Lyra's POVThe air in the ballroom was thick with the scent of expensive perfume and champagne, but all I could smell was the tension burning through my veins. My heart was pounding, and not from the dance or the music. It was because of him.Kurtis.He wasn’t even in the room, but I could feel the ghost of his touch on my skin, the memory of his lips against mine from earlier today. The way he had kissed me, claiming me as if I was the only thing that mattered, still left me breathless. But now… now I was stuck here, my thoughts twisted with worry about where things stood between us.My eyes darted around the room, landing on James, who stood too close to me, his body angled toward mine as if trying to shield me from the crowd. He had been hovering all night, his gaze lingering a little too long on my lips, his hand brushing against my waist a little too often. And for some reason, I hadn’t stopped him.But I should have.Because Kurtis was out there somewhere, thinking God knows wha
Kurtis’s POVThe words tasted bitter on my tongue as I watched Lyra standing in front of me, her eyes wide with confusion, fear, and a flicker of hope. I could barely keep my voice steady, my heart torn between everything I wanted to believe and the damn images that wouldn’t stop replaying in my mind: her, with James, too close, looking like she was enjoying his touch.She stood there, in my office, dressed in the same deep blue dress from last night. It clung to her, soft and graceful, a painful reminder of everything she was to me. And yet, all I could think of was James’s hand on her waist. I clenched my fists, digging my nails into my palms, forcing myself to focus.I wasn’t going to make this easy.“What are you doing here, Lyra?” I said coldly, refusing to meet her gaze. “I thought you had company last night.”She took a step closer, and I could feel her presence, a warmth that made me want to pull her close, hold her, forget everything. But the anger burned too hot. “Kurtis, pl
Lyra's POVI held my breath as I approached the massive oak door, my heart racing with a mix of fear and hope. I had no idea how Kurtis’s father would react to my presence, or if he’d even want to see me after everything that had happened. But I was desperate. Desperate enough to swallow my pride, to risk the embarrassment, and to face whatever consequences came from what I’d done.The knock on the door echoed louder than I’d expected, reverberating in the stillness of the early morning. I almost turned to leave right then, the fear gripping me, but before I could move, the door swung open.Kurtis’s father stood before me, his eyes narrowing the moment he saw my face. “Lyra,” he said, his voice low, stern. “What are you doing here?”I swallowed, feeling a sharp pang in my chest. His expression was unreadable, his gaze piercing. I’d always known Mr. Everett as a warm and kind man, but right now, his look was distant, almost guarded, and I couldn’t help but feel I’d lost his respect too
Kurtis’s POVI clenched my jaw, feeling the sharp edge of anger pressing against my heart as I stared at her, standing there in my father’s house as if she hadn’t already shattered everything we had. I took a slow, deep breath, trying to keep my voice steady, but the hurt, the bitterness, it was all right there, boiling over.“Lyra, why are you here?” I asked, the words almost a growl. “I told you not to come to my house. Why, of all things, would you come crawling to my father?” My voice was sharper than I intended, but I didn’t care. The wounds she’d left were still raw, and seeing her now, in the last place I’d ever expected, only brought them closer to the surface.She flinched, her eyes wide, startled by my tone. But she didn’t back down. That was one thing about Lyra, she always stood her ground, even when she knew she’d messed up.“Kurtis, I’m here because I don’t know what else to do,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I thought… I thought maybe if I spoke to your dad, I cou
"Come here, baby girl," he murmured, his voice soft yet full of warmth as he took a step toward me, arms open.Kurtis’s arms around me felt like home.”His hand brushed my cheek, his thumb gently wiping away the last traces of tears. I leaned into his touch, savoring the warmth, the familiar comfort. I’d missed this, missed him, more than I ever realized.“You don’t know how much I missed you, Lyra,” he murmured, his voice husky and filled with emotion. “Every single part of you, your smile, your laugh, even the trouble you bring with you. I missed all of it.”My heart flipped at his words, and a nervous laugh escaped my lips. “The trouble, huh?” I teased, trying to lighten the mood. “What kind of trouble are you talking about?”His eyes sparkled with a glimmer of his old self. “Oh, you know exactly what kind of trouble. The kind that kept me up at night, wondering what you’d get yourself into next. The kind that made my heart race, just thinking about all the chaos you bring into my
Angela's POVThe bright screen of my phone lit up in the dim room as I lazily scrolled through my feed, barely paying attention to the endless stream of photos and captions. It was just another evening, or so I thought. Then I saw it. One of Lyra’s friends, Jenna, had posted a picture of Lyra and Kurtis, locked in an embrace, smiling at each other like they had the world figured out. My chest tightened as I read the caption."I love this reunion. #Lyra #Kurtis"The words hit me like a punch. My mind raced, a storm of thoughts swirling so fast I could barely keep up. Lyra and Kurtis were together… again? After everything? The months she’d spent crying to me, doubting herself, wondering if she was good enough for him while I reassured her. And now she’s back in his arms, smiling like she never doubted a thing? My grip tightened around my phone, the edges pressing into my skin as my nails dug in. I couldn’t believe this.Before I could process, footsteps sounded down the hall, heavy and
Angela POVThe door clicked shut behind James, and the room felt even emptier and colder. His threats echoed in my mind like a taunting whisper, refusing to die down. "I’ll spill everything… every dirty little secret." The words replayed in my head, hitting like a sledgehammer. It wasn’t the first time he’d dangled my secrets over my head. But something about today felt different, darker. I paced the floor, trying to ignore the pit forming in my stomach. But my thoughts kept circling back to that one piece of truth I’d buried long ago. The truth I never wanted Lyra to know. My hand drifted to my abdomen, and I froze. An image from years ago flashed before me, sitting alone in a sterile room, the walls a sickening shade of white. The chill of the cold metal table beneath me as I lay there, my heart pounding in my chest. I’d done it to protect myself, to protect my future. But now, all that sacrifice felt useless. James, of all people, was ready to use it against me.A wave of anger w
Lyra POVI took a deep breath and knocked on the door to Alice's house. Every step I’d taken here was fueled by confusion and disbelief. Alice, James’s sister, had called me out of nowhere with a message that “urgency” didn’t even begin to describe.The door swung open almost immediately, and Alice stood there, looking like a cat who’d just caught the canary.“Come in, Lyra,” she said, motioning me inside with that ever-present smirk.I followed her, my stomach churning as we stepped into the dimly lit living room. I took a seat on the couch, nerves stretching thin. The room felt cold and ominous, as though every piece of furniture had been placed deliberately to unsettle me.“Thank you for coming on such short notice,” Alice began, her voice smooth as silk. “I thought it was best you heard this from me directly.”“Hear what?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at her. I wasn’t in the mood for games, not after everything I’d been through with Angela, Kurtis, and now, James.Alice didn’t answe