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-
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.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.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“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 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.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.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.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-
Casey P.O.VMy stepfather finally managed to settle things with the police officer and get both mothers out of the cell, though not without a warning. I could practically feel the officer's glare on our backs as we left. I do not blame him, this poor man has suffered a lot in our mothers hands.I was pretty sure our families had landed themselves on some kind of blacklist. The officer’s warning had been clear, and he wasn’t sugarcoating it for them. “Next time,” he’d said, “There would not be any bailing out.” Owen’s mother shot him a scowl before marching out, chin high. My mom, arms crossed and muttering under her breath, barely glanced his way. The entire car ride was as peaceful as the peace before the storm.Back at the hotel, however, the peace died in an instant.As we approached the front desk to get our room keys, a new argument was already bubbling up between our mothers. They were not even bothering to keep their voices low.“You think I am going to let my daughter stay in