1. Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Mason

Six months later…

I shifted uncomfortably in a rigid airport seat while a million fucking noises all fought for my attention. Hurried footsteps, rolling suitcases, receipt printers, bags of chips, distant announcements, and, most notably, the crying baby across the aisle from me. His mother looked exhausted. She rocked her son diligently as he wailed his little lungs out.

The sight made me look down at my own swollen stomach. I placed a hand on the curve and wrinkled my nose. Should I offer to help the woman? Or would that do more harm than good?

“Mason, is everything alright?” A voice called from my headphones.

I had almost forgotten I was video chatting with my boyfriend. Sebastian’s face filled the screen as I lifted the phone, his warm smile instantly putting me at ease. The corners of his eyes crinkled as his arctic gaze bore into mine. In moments like these, I realized how lucky I was to have him in my life—the one person who would never abandon me, no matter the circumstance.

Sebastian and I had originally met during my first stint in America. I was dating his brother at the time, but Sebastian was convinced that I was meant to be with him. I spent years rejecting him, even after I moved to France. The fact that he still wanted me after all that was proof that he would always be there for me.

“There’s my princess.” He cradled his head in his hand, his fingers gently entwined in his cropped sunny-blonde hair. It was a familiar gesture that never failed to make me melt. I just wished his affection wasn’t based on obsession. It’d be nice if someone actually loved me, but that thought was neither here nor there.

I forced an award-winning smile at his words. Right now, I needed him.

A soft fluttering in my abdomen drew my attention as my daughter kicked at my palm.

We needed him.

“Hey, are you sure it’s okay with Lucian’s partner that I’m moving in?”

Was it even okay with Lucian?

“Do you need proof?” Sebastian snorted.

“If you wouldn’t mind...” I watched the blood rush to my cheeks in the self-view, filling the spaces between my freckles. “I think this pregnancy is driving me a little crazy.”

He shook his head. “You’re not crazy—you’re too considerate. It’s a good thing.”

His camera jostled as he stood up, sending my view into a disarray of colors before settling on an unflattering angle that showcased his blonde hair and a view of the ceiling. It was nice to see how comfortable he was with me.

My thoughts wandered to Sebastian’s current living situation, which I knew little about apart from the fact that he was renting an apartment within Lucian’s partner’s home. And that it was, in his words, nice , but that description left me with more questions than answers about a residence that would soon become my new temporary abode.

Curiosity sparked within me, and I couldn’t help but imagine the sprawling halls and opulent rooms that might await me. Would there be sunlit nooks filled with cozy reading chairs? Or perhaps a grand staircase leading to a balcony overlooking a serene garden? My imagination painted vivid pictures, blending reality and whimsy.

Lost in my musings, I shifted in my seat. It was thrilling to think about the new life that awaited me within those walls—the shared laughter, the late-night conversations, and the sense of belonging that would blossom within those hallowed spaces.

Once again, I was brought back to reality by Sebastian’s voice.

“Lucky!” he called.

I knew what was about to happen. He was talking to his brother, which meant Lucian needed to respond. And if we were going to live under the same roof, I had to be prepared to see him–prepared to not totally melt the second his dark gaze fixed on me.

“Quit fucking calling me that!”

Lucian’s deep timbre sent shivers down my spine, his tone as smooth as velvet yet laced with an undeniable edge. Hearing his voice after such a long time ignited a storm of emotions. Memories flooded back—laughter-filled adventures, shared secrets, and the unbreakable bond we once had. Lucian’s voice stirred a longing within me, a yearning to reconnect and bridge the gap that had grown between us over the years. Our relationship had left its mark, and while I hoped for a smooth reunion, I knew that wouldn’t be the case.

I wasn’t even sure how he’d reacted when I left. The day I saw him for the last time was a mess. After an unusually tense day for us, his father sat down to talk to me and me alone while Lucian showered. Then he read me a list of all the ways I had ruined his son’s life. It was four pages long, single-spaced, double-sided. And every word of it was true. That was why I left. It was in Lucian’s best interest—well, him and our then-girlfriend, Sophia. I knew they had each other, that their lives would be better without me. Neither of them could see that.

And now I was moving into Lucian’s house. What if Sophia was still his partner? The selfish part of me hoped she was.

Sebastian’s voice cut through my thoughts: “Are you one hundred percent sure you’re okay with my girlfriend moving in?”

A brief silence followed before Lucian’s deep laughter erupted from the phone’s speakers, filling the surrounding space. It was a sound that echoed with familiarity, carrying a mix of amusement and disbelief. I couldn’t help but feel nervous at his reaction, unsure of how he would take the news.

“Jesus Christ, you’re really taking this joke far.”

What joke?

“It’s not a joke—She’s at the airport right now; remember, we’re picking her up at the same time as your boyfriend.”

Oh. Sophia wasn’t his partner anymore.

“Oh, my god—Your Nigerian prince can move in.” Lucian snorted.

My heart stilled, ice flooding my veins as I realized the meaning behind those words. He had no idea Sebastian was dating me , just that he was dating someone long-distance. How could Sebastian not tell him?

“She’s French,” Sebastian corrected, Lucian’s joke whizzing over his head.

“Wait, if you’re on the phone, can I talk to her? Or do you have any pictures?”

“No, you can’t. She’s my girlfriend.”

Sebastian’s voice carried a hint of possessiveness as he asserted his claim over our relationship. His words reminded me that, despite the unresolved history between Lucian and me, that’s all he and I would ever be–history. Sebastian was my future.

Lucian’s laughter subsided, replaced by contemplative silence. When he finally spoke again, his voice held curiosity and caution.

“So, she’s really important to you, huh?”

Sebastian hesitated, pushing his glasses up as he thought.

“Fine,” Lucian yawned, “your oh-so-real girlfriend can move in. But you have three seconds to show me a picture, or I’m making it my life’s mission to steal her from you.”

“Sorry, princess.” Sebastian gulped, almost comically. “I gotta go.”

I started to reassure him that Lucian could never do something like that. But the screen went black, and the world went silent, leaving me to hope that those two could talk this out like the rational adults I knew neither of them were.