Serena’s POVI've been scrubbing down the last of the shelves in my shop, muscles aching and hands worn. It's taken me nearly half a month to finish the renovation of my shop. I'm exhausted, sure, but with the baby on the way, I'm not pushing myself too hard.I glance around my shop, taking in the
Serena’s POV"Anything yet?" I call out to Stevie, who's waiting outside the door, keeping an eye out for customers approaching our shop.Stevie turns to me, frustration clear in her voice. "Nothing yet," she says, her disappointment palpable. "No one's coming.""Don't worry, Stevie," I reassure her
Serena’s POV"Sorry, I'm late for the opening," Calvin says, his breath slightly hurried from the rush. "Got caught up with lots of work stuff. Are you mad?"I smile at Calvin, shaking my head gently. "Nah, I know you were busy. And this is just sparkling cider," I say, lifting my glass in reassuran
Serena’s POV"Calvin?" I call out, noticing his sudden change in demeanor. He seems to have spaced out, lost in thought. "Are you alright?" I ask.Calvin breaks his trance, blinking a few times as if returning from a distant place. "I’m alright, don’t worry," he says, his voice a touch distant. "I'm
Serena’s POVEvery day's the same: a non-stop rush. From morning till night, the shop's full of people, and I'm right there, in the middle of it all, keeping things running. I guess it's just how life goes when you've got your own business to manage.Stevie does drop by to help when she can, but it
Serena’s POV"Girl, your video is blowing up!" Stevie's text flashes on my screen. "That story is insane. You've got to spill – who's the ex from hell?"It's been barely two days since I posted my first storytime video, but it already has over 200K views and 50K likes. I'm shocked that it went viral
Serena’s POVWhy is Bill here? He hardly comes to the mall. Patty, Doris's mother, clears her throat and smiles at Bill. "Bill? I didn't expect to see you here. Is Doris with you?"Bill shakes his head. "I'm just browsing for some nice jewelry," Bill says. "How about you? You don't look like you're
Bill’s POVWhy do I get the feeling I've messed things up with Serena again? I'm just trying to help with her business, hoping we can get back together and move past everything that happened.But no, she's being stubborn as always, thinking I'm looking down on her.As Serena starts to turn away, I g
Calvin’s POVThe call comes in just as I’m reviewing a financial report in my office. It’s Serena, and I can tell immediately from her clipped tone that something’s off.“Calvin, we have a situation,” she says, not bothering with pleasantries.I lean back in my chair, setting the report aside. “What
Serena’s POVI tap my pen against the edge of the conference table, staring at the open file in front of me. My head’s buzzing, not from caffeine—I haven’t had nearly enough of that today—but from the words staring back at me in black and white.“Are you sure about this?” I ask Grace, my PR director
Calvin’s POVI’ve been staring at her address on my phone for ten minutes, trying to work up the courage to get out of the car. It’s ridiculous. I’ve faced down corporate takeovers and boardroom ambushes without flinching, but this? This feels harder.Stevie’s apartment building looms in front of me
Bill’s POVThe sound of waves crashing against the shore is a far cry from the usual buzz of our daily lives. No conference calls, no meetings, no tantrums over spilled cereal. Just the ocean, the wind, and Collin’s laughter as he runs across the sand, a kite string gripped tightly in his little han
Calvin’s POVThe waiting room at Stevie’s doctor’s office isn’t anything like I expected. It’s bright and cheerful, with pastel walls and outdated parenting magazines scattered across the coffee tables. A little kid toddles past me, clutching a stuffed giraffe, while his mom trails behind him with a
Serena’s POVStevie’s apartment smells like fresh paint and coffee, an oddly comforting combination that suits her. The space is small, cluttered with photography equipment and stacks of unopened baby gear, but it feels like her. It’s messy and lived-in, nothing like Calvin’s sterile penthouse.I kn
Calvin’s POVThe penthouse feels bigger now, emptier. It’s strange how silence can take up so much space, filling every corner and amplifying the absence of things you didn’t realize you depended on.Stevie’s laughter used to echo in this place, sharp and unfiltered, bouncing off the marble floors l
Serena’s POVThe room hums with energy, the kind of buzz that comes from a carefully curated crowd of media, industry insiders, and investors. Cameras flash as I step onto the stage, my heels clicking against the polished floor. The Etoile de Collin logo glows behind me, larger than life, and for a
Stevie’s POVThe smell of my old apartment hits me as soon as I walk in — a mix of stale coffee, forgotten photo chemicals, and the faintest whiff of lavender from a candle I never finished burning. It’s not the penthouse, that’s for damn sure. No floor-to-ceiling windows or marble countertops here