LOGINELENA POVThe next morning, I woke up to the sound of laughter coming from downstairs. For a moment, I simply stared at the ceiling, trying to remember where I was.Then everything came rushing back.Los Angeles. My mother. Grandfather.Madam Magerate. And Adrian.I sat up slowly and ran a hand through my hair before getting out of bed. Six years ago, I had left this city with a broken heart and a suitcase full of memories I never wanted to revisit.Now I was back. But this time, I wasn't the same woman who had left.After getting dressed, I walked downstairs and immediately heard Adrian's voice. "Great-grandfather, I'm telling you, three private jets are too many for one person."I stopped at the bottom of the stairs.Grandfather was sitting at the dining table, staring at my son as if he had found his perfect opponent."Too many?" he asked.Adrian nodded seriously. "You should give one to me."Grandfather burst out laughing.I shook my head. That boy had only met him yesterday, and
ELENA POVI stood frozen.The moment I stepped into the living room, the huge space suddenly felt much smaller. My eyes moved slowly across the room until they landed on the familiar elderly man standing near the fireplace, a walking stick resting in his hand.Grandfather.He looked exactly the way I remembered him.It was almost as if the six years had not touched him at all. He looked neither older nor weaker. He simply stood there, watching me with those familiar eyes that had once seen through every one of my stubborn moods.Tears slipped down my cheeks before I could stop them."My daughter." His voice broke whatever was holding me in place.I don't even remember letting go of Adrian's hand.I only knew that the next moment, I was already walking toward him."Grandfather..."I wrapped my arms around him, and his hand slowly came around my back, patting me gently.The moment I felt his familiar touch, the tears came harder.He was one of the people I had left behind. One of the peop
ELENA POV Three days later, it was finally time to leave.I stood in my bedroom that morning, staring at the suitcase beside me. Everything was packed. Adrian's things had been packed too, and Nanny had already gone through everything twice to make sure we hadn't forgotten anything.The trip was being kept completely discreet.No announcement. No press. No social media post. Nothing. Nobody needed to know that Elena Moretti was coming to Los Angeles.At least, not yet. I picked up my sunglasses and slipped them into my bag before taking one last look around the room.“Ready?” Adriana asked from the doorway.I turned. “Almost.”She walked inside and looked around.“You know, for someone who claims this is just a business trip, you look like you're going to war.”I rolled my eyes.“It's California, Adriana. Not a battlefield.”She gave me a suspicious look.“Hmm.”I ignored her. Downstairs, everyone was already waiting.Liam was the first person I saw.Adrian ran toward him.“Uncle Liam!”
ALEXANDER POVThe house was finally quiet.After all the laughter and chaos from Adrian's welcome-home party, everyone had slowly left. Adrian had fallen asleep almost immediately, exhausted from the excitement.Elena had gone upstairs a while ago.I remained downstairs with Greg, sitting on the couch while he went through a few things on his tablet.For several minutes, neither of us spoke.Then Greg casually looked up. “So… she's going back to California.”My head turned toward him.“What?”He shrugged. “California. Lena is going back.”I stared at him. I already knew Moretti Designs was expanding there. I knew she had business waiting for her. But hearing that she was actually leaving bothered me more than I wanted to admit.Especially because I knew exactly who was in California.Calista Morgan.I leaned back.“Did Elena tell you why?”Greg shook his head.“No. I overheard it, but I'm sure it's business.”I didn't answer. Because something didn't sit right with me.Then I remembered th
ELENA POV The first thing I heard when I woke up was a scream.A very loud scream. I shot upright in bed, my heart pounding as I looked around the room.“SELENA!”I blinked. Adriana was standing beside my bed, looking like she had just discovered the biggest scandal of the century.I groaned and covered my face with my palm.“Really, Adriana?”“You posted!”I slowly lowered my hand.“Posted what?”She stared at me as if I had suddenly lost my memory.“Instagram!”“Oh.”“Oh?” she repeated, her eyes widening. “That's all you have to say? Oh?”I sighed and fell back against the pillows.“I posted one picture, Adriana. It's not the end of the world.”“Not the end of the world?” She placed both hands on her waist. “You literally made a comeback without telling me!”I couldn't help but smile.She was being dramatic again.“You decided to make a comeback and didn't even make it extravagant!” she continued. “No makeup artist. No stylist. No grand announcement. Nothing!”I raised an eyebrow.“What
CALISTA POVThe camera was already rolling.I tilted my head slightly, letting the tears gather in my eyes without allowing a single one to fall.My hands trembled as I stared at the man standing before me.“You know what hurts the most?” I whispered, my voice breaking perfectly for the scene. “I loved you. I gave you everything. And you took me for granted.”The actor playing my lover stared at me with regret.“I never meant to—”“Don’t.”I raised my hand, stopping him.“You don't get to say that now.”The silence between us stretched. I swallowed hard, forcing another tear to slip down my cheek.“I waited for you to realize what you had. But you were too busy looking everywhere else.”The director suddenly raised his hand.“Cut!” The entire set relaxed. “Good! Very good, Calista.”I immediately dropped the emotional expression on my face and sighed.God. Shooting was exhausting.I reached for the bottle of water one of the crew members offered me and took a long sip while walking to
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 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,
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 My eyes slowly opened as the warmth of the morning sun brushed against my face. For a moment, I didn't move. My head was heavy, my body sore in places that made memories of last night rush back like a sudden wave, the club, the drinks, the stranger. My heart skipped. Slowly, I turne







