Sky's P.O.V."What's on your mind, Trouble?" I ask Zoe. She sits beside me on the mat, her eyes focused on the water.Without shifting her gaze, she responds, "I was wondering what if Liam is lying to me."My brows furrow in confusion. "What do you mean?""Two days ago, I didn't let him kiss me. Maybe now he doesn't want me in his life, so he lied about the call to push me away." She finally turns to look at me, her eyes filled with uncertainty.The idea of Liam lying to her feels like a gift wrapped in guilt. It means Zoe is doubting him, and that's exactly what I need. But seeing her so conflicted makes me feel like a monster.Fuck! What am I becoming?I place my hand on hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Zoe, if Liam is playing games with you, he doesn't deserve you. You deserve someone who is honest and genuinely cares about you."Anyway, Liam doesn't deserve Zoe at all. He cowardly pushed her away after a single phone call. If I were in his position, I would have confronted t
Sky's P.O.V."I'm still in shock that you danced with me in the rain," Zoe says, sitting beside me in the car's passenger seat as I drop her off at her apartment. "You let me get drenched, and you even joined me! Am I dreaming?"I chuckle at her words. "I must say, life is pretty unexpected, Trouble. You must stay ready for surprises." After giving her a quick wink, I concentrate on the road.And it's just the beginning. The most unexpected thing is yet to happen in your life, Trouble. The floor is going to slip from beneath your feet when you find out about the wild things I want to do with you. Your best friend desires you in ways you can't even imagine.She laughs. "I guess you're right, Sky. Life is full of surprises."***As we pull up to her apartment, the rain has slowed to a gentle drizzle. Zoe turns to me with a smile on her face. "Thank you for today, Sky. I really needed it."I return her smile, taking her hand in mine. "Anytime, Trouble. You know I'm always here for you."
Sky's P.O.V.As the bartender prepares the drinks I ordered, my eyes remain fixed on Zoe, who is dancing freely, completely lost in the music. She looks so fucking beautiful, so captivating, that I can't tear my eyes away from her.But then I notice a guy approaching her, his gaze fixed on her body with lust. My blood boils with anger. How dare he look at her like that?I march over, my fists clenched. Before he can touch her, I push him away, my eyes blazing with fury. The guy stumbles back, looking startled and then annoyed. But one glance at my expression makes him think twice. He backs off, muttering something under his breath.I turn my attention to Zoe, who is dancing oblivious to the scene, her back turned to me.It's enough to hide my desire from Zoe.Without a second thought, I grab her waist and yank her towards me, forgetting everything else. Her back collides with my front, sending jolts of electricity down my spine.Right now, I don't care how she will react; I just want
Zoe's P.O.V.I rush out of the club, my body burning, my cheeks red, and my heart pounding in my chest after the intense kiss.Fuck! I kissed Sky. I kissed my best friend. It felt so right and yet so confusing. It was something I never saw coming.I can't believe I had my first kiss with my best friend. I don't know how I should feel. It's so overwhelming. I always thought my first kiss would be with someone I was romantically involved with, but now everything feels uncertain.I replay the kiss in my mind, the feel of his lips on mine, the way his hands held me so possessively. It was intense, passionate, and everything I had never expected from Sky.God! What's happening in my life?Is it some kind of wild dream?***After reaching my apartment, I throw my bag on the couch and head straight to the bathroom. I splash cold water on my face, trying to make sense of everything. The kiss felt amazing, but it also complicates things. Sky is my best friend.I look in the mirror and our kiss
Zoe's P.O.V.Sky grabs my arms and yanks me closer to him. "No, I don't want to forget it because it wasn't a mistake for me, Trouble." He moves closer to my face, making my heartbeat race, his intense gaze fixed on me.What is happening to me? Why is he behaving like this? We're best friends. How can things change so drastically between us? It was just a kiss that happened in the heat of the moment. Why can't he understand?He questions, "Didn't I give you a chance to push me away last night, Zoe?" As I remain silent, he repeats the question, his tone firm. "Didn't I?""Yes, you did," I admit in a low voice."And did you push me away?" he presses, his grip tightening slightly, making my heart race even faster.I shake my head. "No, I didn't.""Why?" He raises his brows at me. I keep staring at him mutely because I don't have an answer to his question. I don't know why I didn't push him away.He withdraws his hands from my arms and clasps my face. "You didn't push me away because you
Sky's P.O.V.Damn! What did I do?Instead of explaining my feelings, I started asserting my right over her. It's as if possessiveness took over me when I saw Liam leaving her apartment. I just can't bear to see her with any other man now. It boils my blood.What will she think of me?However, she was soaking wet for me when I slipped my hand inside her undies. It means I'm affecting her. She doesn't understand it now because all this is completely unexpected for her.I'll give her time to process everything, but I won't let her get close to Liam. I can't afford to lose Zoe at any cost. She has to understand that we're more than best friends now.As I drive home, I replay everything in my mind—my possessiveness, my hand inside her short and rubbing her, and her reactions. Fuck! The way she was grinding against my hand. It was so satisfying. I can't forget it. Zoe was wet for me! She needs me, but she doesn't know. But I'll make her understand.When I get home, I pour myself a drink, t
Zoe's P.O.V.Sky's eyes soften as he sees my reaction. "Zoe, I know it's a lot. Seriously, I didn't mean to invade your privacy, but I walked in on you by accident. I came to your apartment to surprise you, and what I saw that night changed my feelings for you, Zoe. From that moment, every cell in my body has desired you and only you. I even tried to get you out of my mind, but I couldn't. I stopped doing one-night stands because you're the only one on my mind."Sky saw me using the vibrator? This is too much."When I saw you with Liam, I couldn't control my jealousy. It made me realise that it's beyond just desire; it's something else, something I've never felt for any other woman. I wanted to kill Liam, and I would have done anything to be with you. Do you have any idea how difficult it has been for me to control my feelings and hide them from you for this past month? It's been torturous, and I can't keep pretending anymore."He continues to confess his feelings, but I keep staring
Sky's P.O.V.Shit!Zoe is so angry after finding out that I threatened Liam. I know I was wrong, but how do I explain that my mind explodes every time I see her with him? I had to do something to keep them apart.But now I've hurt her and possibly lost her trust.I slump down on the couch, running my hands through my hair. I can't believe I've let my jealousy drive me to this point, and now Zoe is more distant than ever. The disappointment in her eyes was so profound that it shattered my heart.How do I fix this? How do I make her understand how much she means to me without pushing her further away?Fuck!The situation between us is growing more complicated with each passing day, and now I wish I had never caught her using the vibrator that night.***The Next DayI come to Zoe's apartment. I have to see her, to talk to her, to apologise. The distance between us is killing me. I'm her best friend, and in this situation, I want to be with her. I hope she's alright.As I reach her door,
Alex’s P.O.V.“I love you more, Alex.”These words are like a lifeline, pulling me out of the storm I’ve been drowning in. I can hardly believe my ears. For so long, I’ve waited to hear those words from her lips.Suddenly, all my pain disappears, and the only thing I feel is immense satisfaction. Stella’s confession means so much to me. It means she is finally ready to give me her heart completely. She trusts me. She is giving love a second chance.I stop walking, frozen in the moment. All the darkness, the guilt, the fear—it’s still there, but her words make it bearable.I glance down at her in my arms. Did she really say it? Or is my mind playing tricks on me?Carefully, I lower her to the soft sand near the water, the waves lapping gently at the shore, their sound as peaceful as always.I cup her face in my hands, brushing her cheeks with my thumbs. “Say it again, Please, Stella. Say it again.” I request, fixing my eyes on her.Her eyes are filled with immense affection, and she sm
Stella’s P.O.V.“Please don’t regret for a second for killing that monster, Stella. You’ve freed your mother from the unbearable pain. You have no clue how relieved I am. Thank you.” My mom expresses her gratitude when I lie her down on the bed at night in one room of Alex’s beach house.After my mother was discharged, nobody wanted to return to the place where we used to live with that monster. My mom has so many painful memories tied to that house, and I killed the monster there. Alex didn’t want any of us to be anywhere near a place haunted by his memories. So he made the decision to bring us here instead.I tuck the blanket around Mom. I’m glad I gave her peace, but what about the weight I carry now? The monster is gone, but the trauma of killing someone is unbearable. And I can’t share it with anybody. Alex and Mom, both are dealing with their pain. How can I burden them with mine when they’re already struggling to heal?“Mom, you don’t need to thank me,” I respond, sitting on th
Alex’s P.O.V.The next morning, I’m still seated in the waiting room of the hospital. Stella and I spent the entire night here, though sleep was a stranger. The load of everything that’s happened is suffocating me. I’m still trying to digest that my father was a monster who caused suffering to Stella’s mother. It’s like a nightmare to me.“I can completely understand what you’re going through, Alex.” Sky breaks the silence. He sits beside me. Stella is with Zoe and Selena inside her mother’s room.I know he can feel my pain because, a few months ago, he also discovered the evil deeds of his father. Since then, he’s been working tirelessly day and night to become stronger than him so that he can put his father behind bars.I glance at him with sorrowful eyes. “How did you do it, Sky? I mean, how did you even begin to understand the fact that your own father was… like this? I don’t know how to move forward from here. You know I feel like I’m stuck, drowning in shame.”Sky leans forward,
Alex’s P.O.V.I feel so lost. Completely lost.When the doctor informed us about the condition of Stella’s mother, I felt like killing my father. How could he torture someone to this extent? Why couldn’t I ever see his true face?Before Stella’s mother, did he torture other women? Did he also hurt my mother?My chest tightens with immense pain as I sit outside Stella’s mother’s hospital room, lost in thought. How can I face Olivia, knowing that I carry the blood of the man who hurt her? How am I supposed to promise her I’ll keep Stella safe when my father inflicted so much pain on her? Will she ever be able to trust me?I stare at the floor, fists clenched, and try to steady my breathing. Thoughts revolve endlessly around my mind: Did I somehow miss the signs? Have I been blind to my father’s true nature all my life?The truth is, I don’t know who he is anymore. I don’t know who I am anymore. And worse, I don’t know how I’ll prove to Olivia that I’m not like my father—that I would rat
Stella’s P.O.V.I sit with Alex in the waiting room as the doctor treats our parents. Alex has been completely silent since I told him the truth about his father. That truth has shaken him deeply.On one hand, my heart aches for him, and on the other, for my mother, who has been suffering for who knows how long. Why did God make her endure the same pain she had in the past? Why didn’t she tell me?Alex’s hands are clenched tightly in his lap, and his jaw is tense, as though he’s fighting an internal battle. I can’t blame him. He would have never imagined his father would be a monster.This entire ordeal has taken so much out of both of us. But for Alex, I know it’s different. His world has been turned upside down in a way I can’t even begin to imagine.I glance at him, his face pale and his eyes distant, as if he’s locked away somewhere I can’t reach. The person sitting next to me looks so lost, like a stranger who endured a painful truth he never expected to face. This is a side of A
Alex’s P.O.V.As I sit in my car, waiting for Stella to return, my watch suddenly begins beeping.Damn it!Something is wrong with Stella.Without a second thought, I jump out of the car and rush inside, my mind spinning with worry. I keep praying in my mind that she’s alright.I head straight to her room, but she’s not there. I check everywhere—the bathroom, the balcony—but she’s nowhere in sight. The constant beeping from my watch only makes my heartbeat race with anxiety.What happened to her? She looked so happy when she walked into the house. How could things go wrong in just a few minutes?“Stella…” Desperately, I call her name as I step out of her room, but there’s no response.When I reach the door of her mother’s room, I stop, noticing Stella’s bag lying on the floor just outside.I wonder what her bag is doing here.Then I push the door open and step inside. My eyes widen in shock as I take in the scene. Stella is sitting, hugging her mother tightly, and both of them are cry
Stella’s P.O.V. "Can we have the same sandwich we had last time, please?" I ask as he opens my door and I step out. “No.” He denies it, shutting the door close. I look at him in shock. “Why?” He lets out a laugh, tapping my nose. "I was just kidding, Stella. Of course, we can have that sandwich. Today, whatever you want, we'll do. It's your day, my love." “Who could’ve thought that the Mr Grumpy would get so sweet one day.” I pull his cheeks, causing him to chuckle. “Now I’m yours Mr NMG.” He leans in and pecks on my cheek, making me grin. Then we head inside and eat sandwiches from the stall. My birthday is already going so amazingly. First, I woke up to my room decorated with so many gifts—it felt like a dream. And now, these delicious sandwiches! Wow! As we finish our sandwiches, Alex takes my hand and guides me towards the ice rink. When we enter, I notice something unusual—the entire rink is completely empty. My face falls as I glance around, thinking that the rink m
Alex’s P.O.V.“Anyway, what were you doing in the mall?” I question, glancing at Stella, who is sitting in the passenger seat beside me as I drive us back home.“Actually, I’ve also planned something for my birthday.”My eyes widen in surprise at her words. “What? Why didn’t you tell me?”“Because it was a surprise for you, Alex.” She pouts at me.I shake my head in disbelief. “You’re planning something for me on your birthday? Unbelievable.”“You deserve it.” She locks her eyes filled with profound love on me. “You’ve done so much for me, Alex. I want this birthday to be about us.”I glance over, feeling like I’m falling for her all over again. “You know, you’re amazing.”She reaches over and squeezes my hand. “Then just wait. Tomorrow will be unforgettable—for both of us. And you won’t stop praising me.”“I’m quite excited now. But what about the surprise I’ve planned for you?” I raise my brows at her.“Your surprise?” She taps her finger on her chin thoughtfully, which brings a smi
Alex’s P.O.V.I end the call and grip my phone tightly. All I wanted was to surprise Stella for her birthday. But now, I’ve hurt her when I meant to make her feel special.I hurry toward the parking lot, my heart pounding with worry.Shit! I shouldn’t have lied to her. The betrayal of her ex-boyfriend has left deep scars on her which take time to heal. She is trying so hard to move on and give a second chance to love. And now, because of my lie, she’s reliving that pain.I’m such an idiot.As I reach the parking lot, I spot her near her car. She’s standing there, her arms wrapped around herself, her eyes moist. She looks small and vulnerable. My heart aches at the sight.I just rush towards her and embrace her tightly into my arms. “I’m so fucking sorry, Flower. Trust me, I had no intention of hurting you.” I apologise, pulling her closer to me.“I trust you, Alex. In fact, I’m sorry for doubting you in the first place.”A smile flashes across my face at her words, and I pull her back