Two Hearts

The First Night Together

Laura's POV

I slowly organized my things around Daniel’s bedroom, trying to make it look less like a disaster zone. I wasn’t obsessive about cleanliness, but complete chaos irritated me. I liked knowing where things belonged. It just made sense.

Daniel had rearranged his closet, moving his clothes from one side to the other. Though calling it a closet felt inaccurate.

It was practically another room dedicated entirely to clothes.

Why did anyone need something like that?

I had no idea.

I'd only managed to unpack part of my belongings, but the room already felt different. More alive. I opened the curtains and cracked open the window to let fresh air inside. Sometimes I honestly wondered if Daniel lived exclusively in darkness.

There was still plenty left to do, but I decided it could wait until tomorrow.

This day had already been exhausting enough.

I headed downstairs to make dinner, even though I barely had the energy for that.

Dinner was unusually quiet.

Neither Daniel nor I said much. Every now and then our eyes met across the table before one of us looked away.

Even Ellia and Markus seemed strangely subdued.

"Did something happen?" I finally asked, passing the salad bowl.

"Yes!" Ellia burst out. "Markus took my sketchbook and hid it, and now I can't find it anywhere!"

"I didn't take it!" Markus protested immediately. "Why would I even want your sketchbook?"

Right.

A completely normal sibling argument. Either Markus had hidden something. Or Ellia couldn't find it in her own mess.

Again.

"Ellia?" I gave her a meaningful look. "How clean is your room exactly? And is it even possible to find anything in there?"

I watched her hesitate.

"It's cleaner than usual," she argued. "And I know where I left it. It's not there anymore."

"And if I walked into your room right now?"

"It's fine, Mom."

"Should I bring a shovel or a trash bag?"

"Ugh..." That answer told me everything.

"Fine," she grumbled. "I'll clean my room. But if I don't find it, Markus has to give it back." She shot her brother a death glare.

I simply shrugged. Then, unexpectedly, Daniel spoke.

"By the way."

I looked at him immediately. What now?

"I made a few calls today." His tone was suspiciously casual.

"And I have some good news."

I instantly knew I wasn't going to like whatever came next.

"Ellia has been accepted into the Art Academy's youth program. And Markus can join the city's junior football team. They happened to have openings."

I froze. Completely froze.

Art Academy?

Junior football league?

Had he lost his mind?

"Daniel, I—" I never got to finish.

Because both children exploded. The dining room instantly turned into a stadium. They were practically screaming with excitement, thanking Daniel over and over, talking at the same time.

I looked at him.

Slowly. Very slowly. Then I said quietly:

"We'll talk about this later."

The smile on his face visibly faded.

Good.

At least he understood he was in trouble.

When the children finally disappeared upstairs and dinner was over, Daniel attempted to escape. Unfortunately for him, I caught him first.

"You." I pointed directly at him. "Stay."

"Laura, listen—"

"No. You listen."

He immediately stopped talking.

Good.

Because I wasn't finished.

"This absolutely cannot happen!" I exclaimed. "Art Academy? Professional football programs? Did it ever occur to you to ask me before making decisions about my children?"

"Laura—"

"How am I supposed to tell them now that it isn't happening?" I was furious.

Not because of the programs. Because he'd crossed a line.

"Laura, slow down." His voice remained calm. Infuriatingly calm. "I was trying to help."

"You don't get to make those decisions!"

"I know." That answer caught me off guard.

Daniel sighed.

"I know they're your children. But Ellia hates her current art classes. And Markus comes home frustrated after almost every practice."

He paused.

"Don't you want them to have opportunities?"

The question hit harder than he intended.

"Of course I do!" I could hear the desperation in my own voice.

"I want everything for them. But there are limits. I give them as much as I can afford. They need to understand that not everything can be bought."

Daniel studied me quietly. Then his expression softened.

"Laura."

I hated it when he used that voice. Because it made it impossible to stay angry.

"I understand." He really sounded like he meant it. "But they deserve this." His voice became quieter.

"And honestly? I want to give them something."

I looked away.

"They've become important to me." That sentence stole the rest of my anger.

"I can't give them years of memories," he continued softly. "I can't give them their father back. But I can help them do something they love."

Silence filled the kitchen. And suddenly I was just tired.

So tired.

I think he saw it on my face. Because his voice softened even more.

"Go upstairs."

"What?"

"I'll clean up."

"Daniel—"

"Go." He nodded toward the staircase. "Take a bath. Relax. Think about it. Then we'll talk."

For a moment it sounded like the best offer anyone had ever made me.

So I simply nodded.

And went upstairs.

A hot bath sounded heavenly.

I sank deeper into the warm water and closed my eyes, letting the scented bubbles soothe away at least some of the tension that had been building all day.

For the first time since morning, I felt like I could breathe.

My gaze wandered around the bathroom. It was completely different from the one attached to my old room. Much larger. Much more luxurious.

A massive bathtub sat almost in the center of the room. There was enough space for two people comfortably. Not that I planned on testing that theory.

A large walk-in shower occupied one corner. Two sinks stood side by side beneath matching mirrors. Two cabinets. Two everything.

Interesting.

Why would Daniel need two sinks? Two cabinets? He'd never planned on having a family. At least that was what he'd always claimed.

Then something else caught my attention. Two laundry baskets.

I blinked.

Wait.

When had he added a second laundry basket? I actually laughed.

Sometimes Daniel was completely impossible to predict. One moment he was emotionally unavailable. The next he was quietly making space for me in his bathroom. As if it were the most natural thing in the world.

I sighed.

This wasn't my world.

Money. Luxury. Unlimited possibilities. None of those things had ever mattered much to me.

I liked stability. A steady job. A full refrigerator. Children who were healthy and happy. Everything else was secondary.

Because money didn't make people happy. Daniel was proof of that.

He had everything - Money. Power. Success.

And yet he carried enough emotional damage for three lifetimes. What was the point of having everything if you had no one to share it with?

By the time I climbed out of the bath, I felt almost human again. The stress from earlier had faded. At least temporarily.

Wrapped in a robe, I returned to the bedroom. And immediately remembered that this was no longer my room.

Our room.

The thought alone nearly sent me back downstairs.

Daniel was already in bed. A laptop rested on his lap while he focused on whatever work had captured his attention. For a moment I simply stood there. Still not entirely convinced this was actually happening.

"I'll go check on the kids," I announced.

Daniel glanced up.

"Okay."

That was all. No teasing. No comments. Just okay.

For some reason, that made me even more nervous.

The three of us gathered in Ellia's room. I needed to know what the children really thought before making any final decisions.

"Mum, please don't be angry at Daniel," Ellia began immediately. Of course she did.

"I really want to go to the Academy." Her eyes practically sparkled.

"Think about everything I'll learn. You know how much I love drawing." She leaned forward. "My current class is so boring. We've been working on the same project for weeks."

I smiled despite myself. She looked exactly like me whenever I was passionate about something.

"I can't take it anymore," she finished dramatically.

Markus immediately jumped in.

"I want to join the football team too." His voice was quieter. More careful.

"There are tournaments. Better coaches. Better training."

Then he looked down.

"But if you don't want me to go... I'll understand."

And just like that, my heart broke. Because he meant it. He was already preparing himself for disappointment.

I hated that. I hated that my children had learned how to do that. I closed my eyes briefly. Then sighed.

"Fine."

Both heads snapped up instantly.

"You can both try."

Silence.

Then—

"YES!" The room exploded.

Again.

I barely managed to stay upright as both children launched themselves at me.

"Thank you!"

"Mum, thank you!"

"But," I warned, trying to speak through the chaos, "this is a trial period."

Neither of them cared. They were already celebrating.

"If it's not what you expected, you can leave."

Still no reaction. Apparently I'd already lost this battle.

Eventually I managed to say goodnight and escape.

Halfway down the hallway I automatically started walking toward my old bedroom. Then stopped. Right. Not my room anymore.

I stood outside Daniel's door and took three deep breaths.

"Okay, Laura." I whispered to myself. "Pull yourself together. Set boundaries. Clear rules. No compromises."

I nodded firmly.

Then opened the door. And stepped inside.

Daniel was exactly where I'd left him.

Sitting in bed. Laptop balanced on his knees. Looking entirely too comfortable for someone who was about to share his bedroom with me for the first time.

"Okay," I announced.

He looked up.

"Okay?"

"Yes. Okay."

I crossed my arms.

"The kids can try the programs."

His expression immediately relaxed.

"But," I added quickly, "only on one condition."

His eyebrows rose.

"If the reality doesn't match their expectations, they can leave. No pressure. No guilt. No trying to convince them to stay."

"Agreed."

"And next time," I continued, narrowing my eyes, "you talk to me before making decisions about my children."

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"Fair."

I didn't entirely trust that answer. But it was good enough for now.

Then I took a deep breath. Because now came the important part.

"Before you get any ideas, we need rules."

The smile widened immediately.

"That sounds promising."

"Daniel."

"I'm listening."

I pointed directly at him.

"We each get our own blanket."

"Fine."

"No random hugging in your sleep."

"Disappointing."

I ignored him.

"No 'accidental' touching."

He looked offended.

"I wasn't planning on attacking you."

"Good."

"And absolutely no snoring."

"I don't snore." I laughed despite myself.

"Every person who snores says that."

"That's discrimination."

I rolled my eyes.

Then I began searching around the bed. Pillows. Perfect. Daniel had enough decorative pillows to furnish an entire hotel.

I grabbed one. Then another. Then another. And started building a wall straight down the middle of the mattress.

One pillow.

Two pillows.

Three.

Four.

A perfect border.

When I finally stepped back to admire my work, Daniel was staring at me. Trying—and failing—not to laugh.

"Are we sleeping," he asked carefully, "or preparing for a border conflict?"

"This is necessary."

"For whom?"

"For me."

He looked at the pillow wall again. Then at me.

"I'm starting to feel personally attacked by those pillows."

A reluctant smile escaped me. Unfortunately, he noticed. Which immediately made him look far too pleased with himself.

I settled onto my side of the bed. A safe distance away. Turned on the bedside lamp. Opened my book. And read the same sentence four times.

I had absolutely no idea what it said. My brain refused to cooperate. Eventually I gave up. Closed the book. Turned off the light. And pulled the blanket all the way to my chin.

Every few seconds I found myself glancing toward Daniel's side over the pillow wall.

He was still typing on his laptop. Working. Or pretending to work. Probably pretending.

"I'll be done soon."

I froze. How did he know I was looking?

Did we both suddenly have some sort of sixth sense? I turned away immediately. Face burning.

"Good."

His quiet chuckle followed me.

A while later the laptop clicked shut. The room went dark. The mattress shifted as Daniel settled into bed.

And then—

Silence. Complete silence. The kind that only existed late at night.

I stared into the darkness. Unable to sleep. Every thought in my head seemed to be shouting.

You're sharing a bed with Daniel.

Daniel.

His bed.

His room.

His stupidly expensive pillows.

I squeezed my eyes shut. It didn't help. Not even a little.

I never would have imagined that one day I'd be sleeping beside a man who was practically a stranger.

Well...

Not entirely a stranger anymore. That somehow made it worse.

A few minutes later Daniel spoke.

"You awake?"

I groaned.

"Unfortunately."

"Good."

I turned toward the pillow wall.

"Why is that good?"

"Because I thought I was the only one suffering."

The laugh escaped before I could stop it. A quiet snort. Then another.

"Oh, so this is funny to you?" His voice sounded closer now.

I turned my head. Somewhere beyond the pillow barrier, I knew he was facing me too.

Then suddenly—

One of the pillows disappeared. Daniel grabbed it and tossed it onto the floor. I stared in horror.

"Daniel!"

"This one is unnecessary."

"Put it back."

"No."

"Put it back."

"I'm reclaiming territory."

I couldn't help laughing.

"You can't reclaim something that isn't yours anymore."

Silence.

"What does that mean?"

I could practically hear his confused frown. I smiled into the darkness.

"We're sharing a room." I gestured vaguely around us.

"And technically sharing a bed."

Another pause.

"So technically..."

"My bed isn't entirely mine anymore."

The silence that followed lasted several seconds. Long enough for me to wonder if I'd crossed some invisible line.

Then finally—

"I'm sorry."

My breath caught. The joking tone was gone. Completely gone.

"What?"

"For the kids." His voice was quiet. "I should've talked to you first."

I stared into the darkness. Surprised. Again. Somehow Daniel kept doing that.

"It's okay."

"No." He sighed. "It wasn't."

A strange warmth settled in my chest. Maybe because he actually meant it.

"Just ask me next time."

"I will."

And somehow...

That was enough. For tonight.

Eventually the conversation faded. The silence returned. And at some point, without either of us noticing...

We fell asleep.

I woke up first and, for a moment, I had no idea where I was. Everything felt unfamiliar. Then it hit me like a frying pan to the face.

Right.

I was sleeping in Daniel's room. In Daniel's bed.

I turned my head to the right. And there he was.

Sleeping.

He looked completely relaxed. Peaceful. No masks. No walls. No cold CEO persona. If anything, he looked content. As if he was exactly where he was supposed to be.

And I couldn't look away.

I studied every detail of his face. His messy hair. The steady rhythm of his breathing. The way the morning light softened his features. And I stared for far too long.

Much too long.

Because suddenly one of his eyes opened. And caught me staring.

"Good morning."

I nearly fell out of bed. I felt like I'd just been caught committing a crime.

"You're awake?!" I blurted out, my voice a little higher than intended.

"Clearly."

A pause.

"Were you staring at me?"

"No."

"Laura."

"Maybe a little," I admitted reluctantly.

A slow smirk appeared on his face.

"Do I at least look good when I sleep?"

I stared at him in disbelief.

Honestly.

Unbelievable.

I grabbed the nearest pillow and threw it straight at him.

While he continued laughing, I escaped to the bathroom to shower and get dressed.

Daniel's POV

Even though it had taken me forever to fall asleep and Laura and I had spent quite a while talking in the dark, I felt surprisingly rested when I woke up.

I could feel someone watching me. So I carefully opened one eye. And there she was.

Laura.

Staring at me with those curious green eyes.

Naturally, I took advantage of the opportunity and caught her completely off guard by wishing her good morning.

The look on her face was priceless. Somewhere between shock and embarrassment at being caught.

When I asked whether she'd been staring at me, she denied it immediately. Of course she did. So I pushed a little. Just enough to make her admit it.

And then I asked the only logical question - Whether I looked good while sleeping.

It was a mandatory question. The pillow that hit me in the face was absolutely worth it. I couldn't stop laughing.

It felt like the day had started better than any day in a very long time.

I sat on the edge of the bed, trying to wake up properly, and looked around the room.

Then I noticed something. The pillow wall was gone. Or at least most of it was. Half the pillows were scattered across the floor. At some point during the night, she'd kicked several of them off the bed.

I smiled to myself. So much for her carefully constructed border.

My gaze drifted to the empty side of the bed. Just a few moments ago, she had been there. Now the space felt strangely empty.

I stared at it for a moment longer.

For the first time in years, waking up alone suddenly sounded like a terrible idea.