*Xavier's POV The man grunts when I press my knee over his chest as I reach for his mask. Behind us, Harley stands as quiet as stone. The moment Rose told me she couldn't find Harley, I rushed here only to see my sister crying as she held Harley's bag tightly in her shivering hands. I asked her to go to the car while David and I started searching at different ends. Fortunately, I found her just in time. The man tries to reach for his knife but I shove it away from within the reach of his hand. When I face him again, he uses my momentary distraction to pick up a stone from the ground and hurl it towards my face. A shearing pain grapples me and he pushes me off him, toppling me to the ground. I groan in pain and when I open my eyes, he has disappeared. Fucking bastard! I get up, intending to follow his muddy footsteps but then decide against it. I turn around quickly and my eyes fall on Harley. She is looking at me with a terrified look in her eyes. She trembles as the rain drenc
*Harley's POV"Someone attacked you?" Jesse shrieks as we Facetime early in the morning.She is in her bed, still dressed in her pajamas with her hair in a messy bun above her head. She looks sleepy but better than me at least who is still reeling from yesterday's events.I am lying on my stomach in Xavier's bed while he is in the bathroom taking a shower. After what happened between us last night, I can't find the courage to face him. It is worse than the times we fight.I let him touch me.How could I have been so stupid?"Yeah," I mutter, stealing a glance at the bathroom door where the sound of the shower running is clear.I imagine Xavier standing under the shower — naked — drops of water cascading down his body, from his hard chest to the V of his belly, his abs glistening with the moisture. He was so incredible with me last night. He actually made me sleep like the dead after the trauma I had been through.I avert my eyes, ashamed of myself. Last night was a great slip on my par
*Xavier's POV Muggers. Damn it! "Oh my God! Xavier, go and see what's wrong with him." Harley directs towards me, making me look at her in disbelief. "Are you crazy?" I grip the steering wheel tighter to stop myself from shouting. "He's a mugger. You get out of the car and he will rob you." She widens her eyes like I have spoken something unholy. "How can you be so cruel, Everest?" She points towards the body on the road. "That person could be injured and in need of our help. Where's all your 'charity' now?" I squeeze my eyes shut. "He's not injured, Harley. That's just a trick." "You're unbelievable, Everest!" she grunts. "I was about to die yesterday. That body could have been me. That man must be in need of us." "Yes, he needs us to rob for sure," I grumble, the center of my forehead ticking in pain. I hear the sound of the car door opening and turn to find her getting out of the car. Bloody Hell! "Harley..." I stretch a hand to grab her wrist to pull her back but she is a
*Harley’s POVShame. Fear. Confusion.I feel all when I withdraw from Xavier. He folds his arms over his chest, gifting me with a stony glare. I feel so small under his gaze that I have no choice but to look at the road while clutching the hem of my dress.If stupidity was personified, it would be me. After my monologue on how I wasn't a damsel in distress but a knight, I ended up getting us robbed due to my ego. If only I had listened to Xavier, we wouldn't be having this trouble.When I lift my eyes to look at him, he still has the same expression on his face as he stands there, watching me. I am microscopic for those eyes; he has shown me that he is the bigger one of us — and not just physically."Okay, fine." I break the silence when it starts to get uncomfortable. "I'm a damsel in distress."Xavier remains unfazed."Say something please..." I beg him, making pleading eyes. "What do we do now?"I hear him inhale a deep breath and then his eyes are on the road, searching for someth
*Xavier's POVI don't carry Harley for long. Not because I wasn't enjoying the feel of her skin against my hand or her nails grazing the nape of my neck but because when we got out of the woods, a very busy street greeted us, making me realize that the woods we trespassed through were the private property of someone.I can only hope that no one saw us. I don't want a jail record right after being mugged.I put her down on the pavement when I see people stopping to stare at us. Ignoring their questionable looks, I grab her hand and pull her with me across the street. She tiptoes when her feet hurt as she hits the road.My watch — the only thing the goons didn't take from us — reads close to 7 pm and the hustle-bustle of LA is already at its peak. We are about 10 miles from Beverly Hills and somewhere close to Hollywood. We look out of place with our tattered clothes among the others on the road.The building we head towards is tall and magnificent. It reads 'Hotel McClarke' above the g
*Harley's POVI hear the creak of the bathroom door opening and my heart skips a beat. The shower above my head is pouring hot but the sound of my heartbeat is the one that drums in my ears. There is the rustle of clothes and I inhale a breath, knowing that he is undressed when his footsteps head towards the shower curtain, the only barrier between us."Stop!" I let out and he halts."Changed your mind, nemesis?" His deep voice greets my ears. It sounds hotter inside the bathroom, echoing in the quietness."No," I answer. "Turn around first and then step in."A disgruntled groan leaves him and I turn my neck slightly to find him following my orders. His sturdy back enters the shower as he steps inside. It takes all of my self-control to not move my eyes down his body when the water from the shower hits him, making a deep sigh of relief leave his lips.We stand under the shower in silence and I reach for the body wash kept on a little shelf. I put some liquid over my palm before handin
*Xavier’s POV"No, Mom, we're fine." I rub my forehead as I hear Mom's frantic voice over the phone. Ever since she heard that we got mugged, she has been freaking out. "We were robbed and all but we're still fine.""But how did this happen?" she asks in a worried tone. "I thought you were smart enough to not stop your car on an empty road. Times are rough, sweetie."I feel the inclination to tell her that it was in fact not my fault at all. If it wasn't for Harley, I would have been sleeping in my bed right now instead of being dressed in borrowed clothes from a hotel's staff.But then again, I would have missed the chance to bury my face between her legs. Turns out, everything does happen for good."It was a mistake. I told Jake to trace the car. We should be getting our stuff back soon.""Come back home soon," Mom sighs. "The event went smoothly but all my plans to introduce Harley as an Everest went downhill. We need to throw a party for her soon to welcome her to our family. I'll
*Harley’s POV"So, what's the plan?" Xavier asks as he pulls the car at a parking slot outside the gates of Bradford Institute of Fashion and Technology."I'll tell you later." I open the seat belt and grab my bag but rather than opening the car door and leaving quietly, I end up stealing a look at Xavier. "Will you go to work now?"We returned home just this morning and after having a shower — together, Xavier chose to drop me to college himself. We even got the car and our phones back, courtesy of the mysterious Jake Gallagher. I have to meet this new guy for myself soon."Yeah," he hums. "I have a meeting with our new clients. It's time we show them the designs for their complex."I pull my bottom lip inside my mouth as I watch him. He is dressed in a well-tailored grey suit that fits his frame to perfection. It is a wonder that he takes so little time to groom himself yet comes out as a classy gentleman while I have to take an hour to just get my hair done before stepping out.He
The sun dipped lower on the horizon, casting a warm glow over the backyard where the Everest family had gathered for Ivy's sixth birthday. The air buzzed with the joyful chatter of friends and family who had been witness to Ivy's journey from a tiny, cooing infant to the lively, spirited child she had become.In the midst of the celebration, Ivy darted around the garden, her laughter echoing through the air. Her curly hair bounced with each step, and her eyes sparkled with the innocence of childhood. Every now and then, she would steal a glance at her parents, her source of love and security.Seated at a beautifully adorned table, Xaveir and Harley marveled at the scene. It seemed like just yesterday when they held their fragile newborn for the first time. Now, Ivy was a whirlwind of energy, a testament to the love that surrounded her.As the evening unfolded, friends and family shared anecdotes and memories, each contributing to the rich tapestry of Ivy's life. Aunt Rose, who had onc
*Xaveir’d POV "Ice chips?""No.""You sure?"The moment Harley glares at me, I bite my tongue and have to swallow a chip myself as I take a seat near her bed. My wife has her arms crossed over her chest, grimacing every other second when she gets a contraction. Her hospital gown is blue with tiny white dots as their only design and Harley’s belly is huge, my baby kicking her every time she tries to move a little."It's been nine hours!" Harley frowns, unfolding her arms and letting them drop to her sides. "Why is she not out yet?"I place the cup of ice chips on the table nearby and touch her hand, lifting it to my lips to kiss. "Don't worry, honey. Maybe the baby loves you a little too much.""Uhhhgg..." Harley grunts, jerking my hand away from hers and grabbing her stomach with both hands, her eyes squeezing shut as she takes deep breaths when another contraction hits. "I hate this, Xaveir. Please do this for me."I remain quiet, not able to think of anything to say to that. Gettin
*Harley’s POV Xaveir: You're late. I'm coming in. You aren't allowed to see the bride. Xaveir: Fuck those rules...I want to see you. No can do. Vaughn: Xaveir Fine. After the wedding, you're mine. Get that? I do Xaveir: Good. Now get your pretty ass out here. I'm waiting. Will do I smile at the phone screen like a giddy teenager getting a love text from her crush. Xaveir’s texts never fail to raise the butterflies in my stomach. Every word is like a little spin to my heart. I put the phone on the table near me and glance at my reflection in the floor-length mirror of the dressing room. This wedding gown is even more gorgeous than the last one. The material is soft and feels like butter under my fingertips. The neckline has a net pattern stitched like flowers and the gown hugs my figure, accentuating my curves. I chose it myself this time and this is the gown of my real wedding. My hair is in a half-up-do with pearl clips keeping it in place. The make-up artist did my face we
*Haley’s POV Xaveir's office desk has three framed photos. One is of him and Bel on their graduation day with their arms around each other as they smile at the camera, their graduation caps half-sliding from their heads. I remember that picture because I was the one holding the camera.The second one is of our family — me, him, Doris, and Rose. It was taken a month after he returned from the hospital. We wanted to have a moment to ourselves. In the picture, we are all dressed fashionably and sitting on the sofa in the hall, Doris in between me and Rose while Xaveir stands behind us as we all smile at the camera.The third one, and the one he keeps at the front, is of him and me. It's a selfie we took while getting ready for a party. He is holding me to his side, both of us smiling at the phone in his outstretched hand. We didn't think the picture would come out that good but it did and it's Xaveir’s favorite.I trace a finger over the wooden frame holding the picture, feeling overwhe
*Xaveir’s POVThe first thing I notice about Noah Striker when the cops drag him to the other side of the booth is that he has grown a beard. His orange jumpsuit is fitted closely to his body, he has lost weight, and his hair has grown but it is the beard that I notice because the beard makes him look like he had been when he wore the disguise of Jake.I see a little bit of Jake in his green eyes as he takes the seat opposite me and the cops let him go, taking two steps back and standing behind him with hands behind their backs. Noah stares at me with a look of astonishment, like he can't believe that I am here to meet him.It was a difficult task to get a visit with him. I wasn't on his contact list so I had to find my way through somewhat illegally. The officer-in-charge, Jeremy Donovan, has always been a little corrupt. He was much obliged to let me in with a few dollars under the table.Noah's eyes follow my hands as I pick up the headset kept to the side and get ready to talk. He
*Harley’s POVTwo months later:"I'm happy to volunteer as the Godmother for the prettiest baby in this world.""No way! Harley knows that only I can be that. Don't you, Harley?""That's so rude! You're already a Godmother to your niece. This one's for me.""That's unfair. My niece doesn't even live here."With my palms on my cheek, I look at my best friends as they throw each other relentless comebacks. They have been at it for the last 5 minutes and 20 seconds exactly, going back and forth over who gets to be the Godmother to my unborn baby. We are at Hot Cup Brews, sitting by the round table besid
*Xaveir’s POVMy senses are somehow heightened with the long moments of unconsciousness. When the feeling of being alive starts to come back, the first thing I hear is the sound of soft breathing near my head and the feel of fingers curling around my palm — fingers that are warm and smooth. Everything else is quiet.I try to force my eyes open but it takes a lot of effort. For a second, I start to think that I will never be able to open them again but that feeling washes off when I am greeted with the sight of a plain ceiling above my head. There is an oxygen mask above my nose and it troubles me when I attempt to look around through it. I check for my arms and find both of them safe at my sides. Then I see her.She is sleeping quietly, her head lying above my hand. Her hair c
*Harley’s POVMy stare is fixed blankly on the white hospital floor as I sit with my feet above the seat. The sleeves of my shirt are pulled to my hand, my fingers keeping their hold on them tight. The place is quiet except for the sobs of Doris who has a handkerchief pressed to her nose as she sniffs hard. The waiting room has several anxious faces staring at the double doors. Each time they open and a nurse or doctor steps out, the people flick their gaze at the door, thinking that they bring news of their own.Tears on my cheeks have dried up, leaving behind stains as I wait and wait.I have been sitting here for three hours while Xaveir's body is being cut and stitched back by the surgeons in the operating room. He had a pulmonary embolism and the doctors arranged an emergency operation, telling me that his chances of survival are fifty-fifty. The entire family is here, except for my Mom and little Bel. They are at home, waiting for any news.Doris and Rose are sitting on the benc
*Harley’s POV“….We were rushed to the hospital on time. After a few tests they found out the baby was still alive and they needed to perform a surgery to take out the baby. The hospital insisted I call a sister or the mother’s patient to claim the baby, I panicked and didn’t know what to do so I called my the only other person Bella trusted more than me, my ex-girlfriend to claim the baby and then called my dad to move Bel and I to a different hospital”"LIAR!"Mom is the first one to break the silence after Xaveir finishes his story. I am startled when she pushes me toward Dad before stalking Xaveir, her knuckles white as she digs her nails into her palms."Isabelle..." Xaveir