Bill’s POVThe idea hits me suddenly, a need to just… get away for a while. To actually enjoy this time with my family, to let go of everything else, even if it’s just for a day. So I turn to Serena, who’s sitting on the couch with Collin in her lap, and ask, “How about we go out? All three of us.”
Serena’s POVThe Airbnb we found is small and cozy, just perfect for a quick night’s stay after a long day at the beach. Collin’s already knocked out, his little hand gripping the edge of the crib we managed to snag at the last minute. I watch him for a moment, smiling at the way he’s sprawled out,
Bill’s POVAs soon as we’re back from the beach, I barely have time to settle in before my phone buzzes in my pocket. I glance down at the screen— Aunt Claire. She’s not the type to call without a reason, and a feeling of dread settles over me.“Hey, Aunt Claire,” I answer, trying to keep my tone ca
Bill’s POVI pull away from Aunt Claire’s hug, noticing the lines of exhaustion on her face. She’s been here often — more than she’s probably said. “How is she?” I ask quietly.“She’s resting,” Aunt Claire replies, her voice thick with emotion. She glances down, like she’s trying to hold herself to
Serena’s POVElena is propped up on a mountain of pillows, her skin pale, almost translucent, and her frame so much smaller than I remember. The woman who once towered over Bill, always in command, looks vulnerable in a way that tugs at something deep inside me.Bill clears his throat softly and ask
Bill’s POVThe sky hangs heavy with clouds, casting a solemn shade over everything as we gather around my mother’s casket. The Richardson family cemetery is quiet, except for the muffled sounds of the priest’s words, fading into the background of my thoughts. The chill of the air seeps through my ja
Serena’s POVThere’s a part of me that doesn’t want to be here, doing this, especially now. But maybe it’s time we finally settle things.Calvin stands there, hands in his pockets, staring down at the ground like he’s working up the courage to speak. It’s odd, seeing him like this — almost… vulnerab
Bill’s POVI feel a tap on my shoulder. My whole body tenses. It’s instinct — I turn, fists clenched, eyes sharp. Calvin’s standing there, hands up in a show of surrender.“I’m not here to fight, Bill,” he says calmly, voice low enough that only I can hear.I study him, still suspicious. Calvin neve
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
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