Adrian's Pov
The morning after felt like the calm before a storm. I woke up before dawn, my arm half-draped over Soren’s waist, the faint rhythm of his breathing grounding me in a way nothing else could. The city outside was quiet, only the hum of rain tapping faintly against the windows. For a moment, I didn’t move. I just looked at him.
He looked peaceful in sleep, something I didn’t deserve to disturb. His hair fell messily over his forehead, his face soft in the faint light. I hadn’t realized how much I missed this, just silence, no arguments, no accusations. Last night had been the first time we let down our guard instead of throwing words like weapons.
But peace was dangerous. It made me feel things I’d spent years trying to bury.
I slowly got out of bed, careful not to wake him. The floor was cold under my feet as I walked into th
Soren’s POVThe morning sunlight slipped through the curtains, soft and golden, brushing against my face. For a few seconds, I forgot everything, the chaos, the press, the endless arguments. There was only quiet. Only warmth.Then I realized I wasn’t alone.Adrian’s arm was draped across my waist, his breathing slow and steady against my shoulder. His scent lingered faintly, something clean and warm, like rain and cedarwood. The memories of last night drifted back: the rain, the silence, his apology, my own walls finally cracking a little.It wasn’t perfect, but it was real.I turned slightly to look at him. He looked different when he slept, calm, almost peaceful. It was strange to see him like that, stripped of the tension that usually sat behind his eyes.For a moment, I let myself think maybe this could work. That maybe we could start over.Then my phone buzzed.I reached for it carefully, trying not to wake him. The screen flashed with a message from Clara.We have a problem. Ur
Adrian’s POVThe fire in the study had burned low, leaving only faint orange light across the walls. I sat behind my desk, untouched papers scattered in front of me. My mind wasn’t on them. It hadn’t been for days.I’d heard Soren come in earlier. The sound of the door opening. His hesitant steps. Then silence. Every minute that passed since then had felt longer than an hour.I’d left the note because I didn’t know what else to do. Talking to him had become harder lately, like we were speaking in two different languages. I wanted to fix things, but I didn’t know where to start.The door creaked softly.When I looked up, Soren stood there. His hair was damp, his coat still wet from the rain. His eyes were red, not from tears maybe, but from exhaustion. He looked at me for a long moment before saying quietly, “You’re still awake.”“So are you.” I gestured toward the chair across from me. “Sit.”He hesitated before walking over. The air between us felt heavy, like even breathing might br
Soren’s POVThe night was quiet when I returned to the mansion. The rain had just stopped, leaving a soft scent of wet earth in the air. The lights were still on, glowing through the tall windows. It felt strange walking in alone. Adrian wasn’t home yet. He had gone to meet with some investors earlier that evening, and I knew he preferred to handle those things alone.Still, the silence made me uneasy.I dropped my keys on the marble table and loosened my tie. Everything around me looked perfect, the polished floors, the art pieces, the flickering fire in the hearth, but it didn’t feel like home. It felt like a stage, one where Adrian and I played roles neither of us fully understood.I went upstairs and stood by the window in our room, watching the city lights blink in the distance. The reflection staring back at me in the glass looked tired, like someone caught between wanting to stay and needing to leave.A sound came from the door.When I turned, Adrian stood there. His hair was
Adrian’s POVThe morning sun crept through the blinds, lighting up the room in a soft golden hue. I sat by the window, watching the city slowly wake up. The night before still lingered in my chest, Soren’s apology, the quiet way his voice broke when he said together.It should’ve made me feel better. But instead, it made my heart ache more.He finally trusted me, yet everything between us still felt fragile — like glass waiting for one wrong move to shatter again.I rubbed my temples and sighed. The stress of the last few days was catching up with me. The leak, the accusations, the tension with Soren , it had all drained me. But despite the chaos, one thing was clear now. Nathan wasn’t done with us.I picked up my phone and scrolled through the notifications. Missed calls from friends, texts from people I hadn’t spoken to in years, and one message that stood out.Unknown number: You’re playing a dangerous game, Adrian. Stay out of Knight business before it destroys you.My stomach ti
Soren’s POVI woke up to the soft hum of the city outside and the faint scent of coffee drifting through the air. The blanket over me was warm, tucked neatly. Adrian must have covered me before going to bed.For a few seconds, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, my thoughts heavy. Last night’s conversation kept replaying in my head, his words, the way he’d looked at me, the hurt in his voice when I hesitated to trust him.I wanted to believe him. I really did. But the leak, the timing, the doubt, it was all tangled up in a way that made everything confusing.I sat up slowly, rubbing the back of my neck. My laptop sat closed on the table, as if mocking me. Somewhere inside that metal box was proof that someone had betrayed us. I just didn’t know who yet.The smell of coffee pulled me toward the kitchen.
Adrian’s POVThe house felt quieter than usual. Too quiet.Soren had gone out earlier with Ryan to meet some investors for the restaurant, but he hadn’t returned yet. It wasn’t like him to stay out this late without a message, especially not after the way we’d left things that morning, awkward, tense, but also… different.I walked through the hallway, my hand brushing against the framed pictures on the wall, some of us smiling at the beach, one of him covered in flour after baking, another of our wedding day, both of us laughing because the officiant had forgotten the rings. Those moments felt like lifetimes ago.Now, there was distance. Not the cold, angry kind, but the fragile, uncertain kind that sits between two people who have said too much and not enough at the same time.I sat on the couch and s