Caspian's POVI don't know why I said it. The words just slipped out. But the truth is, I want a baby with Desiree. A cute little redhead.She freezes for a moment, clearly taken aback. "What do you mean by ‘would it be so bad if we had a baby?’" she asks, her tone sharp. It’s clear she isn’t imagining the same adorable redhead I am."Would it?" I ask.Her reaction is immediate, far from what I was hoping for. "Of course it would," she snaps, standing up from the tub. Her wet body glistens as she steps toward the shower. I watch her rinse the soap off, her movements tense, not like the usual graceful sway she has. There's a clear wall between us now, something heavy hanging between my stupid question and her frustration.I can’t help but admire her for a second, even in this moment. God, she’s beautiful when she’s mad. But this is bigger than just a little fight, and I know it.I drain the tub and follow her into the shower, standing before her as the hot water beats down on both of
Desiree has been silent for a long time, still processing the bomb I just dropped. She looks up at the fresco again, her eyes tracing the details with more interest.Then she turns back to me. “I had no idea... I mean, this painting alone... Caspian, this is... it’s stunning.”I shrug, trying to play it off, even though I can see she’s genuinely impressed. “He’s always been the artistic one in the family.”“And you’ve just... had this here, in your bedroom, hidden away from the world?”"It’s not hidden," I say. "Only special people get to see it."Her eyes grow soft, making me want to pull her closer. "Well, I’m honored," she says. "I can’t believe I’m sleeping under an Indigo Phoenix original."I chuckle softly. "Now you know."She stares at the painting again. "How long did it take him to create this?""Several weeks. He stayed here to finish it." I watch her face as she continues to admire it. "Tell me, what’s the first thing that comes to mind when you look at it?"She pauses for
Desiree's POVTrue to her word, Mabel sent me an invitation to her wedding dress fitting. Time, date, and location were all neatly typed out in an email. Against my better judgment, I’ve decided to go. Maybe, just maybe, we can act like a normal family for once. I stand in front of the bathroom mirror, still debating my decision. Mabel and I have never exactly been close. Sure, we’re family, but that doesn’t always mean you get along. But today, I'm giving it a shot—for once, I’ll try."Caspian," I call out, rummaging through the medicine cabinet, "have you seen my pills?""Your pills?" he asks from the bedroom, his voice sounding way too innocent."Yeah, it’s almost 8 a.m., and I usually take them by now," I reply, feeling a slight panic rise.There’s a long pause before Caspian finally responds, "I think I saw them in the drawer of the nightstand."The nightstand? That's odd. I don’t remember putting them there. Did I move them and forget? Maybe I’m just being paranoid. Can the hor
I frown. Who is he, and why is he tagging along? He wasn’t introduced to anyone, yet here he is, strolling behind Mabel like he's part of the bridal party. No one else seems to notice—or care.Helena must catch my confusion because she leans in and whispers, “Do you know him?”I shake my head. “Not a clue.”Helena glances at the guy, her eyes narrowing for a second. “Weird. He’s been lurking since I got here. Maybe he’s some friend of Mike?”“Maybe,” I say, though I’m not convinced. Mike runs in a completely different circle—this guy doesn’t fit. His casual demeanor and constant focus on Mabel feel... off. And the way Mabel keeps stealing glances at him tells me there’s more going on here than just a wedding dress fitting.As we all shuffle into the dressing room, the space feels suddenly too small. Mabel is in full bride mode, chatting excitedly with the seamstress while the rest of us settle in around her. But my eyes keep drifting back to the stranger. He stands off to the side, le
The room goes still. All eyes turn toward me. The stranger straightens up, not a trace of surprise or discomfort on his face. He’s almost amused by the question, like he’s been waiting for someone to ask.Mabel’s smile tightens, and for the first time, she looks a little uneasy. “Oh, this is Aaron. He’s... a friend of mine.”A friend? Right.Aaron doesn’t miss a beat. He offers me a charming smile, the kind that would probably win over most people. “Nice to meet you. I’ve known Mabel for a long time.”A long time? That doesn’t make this any less strange. If anything, it raises more questions. Why haven’t I heard about this guy before? Why is he suddenly showing up now, right before her wedding?Mabel quickly jumps in, trying to smooth things over. “Aaron’s just helping out with some last-minute wedding details. He’s really good with fashion and design.”I narrow my eyes, not buying it. “And where’s your fiancé? Shouldn’t he be here for this?”“He’s tied up with work.”Of course, he is
There’s a naked man in my living room.Okay, he’s not completely naked, but boxers and flip-flops hardly count as fully dressed. I freeze, feeling like a stranger in my own home, waiting for this half-clothed intruder to acknowledge me. But he doesn't. He didn’t even hear me come in—he’s got AirPods in his ears, his eyes are closed, and he's lounging like he owns the place.I realize standing here like a stalker isn’t getting me anywhere. I have to be the one to break the ice."Hi," I say, stepping forward, trying not to sound too awkward.Nothing. He doesn’t flinch. Not even a twitch. Great. I move closer, hesitating just a second before I reach out and tap him gently on the shoulder.His eyes snap open. Wide, unblinking, and... strange. His irises aren’t round—they’re vertical, like a cat’s. I nearly take a step back. Contact lenses, maybe? Whatever it is, they’re unsettling.He stares at me for a moment, not moving, just... staring. Then, after what feels like an eternity, he fina
Desiree's POVToday is my boyfriend's twenty-fifth birthday, and I’ve planned a surprise party for him. “Hush, he's almost here,” I tell everyone.I’ve decorated the living room with sparkling fairy lights and bright blue, red, and purple balloons—Mike’s favorite colors. It looks amazing. A big banner that says "Happy 25th Birthday, Mike!" hangs over the fireplace, but it’s a bit crooked because I couldn't reach the middle without wobbling on a chair. The smell of his favorite foods—spicy buffalo wings, loaded nachos, and lots of pizza—fills the air. My heart is beating fast with excitement. “Is he almost here?” someone asks, yawning.“We’re starving,” another guest says.I roll my eyes. “Oh, be quiet. You’ll ruin the surprise.”The truth is, I’m hungry too. And worried. We’ve been waiting here longer than I expected, awkwardly holding a bottle of champagne, a can of foam spray, a bag of confetti, and a fake trumpet. My stomach growls. I glance longingly at the snack table but resis
The room erupts into chaos as they tussle, pulling and shoving each other. Mabel shrieks, trying to fend Jessica off, but Jessica is relentless, her face twisted with fury. The guests are stunned, some trying to intervene while others just watch, wide-eyed.That's right, Jessica. Attack the bitch.During the chaos, I manage to wrench myself free from William's grip. Fueled by rage, I push past the bewildered guests and make a beeline for Mabel.She’s still fighting with Jessica, their screams and claws flying. I dive into the fray, grabbing Mabel's arm with a vice-like grip.“You think you can just waltz in and ruin everything?” I shout.Mabel’s eyes widen in fear as she struggles to break free, but I hold on tight, determined to make her understand the magnitude of her betrayal.“You’re a coward,” I spit, my grip tightening. “You can’t even face me like a decent human being.”Mabel's eyes dart around, looking for help. “Let me go, Desiree!” she screeches, her voice cracking with desp