Mandy's POVThe apartment was quiet, the kind of quiet that felt deliberate. Lucas sat across from me on the couch, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp, like he was trying to read me without overstepping. For once, he wasn’t trying to fix anything. He wasn’t offering solutions or apologies or declarations of how much he’d changed. He was just... there. It was strange, this version of Lucas. Softer. Patient. It made me nervous, like I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. But at the same time, I couldn’t help but feel myself relax, just a little. We talked about nothing in particular—work, the weather and somehow the conversation drifted to the past, and we ended up laughing about a memory I hadn’t thought of in years. It was one of those rare moments when things between us had been easy, uncomplicated. I mean, I didn’t realize how much I’d missed that. “I’ll grab us some tea,” Lucas said, standing and heading to the kitchen. So, I nodded and watched him go. The silence
Lucas’s POVDriving myself away from Mandy's apartment, the city lights blurred into streaks of gold and white as the weight of the evening pressed heavily on my chest. My hands gripped the steering wheel, tighter than necessary, but I couldn’t seem to loosen them. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts—frustration, confusion, and a gnawing helplessness that refused to let go. "What went wrong?" I wondered to myself.One minute, Mandy and I were laughing, sharing a moment that felt almost normal, almost like the way things used to be. And then—just like that—everything shattered. She froze, her face turned pale and her eyes became distant, like she wasn’t even in the room anymore. I’d seen fear before, but not like this. This was something deeper, something that reached into the darkest parts of her. And I had no idea how to help. I replayed the moment over and over in my head, searching for the trigger, the thing that had sent her spiraling. But nothing stood out. Was it someth
Mandy’s POV As the apartment became silent, save for the faint hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen. I sat on the couch, knees drawn to my chest, staring blankly at the coffee table. The events of the evening played on a loop in my head, each moment sharpening the guilt that had settled like a stone in my stomach. Why did I lash out at Lucas? I knew he didn’t deserve it. He hadn’t done anything wrong. In fact, he’d done everything right—giving me space, letting me lead the conversation, even making me laugh. For a brief moment, it felt... easy. Normal. And then the memory hit. The smell of his cologne, or maybe the way the light caught on the edge of his watch—it didn’t matter. Something had yanked me back to a place I never wanted to revisit, a place where fear ruled and my voice was silenced. I could still feel the weight of it pressing down on my chest, making it hard to breathe. I squeezed my eyes shut, willing the memory to fade, but it clung to me like a shadow.
Lucas’s POV The next morning arrived and I wasn’t sure what I expected when I pulled up outside Mandy’s apartment, but I knew I couldn’t stay away. Not after last night. The drive over had been a blur, my thoughts circling the same questions over and over. What had triggered her? What had I done wrong? How could I fix it? But the truth was, I didn’t know, with that, I knocked on her door, my heart pounding in my chest. For a moment, I thought she wouldn’t answer, but then the door creaked open, and there she was standing in front of me. She looked tired—like she hadn’t slept at all. Her eyes met mine, guarded and wary, but she didn’t shut the door in my face. That was something, at least. “Lucas,” she said quietly, her voice devoid of the warmth I’d started to hope for in recent weeks. “Can we talk?” I asked, trying to keep my tone calm, neutral. She hesitated, her hand tightening on the edge of the door, but after a moment, she said, "Come in," as she stepped aside, letti
Mandy’s POVThe silence in my apartment echoed loudly as It’s been hours since the argument with Lucas, and I’m still here, alone, trying to make sense of everything. I didn’t want to be alone, but at the same time, I couldn’t bear the thought of being near anyone. Not after everything that happened, not after I pushed him away. I had to do this on my own, I told myself. I had to figure out what was going on inside my head before I could even think about facing him again.I sat on the couch, my knees pulled to my chest, and I stared at the blank wall across from me. My phone was on the coffee table, face down, and I haven’t touched it since the argument. The last thing I wanted to do was call Lucas. I couldn’t. Not after everything I said. I could barely look at myself in the mirror, let alone reach out to him and apologize. The words I’d thrown at him still echo in my head, each one more painful than the last. So, I closed my eyes and tried to push the memory away, but it’s there,
Lucas's POV The day after our argument, I found myself standing in front of my office building, staring at the entrance. I should be heading inside, catching up on work, but my mind was elsewhere. It's been a restless night. I keep replaying the conversation with Mandy, the words we exchanged, the look in her eyes when she shut me out. It’s like I’m caught in a loop, trying to figure out what went wrong and how I can fix it.I’m not stupid—I know it’s not something I can just fix overnight. But I couldn't shake the feeling that I’m failing her. I don’t know how to help her, how to be the partner she needs me to be. And the more I think about it, the more I realize I’ve been approaching this all wrong. I’ve been focused on my frustration, on my own feelings, and I’ve neglected hers.Not long, I pulled out my phone and searched for therapists in the area. I’ve never been a fan of counseling, but right now, I don’t care. I’ll do whatever it takes. Mandy’s been through hell, and I can’
Mandy’s POVGetting to my apartment, the silence inside still feels suffocating. It’s been a day since the argument with Lucas, and the weight of it is still hanging over me. I can’t stop thinking about what I said, the way I pushed him away even though I didn’t want to. My chest tightens every time I remember his face—confused, hurt, and so damn patient. I’ve spent the last few hours pacing around, trying to make sense of it all, but the truth is, I’m not sure what to do next. I reach for my phone, my thumb hovering over Lucas’s contact. I want to call him. I want to apologize, to explain myself. But every time I think about it, the fear grips me, and I pull away. How do I tell him about the things that haunt me? How do I let him in when I’m still not sure if I can trust him with all of me?Instead, I text Wendy as usual as she’s always been the one I turn to when I’m drowning in my own head, when the emotions become too overwhelming to handle on my own. I need her advice, her stea
Writer's POV The tension between them had been building for days, an invisible wall growing higher with every moment of silence, every unspoken word. Lucas had tried to give Mandy space, hoping she would come to terms with her feelings. But the distance only made him more anxious, like he was standing on a cliff, waiting for the ground to crumble beneath him. The more time passed, the more his mind raced, questioning everything he’d done, every move he’d made. Had he messed up? Had he pushed her too far?He couldn’t keep walking on eggshells anymore. He needed to see her. He needed answers. They couldn’t keep pretending like everything would magically fix itself. So, he reached out. He had no idea what to expect, but it was time to stop letting the silence speak for them.When she agreed to meet, Lucas felt a brief flicker of hope. But that hope was quickly squashed by the anxiety twisting in his gut. What if she pushed him away again? What if this was the end? Eventually, they met
Lucas's POVThe thoughts of the flash drive burned a hole in my pocket as I made my way toward Damian’s office. Each step felt heavier than the last, the urgency of the situation pressing down on me. I had the evidence. I had the proof. This was the moment I had been waiting for, the moment where I would confront him and expose the truth. But as I walked, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was stepping into something far darker than I had ever imagined. Not long, I arrived at his building, the sleek, modern structure towering above me, casting a long shadow across the street. I had been here before, but today felt different. However, the elevator ride up to his floor was silent, the hum of the machinery the only sound. When the doors opened, I stepped out into the polished hallway, my mind focused on one thing confronting Damian. His office door was ajar, and I didn’t hesitate to push it open. Damian was sitting behind his desk, as calm and collected as ever. His eyes lifted f
Lucas povThe weight of Damian’s words was suffocating, lingering in my mind like a poison I couldn’t escape. He had spoken with such calm confidence, as if he knew I was already ensnared in his game. Though, he was right. I didn’t know who I was up against. But I would. I sat at my desk, the dim glow of the lamp illuminating the file in front of me. It was a collection of Damian’s known dealings—business ventures, partnerships, investments—but none of it explained the darkness I sensed beneath the surface. Damian wasn’t just a ruthless businessman or a manipulative relative. He was something far worse. Then, I grabbed my phone, hesitating for only a moment before dialing the number of the private investigator I had hired months ago. “Mr. Lucas,” came the gruff voice on the other end. “What can I do for you?” “I need you to dig deeper into Damian’s past,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. “Everything. Connections, dealings, anyone he’s worked with. L
Mandy's POVThe weight of the envelope Lucas had found still hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. I couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was unraveling faster than I could keep up with. The truth about Damian, the lies, the betrayal—it was all coming to light in a way I wasn’t prepared for.But what unsettled me the most was Lucas. He had always been a man of control, of precision, someone who could calculate every move. But now, as he stood there, holding that envelope with a look of determination in his eyes, I saw a different side of him. A side that was vulnerable, desperate even, to protect Emily and me.I had always known that Lucas cared about Emily—how could he not? But this? This was something deeper. He was willing to burn bridges, to confront the very people who had shaped his life, all for the sake of the little girl who wasn’t even his by blood. It was hard to ignore the emotion that swelled in my chest when I saw him like this, fighting for us.“Are you sure ab
Lucas’s POVMy hands were shaking as I held the envelope, the weight of it pressing down on me like a heavy stone. The words on the paper still haunted me: "You can’t protect her forever. She’s mine now."But it wasn’t just the cryptic message that rattled me—it was what came next. As I unfolded the paper, a photograph fell out, slipping from between the folds. I bent down to pick it up, and the sight of it nearly made my heart stop.It was a picture of my elder brother, Thomas. His face was frozen in time, a younger version of him, full of life and promise. But there was something wrong about the picture. Behind him, barely visible in the background, was a figure I didn’t recognize. I stared at the image, my mind racing, as the pieces started to fall into place. My brother had died under mysterious circumstances, and I’d always suspected there was more to the story than what the police had told me. But this... this was something else entirely. I looked at the back of the photograph
Lucas’s POVNotwithstanding, the tension between Mandy and me was still palpable as we stood in the living room, both of us watching Emily play with her toys on the floor. The weight of the situation hung in the air, a silent understanding between us that things were escalating, and we had no choice but to put aside our differences for her sake. "Lucas, I don’t know what to do anymore," Mandy’s voice was strained, barely above a whisper, but I could hear the panic in it. I didn’t know what to say. There were no words that could make this easier. Emily’s safety was at risk, and that was all that mattered. "We’ll figure this out," I said, my voice steady, but inside, I was anything but calm. Damian’s presence loomed over us like a dark cloud, and every second felt like we were running out of time.Mandy’s eyes met mine, searching for some sign that I wasn’t as lost as I felt. "You don’t get it, do you? I’ve kept Emily safe from all of this for so long, and now… now I have to rely on
Lucas’s POVMeanwhile, on the next day, the weight of the files on my desk felt heavier than usual, and the air in my office seemed thicker as I sifted through the documents. Every page I turned revealed more lies, more betrayals. The deeper I dug into Damian’s involvement in my family’s business, the more it became clear: he had orchestrated so much of the chaos that had plagued my life.I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong—something bigger than just business deals or power struggles. Damian’s reach extended far beyond the boardrooms and into the very heart of my family. He had manipulated everyone, even me. I slammed the folder shut, frustration bubbling up inside me. I had to confront him. I couldn’t let this go any longer. I needed answers, and I needed them now. But I couldn’t do this alone. I had to be smart. Damian was dangerous, and if I was going to take him down, I had to be prepared.Picking up my phone, I dialed a number I had avoided for months. Grandma
Lucas’s POVThe tension in the air was palpable, the kind that settles in your chest and refuses to let go. It had been days since the argument with Mandy, and though the words had been said, the weight of them still lingered, heavy and unresolved. But there was something else now, something that gnawed at the back of my mind. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something bigger was at play, something that had been lurking in the shadows for far too long.I sat at my desk, the dim light of the office flickering in the late hours of the night. My fingers hovered over the keys of my laptop, but I couldn’t focus on the reports in front of me. My mind kept drifting back to Damian—my half-brother, the one person I could never fully trust. There had always been something about him, something off, but I’d never been able to put my finger on it. Until now.The phone rang, pulling me from my thoughts. I glanced at the caller ID, and my stomach dropped. It was an unknown number. My first instin
Writer’s POVHowever, the air in the room was thick with tension, each word that passed between Lucas and Mandy only adding to the weight. They stood on opposite sides of the living room, both frustrated, both unwilling to back down, yet neither truly understanding the other’s pain. The distance between them wasn’t just physical—it was emotional, and it seemed to grow with each passing day.Lucas’s jaw was clenched as he crossed his arms over his chest. His eyes, usually so calm and collected, now blazed with frustration. "You still don’t trust me, do you?" he asked, his voice low but sharp.Mandy stood near the kitchen counter, her hands gripping the edge as if it were the only thing keeping her grounded. She looked at him, her face a mixture of exhaustion and exasperation. "It’s not about trust, Lucas," she snapped. "It’s about reality. You think everything can be fixed with a smile and a nice gesture, but it’s not that simple. We’ve both made mistakes, and there’s no easy way to
Emily’s POV I sat on the soft rug in our living room, my favorite stuffed bunny clutched tightly in my arms. Mommy was sitting on the couch, her eyes glued to the TV, but I wasn’t paying attention to the show. My mind was full of questions, and I had to ask her. I had been thinking about it for days, and now, I couldn’t hold it in anymore. "Mommy?" I said, my voice small but curious. She turned her head, giving me a soft smile. "Yes, sweetie?" I looked at her, trying to find the right words. "Who is Lucas?" Mommy’s smile faltered just for a second, and she shifted uncomfortably on the couch. I could tell she didn’t like it when I asked about him. But I didn’t understand why. I liked him. He was nice to me when we saw him, and I liked the way he talked to me, like I was important. But sometimes, when we were at his house, Mommy didn’t seem happy. She would look at him like she was mad, but also sad, like she wanted to cry. I didn’t understand why. "Lucas is... someone Mommy us