Astra’s POV

I didn’t answer.

Nolan exhaled hard, his tone softening. “If this is about Anna and the ambush—I get it. Me and Riven—we screwed up. We should’ve been there for you. But Astra… think about it. You had your parents, right? You had us too. Anna had no one. We had to protect her.”

He took a step closer. “And about her birthday—think how many people were watching. If I didn’t insist you apologize, what would they think? You know how much reputation matters in our world.”

Still, I said nothing.

Nolan’s voice dropped again, almost coaxing. “Come on, Astra. You’re the one I love. You’re the one I want to marry. Anna? She’ll always be an outsider. We’re going to be a family.”

A pause.

“How about this—come with me to my mother’s party tomorrow night? I’ve got a surprise for you.”

I hesitated. Right—Nolan’s mother. She’d always been kind to me, treated me like a daughter even before Nolan and I were official. And now that I was leaving the city for good… the least I could do was give her a proper goodbye—and an explanation.

“Alright,” I said quietly.

Nolan’s face lit up. He probably took my answer as forgiveness. He didn’t even seem to be mad about the ruined photos in the trash anymore.

“I’ll pick you up myself,” he said, smiling, and leaned in, trying to kiss me like nothing had changed.

I turned my head just in time, and his lips brushed empty air.

…

I wasn’t planning to impress anyone tonight, so I slipped into a simple silver gown and added just a hint of makeup.

“I’ve arrived. Come out when you’re ready,” Nolan’s text read.

I stepped outside, heading toward the first car. But Nolan stopped me, his expression stiff—awkward.

I frowned.

Then Anna’s voice drifted from inside the car. “Astra!”

I froze.

Anna was already seated in the front car.

I turned to Nolan, my voice caught somewhere between disbelief and exhaustion. “What is happening?”

If Anna was already with him, why did he bother picking me up? Was I supposed to play the fool again?

Nolan leaned in, voice low. “You knew Anna had been staying at my Manor recently. I didn’t plan to bring her tonight. But she saw me getting ready, so…”

Of course good-hearted Nolan couldn’t say no to poor, helpless Anna. And now she was riding in the first car, like she was the guest he’d personally chosen to bring to the party.

Riven stuck his head out of the window. “I’m not sitting with the mean queen. Put her in the second car, Nolan.”

Nolan hesitated for a second, then pointed to the car behind the first.

“It’s just a twenty-minute ride. Nothing will go wrong.” He looked at me. “Please?”

The second car was older, a little dingy.

But I didn’t hesitate. I walked over and got in.

It was too late to call my own driver, and Nolan was right—it was only twenty minutes.

What could possibly go wrong?

…

I realized how wrong I was just ten minutes later.

A black car had been following us for a while. At first, I thought I was imagining it. But at every light, every turn, it stayed locked behind the second car like a shadow.

The driver was just about to cross the intersection when the light turned red, so he stopped.

Nolan’s car had already made it past the crosswalk. I reached for my phone, wanting to tell him to wait—just to stay close, in case.

But Nolan didn’t answer.

That’s when the black car pulled up beside us. A man rolled down the back window.

I saw a mask—then the glint of a gun. Before I could move, the shot rang out. My driver slumped forward, blood blooming across his shirt.

And Nolan’s car? It kept going. No brakes. No turning back. Not even a pause. Just… gone.

I scrambled for my phone, hands shaking, breath caught in my throat. I didn’t even manage to dial before another shot cracked the air.

I ducked on instinct, but the bullet still tore through my shoulder, slicing just beneath the collarbone. The pain was instant—blinding—a white-hot burn that knocked the breath from my lungs.

Just when I thought it might be the end, I heard it—shouting, the thud of fists, the sound of a struggle.

Then... silence.

A second later, the handle on my door was yanked open. Light spilled through the crack.

“Please, don’t hurt me!”

“It’s okay now.” A man stood there, silhouetted against the glow of streetlights. He extended a hand toward me. “Are you hurt? The gunman’s been taken care of. You’re safe.”

I hesitated, still curled beneath the seat. But when I reached up, his hand was warm and strong.

He pulled me out gently.

I blinked against the light, and that’s when I saw him clearly—sharp jawline, slicked-back hair, a perfectly tailored black suit. And those eyes, blue, striking, but oddly familiar.

“Thank you…” I murmured, glancing at the lifeless body on the ground. The gun still clutched in the man’s limp hand.

If this man hadn’t shown up, I would’ve died in that car today.

“Have we met before?” I asked, reluctant.

There was something about him—something familiar I couldn’t place. I’d seen him before. I was sure of it.

But every time I tried to remember, pain lanced through my skull, sharp and blinding.

“Thank you for saving me. I’m Astra Quinn. What’s your name?” I asked again, steadier this time.

He smiled faintly and shook his head. “Not important right now. Let’s get you to a hospital.”

The mention of it brought everything back at once.

The adrenaline drained from my body, and the pain came rushing in—hot and raw, blooming from my shoulder like fire.

I staggered slightly.

He caught me. “I’ve got you,” he said softly

Astra’s POV

I’d been in the hospital for two days.

Luckily, the bullet hadn’t hit anything vital. It didn’t go in deep, either. A few stitches, some pain meds, and I was sent home to rest.

I postponed the moving company and decided to stay a few more days.

This morning, I was curled up on the sofa, reading in the living room when a sharp knock rattled the front door.

I pulled the door open—and there stood Nolan and Riven on the porch.

“Astra,” Nolan snapped, “do you have any idea how humiliated I was at my mother’s party? I told everyone, especially my mother, that you were coming, and you just—disappeared. Was that your way of punishing me for letting Anna ride with me?”

Riven chimed in, voice dripping with contempt. “Classic Astra. Our Quinn princess. So self-absorbed it kills her to see someone else get attention. News flash—I don’t like selfish people either.”

Neither of them seemed noticed the bandage on my shoulder.

But I was done staying silent.

“I got shot, Nolan.” My voice was flat. “If you gave a damn about me, maybe you would’ve noticed that the second car was being followed. And Riven—your commentary is getting old. Being blind and arrogant isn’t any better than being selfish.”

They both froze.

Nolan’s face paled. “What? You—you got shot? Why didn’t you call me?” He stepped toward me, reaching for the bandage like he still had the right to touch me.

Riven flushed red. “Fuck, I am sorry. I didn’t knew…You should’ve told us. I really didn’t know…”

I turned and walked back to the sofa without another word.

…

They didn’t leave.

For the rest of the day, Nolan and Riven hovered around me like shadows. Nolan kept bringing me water and peeled fruit, asking if I was too cold, too hot, in pain. Riven paced the kitchen, calling chefs and arranging dinner.

“Astra, is the water too cold? I can warm it,” Nolan said.

“Astra, the chef’s on his way. He can do Spanish or Chinese. What do you want?” Riven added.

I didn’t answer either of them. Because the truth was—they hadn’t even noticed I was gone for two whole days. And now they were here, throwing guilt, offering food, acting like nothing had happened.

But something did happen—I was nearly killed twice. And now, nothing they say or do will ever make me see them the same way again.

If I’m being honest, everything they did now just felt like noise—a heavy, unwelcome weight I no longer cared to carry.

“You two can leave now,” I said calmly. “I’m not Anna—I don’t need two men hovering around like I’ll fall apart without you.”

“Astra, don’t be like this…” Nolan dropped to his knees. I didn’t even look at him.

Riven stepped in, frowning. “I know I haven’t been the best friend lately. But even you have to admit—you’ve been a little hard on Anna. I was just standing up for her.”

I laughed, “Hard on her? Which one of your eyes saw me lay a hand on her, Riven? Every word you’ve ever ‘known’ came from someone else’s mouth. If we’re talking about bullying—letting me be taken by my family’s rival gang and watching it happen in silence? That’s bullying.”

The room fell quiet.

Nolan looked away. Riven’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t say another word back.

Still, they didn’t leave.

They lingered like ghosts—setting tea on the table, fluffing pillows, following me with their eyes whenever I so much as stood up from the sofa.

…

Riven had brought in a chef from a Michelin-starred kitchen, after all. Food was delicious. And I wasn’t about to punish myself by skipping the meal—so I let myself enjoy it instead.

I was just finishing dessert when the doorbell rang again.

I didn’t need to guess. There was only one possibility.

“Hey, Astra,” Anna’s voice chimed as the door opened, too sweet, too on time. “I hope I’m not disturbing anything. Nolan texted me… said you were injured. So I thought I’d stop by.”

“Astra,” she said, sliding into a seat, “how are you feeling?”

“Good until I saw you.”

She let out a small, awkward laugh. “I wasn’t going to come by. I know you probably don’t want to see me—”

“Don’t say things like that,” Nolan cut in smoothly, already at her side. “None of us would ever turn you away. Astra was just joking.”

“That’s right,” Riven added. “Don’t be silly.”

I didn’t say another word, just looked at Anna.

She looked right back.

I raised an eyebrow. Anna didn’t flinch. She probably knew I saw through her now—every crocodile tear, every breathless act of innocence.

And yet she blinked those wide, doll-like eyes and said softly, “I guess I was just feeling a little emotional. Tomorrow’s my parents’ death anniversary. I didn’t want to be alone.”

Riven was the first to react, patting her back like she was made of glass.

Nolan stood and walked to her side. “You’re not alone, Anna,” he said softly. “Stay here tonight—so the four of us can be together.”

Anna turned to him. “Can I?”

Nolan smiled. “Of course.”

Then Nolan looked at me, eyebrows drawn—a silent cue for me to say yes.

I stayed quiet, ignoring him.

The tension thickened. And just before it could snap, the doorbell rang again.

This was unusual. I didn’t usually get this many guests in a week, let alone in one evening.

Riven went to answer it. A moment later, he returned, carrying a large, elegant box.

“This was just delivered,” he said. “For you, Astra.”

He placed it on the table.

I opened it without thinking.

Inside was a silver lace wedding gown. Delicate. Exquisite. Lying beneath it, a brilliant diamond necklace. On top of everything, a small card, handwritten in neat, masculine script:

You look good in silver. —Silas Monroe

My breath caught.

Silver. The dress I wore the night I was saved. That man… the one who pulled me from the wreckage, who said I was safe now.

Could it be? Could he be the fiancé I’d never met?

What were the odds?

Nolan leaned over, his voice wary. “Is this… a wedding dress?”

Riven stepped closer. “Why would someone send you a wedding dress?”

I lifted the gown and held it up to myself, smiling faintly. “For a wedding, of course.”

They both stared. “A wedding?” they echoed.

Nolan lost his composure for the first time all night. He grabbed my wrist, forcing me to face him, “What wedding?” he demanded. “What are you talking about, Astra?”