Alpha Santa

The Eyes That See

Piper.

"You know nothing, Piper," Zoe spat, her face a mess of streaked mascara and tear-stained cheeks, but her eyes burn with a stubbornness that catches me off guard.

"Zoe, no," I plead desperately. "You’re not going back to him. Not after everything he’s done to you. He doesn’t deserve your pity—he doesn’t deserve you."

She jerks her arms free, her eyes narrowing at me as if I’ve said something offensive and unforgivable. “You don’t get to decide that,” she snaps, her voice shaking with anger and something else—maybe fear. “Zack needs me now more than ever. He’s hurt, and I’m not going to abandon him.”

“Zoe, he dragged you by your hair and—”

“It wasn’t a big deal!” she yells, cutting me off. My mouth falls open in shock. “What happened… It’s not some big, unforgivable thing, okay? So he cheated—so what? That’s between me and Zack, not you. Stay out of it.”

“Not a big deal?” I repeat, my voice rising despite myself. “He dragged you, Zoe! Like you were some—some piece of furniture he owned. And cheating on you? That’s not a small thing, either. You can’t just excuse it like it’s nothing!”

Her jaw tightens, and for a second, I think I’ve gotten through to her. But then she steps back, her expression hardening. She holds up a hand, palm out, as if to push me away without touching me.

“Don’t,” she says, her voice low but sharp as glass. “Don’t try to stop me. Or I’ll report your boyfriend to the police for attempted murder.”

My heart stutters. “What?”

So she didn’t care that Zack had hit me in the face when I tried to help?

Her gaze locks onto mine, steady and cold. “Do you think what your boyfriend did to Zack just now was okay? Huh? I’ll go to the police, Piper. I’ll tell them everything. And trust me, you would never see that handsome face for a long time."

I take a shaky step back, my arms falling to my sides. “You don’t mean that,” I whisper, but there’s no conviction in my voice.

Her eyes narrow. “Try me.”

My stomach twists. I want to grab her, shake her, scream at her until she understands she’s making the worst mistake of her life. But the look in her eyes stops me. It’s not just anger—it’s desperation, defiance, a crumbling girl trying to convince herself this is the right thing to do.

I exhale slowly, my chest tight with frustration and defeat. “Fine,” I say quietly. “Go, then. But don’t expect me to pick up the pieces when he breaks you again.”

Her lips press into a thin line, but she doesn’t respond. She just turns on her heel and bolts out, her footsteps echoing like a series of slaps to my face.

I stand there, frozen, watching her chase after the stretcher carrying the man who’s hurt her in more ways than one. My fists clench at my sides, my nails digging into my palms until it stings.

I can’t move or think as my mind replays Zoe’s words over and over. As much as I want to, I can’t save someone who doesn’t want to be saved. She doesn’t realise she’s running straight into another disaster.

Back in my hotel room, I close the door and lean against it, releasing a heavy sigh. “She’ll come to her senses,” I whisper, trying to silence the growing doubt in my heart. But deep down, I know Zoe's kindness, her ability to see the good in everyone, will keep her tied to Zack longer than she should be. Seeing him beaten probably ignited some misplaced pity, twisting her loyalty into something that looks like love.

I shake my head and push off the door, walking toward the bed to grab my phone. The screen lights up just as I pick it up, and my stomach flips when I see the name flashing on the screen. Mom.

My thumb hovers over the answer button. She never calls. Never. Texts, maybe—or the rare conversation when I visit their house. But an actual phone call? My heart races as I swipe to answer, pressing the phone to my ear.

“Mom?” I say, the surprise in my voice impossible to hide.

Her tone is clipped, almost accusatory. “I can’t believe you’re getting married and didn’t think to tell us, Piper.”

“What?” I blink, confusion tightening my throat. “I’m not—”

“Don’t even try to lie,” she cuts me off sharply. “Adam told us everything. He proposed, and you’re just playing hard to get, aren’t you? Trying to surprise us? Is that why you lied?”

I open my mouth to speak, to tell her there’s been some kind of misunderstanding, but she steamrolls over me, her voice growing louder and more frustrated.

“And what’s this I hear about you cheating on him? He’s still willing to marry you after that, Piper. Do you even understand what kind of man Adam is? He’s too good for you, more than you deserve. A stable job, a good life… Meanwhile, you waste your days playing around with kids.”

What? My heart clenches, and my grip on the phone tightens. He told her what? I cheated on him?

I clench my teeth, the words lodging like sharp stones in my throat.

“Stop acting so proud when you have nothing,” she spits, her words hitting harder than they should. “Accept his ring, come back home, take the inheritance, and start your life. Give us some grandchildren while you’re at it.”

The line clicks before I can even process her final demand or defend myself.

I pull the phone away from my ear, staring at it like it’s an alien object. My fingers tighten around it as a bitter laugh escapes me. Great. Just what I needed on my plate. But one thing was for sure: I was going to f*****g rip Adams's throat.

I toss the phone onto the bed, the sting of her words settling like acid in my chest. Without thinking, I head to the bathroom, yanking my clothes off on the way. The cold tile against my feet is grounding as I step into the tub and turn on the water, letting the stream cascade over me.

The steam rises around me, clouding the mirror and muffling the noise of the world outside. I sink deeper into the water, the heat soothing my tense muscles, but my mind refuses to slow down.

My mother's venomous words loop in my head, intertwining with everything else—Zoe’s defiance. Zack’s smug face. Adam’s lies.

I lower myself until the water covers my ears, muting the world entirely. For a brief, fleeting moment, I consider staying like this—letting the weight drag me down, letting it all go.

A loud, urgent knock shatters the silence, followed by another.

I sit up abruptly, water sloshing over the edge of the tub. The knocking grows more insistent, almost as if whoever’s on the other side is about to break the door down.

Grabbing a towel, I wrap it tightly around myself, water dripping onto the floor as I hurry to the door. I expect to see a staff member, maybe Zoe, coming to her senses—anyone but who’s actually standing there.

“Elijah?” My voice comes out breathless, and I clutch the towel tighter.

He looks at me, his dark eyes sweeping over my damp hair, my flushed skin. There’s an intensity in his gaze, but it’s not like before—it’s softer, concerned.

Without a word, he steps closer and wraps his arms around me. His warmth is disarming, but it’s the way his voice trembles that sends a chill down my spine.

“I could feel it,” he murmurs against my damp hair, his tone raw with urgency. “Drowning, Piper. I could feel it. What’s going on? Are you okay?”

For a second, I freeze in his embrace, the words sinking in. Slowly, I push him back, my hands resting on his chest as I stare up at him. “Wait… How do you know I was in the bathtub?”

His jaw tightens, and he glances away, avoiding my eyes. “It doesn’t matter,” he says quickly.

“No,” I step back, my voice sharper now. “It does matter. How do you always know where I am? Earlier, at the spa, now in my room—how, Elijah?”

He opens his mouth to respond, but the suspicion crawling under my skin pushes me further. “Do you have cameras on me? Did you… Did you plant a camera in here?”

His eyes snap to mine, wide with disbelief and hurt. “Are you serious right now?”

His disappointment hits me harder than I expect, but I press on, my voice shaking. “You’re working here, right? As staff? It wouldn’t be hard for you to…” I trail off, the words tasting bitter even as I say them.

Elijah takes a step back,His blue eyes seem darker, stormier, and there’s a hurt etched deep into his expression. “How can you think so low of me, Piper?” His voice cracks, his usual confidence nowhere to be found, but there’s a sharp edge to it that makes me flinch. “How could I put a camera in your room? You think I’d invade your privacy like that? Do you really think that little of me?”

I hug the towel tighter around myself, the cool air brushing against my damp skin. My throat tightens with guilt, but before I can respond, he continues, softer this time, almost whispering, “It was instinct, Piper. I just knew something was wrong. And I was scared. I came here terrified that you were drowning.”

His jaw tightens as he takes a step back. “But maybe... maybe I was wrong to think I could do this. If you think I’m capable of that—” He stops, shaking his head, his eyes filled with something I can’t name. “I’m not the best person to be your fake husband. I’ll only put you in more danger.”

He turns to leave, and something unbearable twists inside me.