MY EX PUT ME IN JAIL AND NOW HE WANTS ME BACK

I sit in the cold courtroom. My hands tremble as they rest on my lap. The metal cuffs feel heavier today, as if they're trying to drag me further down to the ground. My heart pounds in my chest, louder than the murmurs of the crowd and the shuffling of papers around me. The week in jail has been a nightmare, but this... this is worse. Yes, you read that right. After the fight with Julia, Eric proceeded to get me arrested for assault and attempted murder. I glance around the room, hoping—no, begging—for a familiar face. Not once has Eric visited me. My husband. The man who swore to love and protect me. And yet, here I am, alone and abandoned. The pain in my chest is unbearable. The ache intensifies with every passing second. I’m still trying to wrap my head around everything that’s happened. How has it come to this? Julia. My best friend. My stomach twists at the thought of her, and in that moment, I feel guilty. I didn’t mean to hurt her. That day... it’s all a blur. I caught th

I don’t know what I’m expecting when I agree to Alexander’s plan, but I certainly don’t expect how quickly things move. One moment, we’re in front of the prison discussing what needs to be done, and the next, I’m being escorted to his mansion.The drive is quiet, as Alexander sits beside me, staring straight ahead with a cold unreadable expression. His silence makes the air feel thick, and I can’t shake the feeling that there’s more to him than he lets on. Sitting so close to him does something to me. It puts me on edge. It makes my body stand at attention.As soon as we arrive, Alexander doesn’t waste any time. He gives instructions to his staff and disappears into his office, leaving me alone in the living room. The mansion is enormous and so is his estate, with high ceilings, marble floors, and chandeliers that sparkle like they’re made of diamonds. It feels cold and empty—just like Alexander. There’s no warmth here, no life.I shiver slightly, wrapping my arms around myself, feeli

ERIC'S POVThe moment I see her, the world narrows to just one person. Mia.For a moment, time stops.Her smile fades—not much, but enough that I know she recognizes me. My heart slams against my ribs like it’s trying to break free. She looks away almost instantly and her action stings more than it should.“You alright, Manuel?” Gerald’s voice snaps me back to the present.“Yeah.” My voice is hoarse, but I clear my throat and force a smile. “I’m fine.”Gerald speaks “Well, I’ve got to head out for a bit. You should mingle. I’m sure you’ll find someone interesting to talk to.”He turns back to Mia "Thank you once again for gracing us with your presence" Mia smiles "It's fine, really. It's a lovely exhibition" Gerald smiles at her before walking away and disappearing into the crowd. I don’t move. My feet are glued to the floor as I watch Mia. She moves on to another painting, acting like I don't exist. She's beautiful, poised and very composed. I, on the other hand, feel like I’m fal

ERIC'S POVThe engine of my car roars loudly due to how higfsst I'd been speeding. I move into the driveway of my house. I don’t even bother to shut it off properly. My fingers tremble out of anger as I yank the keys out of the ignition and swing the car door open. My boots hit the ground with a loud thud, and I’m storming toward the house before I even realize it.Mia. Married to Alexander.I can't believe it. Never in a thousand years did I think this would happen. I never even believed she would escape prison so soon. Over the years, I'd forgotten about her yet here she was. The thought of her being married to that bastard twists in my stomach like poison. My jaw tightens as I try to make sense of it. It doesn’t make sense. It shouldn’t make sense.She looked... different. More confident, radiant even. Her hair looked more luscious than I remembered. Her smile was enough to ought up the whole room. And that dress.... Fuck! What the hell is wrong with me? I shouldn't be thinking a

MIA'S POVThe car comes to a slow halt in front of the mansion. My leg hurts like hell and I wince. I can feel the officer's eyes on me as he steps out to open my door.“Miss Mia,” he says softly, bowing his head. “I deeply apologize for the misunderstanding earlier. We had no idea—”“It’s alright,” I interrupt. I smile as I step out of the car “You were just doing your job.”He looks surprised. He was probably expecting anger or resentment but I don’t have the energy for either. I'm not that kind of person. As I step out, pain shoots up my leg, and I wince. I try to hide it, but he notices.“Are you sure you don’t need help inside?”I shake my head. “I’ll manage. Thank you.”The moment I step into the house, the maids rush toward me immediately. “Miss Mia! Are you okay?” one of them asks “What happened?” another questions. “Your leg! Are you hurt?”I force a smile, raising my hands to calm them. “I’m fine, really. It’s just a little sore.”One of the younger maids, Sarah, looks l