Nicole's POV

Sunlight streamed through the thin curtains, cutting streaks of gold across the Ryder's Mansion.

I hurried down, not wanting to be late to school as this is the start of a new semester but I almost turned back upstairs the moment I saw Adrian.

That was my first instinct the moment I reached the bottom of the staircase and heard movement in the dinning. My hand tightened around the railing, my pulse loud in my ears. Adrian was the one person I wasn't ready to face.

I could feel him before I saw him, his sharp presence surrounding the room. He stood by the counter, dressed in dark slacks and a crisp shirt, sleeves buttoned all the way down as if last night had never happened. As if nothing had cracked open between us.

He didn't even look at me, not once.

No pause, flicker of recognition. Just the quiet clink of a mug as he poured coffee, his posture calm and distant, impossibly composed. The lack of acknowledgment unsettled me more than any lingering stare would have.

"Could it be that he was too drunk to remember what happened?" I thought silently to myself.

I forced myself to move fully into the room. My body shivered a bit as I took a seat at the table, smoothing my hands over my lap.

Moments later, Liam walked in, his presence lighter. "Morning," he said casually, pressing a quick kiss to my temple before grabbing a plate.

Neither brother responded to the other.

I noticed it then, the way I always seemed to lately, the distance between them. No greetings or shared glances. Not even irritation, just... absence. Like two men occupying the same room while living in completely different worlds.

Breakfast was simple and light. Toast, fruit and coffee.

I took small bites, I didn't really have any appetite and aside from that my thoughts were anything but quiet, maybe it was because I felt guilty.

Across the table, Adrian scrolled through his phone, his attention fixed anywhere but me. It felt intentional as if ignoring me was easier than acknowledging the tension coiled tight between us.

"Why I'm I bothered? Nicole, you should be happy that he's ignoring you." I scolded myself.

Liam chatted about his plans for the day, filling the silence.

"Enjoy your classes Nicole, make new friends, socialize, have fun." he said casually.

"Yes, yes, I will." I smiled lightly. That's why I love Liam, he is so caring and intentional.

"You look very pretty when you smile." he smirked in a seductive way.

"Please focus on eating." I shook my head at his nonchalant behavior.

"I want to eat you," he teased.

"Pervert." I felt so shy.

Adrian didn't respond to whatever that was happening, he just stood up suddenly. "I've got work, and Liam make sure you come early." he said calmly, already adjusting his watch.

That was it.

No goodbye, he walked out without turning back, leaving the room colder than before.

I stared at the doorway long after it closed, my heart racing for reasons I refused to name.

________________

Adrian's POV

The building looked the same since he left, the cold glass, sharp edges, pretending to be clean while hiding rot beneath it.

I stepped out of the car just as another pulled in beside mine.

Ethan. He's the only closest and trusted friend I have.

He got out, adjusting the cuff of his shirt like everything in his life needed to be precise. Same calm posture. Same serious eyes that missed nothing. I was the one who begged him to come work here, dragged him out of a comfortable job into this mess and he still showed up on time, unbothered.

"Morning," he said simply.

"Morning," I replied, falling into step beside him.

We walked in together.

The elevator ride was quiet, not awkward. He glanced at me once, the way he always did when he sensed something off.

My office door closed behind us with a soft click.

He dropped into the chair across from my desk without being asked, crossing one leg over the other. "You look like shit," he said flatly.

I huffed. "Nice to see you too."

"That wasn't an insult. It's an observation."

I loosened my tie, pacing instead of sitting. The memory hit me without warning, dim kitchen lights, the hum of the fridge, the way Nicole froze when she realized I'd been there all along.

I stopped walking.

"I'm attracted to her," I said suddenly.

Ethan didn't react, not even a blink.

"My brother's girlfriend," I added.

"That part is implied," he said calmly.

I ran a hand through my hair. "Last night... She came into the kitchen. Didn't know I was there. She was wearing-" I stopped myself, jaw tightening. "Doesn't matter. I was drunk. She was half-asleep. Things crossed a line."

Ethan leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowing like he was calculating something.

"Did you touch her?"

"Yes."

"Did she stop you?"

"Yes."

"Then stop romanticizing it," he said. "You didn't lose control. You tested a boundary."

The words landed harder than I expected.

"She's with him," I muttered. "And yet-"

"And yet you want what you can't have," Ethan finished. "That's not new for you. What's new is that this one isn't a distraction."

I finally sat, elbows on the desk, staring at nothing.

"She looked at me like I was a mistake she almost made," I said quietly. "And like she hated that she didn't regret it completely."

Ethan exhaled slowly. "That's dangerous."

"I know, that was why I pretended like I didn't remember what happened yesterday."

He leaned forward now, his voice steady and grounded. Ethan was always the anchor when my thoughts spiraled.

"Listen to me," he said. "You're here for a reason. Your mother didn't die for you to ruin yourself over desire. If you go after her, you don't just hurt Liam, you give him leverage."

I clenched my jaw at my brother's name.

"And Nicole?" Ethan continued. "She's already standing in the middle of a war she didn't sign up for. If you care about her, even a little you don't pull her deeper."

Silence stretched between us.

"What if she's already falling?" I asked.

Ethan's gaze softened, just a fraction. "Then you protect her by staying away until the truth comes out. After that..." He shrugged lightly. "Choices are cleaner when blood isn't on the floor."

I leaned back, staring at the ceiling.

Ethan was always three steps ahead.

"Welcome to the family hell," I said dryly.

He stood, straightening his jacket. "I didn't come for the family. I came for you. Don't make me regret it."

As he walked out, I knew one thing with brutal clarity:

Nicole wasn't the problem, she was the trigger and everything I had buried was already rising to the surface.

Liam's POV

Nicole's fingers lingered on my sleeve even after I parked in front of the nursing school.

It was always like this with her, soft pauses, quiet moments that felt safer than they should. I leaned over the console and kissed her, slow and familiar. She smiled, that gentle smile that made me feel like I had done something right with my life.

"Text me when you're done with classes," I said.

She nodded, tucking her bag higher on her shoulder before stepping out. I watched her walk away until the glass doors swallowed her whole.

Only then did I drive off.

The city swallowed me, I got stuck in traffic, some cars blew their horns. The calm I felt with Nicole faded as my phone buzzed against the console.

I glanced down. It was Anna.

My grip tightened on the steering wheel.

I hadn't saved her number again. I didn't need to. Some names branded themselves into your memory whether you wanted them to or not.

At the next red light, I checked the message.

An address.

A restaurant name beneath it,

7:00 PM. We need to talk.

I scoffed under my breath.

Talk. That was always her word. As if conversations were neutral things, as if she hadn't mastered the art of twisting them into weapons.

> "I'm very preoccupied, I don't think I can come." I replied to her.

Another notification came through.

> "You owe me this, Liam. I just want us to talk, nothing more. I can wait till you round off from work for the day."

I didn't trust her, Anna was a conniving bitch.

> "I don't want to see you Anna, we don't have anything to say, we have already said all that there is to say the moment you chose to leave." I texted her back, I felt frustrated."

>"Come on Liam, I won't waste your time and also I have a proposition from my dad to you."

"Shit." I cursed inwardly.

> "Fine, I will see if I can come but know that I won't stay long." I gave in. Something in me wanted to hear what she had to say.

>"I will be waiting then." She texted back adding love Emojis.

I shook my head, starting my car. The light turned green. I drove on.

But Anna's message sat in the back of my mind like an itch I couldn't scratch.

I told myself it was closure. One last conversation to shut the door properly. I told myself Nicole didn't need to know because nothing was happening.

I handed over my keys, straightened my jacket, and stepped inside the Ryder's building, today was my first day, since my change of position.

_____________

Nicole's POV

The hallway smelled like antiseptic and exhaustion.

I clutched my notebook tighter to my chest as I walked into the nursing building, forcing my steps to stay steady even though my thoughts were anything but. Liam's kiss still lingered on my lips soft, reassuring, practiced. The kind of kiss that was supposed to mean safe.

So why did my chest feel tight?

I shook it off as I pushed open the classroom door. The familiar chaos greeted me, students arguing over seats, someone cramming last-minute notes, the low hum of anxiety that lived permanently in this place. I slid into my seat, breathing out slowly.

Focus, Nicole. This is your way out.

The lecturer walked in. The room fell into silence.

"Today," she said, "we'll be doing emergency simulations."

My stomach dropped.

Mannequins were wheeled in. Monitors beeped to life. The lights dimmed slightly, creating an atmosphere too real for comfort. I swallowed hard. I'd prepared for this, I had. But preparation didn't stop fear from finding you.

We were split into groups.

I stepped forward when my name was called, hands already cold inside my gloves. The "patient" lay motionless, vitals flashing erratically on the screen.

"Start," the instructor ordered.

Everything blurred into motion, I started by checking airways, calling out vitals, hands moving on instinct rather than thought. My voice came out steady, even though my pulse was roaring in my ears.

Then the monitor flatlined.

A sharp, piercing sound cut through the room.

For a split second, I froze.

The sound wasn't just a sound anymore, it was a memory. Hospital lights. Machines. A doctor shaking his head. My parents' faces in my mind, still and unreachable.

My breath caught.

"Nicole!" someone snapped.

I blinked hard. The room rushed back in. "I-" My voice trembled, and I hated it.

I forced my hands to move again, louder this time. Chest compressions. Count. Breathe. Again.

The beeping resumed. Relief hit me so hard my knees nearly buckled.

"Good recovery," the instructor said, watching me closely. "But hesitation like that can cost lives."

Her words lodged deep.

The first class ended soon after, but I stayed seated, staring at my hands like they didn't belong to me. Around me, people laughed, stretched, and complained about stress. Life went on.

Mine felt... off.

I stood up slowly and headed to the restroom, splashing cold water on my face. The mirror reflected a girl who looked put together, neat hair, calm eyes but I knew better.

My phone buzzed.

I expected Liam.

Instead, it was a notification I didn't recognize, an email alert reminding me about my bills.

Why does everything start falling apart the moment I feel safe?

I wiped my face, straightened my shoulders. "I need to get a side job, I just can't depend on Liam for everything." I sighed tiredly as I walked out, he eyes still glued to my screen.

Another buzz came through but still no message from Liam.

"He must be busy at work." I kept my phone in my bag trying to zip it when I suddenly collided into someone. Although it was just a minor hit.

"I'm so sorry." I apologized immediately.

He looked at me weirdly as he picked up his note. "Be careful next time sweet heart." he then smirked.

"Yeah." I scoffed as I walked away, he looked like a Playboy who was trying to catch its next prey.