LOGINNova's point of view The sound of Damon's voice hit me like cold water. My arms loosened immediately, before I even realized what I was doing, I slipped out of Reed's embrace, or... I tried to. For a brief second, it felt as though his arms weren't ready to let me go. Then they relaxed, and my shoes met the pavement.Heat rushed into my cheeks so quickly that I was certain both men could see it. I smoothed down my coat, brushed an imaginary crease from my sleeve, adjusted my hair, finding anything to do, except look either of them directly in the eye.My gaze finally drifted toward Damon, his face was unreadable, then I looked at Reed. He looked… the same; perfectly calm, as though nothing unusual had just happened.I forced out a laugh. "Well... exactly." Silence responded to my incoherent phrase, "...I mean..." What exactly, Nova? I swallowed, God knew, I had absolutely no idea what to say. The words abandoned me, the three of us simply stood there while my embarrassment grew loud
Nova's point of view Elsa's voice chased after me long before her footsteps did. "Nova!" Her voice boomed in the house.I didn't stop, didn't even slow down."Nova, stop!"I tightened my grip on my handbag and walked faster, pretending the pavement beneath my feet was the only thing that existed."For three days!" she shouted. The words finally cut through the fog in my head."For three whole days I've been asking you what happened! I've begged you to tell me why you dragged us back without warning! I've asked nicely, I've been patient, and you've treated me like I don't deserve an explanation!"My chest tightened, yet my steps didn't slow down."You don't get to do that!" she screamed, almost running now. "I have a life too! I had plans! I made promises to people! You canceled everything, Nova, and now you're acting like I should just accept your silence!"My steps finally slowed, the silence between us felt heavier than her shouting. I turned around. She was breathing hard, her che
Reed's point of view The young woman looked up from the table with a gentle smile.Heat rushed to my face."I'm... I'm so sorry."She blinked once before laughing softly.."It's alright.".Her voice carried the same calm warmth that had made my heart stumble a second earlier."You wouldn't believe how often that happens. I've apparently been mistaken for half the female population."I chuckled, drawing out a chair. "So I've joined a very long list?""Oh, congratulations." She extended an imaginary certificate. "You've officially become Member Number Forty-Seven."A broad smile appeared on my face. "I feel honored."Across the table, Grandpa relaxed with an amused shake of his head. "This," Grandpa began, "is Sarah Lawson."I recognized the surname immediately.Lawson Global Holdings..One of the oldest business empires in the country..Sarah noticed the flicker of recognition.."My father enjoys making people work harder than necessary."Grandpa smiled."Her father has asked me for a favor.
Reed's point of view A horn blasted somewhere behind me, a red light flashedI drove through it. Someone shouted, another horn, everything outside my windshield had dissolved into streaks of color.My hands squeezed the steering wheel until my knuckles whitened, my heart racing as the hospital appeared before me. .I barely remembered parking, my shoes pounded across polished floors, straight to reception."Mr. Cole!".I ignored whoever called my name."I need to see my father." The nurse hurried toward me. "This way."I was already walking before she finished speaking. A middle-aged doctor met me outside a private room. "Mr. Reed Cole?""Where is my father?"The doctor gently lifted a hand."Please. You need to calm down,.your father doesn't need unnecessary stress right now.""I'm fine.” I exhaled, even though my pulse hammered in my ears.."I just need to see him.""You will, but first...".His expression softened."I want you to know that we're doing everything possible. We're tryin
Reed's point of view The bottle was halfway to my mouth when someone snatched it away. I didn't even have to look up to know who would dare."Are you participating in a drinking competition," my sister asked dryly, "or have you officially decided to become an alcoholic?"I reached for the bottle, but she pulled it farther away. "I think that's enough alcohol for today."I let out a tired breath and leaned back against the chair. "I don't want to talk.""That's unfortunate." She sat opposite me, crossed her legs and placed the bottle behind her."Because I'm not leaving."I closed my eyes."Please."My sister stayed silent, her eyes locked in me. The music from the party drifted faintly across the resort, mixing with the sound of waves crashing against the shore. She watched me for a long time before speaking again."You either tell me what's going on..." She paused deliberately. "...or I go and get Mum."I opened one eye, but said nothing. She sighed, then clapped her hands like she
Nova's point of view Reed finally released my hand after a second of sending blazers through my eyes. I folded my arms tightly across my chest, more to stop myself from shaking than anything else.His lips parted, closed, opened again. I watched his hands flex at his sides before falling uselessly.For once… this man didn't know what to say.A bitter smile found my lips. "See?" I said quietly. "You don't even know where to begin."I breathed in slowly. "Truth is, you don't have to explain anything."His eyes lifted immediately and I nodded, "you don't." I shrugged as though none of this mattered."As far as I know, we're not together.".I forced another smile. "We're not dating, nor are we a couple, we're just colleagues."Each sentence tasted like broken glass, but I forced myself to continue. "So why are you trying to explain yourself to me?"His jaw tightened. "I wasn't trying to..."My hands shot up, moving between his chest and mine, “Look, I shouldn't have seen what I saw," I cut
Nova's point of view “You really should be ashamed of yourself, Nova.” Margaret’s voice sliced through the air before I could even react to the pain on my cheek.“Sleeping outside your husband’s house and coming back looking like…” she paused, her lips curling in disgust, “this….a filthy trash!”T
Nova's point of view The door of his sitting room barely clicked shut before his mouth crashed down on mine, kissing, biting and nibbling on my lips. He kissed like he’d invented it. And I followed his lead like I had no choice in the matter. He dragged his mouth away from mine, swore as he turne
Nova's point of view I sat across from the doctor, barely hearing him. My fingers dug into the edge of the chair, my heartbeat loud enough to drown everything around me.“Mrs Nova? Are you listening to me?” The doctor’s calm voice sliced through the fog that clouded my brain.I shook my head, swal
Nova's point of view My fingers trembled slightly as I adjusted the lace that clung against my thighs. I held my breath, listening to the soft ticking of the clock echoing through the dim room. “Nova, you’ve got this,” I whispered to myself, pressing my palm against my chest trying to steady the







