Lyra's Confession I found myself back in the kitchen, unable to go to him. The familiar surroundings did nothing to calm the storm inside me. The walls felt like they were closing in, making every doubt and fear louder in my mind. My feet felt glued to the floor, and even though I wanted to leave, I couldn’t move. I was stuck, not just physically, but mentally, caught in my thoughts. The kettle on the stove whistled, the sound shrill and jarring. I hadn’t even realized I’d put it on. My hands shook as I reached for it, the hot metal searing my skin. I yelped, dropping the kettle, and the water spilled across the counter, soaking everything in its path. “Dammit!” I cursed, cradling my burnt hand against my chest. The pain was sharp, but it was nothing compared to the ache in my heart. I could still feel Kurtis’s presence, the warmth of his body, the way his eyes had softened when he looked at me before everything went to hell. The memory of his touch sent a shiver down my spin
I sat at the kitchen table after she left me, staring blankly at the cup of tea I’d made before I was lost in my thoughts but had no intention of drinking it again. The silence pressed in on me from all sides, the ticking of the clock on the wall growing louder with each passing second. Each tick felt like a reminder of how little time I had before Angela and Kurtis would inevitably reconnect. It was only a matter of time before I was pushed back into the shadows.My thoughts were a tangled mess again. I knew Kurtis cared about me, we’d shared moments, brief but undeniable, but those moments were overshadowed by Angela. The thought of him choosing her over me made my stomach twist into painful knots. I wanted to believe that I meant something to him, that I was more than just a stand-in for her, but how could I be sure?Just as I was about to drown in another wave of doubt, the door creaked open. My heart nearly stopped when I saw Kurtis walk into the kitchen. Is this me imagining thi
Torn Apart I couldn’t focus on anything as Angela and Kurtis had their private conversation. Every creak of the floor, every murmur from the next room, sent my heart racing. I tried to keep busy, cleaning the villa as if scrubbing away the dirt could somehow cleanse the anxiety gnawing at my insides. But no matter how hard I scrubbed, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. Minutes felt like hours until finally, Angela emerged from the room, looking as composed as ever. Her eyes landed on me, and a faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips, one that didn’t reach her eyes. “Kurtis and I have decided to get back together,” she said, her tone casual as if she were talking about the weather. Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. My hands trembled, and the rag I’d been holding fell to the floor. I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. It felt like the air had been sucked out of the room, leaving me gasping for breath. “Angela…” I managed to whisper, my
Lyra's POVAs I walked away, the tears I’d been holding back finally spilled over, but this time, they weren’t just tears of sadness, they were tears of resolve. I knew, deep down, that I deserved more than what Kurtis was offering. And if he couldn’t see that, then maybe it was time I started seeing it for myself.The sun set, casting a warm glow over the villa. I stood on the veranda, leaning on the railing, my thoughts tangled. I had tried to distance myself from Kurtis, to push my feelings away, but seeing him earlier had shaken my resolve.Kurtis had been standing by the window, his face a mask of conflict and emotion. He hadn’t mentioned Angela, but the tension in the air was thick. And now, as I watched the last rays of sunlight disappear, I felt him before I saw him. Kurtis stepped onto the veranda, and even though I’d told myself to stay away, his presence pulled me in like a magnet.We stood there in silence, the air heavy with all the things we weren’t saying. I could feel
Kurtis’ POVI stood there, watching Lyra walk away, her hurt and frustration hitting me like a physical blow. I wanted to call after her, to explain, but she was already out of sight. The emptiness left behind was suffocating, a gnawing sense of dread settling in my chest.I muttered to myself, “Goddammit, Kurtis. What have you done?”The villa seemed to close in on me as I struggled to reconcile my thoughts. “I need to figure this out,” I said aloud, pacing the length of the hallway. “Angela and Lyra, everything’s so messed up. How did I let it get this far?”My mind raced with the weight of my decisions. “I thought I could handle this, that I could manage both sides. But it’s tearing me apart.” I stopped abruptly, pressing my hands to my face. “Angela’s here, and she’s a part of my past. But Lyra, she’s here, and she’s real. I can’t keep dragging them both through this chaos.”I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside me. “Okay, focus. Angela’s the next step. I need to c
Angela POVI watched Kurtis walk away, each step feeling like a fresh stab to my heart. His words echoed in my mind, cutting deeper with every repetition. But I couldn’t let him see how much it hurt. Not now. Not after everything.A part of me wanted to scream, to run after him and force him to turn around. The crushing pain was unbearable, but I shoved that feeling down. I couldn’t afford to fall apart now. Not when everything was at stake.I wiped the tears from my eyes, forcing myself to breathe. “Get it together, Angela,” I whispered. “You need to play this smart.”I never imagined I’d want him back, but now it felt like a piece of my soul was walking away with him. Why did it hurt so much to see him go?But I knew where I had to go next. If I couldn’t have Kurtis, then I’d make damn sure Lyra wouldn’t either. She thought she could just step into my life and take what was mine. I told her to break up with him, but she didn’t. Now, she was about to learn who she was really up again
Lyra POVThe villa was quiet as I rushed down the hallway, my heart racing. Is Angela stepping aside? I still couldn’t wrap my head around it.“She gave up?” I muttered to myself, trying to process it. “This feels too easy… almost like a gift I don’t deserve.”I shook my head, pushing the doubt aside. “But if she’s stepping back, I have to make the most of it. This is my chance.”I reached Kurtis’s study and knocked sharply on the door, barely waiting for his response before pushing it open. Kurtis looked up from his desk, his expression shifting from surprise to something deeper.“Lyra? What’s going on?” he asked, rising from his chair with a mix of concern and anticipation.“I have to tell you something incredible,” I said, my voice trembling with excitement. I crossed the room and took his hands in mine, gazing up into his eyes. “Angela, she’s given us the go-ahead. She said she’s stepping aside and that she wants us to be happy, even if it’s together.”Kurtis’s eyes narrowed, a mi
Angela POVI just wanted to tell them I was leaving, but when I walked in on them, lost in each other's kisses, the sight hit me hard. I knew I had to step away and face my own life.A strange calm settled over me as I watched them. Part of me wanted to shout, to demand answers, but I remembered I had given them a go-ahead order, an unexpected sense of peace. This was what I’d feared, but now that I saw it, I realized it was a chance for me to move on.I cleared my throat softly, enough to make them aware of my presence. “Well, isn’t this a surprise,” I said, a hint of amusement in my voice. “I didn’t mean to interrupt your... reunion.”Lyra's eyes flew open, her face flushing with embarrassment. “Angela, I”I raised a hand to stop her. “It’s all right, Lyra. I came here to tell you both that I’m leaving.”Kurtis pulled away from Lyra, his expression a mix of panic and confusion. “Angela, thank you for doing this, I appreciate it.“Oh, it's fine, ” I said, stepping further into the ro
Lyra POV As I looked at Kurtis' determined face, I knew he was up to fight, so I asked him again. “Kurtis,” I said softly, pulling back to look up at him. “What do we do now?”His arms tightened around me as if shielding me from the weight of the world. His eyes burned with unwavering determination, his voice low and steady. “We fight back,” he said.Before I could ask what he meant, he pulled his phone from his pocket, his fingers moving swiftly across the screen. The sound of each tap echoed in the silence, amplifying my nerves.“Kurtis, what are you doing?” I asked, my voice trembling with uncertainty.He paused for a moment, his gaze meeting mine, filled with resolve. “I’m calling someone who can help us. You’ve been running for too long, Lyra. That ends now.”He raised the phone to his ear. “Dpo,” he said firmly when the call connected, his tone sharp and commanding. “It’s time. Pull everything we have on James and Alice. I want every shred of dirt they’ve ever tried to bury. Ba
Lyra’s POV The coffee shop had quieted down, the hum of the espresso machine and the occasional clink of cups the only sounds breaking the stillness. Kurtis sat across from me, his hands gripping his cup so tightly I feared it might shatter. His gaze was fixed on me, intense and unwavering, as if he were trying to peel back my layers and see straight into my soul. But I was already bare before him. “Lyra,” he said finally, his voice low, rough. “I need to know something before I go any further.” I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. “What is it?” His jaw tightened as he leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. “Are you still in love with me?” The question hit me like a freight train, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe. My hands trembled, and I clutched my cup as if it could anchor me to the earth. “Kurtis...” I began, but he cut me off, his voice firm and unrelenting. “No, Lyra. Don’t skirt around this. I need to hear it from you. Because if I’m
Lyra's POV I held my breath as Kurtis flung the door open, his presence a storm brewing in the doorway. James stood there, arrogance etched across his face, but even he faltered under Kurtis's fiery gaze. My heart thundered as I gripped Kurtis's arm, trying to hold him back from what I knew could escalate into something dangerous. “Kurtis, don’t,” I whispered, desperation thick in my voice. He ignored me, stepping forward, his towering frame blocking the doorway like a sentinel. “James, leave. Now.” James smirked, though it wavered. “This is between me and Lyra.” “No,” Kurtis said, his voice low and threatening, “this ended the moment you thought you could force her into something she didn’t want. I’m not letting you ruin her life anymore.” The tension between them was suffocating, and I knew if I didn’t intervene, things would spiral. “Stop!” I stepped between them, my palms pressed against Kurtis's chest. “Please, both of you, stop this madness!” Kurtis’s jaw was clench
Kurtis POV I paced the length of the living room again, my hands clenching and unclenching at my sides. The more I thought about Lyra, the more my frustrations turned into an unbearable ache. My heart wasn’t just heavy, it felt shredded, raw with every beat. The dream of her marrying James wasn’t just a figment of my imagination; it felt like a warning, like my soul already knew something I didn’t. The thought of her signing her life away to someone else made my chest tighten. My mind replayed every moment we’d spent together, every promise we’d made, and every touch that had once told me we were unshakable. But now? Now, everything felt like it was slipping through my fingers, and I was powerless to stop it. I couldn’t wait any longer. If I didn’t go to her now, I’d lose her for good. “Tomorrow is too far away,” I muttered under my breath, grabbing my car keys and storming out the door. The drive to her place was a blur. My grip on the steering wheel was tight, and my chest
Kurtis POV I paced the length of the living room, the soft carpet muffling my restless footsteps. My mind was a battlefield, torn between anger, confusion, and a raw, aching sense of helplessness. The image of Lyra signing that marriage certificate in my dream haunted me, her trembling fingers and the tears she couldn’t hide. I couldn’t shake it off. What if it wasn’t just a dream? What if it was a prelude to my reality? "Stop it, Kurtis," I muttered to myself, dragging my hands down my face. The walls felt like they were closing in, and the silence of the room was deafening. I needed to hear her voice, to have her tell me this was all in my head. Grabbing my phone, I dialed her number for the hundredth time this week. It rang and rang until her voicemail kicked in. *“Hi, this is Lyra. Leave a message.”* I clenched my teeth, frustration boiling over. I couldn’t even hear her say my name anymore. What was I supposed to do with this silence? Without thinking, I hurled the ph
Kurtis POV I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the phone in my hands. The last message from Lyra was still there, short and cold, cutting through me like a knife. She’d told me she was getting married to James, just like that. No explanation, no chance for me to argue, nothing. She refused to answer my calls after that, her texts growing shorter and more distant until they stopped altogether. I couldn’t understand it. Lyra wasn’t the type to shut people out, especially not me. I asked her once, begged, even, why she was doing this. “Why leave me for him, Lyra? What does James have that I don’t?” Her response had been vague, her eyes clouded with something I couldn’t read. “It’s complicated, Kurtis. Please don’t ask me this again.” Complicated. That was all she gave me, leaving me stranded with a million questions and a heart that felt like it was being torn apart piece by piece. I leaned back against the headboard, exhaustion weighing on me. My mind couldn’t stop racing
Lyra’s POV The door slammed shut behind Alice, leaving me alone in the suffocating silence of my room. My hands trembled as I pressed them against the cool wooden surface, my forehead resting against it. I wanted to scream, to cry, to throw something, but none of that would help. None of it would undo the mess I was in. I slid down to the floor, hugging my knees to my chest as the weight of everything crushed me. The choices I’d made, the lies I’d told, the sacrifices, was any of it worth it? “Should I tell Kurtis everything?” The thought slipped into my mind like a whisper, bringing both hope and fear. Curtis, my savior, the man who’d shown me what it felt like to be truly loved. He’d understand, wouldn’t he? He’d hold me, tell me it wasn’t my burden to bear, and promise to take care of everything. But then what? The image of Kurtis Face twisted in anger as I told him the truth made my stomach churn. What if he didn’t understand? What if he saw me as weak, as someone who co
Lyra’s POV The mansion felt colder than usual, even though the temperature hadn't changed. The weight of James’s hold on me and the suffocating presence of Alice made the air thicker and harder to breathe. My footsteps echoed against the marble floors as I made my way toward the living room, trying to steel myself for whatever verbal sparring match Alice had planned for me that day. She was sitting there, her legs crossed elegantly, sipping tea as if she hadn’t just ruined my life with one malicious smile. Her perfectly manicured nails clicked against the porcelain cup when she set it down. Her gaze locked on me the moment I entered. "Lyra," Alice began, her voice sweet, yet dripping with venom. "Why the long face? Did my brother disappoint you again, or are you simply contemplating running away from your responsibilities?" I froze mid-step, forcing my expression into something neutral. "What are you talking about, Alice?" She rose slowly, her movements as deliberate as a pr
Lyra POV The cold night air stung my face as I stumbled down the dimly lit street. My chest felt tight, each breath dragging painfully through my lungs as I struggled to hold back the tears threatening to spill over again. My heart was a tangled mess, torn between the man I couldn’t let go of and the choices I’d made to keep him safe. Before I knew it, I was standing in front of Ella’s door. My fists trembled as I knocked, the sound echoing in the quiet. It took only a moment before the door opened, and Ella stood there, her expression shifting from surprise to concern in an instant. “Lyra,” she gasped, pulling me inside. “What happened to you? Why are you crying?” Her voice was frantic, her hands gripping my arms as if to steady me. I shook my head, unable to meet her gaze. “Ella, I…” My voice broke, and the tears I’d been holding back spilled over, hot and relentless. “Lyra, talk to me.” She led me to her couch, her warm hands pressing against mine as she sat beside me. “Wh