Serena’s POVI’m lying on the mat, staring at the ceiling. For a moment, I’m out of breath. My pulse is still racing, and every nerve feels like it’s been reset. I barely even feel the coolness of the mat beneath me. Bill lies next to me. Neither of us says anything and I feel the warmth of his arm
Serena’s POVBill’s mansion feels different tonight like the walls are holding secrets. I can sense it even as I sit on the edge of the leather couch, scrolling through the same cryptic message over and over.He’s closer than you think. Just five words, but they keep me up half the night.Bill paces
Bill’s POVThe morning is too quiet, the kind of stillness that doesn’t sit right. I’m up early, wandering through the mansion as James dives into his work on the laptop. The tension in his eyes is unmistakable, his fingers flying over the keyboard as he scrolls through Kevin’s financial records. I
Serena’s POVMatt’s message pings on my phone, and something about it stops me in my tracks. There’s an urgency in his words, like he needs me to meet him right now, no questions asked. I don’t know what he wants to say, but the way he wrote it — short, almost desperate — it leaves no room for me to
Serena’s POVI take a deep breath, trying to keep myself steady, but before I can ask him anything more, Matt speaks.“Serena, I love you.” His voice is soft, but the weight behind those words is intense. He’s looking right at me like he’s been waiting a lifetime to say this. “I didn’t tell you befo
Bill’s POVSerena moves around the living room, gathering her things like she’s trying to stay invisible. I can feel the distance between us, a quiet sort of discomfort. She’s focused, packing her stuff with a kind of carefulness that’s different from her usual pace. She’s barely looking at me, and
Bill’s POVThe notification pings on my phone, and I glance down at the email header. It’s from our project manager, and the subject line is all I need to see: RGE AI Division Bidding for NXT Gen Project Contract.So, Calvin’s really going for it.I lean back in my chair. I knew he wouldn’t stay qui
Bill’s POVEriksen clears his throat, catching everyone’s attention as he looks between Calvin and me. He’s one of the longest-standing investors on RGE’s board, a man who’s seen the company grow from a small startup into a tech giant.“Now that Mr. Richardson is here, shall we proceed?” Eriksen say
Stevie’s POVThe ride to the clinic is quiet. Calvin’s hands are steady on the wheel, his focus fixed on the road. I know he’s trying to make this feel normal, like he’s not driving me to an appointment that confirms the biggest change in my life. It doesn’t work.“You didn’t have to drive me,” I sa
Stevie’s POVThis has to be the fanciest kidnapping in the history of bad ideas.I’m standing in the foyer of Calvin’s penthouse, staring at the polished marble floors, the towering windows, and a chandelier that looks like it could fund a small country. Everything about this place screams luxury—to
Calvin’s POVHospitals always feel the same—like time slows down, stretching every second into an eternity. I’m standing outside Stevie’s room, staring at the door, willing myself to move. My hand hovers near the handle, but I can’t bring myself to push it open.I can hear her voice faintly through
Serena’s POV“Stevie, stay with me,” I mutter, my voice shaking as I keep one arm wrapped around her shoulders. Her weight sags against me, and I feel the panic rising in my chest.“I’m fine,” she whispers weakly, but her pale face and unfocused eyes say otherwise.“You’re not fine,” I snap, flaggin
Serena’s POVThe office feels quieter than usual. Maybe it’s the late hour or the fact that most people have already gone home. But as I glance across the room at Stevie, hunched over her laptop, I know something’s off.She’s always had a way of pushing through, of pretending everything’s fine when
Calvin’s POVFatherhood.The word keeps bouncing around my head, refusing to settle. It feels foreign, heavy. Like trying on a jacket that doesn’t fit but knowing you’re stuck wearing it anyway.I stare out the window of my office, watching the city buzz below. Cars honk. People hustle. Life moves o
Stevie’s POVI’m pacing my living room, muttering to myself like a lunatic.“Calvin, listen—no, that’s too polite.” I stop and shake my head, trying again. “Look, Calvin, I don’t owe you an explanation. That’s better. Straight to the point. No room for debate.”I glance at the mirror above my couch
Calvin’s POVI see her before she sees me.Stevie’s stepping out of the building, her bag slung over her shoulder, sunglasses perched on her nose. She looks like she’s trying to blend into the crowd, which is almost funny considering Stevie Malone doesn’t exactly do subtle.“Stevie,” I call, walking
Serena’s POVI spot Stevie slipping out of the ballroom as I’m finishing up a conversation with a PR exec. She moves quickly, almost like she’s trying not to be seen, but I know her too well. The slight wobble in her steps, the way she clutches her bag like it’s holding her together — it’s a dead gi