EMILY’S POVI look up to see the person who came all of a sudden to block this stranger’s path. Justin.I’m surprised to see him. Justin is Carlos’ best friend. What’s he doing here?I freeze as I look at him. My grip tightens around my spoon. His expression is nothing like the friendly Justin I know. His usually calm demeanor is replaced with a look of barely contained anger. His eyes flick between me and the man."Emily," he says in a hard tone. "What the hell do you think you’re doing?"I blink at him, confused. "Excuse me?"Justin crosses his arms. From the look in his eyes, I could tell he was judging me…hard. "How could you sit here and have dinner with another man?” he says.“What do you mean?” I say in confusion “What are you even doing here?”“I came here to get lunch for myself. To my surprise, I saw you sitting with this guy over here. How could you do this? You’re here having fun while Carlos has been drowning himself in alcohol for days because of you. Don’t you feel gu
EMILY’S POVThe car ride home is tense. It’s filled with the heavy scent of alcohol as Carlos sways beside me, his body radiating heat. His fingers brush against mine, tentative at first, but then he grips my hand as if clinging to something solid in his drunken haze.I sigh, gently pulling away, but he’s persistent.“Emily,” he mumbles. His head lolls to the side, landing heavily on my shoulder.I stiffen. “Carlos, sit up,” I murmur, nudging him, but he only groans in protest.I glance at his face. He looks flushed from the alcohol, and I can’t help but feel worried about him. He never drinks this much. Could it be because he had an argument with Lina? Or was it because of our last fight?When he leans in again, I don’t push him away this time. I let him rest against me, feeling his warmth, his presence. My heart clenches at the memory of better days, when this closeness wasn’t so complicated.By the time we arrive at the house, Carlos is barely able to stand. I drape his arm over my
EMILY’S POVThe warmth surrounding me feels so familiar, so safe, that for a moment, I forget where I am. I blink my eyes open, only to find myself nestled in Carlos’s arms. His scent lingers around me. My heart clenches painfully as I realize how close we are. His breath fans over my forehead and his body is warm against mine. His strong arm is wrapped around my waist, holding me in place as if he never wants to let me go.I swallow hard and slowly tilt my head up, only to find him staring at me. There’s something in his gaze, something unreadable yet so tender that it takes my breath away. It reminds me of the past—of mornings when we’d wake up tangled together.How long has he been staring at me? and why is he?"Good morning," he murmurs. His voice is deep and husky from sleep. The sound wraps around me like silk. His voice alone sends shivers down my spine. It stirs up emotions I wish I could ignore.For a second, I allow myself to bask in the illusion that we’re still us, that we
EMILY’S POVThe air between us is thick as we sit at the dining table. I barely touch my food. Carlos sits across from me. His eyes are filled with exhaustion.I prepared something light for him this morning, knowing alcohol always upsets his stomach. A bowl of oatmeal, a few slices of toast, and some fruit. Nothing greasy. Nothing heavy. He eats mechanically. His jaw is tight and his fingers grip the fork a little too hard.I take a deep breath. "Carlos, we need to talk about the divorce agreement."His hand freezes midair, the fork hovering just above his plate. He exhales sharply and sets it down, rubbing his temples like he already has a headache. "Emily, not now.""If not now, then when? We can’t just keep avoiding this."His jaw clenches. "I’m not avoiding it. These things take time.""I understand that, but we need to decide when we’re telling our families," I press, "My grandmother will ask questions. So will your family. We need to be prepared."He lets out a humorless chuckl
EMILY’S POVCarlos hasn’t been home since he walked out the door. It’s been three days.Three days.No calls. No messages. Nothing from him.What do I expect anyway? Why am I so surprised? He’s with the love of his life.I look at myself in the mirror. Tonight, Carlos and I are supposed to attend a special banquet. It’s an important event for his company. Since he’s not around, I have to go alone.I’m dressed in a black evening dress that hugs my curves. There’s a high slit on my left, high enough to reach my thigh. I pair the dress with a pair of red heels. My jewelry sparkles against the lights and my make up is flawless.Even though I’m dying inside, it doesn’t mean I should look it. luckily, I’m not showing yet. Nobody will be able to tell I’m pregnant.After making sure I look perfect, I make my way to the car where my driver is waiting. In silence, he drives us to the location.The moment I step out of the car, the blinding flash of cameras explodes in my face. My fingers tighten
EMILY’S POVI can’t believe Carlos acted like that at the ball. The moment we step into the house, the silence between us is thick and suffocating. Neither of us speaks a word. I don't even spare him a glance as I head straight to my room, shutting the door with more force than necessary.The next morning, I wake up with the events of last night still fresh in my mind. The frustration is still there, but there’s also something else—confusion. I don’t understand why Carlos acted that way, why he seemed so violent.Pushing aside my thoughts, I go through my usual morning routine, determined to act as if nothing happened.Breakfast is a quiet affair. The clinking of utensils against plates is the only sound filling the air. Carlos sits across from me, his expression unreadable as he eats. I refuse to look at him, focusing instead on my plate, even though my appetite is nearly nonexistent.Then, without a word, Carlos reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small box. He places it on the
EMILY’S POVWhen I wake up the next morning, Carlos is nowhere to be found. Again. The cold emptiness of the apartment makes me sad.I sigh, rubbing my temples as I sit at the kitchen table. My fingers absently trace patterns on the wooden surface. My mind keeps drifting back to last night. Not just Carlos storming off ,but also Alexander—the man who, despite everything, had stepped in at the banquet and taken a hit for me.Carlos broke his nose. And now, I can’t help but wonder how he’s doing.I pull out my phone and call Bridget, my friend who was also at the banquet. It rings a few times before she answers.“Emily?” Her voice is laced with curiosity. “What’s up?”“Hey, Bridget. I know this is random, but do you know Alexander?”“Alexander Hamilton? The one your husband beat up last night. What went wrong?”I sigh “It’s a long story. Do you know how he’s doing?”“I heard he was taken to the hospital”My eyes widen in surprise. Poor guy.“Which hospital?” I ask.“I heard he’s at St.
EMILY’S POVA message from Carlos comes just before noon. My phone vibrates on the countertop, and when I check, his name flashes on the screen.Carlos: Come to my office.There’s no greeting, no pleasantries. Just a direct command. A part of me should be irritated, but I’m not. Instead, I stare at the message, feeling a strange weight on my chest. This is it—the moment I’ve been waiting for. The moment where I finally get to set him free.I glance at the clock. 11:47 AM. Almost lunchtime. Before I leave, I want to do one last thing for him. I send him a message.Me: Have you eaten?The reply comes almost immediately.Carlos: No.Just like that, my decision is made. My fingers tighten around the phone, and I push away from the counter. The maids are already busy preparing lunch, but I stop them.“I’ll cook today.”They blink at me in surprise. “Miss, we can—”“I want to do it myself.”They hesitate, exchanging glances before nodding and stepping back. I take a deep breath and roll up
Lina’s POVThe TV is on in the background, casting a soft glow over the living room. I’m not even really listening to the news report anymore—I’ve seen it so many times by now, I know it by heart.“—no suspects have been confirmed, but authorities believe the fire at the boutique was intentional…”I take another slow sip of wine, smiling a little as I watch the screen. The anchor’s serious voice tries to make sense of something they’ll never fully understand.“You should’ve stayed away, Emily,” I say to myself. I swirl the glass in my hand. “Now you’ll see what happens when you take what’s mine.”Then, my phone buzzes on the counter. The sound cuts through the silence.I pick it up.Unknown Number: Emily survived. My heart stops.I stare at the words for a second before they really hit me. Then the glass slips out of my hand.I throw it and it smashes against the wall. I barely notice the shards on the floor. All I can think about is that one line.She survived.I feel heat rise thro
DANIEL'S POV The minutes tick by slowly I stand near the corkboard, looking at every photo of Lina that I've managed to get. I tap my fingers on the table nearby, waiting impatiently for Carlos to get here. Just when I'm about to call him to ask where he is, I hear the slam of a car door outside. That has to be him. Finally.Carlos walks in nearly an hour late, and the second I see him, my chest tightens. Not from anger. From worry. My little brother looks like hell. Dark circles bruise the skin under his eyes, there's something that looks like soot on his jacket, and his eyes are red—bloodshot from exhaustion, worry, or maybe crying. He looks stiff, like every muscle in his body has forgotten how to relax.He doesn’t say hello. Doesn’t ask what’s going on. His voice is low as he walks forward. "Talk.” he says. I nod once and step away from the corkboard. “I’ve been doing some research on Lina.”Carlos frowns, confused. “Why?”“Because,” I say, “you’re too naïve to see that Lina
DANIEL’S POVThe room is dark. Papers are spread across the table like a crime scene—photos, documents, notes scribbled in red ink, and right in the center… her face.Lina.The corkboard is above my desk. Red string crisscrosses the board, pinning together events that, at first glance, seem unrelated. But I see it now. A pattern. Her name, her face, connected to outbursts, fights, assaults and now…I stare down at the folder in my hand—its edge creased from how tightly I’m gripping it. My thumb brushes over the bold red stamp on the front: Sealed Record. It took an old favor and an uncomfortable call to a cop I hadn’t spoken to in five years to get this. But it was worth it.I open the folder slowly and my eyes scan the page.Name: Lina Veronica HaleDOB: 09/14/1996Juvenile Record: SealedCharges: Arson, Harassment, Assault, StalkingI whisper to myself, breath catching in my throat. "Arson. Harassment. Assault. Stalking..."I drag a hand down my face "This girl’s been unhinged sinc
CARLOS’ POVThe sirens keep on blaring. Red lights reflect across the pavement as the ambulance doors fling open. I’m already running. My lungs are burning and my chest is heaving harder than it ever has before.“Emily!” I choke out her name, over and over. My throat is raw from smoke and yelling. My legs burn as I chase after the paramedics pushing her through the automatic doors of the ER.She looks lifeless. Her face is pale. Her lips are slightly parted and her hair clings to her face in sweaty knots. I can’t even tell where she’s burned, or if she’s burned, because everything just looks wrong. Like the life has been sucked out of her body and she’s just barely holding on.My heart crashes against my ribs like it wants to break free.“Please—Emily, baby, stay with me,” I beg, my voice cracking. The paramedics say something into their radios. The doors fling open for them, but a nurse blocks me from going in.I barely notice Bridget until she grabs my arm. She’s crying. Her fingers
CARLOS’ POVThe boardroom is almost silent except for the voices echoing off the table.The long table in front of me is filled with laptops, folders, and untouched glasses of mineral water. One by one, the board members present their reports—logistics, international expansion strategies, profit margins. I nod, make notes, ask questions. I’m doing everything I’m supposed to do.But I’m not here.My mind keeps drifting. Sliding back to her.To Emily.Her soft laugh, the smell of her hair when she curls into me, the way her fingers trace lazy patterns on my chest when she thinks I’m asleep. The way she smiles when she talks about her designs. The baby.Our baby.Last night keeps replaying in my mind. The way her lips trembled right before I kissed them. How she held onto me like she needed me to breathe. I haven’t stopped thinking about her since I left her this morning with a kiss on her forehead, promising I’d be done early today. A promise I’m already breaking.“Mr. Carter?” someone
EMILY'S POVI stand in the center of the empty boutique with my arms folded and my heart pounding—not with anxiety this time, but hope. Real hope. The kind that sits warm in your chest and whispers this could actually happen.The space is enormous—bare concrete floors, brick walls, and wide glass windows that let in the golden morning light.This is mine. All mine.After the whole disaster with Maison de Lune, after watching everything I’ve worked so hard for crumble thanks to Lina’s venomous touch, I think I’m done. But something inside me refuses to stay down. Maybe it’s the baby, maybe it’s me finally choosing myself, but I know—I have to try again. So, I decide to open my own boutique and start my own fashion line. All by myself.I step forward and close my eyes.In my mind, I see the runway. I see models gliding down in pieces I haven’t even fully designed yet. The flashes of cameras. The gasps from the front row. My name echoing off the walls.Emily.It gives me chills.The glas
EMILY’S POVI look at Carlos in disbelief as he says those words.I freeze.Every part of me freezes.It is as if the world has stopped spinning for a heartbeat—just long enough for those three words to sink into my skin and pierce through my soul.“You… what?” My voice comes out a whisper.He steps even closer.“I love you, Emily,” he repeats, firmer this time. “I’ve always loved you. Even when I was too proud, too stubborn, or too damn broken to admit it.”Tears burn my eyes. I stare at him, trying to blink back the tears. I have waited years to hear him say those words.“Why now?” I whisper.“Because I can’t keep living like this. I can’t keep pretending like I’m okay without you—without us.” His voice cracks, and I watch his jaw tighten. “I know I hurt you. I know I let you down in every way that mattered. But if there’s even a tiny part of you that still wants this—still wants me—I swear I’ll do whatever it takes.”My heart pounds. I feel like I’m standing on the edge of a cliff,
EMILY'S POV.Carlos stands in front of me. His blue eyes burn into mine. I look at him. His devastatingly handsome face makes it so hard to stay angry—hard, but not impossible. His chest rises and falls like he’s just run a marathon to get here, to me. The moment he asks the question, my heart feels like it slams against my ribcage."Are you pregnant?" His voice is low, rough, filled with something I can’t quite name. Hope? Fear?I blink at him, stunned. My hand tightens around the zipper of the suitcase I’ve been half-heartedly packing."I—I don’t know what you’re talking about," I stammer, praying he’ll believe the lie, the pathetic defense I throw up in pure panic.But Carlos just takes a step closer, shaking his head like he isn’t buying a word of it."Don’t give me that crap, Emily," he growls. "If Bridget was pregnant, she’d have announced it to the entire world by now. You think I don’t know her?"He moves even closer, forcing me to tilt my head up to meet his gaze. His scent w
CARLOS' POVThe night air cools against my skin as I walk toward the car. Right now, my head is spinning with thoughts I don’t even know how to organize. I feel sick. Like something heavy sits in my chest, refusing to let me breathe properly.I open the car door and slide into the passenger seat. The scent of Daniel's cigar smoke fills the air. He sits behind the wheel, one hand lazily resting on it, the other holding a half-smoked cigar between his fingers. He looks at me briefly, eyebrows raised."How’d it go with Lina?" he asks. I lean back against the seat, closing my eyes for a moment. "Not good," I mutter.Daniel scoffs, taking a slow drag from his cigar. "Didn't think it would. You have... interesting taste in women, my brother." He exhales a cloud of smoke toward the open window. "You must be a goddamn fool to leave Emily for Lina."My jaw tenses, and I look away, staring blankly at the dark road ahead. "Yeah," I say quietly. "I see that now."There is a pause. Daniel turns