KateThe driver of the car stormed toward me, his face evident with anger. He motioned for me to roll down my window, but I sat still, ignoring him.“Hey! Get out of the car!” he yelled, slapping the hood.My jaw tightened. Who did this guy think he was? His car wasn't that hit, and it wasn’t like I rammed into him on purpose. I stared ahead, pretending he wasn’t there. But when he slammed his palm against my car again, it was as though he dared me to respond.That’s it.I opened the door with more force than necessary and stepped out, my heels clicking against the pavement. My eyes immediately darted to the front of my car. The damage was minimal, just a cracked front light. Nothing near where he’d hit it earlier.“Are you insane?” I snapped, turning to face him. He was tall, with broad shoulders and an attitude that matched his size. “Do you think hitting someone’s car helps?”He crossed his arms, his eyes deepening. “Your car hit mine, lady. Maybe if you’d been paying attention in
Anderson I sat on the edge of the bed, my head buried in my hands. The day had been chaotic, but nothing could have prepared me for the shock of seeing him at the police station.Lucian.My younger brother.For years, he’d battled mental illness—a diagnose that tore through our family and left him isolated. The last I’d heard, he was in therapy and planning to study nursing. Now, here he was, a police officer. How the fuck did that happen?And yet, what unsettled me most was the way he looked at me. No warmth, no recognition. Just cold detachment. As if we weren’t brothers. As if I didn’t exist.I couldn’t shake the memory of his blank expression. Had he forgotten me, or was it intentional? Guilt crept in, tightening its grip around my chest. Maybe I deserved it. I hadn’t been there for him when he needed me most.Five years had slipped by, and I’d let them go without checking in. Between building my business, managing Kate’s demands, and navigating the mess after the end of my sing
AvaI had been standing just outside Anderson's bedroom door, my back pressed against the wall, straining to catch every word. Their voices were muffled, but the tension inside felt suffocating.Kate’s accusation hit hard when she said Anderson’s mind was still with Kelly. When the door slammed open, I didn’t have time to move. Kate stormed out, her face streaked with tears, and found me standing there. Her eyes narrowed as she stiffened, her lips trembling with that of anger and embarrassment.“What are you doing here?” she snapped, her voice low but sharp.I opened my mouth to answer, but nothing came out. Instead, I took a step back, breaking eye contact.Kate didn’t press further. She scoffed, turned on her heel, and marched down the hallway, her footsteps fading into the distance. I let out a shaky breath, my mind spinning with questions.Should I talk to Anderson?Part of me wanted to walk away, to avoid the emotional feeling that was bound to follow. But another part of me, th
AidenI sat on the couch, pretending to be engrossed in the game on my tablet. My fingers moved absently over the screen, but my mind wasn’t in it. Not today, not after all the problems we encountered.Living here with my Stepmother, felt like walking on eggshells. She tried to act like she cared, but I wasn’t that dumb . I could feel her irritation whenever I was around, like I was some burden she couldn’t wait to get rid of. I miss Mom, not just the idea of her, but everything she used to represent: warmth, safety, and someone who genuinely cared.Kate wasn’t that. She was always busy or preoccupied, whispering on her phone or sulking when she thought no one was looking. I’d caught her snapping at Dad a few times, and honestly, I didn’t know how he put up with her.Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Ava walking into the room, She greeted me but I wasn't going to pretend anymore that I liked her. Honestly I don't care about anybody here except my dad. I'm glad she left without pr
KellyThe drive felt longer than I remembered, but with each passing mile, I found myself growing more anxious. The new nursing home for my dad was situated closer to me now, which meant I wouldn’t have to drive hours just to visit him anymore. But moving him was still a difficult decision. It felt like I was uprooting him all over again, and that didn’t sit right with me. Still, he needed this new chapter, his safety and health required it and I couldn’t keep putting it off. Adrian had been so busy with his work, particularly with fixing the hospital after its renovations, so I decided to take Harper with me on this trip.I had debated calling Mrs. Kim, my childhood nanny, before I left. But I hesitated, she had retired from working so many years ago, and I didn’t want to impose. But as much as I wanted her help with my Dad, I was also hoping she could lend a hand with Harper. Most importantly. Adrian and I had both been incredibly busy, and I hadn’t had time to ask for assistance.
Kelly Seeing Susan in the neighborhood was the last thing I expected. I stopped mid-step, blinking as if she might disappear. But there she was, standing casually with her hands in her jacket pockets, a grin forming on her face when she spotted me. “Kelly?” she called out again, her voice carrying both surprise and excitement. “Susan?” I asked, disbelief in my tone. “What are you doing here?” She laughed softly, shaking her head. “Have you forgotten? This is where we first met during our childhood. My adoptive parents still live here. Their house is just about a mile away,” she said, pointing down the road. Her words brought back memories I hadn’t thought about in years. During my childhood, my mom took me to Mrs Kim’s house as kid while she picked her up as our new nanny, that’s where I met Susan. And ever since then we’ve been close friends.But still, seeing her here felt almost surreal. “I guess I just didn’t expect to run into you,” I admitted. “Neither did I,” she said
KellyI parked my car in the driveway and glanced over at the backseat, where Harper was still sound asleep. Gently, I unbuckled her from her car seat and carefully lifted her into my arms, trying not to wake her as she embraced into me. The night had been long, and the last thing I wanted was to disturb her rest.As I walked up the porch, a sudden unease settled over me. I had left the living room light on before I left, knowing I’d be coming back late, but now... it was off. I paused mid-step, looking at the porch in the dim light. That wasn’t right. The main door was slightly ajar, and my stomach twisted. I glanced behind me, expecting to see Adrian’s car in the driveway. But the spot where it usually parked was empty. My heartbeat quickened as I stood frozen on the porch, trying to make sense of the situation. I had never felt so exposed, yet something inside me told me that no matter how safe the estate was with its tight security, nothing was impossible.Holding Harper close to
AdrianI walked toward my room, my mind racing, but my steps stopped as a sudden weight seemed to drop onto my chest. I stopped, running a hand through my hair, trying to shake off the unease that was gripping me. I knew this moment would come, when the reality of the contract, the boundaries, and the roles we’d both settled into would catch up to me. But nothing, nothing prepared me for the realization of just how much I had crossed those lines.I stood there in the hallway, alone, lost in my thoughts. The hallway seemed colder now, and I couldn’t push away the feeling that I was straying further from the man I wanted to be. Every day, I had been careful, careful with Kelly, careful with my actions, knowing the lines I was never supposed to cross. But lately... lately, I couldn’t help myself.The small gestures, little touches, those stolen moments had started to mean something. And now, I wasn’t sure if I was the one who was losing control or if I had already lost it completely. I h
Lucian’s POV The rain had started hours ago, turning the streets slick with reflections of city lights. It wasn’t a violent storm, just a medium, persistent downpour, the kind that made people hurry indoors, seeking shelter in cafés and rushing in Mart to get umbrellas. I hadn’t expected to see her tonight. In fact, I had convinced myself I wouldn’t. For weeks, Olivia had avoided me. No calls, no accidental run-ins, she didn’t pick my call either. And yet, here she was. Standing under the awning of a small café, arms crossed over her chest, watching the rain with an expression I couldn’t quite read. She didn’t see me at first. I could have turned back. I could have kept walking and pretended I hadn’t noticed her. But I didn’t. Because avoiding each other had done nothing to change what was between us. And I was tired of pretending otherwise. She noticed me as I approached, her shoulders stiffening just slightly. Then, her gaze met mine. She didn’t move, nor acknowledge me. She
Olivia’s POV The night was supposed to be uneventful. I had attended dozens of these high-class architectural gala’s before, polished affairs where people with too much money came to flaunt their wealth under the guise of charity. Normally, I could navigate them without a second thought. But then I saw him. Lucian. I hadn’t known he would be here, but the moment I spotted him across the grand ballroom, I felt my pulse shift into something irritatingly unstable. He stood near the entrance, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, scanning the crowd with the trained ease of someone who could see everything without looking like he was paying attention to anything. Because, of course, he was working security tonight. It made sense, an event like this required the best. And Lucian, with his quiet authority and sharp focus, fit that description effortlessly. I should have been fine. I should have been able to ignore him. Except, that I couldn’t. And it got worse when I saw her.
Lucian’s POVI was halfway through a late-night report when my phone buzzed. I almost ignored it, expecting it to be one of my officers checking in on an old case. But when I saw the name on the screen, I straightened immediately. Olivia?She had never called me before. I answered without hesitation. “Olivia?” There was a pause, just long enough for me to hear the light sound of wind in the background. Then her voice came through, tight and controlled, but there was something off about it. “Lucian… I need a favor.” I was already grabbing my keys. …….The street was empty when I pulled up, just bushes, and the dim glow of a single flickering streetlight. Olivia stood beside her car, arms crossed, looking unimpressed. I parked behind her, stepping out into the cool night air. “This is a first,” I said, approaching with a smirk. “I didn’t think you believed in asking for help.” Olivia shot me a glare. “I don’t. But my car apparently does.” I glanced at the vehicle. “
Olivia’s POV I shouldn’t be here. That thought had been running through my mind from the moment I stepped into the police station, the cool night air still clinging to my skin. But here I was, standing outside Lucian’s office at nearly eleven at night, hesitating. The building was almost empty, except a few officers finishing up paperwork. The hum of the vending machine down the hall was the only sound breaking the silence. I knew I should have gone home hours ago, but after what happened earlier tonight, home didn’t feel safe. Someone had been following me. At first, I thought I was imagining things. The paranoia of a long day, the residual nerves from the Davis case. But by the time I left work, I knew it wasn’t just in my head. Whoever it was, they were patient. Very careful. Keeping their distance just enough to make me doubt myself, but never so far that I couldn’t feel them lurking. I wasn’t the kind of person to panic easily. But tonight? I wasn’t taking chances. I t
Lucian’s POV The invitation had been unexpected. Kelly invited me to Harper’s 6th birthday. I stared at the message from Kelly longer than I should have, reading and rereading the last line: "You can stay if you don’t want to come."It was the kind of thing someone wrote when they weren’t sure if you would honor they invitation. And truth be told, I wasn’t sure either. But after everything that had happened, I knew one thing for certain. I owed it to Harper to show up. So I did. I arrived at the venue, a cozy event space filled with pastel decorations and clusters of kids running around, their laughter echoing off the walls. The air smelled like cake and candy, and despite the cheerful energy, I felt… out of place. Am I considered family at this point? Uncle? That sounded ridiculous, I don’t have the right to claim that title. I didn’t know what I was expecting when I walked in. Maybe some polite hellos, maybe a few awkward glances. But what I wasn’t expecting was Olivia. I
Lucian’s POV I had no intention of thinking about Olivia ever again. At least, that’s what I told myself. She had a way of getting under my skin, a way of making me question things I never questioned before. And yet, even after all the chaos with Kelly, Clara, and Davis, it was her name that kept creeping into my mind. So when I got to the police station, following up on the final closure of Davis’s case, I wasn’t expecting to hear her name linked to Adrian. "Yeah, Adrian’s sister was the one who gave us the last piece we needed to take him down." I almost didn’t process it at first. "His what?"The officer looked at me like I was slow. "His sister. Olivia Lewis. You know, the one who—" But I didn’t hear the rest. My mind had already locked onto those two words. Olivia Lewis. The realization hit like a punch to the gut. She never told me, not even once. I wasn’t sure what pissed me off more, that she hid it from me, or that I gave a damn in the first place. It wasn’t
KellyFor the first time in what felt like forever, I could finally breathe. Lucian had finally taken responsibility for his actions, and Olivia had laid her true intentions bare. There was no more uncertainty, no more unnecessary weight pressing down on my chest. It didn’t mean everything was magically okay, but at least now, I wasn’t carrying those burdens alone. I felt… lighter. Susan was sitting at the dining table, her brows furrowed as she flipped through a stack of papers. A steaming cup of tea sat beside her, untouched. I took the seat across from her, sighing. “You look stressed.” She glanced up, rubbing her temple. “You would be too if you were trying to figure out how to confront someone as careful as Mrs. Kim.” I frowned, leaning forward. “We have the proof. What’s the problem?” “The problem,” she said, placing a document in front of me, “is that we can’t afford to make her suspicious before we make our move. Have you forgotten? If she senses something’s off, s
Kelly The smell of coffee and maple syrup drifted through the air as I made my way downstairs, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. It was supposed to be a quiet morning. One where I could sit in peace, drink my coffee, and maybe pretend for a moment that my life wasn’t a constant cycle of chaos. But as soon as I stepped into the living room, I stopped short. There, sitting on the floor with Harper, was Olivia. I was shocked, I shouldn’t be, Olivia was Adrian’s sister after all. She wasn’t scrolling through her phone with a face of disinterest, nor did she have that distant, unreadable look she’d worn so often lately. Instead, she was smiling, actually smiling as Harper excitedly showed her something on her tablet. I watched them for a second, my stomach twisting with uncertainty. The Olivia I’d seen over the past few months had been… different. Colder. Calculated. Someone who had distanced herself from me, from Adrian, from all of us. I’d convinced myself that she’d changed for
KellyThe apology should have been the end of it. Lucian had said his piece. I had listened. That was it. And yet, hours later, as I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, my mind wouldn’t shut off. I didn’t hate him anymore. That realization should have brought relief, but instead, it left an unfamiliar hollowness instead. For so long, my anger had been a reason to keep him at arm’s length. A way to remind myself that what he did to me wasn’t okay. But now that shield was cracking, and I wasn’t sure how to feel about that. He wasn’t family anymore or so I thought. That much was clear. But did I need to forgive him? Did forgiveness mean letting go of everything? Or was simply moving on enough? The thoughts tangled in my head like an impossible knot, tightening until I sighed and turned onto my side. Adrian stirred beside me. Even in sleep, he always seemed to be aware of me, his arm draped protectively over my waist, his body warm against mine. I wanted to stay like this. I want