A Story That Won't End

A Story That Won't End

Alexandra Heart

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She thought she knew who she was. She was wrong. Ayla Monroe has everything-wealth, beauty, and a family that keeps her under constant watch. But behind the walls of the Corsetti mansion, she feels like a bird in a gilded cage. She wants freedom, a normal life, and answers to the questions that haunt her every night-about icy water, a distant bridge, and a boy's voice calling her name. Then River Callahan walks into her world, bringing with him a storm of memories she can't quite grasp and a truth she's not ready to face. Because Ayla isn't Ayla at all. She's Hope Freissy Marsh, the sole survivor of a tragedy that wiped out her real family-and the rightful heir to everything the Callahans now own. As long-buried secrets unravel, Ayla finds herself torn between the boy she's falling for and the blood feud that binds their families. Love was never supposed to survive this war. But some ties are impossible to break.

Chapter 1 Never Say Never

Ayla

"Help... me..."

I froze mid-step at the sound of that voice. It was coming from the river beneath the bridge I was crossing. My heart shot straight into my throat.

Leaning over the wooden railing just past the concrete guardrail, I squinted at the water. At first, all I saw were ripples and sunlight flashing on the surface.

Then-an arm. A small hand reaching out desperately, followed by the head of a boy breaking the surface before vanishing again.

Without thinking, I bolted down the rocky path to the riverbank. My shoes slipped off, my backpack hit the ground, and I dove straight into the freezing water.

It was autumn, and the cold cut through me like shattered glass-but I didn't care.

The boy kept gasping every time he surfaced. I had to get to him.

"Grab my hand!" I yelled, stretching my arm toward him. He looked younger and smaller than me.

The second his fingers latched onto mine, I kicked hard, dragging with everything I had until I hauled him to the muddy bank.

We collapsed there, breathless and shaking. He curled up, knees to his chest, coughing up water.

I sat next to him, squeezing water from my hair, my eyes glued to his face.

He was a chubby kid with a round, freckled face. His skin was ghostly pale, his lips tinted blue.

"How'd you almost drown out here?" I asked, still catching my breath.

He wouldn't meet my eyes. "I was, uh... looking for a goldfish," he muttered, his voice trembling.

I blinked. "A goldfish? Seriously? In this river? Let me guess-some older kids set you up, didn't they?"

His silence was enough of an answer.

"Yeah, that's what I thought." I sighed, grabbed my backpack, and pulled out a jacket. "Here, wear this. It's my brother's, so it's huge, but you'll freeze if you don't."

He hesitated. "Thanks, but... what about you?"

"I'll be fine," I said with a shrug, trying to sound tough even though I was shivering like crazy.

He studied me-really studied me-and I could tell he knew I was lying.

But I smiled anyway.

For some reason, watching him breathe evenly again made me feel bad for him, especially after he admitted he'd been tricked.

"Thank you," he whispered. "I thought I was gonna die."

"God's kind... at least until we grow up and figure out how to get revenge on people who mess with us. Honestly, I'd just buy a goldfish."

He gave a tiny laugh, even though I wasn't joking. I meant it-it made way more sense to just buy one.

"Uh... can I know your name?" he asked softly.

"Hope," I said. "And you?"

"River."

**

"River, hey! Zoning out again?"

My voice broke the silence as we drove across the same bridge, six months later.

River stared blankly out the window, lost in thought.

He blinked and turned to me. "Huh? Oh... sorry," he muttered with that shy smile I'd gotten used to.

I sighed. "We're five minutes from the airport and you've barely said a word."

He shrugged. "Guess I'm just... thinking."

"Thinking? About what? Your epic goldfish quest?" I teased, grinning.

"Ha-ha, hilarious," he muttered. "I just... I'm sad you're leaving."

That hit me right in the chest. I softened. "Hey, I'm not flying to another planet. It's just Sicily. You know we can still text, right?"

He chuckled, but the sadness stayed. "Yeah, but it's not the same. You're my best friend, Hope. Who else is gonna save me from the jerks at school?"

"Um, maybe you?" I nudged him. "Try standing up for yourself a little. But yeah, I'll still check in on you. And don't you dare go goldfish-hunting without me. Promise?"

"Promise. But you better come back a lot."

"I promise."

And then-everything exploded at once.

The car jolted hard-brakes screeched. We were thrown forward, my head snapping.

"What the heck, Claude?!"

"Miss Marsh-down!"

Glass shattered. Something hot slashed across my forehead. Blood. I touched it, stunned, then ducked as another gunshot rang out.

I turned to River, crouched beside the seat, trembling. I grabbed his shoulder, trying to keep us both calm.

"I'm scared, Hope," he whispered.

"River, listen to me-sing! Right now!"

Gunfire ripped through the air. My ears rang, but I clung to his hand.

"Sing 'Never Say Never.' Loud!" I ordered. "Block it all out, River-focus on me, not the bullets!"

Tears streamed down his face. His lips trembled, but then he began to sing-soft at first. I joined him, forcing my shaky voice out, trying to drown out the sound of death around us.

Claude's voice shouted from the front, panicked. "Hold on, Miss Marsh! We'll take care of them!"

I fumbled for my bag to call my dad, but it was gone. My chest squeezed tight with panic. We were only ten years old. Just kids. What could we possibly do?

Then a voice I didn't recognize cut through the chaos. Cold. Ruthless.

"There are two kids in the back."

The door ripped open. Claude wasn't moving-his blood covered the seat.

A rough hand yanked me out.

"Let me go! My dad's gonna tear you apart for this!" I screamed, thrashing.

"Shut up, brat! You're worth a fortune," the masked man snarled.

I sank my teeth into his shoulder. He cursed and dropped me. I bolted, desperate to get back to River.

But something hard slammed into the side of my head.

Everything blurred. My legs buckled. My lungs seized.

Through the haze, River's terrified face flickered before me-his hand reaching, desperate.

"River... don't forget your promise..." I whispered, right before the darkness swallowed me whole.

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Chapters
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A Story That Won't End
1

Chapter 1 Never Say Never

04/11/2025

2

Chapter 2 New Hope

05/11/2025

3

Chapter 3 Bird in Gilded Cage

05/11/2025

4

Chapter 4 Hangover

05/11/2025

5

Chapter 5 Tension

05/11/2025

6

Chapter 6 Troublemaker

07/11/2025

7

Chapter 7 Must and Pain

07/11/2025

8

Chapter 8 Back to Campus

07/11/2025

9

Chapter 9 Distance

07/11/2025

10

Chapter 10 Just A Friend

07/11/2025

11

Chapter 11 Fake Identity

18/12/2025

12

Chapter 12 She's My Everything

18/12/2025

13

Chapter 13 The Walking Cactus

18/12/2025

14

Chapter 14 His Future House

18/12/2025

15

Chapter 15 Fan Meeting

18/12/2025

16

Chapter 16 An Angel For Me

18/12/2025

17

Chapter 17 Caring

18/12/2025

18

Chapter 18 Rhett's Warning

18/12/2025

19

Chapter 19 Sky-Blue Coat

20/12/2025

20

Chapter 20 Sakura in Early Spring

22/12/2025

21

Chapter 21 Change and Those Unsettling Eyes

25/12/2025

22

Chapter 22 The Green Apple

26/12/2025

23

Chapter 23 The Rain Between Us

28/12/2025

24

Chapter 24 What I Wasn't Supposed to See

03/01/2026

25

Chapter 25 The Rain I Never Spoke of

05/01/2026

26

Chapter 26 I Want Peace

07/01/2026

27

Chapter 27 What's Left After Jealousy

10/01/2026

28

Chapter 28 You Better Be Careful

13/01/2026

29

Chapter 29 Recycle Bin

18/01/2026

30

Chapter 30 Comfort Zone

19/01/2026

31

Chapter 31 Drama

20/01/2026

32

Chapter 32 Arc 1

20/01/2026

33

Chapter 33 Rhett's Affection

21/01/2026

34

Chapter 34 Love, Jealousy and Secret

21/01/2026

35

Chapter 35 Everything Has to Be Perfect

22/01/2026

36

Chapter 36 The Girl in the Wheelchair

22/01/2026

37

Chapter 37 The Blonde Girl

23/01/2026

38

Chapter 38 A Wish Made of Light

23/01/2026

39

Chapter 39 The Light Went Quiet

24/01/2026

40

Chapter 40 Echoes After Light

24/01/2026