تسجيل الدخولKiara’s povMy hands were shaking. They were trembling so badly that I had to tighten my grip around the steering wheel just to keep the car steady.The black SUV with dark tinted windows was still behind me.Same distance, same slow movement that matched mine too perfectly to be a coincidence.My breathing turned uneven. I glanced at the rearview mirror again and swallowed hard. Forced my eyes back forward, trying to calm the storm building inside my chest.Think, Kiara.Panicing wouldn’t help you right now. But it was difficult not to panic when every instinct in my body was screaming that something was wrong.My phone buzzed suddenly against the passenger seat.I flinched so hard the car swerved slightly.A horn blasted from another lane.“Damn it,” I whispered shakily, steadying the wheel again.The screen lit up. It was an unknown number. My heart dropped instantly.For one second, I just stared at it ringing before I answered.“Hello?”Silence. I frowned slightly.“Hello?” I repe
Kiara’s POVSomething wasn’t right. I didn’t know what exactly, but the feeling had been there all day sitting quietly at the back of my mind like a warning I couldn’t quite hear properly. Maybe it was the call.Miriam’s voice hadn’t left me since morning.“I’ll be coming for your daughter.”I tried to shake it off, forcing myself to focus on the meeting in front of me.“And if we push the timeline forward by two weeks, we can secure the contract before—”“Ma’am?”I blinked. My assistant was staring at me.“Sorry?” I said, straightening slightly.“You zoned out,” she said carefully.“I didn’t,” I replied automatically.She didn’t argue. She just nodded and continued. But I wasn’t listening anymore.My phone sat on the table, screen facing up. I glanced at the time. 3:10 PM.Sophia should be home by now. I told myself not to overreact.I picked up my phone and dialed the nanny.It rang and she picked up on the second ring.“Hello, ma’am.”“Has Sophia gotten home?” I asked immediately.
Kiara’s povThe next morning, I opened my eyes and just lay there staring at the ceiling for a few seconds.It felt like my brain was still trying to wake up properly.Everything from the past few days came rushing back slowly. Mark. Miriam. The threats. The tension hanging over all of us like a dark cloud that refused to leave.“Dad!”Sophia’s voice echoed faintly from downstairs.I shut my eyes briefly and exhaled. Back to reality.I pushed the duvet off slowly and sat up, rubbing a tired hand over my face before slipping into my robe.Soft movements downstairs. Utensils clinking lightly in the kitchen. Sophia’s laughter ringing through the air.And surprisingly, Leo’s laughter too.I paused halfway down the stairs. For a second, I just stood there quietly, listening.Sophia was talking so fast I could barely catch half of what she was saying, and Leo was actually responding like every single word mattered.The sound pulled something soft in my chest. Because lately? Those moments h
Miriam’s povI tried calling Mark again after few days and the call connected on the fourth try.I froze completely, staring at the phone pressed against my ear as silence stretched between us.Then he finally said something. “Hello Miriam.”My chest tightened instantly.Like he hadn’t disappeared for days. Like he hadn’t humiliated me publicly with an engagement post that made me look like a complete fool.“Mark?” I breathed.A quiet sigh came from the other end.“You’ve been calling too much.”Too much? I let out a sharp laugh, pushing myself off the couch immediately.“Too much?” I repeated. “Are you serious right now?”“You’re being emotional,” he said flatly. “That’s exactly why I avoided this conversation.”My grip tightened around the phone.“Avoided?” I snapped. “You vanished!”“I relocated.”The calmness in his voice made something inside me burn.“You relocated,” I repeated slowly, like the words tasted bitter in my mouth. “Without saying a word to me?”“You’re saying that l
Kiara’s povThe first time I noticed it, I told myself it was stress. Nothing more.After everything Alex uncovered, after the conversations, the betrayal, the lies… of course Leo would be affected. Anyone would.But this was becoming something else.I stood quietly by the bedroom door, watching him. It was past 2 a.m.The room was dark except for the faint glow from his laptop screen reflecting against his face.Leo sat at the edge of the bed, elbows resting on his knees, completely focused on the security footage playing on the screen again and again.I frowned slightly. “Leo.”No response. My chest tightened a little.“Leo,” I called again, softer this time.He blinked and finally looked up.“You’re still awake?” he asked distractedly.I stared at him in disbelief.“Still awake?” I repeated quietly. “Leo, it’s two in the morning.”His eyes shifted briefly toward the laptop again.“I know.”“Then why are you watching security footage by this time?”His jaw tightened slightly. “Becau
Miriam’s povThe line went dead after Susan ended the call.I slowly lowered the phone from my ear, staring at the blank screen for a few seconds before tossing it onto the couch beside me.Heavy silence filled the apartment again.I leaned back against the couch cushions and shut my eyes briefly, exhaling through my nose.“Thinking about Leo isn’t even my problem right now,” I muttered to myself.Atleast not yet.Right now, there was something else eating me up, which is Mark and his stupid engagement post.My chest tightened again at the thought of it.“No,” I whispered, shaking my head slightly. “Something about it doesn’t make sense. Maybe it was fake.”I needed to hear his voice. I needed him to explain it himself. Because no matter how angry I was, a part of me still refused to believe Mark would really do something like this.I picked up my phone again and click his contact, stared at it a little while, before dialing it The line rang three times and went to voicemail. I frown
Kiara’s POVIt was finally the day of the launch.I stood in front of the full-length mirror in my dressing room, staring at my reflection longer than necessary. My heart was pounding loudly against my chest, betraying the calm expression I was forcing on my face.Breathe, Kiara. You’ve got this.I
Leo’s POVI just couldn’t watch her leave just like that. I really love her. Yes, I said it. I love Kiara, and I’ve never stopped loving her.Watching her drive off, just feels like I've lost her forever, since the project is over.I know it sounds crazy, but I needed to see her again. Talk to her
Kiara's pov "Why didn't I think of this earlier?" I muttered to myself as I paused my walk. "Miriam..I should have added her to the list. Just imagine her in my office running all the major errands and swallowing down all the insults I will dish out to her. That would be hell for her. I can imagin
Leo's povA sleek black car had pulled up, and a man stepped out, a man I recognized instantly. Alex Carter.I froze, watching as he walked around to greet her, his face lighting up in a way that made me clench my fists. Kiara's laughter rang out faintly as she hugged him, her arms wrapping around







