ISLA’S POVI stormed out of the restaurant without a proper goodbye to Daniel.I had seen the confusion in his eyes—the silent question he didn’t get the chance to ask. I knew I owed him an explanation, but right now, my mind was spinning too fast to form the right words.Still, a part of me believed he would eventually piece things together. And when he did, he would probably hate me, just like Victor seemed to at the moment.The moment I stepped out into the cold night, reality hit me. I had gotten myself tangled in something messy, and now I had to face the consequences.Victor’s expression—the betrayal in his eyes—kept replaying in my mind like a bad movie. The way he looked at me, the way he left without giving me a chance to explain… it hurt more than I expected.I had to fix this.The Silence That FollowedDays passed, and Victor was ignoring me.At first, I thought he was just cooling off. Maybe he needed time to process everything. But as the days stretched on, I realized it
VICTOR’S POVThe night I saw Isla with Daniel at the restaurant, I wasn’t angry just because they were together. Maybe I was a little. And maybe, deep down, jealousy had crept into my chest before I could push it away.But that wasn’t the real reason I was furious.The true source of my anger was the crushing loss I had suffered just hours, sitting at that same restaurant.A deal that should have been locked in, one that had taken months of careful planning and negotiations, had been ripped away from me in an instant.And not just by any company—but by an unknown, faceless entity that no one could seem to trace.Losing a business deal wasn’t new to me. It happened in the corporate world—contracts slipped away, competitors outbid each other, companies found better offers. That was just business.But this? This didn’t feel like business.It felt personal.I had spent years building Sterling Corporation into what it was today. I had worked harder than anyone else, made the right connectio
VICTOR’S POVThe soft knock on my office door pulled me from my thoughts. I had been poring over documents, trying to find even the smallest thread that could lead me to the people threatening my company. I didn’t look up immediately, my mind still tangled in strategy and calculations."Good morning," a familiar voice said.I glanced up. Isla stood at the entrance, her expression composed yet guarded."Morning," I replied, keeping my tone neutral.Things were still strained between us. The air between us carried the weight of unspoken words, the hesitation of two people unsure of where they stood. I knew I had to fix it—had to make things right between us. But not yet. Not now. Not until I figured out who I was dealing with.She stepped inside, setting a file on my desk. "I couldn’t find anything on the unknown company," she admitted, her frustration barely masked.I leaned back, my gaze steady on her. I could see the effort she had put in, the way she had thrown herself into the task
VICTOR POV The moment I ended the call, I knew the battle was just beginning. Stratos Corporation wasn’t a company that played fair, and they were coming for everything we had built. It wasn’t just about business—it was war. A war that could shake the very foundation of my company if I didn’t act swiftly. I needed a plan. I needed control. Without hesitation, I called for an urgent board meeting. Every major shareholder, department head, and executive was summoned. I refused to let panic set in. We needed to act, and we needed to act now. The conference room was already buzzing with murmurs when I arrived. Some board members were tense, while others tried to mask their worry with unreadable expressions. Isla was seated near the front, her posture straight and composed, though I could tell she was on edge. I took my seat at the head of the table and steeled my voice as I spoke. “We have a problem,” I announced, my tone sharp and unwavering. “Stratos Corporation popularly know as
ISLA’S POVI stormed out of Victor’s office, my vision blurred with unshed tears. My heart pounded violently in my chest as Emma’s words replayed in my mind over and over again.She’s pregnant…I could still hear Emma’s voice, calm yet laced with something sinister, as if she enjoyed watching my world crumble. “I just thought you should know… I’m carrying Victor’s child.”A sharp pain sliced through my chest. How could this be happening? How was this even possible?A million thoughts swirled in my mind, colliding like a raging storm. Victor had told me he had feelings for me. He had pursued me, made me believe I was special to him. And yet, he had been sleeping with Emma—Emma, of all people! The same woman who had bullied me at work, who made my life miserable every chance she got.I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I fought the overwhelming wave of emotions crashing over me. Disappointment. Anger. Betrayal. How could he do this? How could he lie so easily while ma
ISLA'S POVI sat at the café, staring blankly at the drink in front of me. I had ordered something light—nothing too strong, but just enough to keep my hands occupied. The midday sun poured through the windows, casting warm patterns on the table, but I barely noticed. My mind was elsewhere, tangled in a web of emotions I couldn’t quite sort through.Everything felt like a mess.I thought back to Jason—how he had deceived me, how I had trusted him only to realize he had never truly valued me. I wouldn’t say Victor was the same, but the feeling of betrayal was eerily familiar. The bottom line remained: they both hurt me.I clenched my hands around the cup, frustration bubbling in my chest. I wasn’t with Victor when he slept with Emma, so technically, it wasn’t cheating. But knowing he had been with her, knowing he had been intimate with someone who had made my life miserable—it stung in a way I couldn’t explain. He claimed to have feelings for me, but how could I believe that now?I sig
VICTOR’S POVI had only been with Emma once—maybe twice—but never frequently. It wasn’t supposed to mean anything, and it never did for me. But ever since I started having feelings for Isla, I had put an end to it. I kept my distance, no longer allowing Emma the closeness she used to have.It wasn’t easy, though. Emma never stopped trying. She would visit my house unexpectedly, bringing excuses like needing to discuss work or just wanting company. In the office, she’d always find a way to lean too close, touch my arm, or give me looks that made it obvious what she wanted. But I refused.I made it clear to her."I’m sorry, Emma. I can’t love you the way you want me to. My heart belongs to someone else."She never liked hearing it, but I hoped she understood. I had only been intimate with her in a moment of weakness—a moment I never intended to repeat.But then Isla came into my life. From the first day I met her, I knew she was different. There was something about her that made me want
ISLA'S POVThe weekend had finally arrived, and for once, I had no plans to step into the office. After everything that had happened this week—the emotional rollercoaster, the long hours at work, and the unexpected bombshell about Emma—I needed a break. A real one.So, when Lucy, my old college friend, told me she would be in town for her sister’s wedding, I immediately invited her to stay at my place. It made more sense than her booking a hotel, and besides, it was a perfect excuse to have a girls' night. Judith, of course, didn’t need an invitation. The moment she heard Lucy was coming over, she declared she would be joining us.By evening, the three of us were sprawled across my living room, glasses of wine in hand, laughing so hard our stomachs hurt.It started with Lucy talking about the horrors of wedding planning."You won’t believe the nonsense my sister is stressing over," she groaned dramatically. "She cried—actual tears—because the shade of the napkins didn’t match the tabl
VICTOR'S POVI leaned back in the chair, staring out the window as the city stretched endlessly before me. My mind was cluttered, not with the chaos of the world outside but with thoughts of Sienna. The woman who had unexpectedly come into my life and made me see things from a perspective I never thought possible. She was beautiful, strong, and confident, and I couldn’t have been more grateful for her presence. But lately, I couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of unease—a feeling that things were shifting, and I needed to make sure we were both on the same page.Our relationship had been growing steadily, and we’d reached a point where we were living together. It felt like the natural next step for us. But as much as I loved her, there was something about the future that I hadn’t yet confronted. I had spent so much time building my career in the fashion industry, creating a name for myself, and handling the endless demands of clients, but I was starting to see that I couldn’t do it
NATHAN'S POVThe morning light broke through the glass windows of my restaurant, casting long shadows across the polished floors. The atmosphere was different now—calmer, more refined. I couldn’t help but stare at the space with a sense of pride. This was it—the culmination of everything I’d worked for, everything I’d fought to rebuild after the fire that nearly destroyed me. The grand opening had been a success beyond my expectations, and the momentum was building.New customers were coming in, the buzz around the restaurant was palpable, and I had a growing list of people eager to invest in the business. It was a far cry from the old days, when I could barely keep the place running. Now, I had international clients showing interest, and local influencers were raving about the food. It was almost surreal. If you had told me a year ago that I’d be in this position, I wouldn’t have believed it. But here I was, standing at the helm of a thriving restaurant, ready to take it to the next
NATHAN'S POVThere are few moments in life when everything feels exactly right—when every ounce of pain, sweat, and late nights comes together into something that makes you believe in yourself all over again. That was what my grand opening felt like.My new restaurant wasn’t just bigger. It wasn’t just more luxurious. It was me, reborn.The space gleamed with copper accents, ambient lights, and marble counters that caught the reflection of every glass raised in celebration. The open kitchen concept allowed guests to watch us in action, the aroma of seared herbs, sizzling garlic, and glazed duck drifting across the room. There were private dining rooms now, soundproofed for VIP guests, with curated wine lists and personal chefs. We even had a rooftop lounge with a skyline view that made you forget you were still in the city.I had poured my heart into every detail—from the hand-carved wooden sign that bore my name to the recipe cards we handed out like pieces of art. I hired a stronger
ISLA'S POVI had always known Lucas wouldn't go down without a fight. But I never expected him to fight this dirty. Every morning I walked into the office now, I braced myself for the newest headline, whisper, or suspicious glance. My name had been dragged through boardroom gossip, backchannel emails, and anonymous memos. All fingers pointed at one person: Lucas.Ever since I helped Nathan, Lucas had made it his mission to tear me down. He couldn’t touch me directly—at least not in a way that would be obvious—but his games were relentless. Strategic leaks to the media. Internal rumors that I forged financial reports. Claims that I was emotionally compromised and prioritizing personal relationships over the company’s future. It was all carefully designed to paint me as a liability.But I wasn’t about to back down.At work, I held my head high, keeping my focus razor-sharp. If Lucas wanted a war, he’d get one. Only, I wouldn’t fight him the way he expected. He’d try to rattle me, make m
NATHAN'S POV hadn’t planned on stopping by Isla’s apartment, but after another late night of overseeing the renovation of my new restaurant, something in me craved the familiarity of her presence. It had been a long few months since the fire. A long few months since everything blew up—literally and emotionally.She opened the door with a blanket over her shoulders, her eyes slightly puffy, like she hadn’t been sleeping well either. We didn’t say much at first. Sometimes silence was our safe space.The new restaurant was finally coming together.I stood in the middle of the main floor, tools still scattered, the scent of fresh paint still clinging to the air. It wasn't just a rebuild. This was something better—a new version of everything I wanted to be. A statement. A fresh start.But even as I stood there, admiring the polished countertops and the ambient lighting we tested last night, my mind wandered.Victor.Sienna.I didn’t hate him. I couldn’t. Victor was a good man, even if his
SIENNA'S POVI don’t know when exactly it happened—when Victor stopped being just the man Isla used to love and started becoming the man I couldn't stop thinking about.Maybe it was in the little moments—like our late-night phone calls, or how he’d drive across town just to bring me food when I had a long day. Maybe it was in the way he looked at me, as though I was the only thing in his world that made sense. Love didn’t hit me like a train. It came slowly, gently, until suddenly I couldn’t imagine my life without Victor in it.I still remember the way he asked me to move in with him. We were sitting on his couch, legs tangled together under a throw blanket, watching an old rom-com. I had just made a snarky comment about how unrealistic the couple in the movie was, when he turned to me, his voice calm but deliberate."What if we tried it?"I looked at him, confused. "Tried what?""Living together. You and me."My heart skipped a beat.He smiled when he saw the look on my face. "I kn
SIENNA'S POVWhen Nathan told me about the fire in his restaurant, my heart dropped. The words came out casually—like it was just another rough day—but I could feel the weight behind them. I stared at him, waiting for him to say it was a joke or maybe an exaggeration. He didn’t.“Wait—what?” I asked, almost breathless. “Your restaurant… it burned down?”He gave me a quiet nod, eyes slightly distant, as if replaying the moment in his head. “Last night. Caught me off guard.”I stood frozen in his living room, my fingers tightening around the edge of my phone. “Oh my God, Nathan. Are you okay?”“I’m fine. Just… pissed.” He rubbed his hand through his hair. “Everything was gone. Tables. Kitchen. Décor. Even the cash register melted.”I moved to sit beside him on the couch. “Do you know what caused it?”Nathan’s jaw clenched. “I’m sure it was Lucas.”The name sent a wave of anger through meeven though I don't even know who he hisNathan then told me how he had been making him and Isla liv
SIENNA’S POVI’ve always liked having things figured out. Plans. Boundaries. No room for surprises.But lately, Victor has been nothing but a surprise.He asked me out yesterday.And the strange part? I wasn’t shocked.Not because I saw it coming, but because deep down—if I’m being completely honest with myself—I’d been waiting for it. Hoping for it, maybe. Even if I didn’t want to admit it.There’s been this… spark between us. A silent pull. We dance around it every time we talk. We laugh too much, our conversations last too long, and we look at each other just a second too slowly.There were never any secret feelings. No big, buried truth. Just a growing, electric sort of chemistry I kept ignoring.Until I couldn’t.Until he asked me out.And I should’ve told him before he did. I should’ve said, Hey, this thing between us? It’s not just you. I feel it too.But I didn’t.And now he’s launched the idea of us, and I’m floating somewhere between giddy and terrified.Because I like him.
VICTOR’S POVThere were exactly three things I was good at: solving problems, handling pressure, and pretending like I wasn’t slowly falling for Sienna Collins.The last one? Not going so well lately.She had this habit of showing up in my head at random times—during meetings, workouts, even while I brushed my teeth. I’d hear something funny and instantly think, Sienna would laugh at this, or smell something that reminded me of the cinnamon scent she always carried, like she rolled in fresh bakery air every morning.It was annoying.And addictive.We hadn’t called it anything—whatever this was between us. We hadn’t kissed. We hadn’t confessed anything. But the tension? It was there. Palpable. Thick enough to stir with a spoon.So I did the only reasonable thing a grown man with mildly obsessive thoughts could do.I planned a date.A real one. With no interruptions, Just her. And me.And possibly a small romantic ambush.---I picked the spot carefully. A rooftop garden restaurant in