Logan reynolds I can’t believe what the fuck I just witnessed. Fred and Kendrick?Kendrick—the same Kendrick who shows up in matching outfits with Amirah and calls her “my queen” like he’s a damn Disney prince. Fred—the groom. The actual groom. I stand there for a second, stunned, barely registering the tightness in my jaw or the blood rushing in my ears. The sound of Viola’s heels hitting the tiled hallway is the only thing that pulls me back.I follow her in silence. Her shoulders are stiff. The light from the chandeliers bounces off her hair, and I want to say something to make this easier, but there’s nothing easy about what we just saw.She stops suddenly and turns to face me. Her lips part like she’s about to say one thing, but what comes out is quieter than I expect. “How am I supposed to tell Amirah about this?”Her voice cracks. Just barely. But I hear it.I step closer, lower my tone. “Calm down. Maybe… maybe we should let Kendrick tell her himself.”Viola’s eyes flick
Viola McCoy I stand in the hallway, frozen under the weight of all their eyes. Their whispers gather around us. Everyone is trying to piece together what they just heard. What they were never supposed to hear. Susan’s gone, ran off in her heels. A few others trail after her like sheep who don’t know if they should grieve or gossip. I don’t even know what to do. I don’t even know what to feel.I slip away while no one’s watching. My heels echo in the corridor as I walk. Logan’s close behind me. I don’t even turn to look at him—I can feel him in my bones.“Viola,” he says gently. “Are you okay?”I stop and look at him. His brows are drawn, jaw tight, eyes soft. I want to say yes. I want to tell him that I’m fine, that I can handle this, that tonight hasn’t broken me—but I can’t lie. Not to him. Not to myself.“I just… I need to be alone, Logan,” I whisper. My voice cracks on the last word.He shifts on his feet like he’s deciding whether to fight me on it. I can see it on his face
Logan Reynolds It’s almost 2 a.m. and no one’s sleeping. Not really. Not when a wedding has just gone up in flames.The lounge is still lit. A few people are around Susan, draped over her like a shroud of sympathy but I know none of it is real. Her mascara is smudged, cheeks blotchy, but she’s nodding at every comforting word like she hears them. She doesn’t. She’s somewhere else entirely.Fred’s vanished, of course. Gone the second the truth hit the air. I’d bet money he’s holed up in some closet or stairwell with a flask and a shattered ego.Julian’s pacing the lounge like a man with something to prove. His fists keep clenching like he’s imagining what he’d do if he got his hands on Fred. “I’ll kill him,” he keeps muttering. “I swear to God, I’ll fucking kill him.”He won’t. We all know he won’t. That guy doesn’t have the guts to kill a spider, let alone a man. But it makes him feel like a protector, like he still has a role to play in all this.I lean against the pillar ne
Logan Reynolds “It’s not what you’re—”Before I can finish the damn sentence, Julian lunges.His fist connects with my jaw hard enough to snap my head sideways. I stumble back, hitting the wall with a dull thud. The taste of copper floods my mouth, bitter and metallic. My vision blurs for a second, and all I see is the rage in his eyes—the way his chest heaves, his fists clenched like he’s been waiting for this moment for a long time.I blink. My body reacts before I think. My own fist cracks forward, clean and fast, and lands square against his cheek. He crashes down to the floor like deadweight, groaning. There’s shouting now. Chaos. A couple of the other guys at the party try to hold me back, one of them grabbing my shoulder, but I shrug him off.Julian pushes himself halfway up, his lip split, and yells through blood-stained teeth, “You want her? Take her. She was never worth it anyway.”The words hit harder than his punch. For a second, it’s like time just… stalls. The hallwa
Viola McCoyMy head is pounding as my eyes flutter open. Light filters through the curtains in soft golden streaks. My mouth tastes stale, and there's a dull ache at the base of my skull, pulsing in rhythm with my heartbeat. It takes me a moment to piece together where I am, why I’m here, and why my chest feels so heavy. I sit up slowly, the world tilting for a second before it steadies. The room smells faintly of cologne—Logan’s cologne. That clean, masculine scent still lingers in the air like he never left. He brought me back last night. That part I remember. His arms around me, solid and warm. The way I melted into his chest.My gaze shifts, and I freeze.Julian stands by the dresser in a crisp white suit and tie, straightening his cuffs. His reflection in the mirror is calm, almost pleased. Like nothing happened. Like everything is fine.My mouth is dry as I ask, “Where are you going?”He turns, adjusting his tie, eyes unreadable. “You’re awake?”I nod, my stomach churning w
Viola McCoy Viola McCoy I put on the last piece of jewelry—the gold earrings Julian’s mother gave me on my wedding day. They catch the light as I tuck a loose curl behind my ear. My reflection stares back at me from the vanity mirror. The warm, amber lights of the hotel bathroom halo me in a flattering glow. My skin looks smooth and my eyes are lined just enough. My lips, glossed in a muted berry pink, are parted slightly. There’s a quiet beauty in how still I am.My dress hugs me in all the right places—sleek, satin, pearl white. I breathe in, let the air fill my lungs and steel my nerves. Game face on.Time for Plan A.The hall is already bustling with sound and light. Strings of fairy lights line the high ceilings and a string quartet plays something classical that I don’t recognize. The scent of roses and candles curls through the air. Everything looks stunning. Beautiful. Fake. Just like this whole damn day.I spot Julian’s mother, Cicily, easily talking to a waiter near
Viola McCoy The air in the room is heavy as I stare down at the blinking keypad.Three attempts left.Julian’s birthday. I whisper the numbers as Logan types them in, his brows furrowed. Zero-three, zero-eight, nineteen-ninety-one.The safe blinks red.Incorrect."Okay," I say, exhaling through my nose"Try her birthday—Cicily’s."He doesn’t hesitate. Zero-four, zero-five, nineteen-sixty-seven.Another shrill beep.Incorrect.“Shit,” he mutters under his breath, stepping back, raking a hand through his hair. I can tell he’s trying not to panic. So am I. We’re one step away from everything falling apart. One more wrong guess and we set off an alert. Cicily will know. She’ll know someone’s been in her room.I squeeze my eyes shut, pushing past the panic curling up my spine. What’s something she’d never expect anyone to guess but would still be important enough to remember?Then Susan’s voice from earlier, comes back to me.“She monitors everything I do.”Of course.I blink open my e
Logan Reynolds The music swells again. We’re back under the glaring chandeliers, under the eyes of people too bored or too fake to notice that the bride and groom are practically trembling with each step.Susan is clutching Fred’s arm like a lifeline. He’s holding her steady, smiling through gritted teeth, and I can see the muscles in his jaw ticking from across the aisle. Viola walks just ahead of them in a sea-green satin gown, graceful, poised, like she hasn’t just broken into a safe and helped orchestrate an escape.Me? I’m the one trying not to bleed on my tie.We’ve rehearsed this. The plan is simple: walk them up the aisle, make it look like everything is peachy and proper, then slip out one by one. Cake-cutting distraction, kitchen route, maintenance exit. Freedom.And for a moment, it’s working.People rise from their chairs, a murmur of admiration sweeping across the ballroom. Phones flash. Cicily’s voice floats somewhere in the background. No one notices that Fred and S
Logan Reynolds Viola breaks down in the hallway.It happens so fast, it’s like watching someone snap from the inside out—quiet, brittle, then crumbling all at once. Her knees hit the carpet like she doesn’t feel the pain, and her hands tremble as they cover her face. I watch her whole body heave, like the sobs are ripping their way out from somewhere deep inside her, places I’ve only ever guessed at.I want to kill him.My fists are still tight, still itching for his throat. I’ve never wanted to end someone the way I want to end Julian right now. But I can’t think like that. Not with her here. Not with her shaking like she’s barely holding on.I kneel beside her. “Vi…” My voice is low.She doesn’t look at me, doesn’t stop crying.I touch her shoulder gently. “Do you want to go to the hospital?”She shakes her head immediately. “No.”Her voice is hoarse. Fragile. I hear the no, but I still hesitate. My gut says she should be looked at—physically, emotionally—but her eyes dart up
Viola McCoy When I wake up, I feel like I’ve been hit by a train.My body aches in places I didn’t know could hurt. My mouth is dry, my head is heavy, and every bone feels like it’s bruised with exhaustion. The room is pitch dark, but I can see the outline of the heavy curtains drawn shut. There’s a bitter, metallic taste on my tongue, and when I shift to sit up, my back protests in sharp pulses of pain.I glance at the clock.2:03 a.m. Three hours of sleep. That’s all. It feels like I’ve lived an entire lifetime since sunset. My skin feels clammy. I press a hand to my chest, trying to steady the thudding panic that’s settled.And then—The door creaks open.I freeze.The light flips on, flooding the room in a sudden wash of yellow. My eyes squint against it, and I blink up at the silhouette standing in the doorway.Julian.His jaw is tight. Eyes narrowed. His fists clenched at his sides like he walked here straight out of a fight—and maybe, in his head, he did.“What the f
Viola McCoy I slam the door behind me and lock it.My back hits the wood, and I slide to the floor like I’ve been shot in the chest. The sob that escapes me is raw and sudden, like it’s been sitting in my throat for years just waiting for a chance to scream its way out.The room is dim—one of the guest suites with golden wallpaper. The bed’s still made. The lights are off except for the lamp in the corner. It smells like polished furniture and roses. I pull my knees to my chest.And then I cry.I cry like my body’s collapsing inward. Like every ounce of strength I’ve faked for years is melting out of me and I can’t stop it. It’s not even graceful. It’s ugly, heaving, snotty, shoulder-shaking grief. The kind that steals your breath and leaves your chest hollow.I cover my mouth with my hand to muffle the sounds, but I don’t think anyone’s listening.Good.Let them have their damn cake-covered disaster. Let them stand there stunned while I fall apart in peace.My cheek still sti
Logan Reynolds Viola’s fallen asleep beside me now.She’s curled against my shoulder, hair brushing my chin, one hand resting gently on my chest. Her breath comes in soft little waves. I haven’t moved in the past twenty minutes, afraid I’ll wake her.I want her.Not just in the way a man wants a woman. I want all of her. Her laughter. Her temper. Her soft heart. Her overthinking. Her fears. Her strength. I want her in the middle of a crowded street. I want her in silence like this. I want her in the worst chaos and the slowest mornings.But I don’t have her. Not really. Not yet.And every part of me wonders when the hell she’s finally going to walk out of that lifeless marriage and choose us. Choose me.A noise snaps me out of the thought.It starts low—a burst of raised voices from outside the door. Then it spikes.“FIND THEM!” Julian’s voice cuts through the hallway like a blade. Sharp. Frantic. Furious.I freeze.Viola stirs a little but doesn’t wake. I stay completely still, b
Viola McCoy My heart’s pounding as we near the ballroom doors. Susan and Fred are gone. Kendrick too. And I should be relieved, but all I feel is this rush of nerves flooding my chest like carbonation, bubbling, biting, impossible to contain.We’re almost there, just steps away from pretending everything’s normal again, when I reach out and touch Amirah’s arm.“You go in first,” I murmur.She glances at me, confused. Her lashes are still damp. She blinks, then nods and smooths her gown like she’s putting on armor. She disappears through the door.I grab Logan’s hand and tug him down another hallway, away from the light and noise. My heels echo against the marble, click-clack, click-clack, but my steps are shaky. My palms are sweating. There’s an ache forming behind my ribs that feels too much like guilt.I find an unused lounge tucked behind a staircase. The lighting is soft. There’s a velvet armchair in one corner and a low credenza stocked with first aid. Cicily keeps this pl
Logan Reynolds The music swells again. We’re back under the glaring chandeliers, under the eyes of people too bored or too fake to notice that the bride and groom are practically trembling with each step.Susan is clutching Fred’s arm like a lifeline. He’s holding her steady, smiling through gritted teeth, and I can see the muscles in his jaw ticking from across the aisle. Viola walks just ahead of them in a sea-green satin gown, graceful, poised, like she hasn’t just broken into a safe and helped orchestrate an escape.Me? I’m the one trying not to bleed on my tie.We’ve rehearsed this. The plan is simple: walk them up the aisle, make it look like everything is peachy and proper, then slip out one by one. Cake-cutting distraction, kitchen route, maintenance exit. Freedom.And for a moment, it’s working.People rise from their chairs, a murmur of admiration sweeping across the ballroom. Phones flash. Cicily’s voice floats somewhere in the background. No one notices that Fred and S
Viola McCoy The air in the room is heavy as I stare down at the blinking keypad.Three attempts left.Julian’s birthday. I whisper the numbers as Logan types them in, his brows furrowed. Zero-three, zero-eight, nineteen-ninety-one.The safe blinks red.Incorrect."Okay," I say, exhaling through my nose"Try her birthday—Cicily’s."He doesn’t hesitate. Zero-four, zero-five, nineteen-sixty-seven.Another shrill beep.Incorrect.“Shit,” he mutters under his breath, stepping back, raking a hand through his hair. I can tell he’s trying not to panic. So am I. We’re one step away from everything falling apart. One more wrong guess and we set off an alert. Cicily will know. She’ll know someone’s been in her room.I squeeze my eyes shut, pushing past the panic curling up my spine. What’s something she’d never expect anyone to guess but would still be important enough to remember?Then Susan’s voice from earlier, comes back to me.“She monitors everything I do.”Of course.I blink open my e
Viola McCoy Viola McCoy I put on the last piece of jewelry—the gold earrings Julian’s mother gave me on my wedding day. They catch the light as I tuck a loose curl behind my ear. My reflection stares back at me from the vanity mirror. The warm, amber lights of the hotel bathroom halo me in a flattering glow. My skin looks smooth and my eyes are lined just enough. My lips, glossed in a muted berry pink, are parted slightly. There’s a quiet beauty in how still I am.My dress hugs me in all the right places—sleek, satin, pearl white. I breathe in, let the air fill my lungs and steel my nerves. Game face on.Time for Plan A.The hall is already bustling with sound and light. Strings of fairy lights line the high ceilings and a string quartet plays something classical that I don’t recognize. The scent of roses and candles curls through the air. Everything looks stunning. Beautiful. Fake. Just like this whole damn day.I spot Julian’s mother, Cicily, easily talking to a waiter near
Viola McCoyMy head is pounding as my eyes flutter open. Light filters through the curtains in soft golden streaks. My mouth tastes stale, and there's a dull ache at the base of my skull, pulsing in rhythm with my heartbeat. It takes me a moment to piece together where I am, why I’m here, and why my chest feels so heavy. I sit up slowly, the world tilting for a second before it steadies. The room smells faintly of cologne—Logan’s cologne. That clean, masculine scent still lingers in the air like he never left. He brought me back last night. That part I remember. His arms around me, solid and warm. The way I melted into his chest.My gaze shifts, and I freeze.Julian stands by the dresser in a crisp white suit and tie, straightening his cuffs. His reflection in the mirror is calm, almost pleased. Like nothing happened. Like everything is fine.My mouth is dry as I ask, “Where are you going?”He turns, adjusting his tie, eyes unreadable. “You’re awake?”I nod, my stomach churning w