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
Bill's POVThe maitre d’ leads us through the restaurant, the air filled with the scent of garlic and fresh herbs. It’s Serena’s first time here, and I chose this spot specifically for its quiet atmosphere and intimate setting, hoping it might help ease the tension between us.As we reach our table
Serena’s POVI can feel myself shaking, and I know Bill’s watching me with that look he gets, like I’m a lost puppy or something. I hate when he's looking at me like that.But no matter how much I try to steady my hands or calm my breathing, the fear just won’t go away. Bill meets my eyes. “I won’t
Serena’s POV“Have you noticed any changes since our last session?” Gianna asks, her voice calm and familiar as she looks at me from across the room.I pause, thinking about the past few days. “A little,” I admit, fidgeting with the edge of my sleeve. “The nightmares aren’t as intense, but they’re s
Serena’s POV“Serena, have you checked out the numbers on our viral social media campaign yet?” Stevie asks as she hands me her tablet.I glance at the screen, immediately seeing the surge in likes, shares, and comments. The campaign is doing even better than we expected. “Wow, these numbers are inc
Serena’s POVIt’s the day of the summer collection launch, and the shop is buzzing with excitement. Interns are hurrying around, making last-minute adjustments, and Stevie’s doing her usual thing, keeping everyone on track. The displays are all set, and the jewelry looks amazing under the lights.I
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