Blood Wars : Will You Be My Groom?

The morning sunlight cast shadows through Harmony's window, dancing across unopened textbooks and unwashed coffee mugs. Three days. The world beyond her door had become a distant echo, marked only by gentle knocks and worried voices.

"Sweetheart?" Her father's voice carried through the door, accompanied by the familiar aroma of his signature French toast. "I made your favorite."

Harmony pulled her blanket tighter, her prosthetic leg resting against the nightstand like a silent accusation. "I'm not hungry, Dad."

A soft thud against the door – probably him sliding down to sit. "You know, when you were little and upset, you'd at least let me in to tell you stories." The memory hit unexpectedly, bringing tears to her eyes.

"Dad..."

"Just breakfast," he said softly. "That's all I'm asking."

Before she could respond, Mara's voice drifted up from downstairs. "Is she still doing the whole tragic heroine thing?"

"Mara," their father warned.

"What? I'm just saying – she's mad at Jeremy for keeping secrets while she's got her own locked away." The words stung because they held a grain of truth.

Harmony pressed her forehead against her knees, trying to steady her breathing. A gentle knock at her window made her jump. Alex balanced precariously on the old oak branch outside, like some rom-com hero.

Despite everything, she felt a laugh bubble up. "Are you insane?" she whispered, opening the window.

"Probably," he grinned, though concern shadowed his eyes. "But you weren't answering your door."

"So you decided to break your neck instead?"

"I brought reinforcements." He held up a paper bag that smelled suspiciously like her favorite caramel macchiato from the campus café.

Her father's voice carried up again: "Is that Alex Chen climbing my tree?"

"Sorry, Mr. Carson!" Alex called down. "Just delivering emergency coffee!"

A pause, then: "Use the front door next time, son."

Harmony found herself smiling despite everything. Then she caught sight of her reflection in the window – unwashed hair, dark circles under her eyes – and the smile faded.

"Hey," Alex said softly, reading her expression. "None of that."

"You should go," she whispered.

"Not happening." He settled more comfortably on the branch. "Not until you drink this coffee and talk to your family. They're worried sick, Harm."

Downstairs, she could hear Mara and her father in the kitchen, their voices a comforting murmur.

"I can't," she said. "Not yet."

"Then we'll sit here until you can." Alex's voice was gentle but firm. "Even if I get splinters in unfortunate places."

A reluctant laugh escaped her. "You're ridiculous."

"And you're avoiding." Before she could respond, Mara appeared in the doorway – she hadn't even heard it open.

"Well, if it isn't Romeo and Juliet." Her tone was light but her eyes were sharp.

"Mara," their father called from behind her. "What did we discuss about boundaries?"

Mara rolled her eyes but her expression softened slightly. "Sorry. That was... I just meant..." She sighed. "Look, Harm, you need to cut Jeremy some slack okay?"

"You don't understand," Harmony whispered.

"No?" Mara's laugh was hollow. "You will be surprised I do."

She turned to leave, then paused. "By the way, Professor Martinez asked about you again. Said your spot in the honor society won't wait forever."

After she left, silence filled the room like smoke. Alex still perched outside, coffee extended like a peace offering. Her father lingered in the doorway, worry etched in every line of his face.

"Just breakfast," he said again. "That's all we're asking."

Harmony looked between them – her father's patient love, Alex's steady presence, even Mara's complicated concern. The world hadn't ended with Sarah's revelation. It had just... shifted.

"Okay," she whispered. "Just breakfast."

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Harmony forced down a few bites of French toast, trying to reassure her family that she was fine. But the truth was, she had no idea how to process everything that had happened.

As the sun began to set, Alex walked her back to her room, his presence a comforting reminder that she wasn't alone.

"Hey," he said softly, as she settled onto her bed. "I'm here for you, Harm. Whatever you need."

Harmony smiled weakly, feeling a lump form in her throat. "Thanks, Alex."

Later that night, Alex's phone buzzed as he left the Carson house. Jeremy's name flashed on the screen.

"How is she?" Jeremy's voice was rough with worry.

"Struggling," Alex replied. "But she came down for dinner. It's progress."

A heavy silence followed.

"I landed an hour ago," Jeremy said finally. "I'm at the Marriott downtown."

Alex stopped walking, his eyes scanning the darkening street. "You're in Boston? Does she—"

"No," Jeremy interrupted. "And I need it to stay that way."

Alex's grip on his phone tightened. "What's going on, Jeremy?"

"I need to explain everything," Jeremy said, his voice cracking. "In person. No more screens between us."

Alex thought of Harmony's fragile smile at dinner, the way her hands had trembled around her coffee cup. "If this hurts her more—"

"It won't," Jeremy said firmly. "I'm done hiding. From any of it."

After hanging up, Alex stared at his phone, wondering if love really could survive this many secrets. Behind him, light still glowed from Harmony's window, a beacon in the darkness. Tomorrow would change everything. He just prayed it would be for the better, somehow.

As he walked away from the Carson house, Alex couldn't shake off the feeling that he was caught in the middle of a storm. Harmony's secrets, Jeremy's secrets – they all swirled around him, threatening to pull him under. But he was determined to be the anchor that held them all together, no matter what tomorrow brought.

The night air was crisp and cool, filled with the scent of blooming flowers and fresh-cut grass. Alex breathed it in deeply, feeling a sense of calm wash over him. He knew that tomorrow would be difficult, but he was ready. For Harmony, for Jeremy, and for himself, he was ready to face whatever came next.