Snow’s Point of View

The drive home from the doctor’s office was quiet. Dad and my brothers were unusually subdued, probably still processing what the doctor had said.

Karsten kept glancing at me through the rearview mirror, his lips pressed into a thin line.

“How do you feel now?” Zino asked softly from beside me.

“Better,” I lied. The truth was, my head still throbbed, and my chest felt heavy.

The doctor’s words played on repeat in my mind. Stress. Migraines. Rest. I wasn’t sure how to “rest” when my life felt like it was constantly spinning out of control.

“You’ll feel even better once you start the meds,” Zino added, offering me a small smile.

“Yeah,” I said, leaning my head against the window. The cool glass soothed my pounding head, but my thoughts were anything but calm.

The image of Kingston waiting outside the doctor’s office replayed in my mind.

I hadn’t expected to see him there, and part of me wondered if he’d been there for me or for some other reason. His words still echoed in my ears: “You okay, princess?”

Why did he care?

The car came to a stop, and I realized we were back home. Karsten turned in his seat to look at me. “You need anything, little sis?”

I shook my head, too tired to answer. Zino and Dimitrios helped me out of the car and up to my room, their concern hovering over me like a shadow.

---

I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling as the evening light filtered through the curtains. My new glasses sat on the nightstand, and the bottle of pills the doctor had prescribed sat beside them.

The house was quiet, but my mind wasn’t. Kingston’s smirk, his steady gaze, the way he had calmly brushed off my father’s hostility—it all stayed with me, refusing to fade into the background.

“She’s mine,” he had said, as if it were a simple fact.

I sighed, running a hand over my face. Why does he keep saying things like that?

A soft knock on the door interrupted my thoughts.

“Come in,” I called, sitting up slowly.

Dad stepped in, his expression softer than I expected. He closed the door behind him and crossed the room, sitting on the edge of my bed.

“How are you feeling?” he asked, his voice quiet.

I shrugged. “Tired. My head still hurts a little, but it’s not as bad.”

He nodded, his brow furrowing slightly. “I’m sorry, Snow. For everything. For not being here when you needed us.”

I blinked, caught off guard by his words.

“I know you’re upset,” he continued. “And you have every right to be. But I promise, we’ll do better. I’ll do better.”

His sincerity surprised me, and for the first time in days, the weight on my chest felt a little lighter. “Thanks, Dad,” I said softly.

He gave me a small smile, patting my hand before standing. “Get some rest. If you need anything, just call me.”

“I will,” I promised, watching as he left the room.

Once the door clicked shut, I lay back down, letting the silence envelop me.

---

Kingston’s Point of View

The soft glow of the streetlights reflected off the hood of my car as I parked a block away from Snow’s house.

I wasn’t sure why I was her something about seeing her earlier had unsettled me. She looked so tired, so vulnerable, and I hated it.

I leaned back in my seat, staring at the house. The lights in her room were still on, a faint shadow moving behind the curtains.

She’s fine, I told myself. She has her family. She doesn’t need you hovering like some overprotective idiot.

But the thought didn’t make me feel any better.

I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my messages. One from Nia caught my eye.

Nia: You still good for tomorrow?

I smirked, typing out a quick reply.

Me: Always.

Whatever was happening with Snow, I needed to stay focused. There were things in motion that couldn’t be ignored, no matter how much she lingered in my thoughts.

Still, as I started the car and drove away, I couldn’t shake the image of her standing in the parking lot, looking at me with those tired, confused eyes.

You’ll be mine, Snow, I thought, gripping the wheel tighter. Even if I have to break every rule to make it happen.