Angela POV“Stick to the plan, Angela,” I muttered to myself, staring out into the night. My fingers gripped the windowsill as the cold wind brushed against my face. I could feel everything crumbling around me, slipping out of control. James was pushing too far. He liked the power he had over them, over Lyra. I knew it the moment I saw that twisted look in his eyes, he wasn’t going to let her go easily.But that wasn't the plan. The ransom was already set, and Kurtis and his men were waiting. Lyra had to be released tonight, or everything would fall apart.I moved away from the window, my heels clicking softly against the floor as I paced back and forth, my mind racing. I could feel the weight of every decision pressing down on me. I had to be smart. One wrong move and this whole game would come crashing down.I picked up my phone and texted the men I had stationed near the edge of the lot. They were supposed to handle the release. I couldn’t show myself, not to Kurtis, and not to Lyr
Kurtis's POVI kicked open the door to the safe house, my breath coming out in ragged gasps. I was carrying Lyra in my arms, her body limp, her skin cold against mine. Every step felt like a battle against time, and I could barely think straight as I looked down at her pale face."Lyra… baby girl, stay with me." My voice trembled, but I forced it out. I couldn’t lose her, not after everything we had been through.The house was quiet, too quiet, as I laid her down gently on the couch. My hands shook as I grabbed a blanket, wrapping it around her fragile body. Her eyes fluttered open for just a second before closing again, and my heart clenched in my chest. I had to do something. Fast.I crouched beside her, brushing the hair from her face. "You're safe now. I’ve got you," I whispered, though I wasn’t sure if she could hear me. I’d never seen her like this, so vulnerable, so helpless. It tore at something deep inside me, something primal. I had sworn to protect her, and now here she was
Lyra’s POV“Kurtis, I... I can’t believe she did this.” My voice trembled as I whispered, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill. I could feel his arms tighten around me, pulling me closer as if he could shield me from the reality of what Angela had done.He stroked my hair, his touch warm and reassuring. “I know, Lyra. I know.”I buried my face in his chest, inhaling the scent of him, comforting, familiar. But it didn’t stop the ache in my heart. My sister. My twin. How could she go this far?“She used me, Kurtis. She wanted me to break up with you for her, and now... now she’s bitter because you chose me. Because you love me,” I said, my voice breaking. I pulled back slightly, looking up into his eyes. “Angela’s always wanted everything for herself, but I never thought she’d go this far. She betrayed me. She betrayed *us*.”Kurtis’s eyes darkened with anger, but his touch remained gentle as he cupped my face. “She’s bitter, Lyra, and jealous. She thought she co
.Angela’s POVI stood by the window, staring blankly out at the sunset, my chest tight with bitterness. Lyra. My sweet, quiet twin sister had taken everything from me, my dreams, my man, my life. Kurtis was supposed to be mine. He *was* mine. Until she showed up, pretending to be innocent, stealing him right from under me. My hands balled into fists at my sides as the memories flooded back, the way I’d asked her to break up with him for me, to pretend to be me. I thought she was doing me a favor back then, a simple task to spare me the confrontation. But now I know better. She hadn’t just helped me end things with Kurtis. She had taken advantage of it, swooping in to claim what was mine the whole time.A wave of regret surged through me. I should’ve never let her go. I should’ve never given her the chance to ruin everything. “Why did I let her walk away?” The thought gnawed at me, but I quickly pushed it aside, burying it beneath my anger. Regret was for the weak, and I refused to be
Lyra’s POVI sat beside Kurtis on the plush sofa, his warmth radiating through the small space between us, but my mind was miles away. Thoughts of James circled relentlessly, and despite Kurtis’s reassuring presence, I couldn’t shake the fear gnawing at the edges of my mind. James would never let this wedding happen without some kind of fight. He was obsessed with control, Angela may have betrayed me, but James? He was a different kind of threat. A more dangerous one.I stole a glance at Kurtis, his strong profile illuminated by the soft glow of the fireplace, and my heart swelled with love. He looked so calm, so certain about our future, and for a moment, I envied him. How could he be so sure? Couldn’t he see the storm that was brewing?“Hey,” Kurtis’s voice pulled me from my spiraling thoughts. His hand found mine, the simple touch grounding me, but I could tell from the way his thumb softly brushed against my knuckles that he knew something was bothering me. “What’s going on in tha
Lyra’s POVTwo weeks had passed in the blink of an eye. The wedding was set, and everything was falling into place. My dress was perfect, the venue looked like a dream, and today was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. Kurtis had reassured me over and over that nothing would stand in our way. Not James. Not anyone. But as I stood in the bridal suite, my heart racing in anticipation, a sense of unease gnawed at me. Something felt off. It wasn’t just the nerves, it was something else. The kind of tension that clung to the air just before a storm. Then, the knock came.My hands stilled as I turned toward the door. The hair on the back of my neck prickled. Kurtis’s voice came through the door.“Baby girl? Can you come downstairs?”The urgency in his voice made my stomach flip. I rushed to the door, still in my robe, heart pounding in my chest. When I opened it, the look on Kurtis’s face confirmed my worst fears. “What is it?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “What’s wr
Lyra’s POVThe beeping of the machines was the only sound in the room. The steady rhythm of James’s heartbeat echoed through the sterile hospital walls, but he was barely there, his body lying lifeless, connected to wires and tubes that were keeping him breathing. I stood at the foot of the bed, my wedding gown now crumpled and stained, looking so out of place in this cold, white room. I felt frozen, my hands clenched tightly in front of me. The weight of everything that had happened pressed down on me so heavily I could hardly breathe.James was alive, but just barely. The doctors had said it was touch-and-go. The blow to his head had caused a severe concussion, and his body wasn’t responding the way it should. Every breath he took sounded like it was borrowed time.I should have been relieved. Relieved that he was still here, still breathing. But all I felt was guilt. Guilt that he was lying there because of me. Because of my choice to move on with my life.“It’s your fault,” a sha
Lyra’s POVThe cold, sterile scent of the hospital hung in the air as I stood at the edge of James’s bed, my fingers trembling slightly. My heart was pounding against my ribs, but I tried to stay calm. I had to stay calm. Alice’s words still echoed in my mind like a bitter slap, but I couldn't let them consume me. Not now. Not when everything felt so fragile.I was lost in my thoughts when the door creaked open, and a doctor in a white coat walked in. The tension in the room grew thicker as both Alice and I turned to face him.“Doctor,” I blurted out before Alice could say anything, stepping forward. My voice was desperate, even though I tried to keep it steady. “Please… is James going to be okay? Tell me he’s going to wake up. He *has* to wake up.”The doctor gave me a somber look, and my stomach dropped. His face was unreadable, yet the disappointment in his eyes told me that whatever he was about to say wasn’t going to be good.“I understand your concern,” the doctor began, looking