Sarah’s POVThe tension in the house was thick enough to cut with a knife. I had seen Adrian in battle mode before, but this was different. He wasn’t just fighting to protect the company—he was fighting to protect himself. His name. His legacy.And I hated that he had to go through this.The moment I sent Nora off to school, I found myself pacing the living room, my heart twisting with unease. Adrian had made it clear he didn’t want me involved, not after everything I’d already been through. But sitting back and watching him carry this weight alone? That wasn’t something I could do either.A knock at the door startled me.I hurried to open it, relieved to see Dr. Monroe.“You got my message,” I said, stepping aside.She nodded, her gaze warm and knowing. “You sounded like you needed someone to talk to.”I did.I led her to the couch, exhaling shakily as I sat down. “It’s happening again.”Dr. Monroe’s expression softened. “You mean the panic attacks?”I nodded. “Every time things star
Adrian’s POVThe morning light filtered through the windows, casting a golden glow over the living room. For the first time in weeks, I allowed myself a moment of peace.Sarah was curled up on the couch, sipping a cup of tea, and Nora was sprawled out on the floor with her coloring book, humming softly to herself.It was the weekend and we'd just finished breakfast, after which Julian had hurriedly left the house without saying a word.It was a rare quiet morning. No urgent calls. No crisis. Just my family.I leaned against the doorway, taking it all in. Sarah glanced up, her gaze meeting mine. A soft smile played on her lips."You're staring," she teased.I smirked. "Can you blame me?"She rolled her eyes, but the blush on her cheeks gave her away.I walked over and pressed a kiss to the top of her head before settling beside her. Nora perked up at the movement, turning her bright eyes on me.“Daddy, can I show you my picture?”“Of course, princess.”She proudly held up the page, a c
Sarah’s POVI could still feel the warmth of Adrian’s kiss as I left his office, my mind already racing with a plan.If Rome and Daniella wanted to tear this company apart from the inside, then we needed to strengthen the foundation. And that started with the employees.As I walked through the hallway, I passed Julian’s room. The door was slightly open, but the bed was empty. He had left in a hurry this morning, barely saying a word. Something was off with him, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it now.I reached for my phone and dialed Emily. She picked up on the second ring.“Sarah?” Her voice held a mix of surprise and exhaustion.“Hey, Em. I need your help.”She sighed. “If this is about Rome, trust me, I want him gone as much as you do.”“Then let’s make it happen.”There was a pause. “What do you mean, is Adrian ready to help me go against him?”I glanced down the hallway to make sure I was alone before speaking. “You’ve been gathering evidence for your divorce. If any of it tie
Adrian’s POVI tapped my pen against the desk, my mind drifting away from the reports in front of me. It was impossible to focus when I knew what was coming. The board meeting was only a few days away, and if I didn’t have solid proof against Rome and Daniella, everything I’d built—everything my father built—would slip right through my fingers.The sound of the door opening made me glance up. Julian stepped in, his hands in his pockets, his usual air of arrogance dimmed by something quieter.I leaned back in my chair. “Didn’t think I’d be seeing you today.”Julian gave a half-shrug before settling into the chair across from me. “Yeah, well… Sarah thinks I should stop avoiding you.”A small smirk tugged at my lips. “She’s right.”He let out a breath. “Look, I know I messed up. I shouldn’t have backed out the way I did. If I’d stayed—”“Julian, how many times do I have to tell you?” My voice came out firmer than I intended. I set the pen down and met his gaze. “This isn’t on you.”His j
Sarah’s POVBalancing the tray of beverages, I returned to the study with Emily and Julian following behind me. I set the tray on the table, pouring a cup of coffee for Julian and tea for Emily before handing Adrian his usual black coffee.Adrian gave me a brief nod of thanks, his focus already back on the documents in front of him. Emily sat stiffly, her fingers curled around her teacup, while Julian leaned back, watching Adrian sift through the papers.I didn’t linger. “I’ll leave you to it,” I said, straightening. “The kids are in the living room. I’ll be with them.”Adrian caught my hand briefly, squeezing it before letting go. I squeezed back before stepping out, closing the door softly behind me.I had barely reached the living room when I heard a door open behind me. Emily stepped out of the study, her gaze flicking toward me before quickly looking away.“I just need the bathroom,” she murmured, heading down the hall.I hesitated for a moment before following. When she reappear
Adrian’s POVThe laughter around the dinner table was something I hadn’t realized I missed until now. It wasn’t forced, wasn’t cautious—it was easy, natural. Even Emily, though still reserved, looked more at ease than she had since she arrived.I glanced at Sarah, watching as she gently wiped a smudge of mac and cheese from Alex’s cheek. She was in her element, smiling, laughing softly at something Julian said.She caught my gaze, her eyes meeting mine. And in that brief moment, I saw it—the quiet satisfaction, the relief, the warmth of knowing that, for tonight, things were okay.I squeezed her thighs, reached for my water with the other hand and taking a slow sip before setting the glass down. The conversation had drifted toward the kids and their adventures at the park, but my mind was already shifting to what awaited me in the study.Evidence. Proof. A way to finally put an end to Rome and Daniella’s sabotage.Julian caught my eye, as if sensing my thoughts. He gave a small nod, t
Sarah’s POVThe guest room was quiet, the soft hum of the air conditioning filling the space as I pulled back the covers for Emily. She stood near the dresser, her arms crossed, watching me with an unreadable expression.“You didn’t have to do all this,” she murmured.I straightened, offering a small smile. “You and the kids deserve a safe, comfortable place. It’s no trouble.”She hesitated, her fingers brushing against the fabric of her sweater. “I’m not used to this… people looking out for me.”My chest tightened. I knew that feeling all too well—the weight of having to do everything on your own, of expecting kindness to come with conditions.“Well, get used to it,” I said softly. “Because you’re not alone in this anymore.”Her throat bobbed as she swallowed hard, nodding. “Thank you, Sarah. Really.”I reached for her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze before stepping back. “Get some rest. I’ll check on the kids before heading to bed.”She offered a faint smile before I slipped o
Adrian’s POVThe house was quiet by the time I made my way to our bedroom. The absence of Sarah beside me felt strange, but I knew tonight was important for her. She’d been carrying so much lately. If a girls' night could bring her even a little peace, I wouldn’t stand in the way.Still, I wasn’t used to sleeping without her anymore.I took off my shirt and sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing a hand over my face. I thought back to the meeting with Emily and Julian earlier. The solid evidence Emily had presented us with was enough to disarm Rome, and maybe Daniella but I wanted something that would put him away completely.I leaned back against the headboard, my mind still racing. Emily had given us enough to corner Rome, but I knew men like him—backed into a corner, they became even more dangerous. He wouldn’t go down without a fight.I reached for my phone on the nightstand and scrolled through my messages. Neville had sent over a few updates from our legal team, outlining the next s
Three Years Later(Sarah's POV)The late afternoon sun bathed the backyard in a golden glow, the air humming with the lazy buzz of summer.Laughter floated through the open doors of the house—the high, sweet giggle of a toddler, the low rumble of a man who had found his peace, the musical chatter of a little girl who had grown into her role as big sister like she was born for it.I leaned against the porch railing, a glass of lemonade in my hand, watching my family.Our family.Adrian was down on the grass, his hair a little longer than when we first met, his white T-shirt grass-stained and wrinkled.He didn’t care.He only cared about the tiny whirlwind currently chasing him in uneven circles, her curly brown hair tied up in two messy pigtails, her squeals of delight loud enough to make the birds scatter."Catch Daddy, Eliana!" Nora shouted from her perch on the swing set."I’m trying!" Eliana cried back, her little legs pumping furiously, her chubby hands reaching for Adrian with th
Sarah’s POV(Final Chapter)The day our baby was born didn’t start with fireworks.It started with rain.Soft, misty rain that painted the windows in silvery patterns and made everything feel quiet. Holy, almost. Like even the world itself was holding its breath.I woke up around four in the morning with a dull ache low in my back. Nothing urgent, nothing dramatic—just a slow, steady tightening that made me blink up at the ceiling and wonder if this was it.Adrian was dead asleep beside me, one hand resting lightly on my belly as he had every night for the past few months.I lay there for a while, listening to the rain, to the sound of his breathing, to the tiny thump of our baby’s heartbeat inside me.Alive.Strong.A miracle.Eventually, I shifted, and Adrian stirred immediately, like he could sense something even in sleep."Sarah?" he rasped, his voice thick with sleep."I think…" I hesitated, pressing my hand to my stomach as another tightening wave rolled through me. "I think it’
Sarah’s POVSeven months laterI should have said something earlier.I should have told Adrian that the cramps were getting worse. That the dizzy spells weren’t going away. That I felt...off in a way I couldn’t explain.But I didn’t want to worry him.He already did so much, already hovered over me with this mixture of awe and terror like I was the most precious thing in the world.So I smiled. I reassured him. I told myself it was normal.Until it wasn’t.Until I was standing in the kitchen one afternoon, laughing at something Nora said, and the world tilted dangerously.Until I felt a sharp pain—low and deep—and the next thing I knew, I was crumpling to the floor, gasping for air."Mommy?" Nora's tiny voice was the last thing I heard before everything blurred.*When I came to, I was lying on the couch, Adrian’s hands cupping my face, his voice sharp with panic."Sarah, sweetheart, stay with me, okay? I’m calling an ambulance—""No," I croaked, grabbing his wrist weakly. "Just...hos
Adrian’s POVSaturday evening came faster than I expected.Our house smelled like roasted chicken, fresh bread, and something sweet Sarah had been tinkering with all afternoon. She insisted on doing most of it herself, humming as she moved around the kitchen, a hand occasionally drifting to her still-flat stomach without even realizing it.I couldn't stop watching her.There was a new glow to her, yes—but it was deeper than that. It was peace. Wholeness. Like she was finally standing on steady ground again.At five-thirty sharp, the doorbell rang.I beat her to it.Emily stood there, holding Lily with one hand, Alex gripping her other hand, and a diaper bag hanging off her shoulder like a badge of honor."Hey, Uncle A!" Alex grinned up at me, missing one of his front teeth."Hey, bud," I said, ruffling his hair.Lily repeated the same thing, allowing me scoop her up. "You’re my favorite now," Emily teased, slipping inside. "Saved me from my pack mule life."Sarah appeared from the ki
Sarah’s POVThe morning sun stretched wide over the city as I pulled into the parking lot of The Haven.I sat for a moment, hand brushing lightly across my still-flat stomach. No real bump yet, but the knowledge of the life growing inside me made every breath feel a little deeper. A little more sacred.The Haven had become more than just a project. It was a refuge—for the women we took in, and honestly, for me too.When I pushed open the front doors, I was hit immediately by the smell of coffee and the soft hum of laughter coming from the kitchen."Morning, Mrs. Blackwood!" Dana called from across the common room, her blonde hair a messy halo around her head.I smiled warmly. "Good morning, Dana. And please, it’s just Sarah."She grinned and returned to helping another girl sort through a box of donated clothes.There were almost ten women — and a baby — living here now. Ten beautiful, messy, complicated lives. And the house showed it: sneakers tossed by the door, mugs abandoned on th
Adrian’s POVIt was strange, walking through the halls of the Blackwood estate again—this time with peace in my chest, and my family by my side.Nora clutched my hand tightly, her Birthday Queen sash still proudly slung across her shoulder. She was buzzing with excitement, peppering me with questions about what Grandpa Richard had planned for her special dinner.“Do you think he’ll have chocolate cake again?” she asked. “The one with the crunchy layers?”“I’m sure he will,” I said, glancing down at her. “You’re the birthday girl. You call the shots.”She grinned and swung our hands as we walked. Behind us, Sarah moved with careful grace, her free hand resting gently on her still-flat stomach.I slowed my pace to match hers and looked over my shoulder. She met my eyes and gave me a soft, reassuring smile.“You okay?” I mouthed.She nodded, but I could feel her tension. Not just because of the dinner, but because of who’d be at the table.Anne.She’d made no real attempt to hide her dis
Sarah’s POVI couldn’t sleep that night.After the last dish had been washed, after the projector had been turned off and all the guests had either gone home or been tucked in their beds, and after Adrian kissed my temple and whispered goodnight, I lay in the dark, listening to the soft rise and fall of Nora’s breathing through the baby monitor.Seven.She was seven.I wrapped my arms around myself as I stood by the window, the moonlight casting gentle shadows across the floor. It didn’t feel like seven years had passed since I first held her in that sterile hospital room—small, fragile, barely able to cry. They had whisked her away before I could even memorize her face, and I remembered lying there, feeling both the wonder of motherhood and the paralyzing fear that I might lose her.She’d been sick—so sick. The doctors had whispered words I didn’t understand at first. Words like congenital defect, pediatric surgery, and long-term treatment. I was only teenager myself. Alone. No mone
Adrian’s POVA month had passed since we returned from the honeymoon, and things had finally begun to feel grounded.The board had adjusted to my chairmanship—some reluctantly, some surprisingly quickly. The scandals, the sabotage, the endless battles for control… it all felt like a distant storm we’d sailed through. Blackwood Enterprises wasn’t just stable again—it was thriving. We’d launched two new initiatives in the last quarter, and investor confidence was the highest it had been in years.But all of that faded into the background today.Because today was bigger than any boardroom victory.Today, Nora turned seven.It hit me differently this year. Maybe because she was really mine now—not just in name or responsibility, but in the way her face lit up when she saw me, in the way she called me “Daddy” with a kind of trust that broke me in the best way. Or maybe it was because this was the first birthday I got to experience and plan with Sarah—as her husband.I left work early—somet
Sarah’s POVThe morning after the wedding was soft and golden.Sunlight streamed through the tall windows of the cottage we’d stayed in for the night—just a few minutes from the venue. The air was still, except for the occasional chirp of a bird outside and the faint rustle of trees in the wind. I lay there for a moment, eyes closed, Adrian’s arm draped over my waist, our breaths in sync.Married. For real, this time.I was someone’s wife. His wife.The word settled gently over me, not heavy or intimidating, but warm—like being wrapped in a favorite blanket.Adrian stirred beside me. “You’re awake.”I smiled, eyes still closed. “So are you.”“Barely.” His voice was husky, sleep-worn. “But you’re smiling, so I think I’m doing alright as a husband so far.”I laughed softly. “You’re doing amazing.”We stayed like that for a few more moments before he finally sat up, rubbing a hand over his face. “You ready to sneak away with me?”“Honeymoon sneak-away?” I teased, stretching. “Yes, please