Cole rushed into a stationery store, muttering apologies as he bumped past people. He grabbed a stack of notepads without even checking the price and practically shoved them onto the cashier’s counter.He handed over his card.The cashier stared at him like he’d lost his mind, reaching for a bag—but Cole snatched the notepads before she could pack them.He sprinted back to the car and sped off, barely stopping himself from earning a ticket.At home, Billy ran to him the moment the car pulled up, tail wagging excitedly. Cole didn’t even look at the dog—he dashed straight inside. Billy froze, confused. Cole never ignored him.“Cole, where have you been?” Amanda walked out, staring at the ridiculous amount of notepads in his arms. “Are you starting a business?”“Come here,” Cole said, dropping everything on the table. He grabbed one notepad and a pen.Amanda approached slowly, baffled.“Write your name here,” he said, f

By the time Cole returned with the handwritten notes, Dora and Bella were having lunch.The two stared at him in horror as he presented the notes.“What…” Dora’s voice trailed off.“I didn’t tell you to get these for me…” Bella said, tears streaming down her face. “Did I say you should do this?! Why would you even think of it?!”“I’m sorry. If you don’t want them, I can… I can just…” Cole swallowed hard.“Why do you keep doing things behind my back?” Bella snapped, her voice breaking. “Do you know how that makes me feel every time?”“It was my fault the house… ended up like that. This was the only thing I could do, right?” Cole asked quietly.“Just…” she broke down completely, collapsing into his chest. Her body trembled as she cried.“I’m sorry…” Cole muttered, patting her back gently.“Thank you,” Bella whispered as she pulled back. “I’m sorry for snapping at you before. I really am… it’s just…” Her t

Blake sat in the rented car, the engine ticking quietly, his fingers drumming against the steering wheel. He should have returned it minutes ago—or at least paid the overdue—but cash wasn’t an option, and walking around? Not with this heat in his chest.He kept his eyes fixed on the mansion he’d once called home. Unreal. His adopted brother—the one who was supposed to have his back—was now the one responsible for his father’s death. .Then he saw a familiar figure striding out from the gate. Alex. But the man beside him? Blake blinked. No, he wasn’t imagining this. Hunger, exhaustion, rage—they were colliding in his mind, but the sight didn’t lie.His chest tightened, pain stabbing deep. His uncle…laughing with the man who had killed his father. Blake’s fingers gripped the wheel like it could anchor him. The car’s ignition almost caught his impatience—he wanted to tail them, to watch, to explode—but a sudden ring froze him. Unknown number.He answered, heart hammering.“Blake,” his u

Everywhere Blake went, shadows seemed to follow him. Men in black appeared at every corner, their movements eerily synced with his own. Stop walking—they stopped. Move forward—they moved forward. He didn’t dare turn to confront them. Not knowing who they were—or if they were ghosts of his uncle’s making—kept his pulse racing.To make things worse, the car rental company had tracked him down and taken back the vehicle. They’d initially snapped at him for the overdue payment, but when he casually showed them his account balance, their anger melted into disbelief. A loser? Far worse. They left shaking their heads, pity mingled with contempt.Now, with no options left, Blake returned to his father’s compound. To see Alex. Maybe.He rang the doorbell. A flicker of movement behind him caught his eye—a man in black, silently watching.“Who the hell are you?” Blake barked, stepping forward. “I could call the cops—”Wosh!A sharp slap cracked across his face, blurring his vision. He gritted hi

“Of course Billy. You can swim,” Cole said without missing a beat. “Let’s assume I can’t swim,” she countered. “Can we also assume none of us can breathe?” Cole fired back. Amanda stared at him for a few seconds, trying to come up with a comeback. “You’re growing on me.” Cole smiled. He’d survived that night—at least. Around Amanda, your brain had to be one million percent active just to see the next day. **** 11:05 a.m. the next day, Cole was walking out of the court. Across the street, photographers, journalists, and everyone in the press had gathered to capture the event. Everyone wanted to know why Blake had murdered his uncle—and more than that, why he had framed Cole three years ago. But with Cole’s identity concealed, only a handful of people actually knew him. Cole had slipped out with Amanda as soon as the proceedings were over. Suddenly, Amanda left his side and walked up to a man nearby. “Excuse me, sir, can you take pictures of us?” she asked. The man nodded, a