LOGINAnya's POVHe wiped tears from my cheeks with his thumbs, his touch gentle despite the anger in his expression."I promise you," he continued, his voice dropping lower, becoming almost dangerous. "I will take care of this. I will handle it.""How?" I asked desperately, my voice breaking. "How can you fix this? The story is already out there. People have already seen it. They've already made up their minds about who I am.""Let me worry about that," Orion said firmly. "I have resources, Anya. I have lawyers and PR people and connections that can make this go away or at least change the narrative. Kennedy playing the victim? That won't last long once I'm done. Trust me."There was something cold and final in his tone that sent a shiver through me—not of fear, but of something else. Relief, maybe. Or hope that maybe he really could do something about this nightmare."But for now," he said, his expression softening slightly as he looked at my tear-stained face, "I need you to not worry ab
Anya's POVI cried harder, my whole body shaking, my throat raw from the sobs that kept tearing out of me. I couldn't remember the last time I'd cried this hard, this completely. Maybe never. Maybe I'd never let myself fall apart like this before, had always held something back, maintained some shred of control.But right now, I had no control left. No strength left. Nothing left but the overwhelming grief and fear and despair that was pouring out of me in hot, unstoppable tears.My head was pounding now, a vicious headache building behind my eyes from the crying and the stress and probably the head injury that was still healing. My ribs felt like they were on fire every time I gasped for breath. My throat hurt from the sobs. Everything hurt, physically and emotionally, and I couldn't make it stop.I didn't know how long I lay there crying—it could have been five minutes or fifty, time had lost all meaning—when I heard a soft knock on the bedroom door.I froze, my breath catching in m
Anya's POVHot tears started streaming down my face before I could stop them. I'd been trying so hard to hold it together, to be strong, to focus on healing and moving forward. But this—this public humiliation, this complete distortion of the truth—it was too much.I curled up on my side, careful of my ribs, and let myself cry. Deep, gasping sobs that hurt my chest and made my head pound but that I couldn't hold back anymore.Each sob sent a fresh wave of pain through my broken ribs, sharp stabbing sensations that made me want to stop crying, to hold my breath, to do anything to make the physical pain stop. But I couldn't. The emotional pain was so much worse than the physical pain, so overwhelming and all-consuming that the hurt in my ribs barely registered as more than background noise.The tears came in hot, relentless waves, soaking into the expensive pillowcase beneath my cheek. My whole body shook with the force of my crying, trembling so hard that I had to wrap my arms around m
Anya's POVHot tears started streaming down my face before I could stop them. I'd been trying so hard to hold it together, to be strong, to focus on healing and moving forward. But this—this public humiliation, this complete distortion of the truth—it was too much.I curled up on my side, careful of my ribs, and let myself cry. Deep, gasping sobs that hurt my chest and made my head pound but that I couldn't hold back anymore.Each sob sent a fresh wave of pain through my broken ribs, sharp stabbing sensations that made me want to stop crying, to hold my breath, to do anything to make the physical pain stop. But I couldn't. The emotional pain was so much worse than the physical pain, so overwhelming and all-consuming that the hurt in my ribs barely registered as more than background noise.The tears came in hot, relentless waves, soaking into the expensive pillowcase beneath my cheek. My whole body shook with the force of my crying, trembling so hard that I had to wrap my arms around m
Anya's POVThere was a photo of me on the screen—an old one from some charity event I'd attended with Kennedy a couple of years ago. I looked happy in the photo, smiling at the camera in an elegant dress, Kennedy's arm around my waist. It was all a lie, of course. I'd been miserable that night, as I'd been miserable at most events with Kennedy. But I'd learned to smile for the cameras, to play the role of the happy, devoted wife.Next to my photo was one of Orion—a professional headshot that must have been from some business magazine article. He looked powerful and handsome and completely untouchable.The news anchor, a blonde woman with too-bright lipstick and an eager expression, was talking in that breathless, gossipy tone that these entertainment shows always used."...the disgraced heiress Anya Russell-Davenport, daughter of real estate mogul Richard Russell, has reportedly left her husband Kennedy Davenport after a shocking affair with billionaire businessman Orion Konstantinos,
Anya's POVHe gestured toward the door. "Just opposite, across the hall. Close enough that you can call me if you need anything, but far enough to give you privacy. There's an intercom system too—there's a panel by the bed if you need to reach me and don't want to get up."Of course there was an intercom system. Of course this penthouse had every possible amenity and convenience."Thank you," I said again, feeling like the words were inadequate but not knowing what else to say. "Thank you for all of this, Orion. For the room, for bringing me here, for everything. I don't know how I'll ever—""Stop," he said gently but firmly, holding up a hand. "You don't need to keep thanking me, Anya. I want to help you. I *need* to help you. After everything that's happened, after..." He trailed off, his jaw tightening. "Just let me do this. Please."I nodded, my throat tight with emotion.Then a thought occurred to me—something I'd been wondering about but had been too afraid to ask until now. I b
Anya’s POVThe lights were mostly off, except for a small lamp in the corner that cast long shadows on the walls. His jacket was draped over the back of the couch, his phone in his hand, his eyes locked on me like he’d been waiting. Maybe he had. My stomach twisted.“Why are you coming home so late
Anya’s POVI told myself to breathe. This was his fiancée. Of course she would call. Of course she would come. I had no right to feel anything about it.We went back to work in silence.Not even ten minutes later, the door opened.She walked in like she owned the place.Kaia didn’t look at me first
Anya’s POVThe next morning, when I arrived at the mansion, I could tell something was different right away.Orion looked… better.Not completely fine, but better enough that my chest loosened a little. The sharp paleness was gone from his face, and his eyes looked clearer, more focused. He was dre
Anya’s POVLater that afternoon, Jamie arrived at the mansion with the documents. I met him near the front door, the sound of his footsteps echoing softly through the wide hallway. He handed the files to me, thick and neatly arranged, the edges sharp against my palms. They felt heavier than paper s







