James. The name fit him—sharp, clean, just as appealing as the man himself.

"Thank you, Dr. James," Leia said, pushing herself to her feet. Her legs wobbled so bad she stumbled, but she caught herself on the exam table before she fell.

As he watched her walk out, something unreadable, tangled and twisted, settled over James's face.

Leia couldn't even tell you how she made it out of the hospital. Her mind was completely blank, like someone had wiped it clean. Even her usual bright, vibrant blue eyes felt dulled, dimmed by the weight of what she'd just learned.

The sky rumbled, and then rain suddenly poured from the sky. Leia tilted her face up to the sky, closing her eyes as the ice-cold water soaked her hair and skin. She couldn't even feel the cold anymore.

She stood there on the narrow sidewalk, completely drenched, while every other person around her scrambled for cover under store awnings.

One question looped over and over in her head: Should I tell Julian?

Rain mixed with her tears, and you couldn't tell one from the other anymore.

---

Julian had just walked Piper through the front door of their home. When the housekeeper, Mrs. Taylor, spotted the unexpected soft-spoken young woman on his arm, she froze for a second, stunned.

After a beat of awkward silence, she finally said, "Sir, you're home at last."

"I am," Julian replied, one hand steady on Piper's back as he guided her to the couch, every move protective.

"Piper, why don't you make yourself comfortable? I'll make you some hot cocoa. You just got in, the weather's turned absolute garbage out there—can't have you catching a chill," he said soft, his eyes warm with affection.

Mrs. Taylor couldn't wrap her head around how tender he was being. What on earth was going on here? Julian adored his wife. How could he be this attentive to another woman? Wouldn't that break Leia's heart?

"Thank you, Julian. Don't fuss over me, I'm not that fragile," Piper said with a sweet, gentle smile, brushing a strand of hair back from her face. Julian chuckled soft, and caught Mrs. Taylor staring at them, curious. He could feel her confusion, so he explained calm and steady: "Mrs. Taylor, this is Piper. She's going to be staying with us from now on."

"Oh," Mrs. Taylor breathed, her mind spinning with questions. What was this girl to Julian? How could she just waltz in here and stay like this? But she was just the housekeeper, so she smoothed her suspicions into a polite smile. "Hello there! Just call me Mrs. Taylor."

Piper smiled back, calm and composed, even if she still looked a little delicate around the edges. "Mrs. Taylor, just call me Piper, please."

"Alright, I'll go get dinner started for you two," Mrs. Taylor said, and headed for the kitchen, her brow furrowed the whole way, still turning over what the connection could be between Julian and this new girl.

Once Piper was settled, Julian stood up and shrugged out of his suit jacket. He scanned the house, and unease settled over his sharp, handsome features, a faint frown tugging at his mouth.

"Mrs. Taylor, where's Leia?" he asked.

Mrs. Taylor poked her head out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. "Mrs. Shaw said she was stepping out for a bit. Left around nine this morning, and it's almost five now—she still hasn't come back."

Julian's face went dark at the news, cold anxiety washing straight through him.

Piper could feel he was upset, so she reached out and gently rested her hand on his. "Julian, don't worry. Leia probably just got held up with something. She'll be home soon."

"But it's pouring out, and she hates the cold. I'm gonna call her, check in," he said, and pulled his hand away to grab for his phone. Piper's eyes flickered, a flash of sharp, cold malice gone before anyone could catch it. This woman had stolen her place for years and still refused to walk away. Now that Piper was back? There was no room left for Leia.

Julian paced the living room, jaw tight with frustration. God damn it—Leia's phone was straight to voicemail. He couldn't reach her at all. His concern slowly turned into irritation.

"Dinner's ready," Mrs. Taylor called from the kitchen.

Julian turned to Piper and said, "Why don't you go ahead and eat without me?"

"But..."

"It's fine. She's always been scared of storms, I can't just sit here and wait. Don't worry, I'll be right back with her," he reassured her, cupping her face gently and pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.

"Okay, but be careful," Piper answered, her voice laced with quiet disappointment. This little kiss on the forehead was the most intimate thing he'd ever done with her.

Julian grabbed an umbrella and headed straight out. The rain was only getting worse, the sky pitch black except for flashes of lightning that split it open, thunder rolling right after. His worry for Leia gnawed at him deeper every second.

Leia had no one—no friends, no family. She'd grown up in an orphanage. In their two years of marriage, she barely ever left the house, her timid nature kept her close to home. She was terrified of rain too. Whenever it poured, she'd hide inside and pull all the curtains closed. He'd asked her once why she hated it so much, and she'd told him, "My parents got swept away in a flood when I was seven. I never even found their bodies. That's why I'm scared."

Julian slid into his car fast and pulled out into the storm, windshield wipers fighting to keep the rain off the glass.

---

Leia didn't know how she'd dragged herself home, but by the time she made it to the front door, she was completely worn out, every bone in her body aching. When you've been pushed right to the edge of pain, fear doesn't have any hold on you anymore. The rain was just background noise, nothing more.

Pregnancy. Breast cancer. Divorce. Everything felt like a fleeting, bad dream that had vanished into thin air.

When Mrs. Taylor saw her, soaked and exhausted, she jumped. "Oh my goodness, Mrs. Shaw, what on earth happened to you? You're completely soaked through. Come in, go get a hot shower right away."

Leia forced a smile, and it felt like it took every bit of strength she had left. Raindrops ran from her forehead down to her lips, and they tasted salty when she spoke: "I forgot my umbrella, and I couldn't hail a cab for the life of me."

"Oh honey, Mr. Shaw went out looking for you. Didn't you run into him?"

Leia was surprised, and a tiny flicker of warmth bloomed in her cold chest. She shook her head. "No, we must have passed each other. I'll call him."

"Okay, Mrs. Shaw. Mr. Shaw really does care about you, I see it every day. He loves you so much."

Love. Leia laughed quiet to herself. Love's just like wine—only the person drinking it knows if it's bitter or sweet.

Right then, Piper walked into the entryway, her voice soft and smooth as silk. "Hello, Leia. I'm Piper Cooper."

Piper's soft voice, laced with quiet grace, pulled Leia's gaze up. When she looked, she saw nothing short of classic, timeless elegance.

Piper's long hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, and she wore a crisp, perfect Victorian-style dress. Her fair skin still held the faint faint marks of recovery from illness, but her features were delicate, calm, the kind of quiet, fresh beauty that doesn't scream for attention but holds it anyway.

Next to her, Leia couldn't help but feel insecure. No wonder Julian preferred her. Leia's looks were too bold, too striking. She had these hypnotic dark eyes, with a tiny beauty mark in the corner that added an edge to her that people always misread.

Next to Piper, who was as ethereal and elegant as a white lily, Leia was just a bright, bold red rose—tempting, but untouchable.

Who wouldn't pick someone as refined and lovely as Piper? Especially when Leia showed up looking like a drowned rat.

Leia pulled herself out of her head, and smiled. "Hello, I'm Leia."

"You're completely soaked. Come in and change into something dry, or you'll catch a cold. Mrs. Taylor, could you bring Leia a warm cup of coffee?" Piper suggested, that faint thread of authority weaving right through her kind words. Leia hesitated for a second, then smiled and stepped inside.

Mrs. Taylor followed behind her, smiling. After Leia finished her shower, she walked out into the living room to find Julian was already home. The second he saw her, he hurried straight over.

"Where have you been all day? Why was your phone off? Do you have any idea how scared I was?"

"I'm sorry, my phone died. I just went to the hospital to pick up some medication for a stomachache," she explained. Even through his angry scolding, Leia felt that little flicker of sweet warmth in her chest.

Julian sighed, his voice softening immediately. "Next time, tell me before you go. Or let me come with you."

"Alright, don't worry," Leia promised him, as the rain kept beating against the windows outside.

Leia watched the worry etched into Julian’s face as he spoke softly to Piper, and a sharp, achey pang twisted through her chest. Once, that warm bright light in Julian’s eyes had been hers alone. Now it shone only for Piper, and he didn’t even see it anymore.

With that thought, Piper stood, her gaze shifting subtly before she spoke in that soft, calm tone. “Julian, don’t blame Leia. Look how scared she is.”

“Alright,” he answered.

“Leia, thank you for saving me. I can never repay you for what you did, but I owe you my gratitude.” To Leia’s complete shock, Piper lowered herself to her knees. Leia stumbled back fast, her hand hanging awkwardly in mid-air when she moved to help her up. That’s when she caught it—a flash of mockery glinting in Piper’s eyes. But to anyone watching, Piper looked frail, on the verge of collapse right there on her knees.

“Piper!” Julian shouted, lunging forward to catch her before she hit the floor.

Leia froze, her mind going completely blank. Had she really just seen a mocking smirk in Piper’s eyes? Before she could overthink it, she lifted her head to look.

Julian was holding Piper right in front of her, their bodies pressed close, their eyes locked on each other. The sight drove a knife straight through Leia’s already broken heart.

Julian’s voice, soft and edged with quiet reproach, drifted over to her…

“You always make me worry, pushing yourself when you’re sick like this.”

Piper pouted, wiping at her eyes. “I’m sorry, Julian. I just wanted to thank Leia properly. If she hadn’t been there, I would’ve…”

Tears streamed down her delicate cheeks as she spoke, the whole thing gut-wrenching to watch.

“Alright, I’ll thank her myself. You look like crap, let’s get you to bed to rest.”

“Okay!”

With that, Julian lifted her into his arms and headed straight up the stairs. He didn’t even glance back at Leia once.

Leia stared after the man who had once been hers. Dazed, she caught another flash: the smug little smile on Piper’s lips, clear as day, a blatant challenge thrown right in her face. Leia staggered, nearly tipping over right where she stood.

That look sent a cold chill crawling all the way down her spine.

It must’ve just been her imagination.

“Miss, careful!” Mary the housekeeper hurried over to steady her.

Leia forced a smile. “I’m fine. Is dinner ready? I’m starving.”

“It is, miss. Please, have a seat.”

Leia frowned a little when she looked at the spread of bland, spice-less food on the table. She’d always loved spicy food, but this plain, boring fare killed her appetite stone dead.

Mary hesitated before she spoke. “Mr. Shaw requested it. He said Miss Piper’s health is fragile, so we need to adjust all meals to her taste.”

“Oh. That’s fine.”

Leia swallowed hard, the taste of bitter ash coating her tongue.

When Mary left, Leia picked listlessly at her food, and tears started falling like raindrops onto her plate. She buried her face in her pasta to hide them, scarfing the whole thing down in a hurry, smears of tomato sauce left clinging to her cheek.

Thirty minutes after dinner, Julian still hadn’t come downstairs. She grabbed her bag and headed up to the guest wing.

When she passed Julian’s bedroom, she heard voices drifting through the closed door.

“Julian, do you really mean to let Leia stay here with us?”

“No, she’s only here until she finds a new place. It’s just a few days, that’s all.”

“But it’s so awkward. We’re getting married soon! Having all three of us under the same roof is uncomfortable,” Piper complained.

Julian sighed. “She saved both of us, after all. We can’t just kick her out onto the street.”

“I know that, but I just…”

“It’ll be over soon, love. She’ll be gone before you know it,” Julian cooed gently.

“Then kiss me.”

“You’re impossible,” he said, soft and indulgent, before lowering his head. The second their lips touched, Leia’s knees went weak. Her nose stung, and she could barely breathe, like the air had been sucked right out of her lungs.

She saw them, curled together on the bed, kissing, and heard his soft, tender confession. “Piper, I love you.”

Leia couldn’t take another second of it. She stumbled back to the guest room. The room she’d once shared with Julian was Piper’s now. She had nowhere else to go.

In the guest bathroom, faint, muffled sobs echoed off the tiles.

He’d never kissed her. Always said it was too germy. But he kissed that woman without a second thought.

What a convenient fucking excuse.

After he’d settled Piper into bed, Julian remembered Leia and headed for the guest room.

When he opened the door, it was empty—except for the sound of soft crying coming from the closed bathroom door.

Julian hurried over, his brow furrowed tight with worry.

“Leia? You in there?”

Hearing his voice, Leia cut off her sobbing immediately. She answered soft and steady. “Just using the bathroom.”

Her voice was still thick with tears, and Julian didn’t buy it for a second. He turned the handle and pushed the door open, and there she was: cheeks flushed, streaked with salt tracks from her crying.

Her delicate features were damp with tears, the little dimple in her cheek still visible even when she was exhausted from crying.

A sharp, inexplicable ache squeezed Julian’s heart. He rushed over, grabbing her hand urgent. “Tell me what’s wrong. Why are you crying?”

Leia blinked, dazed for a second, before yanking her hand back. She spoke soft and quiet. “It’s nothing. Just got a little emotional, that’s all.”

Her red-rimmed eyes were still brimming over with tears, and she kept her head bowed.

Julian’s frown deepened. “Leia, since when do you lie to me?”

“I’m not lying!” she insisted stubbornly. She couldn’t tell him the truth. She couldn’t admit any of it.

She couldn’t tell him about the baby. Or the cancer.

She couldn’t say she couldn’t bear to leave him.

She couldn’t say she hated Piper with every fiber of her being.

Any of that would just make her look manipulative. And besides, she was the one who’d asked him to sign the divorce papers in the first place.

Julian shook his head, turned, and grabbed a clean hand towel. He soaked it in warm water, then lifted it to gently wipe her tear-streaked face.

“If you don’t want to talk, you don’t have to. Look at you, face all messy like a little kitten who got into the cream. When’d you turn into such a crybaby?”

“You never grow up. How the hell am I supposed to hand you off to someone else and sleep easy at night?”

“When I’m not around, you have to take better care of yourself. You’re twenty-five now, it’s time to grow up.”

His words were soft and tender, his touch gentle and brimming with all the old worry he still carried for her. It pulled Leia right back into old memories.

He’d taken care of her so meticulously, once. Insisted she only drink her coffee exactly how she liked it. Knew she loved to sleep in, so he’d carry her out of bed every morning, luring her out with fluffy blueberry pancakes.

When she was too lazy to wash her face, he’d wring out a towel and do it for her. And when she skipped her skincare routine for too long, he’d book her a monthly facial and send her off, no arguments allowed.

All that care had turned her into a total helpless mess when it came to everyday life without him.

Thinking of that, she snapped back to the present. In the bathroom mirror, she saw him standing behind her, his big strong hand tangled in her curls, focused on smoothing down the messy strands.

He looked so handsome in that moment, unbearably, achingly handsome.

Suddenly, she remembered where they were, and who he was now with. She shoved him away hard, frowning up at him. “Don’t do that. I’m not a kid anymore. Besides, don’t you care if Piper sees us like this and gets jealous?”

“In my eyes, you’ll always be just a kid,” he chuckled, and tweaked her nose playfully, his gaze soft and full of old fondness.

Leia was drowning in a wave of bone-deep exhaustion. She couldn’t even summon the energy to stand up and wash her face. Julian, ever the doting attentive husband, would dampen a warm towel and help her freshen up. When she couldn’t be bothered to keep up with her skincare routine, he even booked a beautician to come to the house to do it for her. All these little kindnesses made her feel like a spoiled, cared-for princess… and a little too dependent on him.

Pulling herself back to the present, she watched Julian’s big hands move deftly through her loose curls, all his focus on styling her hair for her. He looked so unfairly handsome, so charming, that she couldn’t tear her gaze away. But then…

A flash of memory hit her: Julian wrapped in a hug with Piper. The thought made her jerk back and push him away, a deep frown tugging at her mouth. "Julian, stop. I’m not five. Besides, aren’t you worried Piper will see and get the wrong idea?"

Her words came out thick with jealousy, her full red lips trembling against her will. "You’ll always be my little girl," he teased, tapping the tip of her nose soft, his eyes warm with affection. Leia’s resolve melted against the pull of his gentle love.

"Piper’s reasonable," Julian added. "She won’t read into it. Besides, she’s asleep right now." But every single word drifted straight to Piper, who stood frozen in the doorway, listening to every tender exchange. Her nails dug so deep into the wooden doorframe that her fingertips ached, all to hold back the hot, rising fury bubbling up inside her.

When one of her nails snapped clean at the edge, she didn’t even feel it. Leia’s heart dropped into her stomach, heavy with a bitter, unnameable ache, as Julian laced his fingers through hers and led her out of the bathroom. Suddenly, a shrill scream split the quiet of the house.

Julian dropped Leia’s hand instantly and bolted toward the sound, stumbling a little over the rug. Leia hurried right after him, only to find Piper sitting on the hardwood, one hand pressed to her ankle. A cold knot of unease twisted in Leia’s gut. Two accidents back to back? How was that even possible?

Julian’s brow furrowed deep with worry as he skidded to a stop at Piper’s side. "Weren’t you asleep? What are you doing out here?" he asked, urgent.

Piper’s gaze flicked to Leia, then softened when she turned back to Julian. "I woke up and you weren’t next to me," she said, quiet and sweet. "I couldn’t fall back asleep without you, so I came looking… and I slipped. I just… I feel so lost and insecure when you’re not there, Julian."

Leia bit down hard on her lower lip, her eyes burning with unshed tears. She turned her head away, saying nothing. Julian cursed himself inwardly as he gently rubbed her swollen ankle, cooing soft reassurances. "Don’t worry, I won’t leave your side again. Looks like you hurt it pretty bad. I’ll carry you back to your room and get some pain meds."

Leia stood there, a thin, wobbly smile tugging at her lips, as her husband carried another woman in his arms so tenderly. She couldn’t find her voice, couldn’t work up the courage to say a single word. All she could do was stand there and give them her silent blessing. And all the while, the pain in her chest was so sharp it hurt to breathe.

Julian lifted Piper easily, and she turned her soft gaze on Leia. "Leia, can we have a little chat? After you leave?"

Leia’s face drained of all color, going so pale it was almost translucent. After a long, tight pause, she said, "Sure."

Once he’d gotten Piper settled back in her room, Julian glanced over at Leia and noticed how washed out she looked. "Piper’s not feeling well," he said. "Just… be nice to her, okay?"

Leia nodded. "Okay."

When Julian left to grab the first aid kit, Piper’s face split into a sly, knowing smile. "Sit down, Leia," she said.

Leia forced a polite smile and cut straight to the point. "What do you want to talk about?"

Piper’s smile sharpened into a sneer. "Watching us dance around each other like this… it’s eating you up inside, isn’t it?"

Leia froze, stunned. She never expected Piper to be so blunt. The sweet, innocent act Piper put on during the day couldn’t be farther from this sharp, biting tone.

Leia blinked, confused. "What are you talking about?"

"Leia, I’m grateful you donated your bone marrow to me," Piper said, leaning forward. "But that doesn’t mean I don’t resent you. If you hadn’t done it, Julian would never have married you. You’d still be working double shifts at seedy dive bars and nightclubs… or worse."

Piper’s words hit Leia like a lightning strike to the chest, leaving her reeling, stunned. Was she really saying Leia wasn’t good enough for Julian? That she was below them?

"You cheated your way into Julian’s life, and now that the whole marriage contract is up, why won’t you just leave? Is clinging to what’s not yours really that fun?"

"You probably think Julian’ll pick you in the end. Don’t forget—you were just a placeholder. A stopgap for him until I got better. You being here just reminds everyone how completely useless you are."

"If I were you, I’d have packed my bags and gotten out a long time ago."

Placeholder. Stopgap. Useless. Piper’s words were sharp little knives, each one sinking deeper into Leia’s heart, carving it into pieces, bleeding with every jab.

She could brush off insults from any stranger, but coming from Piper? It cut deeper than anything. Without Leia’s bone marrow, Piper would have been dead and gone years ago. How dare she talk to her like this? Anyone else could hurl insults, but not Piper. Not after everything Leia did for her.

Leia had never felt so small, so belittled in her entire life. Her nose stung, her eyes burned red, and when she spoke, her voice was ice. "Piper, I never guessed that sweet innocent act of yours hid such a rotten, malicious heart."

"You’re so scared I won’t leave, aren’t you?"

"You don’t trust Julian that much, do you?"

"Then again, you’re right to be insecure. You’re nothing special to look at, after all. It makes sense."

Piper just laughed instead of getting mad. She stood up, gliding graceful across the carpet toward Leia, and smirked, arrogant and sure. "Insecure? That’s rich. Julian’s told me he loves me a hundred times. Has he ever said that to you?"

No. Leia realized it, bitter and raw. He’d never said it. He’d never even kissed her of his own free will—only out of obligation. She had nothing to say back.

Seeing Leia’s pale face crumple into despair, Piper stepped closer. Leia stared up at her, completely thrown, and stammered, "Your ankle… it’s not hurt?"

Piper smirked. "If I didn’t fake a little accident, would you ever have stayed behind to talk like this?"

Leia grit her teeth so hard her jaw ached. "Piper, how can you be this rotten? Julian adores you, I saved your life, and this is how you repay us?"

"You think showing off how much he cares about you will scare me into leaving? That’s ridiculous."

"Is that right? We’ll see. If you’re curious how things really are between us, you can always join us tonight."

Rage bloomed hot and heavy in Leia’s chest, her palms slick with cold sweat. She’d never been this furious in her life. This homewrecker had invaded her house, insulted her, and pushed her right to the breaking point.

Her face flushed bright red, and she snapped, "Piper, I was already planning to move out tomorrow. But after the way you’ve acted? I’m staying. I’m not going anywhere, and I’m not playing your sick little games."

As she turned to leave, Piper’s lazy voice drifted after her. "If you stay, I’ve got a whole lot more tricks where that came from."

"Piper, you’ve gone too far!" Leia’s eyes blazed with anger. Just as she reached for the doorknob, Julian walked back in, the first aid kit in hand.

"Leia? What were you two chatting about? Why are you so flushed?"

Before Leia could get a word out, Piper’s soft, sweet voice cut in. "Oh, I was just telling Leia about that silly time we rented a hotel room together back in college. You got so flustered you ran right out with your pants only half zipped! I still laugh thinking about it."

Hearing her lie so smoothly made Leia’s blood boil, and she almost called her out right then. But Julian shifted awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable with Leia hearing that old story, and said nothing.