“This is amazing,” I said, turning to Liam with a smile.He grinned back, his eyes twinkling. “I thought you could use a break.”Inside, the bed and breakfast was just as charming. Our room had a cozy fireplace and a balcony overlooking the gardens. It felt like a different world, far removed from t
Returning to the familiar halls of my dorm, the warmth of my brief escape with Liam lingered. I opened the door to find Monica and Peter engaged in a fierce video game battle, their laughter echoing off the walls. The dorm room, usually a chaotic mess of clothes and textbooks, felt almost welcoming.
AVA’s POVThe campus buzzed with life as I made my way to class, but I felt like a ghost, invisible and untouchable. The air was thick with all kinds of scents—freshly cut grass, blooming flowers, and the faint hint of sunscreen.I should have felt alive, felt like the baddest bitch around, but inst
The library was a sanctuary. I found solace among the rows of books, their silent presence a comforting backdrop to the chaos of my life. I was deep into my novel, fingers flying across the keyboard, when a shadow fell over my table. I looked up, startled.Noah stood there, his expression hesitant,
Noah's POVMy hands trembled as I left the coffee shop. Ella's face, a whirlwind of emotions, was etched into my mind. She had listened, really listened, and I had poured my heart out in a way I never thought I could. But now, all I could do was replay the words that I had said to her. They all felt
I stood outside the front door, my heart pounding like I’d just run a marathon. Mom always said I had a flair for the dramatic, but this time it felt justified. After everything Liam had told me, I needed answers. I needed to know if my entire life was built on a lie.The house was quiet when I step
Liam’s POVI was in the middle of my third set of bench presses when a buzz of tension spread through the underground gym. My senses immediately sharpened, and I glanced around, spotting a massive security guard striding towards me. Everyone else in the gym stopped what they were doing, eyes wide, w
The wind rustled the leaves of our tree, the golden sunlight filtering through, casting playful shadows on my notebook. Liam and I had claimed this spot as our unofficial study haven. Today, though, my mind was a thousand miles away from the chemistry equations in front of me. I kept stealing glance
Without so much as an arguing word, the men moved. Indeed, Arthur had inherited my ability to compel. I was quick to spot Cecilia standing in the center of the large, main room. She looked anxious and eager to see her son. When she spotted Arthur, her eyes lit up with pure excitement. “I knew
[Ella’s POV] I felt like I was floating on a cloud. At first, it seemed like I was being torn to pieces. The pain that resonated within me—it was like a fire had been set to burn beneath my skin. Every nerve was spiraling and coiling beyond control. I almost begged them both to stop. But then,
But that chance was almost taken from me tonight. Had we not gone to see him, the man would have been dead. I can’t let Ella’s mother face the same fate. It needs to stop. All of it. “Alright,” I said firmly. I reached down to grasp Ella’s hand. “I know I kept saying that we needed to wait unti
The car ride back to campus was kept in complete silence. What was there to say? Aaron had been brutally attacked by his own wife and was basically left there to bleed out...That, in itself, was proof that Cecilia had truly lost her mind. What’s even scarier was that apparently, she’s lost contr
They narrowed their eyes. “Well, see about that.” “I just had a very bizarre meeting with Cecilia.” All the blood drained from their faces. Their jaws had all collectively hit the ground and I was certain one of them was going to shout. Liam growled under his breath. “...Ella.” I urged the
I had to do my best to not show fear. The very thought of my mom being put at risk over something that had nothing to do with her was enough to cause my anger and stress levels to rise. I fought to keep my voice as even as possible even though I wanted nothing more than to hurl myself over the t
It didn’t seem like Cecilia was the type to give up. Aaron had certainly warned us all enough times that the woman wasn’t to be underestimated. Yet, it seemed like she had dropped off the face of the earth. With something as big as the Winslow name and reputation at stake, there was no way that sh
[Arthur’s POV] I stared back at the man who, for the better part of my life, was never really present. I suppose in a way, Aaron was just as much absent in my life as he was for Liam. I hadn’t ever really considered that we shared something so personal in common. Something in my gut was tellin
Liam shook his head. “None whatsoever,” he stated. “I told Aaron that my true interests lie in professional hockey.” Wow. Why had I always thought that Liam wanted the title the same way I thought that I wanted it? Then again, it took me a long time to realize that I didn’t much want the positio