EMILY’S POVThe dining room shimmers under the fairy lights. The table is set to perfection — polished silverware, white plates with a gold designs, and crystal wine glasses that sparkle like they’re made of stardust. I can’t believe this moment is real. My heart flutters with joy, and I can’t stop the smile that’s on my face.Everyone is here. My grandma, Carlos' parents, Helen, Bridget… everyone I love. And right next to me, with his hand resting protectively on my thigh, is Carlos — my husband. Just thinking that word makes me want to burst with happiness.“OH!” Lady Helen gasps. Her hand flies to her chest as she leans closer across the table to examine my hand. “Emily, darling! That ring! Let me see it again!”I lift my hand proudly. The light catches the diamond and sends tiny rainbows dancing across the table.“Isn’t it stunning?” I whisper. I’m practically bouncing in my seat.Helen’s mouth parts slightly. “Carlos, you have taste. I’m actually shocked.”Carlos chuckles. “Thank
EMILY’S POVThe last of my caramel latte is cold, but I’m still sipping it when my phone buzzes in my lap. I glance down, and my heart does that stupid fluttering thing it only ever does for one person these days.Carlos: Your ride’s outside, hermosa.My brows lift in surprise. “What?”“What?” Bridget and Helen ask at the same time, eyes locked on me.I turn the screen so they can see the message, and right on cue, a sleek black limo comes to a stop in front of the café window. Bridget squeals. “Oh my God! Is that for you?”Helen’s jaw drops. “Carlos sent you a limo?! Girl, are you dating a billionaire or a fairy tale?”Heat rushes to my cheeks, but I can’t stop the grin spreading on my face. “Apparently... both?”The girls are already halfway out of their chairs. Bridget grabs her purse while Helen clutches her drink like it’s suddenly champagne. They practically drag me to the front of the café with excited gasps and giggles.“This is better than a rom-com,” Helen whispers, eyes wi
EMILY’S POVBridget, Helen and I decide to hang out in a cafe. You know, just some girls' alone time. It's going well so far. It's relaxing actually. The sun coming in through the windows makes Helen's strawberry hair look even more beautiful. Bridget's barely-there smirk is plastered on her face as she sips on her iced latte. I swirl my straw absentmindedly in my own drink. I think of Carlos with a smile on my face. "I have to show you something" Bridget says, showing us her phone. “Oh, no. Another influencer caught in a scandal?” Helen asks, raising her brows dramatically.Bridget shakes her head. “Worse. Your ex-prince charming, Emily. Alexander.”At the mention of his name, my heart does an uncomfortable flip. “What about him?” I ask slowly.Bridget doesn’t answer right away. She taps her screen and turns the phone toward us. “Watch.”The screen shows a video in a club or some private lounge. The video is a bit blurry but clear enough. Alexander is in it—his sharp jaw clenche
BRIDGET’S POVDaniel.My breath hitches.Our eyes lock, and time slows.Heat rises between my legs before I can even make sense of what I’m feeling. Why the hell is he here? Is it coincidence? Or does he… follow me?The thought of that sends a thrill down my spine. I hate it. I love it.“Hey,” Marc’s voice pulls me back, his hand brushing my arm. “You okay?”“Huh?” I blink, turning away from Daniel. “Yeah. Fine.”Lie. I’m not fine. My skin is burning, my heart is racing, and every nerve ending in my body is painfully aware of one thing—Daniel is here. The man who has been occupying my thoughts day and night since the moment I met him. The man who ruined me for everyone else with a single look. Who made me feel both alive and cornered, like he can see every raw edge I try to hide.I need to breathe. I need to do something—anything—before I lose my damn mind.So I do the first thing that comes to me.“Let’s dance,” I say, grabbing Marc’s hand and dragging him toward the dancefloor befor
Sure! Here's the chapter rewritten in present tense, without changing anything else:BRIDGET'S POVThe neon lights of the club flash in rhythm with the music. I lean against the bar, sipping a red cocktail with Helen seated next to me on a high stool.The music is loud. The beat is deep enough to echo in my chest, and the air is thick with perfume, cologne, and sweat. Still, it feels good to be out.“I wish Emily was here,” I say, raising my voice over the music.Helen laughs, tossing her head back. “Right? But she’s stuck at that family dinner.”I make a face and lift my phone. “Let’s send her a photo. She can live vicariously through us.”We huddle together, cheek to cheek, both of us striking our most dramatic pose — pouty lips and flirty eyes. I snap a few and take a couple of videos too, scanning across the club, capturing the flashing lights and the energy. I upload them all to my Instagram story, adding a “Girls’ Night Out 💋🍸” sticker and tagging Helen.“My followers are goin
EMILY’S POVCarlos kisses me again, deeper this time. Our tongues roll together in perfect harmony. This kiss wasn’t just about love or passion. I can feel the desire radiating off him. He kisses me like he’s trying to claim me.He holds me close to him, holding my waist tightly. He grabs my ass firmly as he basically shoves his tongue down my throat. His other hand grips my breasts, fiddling with my nipples. I moan into his mouth. The pleasure I feel is almost too much and he hasn’t even touched me yet.I can feel the heat in my core intensify with every second. I want him. I need him.“I’m going to show you exactly who you belong to” Carlos whispers against my lips.He grabs my throat, making me gasp, and pushes me to the wall. I look into his eyes and notice that they have gone completely dark. I swallow hard.Something else has taken over.“Who do you belong to?’ he asks me.“You” I say immediately.“Get on your knees” he commandsThe way he commands me makes me even more turned o
EMILY'S POVThe door closes with a soft click behind us, but the sound echoes like thunder in my ears. My feet barely move. My heart is pounding so loudly I’m sure Carlos can hear it. I can’t think—only feel.Carlos’s hand is warm around mine as he gently leads me to the living room. Everything feels muted. Like the world has gone underwater.“Emily,” he says, stopping us. He turns to face me and cups my cheeks with both hands. His touch is so gentle, like I might break at the slightest pressure. “Are you hurt? Did he touch you? Did Alexander hurt you?”I stare up into his eyes—those blue eyes that usually glow with lighthearted teasing. Now, his eyes are dark with a kind of fury I’ve never seen in him before. My lips part, but no words come. I just shake my head slowly.“No,” I whisper. “Not physically.”But I’m shaking, uncontrollably now, and I hate it. My knees give out and I crumple forward, only for Carlos to catch me right in time. I collapse into his chest, burying my face int
Emily’s POVCarlos opens the door with a confused expression.I walk closer to the door, trying to see if it’s true or maybe I didn’t hear well. There he is.Alexander.He stands there soaked from head to toe. His hair is plastered to his forehead. His shirt clings to his body with droplets of rain trailing down his jaw. His eyes lock onto mine with desperation. He looks at me so intensely that it makes my breath catch in my throat.“Alexander?” I step forward, surprised and confused. “What are you doing here?”Carlos is immediately behind me.“Yeah,” he says. His voice is filled with irritation. “What the hell are you doing in my wife’s home?”My wife. The words echo in my ears.“Why were you in the rain?” I ask him. “It’s a storm outside.”Alexander looks from me to Carlos, then back again. “I was already on my way here when the storm started. I couldn’t turn back.”“You should’ve,” I say softly, stepping aside so the rain doesn’t lash at his face. “This weather isn’t safe.”Carlos
EMILY'S POVThe sound echoes again. It’s a dull bang that makes my heart jolt. Carlos and I snap apart instantly, as if the air between us hasn’t just been crackling with heat seconds before. His brows furrow, and he turns toward the hallway."What the hell was that?" he mutters.“I don’t know,” I say, my voice breathless from everything—not just the noise.Together, we rush toward the living room. His hand holds mine as we move. The house is quiet except for that strange sound, but as we reach the wide window near the couch, I hear it clearer.Patter. Patter. Pat-pat-pat.Rain.I move closer, pulling aside the curtains. What I see takes my breath away.It’s not just any rain—it’s a full-blown storm. The huge trees outside look like they’ll snap at any moment.Carlos stands beside me, staring out.“Shit,” he breathes. “That came fast.”He glances at the clock on the wall and rubs the back of his neck. “I should probably get going before it gets worse.”“What?” I turn to him. “No. Carl