LOGINADRIAN POV.
I sat behind my desk, lost in thoughts. It had been days since I’d exchanged more than a few words with Katherine.Every interaction had been strictly professional. She made it clear she didn’t want anything beyond that, but it didn’t make it any easier to accept.I sent her with some staff to the Dalton empire to secure the partnership for the company.Even though she was stubborn, she was professional and smart and the right one who could convKatherine’s POV. Adrian spent the whole afternoon with us and it was time for him to go home. I walked him to his car, the cool breeze making me pull my sweater tighter around me. He leaned against the driver's door, hands in his pockets, a soft smile on his face. “Thank you,” I said, my voice quiet. “For today. For... everything. You really made her happy.” He shrugged casually, but I could see the satisfaction in his eyes. “It was my pleasure. She deserved it.” For a moment, we stood there in silence. I could tell he had something on his mind. He glanced at me, then away, as if unsure if he should say it. Finally, he spoke. “Why does she resent you so much, Katherine?” His voice was gentle, not prying, just concerned. “I mean, I know you guys have had a tough time, but... it feels like there's more to it.” I felt my c
Adrian’s POV. I looked at Charlotte, trying to understand all the anger she was carrying. It wasn’t just about the fight with Katherine. There was something more, something deeper that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. And then, she said it, just out of the blue. “It felt like... it felt like you were moving on and leaving Dad behind.” I blinked, glancing at Katherine, but she wasn’t meeting my eyes. This was the first I’d heard of it. Katherine had never mentioned anything about what went on with Charlotte's dad. My mind raced with questions, but I held them back. This wasn't the time to push for answers. Not yet. Charlotte turned to me, her expression softening. “I’m sorry you’re going through that phase with your family, Adrian,” she said quietly. Her words caught me off guard, but I smiled and nodded. “Thank you,” I replied
KATHERINE POV. It had been two days since I slapped Charlotte. Two days of her locking herself in her room and not speaking to me. Every time I tried to talk to her, she just turned her back or shut the door in my face. My heart ached. I knew what I did was wrong, but she wouldn't even let me apologize. I was fed up. I didn’t know what else to do. I wanted to make things right, but how could I if she refused to talk to me? I felt helpless, like I was losing my own daughter. Adrian noticed. He always noticed. He came over this evening, took one look at me, and knew something was off. “Katherine,” he said gently, sitting beside me on the couch. “What's going on? You look like you haven’t slept in days.” I sighed, running a hand through my hair. I didn’t want to burden him with this, but I couldn’t keep it in anymore. “It’s Charlotte,” I admitted. “She... she
ADRIAN’S POV. I leaned against the terrace railing, staring up at the stars. They were scattered across the sky, so quiet and out of reach. I took a deep breath, letting the cool night air fill my lungs. My mind drifted back to earlier that day, to Katherine's living room, to the moment she told Charlotte that I was her boyfriend. I felt a mix of emotions just thinking about it. Katherine had been so brave, standing there, telling her daughter the truth. She didn’t hide or hesitate. She was proud of us, of what we had. And me? I felt proud, too. But there was something else, something that made my stomach twist with guilt. How could I feel proud when I was still keeping her a secret from my own family? I denied her. And here I was, standing on this terrace, hiding from the truth like a coward. Footsteps behind me broke through my thoughts. I turned around and saw Mom s
Katherine’s POV. Adrian stood up, giving her a friendly smile. “Hey, Charlotte, I’m Adrian,” he said casually. Charlotte's eyes darted between Adrian and me, her face unreadable. I felt my heart pounding in my chest, wishing I could disappear. She folded her arms across her chest, her expression serious. “Mom, what's going on?” she asked, her voice calm but with a hint of suspicion. I swallowed hard, trying to find the right words. “We... we were just hanging out,” I said, forcing a smile. “You know, just relaxing and... talking.” “Talking?” Charlotte raised an eyebrow, glancing at the scattered pillows on the floor. “Looks like you were doing more than just talking.” Charlotte didn't seem convinced. Her eyes stayed fixed on me, sharp and questioning. “You didn't tell me you were having company,” she said quietly. “I... I didn’t
Katherine’s POV. The next day at the office was tense. I could feel it the moment Vera and Lilian came in. Their eyes were like daggers, piercing right through me. It made my skin prickle. They were whispering to each other, their voices low and harsh, but I couldn't make out what they were saying. I had a report to give to Adrian, and normally, I’d go straight to his office. But something held me back this time. The way Vera and Lilian were acting made me uneasy. So instead of heading for his office, I veered toward my desk, pretending to shuffle through some papers. “What is going on?” I wondered, trying to focus on anything other than the looks I was getting. Adrian had been off ever since he got back from Mauritius—distracted, tense. But he never told me what was bothering him, maybe because he didn’t want to worry me.
ADRIAN POV. I slammed the door behind me as I entered the room, barely containing the rage boiling inside. My hands trembled, and I paced back and forth, trying to keep myself from punching something. How could he say that? How could he bring up Ken like t
KATHERINE POV. As soon as Adrian stepped out of the car and saw where we were, I saw it. He stiffened, his entire body tensing up as if he’d just been hit with a wave of dread. I took a deep breath, knowing this wasn’t going to be easy. But it was important—impor
KATHERINE POV. “Did you ever go to therapy?” I asked softly. He shook his head, his eyes still avoiding mine. “No,” he whispered. “My father said therapy was for the weak. I shouldn’t need help. I had to be strong.” I felt a lump form in my thr
ADRIAN POV.As we left the movie theater, Katherine’s hand still in mine, I led her back to the limo. She was quiet, likely thinking about everything that had just happened. But tonight wasn’t over yet. Not even close.Once we were back in the car, I turned to her, a playful smile tu







