Chapter 1

Lily

"Are you absolutely certain you want to pass on off-campus housing?" Luca inquired, casting a critical eye over the cramped dorm room with its solitary bed and wooden table. "It feels more like a cell than a living space."

"It's not that bad!" Lily objected, dropping her duffle bag with a thud. "Mom, back me up."

Daisy sighed, adjusting her sunglasses atop her head and wrinkling her nose. "Oh babe, no. What's that stench?"

"I swear something died in here," Luca muttered, striding to the window and wrenching it open. "Needs a bit of WD-40."

"It's fine," Lily insisted, attempting to salvage the situation. "I like it. It feels cozy."

"You know what's truly cozy?" Daisy interjected with a knowing grin. "Having a functional elevator and a doorman in your building."

"We've discussed this," Lily reminded her parents firmly. "I want the on-campus experience for my first year. It's how I'll make friends."

"What assurance do you have that you'll even get along with your roommate?" Daisy questioned. "In my first year, I couldn't stand mine."

"You're not going to spoil my college experience," Lily declared defiantly. "That's why I only wanted Theo to drop me off. You two nitpick everything!"

"Sweetie, we're just trying to ensure you're content with your decisions," Luca intervened, approaching his daughter with open hands. "We're sorry if it comes off as criticism."

"I'm fine," Lily replied, rolling her eyes.

"And you're certain you won't regret moving to California?" Luca pressed.

"Not a chance," Lily affirmed with a shake of her head.

"And there's no possibility we can sway you to choose NYU over Pacific Crest?" Daisy persisted.

"I'm done with this conversation," Lily turned away.

"Alright, alright. Fair enough," Daisy relented, stepping further into the room. "Luca, I suppose we'll just have to let her find happiness in this 'prison cell.'"

"Thank you!" Lily exclaimed dramatically, bowing.

Unable to comprehend their daughter's decision, Luca and Daisy watched awkwardly as Lily began unpacking, arranging her belongings meticulously. As Lily sorted through her books, clothes, and supplies, Luca and Daisy hesitated near the door.

"Would you like a plant?" Daisy offered. "Maybe some greenery could liven up the space."

"I can't until I know my roommate," Lily replied. "I wouldn't want to bring something they might be allergic to."

Glancing over her shoulder, Lily caught the discontent on her father's face.

"What?" she demanded, her arms folding defensively. "What's on your mind?"

"It's nothing," Luca dismissed, shaking his head.

"I saw you thinking something," Lily insisted. "Spit it out."

"This room is already cramped," Luca ventured cautiously. "Just imagine how much smaller it'll feel with another person and all their stuff."

Before Lily could retort, her phone rang. She glanced at the screen and answered with relief. "Zia!"

"Hey, baby girl," Gia, Lily's aunt, and Luca's sister, greeted cheerfully, holding up the phone. "All settled in? How's the room?"

"Mom and Dad are driving me insane!" Lily exclaimed. "They're complaining about everything!"

"We are not!" Daisy gasped defensively. "You should see the size of this place. Our wine cellar is bigger than this."

"Theo did warn you," Gia chimed in with laughter. "I warned you too."

"Yeah, I didn't think it was going to be this rough," Lily complained. "What should I do?"

"Put your dad on the phone," Gia directed.

Lily turned and extended her phone toward her father. Luca sighed and stepped forward to take the call.

"Could you maybe dial down the unbearable dad act?" Gia chastised as soon as Luca appeared on the screen. "Lily will be fine. Just let her be. Help her settle in and then head back home. Seriously, Luca."

"She's not going to be comfortable here," Luca countered, shaking his head. He turned away, lowering his voice. "This place is smaller than her closet back home."

"She's there to learn and grow into an adult," Gia reassured calmly. "I understand your concern, but there's nothing to worry about. Daniel is always in California. Lily can reach out to him anytime she needs something. And Pacific Crest University is exceptional, Luca. It's safe and well-maintained. Many of my colleagues have sent their kids there. Lily is in good hands."

"Oh yeah?" Luca snorted skeptically. "Then why is Rose talking about NYU?"

"Rose is just keeping her options open," Gia explained. "But you know they're inseparable. I'm sure Rose will follow Lily to PCU."

"And then you'll get to experience this 'hell hole' too," Luca grumbled.

"It was voted the prettiest college campus on the entire East Coast!" Gia laughed.

"This place needs a major facelift," Luca chuckled, shaking his head.

As he spoke, Lily muttered under her breath and pulled out the rest of her clothes from her suitcase. She knew her parents wanted the best for her but their constant pursuit to get her to stay in New York for college was getting old. As much as she loved her parents and her brothers, Lily knew she would never be able to experience college under their watch. PCU was the farthest college she could have picked from home.

"Do you want me to make the bed for you?" Daisy offered, setting her purse on the small table and picking up one of the boxes.

"Yes, please," Lily nodded gratefully.

"You'd better come over here and learn," Daisy teased, nudging her daughter towards the bed. "Mommy won't be here to make it for you every day."

Lily laughed as she retrieved her new sheets and allowed her mother to teach her the art of making a bed. She pitched in wherever she could while Luca unpacked the remaining boxes and even managed to fix the broken window.

"I think we've got everything," Lily remarked, surveying her new surroundings.

"Where should we put this?" Daisy inquired, approaching with a small medicine box. "It needs to be somewhere safe, maybe right by your bed."

"Top drawer," Lily directed, indicating the dresser.

"The medical office already has your prescription," Luca added. "Before we leave tomorrow, we'll take you to see your new doctor. Since you have your car already, you can drive us around."

Lily smiled at the thought of having her own car on campus. She had entrusted the task of picking it out to her brother, Theo, knowing that her dad or other brothers might have chosen something too flashy.

"Alright," Luca sighed, surveying the room. "I think we're all set."

"Everything looks wonderful, sweetheart," Daisy said, enveloping Lily in a warm embrace and planting a kiss on her head. "I'm incredibly proud of you."

"Thanks," Lily replied, returning the hug. "For talking Dad into it, and for everything else too."

"We just want the best for you, darling," Daisy murmured, holding Lily close to her chest. "You'll be so far away. You've never been this far from us."

"Del Mare—"

"Del Mare doesn't count," Daisy interrupted with a shake of her head.

Lily chuckled. "Okay, fine."

"Lunch?" Luca suggested, joining his wife and daughter.

"Yes, please!" Lily exclaimed eagerly. "I'm starving"

Grabbing her purse and car keys, Lily led her parents downstairs, excitement bubbling within her as she navigated through the corridors filled with the hustle and bustle of new students unloading their dorm belongings. As they descended the staircase, Lily's steps quickened with anticipation, eager to showcase the vibrant atmosphere of the campus to her parents.

The air buzzed with energy as they reached the ground floor, where a flurry of activity unfolded before them. Groups of students, accompanied by family members, moved back and forth carrying boxes, suitcases, and bags into the dormitory building. The sound of laughter and chatter filled the air, blending with the occasional squeak of rolling luggage and the thud of heavy items being placed on the ground.

"Isn't it amazing?" she exclaimed, turning to her parents with a beaming smile. "Look at this place!"

Daisy and Luca followed, admiring the smile on their daughter's face as her beaming eyes took in her surroundings. They held each other's hand and walked to the parking lot proudly as Lily got into her car and started the engine.

"Check your mirrors," Luca directed as he took the passenger seat and buckled his seat belt. "Adjust your rearview."

"Done, done, and done," Lily said as she made her adjustments. "Ready?"

"Whenever you are," Luca nodded.

"I can't believe this is actually happening," Lily squealed as she pulled out of the parking spot and headed toward the exit. The lavish iron gates pushed open as the guards ushered her out. Lily immediately rolled down the window and opened the sunroof. The salty sea air invaded her senses and began to toss around her hair. "Can I play some music?"

"Focus on the road," Luca pointed ahead. "Stay on the speed limit."

"Got it," Lily shifted in her seat. "Also, I'm thinking about signing up for the astronomy club. It's the same professor as the course and I think it'll be so much fun."

"That sounds fun," Daisy said encouragingly. "And the campus has that expensive planetarium."

"That's what I was thinking," Lily said. "And there's also a surfing club. I don't know how-"

Daisy gasped from the back seat as Lily neared a stop sigh. "Watch out!"

Lily screamed and slammed on her brakes. But it was too late.

The brakes of her brand new BMW screeched as the nose of the car slammed into the Honda.

______________________

Theo

The hushed murmurs of the restaurant blended into the background as Theo sat fixed, his gaze locked on the figure before him. His jaw clenched, his muscles taut, his temper simmering just beneath the surface. If he had his way, this lunch would be over in a heartbeat. There was no need to prolong the discomfort of sitting face-to-face, each moment thick with the weight of humiliation.

"Will you say something?" Ava's voice broke through the tension, her throat clearing as she spoke.

"You're slouching," Theo remarked, his tone clipped, prompting an immediate eye-roll from Ava.

"For heaven's sake," she muttered, shaking her head. "Is that all you have to say?"

"What do you expect me to say?" Theo's brow arched, his expression cool and controlled. "Should I beg you to stay? Plead with you not to leave me?"

"No," Ava frowned. "I don't want any of that. But can't you... say anything?"

"There's plenty I could say, Ava," Theo sighed, straightening up in his seat. "But honestly, this feels like a waste of time."

"A waste of time?" Hurt flashed across Ava's features, her round face clouded with emotion. "Our entire relationship is crumbling, and you call it a waste of time?"

"It's already fallen apart," Theo corrected her, his voice firm. "It fell apart the moment you slept with my best friend. There hasn't been a relationship for a while, Ava, and we both know it."

"And whose fault is that?"

"Certainly not mine."

"You're so full of yourself!" Ava groaned, frustration dripping from her words. "You think you're some paragon of perfection, but you're not! Our relationship died because of both of us, not just me. You never made time for us; all you cared about was yourself and maintaining this facade of being flawless. But in reality, you were far from perfect for me. James understands me, he cares for me in ways you never could, and he remembers the little things."

Ava's words hit Theo like a sudden downpour, leaving him momentarily speechless. She glared back at him, her eyes blazing with anger and frustration. In their two years together, she had never spoken to him with such raw honesty. Theo had been drawn to Ava initially because of her poised demeanor and eloquent personality, so her outburst caught him off guard. He couldn't fathom where all this anger had come from. Surely, if he was such a terrible boyfriend, she could have talked to him about it before.

"The little things?" Theo arched an eyebrow. "Seriously? He won you over with chocolates and love letters on sticky notes? Is that what you wanted?"

"Yes!" Ava exclaimed, exasperated. "That's what a real relationship is about. Not the sterile, business-like interactions we had. You treat everything as if it's another one of your cold business meetings. Why does everything have to be so rigid with you?"

"You knew what you were getting into," Theo reminded her. "I never misled you."

"I thought love would change you."

"Love?" Theo echoed, incredulous.

"Did you ever love me?" Ava's voice softened, her gaze searching his. "Could you have fallen in love with me?"

"Sure," Theo replied, his tone defensive.

"I'm not convinced."

"Well, that's your problem," Theo retorted.

"You're such an asshole," Ava snapped, grabbing her purse.

"I don't understand why you're so angry with me," Theo watched her rise from the table. "You cheated on me and now you're breaking up with me."

"Nothing is ever your fault, Theo," Ava shook her head in disbelief. "You're perfect. It's always everyone else who's messed up."

With that, Ava stormed off, leaving Theo to ponder her words as the weight of their failed relationship settled heavily upon him.

For a moment, he sat there, stunned, as if frozen in time by the weight of her accusations. Theo had always prided himself on his self-assurance, but now, he felt exposed, stripped bare by Ava's brutal honesty.

A whirlwind of thoughts raced through his mind, each one cutting deeper than the last. He replayed moments from their relationship, scrutinizing his actions and words, searching for the cracks that had ultimately led to its demise. The realization that he had played a part in their downfall gnawed at him, a bitter pill to swallow. As he sat staring at the empty seat before him, his phone rang and he picked up without looking at the screen.

"Where are you?" Levi, his younger brother, spoke up.

"I had a meeting," Theo cleared his throat. "Why? What's up?"

"Lily crashed her car," Levi sighed.

"What?" Theo sat up, his brows furrowing as worry gripped his chest. "Is she okay?"

"She's fine," Levi said. "Mom and Dad are with her."

"How did this happen?"

"I'm not sure," Levi answered.

"I'm headed back," Theo pulled out his wallet and handed the waiter his card. "I'll give them a call and see if they need anything. Did you tell Mason?"

"I'm about to call him right now."

"Alright," Theo sighed, realizing he suddenly had a pounding headache. "Keep me posted."

________________________

Lily

Lily's gaze lingered on the shattered glass scattered across the pavement, refracting the sunlight into a kaleidoscope of colors that danced across the road. Her parents stood nearby, engaged in conversation with the police officers, while the other driver, a girl around Lily's age, sat solemnly in the ambulance. Paramedics tended to her minor injuries with quiet efficiency, their expressions betraying the gravity of the situation.

With a heavy heart, Lily's gaze drifted towards her once-pristine car, now a mangled wreck with deflated airbags and a shattered windshield. A deep sigh escaped her lips as she rose from her seat on the sidewalk, steeling herself for what lay ahead.

Approaching the ambulance, Lily found herself face to face with the other girl, who met her gaze with a mixture of resignation and resentment.

"Hi," Lily began tentatively. "I'm so sorry about what happened."

"I just got my car," the girl replied bitterly.

"Me too," Lily admitted, her voice laced with regret.

"Yeah, but a brand new BMW is a whole different story from a secondhand Honda," the girl retorted, her eyes narrowing with accusation. "I worked my ass off all senior year to save up for that car. I bet your daddy just bought yours for you."

Lily felt a pang of guilt tighten around her heart, the weight of the other girl's words sinking in with each passing moment.

"And to top it off," the girl continued, her voice tinged with frustration, "my insurance premiums are going to skyrocket now. I don't have the extra money for that."

"I'm truly sorry," Lily rushed to apologize once more, the guilt threatening to overwhelm her.

"Lily?" Luca's voice interrupted from nearby.

"I'll be right back."

As Lily turned on her heels, ready to sprint over to her parents, her attention was abruptly stolen by the sudden arrival of a motorcycle. The sleek machine glided to a stop amidst the array of police cars, and in one fluid motion, its rider dismounted and removed his helmet.

Caught in the midst of the street, Lily found herself frozen in place, her gaze drawn inexorably to the captivating figure before her. It was as if a bolt of lightning had struck, electrifying the air around her.

The young rider who emerged from beneath the helmet was a vision of rugged allure, his features chiseled and his demeanor exuding an effortless confidence. His dark, tousled hair was messy from the helmet, while his sun-kissed skin spoke of endless days beneath the California sun.

But it was his eyes that held her captive, piercing and enigmatic. His strong jawline was adorned with a hint of stubble, adding to the allure of his rugged charm. Clad in a fitted black t-shirt that accentuated his broad shoulders and sculpted arms, he moved with a fluid grace, every step commanding attention. A silver chain adorned with delicate wings danced with each movement, drawing Lily's gaze to the curve of his neck.

As he raised a hand to shake out his hair, a ripple of anticipation coursed through Lily's veins, her breath catching in her throat. As she stood transfixed, she suddenly felt a shift in the air. The scene was interrupted by a palpable tension as the man, strode purposefully past her, his gaze flickered towards Lily.

Lily was stunned as she was met with an icy glare. His piercing eyes bore into her with a cold intensity that sent a chill down her spine. In that moment, the allure of his rugged charm seemed to fade, replaced by an aura of hostility that hung heavy in the air. His features, once so captivating, now seemed hardened and unyielding, as if cloaked in a shroud of disdain.

The exchange was fleeting, but the impact was profound. Lily couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of her stomach as the handsome stranger continued on his way, leaving behind a lingering sense of discomfort in his wake.

"Lily?" Luca caled to her again.

Confused, Lily walked to her parents, briefly looking over her shoulder as the man made his way to the ambulance and pulled her other driver into a tight hug. She paused once again to stare at them as the pair turned and looked toward her.

"Baby," Daisy held out her hand and guided Lily to her side.

"Hello, sweetheart," the officer greeted Lily with a warm smile, his sunburnt skin crinkling at the corners of his eyes. "I just need to quickly take your statement and then we'll get you and your parents out of here, okay? I'll make this as brief as possible."

Lily raised her hand to shield her hair from the gusts of wind, her brows furrowed in thought as she nervously chewed on her bottom lip. Her mother's comforting touch on her back offered a small sense of solace amidst the chaos.

"Can you tell me what happened?" the officer prompted, his tone gentle