All Chapters of Heartprints in the Void: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

The car ride is suffocating, the air thick with tension. I can’t help but steal glances at Cade, his knuckles white as he grips the steering wheel, his jaw clenched so tight I fear it might snap. The muscles in his neck strain, the vein in his forehead throbbing with barely contained rage. He stares straight ahead, his eyes hard and unblinking, fixed on the road.I want to reach out, to lay a comforting hand on his arm, but I hesitate. He’s like a coiled spring, ready to explode at the slightest touch. So I sit still, my hands tightly in my lap, my heart hammering against my ribs.What’s going through your mind, Cade?It’s not long before Cade’s parking the car in the garage, the place a testament to his wealth and status. The sleek black and white marble floor gleams under the soft overhead lights. To the left, his prized possessions: the black Ferrari his father gifted him for his 25th birthday. It sits, polished to perfe

⊰ Cade ⊱The sun glints off the storefront windows as Elysian and I stroll down the quaint main street of this tiny town, Naomi balanced on my hip, her little hand clutching my shirt. The air is crisp, the scent of pine and wood smoke drifting on the breeze. It feels like we're in our own little world here, far from the chaos and complications of the city.I glance down at Elysian, my heart swelling at the sight of her. She's practically glowing, her face alight with a happiness I haven't seen in far too long.I'd do anything to keep that smile on her face.Our destination comes into view, a small, unassuming jewelry store nestled between a cozy-looking bookshop and a rustic café. The bell above the door jingles as we step inside, the scent of polished metal and glass cleaner hanging in the air.The elderly gentleman behind the counter looks up, a warm smile spreading across his weathered face. “Good morning!

The familiar scent of home envelops me as Cade and I step through the front door, Naomi balanced on my hip, her little head resting on my shoulder. It’s strange how quickly this place has become “home”, considering I’ve lived here less than a week.But I suppose home isn’t always a place. Sometimes, it’s a feeling, a sense of belonging. And right now, with my husband by my side and our daughter in my arms, I’ve never felt more at home.My husband. Our daughter.It’s surreal.“Welcome home, Mrs. Sinclair,” Cade murmurs, planting a kiss on my temple as he sets our bags down in the entryway.I smile up at him, my heart so full it feels like it’s going to burst. “I like the sound of that.”Together, we settle Naomi into her playpen, her eyelids already drooping with the promise of an impending nap. Just as I’m going to suggest that Cade and I take advantage of the quiet moment, my phone buzzes in my pocket.With furrowed eyebrows, I pull it out.Ava.“Hello?” I answer, my tone quizzical.

The familiar scent of my old apartment hits me as I unlock the door, a mixture of lavender air freshener and the lingering aroma of Bubbles' favorite treats. A pang of nostalgia washes over me as I step inside, memories of late nights studying, lazy Sundays with Bubbles, and the quiet solitude I once cherished flooding back.But that life feels like a distant dream now. So much has changed in such a short time.“Wow, Elys,” Amelia whistles as she follows me in, her eyes scanning the modest space. “This is… cozy.”I can hear the polite restraint in her voice, and I can’t help but chuckle. “I don’t know, I think it’s cute! Very… bachelor pad chic.”“Bachelorette,” Ava corrects quietly, bringing up the rear. She’s been unusually subdued since after she had that talk with Cade yesterday, her usual vibrant energy dimmed.There’s something off about the way she and Cade interacted, and it’s been gnawing at me since she arrived. But I know that now isn’t the time to dwell on it. We have work

The early morning air is crisp as we pull into the airport drop-off zone, the sky still tinged with the fading purples and pinks of dawn. I put the car in park, the engine's soft hum filling the silence between Ava and me. For a moment, neither of us moves to get out.I glance at Ava, catching her staring at me with a look on her face I can’t read. There's something in her eyes—sadness, guilt, and something else that makes my stomach churn with unease. I feel my jaw clench involuntarily, a pressure headache already beginning to form.“What?” I ask, trying to keep my tone light despite the tension that’s been simmering between us for days.Ava takes a deep breath, her fingers fidgeting with the strap of her bag. “I just… I want you to know that I’m really happy for you, Elys. You and Cade, Naomi… you have a beautiful family.”Her words should warm my heart, but there’s an undercurrent to them that sets my nerves on edge. I’ve known Ava long enough to recognize when she’s holding someth