(Thomas)The office felt different. Maybe it was me who’d changed, but everything about this place, the familiar beige walls, the hum of computers, and the scent of stale coffee seemed sharper, almost too vivid, like I was seeing it through a lens that exaggerated every detail. I could feel my pulse pounding in my throat as I walked in, wondering how long it would take before someone mentioned it. What do you even say to a man whose wife was kidnapped?It had become a public spectacle and I had tried my best to keep Lydia away from the vitriol that people were still saying about us when we were not the ones at fault. Nathan’s trial had been postponed probably so that the media attention could die down a bit. The trial was not going to be public anymore because there was a lot of people’s interest and it would be better for the victims that everything remained in the court.Lydia and I had discussed how to proceed in the quiet of the night and had come to the conclusion that she won’
(Lydia)The mansion was quiet, still, almost too empty for my comfort. I wandered from room to room, trying to settle into some kind of calm, but restlessness had wrapped itself around me, making it impossible to relax. Thomas was at the office, and Mabel and Miles were at preschool, their laughter and chaos temporarily absent. I glanced at the kitchen clock. Only a few hours until they would be home, but right now, time seemed to stretch on endlessly.Usually, in moments like these, I would check social media, browse through photos, or catch up on whatever the world was up to. But after everything that had happened with Nathan and the press, I’d cut myself off from that world. It was a relief in some ways, but in moments like this, the silence grew too loud. My thoughts drifted to Mama, who was at the hospital right now for her chemotherapy. The treatments had taken such a toll on her. Each time I saw her, she looked more tired, more fragile. She’d tried to assure me that she was fi
(Thomas)The dream was so vivid that it took a few seconds for reality to settle back in. My heart was pounding, my chest tight, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe. I sat up, my eyes scanning the darkness, my hands gripping the sheets, half-expecting the nightmare to reach out and pull me under again. I could still feel the desperation from those last seconds of the dream, the way Lydia had disappeared into a crowd, her figure slipping further and further away no matter how fast I ran. I’d called her name, over and over, but she’d kept fading, like mist dissipating in the sun.I swung my legs over the side of the bed, rubbing my temples, trying to shake off the last tendrils of sleep. The house was quiet, bathed in a thin layer of moonlight that seeped in through the windows. I glanced over to Lydia’s side of the bed, instinctively reaching out. The emptiness hit me with a hollow pang.I immediately threw on a sweatshirt and made my way through the hallway, the familiar creaks unde
(Ruby)I hated that I wasn’t with Lydia when she was going through such a horrible time, but there were some things I had to care about as well.I stood in the middle of the mostly empty living room, glancing around at the stacks of boxes scattered everywhere. My new apartment was modest but charming, with a sunlit kitchen and a little balcony where I could set up a small herb garden. For the first time in months, I felt a sense of calm I hadn’t realized I was missing. Adam was lugging another box through the door, setting it down with a dramatic sigh before wiping his brow with the back of his hand."Honestly, Ruby," he said, breathing heavily, "Do you really need this many books?"I laughed, rolling my eyes, “They’re essential, Adam. Imagine living here without them!”He gave me a mock-scowl, “You say that now, but wait until you realize that I’m your only bookshelf.”"Fair enough," I grinned. He’d been jokingly griping since he’d arrived, but he’d been a saint through all of this.
(Jack)I leaned back in my office chair, looking over the cityscape outside my window. My mind was barely registering the high-rise buildings and the stream of cars below; all I could focus on was Thomas. He’d been through the wringer lately, and I’d noticed it each time he walked through the doors of this office. His usual confidence and unbreakable energy were still there, but faded, as if he were carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.I’d seen him come in that morning, his gaze distant, his movements slower than usual. Thomas had always had this way of seeming invincible, untouchable even. I never thought I'd see him this worn down. Sure, he was handling it, or at least trying to. But every now and then, there was this moment, like a crack in his armor, a glimpse that maybe he was exhausted, worn out from dealing with more than even he could handle.My phone buzzed on my desk, pulling me from my thoughts. I looked at the screen: Lydia.I picked up, hoping she might be
(Ruby)I strolled through the empty storefront, imagining my vision filling the blank walls, the open floors. It was almost perfect: lots of natural light, big front windows, and space that I could easily picture filled with the racks of carefully curated pieces I’d spent months collecting. The boutique was so close to becoming a reality that I could practically feel the fabric under my fingers, smell the new paint, hear the bell above the door ringing as customers walked in.But still, a part of me felt oddly disconnected, as if I was floating somewhere between excitement and doubt. It had nothing to do with the space itself, this was a beautiful location, and I could see it working. No, it was something inside me, a restlessness I couldn’t quite name. And if I was being honest with myself, I knew exactly where it came from.As I wandered through the back rooms, considering where I’d set up a little office, my phone buzzed. I glanced down and saw Adam’s name. A slight smile tugged a
(Lydia)I jolted awake, drenched in cold sweat, my heart pounding so loudly I could almost hear it in the stillness of the room. Disoriented, I took a deep, shuddering breath, forcing myself to remember where I was. The nightmare had been vivid with Nathan’s face looming, his voice dripping with threat, his hands reaching out, trapping me again in that dark, isolated room. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to dispel the memory of his grip, the suffocating feeling of helplessness. But as the remnants of fear began to fade, I realized something else: Thomas wasn’t in bed.It didn’t take long to guess where he was. Sighing, I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and tiptoed downstairs. The living room was cloaked in shadow, and there he was, just as I’d thought, sprawled on the couch, his head drooping to the side, looking like he’d sat down “just for a moment” and then succumbed to exhaustion. I leaned against the doorway, watching him for a moment, a familiar ache settling in my ches
(Thomas)I leaned back in my chair, absently twisting a pen between my fingers, my thoughts still tangled up in last night’s conversation with Lydia. Her worry clung to me, sharper than I wanted to admit. She wasn’t wrong, I hadn’t been sleeping well. But I had everything under control. Or, at least, that’s what I kept telling myself.It wasn’t the first time Lydia had suggested therapy. I knew she thought I was pushing too hard, spreading myself too thin, that I was letting the weight of everything crush me. She could see the cracks, even when I tried to hide them. And maybe she was right, maybe I was fighting to keep my grip on things. But therapy? I wasn’t sure I was ready for that. Or even that it would help.The tension of our talk had settled into me like an ache I couldn’t shake off. Lydia was hurting, too. Nathan’s threats, the media, the endless questions, none of it was easy for her, and it showed. The thought of her suffering alone left me feeling...helpless. But I couldn’t
(Thomas)The last time I saw Jack, he was deflecting my questions about what had happened to leave him injured and refusing any professional help. Typical Jack, always shielding others from his chaos, carrying the weight of his decisions like a stubborn mule. I knocked firmly on his apartment door, which was closed this time, knowing he’d hear the sound even through the thick, industrial-style door. After a moment, the door creaked open. Jack stood there, shirtless, a fresh bandage wrapped around his side. He looked tired but not beaten. That was my brother, gritty, relentless, and unyielding even when life knocked him down.“Thomas,” he greeted with a nod, stepping aside to let me in, “Didn’t expect you to drop by.”“Clearly,” I replied, gesturing to his appearance, “You could’ve at least put on a shirt for the occasion.”He smirked faintly, closing the door behind me. Jack’s apartment was neat but lived-in, a mix of modern decor and personal touches that reflected Jack’s no-nonsen
(Lydia)The morning passed quietly, but my mind was anything but still. Talking to Mama in the garden earlier had eased some of the heaviness pressing down on my chest, but it hadn’t erased it entirely. It felt like smoothing a wrinkle in fabric only to have another one pop up. There were so many reasons for my hesitance, and the biggest one gnawed at me: I hadn’t told Thomas. I could still see his face from last night, relaxed and content, the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled at me over dinner. It had been a perfect evening, something we hadn’t shared in a long time. I hadn’t wanted to taint it with this...complication. But now, the silence I’d kept about Clara weighed on me like a stone. I stirred my coffee absently at the kitchen counter, staring out at the bright day outside. Mabel and Miles were at preschool, their laughter and chatter missing from the house, leaving it quieter than usual. Thomas had kissed me on the forehead before leaving for work, his expression one of
(Thomas)The faint hum of my office phone was drowned out by the stack of emails I had been working through since the moment I arrived at work. The buzz of productivity was always welcome, a way to focus my mind, especially after the whirlwind of emotions from last night. The date with Lydia had been everything I hoped it would be, a moment of calm amid the chaos. I found myself smiling as I clicked through a report, her laughter from last night still echoing in my mind. It had been a while since I’d seen her truly happy, her guard down, and it reminded me of why I fought so hard to protect what we had built together. My cell phone vibrated on the desk, breaking my thoughts. I glanced at the screen: Aiden. That name always brought a mix of feelings. Reassurance, because he was a solid ally, and apprehension, because his calls often came with heavy news. I picked up, leaning back in my chair, "Aiden, what’s the update?" His voice was steady but carried an edge, like a surgeon
(Adeline)The front garden was always my favorite place to sit, especially in the morning. The air carried a crisp freshness, and the soft rustle of leaves felt like nature’s whisper of reassurance. Today, I felt lighter, less weighed down by the fog of fatigue that had wrapped around me since the surgery. A week had passed, and though I knew there was still a long road ahead, scans, radiotherapy, and who knew what else, I was grateful for small mercies like this. Lydia sat beside me, her posture relaxed but her eyes distant. She should have been glowing after her date with Thomas last night; I’d seen her excitement all day leading up to it. Yet, there was something off about her today, a subtle undercurrent of worry she couldn’t quite hide. I reached over and patted her hand, drawing her out of her thoughts, “You seem troubled, my dear. What’s on your mind?” She blinked, then gave me a soft smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes, “Nothing to worry about, Mama. Just…think
(Margaret)The mansion was quiet, its grand halls and rooms bathed in moonlight, but I was still awake, as I often was these days. Sleep came sparingly. I’d taken to wandering the mansion late at night, a habit born of restlessness and regret. Tonight, I found myself seated in the parlor, nursing a lukewarm cup of tea, when I heard the faint creak of the front door. Ruby. Her steps were light but purposeful, and as she crossed into the hallway, I caught a glimpse of her face. She looked lost in thought, her brow furrowed, her lips pressed into a thin line. There was something about her expression that tugged at me, a pang I couldn’t quite place but that settled uncomfortably in my chest. “Ruby,” I called gently, my voice cutting through the stillness. She froze for a moment, her back to me, before turning slightly, her posture tense. Her eyes met mine briefly, a flicker of something unreadable passing through them, before she resumed her stride, heading toward the staircase.
(Jack)The room was bathed in the muted glow of the television, the credits of the movie rolling silently on the screen. Ruby lay beside me, her head resting lightly against my shoulder, her breathing slow and even as she slept. I didn’t dare move. Instead, I let my gaze linger on her, taking in the soft lines of her face, the way her lashes rested against her cheeks, the slight rise and fall of her chest. Her hair framed her face, catching the dim light in a way that made her look almost ethereal. I shouldn’t be doing this, shouldn’t let myself get caught up in the illusion. But in that moment, it felt impossible not to. For years, this apartment had been a space I’d tried to keep void of emotion, a place where I could compartmentalize my life, separate work from personal chaos. But Ruby had changed that. When she’d been here, this place had felt alive, warm. And now, with her asleep beside me, it felt like a dream I didn’t want to wake up from.My mind wandered back to the few
(Ruby)I stood outside Jack’s apartment door, my hand hesitating over the knocker. I shouldn’t be here. I’d already done more than enough, stitched him up, watching him avoid my questions like he always did. But despite every logical reason to stay away, I was here. Because this wasn’t just anyone, it was Jack. The Jack who had once made me laugh so hard I cried, who had shared countless quiet evenings with me in this very apartment. The Jack who, despite all the hurt and chaos, still managed to make my heart skip a beat when I thought of him. I pressed my lips together, pushing the memories aside. This wasn’t about rekindling anything; it was about making sure he was okay. He had shown up at my door injured and vulnerable, and no matter how much time had passed or how complicated things had gotten, I couldn’t ignore that. Taking a deep breath, I knocked. When Jack opened the door, his surprise was clear, though he quickly masked it with that practiced cool demeanor of his.
(Jack)I sat on the edge of my couch, staring at the bandage on my side, frustration boiling just beneath the surface. The room was quiet, save for the faint hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen. The family doctor had left about an hour ago after re-dressing my wound. He was efficient and professional, as always, and I appreciated the care. But damn it, why hadn’t I thought to call him in the first place? The moment I got injured, my instincts hadn’t pointed me toward practicality or logic. No, instead, I’d ended up at Ruby’s apartment, bloodied and in desperate need of stitches. I didn’t even remember the exact route I’d taken to get there, just that I had. Like my brain had been hardwired to seek her out, even when it made no sense. It embarrassed me now. Ruby had been nothing but calm and steady as she stitched me up, but I could tell how unsettled she was underneath that brave exterior. And I’d put her in that position, dragged her into something she had no business being
(Lydia)The drive back to the mansion felt electric, charged with an energy I couldn’t quite put into words. Thomas’s hand rested on my thigh as he navigated the quiet streets, his fingers brushing gently against my skin. Neither of us said much; the connection between us was palpable without needing words. By the time we reached the house and stepped through the door, it was as if the air around us crackled with anticipation. Ruby had left a note on the counter saying the kids were asleep and she’d see us tomorrow. I smiled, grateful for her support, but my focus was entirely on Thomas. As soon as the door to our bedroom clicked shut behind us, it was like a dam broke. His lips were on mine in an instant, hot and urgent, pulling me into him as if the space between us was unbearable. My hands found their way to his shoulders, then his hair, as I pressed closer, feeling the hard lines of his body against mine. “Lydia,” he murmured, his voice low and thick with desire. I didn’t