INICIAR SESIÓNI had known he wouldn’t survive the night. I’d known that my grandfather was finally leaving me. But as he said, I was not alone anymore. I had Mikhail with me.Even when Richard called me and shared the time of his death with me, I thought I was prepared. But no amount of preparation is enough for such news.I broke down when the call ended. Mikhail stayed by my side, holding me like he had been after we left the hospital that morning. None of us had made the attempt to go to work. It’s like we had stayed at home and in bed… waiting for that call.The phone slipped from my hand onto the sheets. A broken sound left my throat before I could stop it. Mikhail pulled me tighter against his chest, one hand cradling the back of my head, the other wrapped firmly around my back. I buried my face in his shirt and cried the way I hadn’t allowed myself to cry at the hospital.The cries that left me were messy, loud, and helpless.Mikhail didn’t try to tell me that it would be okay. It wasn't goi
Leslie POV I didn’t sleep well that night. Mikhail texted and informed me that they had an operation they would be carrying out at night. Being a mafia boss came with responsibilities and I had come to accept that my husband’s business moved in the dark.By morning, he was not yet back so I decided to prepare myself and head to the office.However, Mikhail was already back when I came out of the bathroom. He handed me a cup of coffee and studied my face.“You look like you barely slept,” he pointed out. He was ever the observant one.“I have a lot on my mind,” I confessed. It wasn’t a lie.Mikhail leaned against the counter, watching me over the rim of his own cup. “Want to share with me… or you can deal with it?”The way he said it made me pause. It wasn’t casual. It sounded more like a test as if he was checking if I still remembered what we had talked about… about not shutting him out, about letting him in.I set my coffee down and stepped closer to him. “It’s nothing much. Ju
Leslie POV After spending the night at the hospital with Mikhail, we left in the wee hours.I didn't get much rest before I prepared for work.After trying everything to mess through company up, my uncle was bound to make a scene since he couldn't get what he wanted legally.I had to be prepared for that. Also, the company needed me there. Having just taken over a big company like Grayson holdings, I could not afford to slack off.I spend the whole day reviewing documents and going through ongoing projects and contracts of Grayson holdings. I needed myself acquainted with everything to the last details.Mercer was also accompanying me at Grayson's Holdings in the meantime.I was still at the office when my phone chimed with a message.Mercer had just left after going over the last integration points for Pearl Jewels, and the floor had gone quiet. I was packing my laptop when my phone lit up.For a moment, I thought it was Mikhail.A wave of disappointment washed through me but I shove
Leslie povI stood in the quiet apartment even after the door closed behind him. The victory from the hearing didn't feel satisfactory. All I could hear was Mikhail’s words repeating and ringing in my ears. “That’s not a marriage. That’s an arrangement with sex.”I sank onto the edge of the couch, elbows on my knees and stared at the floor. He was right. Somewhere between fighting Jared, protecting the company, and proving I could handle everything alone, I had started treating him like a safe place to land instead of a partner. I had taken his strength for granted while refusing to give him the same trust.At that moment, I cursed myself for listening to MGs advice. She would hear it from me. But then again, I had a choice to not listen to her which I did. The hours dragged but I didn’t turn on the lights or make any food despite feeling hungry. I just sat there with the weight of what I had done settling deeper into my chest.It was almost midnight when my phone rang. It was fr
Leslie POV The morning of the hearing finally arrived and for some reason, it felt heavier than the previous ones. I stood in front of the mirror longer than necessary, smoothing the same black blazer twice. Mikhail watched me from the doorway, already dressed in a dark suit and expression unreadable.“You have been quiet today.” He pointed out.“I’m focused.” I replied with a smile. I was anxious…that was the right way to say it.Grayson Holdings was being dragged into some fucked up court battles and honestly, I was starting to worry that the shareholder would start having doubts.Pearl Jewels had been dragged into tax fraud accusations and although I managed to resolve it, that didn't erase the bad publicity that had somehow slipped to the public.Having to deal with lawsuits and drama back and forth wasn't the way I wanted to run my companies.Mikhail didn’t push.He simply walked over, adjusted the collar of my blouse and pressed a brief kiss to my forehead. “Griffin will be th
Leslie POV After two days, the final documents for the merger sat on the long conference table at Grayson Holdings. Mercer stood at my right, the legal team across from us, and the last of the Pearl Jewels board members on the video screen. Everything had been reviewed, corrected, and approved.I signed the last page and Mercer added his signature beside mine. The notary stamped it and just like that, Pearl Jewels officially came under Grayson Holdings.A quiet ripple of applause moved through the room. I didn’t smile widely, I simply nodded once, closed the folder and stood.“Thank you, everyone. We’ll begin the full integration next week after my grandfather signs the agreement.Mercer will send the transition schedule by the end of day.” I explained.People filed out but Mercer lingered.“You did it,” he said quietly and I nodded.My grandfather had given authorization for the merging.“We did it.” I looked at the closed folder. “Grandfather will be glad.”“He will and Jared is g
I choked on the water I was trying to drink to cool my body. Mikhail was beside me in a heartbeat, patting my back. That contact sent something electrifying straight to a part of my body that had no business coming alive. I clamped my thighs, afraid that Mikhail would catch something inappropri
Leslie POV I excused myself from the meeting to make a call.Richard confirmed that everything was set.He tried to inquire why I asked for an additional clause for the contract presented by pearl jewels to Austin.I promised to explain everything to my grandfather when I got home.Richard didn't
I woke up to prepare breakfast for Austin as normal.After last night, I made up my mind to walk away but not without hitting him where it hurts the most.I have to act like his dutiful wife, like his glorified nanny because that's what I am, a woman who only deserves to be a mistress.Austin came
Leslie I don't know how I made it downstairs without breaking down.I sat in my car for a long time, eyes fixed on nothing as reality slowly dawned at me.My marriage of three years was fake.I spend three years of my life invested in something that never existed.The marriage papers sat there on







