ANMELDENIsayanna I stare at myself in the mirror, the reflection blurring as my mind drifts back to what Sabrina said earlier. Her words replay in my head like a broken record, each one digging deeper into my thoughts. She told me how she failed to get Jaydon to sign that marriage contract with her friend. I wish I could see what this woman looks like, just to compare myself to her. But to do that, I’d have to somehow get closer to Sabrina, and that seems impossible. I can’t stand people who talk too much, and Sabrina? She’s definitely one of those. She’s always acting strangely, just like her husband. There’s something about her that feels... off, like she’s playing a game I don’t understand. I can’t help but wonder what kind of girls Jaydon likes to date. The other day, I reminded myself that the girls from his circle are always well-known. The women he’s with are either rich or from billionaire families—ladies who can help invest in his businesses. Not people like me—broke and still try
Jaydon After making sure that the clown I call a friend and his ridiculous wife had finally left, I head back inside, trying to shove down the rage bubbling up in my chest. My jaw is clenched so tight it aches, and my hands are balled into fists at my sides. Christian and Sabrina—what a pair. How the hell did I even become friends with Christian? Why can’t he ever be serious? And where did he find his wife, who’s just as crazy as he is? I exhale sharply, rolling my shoulders as I step inside. The cool air of the house hits me, but it does nothing to calm the heat simmering under my skin. I really should not have let them come. Isayanna was embarrassed, and honestly, so was I. She was just doing her job, trying to handle things professionally, but I was pissed off at her for not reading between the lines. She acted dumb, just like she did back when she was my assistant. My phone buzzes just before I hit the stairs, but I ignore it. It’s probably from Christian, anyway. Knowing him,
IsayannaI stepped out of the room, the soft fabric of the sleek velvet gown brushing against my skin like a whisper. The long sleeves clung to my arms, and the hem of the short gown swayed slightly as I moved. My ankle-strap shoes clicked softly against the polished floor, each step deliberate and measured. Jaydon had made it clear earlier—tonight, I was not just me. I was the wife of a billionaire, and I needed to dress the part. The weight of that expectation pressed down on my shoulders, heavier than the luxurious fabric of the gown.I paused for a moment, glancing at myself in the hallway mirror. My hair was gathered into a loose, low bun, neat but not overly formal. A touch of nude gloss coated my lips, and my makeup was minimal—just enough to look polished without seeming like I was trying too hard. Tonight was important. Jaydon’s best friend, Christian, and his wife, Sabrina, were coming over for dinner. I had met Christian before—he was a regular at Jaydon’s office—but Sabrin
Jaydon The sharp buzz of the intercom yanks me out of my drifting thoughts, and my pen clatters onto the desk. I reach for the phone, pressing the button. The sound of Anna’s voice comes through, calm and professional, but there is something about it that makes me pause."Mrs. D'Alonzo is here to see you, sir," Anna says on the other end. Her tone is calm, but I cannot help the way my brow lifts. Caroline? What is she doing here? This is not like her. I glance at the documents spread across my desk. I have an out-of-office meeting in an hour and was just pulling the files together. Caroline knows how packed my schedule can get. She rarely calls, let alone shows up unannounced, and for good reason. Back then, after Hera’s death, I spent so many nights buried in this office. The empty apartment had nothing to offer—no warmth, no waiting presence—so why go home at all? But now I am married. If I stay overnight at work, people will talk. She knows that. She knows everything about thos
IsayannaI wake up with a jolt, my heart pounding as I realize my hands are resting on Jaydon’s chest. My eyes widen in disbelief, and I yank my arms away like they have been burned. Scrambling out of bed, I clutch my chest, trying to calm the frantic thumping of my heart. The room feels too small, too quiet, and my mind races as I try to make sense of what just happened.What the hell? I stare at him in shock, frozen in place. When did I put my hands on him? Did I even do it intentionally? I glance around the room, as if the answer might be written on the walls or hidden in the corners. The soft glow of the bedside lamp casts long shadows, and I feel exposed, like the light is revealing something I do not want to see.Why did he not turn off the light before falling asleep? Feeling like a complete mess, I shuffle over to the sofa, covering my face with my hands. My brain is still trying to process what just happened when I drop onto the sectional. But I do not just hit the sofa. My
Jaydon The laptop felt like a heavy weight on my thighs, the glow of the screen cutting through the dim room. A single bedside lamp threw warm, orange light against the walls, but my eyes were locked on the soft blue glare of my work. Christian had sent over a batch of new samples, and I was drowning in them.I was supposed to be in the home office. I had contracts that needed my signature and a partnership starting tomorrow that I was nowhere near ready for. The pressure was a dull ache in the back of my skull, but I pushed it down. Christian’s obsession with these robotic prototypes was starting to bleed into my own head. He saw a future where everyone else saw cold metal. I watched a video of a sleek, silver unit sliding across a floor with terrifying precision. It was efficient. Deadly, if programmed right. I wanted to pivot. Security. Surveillance. I imagined these things standing guard in the dark, silent sentinels that never slept and never missed a shadow. I hadn’t told Chr







