Alyssa York POV:
"New beginnings," I whispered, staring at Kristin's post. The caption mocked me, a digital echo of my own fractured reality. The warmth I'd felt in the night, the ghost of Dayton's lips on my temple—it was all a cruel illusion, or worse, a subconscious manipulation by a mind desperate for affection. It didn't matter. The truth was staring me in the face: he was with her. He chose her. Again.
A strange calmness settled over me, colder and harder than the despair I'd felt before. This wasn't just sadness; it was clarity. The three-month countdown wasn't a waiting period anymore; it was a sentence I was serving. But I wouldn't serve it as a victim.
I threw the blanket off and stood up, my joints stiff from the hard floor. I showered, scrubbing my skin until it tingled, as if I could wash away the phantom sensation of his touch. I dressed in a sharp, slate-grey suit, tailored to perfection. No more demure dresses. No more softness. Today, I was an architect. I was a York.
When I walked into the breakfast room, Dayton was already there, sipping coffee, his eyes glued to his tablet. He looked impeccable, as always, betraying no hint of a late night or early morning escapade. Jerald Cole sat at the head of the table, looking pleased.
"Good morning, Alyssa," Jerald boomed. "You look... resolute today."
"Good morning, Grandfather," I replied, my voice steady. I poured myself coffee, black, and sat opposite Dayton. I didn't look at him.
Dayton finally glanced up, his gaze flickering over my suit. "Going to war?" he asked, his tone light but his eyes sharp.
"Something like that," I said, taking a sip. "I have a site visit for the sustainable housing project. It requires practical attire."
"Ah, yes," Jerald nodded. "Your project. Albin was telling me about it. Very impressive work, Alyssa. Perhaps Dayton could learn a thing or two about sustainable integration from you."
Dayton's jaw tightened. "My focus is on scalability and tech infrastructure, Grandfather. Not... aesthetics."
"Sustainability isn't just aesthetics, Dayton," I cut in, my voice cool. "It's the future. If Cole Industries ignores it, you'll be left behind."
Silence fell over the table. It was the first time in years I had openly challenged him on business matters in front of his grandfather. Dayton stared at me, a flicker of surprise in his eyes quickly replaced by annoyance.
"Is that your professional opinion?" he asked, his voice low.
"It is," I said, meeting his gaze head-on. "And it's one shared by the market."
Jerald chuckled, breaking the tension. "She has you there, boy. Listen to your wife. She's sharp."
After breakfast, as I was heading to my car, Dayton caught up with me. He grabbed my arm, spinning me around. His grip was firm, not gentle.
"What was that in there?" he hissed, his eyes blazing.
"Professional discourse," I replied, yanking my arm free. "Or is that not allowed in our 'arrangement'?"
"You're pushing it, Alyssa," he warned. "Grandfather might be charmed, but I see what you're doing. Trying to undermine me?"
"I don't need to undermine you, Dayton," I said, my voice dripping with ice. "You're doing a fine job of that yourself with your late-night excursions and public scandals. I'm just doing my job."
He stepped closer, invading my personal space. "My 'excursions' are none of your business."
"They are when they end up on social media for the world to see," I shot back, holding up my phone with Kristin's post displayed. " 'Quiet moments that heal.' Very poetic. Did you write that for her?"
His face paled slightly, his eyes darting to the screen. "That... has nothing to do with you."
"Exactly," I said, stepping back. "Nothing you do has anything to do with me anymore. Remember that. Just three months, Dayton. Then I'm gone. And you can have all the 'quiet moments' you want."
I got into my car and drove away, leaving him standing in the driveway, looking for the first time like he wasn't entirely in control.
The site visit was a welcome distraction. Hard hats, blueprints, the smell of wet concrete—this was my world. I was in my element, directing contractors, solving problems on the fly. My phone buzzed incessantly with messages from Donavon, asking about the software licenses, but I ignored them. I needed to focus.
Around midday, Albin showed up at the site. He looked out of place in his expensive suit among the dust and noise, but he waved cheerfully.
"Alyssa! Grandfather said I might find you here," he called out, navigating the debris carefully.
"Albin," I said, surprising myself with a genuine smile. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Just wanted to see the genius at work," he said, looking around at the skeletal structures of the eco-homes. "And... to apologize for Dayton. He was a bear this morning."
I sighed, taking off my hard hat and wiping my brow. "He's always a bear, Albin. I'm used to it."
"He's under a lot of pressure," Albin said, his voice softening. "But that's no excuse. You deserve better."
His words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken meaning. I looked at him, really looked at him. Albin had always been kind, always there in the background.
"Thank you, Albin," I said quietly. "That means a lot."
"I mean it," he said, stepping a little closer. "If you ever need anything... anything at all... you know I'm here."
Just then, my phone rang. It was Dayton. I frowned and answered. "What?"
"Where are you?" His voice was tight, demanding.
"Working. Unlike some people," I retorted.
"I need you at the office. Now."
"I'm busy, Dayton."
"It's about Donavon. He's here. And he's making a scene."
My heart sank. Donavon. Of course. "I'll be there in twenty minutes," I said, ending the call.
I looked at Albin apologetically. "Duty calls. Family drama."
"Go," Albin said with a sympathetic nod. "But remember what I said."
I drove to the Cole Industries headquarters, my stomach churning. Donavon was a loose cannon, and Dayton was a ticking time bomb. Putting them in a room together was a recipe for disaster.
When I arrived at the executive floor, I could hear shouting from the conference room. I pushed open the doors to find Donavon pacing frantically, while Dayton sat at the head of the table, looking bored and dangerous.
"Alyssa!" Donavon cried, rushing over to me. "Finally! Tell him! Tell him Project Phoenix is a goldmine!"
"Sit down, Donavon," I said sharply. I looked at Dayton. "What's going on?"
"Your cousin," Dayton said calmly, "seems to think that barging into my office and demanding funding is a valid business strategy. He's threatening to go to the press about our 'arrangement' if I don't sign the check."
I froze. "He what?" I turned to Donavon, fury bubbling up inside me. "You did what?"
Donavon looked sheepish but defiant. "I'm desperate, Alyssa! And I know it's all a sham anyway! Why shouldn't I use it?"
"Because," I hissed, stepping close to him, "if you say one word to the press, I will personally ensure you never work in this city again. Do you understand?"
Donavon shrank back, eyes wide. He'd never seen me like this. "Okay, okay! I was just... bluffing."
"Get out," I ordered. "Now."
Donavon grabbed his briefcase and scrambled out of the room. I turned to Dayton, ready for a fight, but he was looking at me with a strange expression. Not anger. Not mockery. Something else. Respect?
"You handled that well," he said quietly.
"Don't patronize me," I snapped. "I did it to protect myself, not you."
"I know," he said. He stood up and walked over to the window. "You've changed, Alyssa. You're... harder."
"I had to be," I said to his back. "Softness gets you crushed in this family."
He turned around, his eyes searching mine. "Maybe softness was what I liked about you."
The admission was so unexpected, so quiet, it took the wind out of my sails. "You have a funny way of showing it," I whispered.
He took a step towards me, and for a second, the air in the room changed. Charged. Dangerous. "Alyssa, about last night..."
"Don't," I cut him off, holding up a hand. "Just don't. I saw Kristin's post. I know where you were."
His face shuttered instantly. The vulnerability vanished, replaced by the cold mask. "Right. Kristin."
"Just stick to the deal, Dayton," I said, my voice trembling slightly. "Three months. Then we're done."
I turned and walked out, leaving him alone in his glass tower. But as the elevator doors closed, I couldn't shake the look in his eyes. It wasn't indifference. It was regret. And that terrified me more than his anger ever could. Because regret meant he felt something. And I couldn't afford to care if he did. Not anymore.
