LOGINSELENA POVI stared at my reflection one last time.The gown hugged every curve of my body, flowing elegantly to the floor before splitting gracefully down one leg. Breathtaking that it still surprised me every time I looked at it, and impossible to ignore. My hands drifted slowly to my stomach. Seven months. A smile tugged at my lips. The baby bump wasn't huge, but it definitely wasn't hiding anymore. We had stopped pretending it was."See you there, Sissy! Linda is already waiting!"Adriana's voice rang through the room and I turned just in time to catch her backing toward the door."Traitor," I accused.She burst out laughing. "Love you too!" Then she disappeared.I rolled my eyes. Linda had been impossibly busy lately, barely time to breathe between schedules, and the moment she had a free evening, Adriana had practically kidnapped her. Those two deserved each other.I turned back to the mirror. My gaze settled on my face. My cheeks looked fuller. Rounder. I pinched one lightly
SELENA POV"Okay, online application for Face of Oceania approved. Tomorrow you can get the final application done at OC Building."Adriana dropped her phone dramatically on the coffee table.I could practically feel her eyes drilling holes into the side of my head. Pretending not to notice, I grabbed another slice of apple and focused on the movie playing on the television.The silence stretched.Then … "Don't pretend like you can't see me."I burst out laughing. "What?"She pointed an accusing finger. "Why did you apply for Face of Oceania?"I shrugged innocently. "What kind of question is that?""The normal kind!" she exclaimed. "We both know modeling isn't your thing, and you're pregnant, Selena!"I finally turned toward her, a grin spreading across my lips. "Chill, Adriana."She folded her arms. "No. Explain."I leaned back comfortably. "Remember the Blackwood launch?""Yes.""I modeled.""One time.""And I survived.""Barely."I laughed. "Besides, I don't even care about winning
CALISTA POVI smiled as I slipped into my car.Finally. Something was going right. For the first time in weeks, I felt like I could actually breathe.The document sitting on the passenger seat made my smile widen further.The Face of Oceania. One of the biggest modeling pageants in the world, the platform every serious model dreamed of walking. Rosy Maurer had come through it. Angela Locsin. International supermodels whose faces dominated magazines and billboards across continents.And now, I had been selected.A laugh escaped me as I started the engine. This was my world. Not acting, not scripts, not movie sets dictated by someone else's vision. Modeling. The runway. The cameras. The spotlight that belonged entirely to me. I had spent years building this reputation overseas before coming home. The acting career had only ever existed because of Kelvin's influence, but modeling was mine. Earned. Untouchable.My smile widened further.And today had been close to perfect. Selena's sc
ALEXANDER POVI was smiling. Actually smiling… Rare enough that half the staff who greeted me that morning looked momentarily startled by it.The drive to work had been pleasant. My thoughts kept circling back to Selena. Her sleepy face that morning. The way she had laughed when I claimed paying for breakfast counted as cooking. The argument about baby names. The little kick from our child that had stopped both of us mid-sentence.A genuine smile tugged at my lips again.Then my office door burst open.Greg walked in fast, too fast. The smile disappeared instantly. Greg only moved like that when something had gone wrong."What happened?" I asked, keeping my voice level.He hesitated, which was never a good sign. "Sir." He placed a tablet on my desk. "Things aren't going well for Mrs. Selena."My eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"He slid the tablet toward me. I picked it up, and the moment I saw the screen my jaw tightened.The picture. That damned picture, Kelvin's hand around Se
SELENA POV A soft golden glow filtered through the curtains and settled across the room. Slowly, my eyes fluttered open. For a moment I simply stared at the ceiling. Comfortable. Peaceful. Happy. A smile found its way onto my lips before I could stop it. Yesterday came back in pieces, Alexander's jealousy, the argument, the apology, the way he had looked at me afterward, the way he had held me like he was afraid to let go. My cheeks warmed instantly. "You've been smiling for the last thirty seconds." I jumped, my head snapping toward the voice. Alexander sat at the edge of the bed, a breakfast tray balanced on his lap, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Interesting." His lips curved. "Should I be worried about whatever's happening inside that head of yours?" I rolled my eyes immediately. "Good morning to you too." He chuckled… Warm, comforting, dangerously attractive in that effortless way he had. I pushed myself upright against the headboard. "I thought you already left
KELVIN POVThe corner of my lips hurt. A lot.I touched the bruised skin and winced. Alexander Blackwood didn't know how to hold back, the man had nearly broken my jaw with his bare hands.And yet a smug grin pulled at my mouth anyway, despite the sting.Because for the first time in weeks, I had finally gotten a reaction. From him. From Selena. From everyone watching. The interview, the bathroom encounter, the punch, the way Selena's eyes had widened when I said I regretted the divorce, every single piece had landed exactly where I wanted it to.My car rolled into the driveway. I stepped out, ignoring the throbbing in my jaw, and the front door opened before I even reached it.Calista. Arms folded tight across her chest, expression stormy.So she'd watched the interview. Wonderful."What?" I asked, keeping my tone casual.She stared at me for a long moment. Then laughed, sharp and entirely without humor, the kind of laugh that meant trouble was already loading."What?" she repeate
SELENA'S POV Warmth. That was the first thing I felt..not just the warmth of the room, but the kind that wrapped around you, held you, anchored you in place without asking permission. I stirred slightly, my body sinking deeper into the softness beneath me, and then I realized, I wasn't alone. My
SELENA’S POV My back pressed lightly against the wall, his body just inches from mine, his hand still resting at my waist like it belonged there. The air between us felt heavy, thick with something neither of us was saying. My heart wouldn’t slow down. It only got worse when his eyes dropped to m
ALEXANDER POV "Mm…" Her breath brushed faintly against my jaw as she shifted slightly, and I realized, very abruptly, just how close we were. Too close. "They're gone," she whispered. I blinked, snapping back to myself like I'd been pulled from something dangerous. My hand was still at her waist
ALEXANDER POV The first thing I noticed when I woke up was silenc, but not the heavy, suffocating kind I was used to. This one was calm. Soft. Almost unfamiliar. My brows furrowed slightly as I blinked at the ceiling, lying there for a moment without moving, letting the strange peace settle into m







