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
Lyra's POVI stood there frozen as Alice’s words echoed in my mind, each one cutting deeper than the last. The air in the hospital room felt suffocating, thick with tension and fear. I could barely breathe, and my thoughts were spinning in a whirlwind of guilt, confusion, and sorrow. James lay there, still as stone, while the machines beeped rhythmically, a cruel reminder that his life now hung by a thread.I glanced at James one last time, feeling a pang of regret that burned deep inside. But before I could say anything, Alice stormed back into the room, her eyes flashing with anger, her voice cold and unyielding."You," she snarled, pointing a trembling finger at me. "Get out. I don’t ever want to see you near my brother again."I blinked in shock, taking a step back. "Alice, I""Leave!" she screamed, her voice filled with fury. "You’ve done enough damage, Lyra. My brother is in this state because of you. If you have any shred of decency left, you’ll leave this hospital and never co
Lyra’s POV“No, Kurtis, I’m not leaving. I can’t,” I said, my voice firm even as my heart twisted in knots. The sterile hospital hallway felt suffocating, the fluorescent lights harsh against the anxiety gnawing at me. I couldn’t focus on anything except James, lying unconscious in that bed. The man who had once been a huge part of my life was now on the brink of death, and I couldn’t just walk away.Kurtis turned to me, his eyes narrowing as frustration and jealousy flickered across his face. “What do you mean, you “can’t” leave?” His voice was low, tight, like he was trying to keep his anger from spilling over. He took a step closer, towering over me, his presence both comforting and intimidating. “You’re staying here… for “him”?”His words were a dagger, sharp and cutting. I flinched, but I didn’t back down. “James is my friend,” I said softly, though my heart was pounding now. “I can’t just walk away when he’s lying there, fighting for his life. I need to know he’s going to be oka
Lyra’s POVI stood frozen, watching Kurtis walk away, each step he took like a knife to my heart. My legs felt like lead; I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. The sound of his footsteps echoing down the hallway grew fainter, and with it, my hope crumbled. Tears welled up in my eyes, spilling over as I collapsed onto the cold, hard hospital bench.My body trembled with sobs, my breath catching in my throat as the weight of everything crashed down on me. I tried to wipe the tears away, but they kept coming, unstoppable like a storm that had been building for far too long. Why was everything falling apart?I stared at the ring on my finger, the small, delicate band that Kurtis had given me, a promise of forever. It sparkled under the hospital’s harsh lights, mocking me with memories of the life we had started to build. I remember the night he gave it to me, how we’d laughed, tangled in each other’s arms, so full of love and hope for the future. Now, it all seemed like a distant dream.Jame
Lyra's POVI sat in the cold, sterile hospital reception, twisting my hands together anxiously. The events of the day replayed in my mind like a broken record, each moment more surreal than the last. My wedding was supposed to be happening right now, but instead, I was here, waiting to see the man who almost died trying to stop it.The nurse's words echoed in my head: “James is awake. He’s asking for you." I knew this would be difficult, but deep down, I also knew it was something I couldn’t avoid. Not anymore. We had to face this head-on.I sighed deeply as the doctor appeared, motioning for me to follow. My feet felt heavy, each step toward his room weighed down by memories of a time I thought would never end. But it did. And now I had to make him understand that.As we reached the door to James’s hospital room, Alice, his mother, was there. She stood like a gatekeeper, her posture stiff and her face pinched with anger. The moment her eyes landed on me, they hardened."You’ve got so
As I sat on the cold couch in Kurtis Office, tears streamed down my face, blurring everything around me. My heart felt as though it was shattering into a thousand pieces, and I could barely breathe through the sobs that racked my body. How had it come to this? Kurtis had just walked away from me, and the door slammed behind him like the final nail in the coffin of what we had shared.I replayed the conversation in my mind, over and over, trying to make sense of how it had gone so wrong."Kurtis, I love you. I love you unconditionally," I had pleaded, my voice breaking with emotion.But he didn’t believe me. His words echoed in my mind, haunting me. "If you love me unconditionally, then why are you still so hung up on James? Why are you prioritizing him over our relationship?""I’m not prioritizing James," I had insisted. "He was my friend before anything else. And just because I’m checking on him now doesn’t mean I still have feelings for him. He almost died, Kurtis. I was only at the
Lyra’s POVI couldn’t stop shaking, even as I wiped the tears from my face. My heart still raced, and my mind wouldn’t stop playing Kurtis’s words over and over. How did we even get here? Just days ago, everything seemed so perfect, so solid. Now it felt like the ground beneath me was crumbling.I had to do something. I couldn’t lose him, not like this. Not to a stupid misunderstanding. I grabbed my phone, scrolling through our messages, scanning all the sweet words we used to say to each other. “Baby girl,” “my love,” “forever mine.” My chest tightened. I wasn’t ready to let go of what we had. I couldn’t. I found his number and pressed call, my hands trembling so badly I almost dropped the phone.It rang once. Twice. Then his deep voice answered, colder than I’d ever heard before. “What do you want, Lyra?”The coldness in his tone knocked the breath out of me. This was the same man who used to call me his everything, who held me like I was his entire world. Now, it was as if I was n
Lyra’s POV The day had finally arrived: my wedding day. The world outside seemed to know it was special, too. The sky was a canvas of soft blues and wispy white clouds, with the sun gently warming the seaside breeze. Every detail of the morning felt surreal, like I was walking through a dream I never wanted to wake up from. In my bridal suite, the air buzzed with excitement. Sophie, my bridesmaid and Angela’s closest friend, was helping me into my wedding dress. The dress was everything I’d imagined, sleek and elegant with delicate lace running down the sleeves and tiny pearls dotting the bodice. The train cascaded behind me like a flowing river of ivory silk. As Sophie zipped the back, I caught my reflection in the full-length mirror. For a moment, I didn’t recognize myself. “You look stunning, Lyra,” Sophie said, stepping back to admire me. Her voice was thick with emotion. I turned to her, my own heart brimming. “Do you think Kurtis will like it?” Sophie laughed. “Like i
Lyra's POV The next morning, I woke up to the smell of coffee drifting up to my room. For a moment, I stayed under the covers, savoring the warmth of my bed and the quiet anticipation that filled the air. Tomorrow, I would become Mrs. Lyra Hartley. The thought sent a flutter of excitement and nerves through me. Finally, curiosity got the better of me, and I padded downstairs, barefoot, my robe loosely tied. In the kitchen, I found Angela standing by the counter, a steaming mug in her hands. Her back was to me, and she seemed lost in thought. “Good morning,” I said, stepping closer, my voice soft so as not to startle her. Angela jumped slightly but quickly recovered, turning around with a faint smile. “Good morning. I didn’t mean to wake you. I just... couldn’t sleep.” I reached for a mug and poured myself some coffee, the rich aroma wrapping around me like a comforting hug. “You didn’t wake me,” I assured her. “But you being up this early is definitely unusual. What’s on your
Lyra’s POVThe morning light streamed through my bedroom window, painting everything in soft gold. My phone buzzed on the nightstand, jolting me out of my thoughts. I reached for it, my heart skipping a beat when I saw Kurtis’s name flashing on the screen. “Good morning, baby girl,” his deep voice greeted me. “Good morning,” I replied, feeling a flutter in my chest. Even after everything we’d been through, his voice still had that effect on me. “How did you sleep?” he asked. “Better than I have in weeks,” I admitted. “Knowing Alice is finally in custody helps.” There was a pause, and then he chuckled. “I knew that would ease your mind. But listen, we have something more important to focus on now—our wedding.” My heart soared. “You’re right. No more delays.” “Exactly. Can you meet me at the venue later today? I’ve already called a decorator and the caterer to start discussing ideas.” “Of course,” I said, excitement bubbling up. “What time?” “Around two. I’ll text you
Kurtis’s POVThe morning after James was arrested, I woke up feeling lighter, yet there was still a lingering weight on my chest. Alice. She was the real puppet master, the mastermind behind James’s schemes. If I let my guard down now, it could all be for nothing. I sat at the edge of the bed, watching Lyra sleep. Her face was serene, untouched by the chaos that constantly tried to invade our lives. I wanted to keep it that way. Standing up, I grabbed my phone and dialed Detective Harper. “Harper,” her voice was sharp and awake despite the early hour. “We’ve got to move on Alice,” I said, my tone firm. “If she gets wind of James’s arrest, she’ll bolt. We need to act now.” There was a pause on the other end of the line before Harper responded. “Agreed. Do you have anything concrete on her yet?” “Not enough to keep her locked up for long,” I admitted. “But James’s arrest is going to shake her. If we can catch her making a move, we’ll have something to work with.” “I’ll dispa
Kurtis’s POVI was still seeing the the moment the handcuffs clicked around James’s wrists, playing in my eye, how I felt an overwhelming sense of relief. It wasn’t just about justice, it was about keeping Lyra safe, about making sure that maniac wouldn’t come anywhere near her again. As the officers led him out, his defiance hadn’t wavered. “This isn’t over, Kurtis,” James hissed, his eyes filled with venom. “You think taking me down changes anything? You have no idea what you’re up against.” His voice echoed back in my ear.I didn’t respond. He could spit all the poison he wanted; his threats didn’t matter anymore. His reign of terror had ended the moment those cuffs locked into place. Once the police cars disappeared into the night, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. Detective Harper walked up to me, her expression grim but satisfied. “You did good tonight, Kurtis,” she told me.“I just did what needed to be done,” I replied, glancing at the warehouse where
Kurtis’s POVJames was a menace, a shadow that loomed over Lyra and Angela's lives for far too long. As I stood by the window of my penthouse suite, staring at the city lights below, the thought of letting him roam free even for another day was unbearable. Lyra’s safety wasn’t just a responsibility, it was personal. “I’m not waiting for him to make his next move,” I said, turning to Detective Harper on the other end of the phone. Harper’s voice was professional but tinged with determination. “We need solid evidence to make the arrest stick, Kurtis. What you’ve given us so far is compelling, but I need more to ensure he doesn’t wriggle out on a technicality.” I clenched my fist. “Then you’ll have it. I’ll send over every document, every email, every recording we’ve compiled so far. And I’ll make sure he has no place to run.” After hanging up, I paced the room, my mind racing. James was clever, but arrogance was his fatal flaw. He never imagined I’d play the long game, collectin
Lyra's POV Later that evening, as the hospital quieted down, I sat by Angela’s bedside, my mind a storm of thoughts. The air felt heavy, not just from the day’s events but from something I’d been holding back, something I needed answers to. I took a deep breath, summoning the courage to bring it up. Angela’s eyelids were drooping, but I knew she wasn’t asleep yet. “Angela,” I said softly, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. “I need to ask you something… and I need you to be honest with me.” Her eyes fluttered open, and she turned her head slightly to look at me. “Of course. What is it?” “It’s about James.” At the mention of his name, her expression shifted, a flicker of guilt flashing across her face. She didn’t say anything, so I pressed on. “You’ve been around him more than I have lately. You must know something about his intentions. What’s he planning, Angela? What does he want from me?” Angela hesitated, biting her lower lip. “Lyra… I don’t know if” “Do
Lyra’s POVThe cold, sterile smell of the hospital hit me the moment I stepped inside. My heart was pounding so hard it drowned out every other sound—the murmur of voices, the beep of monitors, the shuffling of feet. Angela. Critical condition. The nurse’s words rang in my ears as I approached the counter, my voice trembling as I asked, “Angela… Angela Hayes. Where is she?” The receptionist barely glanced up, typing away on her computer. “Room 115. Down the hall, second door on your left.” I didn’t wait for her to finish. My feet moved before my mind could catch up, rushing down the hallway, my breaths coming in short, panicked gasps. My legs felt like jelly, but I pushed forward, ignoring the ache. When I reached the door marked *115,* I paused, my hand hovering over the handle. I wasn’t ready to see her like this—to see my sister, my twin, lying broken and vulnerable. But I had to. I pushed the door open and stepped inside, my breath catching in my throat at the sight be
Angela’s POV The door slammed behind me as I left Lyra’s house, but the sound didn’t drown out the storm in my head. The cold evening air wrapped around me like a punishment, but it was nothing compared to the icy distance Lyra had put between us. I climbed into my car, letting the silence close in, but the quiet only gave space for my thoughts to scream louder. My hands clutched the steering wheel tightly, my knuckles turning white as I sat there, reliving every moment of the last hour. I had gone there to apologize, to mend the bridge I had set on fire. Instead, I’d been met with something far worse than anger, indifference. When she opened the door, her face was unreadable. For a moment, I thought she might slam it shut again, but she stepped aside, her cold eyes fixed on me. “What do you want, Angela?” she asked, her voice void of emotion. My heart had twisted at her tone, but I forced myself to speak. “I came to say I’m sorry, Lyra. I know I’ve been… awful. I know I’v