Casey P.O.V I woke up to the sterile smell of antiseptic and the soft beeping of medical equipment. My body ached, and my head felt heavy .I slowly opened my eyes, groggily taking in my surroundings. As my vision cleared, I saw two familiar faces hovering over me. “C..an yo..u get o..ff my f..ace?” I asked hoarsely and was barely audible. “Oh she is fine.” They both sighed in relief and stepped back. Zazu grabbed the cup from the bedside table , filled it with the water and helped me take a sip. "We're so glad you are okay. You gave us quite a scare.” As I sipped the water, I tried to piece together what had happened. Fragments of memories flashed through my mind - a loud crash, a searing pain, and then nothing. My brain was completely blank after that. "What...what happened?" My head started throbbing in pain. Zazu and Deniz exchanged a nervous glance before Deniz began to explain. "You were in a car accident. We are still not entirely sure what happened, but you've been out
Owen P.O.VIt was ten in the morning when I stepped into my restaurant, the familiar hum of activity enveloping me as the scents of cooking food wafted through the air. The clinking of glasses and soft murmur of conversation filled the space. As I walked past the bustling kitchen, my friend and chef , Oliver, approached me with pursed lips.“Hey, man," Oliver said, wiping his hands on a towel. "There is someone waiting for you in the back, in the outdoor section. Says she is from a news company.”"Thanks, Oliver. I will handle it," I replied, giving him a part on the shoulder I went to my office to keep files of yesterday’s meeting.Making my way to the outdoor patio, I spotted a woman sitting at a table by the large glass windows that overlooked the garden. She was striking, her presence immediate and undeniable. Her long, dark hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders, framing a face with sharp, defined features. Her eyes, a deep green, flickered with curiosity , observing her su
Author P.O.VNo one responded to the door when the doorbell rang. The girl in a blue velvet shirt and short skirt on the other side rang the doorbell again impatiently, she was tapping her foot impatiently. Losing her patience she began to bang the door impatiently.“Owen open the damn door, now” the girl shouted from the other side. Disturbed from the chaos Eva woke up. She pulled the sheet up to cover herself and looked at the clock. It was seven in the morning. Another bang on the door forced Ava to get out of the bed. Owen was in the shower when she lifted his shirt from the floor, put it on and answered the door, unaware of the atom bomb that was about to explode outside.Ava opened the door , saw a girl standing there leaning against the side wall, chewing gum in her mouth. She stood up straight, looking Ava from top to bottom, the smile left her face when she saw what the other woman was wearing. “Is Owen home right now?” she asked, putting her left hand on the door. She pushe
Owen P.O.VScrewing my eyes shut I flex my foot and slide towards the edge of the platform while gripping the railing that was behind me. Ok fine, just a few more steps and I will reach the end , just a little more then I will be safe.Just a little , just a little more.I tried to move but something was pulling me back or more like my towel back. I looked over my shoulder and felt a surge of panic as I realised my towel was snagged on the glass slide. Great, just great. Out of all the ways to die, hanging off the edge of a balcony in nothing but a towel was definitely not on my list. I tugged at it gently, hoping it would come loose without drawing attention. No luck. The thing was jammed tight.I glanced back into the apartment. The girls were still in their heated argument, seemingly oblivious to the fact that I was one slip away from a very embarrassing demise. Their voices grew louder, and I could see one of them pointing in the direction of the balcony."Oh no," I whispered und
Casey P.O.V“What the hell did you come from almost naked in my cousin's apartment?!” I asked the infuriating man from the other day in the cab. I could not believe my eyes. Of all the people in the world, why did it have to be him? The asshole idiot from the cab! And to make matters worse, he was nearly naked—again. This was getting ridiculous.His eyes widened as he recognized me. "You’ve got to be kidding me," he muttered under his breath.I crossed my arms, trying to appear as composed as possible despite the absurdity of the situation. "Answer the question!”"I live next door," he said, his tone somewhere between defensive and embarrassed. "There was a... um... misunderstanding, and I ended up here.""A misunderstanding?" I repeated incredulously. "So, you just wandered into my cousin's apartment half-naked because of a misunderstanding? Do you have any idea how insane that sounds?”He ran a hand through his wet hair, clearly trying to come up with a reasonable explanation. "Loo
Author P.O.VMarching out of the complex, Ava's face burned with anger and humiliation. She held her clothes and purse tightly in her hands, her mind racing as she opened the car door and threw her things into the backseat with a frustrated huff. Every cell in her body buzzed with fury at Owen Brown. She was done playing nice.Yanking her phone out, she quickly dialed a number. “Hello, Ryan? Cancel the context I sent you about Mr. Brown. I have something far more interesting to share about him.” An evil smirk tugged at her lips as she leaned back in the driver's seat, listening to Ryan’s surprised response. “Trust me, you’ll want to hear this.”Yanking her phone out, she quickly dialed a number. “Hello, Ryan? Cancel the context I sent you about Mr. Brown. I have something far more interesting to share about him.” An evil smirk tugged at her lips as she leaned back in the driver's seat, listening to Ryan’s surprised response. “Trust me, you’ll want to hear this.”She hung up the phone,
Casey P.O.V"Yes, I’ll be there in a minute," I said, hanging up as the cab screeched to a stop in front of the hospital. "Here." I handed the driver the fare and quickly got out. I was meeting my cousin for lunch at a restaurant a few blocks away from the hospital where she worked.As I entered the building, my phone buzzed with a message. I pulled it out from my bag and glanced at the screen.‘I have been stuck because of work. Wait for me for ten minutes. I will be there.’ I read.I sighed. “Well, looks like I’ll have to wait.” I tucked the phone back into my bag and stepped to the side. That's when I saw Sam, my ex-boyfriend and his fiancee , Susan, were exiting a room just down the hall, with Dr. Hart walking behind them, a file in his hand. They hadn’t noticed me yet. They stopped to talk outside the room.so I subtly moved closer and pretended to linger near the reception desk, keeping my back to them, to listen to what they were saying .“Take it easy,” I heard Dr. Hart said to
Author P.O.V. “Hmmm…” Casey muttered as she scanned the series of books on her cousin's bookshelf. A frustrated sigh escaped her lips as her fingers brushed over a particularly dusty volume. But nothing had quite caught her interest yet. Behind her, Zazu sat curled up on the couch, swirling wine in her glass with a smirk playing on her lips. She watched Casey with mild amusement. “So let me get this straight. You are telling me that lousy son of a bitch got that girl pregnant, and then you hurt yourself while spying on them?” Zazu asked, dissolving into laughter. Casey turned her head, her expression unimpressed. “Laugh all you want. It is not like your boyfriend is cheating on you,” she retorted dryly, her eyes drifting back to the bookshelf. Her cousin’s laughter abruptly ceased, replaced by a silence that was heavy and disconcerting. Casey arched an eyebrow but did not look back. Her focus was caught by a peculiar title on the top shelf. Standing on her good foot, she stretched
Casey P.O.V The dressing room was alive with a kind of excited chaos. Light poured in through tall windows draped with sheer white curtains, illuminating the room’s pale blue walls and vintage furniture. The scent of fresh roses and peonies filled the air, mingling with the subtle hint of Lauren’s perfume. Lauren sat on an upholstered chair in the center of the room, her reflection in the ornate mirror showing her transformation into a bride. Her dress was an exquisite ball gown, its ivory silk shimmering softly under the light. The bodice was fitted with delicate lace detailing, the off-shoulder neckline emphasizing her graceful collarbones. A satin sash, accented with pearls, cinched her waist, flowing seamlessly into a full skirt that cascaded to the floor. Her veil, trimmed with lace, was carefully pinned into her elegantly styled hair in soft waves gathered into a low bun. Lauren’s makeup was flawless, a soft and romantic look that brought out her natural beauty. Her cheeks ha
Casey P.O.VThe air inside the bridal shop smelled faintly of lavender and vanilla, a stark contrast to the chaos in my mind. Lauren was in front of a floor length mirror, swishing back and forth in an ivory gown that glimmered faintly under the boutique's lights. Zazu was helping her to put on the veil .The veil cascaded in delicate waves, pure white and nearly translucent, reaching gracefully down to the floor. Its edges were adorned with intricate lace, soft floral patterns curling like whispers of elegance. When the light hit it , it shimmered faintly, as if dusted with stardust, adding an ethereal glow. It framed Lauren’s face gently, creating an aura of serene beauty and timeless grace.I stood at the edge of the room, sipping on complimentary champagne, trying to avoid Owen’s gaze as he rifled through some paperwork at the front desk. I still had not figured out how we ended up with a marriage certificate tucked in his wallet and worse, why he was so nonchalant about it.The ni
Casey P.O.VMy eyes fluttered open, and immediately, a sharp, splitting pain shot through my head. I groaned, slumping back onto the pillow as I clutched my temples, trying to will the headache away. My body protested every small movement, reminding me that drinking beyond my limits had been a grave mistake. A cold sensation grazed my skin, making me glance down at my hand.My eyes grew wide in shock.A ring. A massive diamond encrusted ring sat on my finger, glinting mockingly under the morning light. My groggy brain jolted to life, and the pounding in my head was momentarily forgotten.What. The. Hell.Where did this ring come from and why is it on my ring finger?I blinked hard, willing myself to remember how this ring had ended up on my hand. My mind was blank, my memories scattered like puzzle pieces I could not fit together. I knew I had left my engagement ring back in the hotel safe before going out with others to that club,last night, so where had this come from?Panicking, I
Casey P.O.V As Owen stepped out of the ring, his chest heaving, exhaustion flickered across his face. The bruise on his jaw was already turning a vivid shade of purple, and I felt a surge of emotions rising within me. Relief that all his body parts are still intact. Anger at his recklessness for getting distracted during the fight. I got it. It was something he used to do to survive, and maybe it gave him some sense of control or release, but seeing him hurt, was a different story for me. Before I could voice my thoughts, Lauren bounded over, practically buzzing with excitement. "Wasn’t that amazing?" she asked, her eyes gleaming with pride. "You nailed it, brother!" "Amazing is not the word I would use," I muttered, crossing my arms. My eyes stayed on Owen as he collected his winnings from the announcer, pausing occasionally to shake hands with the people congratulating him. As the crowd began to thin, he finally made his way over to us. “Hey,” he greeted, his voice hoarse, no d
Casey P.O.V“Where are we?” I asked again, exasperation dripping from my voice. Lauren had been dragging us through a maze of back alleys behind a building that looked like it had seen better days. She turned to look at me with a smirk, her fiancé trailing behind her, looking as skeptical as I felt.“You’ll see,” she said with an air of mystery, checking her watch as if we were late for something significant.Lauren was not one to shy away from surprises, but I was not sure how much I liked this one. Owen had disappeared earlier in the afternoon, claiming he had “something to handle,” and now we were left in his sister’s hands. I glanced down at my outfit. Jean shorts, a tucked-in black shirt, sneakers, and a ponytail. Zazu, ever the fashion icon, had chosen a black bodycon dress and boots. Lauren, on the other hand, looked like she was ready for an adventure with her leather boots, jean shorts, and black jacket. There was a red handkerchief hanging from her shorts’s pocket. It was ju
Casey P.O.V.I took another bite of my croissant, chewing slowly, savouring the flaky texture and buttery flavour as I studied Owen across the table. He looked rough. His eyes were red, swollen, and slightly bloodshot, definitely suffering from a lack of sleep. He was sitting there, slouched over, his coffee cup gripped tightly in both hands like it was the only thing holding him upright. His usually lively face was replaced with dark circles and the telltale signs of a long, sleepless night. I almost felt sorry for him . Almost.After all, he was the one who insisted on sleeping beside me, despite my warning. He thought I was joking all the while I was telling the truth.Zazu and my twin brothers, Marco and Max, walked into the restaurant’s dining area, scanning the room. As soon as the twins spotted the buffet, they immediately dashed over, filling their plates to the brim with all the food they could carry. They were acting like starving vampires that have been kept locked inside a
Casey P.O.V I knelt down on the floor beside the bed, spreading the quilt out. I set a pillow at the head of the makeshift bed I had prepared, smoothing it out to make sure everything looked just right. As I reached for the extra bedsheet, draping it over the quilt, the bathroom door opened with a soft click that caught my attention. Owen emerged, towel in hand, rubbing his hair dry, a few strands falling messily across his forehead. He paused, taking in the sight of me on the floor. “Oh no, no, no, no, Casey” he said, mockingly, an exaggerated shake of his head . “ You are going to sleep on the floor?” I glanced up, just in time to see him bending over with his hands gripping his knees. He wore his old T-shirt and low hanging joggers that showed just enough to make it clear he had not lost a single bit of his absurd confidence. I rolled my eyes and went back to arranging the bedding, determined to ignore him. “Who said it was for me?” I shot back, without looking up. He straig
Casey P.O.VStepping out of the steamy bathroom, I rubbed my hair with a towel, my skin still tingling from the hot shower. My PJs,a small tank top and shorts were cosy but barely there, especially given the presence of Owen pacing in the room like a caged animal. When he saw me, he stopped in his tracks, his gaze lingering just a second too long.“You can use the bathroom now,” I said, stepping aside so he could pass. He nodded, grabbed his towel, and headed in to freshen up. I shook my head and tried to ignore the flip my stomach made every time I caught his eye. I have to endure a few more nights of this misery.I went over to the bed, grabbing a quilt and extra sheet with a pillow, intending to make a bed on the floor. But just as I was about to set everything down, Owen’s voice came from the bathroom, muffled by the sound of running water.“Hey, I forgot my clothes on the chair. Could you bring them in?” I rolled my eyes, muttering under my breath, “Of course you did.” Neverthel
Casey P.O.VThe restaurant was a vision of elegance, with dim lighting casting a warm glow over the polished tables, each one adorned with pristine white linens and a tasteful centrepiece. We were here to celebrate Vegas elopement of Owen’s sister, Lauren, to her fiancé, Marcus, and the dinner was supposed to be a calm, family gathering. But given that our mothers were already on edge, it felt more like sitting on a powder keg with a lit fuse.Lauren and Marcus arrived first, both glowing and hand-in-hand, followed by Marcus’s family, who looked thrilled to be here. His parents, David and Linda, were the picture of class, with smiles on their faces as they greeted each of us warmly. Their plane landed this evening.Thank goodness they did not see that disaster.We were determined to make a good impression, and I could see my mother and Maria silently sizing each other up, like lions crouched and ready to pounce, but maintaining their best behaviour under the watchful eyes of the new in-