Willow and Alder
After settling into the small, quiet house for a few minutes, the silence was broken when Alder muttered, arms folded and eyes scanning the room:
"I'm hungry."
Willow, curled up on the couch with her legs tucked under her, didn't even look at him as she replied, voice calm:
"You can always use the kitchen."
Alder raised a brow, his tone laced with disbelief as he leaned on the wall near the doorway.
"What sort of abductor are you?"
Willow gave a soft, tired chuckle but didn't lift her head. Her voice was light, but her body sagged against the couch like all the strength had left her.
"A fragile one," she murmured.
She collapsed back further into the cushions, rubbing her temples. The stress she'd been through these past days hung on her like a heavy coat, too much to carry but too woven into her to take off.
Alder scoffed. "If I die of hunger, you will rot in jail." His tone was mocking, but there was a playful threat in his words.
Willow didn't reply. She sighed deeply, pushed herself off the couch, and padded toward the kitchen without saying a word, her footsteps soft but heavy with exhaustion.
From behind, Alder called out, arms crossed over his chest, his eyes narrowing slightly:
"Where are you going?"
"To make food for His Royal Highness. I can't afford it if you die of hunger," Willow tossed over her shoulder, sarcasm dripping from her voice, though she didn't slow her pace.
Alder blinked. He hadn't expected her to actually go. His brows rose in surprise. He was just teasing—he thought she'd stubbornly refuse him. But instead, she disappeared into the kitchen. For once, he kept quiet.
---
The food was eaten in silence. Tension hovered in the air like thick fog neither of them wanted to acknowledge.
After the quiet meal, Alder chose a room and headed in for the night. He barely had time to close the door behind him before he noticed soft footsteps behind.
He turned around sharply, irritation lacing his voice. "What do you want?"
Willow stood there, arms folded, her face too serious for someone making a joke. "To sleep with you."
Alder stared, a lazy frown forming on his face, his hand still on the door handle. "What?"
The corner of her lips lifted, her eyes glinting mischievously. "I mean sleep beside you." Her serious expression melted into a playful smile in a heartbeat.
Alder sighed heavily, lifting his left hand and using his middle finger to gently push her back by the forehead. "You are not allowed to."
Willow pouted, her voice suddenly cutesy as she called out:
"Alder..."
She blinked her eyes rapidly, trying her best to look innocent, but her act had zero effect on him.
"No," Alder replied firmly.
Willow looked down dramatically, sighed, and said with mock defeat:
"Okay, I will sleep on the floor here."
She pointed to a spot beside the bed before dropping her duvet to the ground with a thump.
"I promise not to disturb you," she added, flashing a small, sweet smile before lying down quickly—too quickly for him to stop her.
Alder paused, watching her form curled up on the floor. She was already pretending to be asleep, her breathing soft and steady. A small smile tugged at his lips. She didn't see it.
He cleared his throat awkwardly, climbed into bed, and mumbled:
"Whatever."
---
The next morning
Alder woke up with a groggy yawn and turned toward the spot where Willow had been sleeping.
Empty.
He sat up straight, a flicker of concern flashing across his features. He got up quickly and strode into the living room, heart thumping a little faster than he expected.
He stopped short.
There she was, sitting near the window, fumbling nervously with a small bottle—something that looked like medicine. Her back was slightly hunched, her hands trembling just a little.
"What are you doing?" Alder asked, his voice sharper than he intended.
Willow spun around, startled. Her eyes widened, and she instinctively hid the bottle behind her back.
"You're awake?" she asked, voice tight and nervous.
Alder stepped closer, eyes narrowing. "What are you using?"
"Nothing," Willow replied quickly, avoiding his gaze.
Alder didn't believe her. He moved closer and grabbed her hand before she could move. His grip wasn't harsh, but firm, and given the difference in strength, Willow couldn't fight him off.
He pulled the bottle from her grip.
It was a plain white plastic bottle. No label. No name. Torn off or replaced, maybe.
"What medicine is this?" he asked, opening the lid. All he saw were pills.
Willow blushed, fiddling with her sleeves. "It's just medication to make my face glow."
Alder stared at her like she had two heads. "You'd rather smoke than use any form of medication, and now you're using this to glow your skin?" He scoffed. "You ladies are always weird."
Willow grinned and tilted her head, teasing, "So you remember what I was like years ago?"
Alder's eyes narrowed. "People don't just forget bad memories, Miss Willow."
She pouted, lips trembling slightly, but said nothing.
"What do you want to eat?" she asked finally, breaking the silence.
"Food," Alder said with biting sarcasm.
Willow prepared breakfast quietly, and when Alder went to freshen up, she made herself a plate too.
They sat across from each other, the air between them stiff.
"Do you like it? Do you notice I've gotten better at cooking?" Willow asked with a smile, watching him closely.
"Even though I was busy, I always made sure to eat healthy."
That part was a lie—she only ever cooked when she craved her own meals, which was maybe once every few months.
Alder didn't respond. He just kept eating, his silence heavier than any words.
"Alder?" Willow called gently.
"What?" he replied, finally meeting her eyes.
"I'm talking to you," she said, her voice low, almost trembling with a hint of sadness.
"I know." He stared at her for a long second. Her eyes searched his, but he wasn't giving her anything back.
"Since you came back, you haven't said anything about what happened four years ago," Alder said coldly.
"And you thought you could just get away with it?"
Willow's eyes welled slightly. Her voice broke.
"Alder, I'm sorry."
He laughed, but it was bitter. "For what? Abducting me? Or what?"
"For everything." Her voice was barely above a whisper. Her lips pressed into a thin, guilty line.
Alder stared, his jaw tight. He knew that look—she always did that when she truly felt bad. But this time, it wasn't enough.
"Everything?" he echoed with a hollow chuckle.
"Does 'everything' include wasting four years of my life? Scattering my happiness? Then showing up four years later and ruining my wedding?"
His voice cracked, fury and pain blending together.
"Do you even think about how Flora will feel?"
He stood, his chair scraping against the floor.
"Willow Larkspur, you've always been self-centered. Four years ago, and still now. You never change. You've done a lot, and one 'sorry' can never be enough."
With that, he walked away from the table, leaving Willow frozen, her lips parted in shock, unsure whether to go after him or not.
—
The Cloud Mansion
The Cloud family sat around the long mahogany dining table in a silence broken only by the clinking of silverware against china. The topic on everyone's lips was the Montclairs and the Smiths.
"How's the investigation on Alder going?" Ocean Cloud asked, turning to her younger brother, Reed.
"Alder hasn't been found yet?" Bryce, her husband, asked in surprise. He was a man of humble beginnings, often the target of quiet contempt from some members of the family.
"No, he hasn't," Reed replied flatly, pushing food around on his plate. "And the most shocking part? His ex-girlfriend kidnapped him."
"That's why we should never give poor people a chance in our lives," Aurora Cloud, the matriarch, said with distaste.
"Mom!" Ocean snapped, clearly agitated. "You always say that, but Bryce isn't poor."
"Did I mention any names?" Aurora replied dismissively, sipping her tea.
"Enough," Ellis Cloud, the family patriarch, finally said, rubbing his temple. "Let me have a peaceful breakfast for once."
Though Ellis had his own reservations about Bryce, they weren't because of his background. Rather, he felt something about Bryce didn't sit right. Still, for Ocean's sake, he had accepted him into the family. Aurora, on the other hand, loathed him purely because of his humble origins. Even Reed wasn't fond of Bryce—not because he was poor, but because Ocean, who had once been groomed to lead the family company, chose love over legacy. With Ocean stepping back, the responsibility had fallen to Reed.
Unfazed by Aurora's insult, Bryce continued, "Don't you think this will cause trouble for us with the Montclairs?"
"How?" Reed asked, his brow creasing slightly.
"Well, I found out that the girl—Willow—is one of our employees. If the Montclairs discover this, they might be furious," Ocean said calmly, trying not to ignite further tension.
"They supply us with raw materials. What if they—"
"What do you suggest we do?" Ellis cut in sharply.
"I think we should distance ourselves from the Smiths for now," Bryce said, "to protect the upcoming product line."
"Distance ourselves from the Smiths?" Aurora scoffed. "Juniper has been my friend since before any of you were born!" She pointed around the table at Ocean, Bryce, and Reed. "And you want me to abandon that friendship? For what?"
"Mom, this could impact the business," Bryce said earnestly.
"Really?" Reed interjected, unimpressed. "I expected more from you, Bryce. Alder is also my friend, but let's not be dramatic."
"The Smiths are more than family friends—they're business partners. And the Montclairs? Even if we're not close, cutting ties with the Smiths over speculation is premature," Ocean added.
"And if the Montclairs cut us off?" Bryce asked.
"Then we find a new supplier," Ellis said firmly. "That would be their loss."
"Exactly," Reed agreed. "If the Montclairs are smart, they won't pick a fight with both the Smiths and the Clouds. We're their biggest client."
"But what if they think we're in cahoots with the woman who abducted Alder?" Bryce said, desperation creeping into his voice. "She works for us."
"Willow isn't just any employee," Reed replied. "She's our top designer. I'm not about to throw her under the bus."
"She's a criminal, Reed," Ellis said sternly.
"She's also our greatest asset," Reed argued. "She's behind 80% of our top-selling designs. Even if the Smiths sue, I'll get her the best defense money can buy."
Aurora stared at him in disbelief. "You're not in love with her, are you? Another poor girl sneaking her way into this family?"
"Not everything's about love," Reed snapped. "And no—I'm not. She's Alder's woman. But she's my money-making machine." With that, he pushed back his chair and stormed out.
---
Later, in Ocean and Bryce's Room
"Sweetheart," Ocean said gently.
"Yes, love?" Bryce responded, sifting through some files.
"Distancing ourselves from the Smiths won't work. Mom may be close to Juniper, but Dad is just as close with their father. Leif is my best friend, just like Alder is Reed's. We can't pretend these ties don't matter."
"This is business," Bryce said, unsure.
"Exactly. Which is why unity is smarter. If we partner with the Smiths, the Montclairs will have to think twice. And if they choose to leave, we'll find someone better."
Bryce smiled, placing his hands on her waist and drawing her in. "Why tell me this here, and not in front of the family?"
"I didn't want you to feel ganged up on," Ocean replied, resting her hands on his shoulders. "And I wanted to explain Reed's side. He's not against you… not really. He's just frustrated. All his life, he thought I would inherit the business, and he'd live free—travel, explore. But when I chose you, everything changed."
"I know. He's your little brother… and mine now, too," Bryce said softly. "Ocean, I love what you love. I'll protect what you protect. And I'll fight for whatever matters to you."
Ocean smiled, hugging him tight.
"I just don't want you to ever feel I'm with you because of your background. I love you—for you." Bryce said
"I know," she whispered into his chest. "I love you too."
—
The Montclair Mansion
"Are we really going to let the Smiths treat us like this?" Laurel asked her husband, her voice filled with simmering anger.
"No way. Even if they're richer, I won't let them get away with it," Noah replied, equally furious.
"It's not their fault, Dad," Flora said softly. "They never liked Willow."
Flora's voice carried a quiet sadness. She had always been in love with Alder, even before Willow came into the picture. Years ago, Flora had gone abroad for a kidney transplant and only returned after Alder and Willow had broken up.
"Only Juniper hates her. The rest, even Leif, like Willow," Laurel said.
"There were rumors that Leif was cheating on his new wife Iris with a younger woman—Willow," Laurel added quietly.
"What are we going to do now?" Flora asked.
"Noah clenched his fists. "We stop delivering materials to both the Smiths and the Clouds. They're conspiring to disgrace my family—and my daughter."
"That's right," Laurel nodded firmly.
Flora frowned. "Even if you stop delivering, they'll find someone else. What about us? Where do we find large companies like the Clouds and the Smiths to sell to?"
"Don't let anger make us make a mistake," Flora warned. "If we do this, it'll hurt us just as much. We have to be smart."
She left the room, torn between defending her family and defending the Smiths—though she wasn't sure where her true loyalty lay.
---
Willow and Alder
Willow sat alone in the sitting room, smoking quietly while a comedy show played on the TV. Suddenly, the screen flickered to breaking news.
Her face and Alder's appeared, their images flashing across the screen.
"Willow Larkspur is wanted," the announcer said, as CCTV footage showed her supposedly kidnapping Alder.
Unbeknownst to her, Alder was quietly standing behind the couch.
"Is this the life you want?" Alder asked softly, startling her.
"Isn't it nice?" Willow replied coldly, extinguishing her cigarette and tossing the pack into a small cup by her side.
All of this—the news, the accusations—meant nothing to her. She was dying. Less than three months left.
"Do you want to be known as a wanted criminal for the rest of your life?" Alder pressed.
"Are you willing to stay with me?" Willow asked unexpectedly, sinking onto the couch and flashing him a small, rare smile.
"If you're willing to stay by my side, we can go out there and tell everyone you weren't kidnapped—that you came with me willingly," she said seriously.
"So… are you willing?" Willow asked again, eyes locked on him.
Alder only stared back, silent for a long moment before finally saying…