Freya

Danielle had agreed to take care of Nova for one more day. Freya was certain that tomorrow, she'd finally muster the courage to go outside—but only if Danielle stayed by her side all day. The thought of encountering him alone was unbearable. Because she knew him. All too well. He would lurk around the property until he ran into her.

Obsessed bastard.

She made herself a cup of sweet, hot tea and brought it into the living room. Standing by the window, she stared out at the world that continued on without her. The sight left her with a sour taste in her mouth. That one person could have such a hold over her—could ruin her life—made her sick.

The courtyard was relatively quiet. Her gaze landed on Seth's motorcycle in the parking lot, and a few riders leading their horses in and out of the stable. The sun beamed brightly in the blue sky—a perfect summer day she was letting slip away. She took a deep breath, the warmth of the tea grounding her for just a moment. At least she hadn't seen Caleb hanging around the stable yet.

But then she noticed Danielle getting into her car and driving down the gravel road. Off to work. Her absence on the property only heightened Freya's anxiety.

She was about to turn away from the window when a car pulled up—a car she didn't recognize. Curiosity rooted her to the spot, her eyes fixed on the scene unfolding below. Seth's front door opened, and he stepped outside. Her gaze locked on him, on his confident stride as he walked across the courtyard toward the unfamiliar vehicle.

Two men stepped out of the car, their movements precise, their stiff shirts and ties screaming authority. They shook hands with Seth, their postures confident, their faces devoid of warmth. Freya watched from the window, her brows knitting together. What the hell were they doing here? Nothing was supposed to happen—not while their bet was still active.

Her stomach coiled tightly as Seth gestured toward the house, then the stable, and finally... her house.

Her house.

She froze, watching the way his hand moved. A slow, sweeping motion that left no doubt in her mind. He was talking about tearing it down.

Her heart dropped into a free fall, slamming into her gut.

She spun around, setting her tea down so abruptly it spilled across the table, the hot liquid soaking through the wood. She didn't care. She bolted for the entryway, barely managing to shove her feet into slippers before throwing the door open and sprinting up the road.

Her legs carried her faster than she thought they could, but every step felt heavier, like she was running toward her own execution. The men turned as she approached, their expressions shifting—one mildly amused, the other barely concealing his disdain. Seth's face, though, was cold. Indifferent.

"What's going on here?" she demanded, her voice sharper than she intended. Her breath came in short gasps, her hands trembling as she planted them firmly on her hips.

Seth didn't flinch. He didn't even blink. "I'm in the middle of a planning meeting," he said, crossing his arms over his chest in a way that made her feel small.

"Why?" she snapped, her voice cracking. "You told me all planning was on hold. That was the deal."

He stepped closer, his height a looming shadow that blocked out the sun. "I am in a meeting. Can we talk about this later?"

"No." Her voice rose, her heart pounding so hard she felt it in her ears. "Hell no! We're talking about this now." She stepped closer, her hands trembling at her sides. She didn't care about the men watching, didn't care if she embarrassed herself. She couldn't let this happen.

Seth's jaw twitched. Without a word, he grabbed her arm, his grip firm enough to make her skin burn, but not rough. He pulled her a few steps away from the others.

"Let go of me," she hissed, her voice shaking with rage and panic. "If you don't, I swear I'll kick you so hard you'll never have kids."

He released her with an exasperated sigh, his eyes hard and unyielding. "You're acting like a damn child," he said, his tone dripping with disdain. "You're completely unprofessional."

Her chest burned, and her pulse roared in her ears. "Me? You're the one breaking our agreement!"

"I'm not breaking anything," he replied. "If you'd bothered to read the contract properly, you'd know it states—in fine print, by the way—that if either party fails to participate, the other wins automatically."

The world tilted beneath her. Her knees wobbled as his words sunk in, heavy and merciless.

"So yes," he continued, his lips curling into a cruel smirk. "We were just discussing how to tear down your little house."

"No." Her voice cracked. The word came out small, fragile, like a plea. "No—please."

She grabbed his arm, gripping it tightly, her fingers digging into his skin. Her breath came in shallow gasps, her heart hammering as she stared up at him, her vision blurring.

"Seth," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I'm begging you. Don't do this. I'll do whatever you want. We can saddle up Nova right now—right this second. Just... don't tear it down."

Her voice broke, and the tears she'd been holding back stung her eyes, threatening to spill. She clung to him like he was the only thing keeping her upright.

Seth

She looked like a wounded animal—cornered, desperate, and trembling on the edge of breaking.

Seth swallowed hard, his jaw tightening as he forced himself to look at her. Her golden-brown eyes shimmered with unshed tears, the kind that made his chest feel too tight.

And then it hit him.

She had said his name.

For the first time.

And somehow, it rattled him more than anything she could've done.

Seth prided himself on his ability to win. Always. And this wasn't unfair—he'd written it into the contract. But standing here, watching her fall apart, it didn't feel like victory. It felt hollow. It felt like shit.

Her fingers clung to his arm, her nails pressing into his skin as though letting go would shatter her entirely. And yet, despite the irritation burning through him, he couldn't help but admire her. Damn her persistence. Damn her strength.

He could end this now. Destroy her hope. Crush her completely. Walk away with everything.

But he didn't move.

Her eyes locked with his, wide and glistening, and he couldn't look away. Her golden hair, tousled from the wind, framed her face, making her look far too fragile. He tilted his head just slightly, just enough to glance at the two men over his shoulder.

"My apologies for wasting your time," he called out. "We'll stick to the original timeline."

The men exchanged annoyed glances before walking back to their car, their polished shoes scraping against the gravel.

Freya's shoulders sagged, her breaths coming slower now. A single tear slid down her cheek, and without thinking, Seth reached up and wiped it away with his thumb. Her skin was warm, damp from the tear, and it made something in his chest twist painfully.

"You owe me," he muttered.

She stepped back, her hands releasing him slowly, as though unsure she could trust her legs to hold her weight.

"Thank you," she whispered, her gaze falling to the ground.

He stared at her, his voice cold and sharp. "Really? That's it?"

Her head snapped up, fire replacing the vulnerability in her eyes. "What do you want me to do?" she spat. "Drop to my knees and kiss your damn feet?"

Her words hit like a slap, but the look in her eyes burned even hotter. Was she faking it? That fragility? That desperation?

"This was your only free pass," he said, his voice low. "Next time, don't count on me to save you."

She didn't respond. Her lips pressed into a tight line, her fists clenched at her sides as she refused to look away.

The air between them burned with unspoken fury, neither willing to look away.