CHARLOTTE I pulled away from Caeson, stumbling back in the tight space, my hands clutched against my chest. My heart was racing, and my mind spun as I stared at him, taking in every small detail. His hair was shorter now, buzzed down to the scalp, and the similarity to Taide was so striking that
CHARLOTTEEvery second I spent in the car alone with him left me feeling like there wasn’t enough oxygen.My jaw was locked tight in anger, in absolute dismay and hatred for my current situation. Inhaling brought all the memories back to the forefront of my mind, the smell of him in the small space
CHARLOTTE I watched as Caeson marched up to the house, his steps heavy with purpose. I stayed in the car, my fingers gripping the steering wheel a little too tight. I needed a minute, just a moment to process everything. My mind was spinning with what had happened earlier. What did Caeson mean
CHARLOTTE Betrayal stung. I would know. But I didn’t want to jump to that conclusion. Not with Mads. At Taide’s words, I spun around on my heel, turning to fix her with a look. She was in on this? Her gaze shifted from Taide’s accusing glare aimed at her, wide, shaky eyes then turning to me
CHARLOTTE Charlotte. Breathe. “Charlotte, you need to believe that I wasn’t just trying to favor Caeson. I wouldn’t do that to you. I didn’t try to keep you away from Taide for malicious reasons.” I pulled my hands out of hers before turning away and pressing a hand to my forehead. “Char, let
CHARLOTTEI guessed it was enough, because finally, her grip around my wrist loosened.It took everything in me not to meet anyone’s eyes as I followed after Reigh, studying the tense lines of his broad back as he led me to wherever it was he was taking me.I wondered what exactly I was about to hea
CHARLOTTE I sat up a little straighter, now wondering how deep this story ran. “Why would you be betraying Caeson’s trust?” “Because I know things that he doesn’t want me to. Things he wouldn’t tell you if he were the one sitting here right now.” I shook my head, not getting it. “Madeline s
Reigh turned to look at me, giving me all his attention. His eyes softened under the moonlight, his eyebrows pulling together as he said, “I can’t do that to him, Char.” My lips parted. Couldn’t do what? Was he dying? Did he… murder someone? I thought of a different route, fishing for mor
CHARLOTTEI had no intention of sharing visiting hours with the boys.There was no reason to put myself through that kind of torment.The moment I found out Madeline was awake, I demanded that Caeson drop me off at the care home where I had left Da’ana. I wasn’t ready to deal with my father’s case,
TAIDEThe steady beeping of Madeline’s heart monitor was the only sound in the hospital room.The rhythmic pulse filled the silence, a reminder that she was still here, still breathing, still alive.But it didn’t feel like enough. Not when she lay there motionless, her skin pale against the crisp wh
The foundation still looked solid though.I stepped onto the creaky porch, staring at the front door.This was where Charlotte grew up.I felt something tighten in my throat. She probably had good memories here, but I knew the ones she remembered most were the bad ones.I couldn’t imagine what it wa
CAESONI killed the engine of the car and leaned back in my seat, exhaling slowly.It didn’t do anything to relieve the pressure in my chest. The air in the car was thick with silence, the kind that had weight, like it could smother you if you let it.Charlotte hadn’t moved yet. She sat in the back
Like we didn’t matter.My nails dug into my palms as memories slammed into me. I could still see it—the nights he reeked of alcohol, his head lolling to the side, completely oblivious to the fact that he had two daughters who needed him to pick himself up and be… more than the person he was choosing
CHARLOTTEThe car ride was too quiet.Too damn suffocating.The weight of everything that had happened in the span of a few hours pressed down on me—Madeline, the triplets, my father. My hands trembled against my lap, and I clenched them into fists for the umpteenth time, trying to force myself to f
It was only after the shock of silence that followed that I realized I’d spoken those words out loud. Dot gasped, reaching for me instantly, pulling me into an embrace. I didn’t expect it to be as comforting as it was. And so I didn’t fight her. She guided me to the steps outside the hospital, sitt
CHARLOTTE It felt like a slap to the face. The doctor’s words hit me so hard that I lost my footing. My knees wobbled, and before I could steady myself, the plastic cup in my hand slipped through my fingers and crashed onto the tiled floor. Water splashed across my shoes, soaking into the hem of m
CHARLOTTE The reality of the situation hit me with frightening clarity. Madeline was dying. I moved before I could think, panic exploding through my chest as I ran forward and fell to my knees beside her. My hands hovered uselessly, trembling as I tried to find something, anything, to hold o