“I… I don’t know.”The words left my lips before I could stop them. Lia’s question lingered in the air between us, heavier than I expected.I wasn’t closing my heart to Daniel, but I also wasn’t ready for anything. My main priority was Ryan’s recovery—nothing else mattered right now. At least, that’s what I kept telling myself.Lia gave me a knowing look, her head tilting slightly. “You say that, but maybe Daniel deserves a chance. He’s kind, patient…” She smirked. “And completely into you.”I scoffed, shaking my head. “It’s not that simple.”“Doesn’t have to be complicated either,” she countered.I sighed, rubbing my temples. The last thing I wanted was to dissect my feelings tonight, but her words had already planted themselves in my mind.And suddenly, without warning, a name resurfaced.Callum.Not his voice, not his presence—just the weight of his name pressing against my thoughts, like an echo I couldn't shut out.I clenched my jaw, pushing it away. No. I wasn’t doing this.Lia
My fingers tightened around the bouquet as my pulse quickened. Callum’s gaze burned into me, his expression unreadable, yet the tension in his stance spoke volumes.Daniel, oblivious to the storm brewing just a few feet away, continued, “I hope this brightens your day a little.”I swallowed, forcing a nod. “It does. Thank you, Daniel.”Before I could say more, my phone vibrated in my pocket. I had a feeling I knew exactly who it was before I even looked.Callum: Don’t lose my patience. Come to my office. Now.I exhaled sharply. There was no avoiding him. I turned to Daniel, offering him a small smile.“I’ll see you later, okay?”Daniel’s eyes searched mine, as if sensing the shift in my mood. “Are you alright?”I hesitated for a fraction of a second before nodding. “Yeah, just… work stuff.&r
I stared at the box of food and Callum remained standing there, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.“You didn’t have to do this,” I said, my voice quieter than I intended.He tilted his head slightly, his dark eyes never leaving mine. “I did. Because if I didn’t, you would have worked yourself to exhaustion.”A mix of emotions swirled inside me—frustration, confusion, and something. A part of me wanted to reject his offering, to push him away, but another part of me… a part I didn’t want to acknowledge, was touched by the gesture.“Eat,” he said firmly, his voice brooking no argument.I hesitated, then sighed, lifting the box’s lid. Steam wafted into the air, revealing a meal that was clearly from my favorite restaurant. My chest tightened.“You remembered?” I murmured, more to myself than him.His jaw tensed. “I never forgot.”
CALLUM'S POVI drove like a madman through the city streets, my hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly that my knuckles turned white. The sound of my own heartbeat thundered in my ears, drowning out everything else. Richard was in the hospital.My father-in-law. A man who, despite our differences, I still respected.The moment I pulled into the hospital parking lot, I barely took the time to turn off the engine before pushing the door open and rushing inside. The harsh, sterile scent of disinfectant filled my nostrils as I strode to the reception desk."Richard Rhodes. What room is he in?" My voice was sharper than I intended, but I didn’t care.The nurse behind the desk glanced up at me, her expression calm but wary. "Are you family?""I'm his son-in-law," I snapped, my patience wearing thin. "Callum Winter Stone. Now tell me where he is."She nodded, flipping through her records before answering, "Room 298. He’s unconscious."I turned on my heel and made my way down the hall.
ATHENA'S POVThe ride home felt endless. My mind kept replaying the scene—Callum’s tense posture, the urgency in his voice, the way he shut me out. None of my concern. The words echoed painfully, stabbing at my heart with every repetition.When I arrived at the hospital, I saw my mother laughing with Ryan while he lay in the hospital bed. Their smiles were bright, their conversation lighthearted, and for a moment, it felt like the weight on my chest lessened. I forced a smile and greeted them, pushing aside my own turmoil.“What are you two talking about?” I asked, trying to keep my tone cheerful.Ryan grinned. “Callum promised to buy me a car when I recover.”My eyebrows shot up in surprise. Callum? I hadn't expected that. He rarely made such promises. But instead of questioning it, I played along, nodding encouragingly. “That sounds amazing, Ryan. You better recover quickly, then.”My mother chuckled, brushing Ryan’s hair back. “He’s been talking about it all afternoon. It’s really
The moment I stepped out of Callum’s office, I felt the weight of my decision settle heavily on my chest. My legs moved on their own, carrying me down the hallway, past the rows of employees who were too engrossed in their work to notice the turmoil raging inside me. My pulse pounded in my ears, drowning out everything else.I shouldn’t have come to his office.I shouldn’t have let myself believe—just for a second—that he would be different this time. That his words, the ones he whispered so fervently when he pulled me back into his life, actually meant something.I had been a fool.With every step away from that office, I reinforced the walls around my heart, brick by unforgiving brick. He wanted distance? Fine. I would give him exactly what he asked for. I wouldn't beg, and I wouldn't fall apart.But damn it, it hurt.I reached my office and shut the door behind me, exhaling shakily as I leaned against it. My fingers curled into fists at my sides, nails biting into my palm. Callum S
The moment I left the office, I pulled my phone from my bag and dialed my mother’s number. My heels clicked against the pavement as I hurried toward my car, the weight of the day pressing on my shoulders.She picked up after the third ring. “Sweetheart, are you on your way?”I hesitated before unlocking my car door. “Mom, I—” I exhaled, gripping the handle. “I can’t make it to the hospital tonight. Something came up at work.”There was a brief pause before she responded, her voice gentle but tinged with disappointment. “I see. Ryan won’t be happy about that.”I shut my eyes for a second, guilt settling deep in my chest. My younger brother had been looking forward to my visit every night. He never said it outright, but I knew he counted on my presence to make things feel normal.“I know, and I hate to let him down,” I admitted, sliding into the driver’s seat.“But I need you to explain it to him, Mom. Just tell him it’s important, okay?”“He’s your brother. He understands, even if he d
“I think so,” I admitted.Daniel studied me for a second before nodding, as if satisfied with my answer. Then, without warning, he lay down on the grass, stretching his arms behind his head.I raised a brow. “What are you doing?”“Looking at the stars.” He patted the empty space beside him. “You should try it.”I hesitated for a moment before finally giving in, lowering myself onto the grass. The ground was cool beneath me, and as I stared up, I realized he was right—the stars were breathtaking from here.Daniel turned his head slightly toward me. “You know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this relaxed.”I smiled, closing my eyes briefly. “It’s been a while since I let myself be.”“Well, I’m glad you did tonight.”I turned to face him, and for a moment, neither of us spoke. There was something unspoken lingering be
I stared at the phone, its vibrations buzzing relentlessly in my hand. For a moment, I debated not answering, but deep down I knew it wouldn’t matter. Callum never let me ignore him. No matter how hard I tried, he always seemed to have a way of pushing through my defenses.Reluctantly, I swiped the screen. His voice came through immediately, sharp and insistent, unmistakably demanding.“Where are you? Can I talk to Ryan? How is he?”I rolled my eyes, irritation bubbling up from the pit of my stomach. Why did he have to do this? Why was he so relentless?“I’m not in the hospital where Ryan is, sir,” I said, my voice clipped. “Why do you care so much, anyway?”“I just need to talk to him,” he replied, his tone tight. “I want to hear it from him. I want to know how he’s doing. Not from you.”His words twisted in a strange way inside me. Wasn't it strange that he wanted to talk to Ryan now, when she treated me so cold inside the company lately?The whole time I’m working under him, he nev
My blood boiled at Callum’s audacity. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I fought to keep my composure. The nerve of this man—walking into my office unannounced, knocking over my food, and then acting as if he’d done me a favor?I straightened my shoulders, refusing to let him see how much he was getting under my skin.“Right. Because eating lunch at my desk while still working is such a distraction,” I shot back, my tone laced with sarcasm.Callum tilted his head, his cold gaze never wavering. “You’re here to work, not to entertain personal guests or indulge in distractions.”I let out a humorless laugh. “So, I suppose basic human needs like eating are now considered distractions?”He didn’t even blink. “If they interfere with productivity, yes.”Unbelievable.I exhaled sharply and shook my head. “You know what? Forget it. I don’t have the time or energy to argue with you.” I turned on my heel, ready to walk away before I said something I’d regret.But Callum wasn
As the meeting concluded, I gathered my things, preparing to return to my desk. Just as I stepped into the hallway, hushed voices caught my attention. A group of colleagues huddled near the break room, their whispers unmistakably about me."Did you see how Daniel West keeps showing up during work hours?" one of them murmured."Yeah, it's so unprofessional," another snickered. "Flirting right in the office? Doesn’t she know there are limits?"A third voice joined in. "I bet she gets special treatment because of him. Must be nice to have someone wrapped around your finger."My blood boiled. My fists clenched at my sides as their words echoed in my head. Without hesitation, I stepped forward, making my presence known."Is there a problem?" My voice was cold, my arms crossing as I met their startled gazes.They stiffened, eyes widening. A tense silence stretched between us before one of them scoffed."We were just talking," she said, feigning innocence.I let out a sharp laugh, shaking my
“I think so,” I admitted.Daniel studied me for a second before nodding, as if satisfied with my answer. Then, without warning, he lay down on the grass, stretching his arms behind his head.I raised a brow. “What are you doing?”“Looking at the stars.” He patted the empty space beside him. “You should try it.”I hesitated for a moment before finally giving in, lowering myself onto the grass. The ground was cool beneath me, and as I stared up, I realized he was right—the stars were breathtaking from here.Daniel turned his head slightly toward me. “You know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this relaxed.”I smiled, closing my eyes briefly. “It’s been a while since I let myself be.”“Well, I’m glad you did tonight.”I turned to face him, and for a moment, neither of us spoke. There was something unspoken lingering be
The moment I left the office, I pulled my phone from my bag and dialed my mother’s number. My heels clicked against the pavement as I hurried toward my car, the weight of the day pressing on my shoulders.She picked up after the third ring. “Sweetheart, are you on your way?”I hesitated before unlocking my car door. “Mom, I—” I exhaled, gripping the handle. “I can’t make it to the hospital tonight. Something came up at work.”There was a brief pause before she responded, her voice gentle but tinged with disappointment. “I see. Ryan won’t be happy about that.”I shut my eyes for a second, guilt settling deep in my chest. My younger brother had been looking forward to my visit every night. He never said it outright, but I knew he counted on my presence to make things feel normal.“I know, and I hate to let him down,” I admitted, sliding into the driver’s seat.“But I need you to explain it to him, Mom. Just tell him it’s important, okay?”“He’s your brother. He understands, even if he d
The moment I stepped out of Callum’s office, I felt the weight of my decision settle heavily on my chest. My legs moved on their own, carrying me down the hallway, past the rows of employees who were too engrossed in their work to notice the turmoil raging inside me. My pulse pounded in my ears, drowning out everything else.I shouldn’t have come to his office.I shouldn’t have let myself believe—just for a second—that he would be different this time. That his words, the ones he whispered so fervently when he pulled me back into his life, actually meant something.I had been a fool.With every step away from that office, I reinforced the walls around my heart, brick by unforgiving brick. He wanted distance? Fine. I would give him exactly what he asked for. I wouldn't beg, and I wouldn't fall apart.But damn it, it hurt.I reached my office and shut the door behind me, exhaling shakily as I leaned against it. My fingers curled into fists at my sides, nails biting into my palm. Callum S
ATHENA'S POVThe ride home felt endless. My mind kept replaying the scene—Callum’s tense posture, the urgency in his voice, the way he shut me out. None of my concern. The words echoed painfully, stabbing at my heart with every repetition.When I arrived at the hospital, I saw my mother laughing with Ryan while he lay in the hospital bed. Their smiles were bright, their conversation lighthearted, and for a moment, it felt like the weight on my chest lessened. I forced a smile and greeted them, pushing aside my own turmoil.“What are you two talking about?” I asked, trying to keep my tone cheerful.Ryan grinned. “Callum promised to buy me a car when I recover.”My eyebrows shot up in surprise. Callum? I hadn't expected that. He rarely made such promises. But instead of questioning it, I played along, nodding encouragingly. “That sounds amazing, Ryan. You better recover quickly, then.”My mother chuckled, brushing Ryan’s hair back. “He’s been talking about it all afternoon. It’s really
CALLUM'S POVI drove like a madman through the city streets, my hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly that my knuckles turned white. The sound of my own heartbeat thundered in my ears, drowning out everything else. Richard was in the hospital.My father-in-law. A man who, despite our differences, I still respected.The moment I pulled into the hospital parking lot, I barely took the time to turn off the engine before pushing the door open and rushing inside. The harsh, sterile scent of disinfectant filled my nostrils as I strode to the reception desk."Richard Rhodes. What room is he in?" My voice was sharper than I intended, but I didn’t care.The nurse behind the desk glanced up at me, her expression calm but wary. "Are you family?""I'm his son-in-law," I snapped, my patience wearing thin. "Callum Winter Stone. Now tell me where he is."She nodded, flipping through her records before answering, "Room 298. He’s unconscious."I turned on my heel and made my way down the hall.
I stared at the box of food and Callum remained standing there, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.“You didn’t have to do this,” I said, my voice quieter than I intended.He tilted his head slightly, his dark eyes never leaving mine. “I did. Because if I didn’t, you would have worked yourself to exhaustion.”A mix of emotions swirled inside me—frustration, confusion, and something. A part of me wanted to reject his offering, to push him away, but another part of me… a part I didn’t want to acknowledge, was touched by the gesture.“Eat,” he said firmly, his voice brooking no argument.I hesitated, then sighed, lifting the box’s lid. Steam wafted into the air, revealing a meal that was clearly from my favorite restaurant. My chest tightened.“You remembered?” I murmured, more to myself than him.His jaw tensed. “I never forgot.”