It was seven o'clock when I took Felix out for a walk. I tried to fill the evening air with lighthearted stories—silly moments from the time before he was in my life. I wanted to see him smile, and finally, I did. That genuine smile of his, unguarded and sincere, lit up something inside me I hadn't felt in a long time.
His favorite story was the one about the unplugged printer. I had no idea how to turn it on and ended up living with it for nearly twenty minutes before a kind co-worker rescued me. Felix pushed his thick black hair back from his forehead, eyes still twinkling with laughter.
"I missed that feeling. I missed it so damn much," he said quietly, his voice heavy with something like relief. "Being down all the time... it really sucks."
I looked at him with all the care I could muster and reached out to take his hand. Our fingers intertwined naturally, like they were always meant to fit together.
"You'll overcome this, Felix," I promised him, my voice steady though my heart felt like it might break. "And I'll be here to help you every step of the way. I swear I'll make sure there's a smile on your face every single day." His fingers squeezed mine tightly, a silent vow.
"You really are my reward in this cursed life," he whispered, his eyes softening. "I'm glad I have you, Selena."
I smiled back, the kind of smile that came from deep inside, one that carried hope and promises.
"I'm glad you're with me too."
We walked down the sidewalk together, and then I saw it—a playground, lit softly by the evening sun. My heart fluttered, and my eyes shone with a sudden joy.
"No way," Felix said, shaking his head firmly. "We're way too old for that."
I gave him my most innocent, childlike look, lips pursed just enough to be irresistible.
"Selena, seriously? What if someone sees us?"
I grinned and shrugged. "Doesn't matter. There's a child inside each of us, isn't there?"
After a moment's hesitation, he gave in, and I pulled him toward the playground. As I sat down on a swing, memories from my childhood flooded back, warm and bittersweet. How desperately I wished I could go back—just for one day—to live carefree, to breathe in the simple happiness of those moments. Back then, I never appreciated it. Now, I ached for it.
I swung gently, letting out little joyful sounds, doing everything I could to make Felix laugh. I wanted to keep that smile on his face, to push away the shadows that haunted him.
He glanced at me with mock pity, looking sideways as if to check if anyone was watching.
"Could you be a little quieter?" he teased, hiding his face behind his hand. But I could see the laugh threatening to break free behind his eyes.
I frowned when he suddenly pulled out his phone and began recording me.
"Are you making fun of me?"
He grinned. "I'm going to send this to Lucas and ask if you're really the right person to take care of me. He might start doubting you after seeing this."
I stopped swinging and settled back, still sitting on the swing, and asked softly, "Would you like to meet Mike?"
His face changed—surprise, confusion mixing in his gaze.
"Why all of a sudden?"
"Because he misses you. He wants to see you and talk like old times."
For a moment, I saw hesitation cloud his eyes. I worried he wouldn't want to, even though I had arranged for friends to come soon.
"If it's hard, I'll tell them the truth," I thought to myself.
"I'd like to meet him and talk," he admitted quietly. "He was my best friend. But... I'm ashamed to show myself like this."
"There's no shame, Felix," I said, reaching out to lift his chin so he would meet my eyes. "A true friend sticks by us no matter what."
He looked away, doubt flickering in his gaze.
"Don't you think I'm a freak? I was popular, cool... I thought he stopped seeing me as his best buddy."
I shook my head gently. "If he thought that, he wouldn't have insisted on seeing you."
After a long pause, he nodded.
"Okay. I'll meet him. I think I want to."
"Good," I said with a smile as a family approached the playground. Lily, full of joy, ran toward me and wrapped her tiny arms around my legs.
"Auntie, I missed you so much."
"I missed you too, baby."
Felix turned toward Mike, barely noticing Eve walking beside him. Felix had always disliked her, unable to understand how Mike could be with someone like her.
Mike approached Felix with a warm, brotherly hug.
"There wasn't a day I wasn't worried about you, bastard."
Eve passed by me, wearing a contrite expression as she stood by her child. I knew she still felt guilty about secretly dating Sebastian. She seemed to have come to her senses, but forgiveness felt impossible. My anger was still burning.
"I promise I'll never make that mistake again, seriously," she whispered to me. "Please don't be angry anymore, Selena. I'm ashamed enough."
I stared at her coldly. "If you lost Mike because of that, and wrecked your family, I'd kill you with my bare hands."
"Auntie, are you threatening Mom?" Lily asked loudly, making Mike and Felix glance at us with curiosity.
I stroked Lily's hair. "Sometimes you have to be mean to your mother to make her come to her senses."
Lily pulled away, pouting indignantly.
"I don't like your behavior, Auntie. Mom's weird, but you have to respect her."
Felix suddenly burst into laughter—genuinely, freely. For the first time in so long, something made him laugh until tears came to his eyes.
"Your daughter is very charming," he said.
"She's just like her father," Mike replied, putting his hands to his face. "Remember how cute I was in high school?"
They crouched down on the sand and started catching up on lost years. I watched them, silently scolding Mike with my eyes.
"Well, forgive me already," Eve said, puffing out her lips. "You know I love you more than life. You mean so much to me."
I narrowed my eyes. "I'll give you one last chance, scumbag. Screw it up, and you won't see me again."
Both Eve and Mike knew the truth about Felix's parents—that they were alive but had to pretend everything was fine because of his illness. That was the condition I set for them to see him.
*
From Lucas' perspective
After meeting the man who supposedly watched over my interests in New York, I lingered in the bar a while longer, letting the weight of everything settle in as I slowly sipped on whiskey over ice. My mind felt foggy, like sinking deeper and deeper with every swallow, hoping the alcohol might offer some kind of clarity—or at least numb the confusion.
I didn't know what the hell to do. They needed me back urgently, pulling me in from every side, but bringing Felix along was impossible. It would only make things worse for him. And even though being away from his mother would hurt, now that Selena was back by his side and fighting alongside him, I knew removing that lifeline could shatter him again.
Another thought gnawed at me—the idea of talking to Selena. Maybe I could propose that we leave together. She had nothing holding her here in Los Angeles—no job, no ties. Honestly, I didn't like her much, but if she was near Felix, I could probably hook her up with a decent job. At least that way, she'd be useful.
I pulled my phone out of my jacket pocket and raised an eyebrow when a video from my younger brother popped up on the screen. Watching him laugh, I had to wonder if she was really the right person for Felix. Honestly, I thought she had her own demons to wrestle with.
Still, the sight of my brother's laughter tugged at something inside me. Maybe that was a good sign.
"You bastard," I muttered under my breath, remembering how fate had thrown us back together after he'd tossed me out of the car like garbage.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of her—the girl who turned every head the moment she walked in. She stood next to me, those piercing eyes electrifying me with their intensity.
In a surprisingly short time, I'd managed to make her my plaything. But with Felix's return, my time for her had disappeared. My focus was on my brother, trapped in a nightmare I didn't fully understand.
"Hannah," I muttered, barely registering the sound before she grabbed my glass of whiskey and poured the entire contents right over me.
This girl had guts. I admired that about her from the very first meeting. But I didn't like being humiliated, especially not soaked in whiskey in front of a bar full of strangers.
Wiping the burning liquid off my face, I stood up and grabbed her hand, pulling her close so I could look her in the eyes—agitated, sharp, and unsettled.
"You overdid it, rat," I said through clenched teeth.
She smirked, unfazed. "Compared to what you did to me? This is nothing. I was alone in some strange place, at night, no way home."
"With your temper? I figured you'd handle it."
"No, you're wrong," she said, and for the first time, tears welled in her eyes. I was stunned. "I was scared shitless. I was terrified."
I stared at her, searching those fearless eyes that now trembled just a little. She didn't look away.
"I don't get it… You wanted to get away from me. I only took you hostage, wanted to play. I didn't expect Selena herself to send my brother packing."
"Then you're one unlucky bastard," she shot back, "because you managed to get under my skin."
I blinked, fighting back a laugh that finally burst free. "What, Stockholm syndrome? You got attached to me that fast?"
"It's not a joke. I don't know what happened, but I can't stop thinking about you. I'm the type who pounces on guys, hard as a rock—so what the hell happened with you?"
I rolled my eyes, convinced she was just like every other girl who fell for the surface—the looks, the money.
"You just felt like you could be someone with me. That's all," I said, letting go of her hand and starting to walk away.
Then she shouted across the bar, loud and clear:
"Think what you want, but I don't let go that easily! You turned my head, Lucas. You're going to be mine!"
With my back to her, I smiled quietly to myself.
"Don't get ahead of yourself, rat. I'm heading back to New York soon anyway."
I left the bar, knowing she'd let it go—eventually.
Because honestly? I didn't like girls who lost their heads over me so damn fast.