LOGINAria's POVI was in bed.Rotting would be the right word.I was tired. Worse, I was frustrated.They had one job: attack her and make her regret coming close to my husband.I hissed, knowing it wasn't their fault. She was not home.Liana wasn't home. Where did she spend the night? With whom?Of course, I knew the answer. I clenched my jaw, and a painful throb started at my temples, growing stronger the longer I dwelled on it.Edrick really is repeating history. First, he was all over Alina. I got her out of the way, and for years all I wanted was for him to want me the way he wanted her. What did he decide to do with all my efforts and the patience I put into waiting for him to heal? He runs off to the new blue-eyed slut.Just when I thought I was frustrated enough, some bitch knocked on my bedroom door.My first thought was to ignore her, but the person was so persistent and would not stop knocking.I hissed, forcing myself out of bed and dragging my feet to the door.Anna."What?" I
Alina's POVI opened my eyes, and this time around, to my pleasure, Edrick wasn't missing. He was lying beside me, with his arm wrapped around my waist, his eyes shut and his breath steady.The feeling of his skin rubbing against me made me heat up again.I fought the temptation to look under the sheets. We both had nothing on.Even though we were still together, in the same bed, I wanted to go back to last night. To him pinning me on the bed after ripping my shirt off.I wanted to feel the sweat that dripped down from his body to mine. I wanted to feel his lips. I wanted to feel every inch of him inside of me again. I wanted it all."Morning, love."I almost jumped up at the sound of his voice. The hand he had around my waist was now moving softly around my back."Morning."I faced him, and I swear his smile widened. My heart did that little flutter thing. I wanted this moment to last forever. I wanted this to be our happily ever after.Edrick leaned in to press kisses on my neck, th
Alina's POVNAKED.I was naked. Nothing on me! How? Edrick took my clothes off? When did I even fall asleep?I tried to avoid Edrick's face, which was literally a few inches from mine. I knew the longer I stared at him, the harder I would blush.I looked around, but this bed and room were not familiar."You brought me to your room?" I blurted. At that moment, I was trying to remember what happened and how I fell asleep."It's better than barging into your room, Alina." He said my name as if he wanted confirmation, as if he was scared I would become a stranger again.I pulled the covers up all the way to my neck, then sat up.I let myself examine the room. It was the typical guy's room. Every color was in its darkest shade, and an insanely expensive art piece hung on the wall.Edrick flung one of his shirts to me. I hadn't even noticed he had left the bed and was also putting on a shirt and pair of trousers."So, now what?" I asked. I was surprised that now that I had admitted to being
Edrick's POVBecause as she fought, with her voice breaking, the only words that rang in my head were, "She's Alina. She's Alina. She's Alina."But I did not want to get my hopes up."Tell me the real story."I looked down, my eyes meeting hers. I was ready for the usual face change and acting like she had no idea. But with the way she was looking at me, I knew she wasn't going to do that.And even better, I knew my Alina was back.My Alina.Mine.I used the back of my hands to clean the tears staining her face and waited for the ragged breaths to become even again."I was forced," she started, and my heart almost stopped.I pushed back the golden strands covering her face. I wanted to look at her while she spoke, just to make sure it was really my Alina. That she wouldn't go back to denying she was the one.I wanted to tell her to stop the story so I could kiss her like it would make up for the time we spent apart. Like it would heal that huge crack in my heart I had been living with
Edrick’s POVI made sure to put my phone on silent before joining her in the pool. The last thing I wanted was Adrian blowing up my phone with calls. And knowing Adrian, he would do that.I had three executive meetings and a presentation to attend, but the second I heard Hannah say Liana wasn’t going to work, it felt like a demon had possessed me and was calling out to me desperately.I wanted to spend that leisure time with her so badly.Since I had them move in, we never had the chance to spend quality time together. There was no way I was missing that opportunity for some dumb meetings. Besides, Adrian would handle the meetings just fine. That, I was sure of.Whatever this crazy feeling was, Liana, I was done fighting it back. I was going to enjoy the moment to the fullest. And I did not care how suspicious her whole existence was. I wanted what I wanted.With how red she had turned just from me asking to join her, I knew this afternoon was going to be worth it.“So, Liana Bennett,
Alina's POVBetween Edrick and me, I did not know who was angrier.We both drove in silent frustration from the station back to the penthouse.I did not want to talk about it, and he knew that too. Jason refused to talk.Fuck. The lying rat denied knowing Aria completely.If I wasn’t his ex, I would have bought his lie because of how convincing he sounded.With the way things are going, I know he will get his bail as soon as his lawyer shows up. And that's it. This case will be closed.“Whatever happens, just know I won't let anyone hurt you or your daughter.”YOUR DAUGHTER.I wanted to scream so badly that it was his daughter too. But that would be bullshit. I can't do it. At least not yet.When we got back, Edrick offered to go pick up Clover.I said yes. That was the only way he got to bond with his daughter.“You are sleeping here?” I asked when he got back, kicked his shoes off, and made his way to the bedroom across from ours.“I live here!” He raised a brow.My face flushed ins
Edrick’s POVShe was shaking so hard I thought she might break in my arms. And for some reason, it felt like I was the one falling apart. My chest tightened with every sob that escaped her lips, and I held her closer, like maybe if I held on tight enough, I could stop her pain from spilling any fur
Alina’s POVThe water was still warm when I leaned back in the tub, scrubbing my body like I was trying to wash away every bit of yesterday. The fake smiles, the lies, the fear. My skin stung, but it didn’t matter. I needed to feel clean again. I needed to breathe.When I finally stepped out, the
Alina’s POVEdrick’s hand stayed on my waist. Firm. Warm. Steady.It was the kind of touch that could make any woman melt, but all it did was make my heart race for the wrong reasons.His fingers pressed lightly through the silk of my dress, guiding me as we moved through the crowd. Every time I tr
Alina’s POV When I opened my eyes, the first thing I felt was warmth.Edrick’s arms were wrapped around me, firm and steady, like he was protecting me even in his sleep. My face was pressed against his chest, and I could feel the slow rhythm of his heartbeat.For a moment, I didn’t move. I just br







