Kathrine’s POVIt was just a picnic, I told myself. How bad could it be? Besides, I actually wanted to go, and I tried not to overthink that too much. The only thing that concerned me was whether Henry would be okay with me spending time alone with his brother. But as long as it was just an innocent afternoon outing, why should he care? And why should I care if he did?It’s not like he had asked me out himself. Saturday was still far away, so I tried to push it out of my mind and focus on work. We were all busy during the week. Henry and Noah had a multimillion-dollar business to run, I had deadlines to meet, and classes to attend. I figured we wouldn’t have much time to see each other, but somehow, I always ran into one of them in the morning and the other at night, like bookends to my day. Henry was still mostly quiet and serious, but at least he wasn’t as grumpy as before. Noah, on the other hand, was his usual flirty self, I wasn’t sure he knew how to be any other way.There hadn’
Kathrine’s povJust the look on Henry's face was enough to make my heart race. His eyes held something tempting, something intense. I hesitated, my heart pounding as I asked myself if I really wanted to go through with this. It was thrilling, exciting, maybe even a little dangerous. The idea that someone could catch us at the act at any moment only added to the rush. I wanted this. I knew I did. So why was I hesitating? Was it fear? Not of him, I trusted Henry in ways I couldn’t explain. He wouldn’t let anything happen to me. He was the kind of person who took his responsibilities seriously. And I knew that, in this moment, I was in his hands. That should have been enough to put me at ease.I swallowed hard, forcing myself to push past the nerves. I followed his lead, shifting into position just as he had instructed. I felt the cool air against my skin, a sharp contrast to the heat building inside me. My breathing came faster, my fingers gripping onto something solid as if grounding m
Kathrine’s POVMy whole body felt like jelly. My legs trembled as if they could no longer hold me up, and my muscles ached in ways I hadn’t experienced before. My mind felt hazy, floating somewhere between exhaustion and satisfaction. And then, for no reason at all, I suddenly wanted to cry. The last orgasm came upon me so unexpectedly that I barely had time to react before tears burned at the corners of my eyes. I wasn’t sad. I wasn’t hurt. But a strange wave of emotions fell on me, making my chest feel too full, my breathing uneven. I quickly wiped at my eyes before anyone could see, but of course, Henry noticed immediately. He always noticed.His warm hands cupped my face, tilting my head up as he pressed a soft kiss to my eyelids. "You did so well, Princess," he murmured, his voice rich with praise and something deeper, something protective. Before I could respond, he scooped me into his arms effortlessly, lifting me off Noah’s lap. My head rested against his shoulder as he cradle
Henry’s povI hadn’t forgotten about the note left on her car. On its own, it might not have meant much, but combined with the slashed tire, it was clear that something was going on. I couldn’t help but wonder if there had been other incidents, things she either hadn’t noticed or had brushed off. Or worse, things she knew were dangerous but hadn’t told us about. Had these threats only started since she moved in with us, or had they been happening before that? And were they really aimed at Kathrine? Or was her mother the real target? Every incident seemed to involve Clara’s car, which made me suspect the latter.But with that lingering in the back of my mind, and my father appearing in the kitchen like a bad omen, I figured we all needed a distraction. What I didn’t expect was for it to turn into an unforgettable moment in Noah’s bed. I tried to seem calm and in control, but the truth was, I was shaken to my core.I couldn’t explain it, but watching her unravel under my touch had done
Kathrine’s POVThe next morning, my body still felt weak from the aftershocks. I got up as usual and went down to the gym, but my muscles wobbled, and I didn’t have the energy or the willpower to push myself.I was pedaling the bike at half my usual speed when Noah strolled in. He walked straight over, leaned on the handlebars, and gave me a quick kiss. Like it was the most natural thing in the world to start our day that way.It made me smile. If he noticed that I was taking it easy, he was smart enough not to say anything. I had observed that he rarely did cardio, he mostly stuck to weights, but today, he climbed onto the treadmill. He started at a brisk walk, then gradually increased his pace until he was jogging. With his muscle mass, even a slow jog had to be a challenge.We worked out in comfortable silence, both lost in our own thoughts. I had my earbuds in, but I kept the volume low just in case he spoke. He finished his mile, then moved on to ab and glute exercises. I was gra
Henry’s POVSaturday morning was cloudy, with warnings of heavy storms later in the day. I spent most of the morning working in my room, giving Noah and Kathrine some space. Kathrine stuck to her routine, waking up early to work out, just like always. Since she arrived, Noah had been using the home gym way more than before. After that, Kathrine locked herself in her room to write until it was time to get ready for her karate class.I left a little early on purpose, I wanted to see the end of her class. Noah always went on about how Kathrine was a total badass, a black belt who even helped train the newbies. I had to see it for myself. But I wasn’t ready for what I walked into. The moment I stepped into the small lobby, my stomach dropped. A huge guy, easily two hundred pounds, was straddling Kathrine on the mat. He was sweating so much that his white gi had yellow stains under the arms, and his shaved head gleamed under the lights. My blood boiled as I watched him lean over her, hands
Kathrine's pov My backside was soaked and freezing, but sitting on top of Henry, I felt oddly warm and cozy. His smoldering gaze told me he wasn’t exactly cold either. Still, I couldn’t help but think the ice beneath him was melting, soaking into his clothes. Carefully, I climbed off him and followed his earlier advice to stand up. Squatting like a frog on the ice, I slowly straightened my legs, wobbling until I found my balance. Once upright, I shuffled my way back to the safety of the wall, gripping it like a lifeline.Too focused on staying upright, I didn’t see Henry peel himself off the ice. But a moment later, he was gliding beside me again, his hand gripping mine through my thick glove. He coaxed me away from the wall, encouraging me to venture further out onto the ice. Time seemed to melt away as I got the hang of skating. It was challenging at first, but under Henry’s patient guidance, I learned to push myself forward, make slow turns, and even stop without toppling over. I
Noah’s povI was sitting in my truck outside the Tokyo House restaurant, tapping my fingers on the steering wheel, feeling restless. The sky had an unusual orange glow as dark storm clouds began to cover the setting sun. The air felt thick, like rain was about to fall any moment, and I could sense the shift in the weather. I hoped Henry and Kathrine would arrive before the downpour started. Thankfully, I had thought to bring an umbrella, just in case.I glanced at my phone again, but there were still no messages from either of them.Just as the first heavy raindrops began to hit my windshield, I noticed the Impala pulling into the gravel parking lot. I quickly grabbed my umbrella and hurried over to hold it above the passenger door for Kathrine as she got out.She stepped out carefully, offering a small smile, though it seemed a bit forced. "Oh, Noah! Hi," she said.I wanted to kiss her, but something about the way she carried herself made me hesitate. I glanced at Henry over the car
Kathrine’s POVI felt so dizzy I might have collapsed if I hadn’t been sandwiched between Henry and Noah, their strong bodies holding me up. The kitten, tired of being squished, had climbed onto my shoulder, her tiny claws pricking my skin.Was this real? Had I slipped into some alternate reality? Maybe the almond milk my mom gave me had sent me into a coma, and this was all just a dream. Because who in the world gives their girlfriend a house for her nineteenth birthday?But it wasn’t the price tag or the extravagance of the gift that hit me the hardest. It was the understanding.Henry and Noah knew. They knew that for the past three and a half years, my life had been nothing but temporary, unstable, unreliable, and downright terrifying. When I lost my dad, I lost my home, my safety, my security. I’d followed my mom from one boyfriend’s place to another, always feeling like an unwanted third wheel, always at the mercy of strangers. I thought I’d built up a tough shell, that I was str
Kathrine’s POVI wasn’t expecting any more gifts from the Robert brothers. They’d already spoiled me with flowers, a fancy stainless steel water bottle, an incredible dinner on the gazebo, and those stunning rings. I couldn’t stop twisting the rings on my finger, just to remind myself this was real. This wasn’t some scene from one of my romance novels—this was my life.But when they drove me out to the waterfall, I almost melted. It was such a sweet, romantic gesture, taking me back to where it all kind of began. Okay, technically, it started at the Professor’s house, but our first real date was here, at the swimming hole under the man-made waterfall. That was the moment I started to believe I could actually be with both of them.When we arrived, there was a blanket laid out on the grass, scattered with rose petals. A vase of fresh flowers sat beside a white box tied with a big red bow. They sat facing me, their eyes full of anticipation, like they were waiting for something huge. It
Henry’s povI woke up before the sun even started to rise, the sky still dark over the mountains. Kathrine was curled up next to me, our legs tangled together with Noah’s. My brother was on the other side of her, holding her close while she faced me. At some point during the night, we’d kicked off the blankets, but the three of us together kept the bed warm and cozy.When Noah and I planned her late birthday dinner, we never imagined it would end the way it did, with the most incredible, unforgettable night of my life. Maybe even our lives. I reached for her hand in the dark, my fingers brushing over the ring she now wore. She’d accepted it. She’d accepted us.Kathrine stirred, stretching with a soft groan. “Oh my God,” she mumbled, her voice still heavy with sleep. She threw a leg over mine and sighed. “I feel like I’ve been hit by a bus. No, make that two buses.”I smiled, brushing her hair back from her face. Even in the dim light, I could see how beautiful she looked. “I’m sorry,
Kathrine’s POVI should have done this a long time ago. Sliding behind the wheel of my new car, I gripped the steering wheel a little tighter than necessary, just to remind myself that it was real, this was real. The scent of pine-tree air freshener mixed with the sharp, chemical tang of whatever they used to polish the interior at the dealership. It wasn’t exactly pleasant, but it smelled like freedom. Like a fresh start.No more asking for permission. No more borrowing keys. No more waiting for some taxi driver to show up at his own pace. This was my car, and I could go anywhere I wanted, whenever I wanted.It should have been a good feeling, liberating, even but there was a dull ache gnawing at the back of my mind.My mother wasn’t speaking to me.Late last night, I’d heard her voice sharp and angry, drifting from the other end of the house. I couldn’t make out every word, but I didn’t have to. I knew exactly what the argument was about.She must have gone to Weah, her voice rising
Noah’s PovEven though Kathrine was trying to hide it, I could see she was upset. When I got to the dojo, she was already there. She had taken off her jacket, put on boxing gloves, and was hitting the heavy bag hard. She wasn’t just practicing, she was putting all her strength into every punch and kick. I could almost feel the force of her hits. Her face was red, her breath was sharp with each strike, and sweat was running down her neck.It was impressive and attractive, but also a little scary.I wouldn’t want to be that bag, but that wasn’t what worried me. It was the way she was fighting, so intense, so focused, so fierce. It was like she was fighting for her life. Or maybe she was punishing herself.After what Henry told me about her meeting with her mom, I thought it might be a mix of both. I wasn’t sure if I should stop her or let her keep going. Since we were in the dojo and she was higher-ranked than me, I felt unsure of what to do.Luckily, Clement noticed something was wrong
Kathrine’s Pov“Time to face the executioner,” I muttered under my breath as I opened the door and headed downstairs to confront my mother. My purse was slung over one shoulder, and I could hear the keys to my new car jingling inside, almost as if they were taunting me. I kept my face calm and composed, but inside, my stomach was churning with nerves. I had no idea how my mother was going to react, and I really didn’t want Henry to witness it if she completely lost it.I found her pacing back and forth between the living room and the kitchen. She had kicked off her heels by the back door and I mean kicked. One of them had flown halfway across the room. Her hair, which had been neatly tied up, was now loose and floating around her flushed face. Her pupils were tiny pinpoints, and she was shaking with anger. She was furious, and it showed in every movement.I took a deep breath, trying to detach myself from her emotional state. It wasn’t easy. Her stress and anxiety felt like invisible
Kathrine's povBuying my own car might have been a little impulsive, but I didn’t regret it. Well, not entirely. The process wasn’t exactly smooth, though. I had to visit three different dealerships before I found a salesman who actually took me seriously. The first one looked me straight in the eye and told me to come back with my parents. Can you believe that? The second one laughed in my face when I said I wasn’t interested in financing and planned to pay in cash. It was frustrating, to say the least. But at the third dealership, I finally found a guy who treated me like an adult. We talked about the pros and cons of different cars within my budget, and after some back-and-forth, I settled on a modest, older Toyota with low mileage. It wasn’t flashy, but it was reliable and affordable.I paid for the car in full and drove it off the lot, feeling a mix of pride and guilt. This was my first car, and it should’ve been a happy moment, but instead, I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling in
Henry’s POV“How much longer?” I barked into the phone, my patience hanging by a thread.“We’ll wrap up by Tuesday,” said Guy Wilson, the contractor I hired to handle the asbestos cleanup at the old factory. “After that, you’ve got to wait at least 48 hours for the air to clear. Honestly, with a job this big, I’d give it a full week before we run the final tests to make sure it’s safe.”I rubbed my eyes, frustration gnawing at me. A week shouldn’t feel like a lifetime, but with the chaos at home, it felt like an eternity.I always knew Kathrine’s mom wouldn’t be on board with us, but I didn’t expect her to go full attack mode. The way she tore into Kathrine was disgusting, shaming her, calling her awful names. It made me sick.That morning at breakfast, Clara dropped the bomb. “You’re grounded,” she announced, her tone dripping with superiority. “And you’re not touching your car. Got it?”Kathrine didn’t even blink. She just raised an eyebrow, squeezed a lemon into her water bottle li
Kathrine's POVThis wasn’t going to blow over. I could feel it in my bones, like the ache of a storm before it hits. The tension in the house was thick enough to cut with a knife, and I knew it was only a matter of time before everything came crashing down. Unless I walked away from whatever this thing was between the Robert brothers and me, my mom and Weah would keep pushing. And I’d be the one caught in the crossfire.I was the odd one out here. The outsider. The girl who didn’t belong in the Robert’ world. And honestly, I could see why my mom was so uncomfortable. Weah, her professor boyfriend, was all about appearances. He was the kind of guy who ironed his socks and probably had a spreadsheet for his grocery list. I could practically see him breaking things off with her if I caused too much of a scene. The thought made my stomach twist.Even if I ignored my mom and Weah, this thing with the twins was a risk. A huge one. Relationships were messy enough, but with two brothers? It w