Miray’s POV

The morning sunlight streamed through the large windows of the house, casting soft golden hues across the walls as I made my way down the hall toward the gym.

It had been weeks since I’d started therapy, and though the progress wasn’t instant, I could feel the difference. I was… lighter. It was a strange feeling—this sense of freedom I hadn’t realized I was missing.

I thought back to the early days of training with Maxim. Back then, I’d been hesitant, unsure of myself. But now, I felt stronger. The more I learned, the more I realized how capable I could be. My punches were sharper, my reflexes quicker, and for once, I felt like I had some control over my life.

The therapy sessions with Sophia had helped in ways I didn’t expect. I’d been able to talk about things that used to weigh me down, and now, I could see the world differently—less like something to survive and more like something I could enjoy.

I smiled faintly to myself as I opened the door to the gym.

Inside, Maxim and Grey were already waiting for me. Maxim leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, his sharp eyes watching me as I entered. Angelo stood near the center of the room, his tall frame imposing as always, his captivating green eyes flickering to mine the moment I stepped in.

“Good morning” 

“Morning,” Maxim replied with a nod, his tone brisk but not unkind.

Angelo’s gaze lingered on me a moment longer before he echoed, “Morning.”

Our eyes met briefly, and my heart did that stupid fluttering thing again. There was something in his expression—calm, steady, and unreadable—that made it impossible to look away. I forced myself to break the contact, my cheeks heating slightly.

Maxim didn’t seem to notice, thank God.

“Ready?” Maxim asked, pushing off the wall.

I nodded, dropping my water bottle on the bench and tightening the bandages around my knuckles. “Let’s do this.”

“Alright,” Maxim said, stepping into the center of the mat. “Today, we’re testing the basics. Show me what you’ve got.”

He gestured for me to take my stance. I squared my shoulders, planting my feet firmly as I raised my fists. Maxim circled me slowly, his sharp eyes assessing every inch of my form.

“Good,” he said after a moment. “Throw a jab.”

I snapped my fist forward, the sound of the punch slicing through the air. Maxim caught it on his palm pad, his expression neutral.

“Faster,” he said.

I threw another, faster this time, and then a third when he nodded in approval.

“Not bad,” he said, stepping back. “Now let’s see how you block.”

Angelo moved in then, his presence a stark contrast to Maxim’s more casual demeanor. He didn’t speak right away, just motioned for me to position myself.

“Hands up,” he said finally, his voice low and calm. “Higher.”

I adjusted, and he nodded faintly, stepping closer.

“I’m going to throw a punch,” he said. “Block it.”

I barely had time to nod before he moved. His punch wasn’t hard, but it was fast, and I brought my arm up just in time to block it.

“Again,” he said.

This time, he threw a series of punches—left, right, left—and I blocked each one, though not without effort.

“Good,” Angelo said, his tone softer now. His gaze lingered on me again, just for a moment, before he stepped back.

“You’re improving,” Maxim said, breaking the silence as he clapped me lightly on the shoulder. “Keep it up.”

I blinked, surprised by the rare show of praise. “Thanks,” I said, smiling despite myself.

“Don’t get cocky,” Maxim added, though there was a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

“I wouldn’t dare,” I shot back, earning a chuckle from him.

“Alright, rookie,” Maxim said, gesturing toward the bag. “Let’s see that footwork.”

I groaned, adjusting the wraps on my hands. “Why do you still call me rookie? I’m past the beginner phase.”

Maxim smirked. “Because you still have a lot to learn. Besides, you’re not as good as me yet, so rookie it is.”

“Wow,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Modest as always, I see.”

“Someone has to keep you grounded,” Maxim replied, his tone teasing but firm.

Before I could fire back, Angelo chimed in from his spot by the wall. “She’s more princess than rookie, anyway.”

My head whipped toward him, narrowing my eyes. “I am not a princess.”

Grey’s lips twitched into the faintest smirk. “Sure you’re not.”

I huffed, crossing my arms. “If you’re going to criticize me, at least get in the ring and prove you’re better.”

Angelo pushed off the wall, his steps slow and deliberate as he walked toward me. “Careful, principessa,” he said, his voice low. “You don’t want to start something you can’t finish.”

The heat in his tone made my stomach flip, but I stood my ground. “Oh, I’ll finish it.”

Maxim, standing nearby, raised an eyebrow. “Alright, you two. Save the drama for later. We’ve got work to do.”

As we moved on to more advanced techniques, the sound of the door opening drew our attention. Elijah stepped inside, his expression curious as he surveyed the scene.

“Looks like I missed the fun,” he said, his voice warm and teasing.

“You’re just in time for the grand finale,” Maxim replied, motioning toward me. “She’s been holding her own.”

Elijah raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting to me. “Is that so?”

I grinned. “You could say that.”

“Good,” he said, his tone softening. “I’m proud of you.”

His words made my chest tighten slightly, but I nodded, not wanting to make a big deal out of it.

After the session, I grabbed my water bottle and towel, wiping the sweat from my face. As I headed back upstairs, I paused by the window and froze.

There it was again.

The black car.

 My stomach twisted as I watched it idle for a moment. I'll tell someone today...

But every time I tried, something got in the way. Lorenzo had already left for the office, muttering about meetings as he rushed out the door. Ethan was running late for school, barely sparing me a glance as he grabbed his bag and yelled something about a quiz. Elijah, who was usually the easiest to find, seemed to have vanished entirely this morning.

That left Maxim, but when I knocked on his door, the sound of running water told me he was in the shower. I hesitated, debating whether to wait for him.

“Miray,” Angelo’s voice interrupted my thoughts, calm but firm. “You’re late.”

I turned to see him standing at the end of the hall, his green eyes steady as they locked onto mine. For a brief moment, I considered telling him instead. But then I swallowed the thought, the weight of his gaze making me hesitate.

“Coming,” I said quickly, forcing my unease down as I followed him toward the day ahead.

---

The cafeteria buzzed with the familiar hum of voices and the clatter of trays. I sat between Evelyn and Jayden at our usual table near the windows, where sunlight spilled across the worn wooden surface.

“So, you’re telling me you actually fell asleep during the test?” Jayden asked Evelyn, his tone incredulous as he leaned back in his chair.

Evelyn groaned, dropping her head into her hands. “I told you, it was boring! Who cares about the Pythagorean theorem?”

Jayden laughed, shaking his head. “You’re unbelievable. Miray, back me up here. Isn’t that the easiest thing ever?”

I looked up from my sandwich, smiling. “It’s not that hard.”

Evelyn shot me a betrayed look, but the corners of her mouth twitched upward. “Wow. So now you’re against me too? Fine. I’ll just fail in peace.”

Jayden snorted. “You’ve already made peace with failure, clearly.”

As they bickered back and forth, I tried to focus on their banter, but a faint unease settled over me. It wasn’t anything obvious—just that subtle, nagging feeling in the back of my mind. My fingers tightened slightly on the edge of the table, and before I could stop myself, the words slipped out.

“Guys,” I said hesitantly, interrupting them.

They both turned to me, the teasing falling away as they noticed my tone.

“Yeah?” Evelyn asked, tilting her head.

Jayden leaned forward slightly, his brow furrowing. “What’s up?”

I hesitated, my heart picking up speed. “Can I tell you something?”

“Of course, Miray,” Evelyn said, her tone soft and encouraging. She exchanged a quick glance with Jayden, who nodded subtly, his focus shifting entirely to me.

I swallowed hard, the words tangled in my throat. “It’s probably nothing, but… I’ve been seeing this car. A black car. Parked near my house. Not just once—more than that.”

Evelyn leaned forward slightly, her brows knitting together. “What do you mean? Like, every day?”

“Not every day,” I said quickly, shaking my head. “But enough to notice. And last night, I saw it again. It was just… sitting there, down the street. And the moment I noticed it, it drove off.”

Jayden rubbed the back of his neck, glancing at Evelyn before looking back at me. “I get why that’s creepy, but maybe it’s just a coincidence? Like, someone’s parking there for work or something?”

Evelyn shot him a pointed look. “Jay, what if she’s right? What if someone’s stalking her?”

The word stalking sent a shiver down my spine.

“I don’t know,” I murmured, twisting my fingers in my lap. “It might be nothing. But… it feels off, you know? Like someone’s watching me.”

Jayden exhaled, his face softening as he leaned closer. “Miray, I get it. I’d probably feel the same way if I were you. But you need to tell your brothers. They’d want to know about this.”

“I tried,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “This morning, I tried to talk to all of them, but something kept coming up. Lorenzo left for work, Ethan rushed out for school, Max was in the shower… and Grey…” I trailed off, my cheeks warming at the thought of him. “I just… couldn’t.”

Evelyn frowned, her hand reaching out to cover mine. “You have to try again. You can’t keep this to yourself, Miray. If something’s wrong, they need to know.”

“I will,” I said quickly, forcing a small smile. “I’ll try again tonight.”

      Third Person's Pov

The night was still, the faint sound of distant traffic a soft hum in the background. The moon cast a silvery glow across the house, illuminating the figure standing on the porch.

Miray stood there, her head tilted toward the sky, her arms loosely crossed across her chest. Her hair swayed gently in the wind, catching the moonlight like threads of silk. Her expression was distant, as though she was trying to piece together something just out of reach.

Greyson pulled into the driveway, his car cutting through the quiet with a low rumble. He stepped out, the click of his shoes breaking the stillness. The faint tension in his shoulders eased the moment he saw her.

She looked so… still. Like she belonged to the night itself. Her face, framed by strands of loose hair, looked ethereal under the silver glow of the moon. For a moment, he couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. Beautiful didn’t even begin to describe her.

Miray noticed him, her lips curving into a faint, shy smile. “Hi.”

He stepped closer, his tall frame casting a long shadow over her. “You should be inside,” he said, his voice low.

Her gaze flickered away, back to the stars. “I didn’t feel like being inside.”

Grey studied her in silence, the way her jaw tightened slightly, the tension in her posture. He didn’t press her, but his presence alone was enough to pull her attention back to him.

Their eyes met again, and for a moment, the world seemed to narrow. 

He leaned forward, his intent searing, and Miray’s gaze faltered, her voice barely steady as she whispered, “This… this isn’t right.”

Grey’s brow furrowed slightly. “What isn’t?”

“This,” she said, motioning faintly between them. Her voice was shaky, almost uncertain. “We shouldn’t… be this close. It’s not right.”

Grey’s jaw tightened, his expression unreadable. “Why not?”

She took a shaky breath, her voice soft but firm. "Maxim..........… I can’t hurt him.”

For a second, something flickered in Grey’s gaze—something raw and unguarded. But just as quickly, his mask returned. He nodded faintly, his voice calm. “I know.”

Miray blinked, surprised at his agreement.

“But he’ll understand,” Grey added, his tone sharper now, edged with certainty.

Her chest tightened at his words, the weight of their meaning pressing down on her. “Angelo.…”

He stepped closer as he tilted his head slightly, his green eyes piercing. “Let me ask you something,” he said, his voice dropping slightly.

“Will you be able to stay away from me?”

There was a hint of something raw in his tone—something she wasn’t used to hearing from him. Vulnerability.

Miray opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. She felt her resolve crumbling under the weight of his gaze.

Grey exhaled, his expression hardening again. “Come on,” he said, reaching for her hand. “Let’s go for a walk.”