Chapter 12: Danger

Abby’s POV

The moment our eyes locked across the hall, everything else blurred. The chatter, the laughter, the music — all of it turned into a low hum that barely reached my ears. It was just Kevin, standing there like he had every right to look at me that way — steady, unflinching, and far too familiar. I could feel my chest tighten, my breath catching in my throat.

And then Sarah followed my gaze.

Her head tilted just slightly, her expression flickering with curiosity, and I knew. I knew she was about to see it — that invisible thread between Kevin and me that neither of us could cut no matter how hard we tried.

Panic shot through me so fast my skin felt hot.

I forced a small laugh, pretending to be distracted by something on the other side of the room, and turned abruptly, my pulse hammering in my ears. “Excuse me,” I mumbled to no one in particular, barely making eye contact as I brushed past a waiter carrying a tray of champagne flutes. I could feel my father’s eyes on me from across the hall, and then Nina’s too — her cold, perfect stare following me like a warning.

I didn’t care.

I couldn’t breathe.

The walls suddenly felt too close, the air too thick. Every time I blinked, I could still see Kevin — that look in his eyes, that quiet claim he didn’t need to speak aloud.

By the time I reached my father, I was already fidgeting with the edge of my dress, desperate to get out of that room.

“Abby?” he said, smiling, his arm draped around Nina’s waist. “You alright, sweetheart?”

I nodded too quickly. “Yeah, I just… need some air,” I managed to say, forcing a tight smile that didn’t reach my eyes.

Nina’s gaze flicked over me with that subtle, knowing disapproval she carried so well — like she could already sense something wasn’t right. She didn’t say anything, but the corner of her mouth tightened, and I felt smaller under her scrutiny.

I stepped back before either of them could question me further. “I’ll be back soon,” I added, then turned away before I could second-guess myself.

As soon as I slipped through the double doors leading to the balcony, the cool night air hit my face, and I exhaled shakily. My heels clicked against the marble until I reached the edge, gripping the railing for balance.

The air outside was nothing like the suffocating heat of the hall. It was cool and heavy with the scent of rain, brushing against my skin like a quiet reminder that I was still here, still trapped between two worlds — the one where I could be the perfect daughter and the one where I couldn’t stop wanting the one person I shouldn’t.

I dragged in a deep breath, my fingers trembling around the railing.

That look we’d shared… it wasn’t just a look. It was everything. It was memory, it was tension, it was the kind of dangerous pull that didn’t fade — it grew. And the worst part was, I didn’t even want to stop it anymore.

But I had to.

Because if Sarah had really noticed — if she’d seen even a fraction of what was happening between us — then it was only a matter of time before someone else did.

And if Nina ever found out…

The thought alone sent a chill crawling down my spine.

I shut my eyes and leaned my head against the cold metal rail, whispering to myself, never again. I meant it. I had to mean it. Whatever was happening between Kevin and me, it had to end before it destroyed everything.

My father’s engagement had just been sealed in front of half the city. The photographers were still around. The guests were still inside laughing, drinking, celebrating the new bond between our families — and here I was, trembling like I’d just survived a crime.

Because that’s what it felt like.

A crime.

Something forbidden, something I’d been caught almost committing.

My heart wouldn’t calm down. It pounded wildly, like it didn’t belong to me anymore.

I kept replaying the moment Sarah turned her head. The way her smile faltered, the faint crease in her brow when she realized where my eyes were fixed. It was only a second — maybe even less — but it felt like forever.

She’d seen something. I knew she had.

And that terrified me more than anything.

Because Sarah wasn’t stupid. She was my best friend. She noticed things. And if she started putting the pieces together, it wouldn’t take long before she realized that Kevin never looked at her that way — no matter how sweet her letter was or how much she hoped he would.

I pressed my lips together and whispered again, firmer this time, “Never again.”

But even as I said it, I could still feel Kevin’s eyes on me from inside the hall — like some invisible heat pressing against my skin.

And deep down, I already knew that no matter how many times I promised myself this, no matter how many times I tried to walk away…

The moment he looked at me again, I’d fall right back into the fire.

The weight on my chest grew heavier the longer I stood out there. The air wasn’t light anymore — it pressed against me like invisible hands, choking and reminding me of everything that was wrong, everything that could collapse at any second. My heart drummed so loud I could feel it in my throat, a hollow pulse of guilt and craving tangled together.

I shut my eyes, gripping the balcony railing so tight that my knuckles turned white.

I saw flashes — vivid, ugly flashes — of myself glaring at anyone who might dare discover what Kevin and I shared. I imagined every whispering guest, every smug look from Nina, every sly question from Sarah. And in those flashes, I passed judgment like some heartless deity, striking down anyone who might threaten our secret.

The thought horrified me.

It wasn’t me — not really. I wasn’t that kind of person.

“What are you thinking, Abby?” I whispered to myself, shaking my head, trying to dispel the darkness clawing at the edges of my thoughts. “Get a grip. You’re losing it.”

The sound of my own breathing was all I could hear. Until a sudden warmth crept around my waist.

I jolted, every nerve in me firing off. I turned sharply— and my heart nearly stopped.

Kevin.

Before I could say a word, he pulled me closer, his hand pressing against the small of my back like he owned the space between us. His scent — that faint mix of cologne and danger — filled the air. I barely had a second to think before his lips found mine.

It wasn’t gentle. It was desperate, hungry, like he’d been holding his breath and finally let go.

My brain screamed to push him away, to remember where we were, to remember that just behind the glass doors were our parents, our friends, people who could destroy us with one glimpse. But my body betrayed me. My fingers clenched the front of his jacket, pulling him in for one second longer than I should have.

Then he broke the kiss, his breath hot against my ear. “I can’t seem to get my mind off of you,” he murmured, voice rough, possessive. “No matter how hard I try.”

My stomach twisted. My pulse spiked again, not from fear this time, but from the truth in his tone — the same truth I was too afraid to admit.

“Kevin—” I started, my voice trembling.

But before I could say another word, I saw movement — a flicker of shadow from the reflection in the glass doors. Someone was walking toward the balcony.

Panic surged through me like ice water.

“Stop—” I hissed, pushing him back, hard enough to break the heat between us.

He looked startled for half a second, his eyes darting in the same direction I was staring. Then he exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair.

“Someone’s coming,” I whispered, trying to catch my breath. “We can’t— not here, not now.”

I could already make out faint laughter, the click of heels, the hum of conversation growing louder as someone neared.

Kevin’s jaw tightened, but his eyes — those dark, relentless eyes — stayed locked on me. He didn’t move away completely, not at first. His hand brushed against mine, a silent plea I didn’t dare answer.

“Abby,” he whispered, like my name was a secret he couldn’t keep quiet.

“Don’t,” I breathed. My throat was dry. “Please… don’t.”

The doorknob rattled faintly, and I instantly stepped back, forcing air into my lungs, smoothing my dress, pretending like I hadn’t just been kissed breathless by the one man I was supposed to stay away from.

Kevin straightened his jacket, his expression shifting into something neutral — detached even. He looked almost bored, like nothing had happened.

But my lips were still burning. My heart was still hammering.

The door opened slightly, a faint beam of light spilling out onto the balcony floor. Laughter drifted through — maybe just a couple of guests looking for quiet air.

I turned a way from Kevin completely, my hands trembling as I leaned back against the railing. I didn’t trust myself to look at him.