ログインWe continued up the trail, the incline getting steeper and the air cooler. Regan walked beside me, hands in his pockets, looking far too relaxed for someone climbing a mountain.And then—he started talking. A lot.“You know,” he said, stepping over a rock with ridiculous ease, “hiking improves cardiovascular health. Clears the mind. Reduces stress. Helps with sleep. Boosts mood.”I blinked at him. “Are you reading from a brochure?”He shrugged. “Just saying. It’s good for you.”I rolled my eyes. “Good for you, maybe.”He kept going anyway, completely unfazed. “It also strengthens your core, improves balance, and—”“Regan,” I muttered, “I didn’t ask for a TED Talk.”He only smiled, like he found my irritation amusing. I didn’t even know he could talk this much. Then he shifted to work—some guy in his department who kept messing up reports, a field assignment he handled last month, a man he met years ago who apparently still owed him money, and all the gossip swirling around his company
Anastasia’s POVThe mountain rose in front of me like a giant—lush green slopes, narrow dirt trails winding upward. It was the kind of view people posted on Instagram with captions like “healing” or “nature therapy.”But my chest felt anything but. Especially with Regan standing a few steps away, looking like he walked straight out of a sportswear commercial. Plain black shirt, hiking pants, sleeves pushed up to his elbows, hair tousled by the breeze in that stupid effortless way.He looked like someone who came here for a photoshoot. I, on the other hand, stood there in my leggings and oversized hoodie, hair tied in a messy ponytail, trying to pretend my heart wasn’t doing gymnastics in my chest.The truth was, I had every chance not to come. I could’ve backed out. I could’ve said no. I could’ve pretended to be sick. But Reid’s excited little face flashed in my mind. That kid was too cute. I couldn’t break my promise to him.And the disappointing part? He wasn’t even here.“You shoul
“Aren’t you curious,” Alaric said quietly, “why he stopped searching for them all of a sudden? He was Regan Del Valle. Even if we were good at hiding Anastasia, he would’ve found her in a year or two. But he stopped… not even a year in.”“Just why are you suddenly interested in Regan?”Alaric dragged a hand through his hair, looking more rattled than I’d seen him in years. “I met his sister. And the friend Atticus keeps talking about… is Regan’s son.”I froze.Then cursed under my breath. “Shit, you’re kidding.”He shook his head.I exhaled slowly, the weight of it settled in. “If that’s true… then we need answers.”“Exactly.”“So,” I said, pushing off the railing, “we talk to them.”Alaric chuckled, shaking his head. “I knew you were gonna say that.”We didn’t need to say anything else as we were already walking toward the house. We walked straight into my grandfather’s office without knocking. He hated that, but today I didn’t care.Grandpa sat behind his massive desk, a chessboard
Christopher Montreal POVThe call ended with a soft click.I slipped my phone into my pocket and exhaled, letting my eyes drift over the yard of our family mansion. I’d been handling back‑to‑back meetings since morning—being CEO meant there was always something to fix, someone to call, something to sign. At least I was dressed comfortably today in a plain shirt, sweatpants, and not a suit.Soon after, I heard footsteps. I turned around to see Alaric approaching. He wore the same kind of simple clothes, hands shoved into his pockets, and shoulders tense. He’d been quiet for three days now—too quiet. And I knew him well enough to know silence was never a good sign.He stopped beside me.“You good?” I asked.“I’m fine,” he said.A lie. A bad one. Before I could call him out, he spoke again.“What do you remember… from seven years ago? When did Anastasia leave? I mean what happened to Regan?”I turned to him fully, brows pulling together. Of all the topics he could bring up, that was the
I sat there aimlessly twirling the straw of my milkshake, watching the chocolate swirl into lighter shades. My mind wasn’t even in the café—it was still stuck in the mall, replaying everything on a loop.“Hey,” Ava said gently. “Are you okay?”“Yeah… yeah… just thinking about something,” I muttered, though even I didn’t sound convinced.Sheila’s eyes narrowed immediately. Ava leaned forward, elbows on the table, studying me like she already knew I was lying. We’d planned this girls’ day—just the three of us—since Phoenix was with Alex right now. It was supposed to be fun.Instead, I felt like I was about to throw up.“So,” Sheila said slowly, “are you going to tell us why you look like you’re completely out of place today?”I exhaled shakily. “I’m just thinking… that maybe we need to go back to Australia.”Both of them straightened instantly.“What? Why?” Ava asked. “Atticus is enjoying his time here. Is there a problem?”I swallowed hard, taking a deep breath. “Yeah. Regan.”Ava’s ja
Anastasia’s POVThe mall was crowded but Atticus didn’t seem to mind. He sat on the bench beside me, happily eating his ice cream while watching Alaric. His legs swung back and forth, humming a tune only he knew, completely content.I was just about to remind him not to drip ice cream on his shirt when my entire body went cold.Regan.He was walking down the opposite aisle, casual and devastating without even trying. A soft gray shirt, sleeves pushed up to his forearms, dark jeans, and white sneakers—simple, laid‑back, but somehow, he still looked like he stepped out of a magazine. His hair was slightly tousled, his jaw clean‑shaven, and the confidence in his stride made him stand out even in a crowd.Reid was beside him, holding his father’s hand, pointing excitedly at something in a store window.I was just about to hide when Reid saw me.His whole face lit up. “Auntie Anastasia!”Regan’s head snapped towards my direction. My heart lurched violently. Panic shot through me so fast I







