His Ex Mistress, His Enemy

Sometimes, love doesn’t end with an explosion. Sometimes, it just… dies.Quietly. Slowly. Without anyone noticing. And by the time you do, you’re already too far gone to turn back.His scent still lingered on the sheets of that expensive hotel bed. Rain clung to the glass windows, and city lights spilled over his bare chest. His breath, warm against the back of my neck.He didn’t say much.Zane Romano never had to.His words were rare, heavy. That kind of low, gruff voice that reminded you of an old engine that couldn’t be tamed. Even in silence, my body knew exactly what he wanted. His touch always knew where my lines were... and how to cross them.“Turn around,” he said that night.And I did.Because I was stupid. Because I loved him.His hand brushed my cheek. Those eyes.That deep, dark blue like they held secrets I’d never be ready to hear.He looked at me like I was his. Not a secret he kept hidden from the world.“If I weren’t Zane Romano,” he whispered, “would you still be her

Mornings in New York are never truly quiet. Even from the twenty-seventh floor, I could still hear the taxis honking like exes who couldn’t take a hint.And this morning, the coffee in my hand tasted bitter. Not because the hotel barista downstairs had an inflated sense of confidence. But because my mind had already drifted to a name that should’ve been buried long ago.Zane Romano. The Armani-clad bastard who once made me believe that a hotel room hug could mean something more than just a blanket for lies.I stared at my screen. It was filled with random divorce documents I hadn’t even skimmed last night. To be honest, I was more tempted to open a makeup promo email than read a divorce request from the wife of a man who shattered my heart and still managed to look like a magazine spread in every paparazzi shot.Asshole.Sofia walked in fifteen minutes before her start time, as always. She carried her tablet, two folders, and that blank expression that made me suspect she secretly kep

Applause echoed through the ballroom, loud and hollow. Then, just like that, everything went back to normal.Winona was still staring at me with an expression that could make an angel nauseous. But before she could say anything, a middle-aged woman in a red gown swooped in, dragging her away with some overly dramatic comment about “dinner in the Hamptons next week.”And me...I stood there. Alone. Breathing shallow. Heart pounding like it had just run a marathon.Feeling things that should've died years ago but apparently just took a nap and woke up pissed.I placed my champagne flute on the nearest tray and tried to make my way toward the exit. But life, as usual, refused to offer me a straight line."Dianna..." Mr. Hawthorne’s voice called out near the marble staircase. "Come here. I want to introduce you to some important people from the energy sector. They’re looking for new legal representation. Big opportunity."Big opportunity. Goddamn it. "Big opportunity" always sounded like

My kitchen smelled like melted butter and paranoia.I was flipping French toast on the pan when the voice of the one kid I loved most, and who also drove me completely insane, broke through the quiet from the tablet propped up at the edge of the table.Round cheeks, bright blue eyes, bedhead in full glory. Alessio. Or as he now insisted everyone call him: Ash the Dinosaur."I already packed all my toys, Mommy! Daddy said I brought too many, but I told him they’re all important. Triceratops has to come too. He gets trauma if he’s left behind."I nodded, scooping berries onto a plate. "Of course. I’m sure your triceratops has emotional needs that can’t be delayed.""And the farting robot! Don’t forget that one!""How could I? Who am I to separate a boy from his farting robot?"Ash laughed, then looked down for a second. "I’m happy we get to live together again. With you. And the new house. And the swimming pool. Daddy said it looks like Iron Man’s house."I set the plate down on the ta

The late afternoon sun was already low by the time I pulled up to the massive black gate that looked straight out of an Italian mafia movie.Not because I was being dramatic. But because, well… it actually was dramatic.This wasn’t a house. This was a fortress. Black iron fences, hidden security cameras in every corner, and an entry system that required a pin and facial recognition. Honestly, if I could throw in a retina scan and a lie detector, I would.Sadly, this wasn’t paranoia. This was just common sense after sleeping with a man who could buy a small town just because he was bored. You don’t get to live in peace after hiding a child from the heir of an oil empire.The gate opened automatically as my car rolled forward. The front yard was wide but not flashy. Neatly trimmed plants. A driveway paved with natural stone. The exterior was a soft, warm off-white with huge windows shaded by linen curtains.I paused for a second at the front door. Took a breath. Let out a tiny smile."I