Bill's POVWe walk in silence to the nearby park, finding a secluded bench. Serena sits down first, her posture tense. I take a seat next to her, unsure of how to start.“Serena,” I begin, my voice low. “I know I’ve messed up. I was trying to help, but I see now that I went about it the wrong way.”
Serena’s POVThe tension in the courtroom is palpable as we wait for the jury to return with their verdict. Every second feels like an eternity. I can feel my heart pounding in my chest, and my palms are sweaty. I glance at Bill, who looks as anxious as I feel. This is it. Everything we’ve been th
Bill’s POVI'm waiting outside the courthouse, pacing back and forth on the steps. The security guards are keeping a close eye on me, making sure I don't go back inside. I keep glancing at the entrance, hoping to see Serena walk out. I can't believe how badly things went in there. Doris getting awa
Serena's POVBill is fidgeting with the hem of his shirt, twisting it between his fingers like he's trying to unravel a secret. His eyes dart around the room, avoiding mine as if the right words are hiding in the corners. I lean back in my chair, waiting for him to get it out."Bill, just spit it ou
Serena's POVI arrive at Stevie's studio, the familiar scent of coffee filling the air.Stevie, ever the perfectionist, adjusts her lighting and angles. Taylor stands in the center, striking a pose that captures the essence of our new summer collection.Taylor looks stunning, her outfit a seamless b
Serena's POVThe night before, I crashed at Stevie's place for the first time since college. We stayed up late, and I told her all about the trial, leaving out the shady things Bill did. Stevie listened patiently, offering her unwavering support. I felt a bit better to have my best friend by my sid
Serena's POVBill takes a deep breath before speaking. "So, where did you stay last night, Serena?”"Where I stayed is none of your business," I snap.I haven't spoken to Bill since finding out all the things he did — the blackmail, the bribes, dragging us into a mess with the mafia.Bill looks hurt
Bill's POVIt’s been a few days since Serena moved back into the house. Even though we’re under the same roof again, it feels like she’s miles away.As I watch her in the kitchen, making a cup of tea, the distance between us becomes more obvious. She’s quiet, deliberately avoiding eye contact.She’s
Stevie’s POVI’m crouched on the floor, camera in hand, trying to get the perfect angle on the way the late afternoon light filters through the glass vase on my coffee table. The shadows spill across the hardwood in a way that makes me itch to capture it.“Almost got it,” I mutter to myself, leaning
Stevie’s POVThe smell of the takeout I ordered fills the apartment, mingling with the faint scent of lavender from the candle I lit earlier to make this whole situation seem less... intense. My stomach is doing somersaults, and it’s not because of the baby.I glance at my reflection in the microwav
Serena’s POVThe sound of laughter and clinking glasses fills the room, mingling with the faint hum of conversation. I lean against the edge of the kitchen counter, sipping sparkling water from a champagne flute and watching as Bill twirls Collin around the living room.“You’re going to wear him out
Calvin’s POVThe Lancaster estate feels colder than usual today, and it’s not because of the weather. The vaulted ceilings and polished marble floors echo with the tension that always seems to fill the air when the family gathers.This isn’t a casual dinner or a holiday reunion. It’s a “concerned di
Stevie‘s POV“Calvin, I can’t just say yes.”The words tumble out before I can stop them, hanging in the air between us. His eyes, which had been so hopeful, cloud over with something I can’t quite place—disappointment, maybe, or worry.We’re sitting in my apartment, the baby gear shoved into the co
Stevie‘s POVThe lens feels foreign in my hands at first, like it’s judging me for neglecting it for so long. I twist the focus ring back and forth, snapping shots of random things in my apartment: the pile of laundry I still haven’t done, the chipped paint on the windowsill, the vase of wilted dais
Serena‘s POVI can’t focus. Not on the new campaign proposals sitting in front of me, not on the email from our partners in Paris, and definitely not on the cup of tea I made an hour ago that’s gone cold on my desk.All I can think about is Stevie.Her face, flushed with anger, tears glistening in h
Calvin‘s POVThe buzz of my phone pulls me out of my focus, its vibration rattling against the glass surface of my desk. It’s another alert, no doubt tied to the leak at Etoile de Collin. The headlines have been relentless: “Scandal Rocks Global Launch,” “Is Etoile de Collin Losing Its Shine?”I don
Stevie‘s POVThe click of my camera is the only sound in my apartment. The blinds are half-drawn, letting in just enough light to paint soft streaks across the floor. I’ve spent the last hour taking photos of mundane things — a chipped coffee mug, the shadow of my old ficus, the crumpled blanket I t