AvaFamily dinners were supposed to be a time of connection and laughter , but in my family, they always seemed to carry alot of tension. This one was no exception. After weeks of convincing, I had finally managed to arrange a dinner with everyone, Lucian, Anderson, my mom and me. Although Lucian had initially refused, I persisted, knowing how much it meant to Mom to see all her children in one place.The restaurant was warm, bustling with soft chatter and the clinking of glasses. When I arrived, Mom and Anderson were already seated, their plates untouched as they exchanged a few words. Anderson looked up as I approached, flashing a polite smile.“Finally,” Mom said, leaning back in her chair. Her tone was sharp but fond. “I was starting to think you’d stand us up too.”“I’m not that cruel,” I replied lightly, sliding into the seat across from her. “Lucian’s the wild card, not me.”Her face tightened at the mention of Lucian. “We’ll see if he even bothers to show up.”I ignored the c
KellyThe sound of Harper's excitement in the house was infectious. Harper darted around the living room, her small suitcase rolling behind her as if it were a pet she couldn’t part with. “Mommy, do they have unicorns in Italy?” she asked for the fifth time since breakfast.I laughed, zipping up my own suitcase and placing it by the door. “No unicorns, baby. But they have gelato, and I promise you’ll love it.”Her eyes widened. “What’s gelato?”“It’s like ice cream,” Adrian chimed in from the kitchen. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing his strong forearms as he made coffee. The sight of him so at ease in our home felt oddly comforting.“Better than ice cream,” I corrected, grabbing Harper’s hand to stop her from unzipping her bag again. “And no, you don’t need your stuffed whale, Harper. You’ve already packed five toys.”“But Whale-y wants to see Italy too!” Harper pouted, her lips forming the perfect little bow.Adrian chuckled, walking over with a cup of coffee. “Let her take
AdrianItaly had a way of pulling me back in time, no matter how many years passed. The air was warm and fragrant, carrying light scent of rosemary, lavender, and the kind of peace I hadn’t felt in a long time. It wasn’t just the landscape, it was the memories.As the villa grew quiet, with Harper fast asleep in her room and Kelly wandering the halls, likely admiring the elegant charm of the place, I sat on the patio with a glass of wine in hand. The view stretched far into the Tuscan hills, the moonlight setting the landscape in silvery color.“Adrian,” Kelly’s voice broke through the stillness, soft but questioning. She stepped out onto the patio, a shawl crossed around her shoulders. “You okay out here?”I nodded, gesturing to the chair beside me. “Couldn’t sleep. Too much on my mind.”She sat, her expression curious but guarded. “Care to share?”I hesitated. There was too much I couldn’t say, too much I shouldn’t say. Instead, I smiled lightly. “This place... it reminds me of w
KellyThe soft morning breeze wrapped me as I stood on the balcony, staring out at the hills of Tuscany. The view was breathtaking, the kind that could heal wounds and soothe worries. You needed to see the view, it was beautiful—extremly. But this morning, it wasn’t working. My thoughts were far from it.Francesca.I hadn’t met her yet, but the mere idea of her had taken a place in my head. A part of me, the irrational part, couldn’t help but wonder if she was the reason Adrian kept me at arm length. He spoke of her fondly, the kind of warmth I hadn’t heard from him before. Was she someone he had loved? Was she someone he still loved?I shook my head, frustrated at myself. You have no right to feel this way, I reminded myself. Adrian and I weren’t anything more than two people navigating a complicated contract. And yet, the thought of him being close to someone else, someone who might have seen sides of him I hadn’t... it stung.I leaned against the railing, the sun warming my skin as
AdrainThe morning sunlight filtered through the curtains as I sat on the edge of the bed, phone pressed against my ear. Francesca’s voice echoed through the cellphone, vibrant and full of life as always.“So, you’re actually coming to see me,” she teased, her accent thick and unmistakable. “I was beginning to think you forgot all about me, Adrian.”I chuckled, though my heart wasn’t fully in it. “You know I could never forget you, Francesca. It’s just been... complicated.”“Complicated?” she repeated with a sharp laugh. “Adrian, your entire life is complicated. That’s your brand.”Her teasing tone was comforting in a way, pulling me back into memories of old times. “You’ve got a point there,” I admitted. “Anyway, I wanted to confirm that we’ll be at the restaurant later today. Kelly and I are looking forward to seeing you.”There was a pause on her end, long enough to make me glance at the screen to check if the call had dropped.“Kelly?” she asked, the name rolling off her tongue
KateAva was every bit as clueless as I’d expected her to be. Or maybe she was pretending. Sitting across from her at the coffee shop, I could tell she had no idea what game I was playing at. Her answers were simple, her stories about Kelly were things I already knew. Yet, there were some piece of information buried beneath her amused chatter, small details that didn’t fit into the Kelly I thought I knew.“You’re sure Kelly never mentioned me?” I pressed, stirring my cappuccino absently.Ava blinked, her brow furrowing. “Not really. I mean, she’s private, you know? But she always said she had a complicated family. Why do you ask?”I smiled thinly. “Just curious. Family is... important to me.”It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the truth either. Ava didn’t need to know the depth of my curiosity or the reasons behind it. She was just another stepping stone.By the time we parted ways, I’d learned little things about Kelly, but it wasn't enough, it didn’t matter. This was only the beginnin
KellyI kept walking, quickening my step just enough to put a little distance between Adrian and I. I didn’t want him to notice the anger in my chest, the knot that had grown with every thought of Francesca. It had nothing to do with Adrian, really, I knew that. But there was something about her that made my jealousy burn harder, like a fire that wouldn’t go stop, no matter how much I tried to ignore it.Adrian was talking to me, but I couldn’t focus on what he was saying. He asked if I was fine, his voice low and steady, but I brushed him off. Ofcourse, I'm fine.I kept my voice flat as I pushed my way through the crowd. I wasn’t fine. But I didn’t want to show him that. I wasn’t ready for him to see how hard this was on me.Still, I could feel him right behind me, close enough to catch every breath I took. His presence was comforting, but it also reminded me of everything I was trying to bury. And then, in the middle of my thoughts, I slowed down, forcing a softer tone when I fin
EvelynI couldn’t breathe. The words cut through the air, sharp as glass. Kelly was already married. How was that even possible? And to him. That man.The man I had never seen, the one who had somehow slipped under my monitoring. Of course, I had known about her daughter, there was no doubt about that. Anderson’s daughter, the little girl Kelly had kept hidden from everyone for so long. But Kelly... she had always been such a mystery, even when she was married to Anderson.She showed up, married and flaunting that particular Birkin bag as if she was some queen. The one bag I had been wanting for months, the one that had been sold out everywhere. It was limited edition, exclusive, and yet here she was wearing it. My fingers twitched at the thought of it. She was wearing it, and I wanted it badly.But I couldn’t let her see the anger in my face. Instead, I walked away too, not sparing her a single glance. My breath came in ragged bursts as I processed the amount of emotions she had jus
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