Chapter 10 This was the last thing I expected. I couldn’t wrap my head around it—that woman who always seemed so polished and elegant could have such a nasty, manipulative side. “How do you even know all this?” I asked, still trying to process everything. Noah leaned forward, his expression serious. “When I was going … Read more
Chapter 9 But he’d been gone for a year now. I stood there, not just for myself, but for everyone who had poured their hearts into this research. This wasn’t my honor alone. It belonged to every single one of them. God, I wanted to read out all their names. Every last one. Even though … Read more
Chapter 8 Michael found no solace in the dean’s attempt to comfort him. The emptiness inside him only deepened. When he got home, piano music drifted through the house. He paused in the entryway, listening as Noah practiced under Sabrina’s guidance. Their voices were light, filled with laughter, the warmth that once might have comforted … Read more
Chapter 7 “I don’t know what’s going on between you and Eliza,” Michael’s mother said, unusually calm. “And I’m not sure where things stand with Sabrina. But I think it’s safe to say Eliza has given up on you.” Michael froze mid–step and turned to look at her, his brows furrowed. “What are you talking … Read more
Chapter 6 Five days after I left them, Sabrina made her move. This time, she didn’t bother with subtlety. She confessed to Michael again, her tone more forceful, almost desperate. She clarified that she’d leave if he couldn’t give her a definitive answer about their future. She wouldn’t stick around as a mere accessory in … Read more
Chapter 5 Noah jumped up from his chair when he heard Sabrina mention decorating. “Aunt Sabby, let me help! I’m good at decorating,” he said eagerly, trailing her into the kitchen. I sat there watching them, my hands resting idly in my lap. They looked so happy, so in sync. It was like I wasn’t … Read more
Chapter 4 Sabrina had taught Noah well. For someone so young, he already carried himself with an ambition that felt far beyond his years. It was hard not to notice how much he resembled Michael–not just in his features, but in how he carried himself. The aloofness. The quiet arrogance. That unshakable confidence. And honestly, … Read more
Chapter 3 “I do!” The words had come out naturally back then, full of hope and excitement. But looking back now, no matter how much I had molded myself to be everything Michael could ever want, I could never hold a candle to the fiery, untamed love he shared with his first love. No amount … Read more
Chapter 2 When I walked into the house, I first noticed the warm laughter from the kitchen. It wasn’t the usual hum of dinner prep but something lively, something… intimate. I hesitated, my hand still on the door, before stepping inside. Sabrina was busy sorting vegetables, her laughter light and musical, while Michael, ever the … Read more
Chapter 1 At the school piano recital, my son’s performance stole the show. As the applause filled the room, his teacher leaned into the microphone and smiled warmly. “Noah, why don’t you call your parents for a picture?” Noah’s face lit up as he waved energetically toward the crowd. “Aunt Sabby! Dad! Come on, hurry … Read more