Lilian POVThe door of the flower shop closed with a click, and the presence of that disgusting man finally disappeared. The fresh scent of flowers around me was a futile attempt to bring some peace to my tumultuous mind. The sweet smell of roses mixed with the light citrus touch of oranges created an environment that, in other circumstances, could be comforting. But now, the beauty of the place only highlighted the emotional chaos that consumed me.Jensen, in turn, fixed his worried gaze immediately on me. “Lilian, are you okay?” His voice was soft, but there was an urgency that made the moment even heavier. He came closer, but I hesitated, the space between us was thick with tension, like a rope about to snap. The morning sunlight streamed in through the windows, filtering through the flower petals and creating a play of shadows that danced around us, reflecting the confusion of feelings that I could barely contain.I was internally grateful for him for saving me, but the anger and
Lilian POVWhen Jensen left, it was like the floor had collapsed beneath my feet. I remained there, standing in the center of the flower shop, my arms crossed as if they could somehow protect me from the emptiness that settled in my chest. The surrounding sounds—the soft tinkling of the bell on the door, the rustle of flowers on the shelves—became distant and muffled, as if the world were leaving me behind. The tears I had been holding back for so long finally escaped, hot and incessant, streaming down my face without any restraint. The loneliness that took over me was suffocating.I sat on one of the wooden benches we kept by the window, my legs too weak to support me. The scent of the surrounding flowers, which had always brought a sense of peace, now seemed cloying, as if reminding me of what I had lost—of Jensen, of recent memories, of the things that could have been.I asked myself, for the thousandth time, what I had done wrong. Was I too harsh? Or maybe too weak? It didn't matt
Jensen POVThe hotel room was almost completely silent, except for the faint hum of the air conditioning and the occasional sound of a car passing on the road outside. The heavy curtains blocked out most of the moonlight, leaving the space in a suffocating gloom. I was sitting on the edge of the bed, looking at the empty glass I had abandoned on the nightstand. The faint reflection of the glass reminded me of how empty everything felt now. Just like me.The drinking wasn't helping me, but I didn't know what else to do. Ever since I left Lilian's house, my mind has been in a whirlwind. I couldn't stop thinking about what had happened, about the harsh words she said to me, about the kids looking at me with those confused eyes. Rory, Ryan, and Ruby. My little ones. I knew they liked me. I wanted to see them growing up, asking me to play rugby, tell stories, or just be around, like a family. Family. This word has always been something I wanted, but never knew exactly how to construct.And
Lilian POVMorning light filtered through the curtains, illuminating my room as I woke up. The phone vibrated on the bedside table, breaking the silence of my refuge. I answered the call, and Finn's familiar voice greeted me enthusiastically."Good morning, Lilian! All ready to start collecting signatures!" He looked so excited that I couldn't help but smile."Hi, Finn! I'm almost ready. I'm going to get ready and be right out," I replied, feeling a wave of relief upon hearing his warm voice. Finn had this ability to make everything seem better, even when everything around me was in disarray.As soon as I hung up, I quickly got ready, choosing a light blouse and comfortable pants. It was a hot day, and I wanted to feel good as we began our mission. A few minutes later, I heard the familiar sound of Finn's police car pulling up in front of the flower shop.When I left, I found Finn with a big smile on his face, brightening up the sunny day even more. He was in his uniform, but what rea
Lilian POVI looked at the sun setting over the fields of Rustburg, with the shadows lengthening on the streets we knew so well. The little town seemed peaceful, as if everything was at peace, but I knew it was far from that. On that first day of collecting signatures, reality hit us hard.Finn, April and I had begun our mission with renewed confidence. We thought it would be easy to convince people to sign the petition against the mayor's plan to evict entire families and turn the city into a luxury tourism zone. After all, who would want to be expelled from their home, their land, and everything they knew? But to our surprise, many of the people we approached seemed hesitant, and some even excited about the idea of leaving.Our first stop was at Miss Sharon's house, the city's best-known hairdresser. I had always seen her as a figure of resistance, someone who valued the simplicity of Rustburg and its traditions. However, she greeted us with a warm but disconcerting smile."Petition
Jensen POVThe sound of the working telegraph echoed in the background as I leafed through some papers in the city hall office. I spent the morning discussing the details of the work with the mayor, reviewing contracts and deadlines, while trying to stay informed about the status of Lilian and her friends' petition. Each new piece of information confirmed that they were gathering signatures to block the project.I knew Lilian wouldn't give up easily, and part of me respected that. She was determined and strong, but also... stubborn. It was this trait that I loved about her, but now it was the biggest obstacle to my plans.As I thought about this, a familiar tightness in my chest bothered me. The triplets. I hadn't seen them in weeks, and their absence was affecting me in ways I hadn't anticipated. I missed hearing their voices, seeing their smiles running around the house. The distance was slowly destroying me inside."Enough," I muttered to myself, dropping the papers on the table.I
Lilian POVThe sky was painted in shades of gray, reflecting the tense atmosphere that hovered over the city. As I drove towards the children's school, a feeling of discomfort enveloped me. Three weeks had already passed since the announcement, and now there was only one left. The deadline that everyone awaited with fear and uncertainty was quickly approaching, and the city began to transform into an almost apocalyptic scenario.Along the streets, I saw families preparing to leave, some hurriedly, others with calm resignation. There were suitcases being loaded into crowded cars, as if they were fleeing an imminent catastrophe. Some houses were already empty, with "For Sale" signs hanging in the windows. People's faces reflected despair and doubt. Some looked around as if questioning whether they were making the right decision by abandoning their homes and their lives. It was a sight that left my heart heavy. The city I knew so well was crumbling before my eyes, and I wondered how muc
Lilian POVAs I walked away from that devastating scene—Jensen standing next to Kate Nash, the woman who destroyed our marriage—I felt a mixture of anger and humiliation burning inside me. Each step I took felt heavier than the last, but I knew I couldn't stop. Not there, not on that empty street, where the wind seemed to cut through the skin and the normally vibrant city lights now seemed distant and cold."I'm not going to let him do this to me again", I thought, as my eyes, still teary, focused on emptiness. My phone vibrated in my pocket. A message from Finn.> "Hey, Lilian, still up for tonight? Let me know if you change your mind."I hesitated. Accepting Finn's invitation seemed like an escape, a way to try to forget Jensen and that betrayal he had just witnessed. But maybe that's what I needed. A distraction. Something that would take me away from the crushing weight of reality that was about to swallow me. I took a deep breath and, on impulse, typed a quick reply.> "Yes. Let'