LOGINSerena’s POV I woke up to the sun pouring through the curtains like a warm hug. Outside my window, New York City buzzed softly, cars honking in the distance, birds chirping on the fire escape. It was my wedding day, and the sky was clear and blue, not a single cloud in sight. I stretched under the soft sheets, a flutter rising in my stomach, the good kind, mixed with nerves. Roman wasn’t beside me. He had slipped out early, just like he said he would, whispering the night before that he had a few last-minute things to handle. I smiled softly at the empty space where he usually lay, my fingers brushing over the pillow as I missed his warmth already. The clock on the nightstand read 7:15 a.m. My makeup artist would be arriving soon, so I pushed the covers back and made my way to the bathroom, the cool tile grounding me. I turned on the shower, letting the water heat up as steam slowly filled the room. Stepping under the spray, I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the warmth settle
Serena’s POV I woke up that morning with my head spinning, just like every day for the past few months. The wedding preparations had taken over my entire life. From the moment I opened my eyes, my mind raced with checklists, phone calls, and endless emails. It was all I thought about, all I talked about, all I breathed. The big day was just weeks away now, and the excitement mixed with a knot of stress in my stomach that never quite went away. Roman helped when he could, but his work kept him traveling, so most nights I collapsed on the couch, surrounded by fabric swatches and seating charts. Now, with the big day so close, most things were falling into place. But the chaos had left me exhausted, my feet aching from endless errands, my mind a jumble of to-dos. Emma has been super helpful too. I don’t know what I would have done without her. She’s been there for me throughout this whole process, and I’m really grateful for that. But today, I needed a break from it all. I was meeti
Roman’s POV I rubbed my eyes and leaned back in my office chair, staring at the stack of papers on my desk. It had been like this every day since we got back from that amazing trip to Italy. Work had hit me like a truck. Meetings one after another, phone calls that never ended, emails piling up faster than I could delete them. My calendar was a mess of colors, red for urgent client calls, blue for team updates, green for strategy sessions. I glanced at the clock on my wall; it was already past six in the evening, and I still had reports to review before I could even think about leaving. I could have my employees do some things, but I prefer to do them myself. I picked up my coffee mug, but it was cold, just like the third one I'd had today. The office around me was quieting down. Most of my employees had headed home hours ago, their desks empty except for the hum of the air conditioner and the distant click of keyboards from the floor below. I missed Serena. She was knee-deep in w
Serena’s POV I opened my eyes, the bed felt empty beside me, the sheets cool where Roman should have been. I stretched my arms above my head, feeling the ache in my muscles from the long flight back from Italy. It had been such a whirlwind trip, the proposal on that cliffside overlooking the sea, the ring sparkling on my finger like it was made of starlight. But now we were home, and reality was creeping back in. Wedding preparations. The thought made my stomach flutter with a mix of excitement and nerves.I glanced at the clock on the nightstand. It was already past nine in the morning. Roman must have let me sleep in. He was always so thoughtful like that. I sat up slowly, rubbing my eyes, and noticed a note on his pillow. I picked it up, unfolding the paper with a smile.“Had to head to work early, love. See you soon.” -Roman. I smiled, then swung my legs over the side of the bed, my bare feet touching the cool hardwood floor. The house was quiet, just the faint hum of the
Roman’s POV I woke up before the sun fully rose, the Italian light filtering softly through the curtains of our bedroom in the villa. Serena was still asleep beside me, her breathing steady and peaceful. Her face looked so relaxed, lips slightly parted, her dark hair messy across the pillow. My chest tightened just looking at her. This was the woman I loved more than anything, the one I couldn't imagine life without. Today was her birthday, and I'd planned everything to make it unforgettable. But more than that, today was the day I'd ask her to marry me. I'd known for a long time she was it for me, no doubts, no turning back. I'd been preparing for weeks. The ring was tucked away in a small box in my suitcase, a secret I'd carried across the ocean. It was the one she'd pointed out during a random window shopping back home. We were walking down a crowded street, her hand in mine, when she paused at a jewelry store. Her eyes fixed on this elegant gold band with a single diamond that
Serena’s POV I blinked my eyes open slowly, the soft morning light filtering through the curtains hitting me just right. My head felt fuzzy, like I had been in a deep sleep, and for a second, everything looked blurry. As my vision cleared, I noticed something odd. The room around me was bursting with color. Balloons in shades of pink, white, and gold floated near the ceiling, tied with ribbons that dangled down. Flowers, roses and lilies were arranged in vases on the dresser and nightstand, their petals fresh and fragrant. I rubbed my eyes, sitting up a bit on the pillows. What was going on? This wasn't how the bedroom looked when I went to sleep last night. Then it hit me like a gentle wave. Today was my birthday. I had almost forgotten with all the relaxation we'd been enjoying here in Italy. Roman's villa felt like our own little paradise, with its stone walls and views of the rolling hills. But this? This was something special. My heart skipped a beat as I took it all in, a smi
Serena’s POV The drive back to the apartment felt like it dragged on forever, even though the city lights blurred past the car window in a rush. I'd spent way more days with Emma than I originally planned, laughing until our sides hurt, sharing secrets over late-night wine, and just soaking up t
Serena’s POV The sharp knock on my bedroom door pulled me out of a deep sleep. My eyes slowly opened, and I blinked at the sunlight slipping through the curtains. It felt like I had only just gone to bed a few minutes ago . My body felt heavy and tired, like it didn’t want to move at all. Then I
Serena’s POV It was past four in the afternoon, and Roman still hadn’t come out of his room. We had gone to the gym together this morning, had breakfast, and then he’d gone upstairs to get ready for work, or at least, that’s what I thought he would do. But the hours passed, and I still hadn’t see
Serena’s pov I never thought I’d find comfort in the rhythm of someone else’s life, but with Roman, it felt easy. Our days fit together now. The awkward silences were gone, and so was that careful distance we used to keep. When he came home from work, he’d come straight to my room if I wasn’t in







