Kurtis POVI stared at the door Angela had slammed behind her, my chest still tight, every nerve in my body on edge. Lyra was right there in front of me, standing so still that for a moment, I thought she was frozen in shock. Her eyes, wide and shimmering, seemed to be searching my face, looking for answers. My heart clenched, and I couldn’t stand the silence between us anymore.“Lyra, please,” I began, my voice cracking with desperation. I took a step closer, reaching out, but she didn’t move. “Don’t believe a word Angela said earlier. You know how she is, always twisting things, making it sound worse than it is. You *know* that it was Angela I was supposed to meet that day. She’s the one who told you to pretend to be her. That’s how we met! That’s how all of this started.”I watched her closely, bracing myself for her response, for more tears, for the painful look of betrayal that Angela had tried to plant in her eyes. But instead, something unexpected happened. Lyra’s lips quivered
The house was buzzing with life, a soft glow of lights spilling from the windows onto the garden, where our guests were mingling. Laughter echoed in the air, the clinking of glasses and the hum of conversation surrounding us in a bubble of joy. It was the perfect evening to announce our engagement, and from the way Lyra looked tonight, radiant and glowing, I knew this was going to be a moment neither of us would forget.As I stood by the bar, watching her float from one group of guests to another, I couldn’t help but smile. She was in her element, talking and laughing with everyone, her excitement palpable. Her joy was infectious, and I felt it settle deep in my chest, warming me in ways I hadn’t realized I needed.“Hey, babe,” Lyra said, sidling up next to me. Her eyes sparkled with happiness as she wrapped her arms around my waist, resting her chin on my shoulder. “Everything is perfect, isn’t it?”I leaned down to kiss her forehead, inhaling the familiar scent of her perfume that a
Angela POV The news of Lyra and Kurtis’s engagement party was everywhere. I hadn’t expected it to be so... loud. It popped up on my phone like a cruel joke, headlines, pictures, everyone buzzing about their perfect night. Lyra looked stunning, glowing in that way only she could. And Kurtis, well, he always knew how to play the charming fiancé. The perfect couple.I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the pictures, no matter how much I wanted to. There she was, my twin, basking in the attention, her hand proudly showing off the ring Kurtis had given her. That ring should’ve meant something different. It should’ve been me standing next to him. I slammed my phone down, the screen going black as the bitterness in my chest flared. Lyra had everything now, Kurtis, the spotlight, the life I should’ve had. How did she always manage to take what was mine? Even now, I couldn’t shake the gnawing jealousy. He’d always had a soft spot for her, and with a little push, I was sure I could stir up some
Lyra's POVKurtis was pacing in the living room when I walked in, the excitement on his face impossible to miss. He turned toward me, his eyes gleaming with mischief and something else, anticipation.“Baby girl, I’ve been thinking,” he began, walking over to me, his hands finding my waist effortlessly as he pulled me close. “We haven’t really had time for ourselves lately. Everything’s been so... chaotic.”I smiled up at him, loving the way his arms felt wrapped around me. “I know. It’s been non-stop, hasn’t it?”He nodded, leaning down to press a kiss to my forehead. “So, I booked us a surprise trip. Just you and me, away from everything.”“A surprise trip?” My eyes widened in disbelief. “Where are we going?”“Somewhere beautiful. A charming European city, full of romance, just the way you like it. Think candlelit dinners, cozy walks by the river... I want us to get lost in each other.”My heart skipped a beat as his words sank in. The thought of escaping everything, just the two of
Lyra's POVI stood frozen, my heart pounding in my chest as James’s words echoed in my ears.“Miss you?”I blinked, unsure if I’d heard him right. His voice, that smirk on his face, everything about this moment felt surreal. After all these years, James, the man who had once shattered my heart, was standing in front of me like a ghost from my past.“Who the hell is this?” Kurtis’s voice cut through the tension like a knife, his grip on my waist tightening. His protective tone sent a shiver down my spine, but I couldn’t focus. My mind was spinning, trying to make sense of what was happening.James took a step closer, his gaze locked on mine, completely ignoring Kurtis. “You didn’t answer me, baby boo. Did you miss me?”I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. “What are you doing here, James?”He shrugged casually, as if this was no big deal. “What? I can’t visit an old flame? It’s been a while, Lyra. Thought we could catch up.”James smirked as he stepped closer, his confidence oozing
Lyra’s POVI stood there in the street, heart pounding, watching as Kurtis walked away from me. His retreating figure felt like a final, heartbreaking blow. The night air was cold, but it was nothing compared to the ice building in my chest. I couldn’t believe this was happening, that everything had crumbled in a matter of minutes because of “him”James.I turned slowly, forcing myself to face the man who had once been my world, the man who had somehow found a way to break me, piece by piece. He stood there, leaning against the railing with that same smug look on his face. “I didn’t do anything wrong, Lyra,” he said, his voice full of fake innocence. “You’re the one who didn’t tell him the truth.”“The truth?” I shot back, my voice cracking with emotion. “The truth is, I left you behind a long time ago, James. What we had? It’s over. You don’t belong in my life anymore.”James’s smile faltered for a second, but then he regained his composure, stepping closer to me. “Come on, Lyra. Y
Kurtis’s POVI couldn’t believe what I’d just seen. James, baby boo, the audacity of it. My blood boiled as the image replayed in my head, Lyra standing there, looking torn, while that smug asshole casually called her a name only I should be using. The way he looked at her, the way she didn’t immediately push him away, it cut deeper than I wanted to admit.I needed air, space, anything but being near her right now.I walked down the dimly lit street, my fists clenched so tight I could feel my nails digging into my palms. How could she keep something like this from me? First, it was pretending to be Angela when we met, and I’d forgiven that because I fell for *her*, not the mask. But now? Now there was this guy, James, throwing around pet names like they meant something. What else had she been hiding from me?The cold wind slapped my face, but it couldn’t cool the fire burning in my chest. I felt stupid, like a fool for trusting her so blindly. I thought I knew her, thought we were sol
Lyra's POVI stared at the door for what felt like hours after Kurtis walked out. The room was cold and empty, and I couldn’t stop trembling. My heart had shattered the moment he said he needed time. The look on his face, the anger, the hurt… it tore me apart inside.How did everything go so wrong?The bed felt like a prison, holding me in place, suffocating me with thoughts of Kurtis. I knew I’d messed up, and now I was paying the price. I’d tried calling him over and over again, but every time, I was met with silence. Not even a message, nothing. He didn’t want to hear from me. That stung more than anything.“Why did James have to show up like that?”My hands clenched the pillow tighter as I thought about it. I hadn’t seen James in forever, and the last thing I expected was for him to show up in the middle of our getaway, acting like he had a right to disrupt my life.And Kurtis… seeing his face twisted with jealousy and anger, it was too much. I wanted to scream, to cry, to do anyt