[Arella]There's only one thing I can do right now, and that's hope. Hope for the best. Hope that the old man will get out of his coma. Hope that we can find his family.It’s already a miracle that I haven’t lost my baby. My miraculous baby. The thought fills me with a bittersweet ache, but it also makes me question everything. Would I even be a good mother? I’ve made so many poor decisions already, ones that didn’t put my precious baby first. I almost died. I could feel myself dying that day. The memory makes my stomach churn, but somehow, by some miracle, my baby and I survived.The elevator dings open, the sharp sound yanking me from my thoughts. I push all those melancholic feelings to the back of my mind. It’s time to work.Without wasting much time at the office, Bridget, Sasha, and I head downtown for our rescheduled meeting with the mayor. As I smooth down my burgundy blazer, I silently marvel at how Bridget managed to pull this off. Whatever magic she worked, damn, am I grate
The driver pulls up, and I recognize him immediately—it’s Milo, one of my eight special forces bodyguards. Since the usual driver is on leave, he’s stepped in. Eight bodyguards trailing me everywhere is still a fact I’m trying to swallow, but they’re so skilled I hardly notice them until they’re needed. It’s unnerving yet oddly comforting. “Evening, ma’am,” Milo greets me, his typically cold tone softening just a fraction as his gaze meets mine. “Evening, Milo. How was your day?” “Very productive,” he finally replies, his tone clipped, efficient—so very Milo. “Same here,” I respond, settling into the plush leather back seat. “Home?” he asks, glancing at me briefly in the rearview mirror. I pause, my mother-in-law’s earlier text flashing through my mind. “No. To Sawyer Estate, please,” I reply. His expression remains impassive, though the slight furrow of his brow betrays his curiosity. I ignore it, turning my attention to the city streets blurring past. My fingers tap restlessl
[Arella] We walk in silence—heavy and tense—all the way to his office. Every step seems louder than it should, adding to the weight in the air. His office is large, with shelves full of books. Warm brown colors fill the space, and the soft golden light of the evening sun streams through tall windows. For a second, I notice how beautiful the view is, but the knot in my stomach quickly reminds me why I’m here.He moves to a cabinet, pulls out a file, and gestures to a chair. “Sit,” he says curtly. I obey, lowering myself into the seat with a stiffness I can’t seem to shake. If I said I wasn’t intimidated, I’d be lying. My mind races with possibilities, each worse than the last. What does he want from me? Is he planning to pay me off, like Lincoln’s grandmother did? “I must say,” he begins, his tone easy but clipped, “you’ve done a good job of disrupting the peace in this family.” The words sting, sharp and unrelenting. My brows furrow in confusion. “I haven’t done anything s
[Arella]My mother-in-law’s gaze lingers on me, still heavy with concern, as she follows Ava and me to the car. The late evening sun casts long shadows across the driveway. “Are you sure he didn’t yell at you?” she asks, her voice firm yet warm. “Just say the word, and he’ll get an earful from me.”I blink at her, momentarily stunned. This woman was nothing short of an angel. My heart softens, and I offer a small smile to reassure her.“He didn’t do anything, Mom,” I reply, my tone light but stiff as I fumble with the car keys. “I just need to pass on some files to Lincoln.”Her sharp eyes narrow, clearly not buying my excuse, but she sighs in reluctant acceptance. “If you say so.”She leans down to hug Ava, and they share a quiet moment that makes my chest ache. “Be good, Ava,” she says gently, brushing a strand of hair from her face.As we settle into the car, my mother-in-law waves enthusiastically from the driveway. “Don’t worry about tickets to the big game!” she yells, her voic
[Lincoln]Something was wrong. I could feel it rattling my bones, gnawing at the edges of my mind like a shadow that refused to disappear.“I was told you went to the Sawyer estate,” I say, my voice low as my fingers trace a slow, deliberate path along her cheek. Her skin feels soft and warm under my touch, tiny goosebumps arise where my fingers touch. “Did something happen?”“Well…” she begins, her voice hesitant as her gaze flickers away. “It’s nothing big, actually. Maybe I’m just overthinking it all.”The way her eyes drift, refusing to meet mine, makes me frown. She’s holding back—I can feel it.“My grandma wasn’t home, she's at a retreat” I say, leaning closer, watching for any subtle change in her body language. “That could only mean Aunt Trixy or my father. Tell me, who made you mad?”Her nose scrunches adorably, and a small tilt to her lips hints at amusement. “Hold on, Mr. Macho Man. There was no drama…like that,” she says lightly. Then, after a beat, she adds, “But I did ha
[Lincoln] “Thank you so much, Bridge,” Arella’s voice drifts into my thoughts as I descend the stairs. Her words feel like a soft echo in my chest, but there's a heaviness to them. It's the kind of tone you can't ignore, the one that quietly nags at your soul. As I reach the bottom, my gaze lands on her—her eyes, those deep blue eyes—now cast downward as she puts down her phone. They’re sad. Too sad. There's something in them I don’t quite understand, but it's there, staring back at me. “Good morning,” she says, but it's not quite right. Her cheerfulness feels... off. Forced, like a smile you put on because you think it’s expected. It doesn’t reach her eyes. Across from her sits Ava, slumped against the couch, eyes glued to the TV. The soap opera flickers on, but it’s clear it’s only there to fill the space. Ava’s mind is somewhere else. I've always wondered why these two sisters look so different. I mean, besides their personalities—Ava with her black eyes and auburn hair, and
[Arella]Black is never a color I’d voluntarily choose to wear. Maybe because of what it represents in my life—the demise of the one closest to my soul. The wrapped black blouse and matching skirt I wear today cling to me like the grief I refuse to let go of. It’s suffocating, as though the weight of loss has woven itself into every thread.My gaze shifts to Ava.I want to ask her how she has survived these two long years with me in a coma. How did she manage without Mom? What did she endure? Who did she turn to?The questions sit heavy in my chest, gnawing at me with sharp, unrelenting edges. Guilt and shame churn inside me, a storm I can’t quiet. How could I have left her all alone? I thought she’d be fine with Deric’s family, but I should have known better. We’ve never really talked about it.For now, though, I need her to recover. She adjusts the bouquet of marigolds—Ma’s favorite flowers—freshly picked from the garden this morning. Her movements are tender, almost as if she’s cra
[Arella]Dark, cascading hair frames a face that mirrors striking blue eyes—eyes that look so familiar it's almost unsettling. My breath stumbles, my chest heaving as if the very sight of them has stolen all the air in the room. A wave of dizziness washes over me, my knees threatening to buckle beneath the weight of emotions I can’t even name. It feels like the ground beneath me is crumbling, leaving me suspended in this feeling of disbelief and...fear? Inside the locket is an aged photo, worn and fragile. The faces are clear despite the years. A younger version of this man... and me? No. That can’t be right. It’s impossible. But it's like staring into a fucking mirror. "I... you..." I stammer, my throat dry, the words sticking as I struggle to form a coherent thought. My vision blurs, my heartbeat thumping loudly.The woman in the photo looks so happy, her smile so bright it’s almost contagious. Her eyes shine with pride as she clings to his arm, wearing a graduation gown that cat
[Arella]The door to the bathroom pushes open, and I can feel the urgency radiating off my husband before I even see him."Arella."His voice snaps me out of the haze of nothingness in my head."Huh?" I reply absentmindedly, barely registering him, my toes peeking above the surface of the water in the tub."You've been in here for more than an hour, love.""I have?" The answer slips out automatically, my voice distant.Today has dragged on forever. From Ava—her confession—to Deric and his memories… it all feels like too much. Like a storm swallowing me whole. My brain feels numb, detached, floating somewhere outside my body.After storming off with Lincoln in hand, I had barely registered coming home, nor the process of stepping into the bath. I don’t even recall undressing. The only real thing is the ice-cold bite of the water against my skin—sharp, unforgiving.That’s it. That’s the only sensation I feel.I barely register my naked body being lifted from the tub. My head swings slig
[Arella]“My memories are back.”The words sound in my head like a bad omen, curling around me like smoke, thick and suffocating. For a moment, my heart stops.There was a time when I dreamed of this—of him remembering, of him looking at me the way he used to, of the boy I fell in love with in my sophomore year coming back to me.But things change.People change.And Deric? He became something else entirely.Apart from the small, fleeting shock that zips across my skin, I feel nothing now. Nothing but pure, numbing apathy.But beside me, there’s something else—something sharp, electric.Lincoln.The energy radiating from him is different, dangerous. A nervous, explosive energy, coiled tight like a wire about to snap. I can feel his restraint, the way his muscles lock in place, his breathing steady but tense.He’s waiting. Holding back.For me.For my move.Keeping my face blank, I yank my hands away with force, stepping back a few inches. My voice comes out steady, deceptively cold.“
[Arella]Vivian is the first to notice me. Her eyes widen, not just from the sting of Deric’s slap but from the fact that I saw it happen. Despite the firestorm raging inside me, a self-satisfied smirk tugs at my lips. Trouble in paradise? I wonder what woman is strong enough to break these two apart.I ignore her. She’s insignificant. My gaze zeroes in on Deric, and he’s already looking at me. His eyes also wide but hold something foreign—something sickening. Like I’m the light in his dark world. Like… how he used to look at me.Disgust coils in my stomach.He steps closer, his fingers twitching as if reaching for me. But, all I see is him, drenched in a drunken haze, tossing money at my foster mother’s dying body like she was some disposable trash.“Arella…” His voice cracks. “It’s… you. I’m not dreaming, am I?”My hand moves before I even think. The sharp crack echoes through the room, my palm meeting his cheek with enough force to tilt his head to the side. But I don’t feel the s
[Arella]The ringing in my ears is deafening, a sharp, unbearable screech that drowns out everything else. My heart pounds against my ribs, hammering so hard I swear it might break through. What did she just say?"What?!" I sputter, the words barely forming as the world tilts on its axis. My throat is dry, my pulse a wild, erratic mess. I watch Ava’s lips move, the syllables barely escaping before her eyes dim."It was...Deric Smith…"Then, she collapses against my shoulder, her body going limp like a marionette doll with its strings cut.A strangled sound escapes me. Panic—raw and unforgiving—roars through my veins, squeezing my lungs like a vise."Doctor! Doctor!" I scream, my voice breaking, my hands gripping her lifeless body. It feels like an eternity before the door bursts open and the doctor rushes in, a nurse trailing behind her. They don’t hesitate. I’m shoved aside, my arms suddenly empty, and I stumble back, disoriented.My breathing is erratic, the walls pressing in, the h
[Arella]Giving Lincoln one last look of reassurance, I follow the doctor into Ava’s ward. Two nurses are flocking around her, checking her pulse. The sterile scent of the hospital room fills the air, mixing with the anxiety that seems to hang in the atmosphere. Ava’s eyes jump around, frantic, her movements tense like she’s scared that even the slightest touch will hurt her. It twists something deep inside me—this isn’t my Ava.Her eyes instinctively catch mine, and I feel a lump rise in my throat. The tears in her eyes are like a punch to the gut. She’s lost, broken, and it feels like the world has fallen apart for her."Ava?" I say softly, my voice cracking as I step closer."Ella?" she asks, her voice so fragile it feels like she’s whispering to the air, unsure if she’s truly seeing me or if I’m just a figment of her shattered mind."Hi, baby," I coo gently, moving closer. I sit on the bed beside her, wrapping my arms around her trembling body. Her arms respond immediately, but th
Cold, sterile stench of the hospital clings to me like a second skin as I hurry down the dimly lit corridor, my pulse pounding so loudly it drowns out the sound of my heels clicking against the floor. The bright overhead lights feel too harsh, the air too cold, and my whole body is tight with panic. "Calm down," Lincoln whispers beside me, his hand finding mine, his grip firm and reassuring. Calm down? How am I supposed to calm down when my sister is in critical condition? When I am supposed to be on my honeymoon, yet here I am, sprinting toward a doctor’s office like my life depends on it? My chest heaves as I force myself to breathe, trying to push back the overwhelming fear clawing at me. Then I spot My mother-in-law, She sits stiffly in a chair outside the doctor’s office, her hands clasped so tightly in her lap that her knuckles have turned white. Her usually warm eyes are clouded with worry, her lips pressed into a thin, trembling line. The second she sees me, her expres
[Deric]This migraine will be the death of me."Bring me more bottles!" I roar at the bartender, my voice thick with alcohol and fury. The dim lighting of the bar barely does anything to soothe the pounding in my skull, the ache digging in deep like a knife.The bartender flinches, his face paling. “S-Sir, I think you’ve had enough,” he stammers, his Spanish accent tangling with his words.Enough?I jerk up so fast the stool scrapes against the floor, the sound grating against my ears. Grabbing him by the collar, I twist it hard, pulling him close enough to see the panic flashing in his eyes."Listen here, buddy. If you don’t get me more bottles of beer right now—""Whoa, whoa!"A strong grip yanks me back. My vision sways. The migraine slashes through my skull, and I almost collapse right there if not for the thick, muscular arms shoving me down onto my stool.A man looms over me—a huge guy with a thick mustache and a jagged gash running across his left eye. He mutters something in S
[Arella]"Oh, c'mon, Lincoln, not this again."My eyes roll as a pout tugs at my lips. I know he can’t resist when I do that."Our honeymoon’s almost over—we should make the most of it," I plead, tugging his arm repeatedly like a child."We should," he finally turns to face me, a scowl on his handsome face, his deep honey brown eyes flickering with something sinful. "Like every other normal honeymooners, we should be in bed all day for the next two days before we go back."A look of horror flashes across my face, and Lincoln immediately chokes on his suppressed laugh.I take a step back, my core tightening at the memory of last night—his punishment. The way he handled me like I was nothing but his to ruin, the way his voice dropped to that deadly whisper before…No. No way in hell.His laugh settles, but his gaze doesn’t waver. He knows. He knows exactly what I’m thinking about, and I hate that. Heat rushes to my cheeks, and he clicks his tongue, his lips curving into that wicked smir
[Arella]Pulling out the towel Lincoln packed for me, I wrap it around her shivering frame. Her skin is cool to the touch, damp with seawater, and her breath is still uneven from the near-drowning."Thank you," she whispers softly, almost as if she’s still in shock.“You're welco—”“Thank you!” she repeats, louder this time. But her eyes aren’t on me anymore; they’re locked onto Lincoln.My socially awkward husband, who doesn’t even acknowledge her. He just brushes past us like she doesn’t exist, heading straight for his phone on the table. No glance. No nod. Just complete, ice-cold disregard.I want to facepalm myself.Her face falls slightly, her shoulders drooping just a bit before she looks back at me with an uncertain expression. "Help me thank your brother. I really do appreciate it."My brows furrow. Brother? Did Lincoln and I look… alike? I let out an awkward laugh, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "He's my husband actually, and don't worry—he's glad to help. Jus