Bill's POVEverything around me seems to freeze the moment the words leave Stevie’s mouth. Collin didn’t make it….I feel like the ground has been ripped out from under me. My heart pounds in my chest, each beat louder and more painful than the last. I stand there, numb, as the world seems to tilt,
Serena's POVThe day at boot camp is intense, and by the end, my mind is spinning from all the intricate work we’ve done. Today’s task was a real challenge. We were asked to design a custom engagement ring for a client with a unique set of requirements. The ring had to be modern but incorporate vin
Bill's POVI pull up to the office, the tension already building in my chest. Something feels off as soon as I step out of the car. I head inside, and right away, I notice people talking in hushed tones as I walk past. It’s not just the usual office chatter. There's a sense of unease in the air.As
Bill's POV“You son of a — ” I start, but Calvin holds up a hand, interrupting me.“Easy, Bill,” Calvin says, his tone mockingly calm. “I know this is hard to swallow. But I'm now the CEO of RGE. Your father's company.”I can feel my blood boiling, my vision narrowing as I glare at him. This smug ba
Serena's POVMadame Amélie stands in front of the class, her gaze sweeping across the room as she speaks, “We’ve reached the halfway point of boot camp, and now it’s time to put your skills to the test in a real-world setting.” She pauses, letting the room settle before continuing, “You will all be
Serena's POVAs the festival kicks off, people start wandering past our booth, some stopping to look more closely, others just browsing. I’ve done this enough to know that patience is key. Still, there’s always that little thrill when someone picks up a piece and studies it.About an hour in, a wom
Serena's POVThe day’s almost over, and we’ve just got a couple more pieces to sell. I glance at Colette. “I’m going to run to the bathroom real quick. You okay holding down the fort?”“Of course. Go ahead,” she says, waving me off.I hurry toward the nearest restroom, but the line is way longer tha
Bill's POVI slam the car door shut, the engine still running as I sit in front of my mother’s house. Selling her shares to Calvin, of all people? It’s all I can think about as I force myself out of the car.The door creaks open before I can even knock. My mom stands there, arms crossed, her expres
Bill’s POVBreakfast at our house is rarely peaceful. Collin is perched in his booster seat, wielding his spoon like a weapon as he demolishes a bowl of oatmeal. Serena sits across from him, pale and clearly trying not to gag at the smell of his breakfast.“More blueberries, Daddy!” Collin announces
Calvin’s POVStevie amazes me.It’s not the loud, in-your-face kind of amazement. It’s quieter, deeper. Like watching a storm roll in from the distance, knowing it’s going to leave everything changed.She’s sitting cross-legged on the living room floor, papers and sketches spread out around her like
Stevie’s POV“You’re joking, right?” I deadpan, staring at the wheelchair Calvin just rolled into the living room.“Nope,” he replies, looking entirely too pleased with himself.“Calvin, I’m not ninety. I can walk just fine—well, sort of.” I gesture vaguely at my legs, which have mostly been hanging
Stevie’s POVBeing stuck in bed isn’t all bad. I mean, sure, it’s boring as hell most of the time, and I’d kill to walk further than from the bed to the bathroom without feeling like a 90-year-old. But there’s something about having this much downtime that forces you to think.Or, in my case, overth
Calvin’s POVStevie doesn’t say it outright, but I can tell how much this exhibit means to her. She’s been buzzing with energy, her notebooks filling up with ideas faster than she can find space on the pages. Watching her rediscover that spark — it’s like seeing sunlight break through a storm.But I
Stevie’s POVI’m halfway through a bowl of cereal—because screw proper breakfast food—when the thought hits me like a lightning bolt. It’s not new exactly. It’s been hovering in the back of my mind, poking me every now and then, but today, it feels different. Urgent. Like if I don’t say it out loud,
Serena’s POVI step out of the elevator, a bag of takeout balanced in one hand and a small bouquet of flowers in the other. Calvin’s penthouse is just as intimidating as the first time I visited—sleek, modern, and completely devoid of personality. It feels more like a luxury hotel than a home.But I
Stevie’s POVI never thought lying in bed all day could be so damn exhausting. It’s not physical exhaustion—I mean, I’m literally doing nothing. It’s mental. Emotional. The kind of tired that makes you want to scream into a pillow until your lungs give out.Calvin’s out of the room, probably on one
Calvin’s POVThe miscarriage scare changes everything.I didn’t think it was possible to feel this level of fear and helplessness. Sitting in that hospital room, watching Stevie in pain, and hearing the doctor’s words—it was like the ground beneath me cracked open.Now, as I sit in my office at home