LOGINShare
30. Soren
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56October 2026,
Scars Bay, USA
Katerina
Mikhail stood up and paced around the room. "You didn't tell us that William saw you on your way out of Katerina's room." He turned to face Alya, his eyes calculative. "You went to Bellmont Hill and the manager saw you as well. Do you know what that means?"
"I didn't think it was important..." Alya trailed off.
That's when it hit me. "You found out your father was dead. You were crying and you looked distraught. Anyone would be able to tell that you had just received some terrible news." I turned to Mikhail. "You need to leave Will out of this. He didn't do anything. We need to get the manager. He is most definitely involved."
"He didn't do it. He is probably just a pawn, working for Mo-" Andrei shut up without finishing his sentence.
"You have a suspect," I stated.
Andrei remained frustratingly silent. <
Related chapters
Pause, Rewind, Play 31. Yes
October 2026, Scars Bay, USADimitriSipping on my morning coffee, I leaned against the window frame and watched Katerina look at her laptop screen intently as her fingers flew across the keyboard, creating a soft, rhythmic sound.The sunlight from the window pooled into the bedroom and sliced it in half, illuminating half of it and keeping the rest in the soft glory of muted morning light. Sunshine kissed the lower half of her body, painting over the olive skin of her arms and legs with a beautiful gold cast.Her eyes flickered to her phone lying next to the laptop and she tapped on the AirPods she was already wearing. "Cancel my meetings for the rest of the week."A woman's soft voice replied but I didn't care enough about it to actually listen to it. "Yes, even the one with Clarissa. If she throws a fit like last time, I give you permission to hang up on her." The woman s
Pause, Rewind, Play 32. Glide through Life
November 2026,Scars Bay, USAKaterinaAlaric was a great artist. That was an undeniable fact.There were a few paintings of his that I could look at for hours without getting bored. There were so many intricate details in them that the longer you look at them, the more things you find. This one, in particular, was the painting of the High Street, one of the main streets in downtown Scars Bay."I'm not sure which view is more beautiful to behold- you or that painting," I heard a deep voice say from beside me. I recognized the voice but it sounded a little different than it did a few years ago. It was deeper, more confident, and had an edge that hinted at dangerous promises. It commanded attention and respect, which, if not given, would be taken by force.I turned to look at Soren. It wasn't just his voice that had changed. He looked like a completely different person. H
Pause, Rewind, Play 33. Gala
November 2026,Scars Bay, USADimitri"You look absolutely stunning, Katerina" a guy complimented as he looked at her from head to toe and pressed his hand against his heart. "I don't know how those art pieces are ever going to compete with you for everyone's attention."Katerina laughed lightly. "Thank you, Tomas. I-""You will burn a hole through him if you glare at him any harder." William's amused voice distracted me from the conversation I was eavesdropping on. "I wouldn't recommend that. Kate has a huge savior complex. That might work against you."I looked at Katerina's brother. The two of them were polar opposites in almost every way - all the way from physical appearance down to basic nature - and yet, the two were very close. It would be good for me to be in his good books and not take his bait. "Good evening, William." I smiled."Come, let'
Pause, Rewind, Play 34. 48 Hours
November 2026,Scars Bay, USAKaterinaGrowing up, Alaric had always been the cool father. There were times when I used to see him with Alya and wish for my dad to be like him. While he always treated me as his daughter, the bond he shared with Alya was incomparable.While my father also did his best, he was so busy that he didn't get very many opportunities to do it very often. Because of that, I was closer to Alaric than my own father. Well, that was until we thought Alaric left and I started disliking him.I remembered him enjoying classical music but what Ididn't know was that Alaric had an entire collection of Vinyls in his office. But I suppose it was normal to not remember details of a place you have been only a handful of times more than a decade ago.As I went through it, I realized that it was mostly classical music and I didn't recognize most of t
Pause, Rewind, Play 35. Roots
November 2026,Scars Bay, USAKaterinaI called him again as I rode up the elevator to his apartment.In classic Jayden fashion, he did not answer.Rolling my eyes, I walked down the hallway and entered the pin to his apartment. The edges of my lips tugged up when the door unlocked. Jayden might not have come to tonight's gala but the code to his apartment was still Alya's birthdate. It always has been. He could say whatever he wanted but I considered this proof that he didn't completely hate her. Maybe, there was still hope.I opened the door and walked in. I didn't know what I had been expecting when I walked in but it certainly wasn't this.The apartment smelled fresh, there were no empty bottles of alcohol, takeout containers, or the stale smell of heartbreak. In fact, I spotted a vase full of day-old lilies in a corner. If this was any evidence, Jayden was doing a
Pause, Rewind, Play 36. One Chance
November 2026, Scars Bay, USA Katerina Alya was sitting on the floor of her bedroom, her back against the bed and a drink in her hand. With her other hand, she played with a ring hanging off the necklace she was wearing. She looked up and her teary, red-rimmed eyes met mine. Oh no. I walked over to her, wanting to take a seat beside her but my dress wouldn't allow that. So with a bit of difficulty, I took it off. Only in a pair of panties and a bra, I lowered myself beside her. She looked over at me, her gaze lingering on my face, neck, and then chest before she looked away entirely. What was that about? "You should wear some clothes. It's winter," she whispered. "It's warm in here. I'm fine; you don't need to worry about me." I took the glass from her hand and placed it aside. "I was d
Pause, Rewind, Play 36. Empty
November 2026,Scars Bay, USAAlyannaCold water hit my face and cascaded down my body.'He didn't have the luxury of hope of a future together like you did.'Tears welled up in my eyes. Heartache formed a ball in my throat, choking me up.How could I have not thought of it? How could I have been so callous? How could I have been so self-centered in my misery that I failed to see how it would have affected the one person I cared about the most?I had hurt Jay more than I could have even imagined. I had hurt the one person I love with all my heart. The one person I never wanted to hurt. The one person I stayed away from by telling my broken and bruised heart that while he might be hurt, he was at least safe. Alive. But it seemed like he hadn't done much of living. Just like me. He had been hanging on to the past. Just like me. But unlike
Pause, Rewind, Play 37. See You Soon
November 2026,Scars Bay, USAAlyannaKate opened the door to her bedroom and we walked in."BOO!"I jumped in shock and my hands flew to my chest.The lights turned on and I came face to face with a grinning William. "Gotcha, Squirt.""Helliam!" I admonished, but I couldn't stop my lips from lifting up in a smile.This wasn't the first time this had happened. When we were kids and Kate and I had sleepovers, Will would sometimes crash them - much to our annoyance - and we'd spend the entire night talking and hanging out or doing sometime crazy. When we grew up a little, Kate and I would catch Will sneaking into the house in the middle of the night, drunk, and looking back on it, probably high on drugs. We'd take care of him and put him to bed or if he wasn't in the mood to sleep, we'd stay with him and give him company. When we beca
Latest chapter
Pause, Rewind, Play 44. Supernatural
November 2026,Scars Bay, USADimitriAfter Andrei dropped off Alyanna at Jayden's, Katerina asked him to drop her off at her apartment complex.So naturally, I got off with her too.I thought she would get annoyed by that or tell me that she needed space but she didn't even react to my presence. That stung more than I thought it would. Anything would have been better than being ignored. Her silence was deafening.We rode up the elevator and she marched straight towards her apartment. I stood there, watching her punch in the code to her apartment, unsure if she wanted me to follow her or let her be for a while.She entered and then slammed the door shut after her.My heart stopped. I really thought she would keep the door open and gesture for me to come in after her or ask me to join her. It was something we did with the bathroom door when we wanted to take a sh
Pause, Rewind, Play 43. Play
November 2026,Scars Bay, USAAlyannaKaterina had been painfully silent while we waited by the car for Dimitri to come out.Of course, she was. Dimitri had made a show of displaying his supernatural speed and strength in there. Katerina was in shock.I didn't know what to say to make it better so I remained silent.After what felt like forever, Dimitri walked out with...Caleb? They were followed by over a dozen men - some fine, some injured but all holding on to guns.What the hell happened in there? What was Caleb doing here? Did that man end up calling him after all? Was it truly a misunderstanding?Kate stiffened when she spotted them but made no indication of what she was thinking otherwise. Dimitri grew visibly disappointed when he saw her lack of reaction.Caleb, unaware that I was alive, looked at me in bewilder
Pause, Rewind, Play 42. Warehouse
November 2026,Outskirts of Scars Bay, USADimitri"If only you had listened to me and stayed at the safe house, this wouldn't have happened. But you couldn't follow a simple safety protocol because you care more about beingniceand letting Katerina do whatever thefuck she wants," Andrei growled. “Might as well lick the dirt off the bottom of her fucking shoes while you let her walk all over you.”My grip on the steering wheel tightened and I pressed my lips together to stop myself from saying anything.He was right. This was my fault after all.I agreed to let Katerina and Alya leave the safe house. I went with them to the manor. It was my job to protect them. I never should have left them alone. It was stupidity on my part to think that they would stay there because they had no motive to go. But they did have a moti
Pause, Rewind, Play 41. Stall
November 2026,Outskirts of Scars Bay, USAKaterina"Stella?"Stella's eyes widened when she saw me. She glared at one of her men. "What the hell isKaterina Van Ackerdoing here?" she hissed. "I asked you to only get-" she exhaled sharply. "Incompetent shits," she spat and turned towards us again."Stella?Youdid this?" I asked, still in absolute disbelief.Why the hell would she do this?Stella -Jayden's girlfriend Stella,had been the one who had us kidnapped. She had been the one who paid Caleb to do it for her.Even the thought of his name fuelled the fiery hot mass of anger in my chest. I couldn't believe he would do this to me but the evidence was undeniable.Earlier, I could chalk this up as a mistake but now I knew that it was anything but. Caleb betrayed me. For
Pause, Rewind, Play 40. Car
November 2026,Scars Bay, USAKaterinaI walked into my bedroom only to find it empty.Shit.Where the hell is she?I ran into the bathroom. Open and clear.I rushed to the closet. Empty.Where the hell is Alya?I knew she wouldn't be inside the manor. Someone would immediately spot and recognize her. She wasn't dumb enough to do that. Which means she left. She was definitely dumb enough to do it with the right motivation.If she left, there was only one route she'd use to leave. So, I ran.Why the hell would she leave? Did something happen? Was she upset?Of course, she was. With the night she'd had and after I broke my promise of cheering her up, I wouldn't blame her if she wanted to leave. But if she wanted to be left alone, she could have just locked the be
Pause, Rewind, Play 39. Promise
November 2026,Scars Bay, USAAlyannaIt was still a couple of hours before sunrise so none of the house staff were out and about. Quickly and quietly, I navigated my way out of Kate's bedroom and to woods from around the gardens.I knew my way around the property very well, courtesy of Kate. Sometimes, she managed to drag me to parties with her that we had no business going to. To hide from Kon and her dad, she figured out a way to sneak out of her bedroom and pass through the grounds withoutbeing noticed or getting caught on camera. She also managed to create a way over the mostly impenetrable property walls. Kate was an unstoppable force when she put her mind to something.The route I was taking was the same. I, too, would pass through unnoticed if things had remained the same in the last five years. And I hoped I did. Because, I couldnot afford t
Pause, Rewind, Play 37. See You Soon
November 2026,Scars Bay, USAAlyannaKate opened the door to her bedroom and we walked in."BOO!"I jumped in shock and my hands flew to my chest.The lights turned on and I came face to face with a grinning William. "Gotcha, Squirt.""Helliam!" I admonished, but I couldn't stop my lips from lifting up in a smile.This wasn't the first time this had happened. When we were kids and Kate and I had sleepovers, Will would sometimes crash them - much to our annoyance - and we'd spend the entire night talking and hanging out or doing sometime crazy. When we grew up a little, Kate and I would catch Will sneaking into the house in the middle of the night, drunk, and looking back on it, probably high on drugs. We'd take care of him and put him to bed or if he wasn't in the mood to sleep, we'd stay with him and give him company. When we beca
Pause, Rewind, Play 36. Empty
November 2026,Scars Bay, USAAlyannaCold water hit my face and cascaded down my body.'He didn't have the luxury of hope of a future together like you did.'Tears welled up in my eyes. Heartache formed a ball in my throat, choking me up.How could I have not thought of it? How could I have been so callous? How could I have been so self-centered in my misery that I failed to see how it would have affected the one person I cared about the most?I had hurt Jay more than I could have even imagined. I had hurt the one person I love with all my heart. The one person I never wanted to hurt. The one person I stayed away from by telling my broken and bruised heart that while he might be hurt, he was at least safe. Alive. But it seemed like he hadn't done much of living. Just like me. He had been hanging on to the past. Just like me. But unlike
Pause, Rewind, Play 36. One Chance
November 2026, Scars Bay, USA Katerina Alya was sitting on the floor of her bedroom, her back against the bed and a drink in her hand. With her other hand, she played with a ring hanging off the necklace she was wearing. She looked up and her teary, red-rimmed eyes met mine. Oh no. I walked over to her, wanting to take a seat beside her but my dress wouldn't allow that. So with a bit of difficulty, I took it off. Only in a pair of panties and a bra, I lowered myself beside her. She looked over at me, her gaze lingering on my face, neck, and then chest before she looked away entirely. What was that about? "You should wear some clothes. It's winter," she whispered. "It's warm in here. I'm fine; you don't need to worry about me." I took the glass from her hand and placed it aside. "I was d
