LOGINJax’s POVI had spent enough years beside Damien Voss to recognize the signs.Most people saw a billionaire with nerves of steel. A ruthless businessman. A man who could negotiate million-dollar deals without blinking. I saw something different. I saw the tiny cracks. The clenched jaw. The way his shoulders stiffened when he was irritated. The way he went unnaturally quiet whenever something truly mattered to him.Tonight, those cracks had become impossible to ignore.I stood near the ballroom bar, a glass of sparkling water in one hand, pretending to listen to a donor explain his latest investment project. In reality, my attention kept drifting across the room. To Damien.He wasn’t listening to the conversation around him. Not really. His eyes followed only one person. Ofelia. She moved gracefully through the ballroom beside Victoria, greeting guests with a smile that looked more genuine than it had earlier in the evening. Every time she laughed, Damien looked up. Every time another
Ofelia’s POVThe applause from the dance floor was still ringing in my ears when I quietly slipped away from the ballroom. No one seemed to notice. Everyone was busy returning to their conversations, greeting donors, laughing over glasses of champagne, and congratulating Victoria on another successful charity gala.I needed a minute. Just one minute. The ballroom suddenly felt too warm, too loud, too crowded. My heels clicked softly against the polished floor as I followed the signs toward the outdoor terrace. The moment I pushed open the glass doors, a cool evening breeze greeted me.I closed my eyes. Finally. Fresh air.The balcony overlooked the entire city. Thousands of lights stretched endlessly into the distance like stars scattered across the ground. Cars crawled along the roads below, their headlights weaving ribbons of white and red through the darkness. It was beautiful. Peaceful.I rested both hands on the stone railing and took a long, slow breath. The tension I’d been car
Ofelia’s POVBy the time everyone had found their seats, I was mentally exhausted. I never imagined smiling could be so tiring. Dinner was served in courses, each one more elegant than the last. Crystal glasses sparkled beneath the chandeliers while soft conversations filled the ballroom. The orchestra had given way to a small live band playing gentle jazz in the corner.I sat between Victoria and one of the foundation’s board members. Damien sat across from us, discussing business with several executives. Or at least he appeared to be. Every now and then, I caught him looking in my direction. Each time our eyes almost met, one of us looked away first. Usually me.Victoria happily chatted with everyone at the table, making introductions and laughing at stories I’d already heard twice tonight. “You’ve done wonderfully this evening, sweetheart,” she whispered to me during a quiet moment.I smiled. “I’ve mostly just been trying not to embarrass myself.”“Nonsense.” She squeezed my hand.
Ofelia’s POVThe night of the charity gala arrived faster than I expected.All day, the mansion had been busier than usual. Staff moved from room to room carrying flowers, garment bags, makeup cases, jewelry boxes, and things I didn’t even know rich people needed for one event. Victoria was in her element, giving instructions with a bright smile while somehow looking calm and graceful.I, on the other hand, was nervous.By evening, I was sitting in front of the mirror in my bedroom while Victoria stood behind me, carefully adjusting a strand of my hair. The sapphire-blue gown hung beautifully on my body, the soft fabric fitting me like it had been made only for me. My makeup was simple but elegant. My hair was pinned up with a few loose curls framing my face.For a moment, I didn’t recognize myself.Victoria’s hands paused on my shoulders. “Oh, Ofelia,” she whispered.I looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes were wet. “Mom?”She smiled, but her lips trembled a little. “You l
Ofelia’s POV“Absolutely not.”I looked up from my toast and frowned. “What?”Victoria pointed her fork at me dramatically from across the breakfast table. “You are not wearing one of your office dresses to the charity gala.”I blinked. “I wasn’t planning to.”“Good.” She smiled brightly. “Because we’re going shopping.”I groaned. “Mom…”“No arguments.” She reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “This is your first major charity gala. There will be business executives, politicians, celebrities, and donors. You deserve to feel beautiful.”“I already have plenty of clothes.”“You have work clothes.” She shook her head. “You need one unforgettable dress.”I laughed. “I don’t think anyone will be paying attention to me.”Victoria raised an eyebrow. “Oh, sweetheart. If only you knew.”I had no idea what she meant by that.Across the table, Damien quietly folded his newspaper. He hadn’t said a word during breakfast. Not one. Ever since our conversation in the living room two nights
Damien’s POVBy the time I pulled into the mansion driveway, the sun had already disappeared behind the skyline. It had been another long day of meetings, contracts, and decisions that normally occupied every corner of my mind. Today, none of it stayed with me. Only Ofelia did.The image of her refusing lunch. Refusing the coffee. Looking at me with nothing but polite indifference. I’d always believed indifference was easier than anger. I was wrong. I’d take another slap over that silence any day.The butler greeted me as I stepped inside. “Good evening, Mr. Voss.”“Evening.”I loosened my tie as I glanced toward the staircase. “Miss Bennett home?”The butler shook his head. “No, sir.”I frowned. “Victoria?”“Mrs. Voss is upstairs preparing for tomorrow’s committee meeting.”I nodded absently. “Thank you.”Normally, that would have been the end of it. She was an adult. She didn’t need to report her whereabouts to anyone. Yet something about the empty house unsettled me.I walked into
Ofelia’s POV Just like cinderella, I went back reality. I was standing in the center of my apartment thinking about my life when there was a knock on the door. I already knew who it was before I opened it. Mr. Ramirez, the landlord, stood there with his arms crossed, looking tired but firm. “Mis
Ofelia’s POV It has been three days and that was all it took for my life to turn into a complete nightmare. I hadn’t eaten anything solid since the day Ethan left. Sleep came in short, broken pieces filled with dreams of empty closets and ringing phones. Every time my phone buzzed, it was another
Ofelia’s POV “What do you mean there is no money?” I asked, my voice shaking as I stared at the banker across the desk. My hands gripped the edge of the counter so tight my knuckles turned white. The man in the crisp suit didn’t even blink. He just slid a paper toward me. “I’m sorry, Miss Bennet
Ofelia’s POVThe plane ride felt endless. I stared out the window at the clouds below, my two suitcases stuffed in the overhead bin and my heart heavy in my chest. Mom had booked the ticket and even paid for a car to pick me up from the airport. Part of me was grateful. The other part wouldn’t stop







