NATE’S POV“I’ll tell you everything,” I say, my breathing a little too unsteady.I know Elara.Once she makes up her mind, she doesn’t turn back. And with the way she spoke just now, she was ready to walk out of my life, again.Unless I give her what she wants.She’s changed.She doesn’t just say things anymore, she follows through.And right now, she’s following through on walking away.I need her to stay.Not just because of the deal we made.Not just because of the. I song that will be in jeopardy. How could it be just that?I never stopped loving her.“I’m listening,” she says, turning to face me, her arms crossed over her chest.“Can you take a seat?” I ask.I knew this moment would come eventually.Sooner or later, I had to tell her the truth.I just didn’t expect it to be today.Thank God I booked the entire coffee shop. And I know no one will be listening in on us. So I’m sure it’s a safe space for me tell her the truth. Elara hesitates for a second before pulling out the c
ELARA’S POVFor some reason, my mother decided today was the perfect day for her and her two best friends to have a girls’ night.I didn’t want to go to the launch party with Nate, but now it seems like my only escape.Because I know my mom’s friends.Those two old ladies she calls her besties? They’re just like her—if not worse.And it’s already hard enough dealing with my mom alone. Sure, she’s been a little better lately, but those so-called friends of hers? They’re on a different level of blunt. No filter. No boundaries.I already know they won’t let me stay in my room and be by myself. They’ll pull me into their night, force me to sit with them, and if all three of them corner me, they’ll probably figure out my relationship with Nate is fake.And I can’t have that happening.With a huff, I pull on the dress I picked out for the event, keeping my makeup light and natural.Even though I never gave Nate a straight answer about going, he still texted me. I didn’t see it at first—only
ELARA'S POV "It’s so nice to meet you." I smile, trying my best not to seem too excited, even though I was."Nathan, long time no see, huh?" Sienna turns to Nate, who simply nods, taking a sip of his drink."I’ve been wanting to come say hello, but you both seemed a little busy with Valentina," she says, gesturing toward where Valentina is."Really?" I muse, tilting my head slightly."Yeah, it’s been a while since I’ve seen Nate. I wanted to say hi and finally introduce myself to his wife. I’m sure Nate hasn’t mentioned me, but we went to high school together. And after that, he decided to ghost everybody me included." she chuckled, "Oh, you did?" My brow lifts as I glance at Nate who just shrugged. confirming what she said. "I could tell you all about how much of a handful he was back then," she teases, "but I’m running out of time. Oh, and the other reason I came over, I have this new shoot coming up. I want to step out of my usual style, try something different, and do a couple’
NATE’S POV “You fucking bastard!” Elliot’s growl barely registers before his fist slams into my face. A sharp sting follows. Pain shoots through my jaw, but I barely react. Instinct tells me to fight back. To block the next hit, throw one of my own. But I don’t. I grit my teeth and take it. Because deep down, I know I deserve this. Elliot pulls back, his fist raised again. I brace myself, ready for the next blow. But it never comes. “Elliot! You need to stop this!” Elara’s voice rings through the night, sharper this time, desperate. “Stay out of this, El!” Elliot snarls, shaking her off. “I need to teach this fucking bastard a lesson.after everything he did you he deserve worse” But she doesn’t back down. She pushes in front of him, blocking his path to me. “Elliot, listen to me! You need to stop. We need to talk first. Let me explain.” She’s pleading, her hands gripping his arm. But Elliot is too blinded by his rage to hear her. His grip tightens around
NATE’S POV “She didn’t tell you?” Mrs. Westwood’s mouth drops open in shock. I shake my head, my chest tightening. “I thought since you two were giving each other a chance, she would have told you everything.” “She didn’t tell me anything about a miscarriage.” Mrs. Westwood sighs, rubbing her temple. “She didn’t? That’s… strange. I really thought she did.” She exhales heavily before meeting my gaze again. “Well, at least now you understand why Elliot acted the way he did. Please don’t take it to heart. I’ll make sure to explain everything to him.” “It’s fine, Mrs. Westwood. Elliot and I will fix our issues.” My voice comes out even, but inside, I feel like the floor has just been ripped out from under me. “That’s good to hear.” I barely register her words. My thoughts are tangled in one thing. Elara was pregnant. And she didn’t think to tell me? My jaw clenches. My hands curl into fists. I can feel my pulse hammering in my ears. She hid this from me. She lo
ELARA’S POVMy chest tightens, as though something heavy is pressing against it. My hands won’t stop trembling as I push open the front door.“Why did you tell him, Mom?” I yell, my voice cracking.“It’s my story to tell! I should choose who I tell and when I tell them. Why did you have to put yourself in my business?”Usually, my mom can’t help but meddle, always doing things I never ask for. But I thought she had stopped. I thought she’d finally let me handle my life the way I see fit.“I didn’t mean to tell him, Elara,” she states, her voice steady no hint of remorse to her words. “I had no idea you hadn’t told him. You said you two were working through your differences, giving the relationship another chance, didn’t you?” I had said that.“Then why in the world haven’t you told him about the child?” she presses, her tone firm. “How can you plan to start a new relationship based on lies? A relationship is—”“Good night, Mom,” I cut her off, not willing to hear another one of her l
ELARA’S POV I left my purse in the car but didn’t bother going back for it. Elliot was already walking ahead, and I hurried to catch up. He looked like he had just come from work, still dressed in slacks and a suit. I was wearing something similar, a blouse with rolled-up sleeves though I’d left my jacket in the car. We walked in silence to the old swing set at the corner of the neighborhood. It used to be our go-to spot whenever we got tired of Mom and her endless bickering. It felt oddly nostalgic being here again. Elliot sat on one of the swings, leaning back slightly he turned to me. “So…” he began, “I hear you’re back with that son of a bitch.” I frowned. “Nate’s mom isn’t a bitch, you know,” my tone is light. Elliot snorted. “You know that’s not what I meant.” He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. “Let me rephrase. So, you’re back with that douchebag.” I sighed and gently pushed the swing with my feet, letting it sway slowly. “It’s… a long story,” I said.
ELARA’S POV I stay frozen, contemplating whether I should tell my brother the truth or keep quiet. “I guess I have my answer then,” Elliot broke the silence before I could. “Elliot—” I began, but he cut me off. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I’ll find out whatever it is,” he said. From the tone in his voice, I could tell he wasn’t joking. When Elliot wants to know something, he doesn’t stop until he gets the answers. I think I just made things worse. “I’ve sent you the address… again. I hope you can make it,” Sienna said over the phone. For the past few days, we’d been talking and making arrangements for the shoot. Just telling her I wanted to cancel last minute didn’t seem right. She seemed so excited about it. I had given her my word, so canceling now felt impossible. “I’ll be there,” I said. “But Sienna, I don’t think Nate will be able to make it, so we might end up with a solo shoot.” Since our last encounter, Nate and I hadn’t crossed paths, not even o
ELARA’S POV I should walk away. I should say thank you for the save and disappear into the crowd, back to my brother or my car or anywhere that isn’t here standing in front of a man I don’t even know, feeling like I should. But I don’t move. Because there’s something about him. Something about the way he watches me, not with expectation, not with amusement, but like he already knows I won’t leave just yet. “I take it you have a habit of stepping in where you’re not needed?” I arch a brow, tilting my head slightly. His smirk doesn’t falter. If anything, it deepens. “I don’t know… Were you going to handle it?” I narrow my eyes. He’s playing with me, testing me. And I don’t like it. “I was two seconds away from pouring my drink in his lap,” I say smoothly, waving my now empty glass. “But I suppose your approach was more… effective.” A little smile tugs at my lips. I was actually planning on doing it, but only if Mr Caldwell had followed me after I left. His ey
ELARA’S POV“You know, dear, expanding a business in early July is not something I’d recommend,” Mr. Caldwell says, his voice smooth but condescending, his hand lingering on my back a little too long for my liking.I shift slightly, forcing a polite smile, hoping he gets the hint. But instead of stepping back, he inches closer.Men like this are exactly why I avoid socializing at grand events like these. The flashing cameras, the overwhelming crowd, the endless small talk—it’s exhausting. And then there are the men—the ones who mistake common courtesy for an invitation.Elliot had insisted I come tonight as his plus one. I had wanted to stay home, lose myself in work, but I agreed to this because, for the past two days since we returned to Vegas, we hadn’t had a moment alone. And I needed to talk to him.To tell him the truth.But the moment we arrived, it seemed like everyone had someone to introduce to my brother, or Elliot himself had someone he needed to speak with. I quickly grew
ELARA’S POV I made it very clear to her last time. I didn’t want her butting in with this kind of stuff. That’s what we hired the ad team for. That’s what the staff is for. I wanted her to focus on the work laid out for her, nothing more. Is that too much to ask? But then, when I look at her and see that expression. the shift in her face, the subtle guilt in her eyes it makes me rethink. Maybe she really did do this with the company’s best interest at heart. And maybe I’m the one getting sensitive? “I’m sorry, Elara,” she says, her voice a little shaken this time. That surprises me. “I feel so bad now. I shouldn’t have done that, but they seemed like such a good company to partner with. And when I saw the chance, I just thought we’d want to seize it… to take the opportunity to make more.” She exhales sharply before continuing, “But now I know it’s not my place to decide that. I should’ve been more careful.” She blurts the words out like they’ve been weighing on
ELARA’S POV Jenna ends her call with a sharp click, slamming the phone back into place. My gaze flickers to her, my mind still circling the last thing she said. “She won’t notice a thing.” Who is Brick? And who exactly is this person who won’t notice anything? Me? No, that can’t be right. I don’t have the full context of the conversation. I shouldn’t jump to conclusions. But if I shouldn’t jump to conclusions, then why is she in my seat, giggling into the phone with some guy named Brick while she’s been ignoring my calls for nearly a week? A tightness spreads through my chest, but I mask it with a slight arch of my brow. I push the door shut behind me, the soft click of it sealing us inside. “What are you doing in my office?” I ask, keeping my tone as neutral as possible. Jenna gasps dramatically, her face lighting up in exaggerated excitement. “Elara!” Instead of answering my question, she jumps up from my chair and rushes toward me. Before I can react
ELARA’S POV My hands feel numb as I stare out the window. White, fluffy clouds with soft, foggy outlines stretch across the sky, staring back at me. On any other day, I would have admired how bright and pure they looked, how their silver linings shined in the sunlight, or how the sky from up here seemed like an endless ocean. But today, I can’t think about any of that. Because no matter how hard I try, I can’t erase the image of what I saw last night. Nate and that woman… I don’t know what I was expecting from him, but it wasn’t that. Not after everything he told me. Not after the flowers. Not after the chocolates. Not after the note. FLASHBACK Our eyes met. For a second, I thought I imagined it, something flickered in his gaze, but it disappeared just as quickly. Then my eyes fell to the blonde woman sprawled on top of him, her hands wrapped around his neck. She let out a soft giggle. My stomach twisted. The heat in my chest was unbearable, spreading like wildfire.
ELARA’S POV Fair enough. I glance to the opposite side of the room, where a woman has now taken a seat at what was an empty table just minutes ago. UNKNOWN: Relax, Goldie. No matter how hard you look, you won’t find me. So go ahead and drink your sorrows away in peace. ME: Who says I’m drinking away my sorrows? I ordered one mojito. And I haven’t even taken a sip of yet. UNKNOWN: Seems I guessed wrong, then. ME: You definitely did. I finally reach for my drink, taking a slow sip. The cool, minty flavor mixed with just a hint of alcohol is exactly what I needed. It’s been ages since I last had a mojito. After what feels like a long time. My screen lights up again. UNKNOWN: I have a gift for you, Goldie. Private rooms. Room B3. I’m sure you’ll love it. A gift? A few chats ago, they mentioned wanting to give me something. And now, suddenly, it’s waiting in one of the private dining rooms? A bad feeling settles in my gut. Obsidian’s private rooms are used f
ELARA’S POV “Nate forgot this last time. He said he’d come back for it, but he never did. Will you give it to him?” My eyes fall to the blue necktie in Sienna’s hand. I think I need to commend my luck, I’m trying to stay away from him, but something always seems to push me right back toward him. “Elara?” Sienna prompts with an arched brow, nudging the tie forward. “I don’t think I can take it to him. He said he’d come for it, right?” “Yes.” I force a smile. “Then I’m sure he will.” “But you guys are together… so I thought it would be easier if you take. Plus if it stays with me, I don’t think that would be a good idea. I can’t have some of the staffs mistaking this very expensive tie for one of ours.” A little part me told me to Just give up and take the tie, it’s just some stupid tie right? I let out a sharp breath, then forced a smile. “You can keep it in your office, then. I’m sure no one will think to use something tucked away in there.” I twist the doork
ELARA’S POVThe sound I hate the most right now has to be the ringing of my phone.After my call with Nate, I didn’t know what to do with what he sent me. So, I decided to leave it on the counter while I changed out of my wet clothes.Maybe I can think of something for when next I set my eyes on them. I tried calling Jenna again today. Finally, her phone was on, but for some reason, she wasn’t picking up, not even leaving a text. So It could probably be her calling now.I switch off my hair dryer, hoping it’s her.I guess I didn’t pray hard enough because it’s not Jenna. But at least it’s not someone I was dreading. It’s Sienna.Pressing the answer button, I bring the phone to my ear.“Hello, Elara.” Sienna’s voice comes through the line.“Hello,” I say with a small smile, as if she can see it.“Are you busy right now?” Her tone seems a bit off.“No, I’m at home. Is everything okay?” I ask.“Yes… but, uhm, I know this is last minute, but I have the pictures we took a few days ago rea
ELARA’S POV The car stays silent for a second before a smile spreads across my brother’s face. “I know that.” My eyes widen, and my jaw almost hits the floor. Maybe he heard me wrong. Maybe he didn’t understand what I was saying, because if he did, he wouldn’t be smiling. And earlier, he said he hadn’t found any evidence to prove our relationship wasn’t real. He knows? How does he know? “Did you hear what I just said?” I gasp in disbelief. Elliot lets out a chuckle, shaking his head. “That much I know, El. It’s quite obvious. What kind of remarried couple lives in separate houses and only sees each other during the day? I figured as much. Even though you still have your ring on, I know there’s a part of you that’s not fully in this. And to be honest, that’s what’s giving me hope right now that you’ll see through that man and let him go for good.” I don’t even know what to say. This whole remarried couple facade… it’s all backfiring. I should’ve known it was this obvious. So