LOGINANASTASIA POV He leaned closer.I wasn't expecting it. For a second, I simply stood there and let him come closer, watching his eyes as the distance between us slowly disappeared. My heart gave an unexpected little jump, but I refused to let it show.Then, just before our lips could meet, I drew back. His eyes opened immediately.I turned away, pretending nothing had happened.“You're getting a little too comfortable, Mr. Hart,” I said, trying to sound amused rather than affected.Kelvin chuckled. “Not with this beauty standing in front of me.”I smiled and shook my head.He stepped behind me and helped tie the loose rope of my bikini top back into place. Once I was sure everything was secure, I stood up and adjusted my sunglasses.Kelvin stood as well. We began walking down the beach together.For a while, neither of us said much. The sound of the waves filled the silence between us, and somehow, the quiet wasn't awkward. Every now and then, I caught him looking at me, but I pretend
ELENA POV Alexander leaned closer, and I instinctively closed my eyes, waiting for his lips to meet mine.Then my stomach betrayed me.Grrrrr.My eyes flew open. For a second, neither of us moved.Then Alexander burst out laughing.I covered my face immediately. “Oh my God.”He laughed even harder, his shoulders shaking as he carefully lowered me back onto my feet.“Well,” he said between laughs, “it seems your stomach is rejecting the first meal.”I couldn't help laughing too. “Don't blame my stomach. I haven't eaten anything since noon.”“I noticed.”“You noticed?”“You've been rubbing your stomach since you came downstairs.”I rolled my eyes. “You could have said something.”“I was trying to impress you.”I looked at the dining table. “You definitely did.”I took my seat, and Alexander pulled out the chair for me before taking the seat opposite mine. I looked at the food again, and my eyes widened.There was creamy pasta in the middle of the table, surrounded by grilled chicke
LILIANA POV I finally came back to myself.My eyes widened, and I quickly straightened my body as if that would somehow erase the fact that I had just been standing there, staring at Liam like a fool while imagining myself kissing him.Oh my God.I had actually imagined kissing him. I pressed my lips together, trying to hide the ridiculous smile spreading across my face. My cheeks were burning, and I was still staring at him when he cleared his throat.I blinked. Liam was watching me.I immediately looked away.“Sorry,” I muttered, pretending to suddenly become very interested in the wall.His lips twitched. “Was the journey smooth?” he asked.I nodded quickly. “Yes. Very smooth.”Then I looked around again, and my mouth fell open. “This house is enormous.”Liam chuckled. “It's just a house.”“Just a house?” I turned to him. “Liam, I could get lost in here and nobody would find me for three business days.”He laughed.I pointed toward the huge staircase. “If I ever disappear, please
ANASTASIA POV “Ana…” His voice came out almost like a whisper.I froze.Gerrald stood there with his eyes fixed on me, and the disbelief on his face made my stomach twist. His gaze moved slowly from my dress to the expensive car behind me, then back to my face as if he was trying to put together a puzzle that wasn't making any sense.Guilt ate deeply inside me. “Gerrald…” I finally called.“Sis, it's really you.” He took another step toward me, his eyes narrowing. “Wait… you are Elena Moretti? Nah, that doesn't make sense. How?”I swallowed. This was not where I wanted this conversation to happen.“Not here,” I whispered.I quickly took his hand and pulled him inside before anyone around the estate could hear us. Once we were inside, I closed the door behind us and stood there awkwardly while Gerrald looked around.His eyes widened at everything. The beautiful interior. The expensive furniture.The huge space. He slowly sat down on one of the couches while I remained standing in fron
ANASTASIA POVMy gaze locked on the man standing in front of me, and for a second, every bit of confidence I had gathered disappeared.I felt tense. Very tense. But then I remembered Elena's words. You are Elena Moretti. Just play it.I swallowed quietly, straightened my shoulders, and forced a smile onto my face.I could do this. I had to do this.“Miss Moretti,” Kelvin said as he stepped forward and pulled out the chair for me.I smiled politely. “Mr. Hart.” I walked toward the chair and sat down, trying not to show how nervous I actually was.Please, Elena, I thought desperately. I hope I'm doing this right. Kelvin took his seat across from me, and the moment he did, he started talking.About himself. About Hart Holdings. About how he had built his company from almost nothing and turned it into one of the most recognized companies in the country. He talked about the standards he had set, the businesses he had invested in, the people he had worked with, and the plans he had for the
ELENA POV I woke up smiling. It took me a few seconds to realize it, but there I was, lying beneath the sheets with the biggest smile on my face.I couldn't remember the last time I had woken up feeling this light.Then everything from last night came rushing back.Alexander. His hands around me.His eyes when I finally told him not to go to her. And that kiss.I touched my lips unconsciously, and a smile immediately returned to my face. I bit my lower lip, remembering how slowly he had kissed me at first, as if he was afraid I would change my mind. Then I remembered the way everything between us had finally broken loose, six years of hurt and longing collapsing into one moment.I covered my face with the blanket for a second.God. What had I done? I peeked out again, still smiling. And then I remembered what Alexander had whispered afterward.‘If I stay tonight, Selena, I'm not sure I'll be able to control myself.’I burst out laughing. That man.He had actually said it with that se
SELENA POV I stood frozen. Tears poured down my cheeks, my body shaking violently. I wanted to go there, to tear them apart with my bare hands, to scream until my lungs gave out, but I couldn’t move. My husband… fucking my best friend. My best friend… I could barely breathe. I turned to leave,
SELENA'S POV "Do I know you from somewhere?" My heart nearly jumped out of my chest. For one terrifying second, I thought I had been caught, that he had remembered, that he would suddenly recognize the woman who had shared a night with him and disappeared without a word. I forced my face to rema
SELENA'S POV "Let's go." Kelvin didn't wait for my response before turning away, but I didn't bother replying either. Something inside me had already gone quiet, A quietness that comes after the last thread finally snaps. I knew it was over. Completely. The desperate wife of Mr. Hale was gone. I
SELENA POV“Congratulations, Mrs. Hale. You’re two weeks pregnant.”The doctor’s voice stretched forward with a smile, hands reaching out as if expecting joy. But my body refused to follow. My temple throbbed, sweat prickling against my skin. My hands trembled, my legs vibrating under me. No. No,







