LOGINNicola Taylor I sat in the car, gripping the steering wheel tightly, staring at the entrance of Cole’s office building. I felt utterly defeated. Six years ago, my life had crumbled in his absence. And now, here I was again, stuck in an endless loop, except this time, I wasn’t competing with the
Cole Harrington I watched Nicola walk off, her retreating figure stirring something uneasy in my chest. The weight of the day’s events pressed down on me like a storm cloud refusing to dissipate. I felt suffocated, torn between what was happening and what I was inadvertently doing to the woman I c
Nicola Taylor The weight of her words hit like a tidal wave. I felt my chest tighten as I realized what she’d sacrificed, and I could see the shift in Cole’s expression. The anger in his eyes dimmed, replaced by something closer to heartbreak. “And you just… agreed to that?” he asked, his voice b
“Because I knew you wouldn’t let me go,” she said simply. “You would’ve fought him, and he would’ve come after you too. After Arabella. I couldn’t risk it. I couldn’t let him hurt you the way he wanted to hurt me.” The three of us stood in silence, the weight of Courtney’s confession hanging heavy
Nicola Taylor Arabella went back inside, her small figure disappearing into the house with a frustrated sigh. The heavy front door creaked as it closed, leaving just the three of us standing in the cool morning air. Silence settled over the driveway, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves i
Nicola Taylor The night was a restless blur. Aaron’s small, trembling body pressed against mine as he cried himself to sleep, his tears soaking through my shirt. I stayed with him, stroking his hair and whispering soft reassurances until his breathing evened out. Even then, I couldn’t bring myself
Nicola Taylor “Cole, please, just go upstairs,” I begged, my voice strained with desperation. I could feel the tension in the room thickening, like a storm brewing on the horizon. This was bad—really bad—and the last thing I wanted was for him to get dragged into something that could seriously mess
Nicola TaylorThe backyard was a vision straight out of a fairy tale. The decorations sparkled under the warm afternoon sun, turning the space into a magical wonderland for Arabella’s birthday. Twinkling fairy lights wrapped around tree trunks and hung from branches, casting a gentle glow.Pastel-co
Nicola TaylorI hadn’t slept the whole night, too terrified of the conversation I was about to have with Cole. The knot of dread twisted tighter in my stomach with every thought. Pacing the kitchen, I clutched my coffee mug like it was the only thing anchoring me to reality. What was I going to say?
Without thinking, I threw myself into his arms, colliding with his bare chest. He caught me easily, his grip tightening around my waist in a way that felt a little too natural, like his hands had been there before and knew exactly how to hold me. His skin was warm against mine, and I could feel the







