Dylan shut the door behind us with a soft thud, the sound feeling too final. Too much like the world outside was still pressing down on me.The car started moving, the soft hum of the engine doing nothing to ease the storm inside me. I stared out the window, the city lights blurring by, but I wasn’t really seeing any of it. My thoughts were consumed by one thing, and one thing only.Aiden.I had spent so long running from him, escaping the life he’d built around me, and yet here I was, with him still somehow right there in front of me. Like some fucking ghost, haunting me.And Dylan?Dylan was his cousin.I couldn’t stop the words from slipping out.“Why the hell didn’t you tell me?” My voice was raw, barely above a whisper, but it still felt like a shout inside the car. “How could you not tell me that?”Dylan didn’t look at me. His hands were clenched tight on the wheel, his jaw set like granite. He kept his gaze fixed on the road ahead, his posture tense. But I could feel the shift
I stayed in the car for a long time after Dylan killed the engine, staring at the house, the quiet stillness of the night pressing down on me. The lights from the streetlamp outside cast long shadows across the driveway, but it wasn’t the darkness that felt suffocating, it was the weight of everything I was trying to ignore, trying to outrun.Finally, Dylan spoke, his voice softer this time, as though he could feel the distance growing between us.“Come inside, Caitlin,” he said gently. “You need to rest.”I shook my head, the exhaustion in my bones telling me that he was right. But my mind wouldn’t stop spinning, the image of Aiden, his presence still burning in my veins. I didn’t want to go inside. I didn’t want to face this house, this life. I didn’t want to feel like a ghost in my own skin.But there was no escaping it. So, I opened the car door, stepping out into the cool night air, the sound of my shoes crunching on the gravel beneath my feet. Dylan was already a few steps ahe
The Next Day,Morning light filtered through the blinds, casting long shadows across the room. I woke with a start, my heart racing, the memory of the previous night’s events flooding back. Aiden. Dylan. Lily. The ballroom. Everything felt like it was closing in on me.I pushed myself out of bed, the weight of what I had to do pressing down on me. Emily’s office. The words echoed in my mind. I had to do this. There was no other choice.I didn’t take long to get ready, just a simple black dress, no makeup, no frills. I wanted to look invisible. I didn’t need to draw any attention to myself today.When I stepped downstairs, Dylan was already waiting, sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee. He didn’t look up when I entered, but I knew he was aware of me. He always was.“I’m heading out,” I said, my voice steady but tired.Dylan finally glanced up at me, his expression unreadable. “You're not having breakfast?.”“I’ll be fine,” I said, forcing a smile, though I could feel the h
The office had a strange kind of stillness when Lily walked in, as if the room collectively held its breath. Even the air seemed to freeze for a moment, her presence commanding attention like a storm moving through the calm.Lily was every inch the picture of wealth and privilege. Her high-end designer suit looked like it belonged on a runway, and the sharpness in her eyes made it clear that she knew her value, and everyone else’s. She swept through the door with the kind of confidence that only comes with a life of entitlement.She wasn't just rich. She was the kind of rich that made people bend at the knee without her needing to ask. The kind of rich that made you want to either be her or never cross her path. Unfortunately for me, it seemed like I was stuck in the second category.I watched her as she walked into the office, the whispers from the colleagues that once surrounded me now falling silent in her wake. Lily glanced around the space with a subtle but unmistakable disd
The weight of his words sank into the room, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. I didn’t know what to make of this sudden shift. Aiden taking control, offering me a reprieve, but there was something about the way he stood there, unwavering, that made me feel a strange sense of relief.Lily’s face went pale with rage, her fingers curling into fists. “You don’t scare me, Aiden. You know that. My father...”“Your father’s company will be shut down before midnight if you even think about crossing me again,” Aiden interrupted, his words cutting through her like a blade. “So, you’re leaving now. Don’t make me repeat myself.”Lily stared at him for a long moment, her breath shallow, her face flushed with frustration.“You can’t do this,” she spat, her voice trembling with anger.“I already have,” Aiden said, his voice sharp as a knife. “Now, get out.”With a final, seething look at me, Lily grabbed her purse and stormed out, the door slamming shut behind her with a force that sh
The car ride back felt endless. I kept replaying my encounter with Aiden over and over in my head, each word, each movement, each breath he took like it had etched itself into my bones. And the worst part? The fear still lingered, clinging to me like a second skin.By the time we reached the apartment, I was barely able to drag myself out of the car. My legs felt like jelly, but somehow, I managed to get inside.Dylan was already there, waiting, probably expecting me to be just as calm and collected as I had been when I left. But inside, I was anything but calm. I was unraveling, every thread of me pulled taut, threatening to snap.I didn’t even try to hide it as soon as I walked through the door. The moment he saw me, he could tell something was wrong. His eyes narrowed in concern, and before I knew it, I was in his arms, my face buried in his chest, tears coming without warning.“Caitlin,” he murmured, his voice soft, but with a sharpness that told me he was already on edge. “Wh
Caitlin's POV: My heart sprang and bolted in fear, with each step he took towards me. I thought I had more time to myself. I had hoped our anniversary would bring a reprieve from all the tension, thinking he would be gone for a week. But, Fuck it! He was home, and I was wrong. Anniversary or not, tonight would be just as dreadful like all the others.I stood frozen, my eyes fixed on the vibrant yellow parrot perched on the window sill. It's eyes a bright, piercing blue. It cocked it's head to one side, watching me with an unblinking gaze. As I reached out to touch the parrot's soft feathers, a strong hand grasps my waist, pulling my back against a hard, muscular chest. "Hey beautiful, I'm home." He whispered.Aiden's fingers caressed my skin, his touch a mixture of passion and possession. His lips trailed soft passionate kisses along my neck, and brushed against my ear. But I felt nothing; nothing at all. No spark, no flame, no desire."I miss you...miss your scent so fuck
I woke up the next morning, still lying in Aiden's bed, with bruises all over my body. It ached all over. My sex area, my b**bs, my ass, my nipples, they all were in so much pain, reeling from the events of last night..Damn it! This crazy maniac b**tard dealt seriously with me. Such a beast!As I slowly sat up in bed, I saw him standing by the light of the window with just his pants on. He was radiating in every way. His broad shoulders and toned abs were evident as ever, rippling beneath his skin as he moved. A valid testament of his rigorous workout routine. If only Aiden hadn't become like this, he would have been the true definition of a perfect man for any woman, giving his looks and all.They had once captivated me. But now, they only serve to mask the monster that lurked beneath.He turned to pick up his shirt from the bed, and I noticed the faintest glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes, a hint that he was pleased with himself for having asserted and worked his dominanc
The car ride back felt endless. I kept replaying my encounter with Aiden over and over in my head, each word, each movement, each breath he took like it had etched itself into my bones. And the worst part? The fear still lingered, clinging to me like a second skin.By the time we reached the apartment, I was barely able to drag myself out of the car. My legs felt like jelly, but somehow, I managed to get inside.Dylan was already there, waiting, probably expecting me to be just as calm and collected as I had been when I left. But inside, I was anything but calm. I was unraveling, every thread of me pulled taut, threatening to snap.I didn’t even try to hide it as soon as I walked through the door. The moment he saw me, he could tell something was wrong. His eyes narrowed in concern, and before I knew it, I was in his arms, my face buried in his chest, tears coming without warning.“Caitlin,” he murmured, his voice soft, but with a sharpness that told me he was already on edge. “Wh
The weight of his words sank into the room, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. I didn’t know what to make of this sudden shift. Aiden taking control, offering me a reprieve, but there was something about the way he stood there, unwavering, that made me feel a strange sense of relief.Lily’s face went pale with rage, her fingers curling into fists. “You don’t scare me, Aiden. You know that. My father...”“Your father’s company will be shut down before midnight if you even think about crossing me again,” Aiden interrupted, his words cutting through her like a blade. “So, you’re leaving now. Don’t make me repeat myself.”Lily stared at him for a long moment, her breath shallow, her face flushed with frustration.“You can’t do this,” she spat, her voice trembling with anger.“I already have,” Aiden said, his voice sharp as a knife. “Now, get out.”With a final, seething look at me, Lily grabbed her purse and stormed out, the door slamming shut behind her with a force that sh
The office had a strange kind of stillness when Lily walked in, as if the room collectively held its breath. Even the air seemed to freeze for a moment, her presence commanding attention like a storm moving through the calm.Lily was every inch the picture of wealth and privilege. Her high-end designer suit looked like it belonged on a runway, and the sharpness in her eyes made it clear that she knew her value, and everyone else’s. She swept through the door with the kind of confidence that only comes with a life of entitlement.She wasn't just rich. She was the kind of rich that made people bend at the knee without her needing to ask. The kind of rich that made you want to either be her or never cross her path. Unfortunately for me, it seemed like I was stuck in the second category.I watched her as she walked into the office, the whispers from the colleagues that once surrounded me now falling silent in her wake. Lily glanced around the space with a subtle but unmistakable disd
The Next Day,Morning light filtered through the blinds, casting long shadows across the room. I woke with a start, my heart racing, the memory of the previous night’s events flooding back. Aiden. Dylan. Lily. The ballroom. Everything felt like it was closing in on me.I pushed myself out of bed, the weight of what I had to do pressing down on me. Emily’s office. The words echoed in my mind. I had to do this. There was no other choice.I didn’t take long to get ready, just a simple black dress, no makeup, no frills. I wanted to look invisible. I didn’t need to draw any attention to myself today.When I stepped downstairs, Dylan was already waiting, sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee. He didn’t look up when I entered, but I knew he was aware of me. He always was.“I’m heading out,” I said, my voice steady but tired.Dylan finally glanced up at me, his expression unreadable. “You're not having breakfast?.”“I’ll be fine,” I said, forcing a smile, though I could feel the h
I stayed in the car for a long time after Dylan killed the engine, staring at the house, the quiet stillness of the night pressing down on me. The lights from the streetlamp outside cast long shadows across the driveway, but it wasn’t the darkness that felt suffocating, it was the weight of everything I was trying to ignore, trying to outrun.Finally, Dylan spoke, his voice softer this time, as though he could feel the distance growing between us.“Come inside, Caitlin,” he said gently. “You need to rest.”I shook my head, the exhaustion in my bones telling me that he was right. But my mind wouldn’t stop spinning, the image of Aiden, his presence still burning in my veins. I didn’t want to go inside. I didn’t want to face this house, this life. I didn’t want to feel like a ghost in my own skin.But there was no escaping it. So, I opened the car door, stepping out into the cool night air, the sound of my shoes crunching on the gravel beneath my feet. Dylan was already a few steps ahe
Dylan shut the door behind us with a soft thud, the sound feeling too final. Too much like the world outside was still pressing down on me.The car started moving, the soft hum of the engine doing nothing to ease the storm inside me. I stared out the window, the city lights blurring by, but I wasn’t really seeing any of it. My thoughts were consumed by one thing, and one thing only.Aiden.I had spent so long running from him, escaping the life he’d built around me, and yet here I was, with him still somehow right there in front of me. Like some fucking ghost, haunting me.And Dylan?Dylan was his cousin.I couldn’t stop the words from slipping out.“Why the hell didn’t you tell me?” My voice was raw, barely above a whisper, but it still felt like a shout inside the car. “How could you not tell me that?”Dylan didn’t look at me. His hands were clenched tight on the wheel, his jaw set like granite. He kept his gaze fixed on the road ahead, his posture tense. But I could feel the shift
Every corner of the ballroom whispered wealth, status, and power. This was a world I had never wanted, a world I never wished to belong to.But tonight, I was here. Again.My breath hitched in my throat as his gaze locked with mine across the room, his expression unreadable. His dark eyes were intense, piercing through the crowd as if nothing else existed but the space between us.For a moment, everything else faded. The music, the chatter, the clinking of glasses, they all disappeared, and it was just him and me, locked in this unexpected confrontation.I could feel the blood drain from my face. My fingers tightened around the glass of champagne in my hand, my knuckles white. I wasn’t ready for this. I wasn’t ready to face him, not like this, not in front of all these people.I tried to swallow the panic that rose in my chest, but it didn’t help. It wasn’t just the shock of seeing him again. It was the way he was looking at me. Like he knew exactly who I was.“Caitlin,” Dylan’s voic
Dylan sat next to me, his hand resting on the seat between us, his fingers twitching as if he wanted to touch me but was unsure whether to do so.I kept my gaze fixed out of the window, watching the city lights blur into a haze of color. It almost felt like I was in a dream. But it wasn’t a dream, it was my life now. Or at least, a life I had to pretend was mine.I wanted to ask Dylan a thousand questions. I wanted to scream, to demand answers. What was he really asking of me? Why was he so insistent that I become Emily, that I wear her life like a second skin? But every time I opened my mouth, the words felt too heavy to speak.Instead, I turned to him, just enough to catch his profile in the dim light of the car. His jaw was tight, his brow furrowed in a way that suggested he was lost in his thoughts as much as I was in mine.“Dylan,” I said softly, breaking the silence. “What happens when they see through it? When they realize I’m not her?”He glanced at me, his eyes flickering wit
The morning after didn’t feel like morning at all.The light leaking through the curtains was soft and forgiving, but everything else was sharp. The weight of what we’d done pressed down on my chest like a stone. I hadn’t slept much. I doubted Dylan had either. He hadn’t said a word when he got out of bed, just pressed a lingering kiss to my shoulder before disappearing into the bathroom.Now I sat on the edge of the mattress, clutching the sheet to my chest, listening to the sound of running water.It should have felt like something good. Like a release.Instead, it felt like a beginning I didn’t ask for.The bathroom door creaked open. Dylan stepped out, towel slung low around his hips, hair damp, eyes unreadable. He paused when he saw me still sitting there, like he wasn’t sure how to break the silence between us.I beat him to it. “You called me Emily.”His jaw tightened. “Last night?”I nodded, eyes locked on him. “More than once.”He rubbed a hand down his face, then turned awa