Chapter 33: Breaking surface

The morning sunlight poured softly through the curtain as i turned over, and there he was... Sean. He looked so peaceful.

I lay there for a few moments just watching him.

When his eyes fluttered open he saw me staring.

He laughed, that warm, low sound that always made my chest tighten. “Come on, Mrs. Miller. Let’s go make this official.”

After breakfast, we got dressed and drove to the registrar’s office. The woman behind the counter smiled as she flipped through our paperwork. “Everything seems in order,” she said, stamping the final page. “Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Miller.”

Sean squeezed my hand and whispered, “You hear that? My beautiful wife.”

I blushed. “Feels strange hearing it out loud.”

“Get used to it,” he said, beaming. “You’re stuck with me now.”

We left the office hand-in-hand, laughter echoing as we stepped into the sunlight. Sean insisted on stopping for food. “You’ve been craving takeout for days,” he said, pulling into the small drive-thru near the coast.

“Fine,” I said with a smile. “But I’m ordering fries and onion rings. No judging.”

“Never,” he said. “I’ll even steal a few.”

We parked by the water and ate in the car. I caught him dipping fries into his milkshake again and rolled my eyes. “That’s just wrong.”

“You say that now,” he replied, grinning. “But one day, you’ll love it.”

“When pigs fly.”

Afterward, he brushed crumbs off his lap and kissed my forehead. “I have to run to the office, love. Just for a few hours.”

I nodded. “I’ll be fine. Go do your thing.”

When I got home, the house was quiet. The maids were cleaning, but I told them to take the rest of the day off. I needed silence, just for myself. I hadn’t switched my phone back on, I wasn’t ready to hear from anyone.

I made myself some tea and sat on the couch, the hum of the TV filling the silence. After I washed my mug and opened my laptop.

My fingers hovered over the keyboard before typing: The Hallorans.

At first, the search results looked normal, glowing articles about their business empire, charity foundations, and prestigious family name. Photo after photo of perfectly dressed people smiling at galas. Everything about them screamed untouchable.

But it clean.

I dug deeper. Hours passed, the light outside dimming. My patience thinned until finally, something in me said, Check Facebook. Check Reddit.

And that’s where I found it.

Post after post. Anonymous users. Screenshots. Stories. Women claiming they were followed, harassed, some even kidnapped. Every single one pointed to Michael Halloran. Some said he was obsessive, unable to let go once he fixated on someone. Others mentioned missing women, silenced investigations.

My heart raced. My hands trembled as I scrolled through a post that read:

“They make people disappear. You can’t report them, the Hallorans have connections everywhere. The son is the worst. He’s obsessed and they protect him.”

I stared at the words, unable to breathe.

This is his pattern. I shut the laptop and leaned back, the reality hitting me like ice. Michael wasn’t just dangerous, he was backed by a family capable of hiding everything.

I just searched for a private investigator.

After a few calls, one answered. “Greene Investigations,” a man said.

“Hello, Mr. Greene,” I said quickly. “I need help. It’s about the Hallorans. I can’t explain much over the phone, but it’s urgent.”

There was silence, then a low sigh. “You picked the wrong family to mess with,” he said. “But you did the right thing calling me. My wife’s due to give birth next week, so can we meet after that?”

“That’s fine,” I said. “Just… please keep this between us.”

“Always,” he said. “Stay safe, Mrs. Miller.”

We hung up, and I felt a strange calm.

The doorbell rang, startling me. I opened it and froze for a moment before smiling.

“Mrs. Miller!”

Sean’s mother stood there, elegant as ever, a bright smile lighting up her face.

“Mom!” I hugged her tightly. “You didn’t tell me you were coming.”

“I wanted to surprise my favorite daughter-in-law,” she said warmly. “How’s married life treating you?”

I laughed. “So far, I’m surviving. Sean hasn’t driven me crazy yet.”

“Oh, give him time,” she said playfully. “He will.”

We walked to the living room, and I went to bring wine, fruit, and chocolate. Mrs. Miller sipped her wine gracefully. “You look happy,” she said.

“I am,” I said softly. “I really am."

She leaned forward, placing her hand over mine. “And if Sean ever treats you wrong, call me. I’ll knock some sense into him myself.”

I laughed. “Deal.”

We talked for over an hour we shared memories, But when she mentioned her late husband, something in my chest ached. I thought of my mother, gone far too soon.

Mrs. Miller noticed the change immediately. “What is it, dear?”

“I just miss my mom,” I admitted, voice breaking.

Her eyes softened, and she reached for my hand again. “You’re not alone. You have us.”

I leaned forward and hugged her tightly. “Thank you, Mom.”

She smiled, patting my back. “Always, my child.”

When she left, I felt strangely at peace. I cleaned up, then went to lie down. The soft hum of the television lulled me into sleep until a familiar voice brought me back.

“Hey, sleepyhead.”

Sean’s hand brushed gently across my cheek. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s go for a swim. We haven’t talked properly all day.”

I stretched and sat up.

He grinned. "Come on.”

We walked out to the pool as the sun began to set. The sky burned orange and pink, reflecting off the water. Sean dived in first, splashing like a kid.

“Show-off!” I yelled, laughing.

“Come on, Mrs. Miller!” he called out, floating on his back. “The water’s perfect!”

I shook my head, smiling, then slipped into the pool beside him. The water was cool and calming, wrapping around us as the world seemed to slow.

Sean swam closer, brushing my hair from my face. “You’re quiet,” he said softly.

“Just tired,” I murmured. “It’s been a long day.”

As we floated together, the outdoor TV near the pool flickered. The sound caught my attention, a breaking news headline.

Sean turned slightly, squinting. “What’s that?”

I glanced up. The screen showed an image of him.

My breath caught.

The reporter’s voice filled the air:

“In other news, billionaire Sean Miller was spotted earlier today with a mysterious woman. The pair appeared intimate, with photos showing the woman leaning close as Sean smiled. Sources claim the two were seen kissing before parting ways.”

The image was crystal clear, Sean sitting in his office chair and the woman leaning toward him, smiling is

Nancy. The laughter in my throat died and My chest tightened as tears blurred my vision.

Sean froze, staring at the screen in horror.

“Rose,” he whispered, reaching for me. “It’s not what it looks like.”

But I stepped back with the sting of betrayal rising like fire in my veins.