LOGIN“Why Anna, tell me why,” her mom says, her voice sharp and her jaw tight. “You have such a perfect family. Why do you have to ruin it with your infidelity?” she added, narrowing her eyes as she spoke. Anna is still a little frozen, her mouth parted ways, unable to say anything.“Mom..” she finally spoke as tears rolled down her eyes. “I… why.. did you slap me?” she says as she choked on her breath. This is the first time her mother has ever laid her hands on her. She has been mischievous in the past, but never for once has her mother ever raised her hands on her.“You are asking why I slapped you?” her mother says, curling her lip in a sneer. “Anna, you are cheating on your husband,” she says, snapping the words out. Just then, Jake entered the room. His face is sad, his shoulders slumped and his head hanging low—a show to put on for his mother-in-law. Anna scoffed.“Is that what he told you?” she says, swallowing hard to keep from crying. “He told you I cheated on him in our marriage
Elena leaned back, her eyes tracking every move of Anthony’s pen. A faint, admiring smile tugged at her lips as he scrolled his signature across the final page.“Here you go,” Anthony said, sliding the stack toward Luca. “We’re moving forward with the project.”Luca gathered the papers and grinned. “This is why I love working with you, Anthony. You make it look easy.” Anthony’s lips curved into a small, polite smile. “We’ll get going now,” Luca added, pushing back his chair.Elena stayed planted in her seat. She and Luca weren't just business partners; they had grown up together, sharing decades of history. Luca glanced down at her, confused. “Aren’t you coming?”“I’ll meet you outside. Give me a second,” she replied. Luca’s expression shifted—he knew that look. He gave a sharp nod and walked out, the door clicking shut behind him.Anthony didn't look up. He pulled his laptop closer and began to type, his eyes locked on the screen as if Elena had vanished from the room.“Are you reall
Anna’s skin felt itchy. Her eyes darted toward the exit as she shifted from one foot to the other. She needed to leave—now.“Naomi, I think we should—”“Oh my God, isn't she beautiful?” Naomi interrupted, leaning in. “Her skin is perfect.”Anna didn’t answer. Her stomach twisted into a tight knot, and a wave of heat rushed to her face.“Naomi, I can’t be in here anymore,” Anna said, her voice rising above the chatter of the crowd.Naomi finally turned, her brow furrowed. “Why? What’s the matter?”Anna’s throat felt dry. She couldn't just say it: I’m at a party for my boyfriend’s ex-wife. Instead, she forced her lips into a grin, but her eyes remained cold and panicked. “I just don’t feel well,” she whispered.Naomi opened her mouth to respond, but a sudden voice cut through the air.“Thank you all for coming to celebrate me!” Elena stood in the center of the room, glowing. “It feels so good to be back and better.”The room erupted in applause. Naomi clapped along, her previous concern
Anna’s vision blurred as she brushed a thumb against her mother’s pale cheek. Her chest felt light for the first time in months; the surgery was over, and the "Success" sign had finally flashed."Thank you for staying," Anna whispered. Her mother’s eyes remained closed, but her lips curled into a faint, shaky smile."The patient needs to sleep now," the doctor said softly. Anna nodded, lingering for one last look at her mother's steady breathing before stepping out into the hallway."I'm so glad the surgery went well," Jake said, leaning against the wall. The warmth in Anna’s expression vanished instantly. Her jaw tightened."I’m glad too," she snapped, her voice cold. "Once she’s back on her feet, I can stop pretending this life is normal."Jake straightened up, his brow furrowing. "Pretending? You mean pretending we aren’t married?""I am not doing this with you," Anna said, turning to walk away. "You aren't worth the breath."Jake grabbed her arm, jerking her back to face him."Ar
Anthony’s knuckles turned white as he clenched his fists, his eyes burning with fury as he stared at her.“What are you doing here? Who invited you?” Mr. Jeffery’s voice boomed, his face reddening with every word.“I did,” Lola said. She didn't flinch as her father’s angry gaze snapped toward her. “She’s back in the country, so why shouldn't she be here?” Lola walked toward Elena and pulled her into a brief hug. “It’s good to see you again, sister-in-law.”A sharp smirk played on Elena’s lips. “It’s good to be back.”Anthony let out a harsh scoff. He felt like he was seconds away from losing his mind.“Are you insane, Lola?” Mr. Jeffery’s chest heaved. “After everything she did, you still have the nerve to bring her back into this house?”“I didn’t do anything wrong, Father,” Lola replied coolly, glancing at Anthony with a smirk of her own. “You said we could bring a friend. It just so happens my friend used to be Anthony’s wife.”Elena’s eyes glimmered with mischief. “It’s sad to rec
"I am sorry I am late," Anthony said, sliding into his chair. Opposite him, Mr. Jeffery didn't look up; he simply deepened the scowl etched into his face."I have been sitting here for over thirty minutes," Mr. Jeffery muttered, his voice dropping to a low, sharp edge. "You have never shown up to a meeting late in your life. Why now?"Anthony offered a faint, practiced smile. He couldn't exactly tell his father he’d been tangled in the sheets with his girlfriend, or that he would have skipped the meeting entirely if she hadn't pushed him out the door."My car broke down. And you know me—I’m not exactly the type to hail a public cab," Anthony lied. His father’s eyes searched his for a second before he gave a dismissive wave of his hand.The waiters arrived shortly after with plates of steaming food. Mr. Jeffery had already ordered for both of them. Anthony looked down at the seasoned fish on his plate—a dish he never touched—and forced another smile, keeping his mouth shut."When are y
Anna's POV Anna stumbled back, her eyes wide with terror. The elevator doors were a second away from closing, but Jake’s hand shot through the gap. He stepped out just in time. Anna spun around, her sneakers squeaking on the polished floor as she tried to bolt down the hallway. “Anna!”
"Yeah, I tried to sleep with someone else, but it didn't work out," Anthony said casually. He shrugged, genuinely not seeing why it mattered. Anna’s expression went blank. "Oh," she said, her voice dropping to a flat, hollow whisper. "I have to go now." Anthony sat up, his brow furrowed. "You
The sharp, sterile sting of antiseptic hit Anna before she even opened her eyes. When she finally did, the room was a white smear that slowly sharpened into focus. She tried to move, but a jagged spike of pain shot through her skull, forcing a gasp from her throat. Her hand reached up, fingers br
"The all-powerful Anthony Jeffery!" Luca threw his arms wide as Anthony stepped into the velvet-lined VIP section. A smug grin tugged at the corners of Anthony’s mouth. "Where have you been, man? It feels like a lifetime since you’ve set foot in here," Luca said. He wasn't exaggerating. The c







