The car moved quietly through the night.
After a short discussion, they decided to drop Lily home first. She agreed almost too quickly. Right now, home felt like the only place where she could breathe without pretending.
Mira had grown quieter in the back seat.
Within minutes, her head tilted gently to the side, resting against the window. Her breathing became slow and even.
Lily glanced at her.
She looks peaceful, she thought softly.
Mira's hair had fallen across her cheek, her lips slightly parted in sleep. There was no tension in her expression. No unreadable thoughts behind her eyes.Just calm.
Lily's chest tightened faintly.
She reached up and loosened her braid. Somewhere between the theater and now, strands had slipped free. The hair tie came undone easily. Her hair fell over her shoulders in soft waves, brushing against her collarbone.
Cool night air drifted through the slightly open window, lifting a few strands around her face.
"So… Winslow."
Aiden's voice cut gently through the quiet.
She startled slightly.
"Yes?"
He kept his eyes on the road.
"Have you thought about the project I mentioned?"
Her heart skipped.
The project.
The artwork collaboration.
She stared at the reflection of his eyes in the rearview mirror.
It doesn't matter what happened tonight.
I like drawing. That hasn't changed.
Even if her heart hurt.
Even if it would hurt more.
Being near him… even for something simple like art… still felt worth it.
"…I'd like to join," she said finally, her voice steady despite the thoughts pressing against her ribs.
A small smile formed on his face.Not wide, just genuine—like he liked hearing that.
"I'm glad," he said softly. "I knew you'd choose that."
Her fingers tightened slightly over the fabric of her dress.
It might hurt… maybe more than I expect.
But being near you is enough for now.
The car slowed as they turned into her street.
Streetlights cast pale gold circles onto the pavement. The neighborhood was quiet. Most windows were dark.
Aiden parked smoothly near the entrance of her apartment building.
Neither of them spoke immediately.
They both glanced toward Mira, still asleep.
Without waking her, Aiden stepped out of the car first.
He walked around and opened Lily's door slowly, careful not to make noise.
She stepped out gently.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Her loose hair shimmered faintly under the moonlight, soft and unrestrained around her shoulders.
For a second—
No.
Longer than a second.
He looked at her.
Not casually.
His gaze moved slowly from her face to the strands of hair caught in the light.
Something unreadable flickered in his eyes.
And suddenly, the air between them felt a little too still.
"…I'm going then," she said quickly, avoiding his gaze. "Thank you for today. And tell Mira I said thank you too. Good night."
She turned to leave.
But before she could take more than two steps, he moved forward.
The sudden closeness made her freeze.
He slipped his coat off his shoulders and gently placed it around hers.
The fabric carried his warmth.His scent.
His fingers brushed dangerously close to the side of her neck as he adjusted the collar.
Close enough that she felt the warmth of his skin.
Close enough that she could feel the faint tremor in her own breath.
Her heartbeat stuttered.
His hand paused there for half a second too long.
"I'll walk you to the door," he said quietly. "It's dark."
She glanced around.The street was empty and Silent.
It wasn't truly dangerous.
"It's okay," she tried gently. "I can go alone, It's near—"
"But I'm not okay with that."
He cut her off softly.
There was something different in his voice.
His voice wasn't loud.
But it carried something firm.
He looked at her directly now.
His gaze steady.
Holding hers without moving away.
And she couldn't argue with that tone.
"…Okay," she whispered.
They began walking side by side.
The street was quiet except for the faint hum of distant traffic. Gravel shifted softly beneath their shoes.
Being near him like this felt safe.
And painful at the same time.
"Winslow."
The way he said her name was warmer than before.
"Yes?"
"Let's start the artwork Monday."
She nodded.
"And… can I get your number?"
She stopped walking for a fraction of a second.
"My number?"
"For project updates," he said smoothly. Then, with a faint teasing curve to his lips, "And maybe to talk sometimes."
Her heart reacted before her mind could.
"Oh… okay."
He handed her his phone.
She held it with both hands carefully, as if it were fragile glass.
She typed slowly.
Concentrating too hard.
Her eyelashes lowered as she focused on the screen.
She didn't see him watching her.
Didn't see the way his gaze softened slightly as he observed the careful way she pressed each digit.
Didn't see how his shoulders eased just a little.
"There," she said, handing the phone back.
Their fingers brushed again.
He typed something quickly on his screen.
A faint, almost hidden smirk touched the corner of his mouth.
They resumed walking.
"So… the movie was a bit too sad for you?" he asked gently.
"I'm just sensitive to love stories," she answered honestly.
He studied her face briefly.
"Then next time, we'll watch something with a happy ending."
Next time.
The words echoed.
She glanced at him.
"Okay," she said softly.
They were almost at the apartment gate now.
"Do you live with your parents?" he asked.
"No, with my baby—"
She stopped mid-sentence.
Her breath caught.
Just beyond the gate, under the dim entrance light, stood a familiar figure.
Julian.
Her stepbrother.
Hands in his pockets.
Leaning slightly against the wall.
Her breath faltered.Then sped up, light and uneven.
She hadn't expected him.
"Thank you for walking me," she said quickly, almost rushing the words. "This is my apartment. Good night."
She didn't look at Aiden again.
She hurried forward toward Julian.
Aiden's expression shifted the moment he saw him.
Subtle. But unmistakable.
His shoulders straightened.
His gaze sharpened—no longer relaxed.
He watched Lily move toward Julian a little too quickly.
"Baby…?" he muttered under his breath.
Julian lifted his head as Lily reached him.
His eyes passed over her and locked onto Aiden. The look was sharp, cold, leaving no room for warmth or curiosity. Aiden didn't look away, his gaze steady and unyielding.
For a few seconds, the air between them hummed with unspoken tension, measured and silent.
Then Lily turned slightly toward Julian, her body angled away from Aiden as if placing distance between two worlds.
And under the quiet moonlight—
The tension no longer belonged only to her heart.
Lily slowed her steps when she reached Julian.
Her breathing was still uneven from the small run toward him. The night air felt thinner in her lungs, as if something had tightened quietly inside her chest.
"Julian… what are you doing here?" she asked, brushing a strand of hair away from her face.
He looked at her first, his eyes holding hers for a moment longer than expected. Not past her. Not at Aiden. Just her.
"Oh," he said softly, almost apologetically. "Sorry, Lily. I came without telling you."
His voice was gentle, The kind of tone that used to make her feel safe when she was younger.
For a moment, she forgot Aiden was still standing behind her.
Forgot the charged silence between two men who had just measured each other without speaking.
"That's fine," she replied quickly, trying to steady her breath. "Come inside."
She gestured toward the building entrance.
Julian shook his head slowly.
"No. I only came for a bit." He turned toward his car and opened the back door. "Mother sent you some clothes. She said to give them to you. And… I added a few things too."
He lifted two medium-sized bags carefully, holding them as if they contained something fragile.
Mother sent me clothes?
Her fingers curled slightly against her palm.
"Why suddenly…?" she asked, unable to hide the confusion in her voice.
Julian stepped closer and handed her the bags. His hands brushed hers briefly. His touch was warm. Steady.
"There's no special reason," he said with a small smile. "She just wanted to. I think she misses you."
The word misses pressed against her ribs in a strange way.
"And," he added after a small pause, his eyes softening, "I hope you come back home someday."
That hope was clear in his expression.
But Lily felt something inside her quietly resist.
She did not answer that part.
Instead, she forced a small smile.
"Tell Mom I said thank you. And… thank you too."
"You don't have to thank me," he said gently, lifting his hand and resting it on top of her head for a moment. His fingers moved lightly through her hair, a familiar gesture from years ago. "I just did this for my sister."
The word sister settled between them.
Then his gaze shifted slightly.
His voice changed almost imperceptibly.
"And who was that guy?"
Reality returned like cold water.
Oh—Aiden, she thought, heart skipping.
She glanced back instinctively.
But Aiden was no longer there.
The street looked emptier now.
Of course he wouldn't stay.
"He's my friend," she said honestly. "Other one is in the car too. He just walked me to the gate."
Julian studied her face for a second longer than necessary.
"Oh," he nodded slowly. "You're making friends. That's good. I'm happy for you."
There was a softness in his tone.
But something beneath it felt observant.
He stepped back toward his car.
"Stay safe," he said warmly. "Call me anytime if you need anything."
She nodded.
He waited until she entered the building before driving away.
Inside her room, Lily placed the bags on her bed without opening them.
She didn't have the energy.
Max ran toward her immediately, his small paws tapping against the floor in quick rhythm.
She crouched down and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face into his soft fur. He smelled faintly like shampoo and warmth and home.
"So many things happened today, baby," she murmured into his fur.
Max wagged his tail and licked her cheek as if trying to erase whatever tension remained.
"I'm fine," she added quietly.
But the words did not feel true.
Morning came gently.
Routine took over like a protective layer.
She woke up. Washed her face. Prepared breakfast. Fed Max. Avoided thinking.
Night came again, and she opened her diary.
The pages absorbed everything.
The movie.
The way Aiden said her name.
The coat around her shoulders.
Julian's words.
She wrote until her hand slowed.
Then she slept.
And this time—
She forced herself not to think about Aiden.
Not about Mira.
Not about anyone.
---
Morning returned with the sharp sound of her alarm.
She sat up slowly, blinking against the pale sunlight filtering through her curtains.
After washing and eating, she stood in front of her wardrobe.
Her eyes drifted toward the unopened bags.
For a moment, she hesitated.
Then she walked toward them and opened one carefully.
Inside, neatly folded, were clothes chosen with attention to detail.
She lifted one outfit slowly.
A cropped chocolate-brown utility jacket, structured and slightly rugged, the fabric thick beneath her fingers. Underneath it, an ivory dress flowed down in soft cascading lace tiers. The ruffled hem felt delicate, almost porcelain-like when she touched it. A braided leather belt with long tassels completed it.
She changed.
The jacket sat perfectly on her shoulders. The belt hugged her waist just right.
She turned slightly in front of the mirror.
"It fits my size…" she whispered, surprised.
The girl looking back seemed softer.
More composed.
"Don't I look perfect, Max?" she asked, hugging him gently.
Max barked softly as if agreeing.
She smiled faintly.
She walked toward the bus stop, her steps unsteady.
The bus was crowded.
As always.
She squeezed inside carefully, her fingers gripping the metal pole above her head. The smell of perfume, detergent, and morning coffee mixed in the tight space. Someone's bag brushed against her arm repeatedly. A sudden brake made her stumble forward slightly before regaining balance.
"Why is it always like this…" she murmured under her breath.
By the time she stepped off near campus, her forehead was lightly damp from the heat inside.
"Finally," she exhaled, wiping her face with the back of her hand.
She looked ahead.
And froze slightly.
Mira stood near the entrance, scrolling through her phone.
"Mira—"
But her voice stopped.
Because she felt it.
Behind her—
Aiden.
And Jake.
Aiden was looking at his phone too, brows drawn together slightly, as if something concerned him.
Lily's steps slowed.
"I have to act normal," she told herself quietly. "Nothing happened."
Her fingers tightened slightly around the strap of her bag.
She lowered her gaze and began walking forward.
"Lily."
The first call was soft.
"LILY."
The second one clearer.
She lifted her head.
Her eyes met his immediately.
Not Mira, not Jake.
Aiden.
He was looking directly at her.
And then—
He smiled.
Not the easy, teasing smile from yesterday.
Slower. Deliberate.
It reached his eyes, and she felt her chest tighten, like she'd been caught off guard.
The tension in his expression eased as if something had settled the moment he saw her.
Her heartbeat changed rhythm.
It didn't race wildly.It deepened.
Like something sinking too fast inside her chest.
How am I supposed to survive that smile…
Her fingers trembled slightly before she forced them still.
She walked closer.
Trying to look calm.
Trying to breathe normally.
But every step felt louder in her own ears.
And she knew—
Whatever she had tried to bury last night—
Had just risen again.
End of chapter 28