“Well, don’t you two look cozy,” Juniper says, smirking. “I guess I can say I’m happy for you.” Caspian rolls his eyes, clearly annoyed. “What do you want, Juniper?” She leans against the doorframe, her arms crossed. “Well, can I come in?” Her voice is teasing, but with an underlying seriousness that only I seem to pick up on. “Why the hell would I let you in?” Juniper sighs. “Please?” Caspian rubs his temples like he’s already exhausted by her. "No, Juniper. It’s late, and Desiree and I—" "I... I don’t like being alone," she interrupts, her tone softening as she straightens, uncrossing her arms. Her smirk fades, replaced by a flicker of vulnerability that takes both of us by surprise. "As much as I’m an independent woman, I don’t know how to be alone. Especially at night.” I glance at Caspian, seeing his face harden as if he’s preparing to stand his ground. But something in her tone makes me pause. Juniper doesn’t seem like someone who shows vulnerability. So I believe t
Juniper’s words hit me like a punch to the gut. I never realized how much Caspian’s father’s absence affected her, how much it still affects her. "He doesn’t know why I keep my distance sometimes," Juniper continues, her voice breaking. "He probably thinks I’m mad at him or something, but it’s not that. I just… I miss Dad. And every time I look at Caspian, it’s like I’m reminded of all the things we never got to have."I wrap my arms around her, pulling her into a hug as she finally lets herself cry. Her shoulders shake as she buries her face in my shoulder, and I hold her tight, trying to give her whatever comfort I can."I’m so sorry, Juniper," I whisper, feeling tears prick at my own eyes. "I didn’t know."She pulls back slightly, wiping her eyes again, her face flushed with emotion. "He doesn’t either. I never told him. I don’t want him to feel like he’s responsible for making up for what we lost. He already carries enough weight on his shoulders."We sit there for a while, talki
Juniper is standing in the middle of the room, grinning like she’s just won the lottery. Around her, movers are busy taking out furniture—antique furniture, no less—and replacing it with sleek, modern pieces. Our living room, which has always been a mix of Caspian’s family’s history and our own touch, is now turning into something completely different.“What the hell is going on?” Caspian asks, his voice sharp.Juniper turns to face us, her smile bright and unapologetic. “Oh, good morning! I figured since I’m going to be staying here for a while, I might as well make some changes.”Caspian stares at her, completely dumbfounded. “What changes? Why are you getting rid of our furniture?”“Well,” Juniper says, hands on her hips as she surveys the room, “I called a moving company to take your old stuff down to the basement. It’s nice and all, but let’s be honest, it’s not very functional. I’m replacing it with some modern pieces from my place.”“From your place?”Juniper nods, as if this i
Juniper's tone is icy, and Caspian and I exchange glances. This isn’t going to be a pleasant conversation.Juniper stands and walks toward the window, phone pressed to her ear. “What did you think was going to happen when you stormed out last week? You think I’m just going to sit around and wait for you to get your head out of your ass?”Caspian leans toward me, lowering his voice. “All this chaos? It’s your fault. If you’d just stayed in the master bedroom with her, none of this would’ve happened.”I nudge him playfully, still amused by the whole situation. “Oh, come on. You seriously think me sleeping in the guest room is what caused her to redecorate the entire house?”He grumbles something under his breath, but I can tell he’s trying not to smile.Before we can continue, Juniper raises her. “Oh, now you care about the furniture?” she snaps, pacing the room. “Maybe if you hadn’t stormed off like a child, I wouldn’t have had to move everything out.”Caspian arches an eyebrow. “Isaac
Caspian is standing at the closet door, arms folded, eyes narrowed as he watches me sift through my clothes. He looks like he’s about to give a lecture. “I think it’s a terrible idea for two pregnant women to go out partying at night,” he says. I don’t even glance back at him as I pull out a dress. “Why? You think we need a chaperone?” “If that’s what it takes, yes.” I can feel his eyes burning a hole into the back of my head. He’s annoyed—no, worried—but he’s doing that thing where he tries to hide it under sarcasm and logic. Classic Caspian. “We’re not teenagers sneaking out to a rave,” I say, tossing the dress onto the bed before rummaging for shoes. “It’s a girls' night. And by girls’ night, I mean me and your sister having dinner and maybe going to a club.” Caspian snorts. “A club? And that’s supposed to make me feel better?” I turn to face him, one eyebrow raised. “We’re not exactly hitting up the hottest spots in town. We’re pregnant, remember? There’ll be no shots, no w
We pull out of the driveway, and Caspian stands by the door, watching us. I can almost sniff his disapproval from here.The drive is mostly quiet, save for Juniper occasionally barking directions at me. She’s leaning back in the passenger seat, one hand resting on her belly while the other taps on the door. I sneak a glance at her, wondering how she stays so relaxed, so carefree, even with everything going on. I mean, her husband is furious at her, she’s halfway through a pregnancy with twins, and she’s acting like we’re heading to a casual brunch.As if reading my mind, Juniper says, “You know, Caspian was always like this.”“Like what?”“Overprotective. Annoying. Like, I get it—he’s worried. But seriously? A club is not a death sentence.”I laugh. “He means well. He’s just...”“Paranoid?” Juniper finishes for me. “Yeah, I know. He’s been like that since we were kids. Always trying to tell me what to do. Like he’s the big brother or something.” She rolls her eyes, but I can tell ther
We weave through the crowd, making our way to the bathroom at the back of the club. The hallway is quieter, the sound of the music muted as we step into the restroom. It’s surprisingly clean, with bright fluorescent lights. We both slip into stalls, taking a moment to catch our breath.Once we’re done, we meet at the mirrors, reapplying lipstick and fixing our hair, laughing at how flushed we look. Juniper, still full of energy, pulls out her phone from her purse and holds it up to her face.“I’m calling the kids,” she says casually, like it’s the most normal thing in the world to FaceTime your children from a club bathroom.I laugh. “Of course you are.”She taps the screen, and soon the excited chatter of her kids fills the room. I watch as their little faces light up the screen, their high-pitched voices competing to tell her about their day. “Mama! Mama, guess what?” one of them says, their face close to the camera.“What? Tell me,” Juniper replies, smiling wide.“We built the bi
Sure enough, as soon as we open the door, there he is. Caspian is sitting on the couch, staring at the TV but clearly not watching it. His eyes snap to us the second we step inside, and I can see the relief and exasperation mix on his face.“You’re late,” he says.Juniper, unbothered, flops onto the couch beside him. “Relax, Dad. We’re home in one piece.”Caspian’s eyes narrow. “Why do I get the feeling there’s more to the story than that?”I glance at Juniper, silently begging her to keep her mouth shut, but she’s never been one to hold back. “Oh, nothing major,” she says with mock innocence. “Just a little gunfire at the club.”“What?!” Caspian’s voice jumps, his whole body going rigid. He stands abruptly, his eyes wide with panic as he turns to me. “What gunfire?”I sigh, knowing there’s no stopping this now. “Juniper, why do you—”But she interrupts, enjoying herself far too much. “Yeah, just a little shootout. You know, the usual club scene. Nothing we couldn’t handle.”Caspian’s
I nod, my throat tight. “You better be.” The doors to the delivery room swing open, and suddenly, I’m surrounded by bright lights, the sterile smell of antiseptic, and the calm, authoritative voices of nurses. My mind is racing. My body, however, is focused on one thing: the relentless, excruciating contractions that feel like my insides are being wrung out like a soaked towel. “Breathe, Desiree. You’ve got this,” a nurse says, guiding me onto the bed. Caspian bursts through the door moments later, his hair disheveled, his suit jacket gone, and his sleeves rolled up. He looks like a man ready for battle. And, honestly, that’s what this feels like. “I’m here,” he says, taking my hand again. His grip is warm, solid, a lifeline in this sea of chaos. I glare at him through the pain. “You did this to me.” He leans down, brushing a kiss against my sweaty forehead. “I know, baby. And you’re doing amazing.” “Amazing? I feel like I’m being ripped in half!” I shout, my voice cracking wit
~~Months later~~ My best friend, Jessica, decided to organise a baby shower for me. She rented a penthouse. I know Caspian's involved in this. Who else is paying for the penthouse? The penthouse is everything Jessica promised and more—sleek marble floors, floor-to-ceiling windows with a panoramic view of the city, and enough floral arrangements to make a florist weep. There’s an extravagant dessert table with a towering cake. And, of course, the unmistakable Caspian touch—a champagne fountain. I take it all in, my eyes narrowing suspiciously as I glance at Jessica, who’s currently trying to pass off the event as “modest.” Modest my ass. “You’re sure this wasn’t Caspian’s idea?” Jessica flashes her most innocent smile, which is about as believable as a politician’s promise. “I mean, he may have helped. But you deserve this! Come on, Dee, when was the last time we celebrated you?” I snort, adjusting the sash draped across my belly that reads Mom-to-Be. “You mean besides the
Desiree's POVWe're at a press conference.Cameras flash like lights at a club, and the buzz of reporters fills the air like a swarm of relentless bees. I hate it. Every second of it. But I stand tall, my hand resting in Caspian’s, my knuckles white from the grip. He doesn’t seem fazed—his jaw set, his eyes gleaming. He’s in his element.Me? I’m a bundle of nerves hiding behind a tailored dress and a painted-on smile.The tension in the room is obvious. Every gaze is pinned on us, every microphone is pointed in our direction. There’s no escaping it.Caspian steps forward, adjusting the microphone. His presence is magnetic. Commanding. He could announce the end of the world, and people would believe it was for their own good.He clears his throat, and the room falls silent.“For weeks now, CypherEdge Dynamics has been under siege,” he begins. “An individual named Mabel Blackwood infiltrated our company. She blackmailed board members, manipulated shareholders, and attempted to undermine
“Mr. Hart,” Aaron’s voice oozes through the line, smug and infuriating. “I trust you’ve been thinking about my offer.”“More like thinking about how to kill you,” I mutter under my breath, then louder: “I’ve considered it. But I need proof Desiree is alive. Now.”A pause. Then, Desiree’s voice, faint but there. “Caspian, please…”It takes everything in me not to lose it. “I’m here, Desiree. Hold on.”Aaron returns. “Satisfied?”“Barely,” I say. “You’ll get what you want. But not a second before I see her safe.”“Fine,” Aaron agrees. “Bring the drives to the location we’ll send you. Alone. And no tricks, Hart. Or she dies.”The line goes dead.Antonio is already moving, giving quick commands into his headset. “They’ll never see us coming,” he promises.I grip the phone. “They’d better not.”Because if they do, I’ll burn the entire city down before I let them take her away from me.---I park a block away from the designated warehouse, my pulse thudding in my ears. I sit there for a mom
The tone sends a chill down my spine. Calm, too calm, like this is a business deal and not—“Where is she?” I say. “If you’ve touched her—”“Tsk, tsk,” the man interrupts, almost amused. “Let’s not start with threats. You’re not in a position to make them.”I grip the phone tighter, my knuckles white. “You have no idea who you’re dealing with.”“Don’t I? Your reputation precedes you, Mr. Hart. Ruthless. Powerful. But none of that matters here.”My free hand balls into a fist at my side. “What do you want?”Finally, he gets to the point. “You’re going to deliver something to me. Two things, actually. First, the drives you took from Mabel’s mother’s house.”My mind races. How does he know about those?“And second,” he continues, “your shares in the company. Sign them over. All of them.”I laugh, sharp and humorless. “You think I’ll just hand those over? Do you know what they’re worth?”“Oh, I know exactly what they’re worth.” His voice drops. “I also know what she’s worth to you.”The a
Caspian's POVIt’s been over two hours since Desiree disappeared, and the hospital has called the police against my wishes.I’m pacing the waiting room like a caged animal, the fluorescent lights buzzing overhead doing nothing to quell the pounding in my skull. Every passing second feels like an eternity, a loud and unrelenting reminder that she’s not here, that I don’t know where she is, that I failed to protect her.“Mr. Hart,” one of the officers starts, her voice too calm, too measured, like she’s asking about a lost cat. “Let’s go over this again. You’re sure your wife didn’t… leave voluntarily?”My fist clenches so hard my knuckles crack. I whip around, staring at her like she’s grown a second head.“Voluntarily?” The word leaves my mouth dripping with venom. “You think she just decided to disappear in the middle of a goddamn ultrasound?”The other officer, a man with a face so nondescript I could forget it in seconds, clears his throat. “We’re just trying to establish all possi
Desiree’s POVI wake up feeling like my head has been split in two.Pain radiates from the back of my skull, throbbing with every heartbeat. My mouth feels like I’ve swallowed sand, and the metallic tang of blood lingers on my tongue. I try to move, but my arms won’t budge. Cold metal digs into my wrists, and the sharp edge of panic slices through the fog clouding my mind.“Welcome back.”The voice is smooth, almost polite, but it sends a chill racing down my spine. I force my eyes open, blinking against the dim light until the blurry figure in front of me sharpens into focus.Aaron.He leans casually against a table, his arms crossed, a smug grin stretched across his face. He looks like a villain from one of those old spy movies—too polished, too composed, too damn pleased with himself.“What the hell,” I croak, my voice raspy. “What is this, amateur hour? I thought kidnappers were supposed to wear masks.”He chuckles, slow and deliberate, like he’s savoring my sarcasm. “You’re in go
Caspian's POVDesiree has been gone for too long.I glance at the clock on the wall, tapping my fingers on the armrest of the chair in rhythm with my heartbeat, which is getting louder and faster with every passing second. Maybe I’m being paranoid. Maybe this is one of those “pregnancy bladder” situations everyone warned me about. But how long does it take a pregnant woman to pee? Five minutes? Ten? I’ve lost track of time, but it feels like hours.I shift in my chair, trying to shake off the gnawing sense of unease creeping up my spine. The ultrasound pictures are still in my hand, slightly crumpled from where my grip has tightened.“She’s fine,” I mutter to myself. “She’s fine.”But the words don’t stick.Standing abruptly, I glance toward the hallway leading to the bathroom. The corridor feels longer than I remember, its sterile walls closing in like they’re mocking me. Every instinct in me screams that something isn’t right.Dr. William steps out of an adjacent room, looking surpr
Dr. William turns to us, his smile widening. “It’s a girl.”For a moment, the world stops. A girl. We’re having a daughter.“A girl,” I repeat, the words tasting foreign and magical on my tongue. Tears spill over before I can stop them, and I press a hand to my mouth, overcome with emotion.Caspian is silent beside me, his gaze fixed on the monitor. When he finally speaks, his voice is rough, as if he’s struggling to keep his own emotions in check. “A girl,” he echoes. Then, with a soft laugh, he adds, “God help her if she inherits your stubbornness.”“Excuse me?” I glare at him, though the tears streaming down my face probably ruin the effect. “She’s going to be the perfect combination of both of us, thank you very much.”“Let’s hope she leans more toward your good looks than my temper.”“Let’s hope she doesn’t inherit your ego,” I shoot back, though my voice is choked with laughter.Dr. William chuckles, stepping back to give us a moment. “I’ll print out some pictures for you two. T