his watch and sighed. “We should head back. You have a big day coming up.”I nodded, pulling my jacket tighter around me. As much as I wanted to stay in this little pocket of serenity, reality was waiting. The drive back was
AUDREY POVThe morning light streamed through the curtains as I fastened my earrings, my fingers slightly trembling. Today was the day. The competition that would determine everything—whether I was truly back, whether I still belonged on that stage. Amelia peeked through the doorway, her small hands gripping the frame as she beamed at me. “You’re gonna be amazing,” she declared, her voice full of certainty. I let out a shaky breath, adjusting the fabric of my competition outfit. “I hope so.” She huffed, stepping into the room with a dramatic shake of her head. “Not hope, Audrey. You will.” She placed her tiny hands on her hips, her expression so serious it was almost comical. “You’ve been practicing forever. No one can do what you do.” A small smile tugged at my lips. “Well, when you put it that way…” “I do put it that way,” she said proudly, then tilted her head, her eyes shining with admiration. “You look so pretty.” I glanced at the mirror. My sleek competition outfit
AUDREY POV.I froze. Of all the faces I expected to see today, hers was the last one. Gina. She was dancing—no, gliding—across the floor with an effortless grace that made my breath hitch. Every move was precise, every transition seamless, as if her body was made for this. The way she extended her limbs, the fluidity of her turns… it was mesmerizing. And I hated that. I hated that I was watching her. That, for the first time, I understood why Harold had once called her the best dancer he had ever seen. Back then, I had scoffed at his words, assuming it was just infatuation talking. But as I stood there, watching her perform with such ease, I realized he wasn’t completely wrong. Gina was good. No—she was really good. A knot twisted in my stomach. I had never seen her as a real competitor before. I had always viewed her as the woman who had taken my husband, the woman who had caused me so much pain. But now, here she was—not just a reminder of my past but a direct r
AUDREY POV.I took a deep breath, willing my nerves to settle. Fear threatened to consume me, but I shoved it down. One step forward. Then another. The moment my foot touched the stage, a familiar calm settled over me.The first few notes of my music filled the room, soft yet commanding.Then I moved.My body reacted before my mind could catch up, muscle memory taking over. Years of training, of pain, of sacrifice—it all came pouring out through my movements.A delicate bourree carried me across the stage, my steps whisper-light but precise. Then came the arabesque, my leg extending high, my arms reaching as if grasping for something unseen.The music swelled, and I let myself fall into it.I turned—once, twice, three times—the pirouettes controlled, fluid, a perfect balance between strength and grace.“Breathe through the movement, Audrey. Control.”Elena’s voice rang in my mind, guiding me.A leap.A series of jetes, each one soaring, defying gravity.The room was silent. They were
MICHELL POVThe moment Audrey’s name was called for second place, the auditorium erupted in cheers. And yet, for a split second, my world had gone utterly silent. My hands tightened around the edge of my seat as I watched her step forward, her expression unreadable, her body still trembling from exertion. She had given everything out there on that stage. Every movement, every breath had been filled with the kind of raw passion that left the audience breathless. And me? I could barely sit still. A slow exhale left my lips as pride swelled in my chest, so potent it almost hurt. “She was magnificent,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. Beside me, Amelia was practically bouncing in her seat, clapping so enthusiastically it was a wonder her hands weren’t sore. “I told you she’d make it! I told you!” Her grin was wide, her excitement bubbling over. “Did you see the way she moved? I swear, it was like she wasn’t even touching the ground!” I had seen it. I had seen e
AUDREY POV.Victor was gone. I stood still, my fingers tracing the smooth edges of the photograph he had given me. It was perfect. A frozen moment in time—my body suspended mid-air, arms outstretched, strength and grace woven into a single movement. My throat tightened. Victor had always been unreadable, distant in ways I couldn’t quite decipher, but this… this was thoughtful. Meaningful. A part of me wanted to hold onto that moment, but I could feel their stares—Lisa’s expectant smirk, Amelia’s bubbling excitement, Michell’s unreadable yet intense gaze. And Ethan… I swallowed, my fingers curling slightly around the picture before tucking it away. Trevor suddenly clapped his hands together, breaking the silence. “Alright, now that we’ve had our sentimental moment—food? Because I’m starving.” Lisa rolled her eyes. “You’re always starving.” He grinned. “Yeah, and?” A small chuckle slipped past my lips despite everything. The tension eased just a little, the moment bec
MICHELL POVI shut the door behind me, locking out the world. I could feel the heat of the call against my chest before I even answered.Private Number.The only calls I received from a private number were from one person—the investigator I had hired.I exhaled sharply, then finally pressed the phone to my ear. “Talk.”The investigator didn’t waste time. “I got into the accident records like you asked.” His voice was low, deliberate. “And you were right.”My fingers curled around the edge of my desk.“The official report claimed it was a brake failure,” he continued. “The car lost control, spun off the road, and crashed into the ravine. But here’s the thing—there was no real investigation. Everything was rushed. Too clean. Too perfect.”My throat felt tight.I had read that report a hundred times. Had memorized every line.Faulty brakes. Instant impact. No survivors.But I never believed it. Not for a second.“Go on.”There was a pause, like he was choosing his words carefully. “There
AUDREY POVAs soon as Michell walked out the door, the air in the room shifted. It was subtle—like the lingering warmth from a fire that had just been extinguished. I let out a breath I hadn’t even realized I was holding, my fingers curling around my cup. “Don’t just focus on outshining her. Focus on being better than you were yesterday.”His words echoed in my mind, sinking deeper than I expected them to. I wasn’t intimidated by Gina. …Was I? I stared at the smooth surface of my coffee, watching the faint ripples from where I had stirred it earlier. I had worked so hard to get here. I had clawed my way through pain, rejection, and doubt. I had sacrificed everything to dance. And yet— I could still hear the way Gina’s name was whispered through the crowd last night. The way their eyes followed her, expectant. The way she moved, like she knew she belonged on that stage. I gritted my teeth. No. I wouldn’t let self-doubt creep in. Not now. I pushed my chair back,
AUDREY POV.I couldn’t stop smiling as I touched my belly, feeling a sense of warmth and connection that seemed to grow with every passing day. It was strange, but in the best way possible. This baby—our baby—had already become such a huge part of my world, even before I had a chance to meet them. I couldn’t wait for the day when they’d be in my arms, but for now, I was content with the gentle movements, the little kicks, and the love that already filled me up inside.Michell was beside me every step of the way, and the love I saw in his eyes each time he looked at me was enough to make me feel like I could do anything. The planning for the wedding had been a whirlwind, but it was a beautiful chaos. Everyone was on board—Ethan, Lisa, Amelia—each of them supporting me, making me feel like I wasn’t alone in any of this. I chuckled softly to myself as I remembered the weird cravings. Sometimes they were so odd, even I couldn’t believe what I was asking for. The other day, I had sent
MICHELL POV.The days after Audrey told me about the pregnancy felt like they were moving at a dizzying speed, but with each passing moment, I found myself growing more and more excited. It was a strange combination of fear and joy—a blend of emotions I hadn’t expected. But one thing I knew for sure: this was happening. And I couldn’t be more ready.Ethan was the first person I wanted to tell. He had always been my sounding board, the one I went to for advice. And now, with everything changing, I knew I needed his support more than ever. So, I called him up one evening after dinner, my voice steady but a little too eager. I could hardly contain the news anymore.“Hey, Ethan,” I said, trying to sound casual, but the excitement was practically bubbling over. “I need to tell you something. Can you meet up?”There was a brief pause on the other end, followed by Ethan’s usual laid-back tone. “Of course, man. What’s up?”“I—uh—well, Audrey and I…” I let the words trail off, feeling a mix
AUDREY POV.I held onto Michell as if I could somehow wrap my arms around the whole world in that one moment. There was something so surreal about it, like time had stopped just for us. The air felt thicker, full of everything I had ever wanted, yet never truly believed I deserved.Michell and I had been through so much, had lived through the ups and downs that tested the very foundation of who we were. We’d fought our way back from uncertainty, built something that felt more real than anything I had ever known before. Yet here we were, standing in the middle of a dream—one that I wasn’t sure I could have even imagined until this moment.As I looked at him, his eyes were still shining with that quiet joy, and I saw something else in them, something deeper than I had ever seen before. He wasn’t just happy because of the proposal. No, this was a sense of peace, of certainty. A quiet understanding that he knew exactly what he wanted in this life—and that was me.And I knew, in that
MICHELL POV.The sound of laughter filled the room as Ethan and I clinked our glasses together, the amber liquid catching the light of the late afternoon sun. It had been a good day—nothing special, just two guys sitting in the living room, talking about life. It felt like the first time in ages that things had slowed down to a pace I could enjoy.“Man, I’m telling you, life is different when you’re not always running from something,” Ethan said, leaning back on the couch, his hand cradling his drink as he looked over at me with that familiar half-smile of his.I chuckled. “I hear you. I spent half my life running—sometimes, it feels like I’m just starting to figure out how to stand still.”Ethan nodded, his gaze thoughtful. “Yeah, it’s strange, isn’t it? Everything’s changed so fast.”After a few moments, I cleared my throat, breaking the silence.“Hey, Ethan,” I started, my voice a little more serious than usual. “I’ve been thinking.”Ethan looked up from his beer, raising an eyebr
AUDREY POV.The court proceedings felt like a distant memory now, the courtroom and the judgment barely leaving a mark on me anymore. Evelyn had been sentenced to thirty years, but even that didn't bring the closure I thought it would. Somehow, what she'd done to me still hung in the air. But in the quiet moments that followed, I could feel something shifting inside me, as if the fog was slowly lifting, bit by bit.I’d spent the next few days with Ethan, moving through the motions, trying to piece myself together. There was a sense of calm, but also something delicate—like I could break at any moment if I wasn't careful.Ethan was always there, steady and patient. And somehow, in his presence, I started to feel like I wasn't alone anymore. The pieces of me that felt lost began to click into place.It wasn’t just him, though. Michell, Amelia and Lisa too. They had been so supportive. One morning, as we were all seated in the living area, Lisa spoke. Amelia had gone to school, but n
AUDREY POV.The days after Evelyn’s arrest felt like they belonged to someone else. A strange, dizzying blur of noise and silence, filled with questions I couldn't answer, and memories that still stung like fresh wounds. But somehow, I had to breathe through it all.Ethan had been there—steady and unwavering, like the one constant in the chaos. We had spent hours together, just the two of us. His words were like soft blankets wrapping around the rawness inside me. Ethan and I sat in the garden that morning, the sun barely rising but casting soft golden light over everything. It felt like it was just the two of us, the world far away, as he spoke.“You know,” he said, his voice soft but sure, “no wonder I liked you the moment we met.”I frowned, looking up at him. “What do you mean?”Ethan’s lips twisted into a small, self-deprecating smile. “I couldn't put it together back then. It was like I knew you… but from somewhere else. I should have realized.”I took a deep breath, trying to
AUDREY POV.Ethan’s voice was barely a whisper, but it sliced through the air like a blade. “You’re telling me… it was my uncle?”Evelyn’s body sagged as if the truth was physically tearing her apart. Her lips trembled. “Matt… Matt wanted both you and Sophia gone. He was afraid they’d ruin everything.”“What the hell are you talking about?” Ethan’s voice cracked, a mix of confusion and horror. “Why would he—?”“Because he wanted your father’s properties!” Evelyn cried. “So, he wanted to get rid of both of you.”The room was spinning. My breath came in shallow bursts. My knees nearly buckled under me, and I clung to the wall like it was the only thing holding me upright. “What are you saying?” I whispered. “Who was she?”Evelyn looked at me then—really looked at me. And what I saw there made my blood run cold. It wasn’t the cold stare of the woman I’d called Mother all my life. It was something different. Something broken. She stepped forward, trembling, her voice hoarse.“You were So
AUDREY POV.“Evelyn?” Ethan's voice sliced through the tense air. It wasn’t a question—it was an accusation.“Evelyn?” I echoed, my voice barely a whisper as I tried to process the flood of emotions rushing through me. My gaze darted between Ethan and my mother, whose body had frozen.She turned slowly, her eyes locking with Ethan’s for the briefest moment. In that fleeting instant, I saw it—a flash of something that wasn’t just anger, but something much darker. Fear. But as quickly as it appeared, it was gone, leaving behind only the mask of defiance she always wore.Before anyone could react, she made a desperate move—jerking violently against the grip of the security guards holding her. Her eyes widened in sheer panic, and for a split second, I saw the wild, primal look of someone on the edge of losing control.“Hold her!” one of the guards barked, his grip tightening around her arm as he fought to keep her still.She was cornered now, her frantic eyes scanning the surroundings
AUDREY POV.That night, after everything, as I finally lay down to sleep, my mind couldn't seem to settle.The day’s events replayed over and over, but it wasn't long before exhaustion took over, pulling me into a deep slumber.The dream came again. The one I’d had so many times before. It was always the same—gentle, comforting. A man’s voice, low and warm, calling me beautiful names, followed by a woman’s melodic tone, soft but so loving, calling me something sweet, something precious. Their words were a lullaby, one I never wanted to wake from.Then there was the boy, the same boy from every dream. A little, golden-haired boy, swinging me in the air. His laughter would echo, sweet and innocent, as the swing creaked with each push. The breeze would tangle my hair, and I’d feel weightless, carefree. For a moment, everything was calm, perfect even. But then something shifted. For the first time, I wasn’t just watching. I was part of the dream. I was the one dancing. My body moved i