Stevie’s POVThe soft hum of the penthouse’s ventilation system is too damn loud today. Or maybe it’s my own restlessness that’s making me hyper-aware of everything—the sound of my foot tapping against the floor, the faint ticking of a ridiculously expensive clock that Calvin insists is “decorative.
Calvin’s POVThe morning starts like most others these days. I wake up early, review emails over a cup of coffee, and make a mental list of everything I need to get done before the day spirals out of control. Except, today, there’s a weight sitting on my chest that has nothing to do with quarterly r
Stevie’s POVThe envelope looks expensive. Heavy cream-colored paper, embossed gold lettering, and Calvin’s name written in the kind of script that probably costs more than my monthly grocery bill. He’s staring at it like it’s a summons to court.“What is that?” I ask, leaning against the kitchen co
Stevie’s POVThe camera feels good in my hands. Familiar. Steady. It gives me something to focus on other than the weight of a hundred judgmental stares and the deafening hum of old money conversations swirling around me.Through the viewfinder, the Lancaster gala is dazzling. Gilded chandeliers spa
Serena My husband Bill and his beautiful assistant Doris are laughing and eating like they're on a first date. But the joke is on me... I'm here, Bill's wife, watching them from across the room, tending to my flat belly where a little life is now living. Of course, Bill doesn’t know about the ba
Serena’s POV It’s funny how adrenaline can make you forget pain for a bit. As I leave the hotel, my left knee starts to sting again. “Well, at least, I’m out of there,” I mumble. I still hear the commotion inside. Bill's family is checking on Doris. Wow, they're overreacting. She only fell — it'
Serena’s POV I thought Bill actually cared about my leg for a second there, but nope, he's back to being a total dickhead. "I tripped outside the hotel and —," I begin. “You know what, it doesn't matter. Just go say you’re sorry to Mom and Doris,” he says, not even letting me finish. And he's do
Bill’s POV I find myself staring at the door, just waiting for Serena to come into our room. The truth is, I didn't actually need to work on the Johnson and Haines proposal. I just needed a reason to get Serena to stop bringing up divorce. But now, here I am, typing away on my laptop, rewriting th
Stevie’s POVThe camera feels good in my hands. Familiar. Steady. It gives me something to focus on other than the weight of a hundred judgmental stares and the deafening hum of old money conversations swirling around me.Through the viewfinder, the Lancaster gala is dazzling. Gilded chandeliers spa
Stevie’s POVThe envelope looks expensive. Heavy cream-colored paper, embossed gold lettering, and Calvin’s name written in the kind of script that probably costs more than my monthly grocery bill. He’s staring at it like it’s a summons to court.“What is that?” I ask, leaning against the kitchen co
Calvin’s POVThe morning starts like most others these days. I wake up early, review emails over a cup of coffee, and make a mental list of everything I need to get done before the day spirals out of control. Except, today, there’s a weight sitting on my chest that has nothing to do with quarterly r
Stevie’s POVThe soft hum of the penthouse’s ventilation system is too damn loud today. Or maybe it’s my own restlessness that’s making me hyper-aware of everything—the sound of my foot tapping against the floor, the faint ticking of a ridiculously expensive clock that Calvin insists is “decorative.
Stevie’s POVIt’s too quiet in the penthouse. The kind of quiet that makes you feel small, even in a place this massive. Calvin left early for a meeting, saying he’d be back by lunch, but it’s already 2 p.m., and I haven’t heard a word from him.Not that I care.Okay, maybe I care a little.I pace a
Calvin’s POVStevie is restless again. I can see it in the way she keeps adjusting the blanket on her lap and tapping her fingers against the arm of the couch. She’s trying to hide it, but I know better.“You’re bored,” I say, watching her from across the living room.“No, I’m not,” she replies, her
Serena’s POVThe elevator ride up to Calvin’s penthouse feels endless, even though I’m pretty sure it’s moving faster than I can think. The last few days have been a blur of texts and phone calls with Stevie, each one giving me a little more reassurance that she’s okay, but not quite enough to calm
Calvin’s POVStevie’s been here for three days, and I’m starting to think she’s allergic to letting people take care of her.She spends most of her time holed up in the guest suite, emerging only when absolutely necessary, like meals. Even then, she always looks like she’s bracing herself for an amb
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