Valerie's POV

I stood there, rooted in place, a deep chill seeping into my limbs as her disapproving gaze pierced through me. My mouth opened, but no words came out—nothing I said would make a difference anyway.

Max moved before I could, stepping forward with a calmness I couldn't find in myself. His arm slipped from around my waist, and he extended a hand toward her, his voice steady and sincere. "My name is Max," he began, his tone polite, even warm, though I could see the tension lining his jaw.

Her eyes didn't move from his face, studying him like she was searching for every flaw, every reason he didn't belong here.

"I understand this might not seem like the ideal situation," Max continued, glancing briefly at me before meeting her sharp gaze again, "But I can assure you that Valerie means the world to me. I would never hurt her in any way," he added, his words genuine, I felt them but I was sure she wouldn't.

Her eyes fell to his outstretched hand, and then she scoffed—a harsh, dismissive sound that made my stomach knot. She crossed her arms, letting out a long, deliberate sigh as if trying to keep her anger in check. Max dropped his hand slowly, realizing her civility wasn't forthcoming.

Her eyes snapped back to me, their fire making my heart pound, "I've had a long, exhausting week, Valerie," she said, her voice heavy with accusation, "I should've known you'd find a way to ruin the one day I had to rest."

I bit the inside of my cheek, forcing myself not to respond. Engaging her now would only make things worse. I just wanted this to end—wanted to leave before everything spiraled even further out of control.

Max must have sensed my unease because his hand found mine, his fingers curling around my wrist. I stared down at his hand, "Let's go," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

He turned to me, his gaze soft, questioning if I really meant it. When I nodded, he didn't hesitate. His hand slipped into mine, his grip comforting as he started to pull me toward the door.

But she was fast. She stepped in front of us, preventing our departure, "You're not going anywhere," she hissed, her gaze cutting into me before snapping to Max. "But you—get out of my house. Now. And don't you dare show up here again unless you want me to call the cops."

Max's brows furrowed slightly, but he didn't lose his composure. "I think we've started off on the wrong foot," he said, his tone even, respectful. "If we could just talk—"

Her eyebrow raised at his words before she let out a low, mocking chuckle. She ran her hand through her hair, turning her gaze to me. "Seriously, Valerie, where do you find them?" she mocked again.

My hand tightened over Max's, my voice lost somewhere, and I pulled him along, needing to leave here or this wouldn't end well. But she was persistent this time. Usually, she never cared if I returned home, but now, she was stubbornly declining this.

Her hand shot out, pressing hard against Max's chest to stop him. "I said, she's not going anywhere—" she snapped, her voice trembling angrily. But then her gaze fell to where her hand was pressed, to the sweatshirt he was wearing, and she froze.

Her hand lingered there, her fingers curling slightly as recognition dawned. Her eyes widened, darting between me and the fabric under her palm. "This is..." she whispered, her voice faltering. "These are your father's clothes."

The room seemed to hold its breath for a moment before her expression shifted. Shock turned to something darker, something burning and wild. In an instant, she shoved past Max, her hand latching onto my arm with a bruising grip.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Valerie?!" she shouted, her voice cracking with fury. Her nails dug into my skin, twisting and pulling like she wanted to tear me apart from the inside out.

"Have you lost your goddamn mind—" she barked, shaking me for emphasis. Pain flared where her fingers bit into my flesh, but I barely had time to flinch before a sudden pull yanked me away from her grasp.

Max stepped between us, his usual calm splintering under the weight of his anger, "You don't get to touch her like that," he grated, his voice low and seething, his entire body taut with restrained fury.

Her glare darkened; the fire in her eyes roaring. She shook her head, disbelief turning her fury sharper. "She's my daughter. Don't you interfere—"

"I won't," Max interrupted, his tone like ice, "if you actually acted like a mother."

The words hit her like a slap, reverberating through the air. I placed a hand on his arm, my fingers trembling. "Max," I whispered, the plea clear in my voice. I couldn't let this escalate further—not now, not like this.

His gaze snapped to mine, the fire dimming just enough for me to see the confusion and frustration swirling in his eyes. I shook my head, silently asking him to stop, to let this go. He sucked in a harsh breath, his jaw clenching as he forced himself into silence—for my sake.

Her eyes shifted back to me, her fury coiling tighter like a serpent ready to strike, "You know what?" she said, her voice lowering, more dangerous for its steadiness. She stepped closer, each movement deliberate, her eyes burning into mine, "Do whatever the hell you want. It's not like I have anything left to lose."

I knew exactly what she meant—there was nothing left for her to lose because I had taken everything already.

She brushed past me, her shoulder grazing mine as she walked away. Each step of hers up the stairs echoed louder in my head than it did in the house, and when the slam of her door reverberated through the walls, it felt like something inside me shattered.

I stared down at the carpet beneath my feet, its dull pattern blurring as my vision clouded with unshed tears. This day, once beautiful with stolen moments of peace, was ruined—again.

Max's gentle fingers over my cheek pulled me back from my thoughts. He tilted my head up, forcing me to look him in the eyes, ready to search for me in there and pull me back. I let out a low sigh, trying to breathe without it aching but that was nearly impossible.

I could see Reneé in my peripheral vision, aware of how she witnessed the little outburst. I hated how she always went through this, she deserved a normal family, a mother and a father, but I took that away from her, alongside so many other things.

"Can I stay with you tonight?" I asked, my voice a whisper, barely there. He nodded his head without any hesitation, "You can stay with me every night," he assured.

"Just give me a minute to grab a few things?" I said and he nodded his head. I looked at Reneé whose earlier bubbly energy had dimmed down, staring at me with a heartbroken gaze. Max leaned closer and pressed a soft kiss to my temple, "I'll take with her," He whispered only for me to hear.

I looked at him and nodded my head, "Thank you."

I turned toward the stairs, my legs heavy as I moved. Reaching my room, I grabbed a bag and started tossing in essentials—a change of clothes, my toothbrush, my notebook and laptop, and anything I could think of in my dazed state. But as I zipped the bag, my gaze drifted to the door. My mother's words echoed in my head, her anger entwined with hurt and something far deeper.

I hesitated, my fingers tightening around the strap of the bag. My feet carried me down the hall before I could stop myself, pausing just outside her door. My hand hovered over the handle, uncertainty coursing through me. A thousand thoughts swirled—doubts, fears, guilt. What would I even say? Would it make a difference?

The bag slipped from my shoulder, the soft thud as it hit the floor feeling far louder than it was. Taking a deep breath that felt more like a battle cry, I pushed the door open.

The room was dim, the only light coming from the bedside lamp. She sat on the edge of the bed, her shoulders slumped, her face buried in her hands. The anger was gone now, replaced by something quieter but no less devastating.

I stepped closer, my gaze landing on the familiar bottle of pills on the nightstand. The cap was loose, left ajar in a careless hurry, silent proof of her desperation to numb the pain. My stomach twisted as I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat burning like fire.

"Mom?" I whispered, my voice barely audible over the silence.

Her head lifted, and for a moment, she just stared at me, her eyes red-rimmed and glassy. God, I loved her. I loved her more than words could ever express, and that love cut deeper than any wound. She was all I had left, the only parent I had and it killed me to see her like this, it killed me to know that she hated me so much.

I moved closer, unable to keep standing when my legs felt so unsteady. I crouched in front of her, my tear-filled eyes searching her face for some glimmer of the woman I had always known.

"Can we talk?" I asked, my voice soft and pleading. "Please? We haven't talked—really talked—in almost a year."

Hesitantly, I placed my hand on her thigh, the gesture trembling with the fear that she might shove me away. But she didn't. Her body stayed still, her eyes locked on mine, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I thought she would really talk.

I waited, holding my breath as though exhaling might shatter this moment.

"I can't do this, Valerie," She whispered, more like an admission. She shook her head, "I can't, I can't keep doing this every day," She shook her head again, "Every morning, I wake up and he's not here, and every day, it feels like I'm losing him all over again. I can't do it. I can't...keep going like this."

"I know that I have to be a mother to you and Renee, but I can't, I just can't, I can't do anything without him, it's not working, nothing is working," She whispered, a few tears scrolling down, carving silent trails down her cheeks, triggering my own, "He was there for me, always there since I was only sixteen years old, he was always there, I can never get used to a life without him, I just can't," She shook her head, "And I don't want to."

I sucked into a stuttering breath, "But he would've wanted you to move on," I whispered.

She shook her head, "I can't," Her breath hitched, a sharp, uneven sound that tore at my heart, "I can't, I just can't."

"Mom, please," I whispered, feeling like I might just lose her too, "We need you, and together, we can...we can get through this, I promise, Dad would've wanted that for us, please."

She shook her head, her devastated eyes on me only, "No, Valerie," She whispered, "You should've not done it, I told you they're strong people, we didn't stand a chance against them, but you insisted on the lawsuit."

I froze, my heart lurching. It wasn't me who insisted. Dad did. He told me David wouldn't get away with hurting me, that he would do everything in his power to avenge my pain. But she'd been against it from the start.

"I told you we could leave, go far away, learn how to live with it, but you had to fight back," She added, as if fighting back was a sin I should've never committed.

"You made me lose him, Valerie," She said, cracking my heart, and her next words sliced through me like a blade, leaving me raw and bleeding, "And I won't ever forgive you for that."

The room spun as her words sank in, cracking something deep within me. Up until this moment, I'd held onto the faint hope that maybe her anger was a shield for her pain, a defense mechanism. But now I knew the truth—she really hated me.

"Do you think that I don't come home just because your father is not here," She added, her low fragile voice a contrast to her sharp words, "I stay away because I can't handle looking at your face," She said, shaking her head, "I can't wait for you to graduate and leave so I'll never have to see you again."

My hand slipped from her leg, falling uselessly to my side as tears blurred my vision. The weight of her words pressed down on me, crushing my chest until it felt like I couldn't breathe.

"Okay," I whispered, the word barely audible, my voice hollow. I got up on trembling feet, and turned away from her, each step heavy as I left the room.

The hallway felt colder, and emptier. I stood there for a moment, wiping at my tears with trembling hands, trying to pull myself together. My breaths came unevenly, each one a fight to keep from crumbling entirely. I didn't have the luxury to keep breaking down.

When I finally made it downstairs, I found Max and Renee sitting together. Renee's bubbly energy was dimmed, her little face etched with concern as she listened to Max speak softly to her.

I crossed the room quietly, my sister's eyes flickered to me as I sank to my knees in front of her and pulled her tightly into my arms. She hugged me back immediately, her arms wrapping tightly around my neck. I buried my face in her hair, letting the scent of her shampoo calm the storm inside me.

"I am so sorry," I whispered into her neck.

"You didn't do anything," She whispered back, never for once blaming me for everything she lost.

I sniffled and pulled back, holding her face in my hands, "Is it okay if I go," I whispered and she nodded, "Yeah, yeah, you know she never shouts at me or anything," She added. That was true, her sharp words were only reserved for me.

"I will order you food here, eat it and do your homework and sleep early, okay," I said as I tucked her hair behind her ear.

She smiled softly and nodded her head, "Okay."

"I'll come back when she leaves for work again," I assured her.

"Okay, take care of yourself," She said, making sure I was okay too. I smiled and leaned in to peck her cheek before I stood up.

Max grabbed my bag without a word, slinging it over his shoulder before bidding Renee a quiet goodbye. We stepped outside into the crisp night air, and he walked me to the car. He tossed my bag into the backseat, then rounded the car to open the door for me. I was about to climb in when his hand caught my arm, gently drawing me back.

I turned to face him, my misty eyes meeting his steady gaze. His concerned eyes searched mine as though trying to find the cracks he could mend. I tried to give him a small, somber smile, but it faltered halfway. Instead of comforting him, it seemed to break something in his expression, his brows pulling together in quiet anguish.

Without a word, he pulled me into his arms, wrapping me in his soothing embrace. His warmth surrounded me, grounding me when everything inside me threatened to fall apart.

I let my eyes close, my arms sliding around his back as I pressed myself into his hold. I focused on the steady rhythm of his breathing, or else I would drawn into my guilt.

She was right from the very start, if I only didn't fight back, he'd be here now.

Max shifted slightly, his lips brushing a soft kiss to my temple. "Did you talk to her?" he asked.

I nodded my head, "Yeah."

His arms loosened as he pulled back just enough to look at me, his brows furrowing in concern. "And?"

I shook my head, "Let's not talk about it now," I murmured.

"Yeah, sure," he said in understatement, urging me to get in before he joined me and we took off.

When we reached his place, he unlocked the door, his hand tight around mine as he pulled me into the house. The lights in the hallway were dim, and faint sounds—muted voices, the buzz of a TV—drifted from the living room. I followed Max, expecting to see his parents innocently curled up on the couch, maybe sharing a bowl of popcorn and watching a late-night show.

But as we turned the corner, my eyes widened, and I came to such an abrupt halt that I collided into Max's back. He stumbled slightly, letting out a sharp huff as he caught himself.

Max flicked on the light switch, and the scene before us snapped into clarity, "Oh, for crying out loud," he groaned, his tone laced with exasperation. "Seriously, you two?"

There, on the couch, were his parents—very much not innocently watching TV. His dad's shirt was halfway unbuttoned, and his mom's hair was a mess, both of them frozen mid-make-out session like teenagers caught red-handed.

Max's dad turned his head toward us, looking thoroughly unimpressed by the interruption, while his mom immediately straightened up, frantically fumbling to button her blouse.

"I waited years—years—for you and your sister to grow up and stop interrupting me," his dad grumbled, shooting Max a pointed glare. "So why the hell are you interrupting me still?"

I blinked, my face flaming, unable to process the surreal casualness of the conversation. This is happening. This is actually happening.

Max crossed his arms, leaning against the wall with the air of someone who had been through this ordeal far too many times, "You have a bedroom," he deadpanned. "Use it. Then no one will interrupt you."

His dad scoffed, sitting up straighter but not bothering to fix his shirt. "Oh, sure, like it's that simple. Do you have any idea how many sacrifices I've made for you two kids?" He began ticking off fingers. "I gave up my kitchen fantasies, my balcony fantasies, my couch and living room fantasies—all because of you kids. And now you're grown up, doing your own stuff, so why can't I reclaim some of my spaces?"

Oh dear lord...

Max's mom groaned, slapping her husband's arm. "Alex, stop talking," she hissed, her face somewhere between mortified and resigned, aware that I was begging the ground to open up and suck me down.

His father's eyes flickered to me and his frown melted away. He smiled, a genuine innocent happy smile, "Hey, Valerie," He said, ever so sweetly, as if I hadn't just caught him ready to have sex.

Max is really his son. There are no doubts there.

I raised my hand in a shy wave. I forced a shaky smile, my cheeks blazing, "Hi," I squeaked out. I swallowed hard, "Sorry to...intrude," I mumbled.

He shook his head, "Oh it's nothing, but how about you take my boy to his room, busy him a little so I can resume this," his words got interrupted as his wife slapped the back of his head, shushing him, "You ain't resuming a thing!"

Rubbing the back of his head, Alex turned his glare to Max. "I hope you're happy," he grumbled.

Max smiled, "Oh, I am," he said smoothly, his arm sliding around my waist. With a gentle tug, he guided me away from the battlefield. "Goodnight, Mom. Dad," he called over his shoulder as we headed for the stairs.

Max's mom gave me a sheepish wave, her smile strained but kind. I returned it awkwardly, fighting the urge to bolt out of here as Max hurried me to his room.

The door clicked shut behind us, and Max leaned against it with a sigh, running a hand through his hair.

"Your parents..." I trailed off, my face still burning. "They're...something else."

Max snorted, kicking off his shoes and tossing my bag onto a chair. "Oh yeah," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm, "They're one of a kind. And you better get used to it because you're in for a lifetime of them," He added, "And believe me, they'll never change."

I swallowed hard the lifetime part of his words, my heart nearly skipped a beat and I tried my best not to think too deeply about that.

"Anyway," Max said, and I saw that familiar devil climb up into his eyes, sparkling as he approached me, "Since even those old gals are getting into it," He paused when he was a breath away from me, his hands not so innocently rested over my hips, "Why don't we celebrate our youth and have some fun too?"

My eyes widened, "Are you serious?" I hissed at him, incredulous.

He nodded, "Yeah," He said, ever so casually, "Why not?"

"Why not?" I spluttered, heat rushing to my cheeks. "Max, we just caught your parents ready to—" I dropped my voice to a mortified whisper. "Have sex."

"Yeah, so?"

I faceplamed, "God, you're sick."

He nodded, "Yeah, but you love me anyway," he said, his lips twitching into a smile at the mere thought of it.

I pretended to be cool, and I rolled my eyes at him, "unfortunately."

He chuckled lowly, sending warmth curling through me as he tugged me closer. His lips met mine, kissing me so softly, achingly slow, like he was savoring the moment and me.

"Valerie," he murmured against my lips.

"Yeah?" I whispered back.

One of his hands slid to the back of my neck, his fingers tangling in my hair as he pulled back just enough to meet my eyes. His expression shifted—still playful but now tinged with something deeper, something vulnerable. "I'm going to say something," he began, his voice low and steady, "but don't freak out. And no running for the hills, okay?"

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding, "Okay."

His thumb brushed the edge of my jaw, "I see us like that one day," he said and I knew he was referencing his parents but I played dumb, "Like what?"

"Old and together, still full of life, and still crazy about each other," He said, his lips curling into a heart-melting smile, "Trying to have sex and sneak in some fun before our kids interrupt us," He added.

This time, my heart didn't skip a beat—it outright stumbled.

I wasn't sure if I wanted to melt into his arms or smack him for making my heart feel so full it hurt.

"I mean it, Valerie. I want that with you. Someday. A whole lifetime of us."

A whole lifetime of us.

Why didn't that sound so bad anymore?

•────•°•❀•°•────•

One Month Later...

Life has been hectic lately. Between classes and exams, juggling two part-time jobs, taking care of Reneé's needs, and maintaining some semblance of order in the house since Mom decided our fight was a good excuse to go poof—let's just say I've been busy.

Oh, and how could I forget the cherry on top of my never-ending to-do list? Having a boyfriend. Scratch that. Having Max as my boyfriend.

Yeah, that's right. Max, with his heart-melting smile, dark green eyes, maddeningly perfect hair, and ability to turn my organized chaos into...well, slightly less chaotic chaos.

But yeah, who am I kidding, he's the best part too. The best part of my day. Scratch that, my life.

He makes all the insanity bearable. When I come back late, practically crawling through the door, he's there—arms wide open, ready for me to collapse into them. And let me tell you, those arms are like magic. One hug and it's like the weight of the world suddenly feels manageable.

As for my hard courses, he makes time every day—every single day—to sit with me, whether it's helping me catch up on classes I've missed or keeping me awake during the ones I'm too tired to understand.

And it's not just the big things. It's the little things too. Like how he always remembers to bring me a protein bar during classes because I'd be starving from lack of food, or how he'd drop by the shop mid-day to hand me a chicken bowl during my shifts, or how he sneaks sticky notes with cheesy little messages into my textbooks: "Ace this exam so you can marry me and support us both."

He's annoying. He's ridiculous. He's—dare I say it?—perfect.

He is just...he is just my everything nowadays, and it's scary, so damn scary.

I have no clue how I would've kept surviving my hectic life if I didn't have him.

My thoughts took a halt when I caught sight of Leo.

"Hey, Leo," I said, ever so cheerfully, a bright smile plastered on my face as I  came to an abrupt stop in front of him,  forcing him to halt mid-step. He blinked down at me, his expression betraying the faintest flicker of exasperation. Poor guy.

He is always there, always around like my very own shadow yet I never catch him and on the times that I do, I make sure I say hey. I make sure to pester him, because what else am I supposed to do? Let him be quiet and mysterious in peace? Absolutely not.

His lips twitched into what I've come to call the pre-annoyed curl. It's his signature move when he knows I'm about to talk his ear off. He sighed faintly but didn't protest.

"What's up?" I asked as we started walking side by side toward the coffee shop.

He nodded his head, "Good," Good, fine, okay, are the only set of words I hear from him. Someone better teach this poor man some English.

"So, aren't you bored of me yet," I asked with a teasing smile, side-eyeing him as we walked, very much sure that he was so done with me, "You know, I can talk you up with Max, and he can speak to Nikolas and they can transfer you to someone with a more interesting life, you know," I suggested. I bet he's so tired of my boring life.

Although, I am quite sure, David hasn't attacked me yet because he was aware I have protection. So, yeah, I was so very grateful.

Leo glanced at me briefly, his face impassive as ever. "I'm fine where I am," he said.

My smile widened and I paused by the shop's entrance, "You might not act like it," I said, "But I know that deep down you kind of like me," I added, pointing at his impenetrable chest.

I could swear his lips twitched, ready to smile. See, improvement. He loves me.

He just nodded his head and my grin widened, "I'll get you coffee, don't go anywhere," I said, my hand on the door and ready to get in.

"I am not going anywhere," He said, as a matter of fact. Wow, his vocabulary is improving I see. Maybe soon we'll graduate to full conversations. A girl can dream.

I flashed him one last smile before heading inside. As I stepped through the door, a voice called out my name. I turned to find Cole standing by a table, waving me over, "Valerie, come here."

But my gaze barely lingered on him because next to him was Max. His eyes caught mine, and just like that, my heart did that thing. You know, the one where it skips a beat, and suddenly you feel like you're in a cheesy rom-com. He smiled and I couldn't help but smile back. Raising a finger, I silently asked for a minute and headed behind the counter to grab something for Leo.

"Who's that for?" Aubrey asked, her eyes assessing every movement I made.

"Americano, huh," She commented, her lips pressing into a thin line, "Is this for Leo?" she asked, identifying his signature drink, her eyes flickering to the door, squinting as she tried to spot him.

I gave her a knowing look and she snatched the cartoon cup just as I was closing the cap, "I'll give it to him, you go and see your boyfriend," She said ever so excitedly before she fixed her hair and practically skipped toward the door.

I shook my head at her blatant crush, it was honestly adorable. I made my way to Max and Cole. Sliding into the spot next to Max, I may or may not have squeezed myself in just a little too closely. But who's complaining? Certainly not Max, whose arm slipped effortlessly around my shoulders as he pressed a kiss to my lips.

Cole groaned, "Am I going to witness this every fucking time?" He asked, flashing me a very disturbed glare as I pulled back.

I shot him an innocent look, melting further into Max's hold, the ache of my day dissolved completely into his warmth, "What can I say? Some of us just have thriving love lives," I quipped. Max chuckled, our day wouldn't be whole if we didn't tease Cole every now and then.

He rolled his eyes, giving us a very unbothered look, his eyes flickering to the door, trying to spot someone. His whole body stiffened, and he sighed so loudly it could've rivaled a windstorm.

I followed his gaze to see Aubrey standing outside with Leo, practically glowing as she chatted him up, while Leo maintained his usual stoic I'd rather be anywhere else expression.

The door opened, the little bells rang, and, "Oh, here we go," Cole muttered, addressing our new customer. Tanya strutted in, her heels clicking sharply against the floor and echoing through the mostly empty coffee shop. Her gaze swept the room, likely searching for someone to cater to her, but Aubrey was busy flirting, and I was far too tired to move.

"Oh, Tanya," I called, waving her over.

"Seriously?" Cole hissed under his breath, slamming his laptop shut.

Tanya approached us, she dropped her designer bag on the table—right on top of Cole's laptop. His jaw visibly clenched as he shot her a hard glare.

"Hey, Val," she greeted me sweetly, flashing me a smile as she ignored Cole entirely and plopped down on the only open chair—right next to him. "I was hoping to grab some herbal tea. Is no one working around here?"

"I'll get it for you in a bit," I said, stifling a yawn as I slouched back into Max. My body was practically begging to meld with him permanently, "Just give me five minutes."

Max didn't mind me using him as my cushion, he kept playing with my hair, "Will you stay with me tonight," He whispered only for me to hear, and dropped a kiss to my hair.

I tilted my head up and nodded my head. On the rare days she dropped by home, I made sure I wasn't there. Max's smile widened and he kept playing with my hair. I was too tired to stop him.

"Herbal tea?" Cole scoffed, leaning back in his chair with a look of exaggerated pity, "Wow, Barbie. Didn't realize you turned sixty overnight. Should I grab you a crossword puzzle and a heating pad while I'm at it?"

Tanya's jaw dropped, she turned to him, finally acknowledging him and she narrowed her eyes, "Excuse me?" She shot back, "Tea is sophisticated. Not that I'd expect someone like you to understand."

Cole chuckled, "Yeah, it's sophisticated, alright," he said, "Nothing screams young and vibrant like sipping boiled leaves and reminiscing about the good old days when gas was a nickel."

Tanya crossed her arms, her neck turning red, fuming and getting triggered by the mere presence of Cole, "At least I'm not mainlining espresso like I'm trying to outrun my mid-life crisis," she said, nodding toward the two empty espresso cups in front of him. "It's like you're a walking cliché."

Cole snorted, leaning forward now, "Well, better that you pretending tea is a personality. Do you also carry it in one of those mugs with a Live, Laugh, Love quote on the side?"

Tanya leaned closer, "You know what, asshole? Maybe you could use a cup. God knows you need something to mellow out that caveman attitude."

"Come on, Barbie, you're all glitter and pink on the outside, but inside, you're halfway to knitting scarves for your cats already."

Max leaned his head over my shoulder, and his lips pressed softly into my neck, "Let's leave, I am bored."

I chucked lowly and shooed his head away, invested in this scene playing ahead of me.

Tanya pointed a perfectly manicured finger at Cole, her lips twitching in frustration, "I don't have cats, but if I did, they'd be better company than you."

Cole nodded, "Right, right. You have a dog—what's his name again? Sir Barksalot? Barkley McSniff?"

Tanya glared, "His name is Duke...wait," her eyebrows pulled closer, "How do you know that I have a dog?"

Cole's eyebrow raised, "That's the thing Barbie, I know a lot of things," His words hinted at something more, something I didn't understand but it seemed that Tanya did. Her throat moved, it bobbed, and she glared at him. She looked like she wanted to claw him out with her perfect nails but she stayed silent for some unknown reason.

My brows furrowed, confused by the silent tension between them. Max nudged me again like an overeager toddler, leaning in so close I could feel his breath on my neck, "Home. Now. Sleep. You. Naked." He muttered words like a baby newly learning to speak. I turned to him, my eyebrow raising and his cheeky smile melted my defenses. I pecked his lips, "Okay."

I was ready to get up when Tanya interrupted, "Uh, Val, can we work on the biochem project tomorrow?" She asked, also getting up, not ready to stay with Cole on her own, "I will be busy this next week, we have this family event and I want to finish the project as fast as possible."

I nodded my head, "Yeah, sure, let's meet up and finish it after classes," I said.

She nodded, "Okay, I can pick you up and we can go to my place," She suggested.

"Uh, can't we just do it here," I asked. Tanya sighed, her gaze flickering to Cole, "And risk running into the likes of him, no way," She grumbled, turning to me and flashing me puppy eyes, her lips curling up, "Pwease."

Cole rolled his eyes, annoyed by every breath she took. I smiled and nodded my head, "Okay, yeah, sure."

•────•°•❀•°•────•

Next Day...

Max's POV

"Anyway, so I told him it wasn't my fault he keeps hiring hot assistants and—" Cole's voice trailed off, still going on about some absurd drama with his dad and how his car got confiscated. He didn't notice that I wasn't paying attention anymore.

My eyes were glued to the side mirror, where I saw the same damn car still tailing us. It was like it was following us since we left campus, matching every turn we made.

"Cole," I interrupted, hoping he'd shut up so I could concentrate.

"So yeah. I'm telling you about how my dad and he said he won't give me my car back till—" He was still talking.

I sighed, ignoring him, my hand gripping the wheel tighter as I floored the gas pedal, swerving right onto a narrow side street. The tires squealed as I turned sharply, trying to shake this phantom car that was way too persistent for my liking.

"Dude!" Cole yelped, leaning against the door. "This is not the way to my place, what the hell are you doing?"

"Trying to lose the car that's been following us for the last thirty minutes," I muttered, barely keeping the car on the road. The street was narrow, and the only thing keeping us from crashing was sheer luck at this moment.

"You're kidding, right? Why would someone be following us?" Cole whined, like this was just another inconvenience in his god-awful day. "Did you get a parking ticket or something? Just pay it, man."

Ignore him. Ignore him.

Just as I expected, the car behind us swerved into the same turn, matching every move. I made another sharp turn, hoping to lose them in a maze of streets, but Cole—still oblivious to the danger—was back at it again. "Max, I need to go home, alright? I have a curfew now. My dad's gonna confiscate my phone, laptop, and trust fund if I'm late. Can you just take us to the main road or something?"

"Cole," I grated out, my jaw ticking, my gaze flickering between the road and the side mirror, keeping all of my senses on alert, "this is serious, so I need you to shut the fuck up."

Cole blinked at me, stunned into silence for a moment by my serious tone. I could see the wheels turning in his head, but he was still trying to figure out why we were in a race against time. Finally, he muttered, "Okay." He turned his head, trying to catch a glimpse of the car tailing us, "You're really freaking me out here."

I kept silent. The only sound around was the tires screeching as I took another sharp turn onto a more isolated road. They were getting closer. Perfect. I had to work fast.

"Cole, I need you to open the glovebox and hand me something," I said, speeding up and taking another turn, trying to get into a more isolated road.

He leaned forward, weirdly receptive to my orders, he opened the glove box, and his hand reached inside before he gasped, "Dude, there is a gun in here!"

"I know," I said, my eyes flicking over to him for a split second. "Give it to me."

With his eyes wide, and his breathing labored, he pushed the gun into my palm. I wrapped my fingers around the cold metal, feeling the weight settle in my palm as my fingers instinctively curled around the grip. I didn't have time to think about it. I had to make this work. I slowed the car down, letting the pursuit car close in just enough for my plan to take hold.

I opened the window while keeping the wheel steady with the other. The wind blasted through the car, whipping my hair back, but I was focused. I leaned my body out of the window, trying to get the perfect angle as I held the gun steady. I could feel Cole's eyes boring into the side of my face, but I didn't dare glance at him. I aimed for the rear tire of the car behind us, lining up the shot.

The man inside had a gun too, ready to fire at us but I acted fast, maybe it was the adrenaline or all the aiming practice I'd been doing with Nikolas. I pulled the trigger. In an instant, the back tire of their car exploded, sending it veering off to the side. It swerved aimlessly for a few seconds before it crashed into the curb and came to a stop, a trail of smoke rising from the shredded rubber.

I didn't wait for the dust to settle. The moment they were out of the picture, I slammed the gas pedal, the engine roaring as the car shot forward. My heart was pounding in my chest, the adrenaline pushing me faster, and harder as I finally lost their tracks.

When I was sure we were in the clear, I turned to Cole beside me. His face had paled, and his eyes were wide, "You have some explaining to do," he said, part of him shocked and another part so annoyed at how I always keep him out of the picture.

"Okay, I will," I said, making sure again that we weren't followed as I drove toward the bunker, "But we need to go somewhere first."

•────•°•❀•°•────•

By the time we reached the bunker, I had debriefed Cole on the situation, without getting into too much details.

His eyes darted around, trying to take in the stark, dimly lit space as we walked in, still struggling to process everything. His face was a mix of confusion and disbelief, and it was clear that he was failing to connect the dots as fast as I'd hoped.

"God...no wonder you were so unbearable before," he muttered under his breath, finally beginning to piece together the kind of life I've had since the accident.

"So, those people...they were after Valerie?" Cole said. His voice grew quieter as he pieced the puzzle together. "Now the attack on the campus...makes so much more sense," he muttered to himself, barely audible.

We paused when we reached the common area; Dad, Nikolas, and Jeremy were already there. I called Dad after what happened and we agreed to meet here. Jeremy said he had some updates that could help.

"Hey, Cole," Dad said, acknowledging my friend.

Cole raised a hand, his fingers stiff, and waved awkwardly. His shy smile didn't reach his eyes as he glanced around, feeling so out of place. Nikolas' eyes locked onto Cole the moment he walked in, his gaze sharp, predatory even, trying to look for every flaw, every crack in his facade. It was clear he wasn't buying Cole's innocent, wide-eyed act.

His gaze flickered to me after and I nodded my head, asking him to trust him.

He let it go after and we settled down as Jeremy went on, "Hold on, let me do it like this," Jeremy mumbled, pressing things on his keyboard and reflecting his screen into the wall so we all could see it, "Like I was saying," He adjusted a few settings before the image shifted, displaying a series of detailed screenshots—magazines, newspapers, articles—all focused on the Kingsley family.

"Nikolas and I dug deep into their work," Jeremy continued, "And there was something off about—"

"Hold on," Cole interrupted suddenly, silenceing Jeremy. His voice was low, almost urgent. The room fell silent, every pair of eyes snapping to him as he pushed himself out of his chair, his gaze locked on the screen.

He walked closer, his brows furrowing deeper with each step as he studied one of the images, his stress palpable. His hand hovered over the screen, pointing at a man in the picture, his voice tight, "Who is this guy?"

"That's David's father," I answered, my confusion doubling at his expression, it's almost like he recognized him.

"What?" Cole shot out, disbelief bleeding into his words. His eyes flickered back to the screen, staring at the picture too deeply, as if to make sure. He shook his head and turned to me, "That's the man she's having an affair with," He mumbled, coming to terms with some fact.

"What?" I didn't understand.

He tapped his finger over the screen, "This...this is the man Tanya's mother is having an affair with," he said and I understood nothing.

My brain stalled. For a long, agonizing second, nothing registered. The room was deafeningly quiet, the weight of Cole's words sinking in too slowly, until my heart skipped a beat.

Tanya.

Valerie is with her now. In her house. Alone.

•────•°•❀•°•────•

Valerie's POV

"Why don't you go up to my room? I'll ask the maid to bring us some refreshments," Tanya said, her voice sweet, her smile so soft and innocent. Almost too soft.

I nodded my head and stared at the long staircase, feeling a knot tighten in my chest. "Uh, third room to your left," she added with a low girly giggle, before turning on her heels and striding toward the kitchen, calling for one of the maids.

I tightened my grip on the books, clutching them to my chest as I began the ascent. Every step felt heavier than the last. I couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. I'd been here once before, when Tanya had passed out. And even then, something about this place unsettled me—something I couldn't quite name. It gives me the creeps for some reason.

I followed her instructions, reaching the third room on the left. My hand hovered over the knob for a second before I twisted it, and the door creaked open. I stepped in but I glanced over my shoulder first to check if Tanya had followed me or not. The air felt thicker and something felt out of place. I didn't know what made goosebumps erupt all over my skin. The hairs on my neck stood on end, a chill running down my spine.

The silence in the whole house was suffocating, and before I could even take one more step inside, I froze.

I wasn't alone.

My head whipped around, my eyes locking with a pair of familiar dark blue ones. My heart stuttered, and time seemed to stop.

My whole world halted, again.

His lips twisted into that chilling, knowing smile. "Sweet Valerie," he murmured his usual nickname, taking one step closer toward me.

I could feel the world crumbling around me, my vision blurring with panic as my grip on the books loosened. They fell to the floor with a dull thud, but I didn't care. All I could think of was getting out, getting away.

"Tanya!" I gasped, my breath catching in my throat, panic surging through my veins. I spun around, ready to bolt for the door—but before I could even take a step, his hand shot out, grabbing my arm in a very harsh grip, as if he had all the time in the world to make me suffer.

He pulled me toward him with one hand and used the other to slam the door shut. My pulse roared in my ears as he shoved me against it, his body pressing hard into mine, pinning me in place.

His fingers curled around my chin, tilting my head up so violently I thought my neck would snap. I couldn't move, couldn't breathe...

"It's been a while," he said, his voice low, dangerous. A smirk played at the corner of his mouth as his fingers dug into my skin, "Missed me?"

•──────•°•❀•°•──────•

So, if I am not mistaken, two or maybe three chapters are left in this book.
Ahh, i will miss these two :(