Kiara’s POVIt was him. The man from the gala. He was the one who hinted at my father’s death that night… the same man who called Ava and step-siblings too. What had he got to do with JD? I couldn’t process my thoughts properly. My breathing grew uneven as flashes of that moment came rushing back. His voice, the way he’d smirked before walking past me. “Kiara, are you okay?” Nicholas’ voice cut through my thoughts, low and uncertain. Didn’t he understand that I didn’t want to talk? Gosh. This was so annoying. I hated how his voice still made something inside me flatter. I swallowed hard, forcing myself to speak calmly. “I’m fine,” I said quickly. My throat felt dry. My fingers curled tightly in my lap, betraying my nerves.I wasn’t fine. As Nicholas drove, my mind wouldn’t stop replaying what happened. I hated that he had been the one to step in back there, wrapping his arm around me to shield me from the press. For a moment, just a moment, I had felt safe. Exactly the way I used
Nicholas’ POV“I don’t know how to handle this, I’ve never been this stuck,” I ran a hand through my hair, clenching my jaw. I had been discussing with Luca about what had happened with Hollis. He was the only one I could confide in. “Fuck!” I scowled, tightening my fists harder. “What are you going to do about Kiara?” Luca asked.My life was a fucking mess right now. I didn’t know what I’d do. How would she even feel watching me get married to another woman? My stomach dropped at the thought of losing her forever. She would continue to resent me and I don’t know if I’d ever be able to fix that. “I don’t know, Luca.” I heaved a sigh.I couldn’t picture myself getting married to Hollis. I regret everything. Fuck.My phone rang, but I didn’t want to answer it even without knowing who it was. I shut my eyes and let it buzz, ignoring it.“You might want to take this…” Luca said.I was uninterested in taking any calls right now—whoever it may be. But I didn’t know my heart would thump t
Damon’s POV My eyes opened slowly to a familiar surrounding. A dull ache throbbed through my skull, sharp enough to make me wince. My body felt heavy, like I had been asleep for days. The memory came rushing back—Sarah’s face beneath my hands, my rage taking over, her gasps for air. Then… the hit. Something hard had struck my head. Darkness. “You’re awake,” a voice rang out. Sarah’s voice. The sound made my chest tighten. She had ruined my relationship with Kiara. How would she even trust me after all these? I forced my eyes to focus as Sarah walked toward me with a cup of coffee in her hand like nothing had happened. She looked too calm, too collected. I was still in my house. My bedroom. The curtains half-drawn, daylight spilling through. I wondered who hit me, darn it. It was a hard one. “You almost killed me, Damon.” She smiled as she sank onto the edge of the bed. A small smile played on her lips. Why the hell was she smiling even after what I’d just done to
Damon’s POVI had been in a hotel room since I left Kiara’s office that day. I didn’t want Sarah to make it any worse, so I texted her that I wouldn’t be home for a few days. I just needed some time alone, to clear my head. What Kiara did never made me love her less, but it rather made me jealous—maybe a little bit or a lot. I couldn’t imagine them working together. I hated him around her and wanted to protect her at all costs.When I found out that Nicholas was the one who saved her when she had an accident, I decided to take the credit because I was jealous again. What if Kiara falls for him again after knowing that? What if she stops loving me because of that jerk?The thoughts were messing with my head. I just couldn’t afford to lose Kiara. She’s been through a whole lot and deserves to be loved the right way. She deserves to be happy. “See you next time Sir,” the receptionist smiled widely as I dropped the room key and checked out. On getting home, Sarah was fixing breakfast a
Kiara’s POVThe clinking of cutlery and the gentle hum of the hotel restaurant chatter filled the space. I was seated at a table with Taylor, Simon, and Rosa, and we were having breakfast tacos. I tried to get myself together because I couldn’t afford to let my emotions show. Yesterday, the meeting with Nicholas infuriated me more than I expected. I felt a sting of regret when he asked me why I chose him to work with me. Everything felt overwhelming at that moment, and I managed to regain my composure even though I felt his eyes on me all through the meeting.Nicholas has always been so intelligent, and when I was with him, I would see a lot of investors begging to work with him. Chavez Enterprise was one of the most successful companies in the US. I couldn’t imagine him starting to get wrecked, not even in the slightest way. He had allowed himself to be brainwashed by the woman he called his first love. I’m so certain she must have been a professional gold digger. Well, all I want
Nicholas’ POV I walked into the meeting room early. It was quiet. I had told Luca to wait for me outside, that I'd handle it all by myself. Rosa was fixing the projector, while two other people were checking some files. After exchanging subtle greetings, I pulled out a chair and sat down, feeling restless for no reason. Kiara was going to be here anytime soon. My fingers drummed on my knee, my jaw clenched as I observed the highlights of the meeting on the projector. Wondering why she had chosen me for this project, I took a deep breath. Then the door opened. She walked in. Kiara. My angel. My heart paused for a second. She looked good. Too good. Drop-dead gorgeous. Oh my… My chest hurt because the woman making her way to her seat was once mine. I noticed her face… It was empty. She didn't smile. I knew she hated to see me, but she didn't even frown. She just acted like I wasn't there.Why did she look so tired? This was something that just anyone could see. I knew her better t