O
3/3
< 27
+25 Points
27
Kaida
When we finally got home, I felt the day’s activities settle over me like a heavy blanket. It had been an emotional rollercoaster–meeting Bastian’s mother, dealing with her veiled hostility, and now trying to make sense of my own feelings. But as I closed the door behind me, I let out a long breath, grateful to be back in the comfort of our home.
Dahlia glanced over at me as she kicked off her shoes, her eyes full of concern. “You okay?”
I nodded, forcing a small smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just… processing everything.”
She came over and gave me a quick hug. “Take it easy tonight. If you need me, I’ll be in my room. Ben’s coming over later, so I’ll be up for a bit.”
“Thanks,” I said, hugging her back. “I’ll be fine.”
Dahlia smiled before heading to her room, and I made my way to mine, hoping to find some peace and quiet for the evening. I had barely settled into bed when my phone buzzed on the nightstand. I glanced at the screen and saw Bastian’s name flash across it. My heart gave a small flutter, the kind that still surprised me after everything we’d been through recently.
I answered quickly, trying to keep my voice steady. “Hey, Bastian.”
“Kaida,” he said, his voice smooth and warm, instantly putting me at ease. “I just wanted to check on you and the twins. How are you feeling?”
I smiled, placing a hand on my growing belly. “We’re good. They’ve been kicking a lot today.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Bastian said, and I could hear the genuine care in his voice. “You’re taking care of yourself, right?”
“Yes, Bastian,” I said, feeling a little smile tug at my lips. “I’m doing my best. Don’t worry about us.” There was a pause on his end before he spoke again. “My mother sends her regards.”
My heart skipped a beat at his words, the memory of Helena’s sharp tone still fresh in my mind. I hesitated, part of me wanting to tell him what had really happened during our meeting. But I couldn’t. I didn’t want to create tension between him and his mother, especially since I wasn’t even sure how serious things were between us yet. It wasn’t my place to come between them.
“That’s… nice of her,” I said instead, my voice a little too light to sound convincing.
Bastian didn’t seem to notice, or if he did, he didn’t comment on it. “I’ll make sure she gets a chance to spend more time with you. She just needs time to warm up.”
1/3
< 27
$25 Points
I bit my lip, not sure what to say. If only he knew. But I kept my thoughts to myself, deciding it was better to avoid causing any friction.
“Thanks,” I said softly. “I appreciate that.”
After a few more minutes of small talk, we hung up, and I set the phone down on the bed beside me, my mind still buzzing with thoughts. I liked Bastian. A lot. He was kind, attentive, and had gone out of his way to make me feel safe. But his mother… she was going to be a problem. I could feel it in my bones. And no matter how much I tried to ignore it, her words had left a mark.
I sighed, closing my eyes for a moment and letting my thoughts drift. But as much as I tried to focus on Bastian and the future, my mind kept wandering back to the past. To him.
Kaelen.
I hadn’t thought about him in days, or at least I’d tried not to. But now, as I lay in bed, curiosity gnawed at me. What was he doing? Was he happy? Married to Alara Snow, probably living the perfect life I could never give him. The thought made my chest ache, even though I had no right to feel that way. He had moved on, and I needed to do the same.
Without thinking too much about it, I grabbed my phone again and scrolled through my contacts until I found Kaelen’s number. It wasn’t hard to find, but I hesitated for a moment, my finger hovering over the call button. This was a terrible idea. But something inside me–maybe a part of me that wasn’t quite ready to let go–pushed me to press it.
The phone rang once. Twice. My heart pounded in my chest as I waited, not even sure what I was going to say if he picked up. Maybe I wouldn’t say anything. Maybe I’d just hang up. But before I could make a decision, the line clicked, and his voice came through.
“Hello?” Kaelen’s voice was low, rough, and… surprisingly, distraught.
I froze, not saying a word. The sound of his voice sent a rush of emotions through me, ones I wasn’t ready to confront. But I couldn’t speak. What would I even say?
“Hello?” he repeated, a hint of frustration in his tone. “Who is this?”
I bit my lip, my heart racing as I remained silent. Why had I even called him? What had I been hoping to accomplish? This was ridiculous.
Then, in the silence that followed, I heard him say her name.
“Alara?”
The sound of her name snapped me out of whatever foolish fantasy I had been entertaining. Of course. He thought it was her. He was probably with her, living his perfect little life, and here I was, stupid enough to call him, thinking I still had a place in his world.
WED
2/3
|||
O
<
< 27
+25 Points
Before he could say anything else, I hung up the phone, my hand shaking as I tossed it onto the bed. I was such an i***t. What had I been thinking?
My heart pounded in my chest as I stared at the ceiling, trying to calm myself down. Kaelen was fine. He was probably happy. And I was foolish to have bothered reaching out, even anonymously. He didn’t need me in his life, and I didn’t need him in mine.
I rubbed a hand over my belly, feeling the gentle movement of the twins within me. This was my focus now–my babies, my future. Not Kaelen. He had made his choice, and I needed to move on,
for good this time.
But even as I told myself that, I couldn’t shake the lingering ache in my chest. It wasn’t that I wanted him back–not really. I had Bastian now, someone who actually cared about me, who
of wanted to be there for me. But there was still something about Kaelen, some unfinished part my
heart that hadn’t quite let go.
“Stupid,” I muttered to myself, rolling over in bed and pulling the blankets up around me. “You’re stupid for even thinking about him.”
As I lay there in the dark, I promised myself that I wouldn’t think about Kaelen again. It was time to let go, to focus on the future, and to stop looking back. But deep down, I knew it wouldn’t be that easy. Because no matter how much I wanted to forget him, a part of me was still tied to the past, to what we once had–and to what could have been.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
