Nicola Taylor As I stepped out of the shower, wrapping myself in a fluffy towel, I felt the exhaustion of the day finally catching up to me. It had been a long evening, dinner out with some friends, and I was more than ready to collapse into bed. I slipped into my favorite nightdress, a soft, comfo
“Finn, I’m hanging up now,” I repeated, firmer this time. “Go home. Sleep it off.” Before he could protest further, I ended the call, letting out a long, exasperated sigh. I stared at my phone, half-expecting it to buzz again, but thankfully, it stayed silent. Shaking my head, I placed the phone b
Nicola Taylor As I stood in line at my favorite café, the familiar scent of freshly brewed coffee and pastries enveloped me, providing me with comfort. I was there to pick up my usual—an indulgent caramel macchiato—and the drinks for my family: Cole’s strong, black coffee and Arabella’s sweet straw
Cole’s frown deepened as he glanced at me, his eyes searching mine for an explanation. I could see the hurt and confusion swirling in his gaze, and it only made the knot in my stomach tighten. I knew this conversation was inevitable, but I had hoped we could avoid it, at least for today. We walked
Cole Harrington I entered the bedroom quietly, my footsteps barely making a sound on the plush carpet. Nicola was sitting on the bed facing me but she didn’t notice me. Her eyes were fixed on the screen, typing something furiously on her laptop. The rhythmic clacking of the keys filled the room, an
God, I just wanted to kiss her. The thought came unbidden, a sudden, overwhelming urge to close the distance between us and capture those lips with mine. But I forced myself to stay still, to keep my composure. "What do you want to do?" I asked, my voice coming out more stoic than I intended. "I w
Nicola Taylor As the clock inched closer to 6 PM, I found myself feeling both excited and a little guilty about meeting Stephanie, one of my closest friends who still taught at Arabella’s school and my old workplace. It had been so long since we’d caught up, and I could already hear her playful sco
Nicola Taylor As I brushed my hair, following my familiar bedtime routine, I caught a glimpse of Cole watching me out of the corner of my eye. He seemed almost intrigued, his gaze fixed on my every move as I finished my skincare ritual. It wasn’t the first time I’d noticed him doing this, he had a
Nicola 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 As I sat on Emma’s worn but cozy couch, “I think I should head home now,” I said, breaking the comfortable silence between us. “I miss my kids, and I can’t keep running away. If I stay away much longer, Cole might do something drastic to track me down.” The thought made my stomach ch
Cole Harrington “Where is she?” my mom screamed, her voice cutting through the thick tension in the room as her glare landed on Courtney. Courtney shrank back, but she didn’t respond, her face pale and drawn. My mother had never been a fan of Courtney—not openly hostile, but certainly not warm. S
Nicola Taylor Her apartment was modest but surprisingly clean. A small living room with a sagging couch and mismatched furniture opened into a kitchenette. A door to the left likely led to her bedroom, and there was a pile of laundry in one corner. The faint smell of lavender hung in the air, mixi