Finn Rowan

🌸Eden🌸

I woke up early, still feeling out of place in the penthouse. Everything that happened the night before was a blur, but I knew I needed to do something to feel in control again.

My stomach growled, reminding me I hadn’t eaten properly. I looked around and, on a whim, decided to make breakfast. It was something small I could do for myself.

I slipped into the dress Mia had left for me and walked to the kitchen. The staff was quietly moving around, getting things ready for the day. One of the kitchen staff noticed me and asked, “Good morning, Miss. Can I help you with anything?”

I smiled slightly and shook my head. “I’m going to make breakfast. It’s okay, I’ll do it.”

She seemed unsure but nodded. “Okay, if you need anything, let us know.”

I started gathering ingredients: eggs, vegetables, and herbs. Cooking always made me feel better, so I focused on the task. The sound of eggs sizzling and bread toasting helped calm my mind.

Once everything was ready, I plated the food and put it on the table. The staff came to take the dishes, but I stopped them. “I’ll keep it for now,” I said. I needed this little moment of normal life. 

As soon as I finished everything, my phone rang. It was Liam.

“Where are you?” he asked, his voice sounding concerned. “Jessica said you didn’t sleep at home last night.”

I couldn’t help the bitterness that surged inside me. Why do you care?

I didn’t wait for him to finish his sentence. I just hung up. The sound of the call ending was oddly satisfying.

“Good morning.”

I turned to see Finn.

“Good morning,” I replied softly, gesturing to the table. “I made breakfast.”

“You didn’t have to,” he said, walking closer and glancing at the food.

“I wanted to,” I said, brushing off his words. “It’s nothing fancy, just something simple.”

He picked up a fork and took a bite of the scrambled eggs. He paused for a moment, his expression unreadable.

“Wow,” he finally said, looking at me with a surprised smile. “This is really good.”

His reaction caught me off guard, and I felt a small sense of pride bloom in my chest.

“I used to cook a lot,” I said quietly, taking a seat across from him.

“Well, you’re clearly great at it,” he said, taking another bite. “You could open a restaurant with skills like this.”

I smiled faintly, not wanting to explain how cooking had been a dream Liam never let me chase. Finn didn’t need to know that yet.

“I actually attended culinary school,” I admitted after a moment, my fingers lightly brushing the edge of my cup. “I didn’t finish, though.”

Finn raised an eyebrow, his curiosity evident. “Why not?”

I hesitated, feeling the familiar lump in my throat. “Umm… personal reasons,” I said, keeping my tone light, hoping he wouldn’t push further.

He studied me for a moment but didn’t press. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, nodding slowly. “Well, that’s a shame. You’ve got real talent.”

“Thank you,” I murmured, my gaze lowering to my plate.

“Do you ever think about going back to it?” he asked, his voice casual but genuinely interested.

The question hung in the air, and for a second, I considered telling him the truth. That it wasn’t my choice to leave. That someone else had decided my dreams weren’t worth pursuing…and I foolishly let him

But instead, I forced a small smile and said, “Maybe one day.”

Finn didn’t say anything, but his eyes lingered on me for a moment longer before he returned to his food.

We ate mostly in silence after that, the sound of cutlery against plates filling the space. Despite the quiet, it wasn’t uncomfortable. For the first time in a long time, I felt a sense of ease, even if just for a little while.

When breakfast was over, Finn stood and stretched. “Thanks for this. You really didn’t have to, but I’m glad you did.”

“You’re welcome,” I replied, starting to clear the table.

“Leave it,” he said, waving a hand. “The staff will take care of it.”

I hesitated but eventually nodded, stepping back as one of the staff members began clearing the dishes.

Finn glanced at his watch. “I’ve got some meetings to attend, but make yourself at home. If you need anything, just let Mia know.”

“Okay,” I said softly.

As he walked toward the door, he paused and looked back. “And, Eden…”

“Yes?”

His expression softened. “Whatever those personal reasons were, I hope you find a way back to what makes you happy.”

The words caught me off guard, and I could only nod as he left. The sound of the door closing echoed in the quiet room, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

Whatever makes me happy? I hadn’t thought about that in so long. Maybe it was time I started.

As the door clicked shut behind Finn, I found myself sinking deeper into the chair. His words lingered in my mind. Find a way back to what makes you happy.

Why did he care? Why was he being so kind?

It didn’t make sense. He barely knew me, yet he’d given me shelter, food, and now, a strange sense of peace I hadn’t felt in years.

Who was he, really?

Curiosity tugged at me, and before I knew it, I had my phone in hand. My fingers hovered over the screen for a moment before I typed his name: Finn Rowan.

The search results loaded, and the moment I saw his face plastered across headlines, my breath hitched.

“Billionaire Tech Mogul: Inside the Life of Finn Rowan.”

“Finn Rowan, the Man Behind Rowan Real Estate.”

“Finn Rowan and Nalani Caspian : Divorced!

I froze, rereading the last headline. My heart began to race.

No wonder he looked so familiar. I’d seen his face before—when I was digging into Nalani’s life. I just hadn’t paid enough attention at the time. Back then, all I cared about was finding out what kind of woman she was, the woman Liam had chosen over me. Finn had been just another detail in the background of her story.

But now, he was standing in the foreground of mine.

I stared at the screen, my mind reeling.

Nalani Caspian.

It felt like a punch to the gut. The stranger who had offered me kindness, a place to stay, and unexpected warmth, was none other than Nalani’s ex-husband.

I stared at the screen, my mind reeling. How could I not have known? How had I ended up here, in his home, of all places?

But the bigger question burned at the back of my mind:

How could Nalani leave a sweet man like this… for someone else’s husband?