Cole’s Point of View

Being away from Lily’s house is like finally being able to breathe after spending hours trapped underwater. It’s been an hour since I left that forced dinner behind, but I can still feel the tension clinging to my skin. That place is beautiful, cozy... and completely suffocating. I was a stranger there. An intruder. And we all knew it, even if Lily pretended otherwise.

I walk to the riverbank, looking for silence, air, anything that will give me time to think. The dark water flows calmly, ignoring all the shit that's going on in my life. It doesn't seem fair. I grab my phone and call Adam. He answers quickly—too quickly, which already alerts me.

"Cole," he says, without formalities. "I was about to call you."

"Get to the point," I reply, trying to keep my voice steady.

Adam lets out a sigh that I don't like at all.

"I heard from Albert's circle." My chest tightens. "He and Zoe's boyfriend... James... are going to announce her disappearance on TV. They're even offering a reward."

I feel my whole body go on alert. I start pacing back and forth, my teeth clenched.

"When?"

"Two days at most. Maybe sooner." Damn. Adam continues, "If they show her face, it'll be impossible for you to continue your journey without attracting attention."

"Why would Albert do that?" I growl. "If he wants to kill her, keeping everything quiet would be easier."

"There's only one explanation," Adam says, serious. "He's afraid she'll say something that will destroy his scheme. And if she dies now, it becomes a police case. He wants control." He's right, and that makes me even more nervous.

"Keep an eye on everything," I say, my voice low and firm. "If anything new comes up, call me right away. And... thanks, man."

"Sure." I hang up.

I stare at the river for a few seconds, trying to get my head straight. My time with Zoe is running out—we can't stay at Lily's house for more than two nights. She's better, but still fragile, and Albert is getting impatient. I need to get her out of here before everything blows up. I take a deep breath, get back in the car, and drive to Lily's house. Dinner should be the least of my problems, but the family tension and the presence of that Josh guy make everything worse. He looks at Zoe as if she were a gift wrapped in a ribbon.

And that irritates me more than it should.

When I enter the room, I find laughter. Lots of laughter. Josh is sitting too close to Zoe. And next to him, Octavia—my little sister, whom I didn't even know until yesterday—talks and smiles with her as if they've been friends forever. And Zoe... She looks beautiful. The pink blouse hugs her petite body, the white skirt exposes her legs, and for a second I forget to breathe. Unlike me — who looks like an intruder in that perfect house — Zoe fits in there effortlessly. As if she were born for it. I feel something warm and possessive rise in my chest.

She's mine, even if she doesn't know it. Even if she thinks she has a boyfriend waiting for her.

I take a step forward and clear my throat. The four of them turn to me. Zoe stands up as if drawn by a magnet, and her smile makes my heart skip a beat.

"Cole," she says, beaming, walking towards me.

"The clothes look good," I reply, trying not to look dazzled.

"Thank you," she smiles, blushing. "They're Octavia's. She was a sweetheart."

Octavia gets up and comes over to me before I can say anything. She hugs me. Out of nowhere.

"It's so nice to meet you!" she exclaims.

I freeze for a second, but end up hugging her back. The girl isn't to blame for my history with Lilly.

"It's nice to meet you too, Octavia."

She seems even happier, which makes me uncomfortable. I don't know how to deal with that—with gratuitous affection, with people who seem to really want to get to know me.

She turns back to Zoe, excited:

"I love her! Mom has talked so much about you and Taylor!"

I freeze. Taylor. Lilly was talking about my sister and me?

Lily watches the scene with that gentle look that irritates and hurts me at the same time.

"Cole," she calls, "come join us. We're deciding on dinner."

I sit down next to Zoe. Josh, to my relief, moves away a little.

"Anything is fine," I say.

"I ordered apple pie!" Octavia announces happily. "Mom said you loved it."

I look at Lily, who gives me a smile full of memories. The kind of smile that stirs up things I've spent years burying. Before I can respond, Josh decides to speak up.

"Zoe mentioned you're only staying a few days. Where do you plan to go? She hardly seems strong enough to travel."

The blood boils in my veins.

"None of your business," I reply coldly. "I have something waiting for me in Alabama. And I know how to take care of my girl."

Zoe nudges me from the side, but I don't take my eyes off Josh. He looks at me as if he wants to challenge me. Great, I'd love that.

Lily senses the tension and intervenes.

"Are you going back to Alabama?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"My father is sick," I say, my voice hard. "And he needs me to take his place."

Lily looks like she's been punched. It's the first time I've ever seen her truly shaken.

"Wh... what's wrong with Mike?"

I stand up immediately. The venom rises to my tongue before I can hold it back.

"That's no longer your problem. It stopped being your problem when you abandoned us." Octavia's eyes widen. Zoe watches me silently—surprised—but I don't stop. "Excuse me. I'm going to take a shower."

I climb the stairs with heavy steps. I hear Lily behind me, finally losing her cool.

"He may not be my husband, but you're still my son! And I don't like the path you're on. We NEED to talk!" I ignore her.

Entering the bedroom, I slam the door. I throw my phone on the bed and head straight for the bathroom. The hot water hits my shoulders, but it doesn't wash away the anger. It doesn't wash anything away. When I come out, still dripping, with a towel around my waist, I open the bathroom door... And stop.

Zoe is in the room. My phone is in her hand. And her gaze... It's no longer sweet, nor confused.

It's suspicious, sad, and hurt.

She takes a deep breath.

"How did you know about my stepfather before I told you?" My throat closes up. Shit!

My whole world stops and the floor seems to disappear. She stares at me, waiting for my answer—the truth that could destroy everything. I have to answer. I have to think fast.

But the only thing I can think is: If I lose her now, I swear I'll fall apart.