LOGINBEAU’S POV (continued)“What are you doing at her door by this hour?”I opened my mouth to speak, despite having nothing to say.But before any word could come out of my mouth…“What’s going on here?”Mattias’s voice didn’t just hit me…it stabbed my gut.When I turned, I saw it immediately: the anger in his eyes. His jaw was set like he’d been holding back ever since the day he set eyes on me.Fuck.This can’t be happening.Mrs. Anna still stood close by, but she looked like she was bracing herself for what Mattias might do next.My throat tightened. I tried to speak, I tried to patch the situation with words…like I normally do. Like I could always talk my way out of trouble.But Mattias was already moving all his attention fully on me.“Mrs. Anna,” he asked, his eyes not leaving mine, “what’s the problem?”“I… I went to get a jar of water when I met him standing by Shimma’s door,” she said, her voice trembling with nerves she was trying to hide. “I was just wondering what he was doi
BEAU’S POV.Just like Shimma said, the rain didn’t stop at all.So I stayed back in one of the guest rooms I was asked to stay in.The room was quiet, clean, and far too comfortable for the kind of hell my mind was in. The kind of quiet that made every second feel louder. I stared at the clock. It was past 1:00 a.m.And still, sleep wouldn’t come.I tossed once. Twice. Then sat up, running a hand through my hair like I could pull my thoughts into order.I told myself I was just…getting up to clear my head or that I was just trying to be near her because I couldn’t help it.But the truth?…The truth was a physical urge in my chest.I needed to be close to Shimma.I needed to hear her breathe. I needed to confirm she was real and not another day that would end with silence.So I got up carefully.Tiptoed out of the guest room and made my way to her bedroom.The hallway was dark, lit only by a faint lamp glow, the kind of light that didn’t expose you…only guided you. So I moved extremely
MATTIAS’S POV.“Mr. Beau,” Mrs. Anna called, her voice gentle...polite even. Beau’s eyes were literally trailing after Shimma as she walked out of the dining hall. He didn’t even try to hide it.Mrs. Anna didn’t seem to mind, though. Not really. She just turned her attention fully to him.“Is it true the police added you to the already closed case?” she asked, her brows raised in curiosity. “Is it true that there weren’t any solid evidence found… and Ryle’s murderer could be out there, living freely?”I didn’t like that she brought it up again.I wasn’t sure Shimma would want her to bring the topic up again…especially not with everything settling down the way it finally had. But then again… I wanted to hear what the bastard had to say.What he’d say when the truth was staring at him from someone else’s eyes.For a few seconds Beau stayed quiet.There wasn’t any anger in his expression. Neither did he try to defend himself.But… if no one could, I could sense how uneasy he was. He adj
MR. BEAU’S POV.We all sat by the dining table to have lunch.I would’ve gone home by now…I should’ve, really. I’d made up my mind to keep a little distance, to not make this any harder than it already was, especially now that Shimma was back and wouldn’t be going anywhere anymore.But Mrs. Anna insisted I stay back…I almost hesitated, I needed to be away and come back as early as I could tomorrow, and then the next, and more days, weeks, months to come. But the way she sounded, her voice so polite, her eyes warm like she didn’t understand I was fighting a war inside my own chest.So I stayed….I tried to focus on my food.I tried to swallow without choking on my thoughts.But every time I lifted my fork, my eyes found her anyway….like my gaze had turned into a reflex I couldn’t control.Shimma.Sitting there so calm. So real. Like the last two months hadn’t been grinding my sanity down into dust.I told myself I could handle it.I could act normal. Like a man who wasn’t hanging by a
MATTIAS’S POV.“Ding! Ding!”I was in the kitchen preparing lunch when I heard the doorbell.I didn’t even wait a second…I washed my hands quickly, dried them with a small towel, and rushed to open the door.The moment I pulled it open, my whole chest loosened.A wide smile broke across my face.There she was.My wife, Shimma…standing beside my sweet little princess, Elara. And behind them, with that same familiar warmth on her face, was Mrs. Anna too.“Welcome!” I said, stepping aside and gesturing for them to come in.Elara didn’t hesitate. She ran straight into my arms, hugging me tightly like she’d been gone for years.I lifted her up, kissing her cheek again and again.“How’s my little princess doing?” I asked, my voice softening. “I missed you so much.”My eyes slid back to Shimma.I could’ve madly kissed her right there…no limits, no restraint…but her mother was in the house now, and Shimma didn’t need to feel awkward in front of her mum. Not after everything.So I kissed Shimm
SHIMMA’S POV.“Don’t you want me to?” Mattias asked, and I could hear the frustration in his voice, like he was trying not to let it take over his words.I hissed softly, my gaze drifting toward the ceiling.“I do,” I said, I honestly really wanted to see him……more than anything. “More than you can imagine.” But my thoughts wouldn’t stop circling the reason I’d been holding myself back.“My mum isn’t ready to accommodate all of us at the same time. She doesn’t need anything that would remind her of him… and us being together…….me, you, the kids……,” I swallowed. “She might freak out again. And I don’t want that. Not after how hard she’s been trying to stay calm.”There was a long pause on the line.When Mattias finally spoke, his voice softened, but the sigh sounded heavy.“I understand you, Shimma,” he said, and I could sense how frustrated he was…….how he hated distance the way I did.“I’ve missed you too,” I admitted quickly, because if I didn’t say it, I’d collapse. “I’ve missed y







