The pain of betrayal was never the same twice. Each one would cut into you and leave a scar, unique in its depth and sting. I had been trying to move past the ghosts of my history with Amanda, to let go of the resentment toward my half-sister. However, seeing her here, caught red-handed with Elizabe
"I always bring Alice here for her haircuts, with whichever stylist is available. I leave for a bit and come back. I don't know that stylist. Alright?" Amanda stated firmly.Her words didn't matter to me. In fact, they only made things worse. Amanda was going to leave Alice alone with this woman? Pa
"I haven't called because I saw everything I needed to see," I said, trying and failing to keep calm.I had no idea what I'd do if Matt truly was involved with the Kramers. It would be too much—too dangerous for me, Alice, and Lucius. The thought alone made my chest tighten."And I've seen it too. Y
Lucius Brown's P.O.V.I never knew when to stop. Warnings of danger? I couldn't care less. I was built for risk, for betting everything—even my own integrity. It had been the story of my life, just playing out now with a few more years behind me.That was the best excuse I could come up with for wha
Matt kept driving as the traffic finally began to clear. He still hadn't noticed I was hiding in the backseat. My body was starting to feel the strain, and my back wasn't what it used to be, but I held on."What did you manage to say to Amanda? Were you able to convince her?" he asked, sounding defe
Night had fallen, but the unease of not knowing where Lucius was still gnawed at me. He wasn't answering any calls, his phone was off, and he hadn't made any effort to reach out. Ever since I got back to my apartment with an anxious Alice, I hadn't been able to stop imagining the worst possible scen
"Speaking of that, did you get your IUD taken out? It was due to expire, right?" Jenna asked."It was a quick procedure, over in a minute. I don't know why I was so anxious about it," I admitted."Are you getting another one or switching birth control methods?""I have an appointment next month to d
My head and heart both throbbed as Lucius recounted his escapades from the rest of the afternoon. I listened closely as I focused on wrapping his injured hand as carefully as possible. We were both on the couch with my first-aid kit nearby while Jenna busied herself in the kitchen making coffee. Nev
I glanced briefly toward my brothers. One was drowning in tears, and the other stared blankly into the distance, looking more lost than I'd ever seen him. They were like children, paralyzed, waiting for a call from their father that would never come."Richard and Julian are here too," I informed him
The chaotic shuffle of medical staff filled my father's room, mingling with the sound of Richard's quiet sobs as he clung to the side of the bed. Julian stood beside him, murmuring words of comfort, one hand resting on his shoulder. But none of that could drown out the piercing cries of Victoria."W
The infamous Jason must have something special. It was the only explanation I could fathom for Emma's state and why Sara had come to trust him so much. My grip tightened involuntarily on the steering wheel. Realizing it, I forced myself to ease up and focus on the present."Don't dwell on those thou
Lawrence Lewis's P.O.V.It was hard to imagine my marriage to Emma getting any worse. The circumstances surrounding it were already enough to guarantee emotional disaster for both of us. Still, nothing could've prepared me for how dire her condition truly was.I wasn't just talking about the convers
I arrived at my parents' house, greeted immediately by the warm, savory aroma of roasting chicken wafting from the kitchen. Mom was there, dutifully watching over the oven like it held the secrets of the universe. I dropped my briefcase on the couch and made my way to her, barely stepping into the k
I gave up. There was no point in denying what was painfully obvious at this stage. Instead of arguing, I just looked at Amber with a defeated expression, and she sighed."Of all people," she began, "I never thought Lawrence would be the most calculating and ambitious of the group." She raised a fing
His lips were on mine, his hands gripped my hips, and his strength guided the rhythm of his movements inside me. The pleasure coursing through my body was undeniable—until an irritating, insistent noise shattered everything, yanking me out of my bliss.I opened my eyes, greeted by the harsh assault
"We could do it without clothes," my friend suggested slyly.I glanced at his face—handsome, exactly the type that would usually ignite something in me. But here's the catch: I couldn't even remember his name, I wasn't as into him as I should've been for a suggestion like that, and I definitely knew
My love life was an absolute mess. That much was certain. But one of the few things that kept me going was the tiny glimmer of hope that Lawrence's wedding wouldn't actually happen. If, however, Lawrence and Emma were in love—or worse, if she was pregnant—that hope would vanish entirely.And so, her