LOGINAlexander’s POVI stand before the landscape mirror in the foyer, a finger brushing my neck as I stare at the hickey my wife carved right where I can feel my pulse, a few inches from my Adam’s apple. With my tie taking up space on my passenger seat and two buttons on my shirt undone, I see it clearly under the warm lights that give this place life. I was in a hurry before I left the penthouse, so I didn’t get a good look at it. Now I do, and all I can think about is our passionate time together this morning. She didn’t go easy on me, and neither did I.A smile plays on my lips, gratitude welling in my heart that we made up before I came here—Lewis’ home. My confidence tank would have been at an all-time low had we not made up.Exhaling deeply, I fiddle with my collar, clasping it in the middle with two fingers, where the button flap is, and consider going back for my tie to keep my first love-bite from my wife hidden. The longer I stare, the more I’m tempted to show it off. What bet
Sophia’s POVThe ringing stops. His eyes open, landing on me, and a crease forms between his brows. “Sophia?”“Mmm?” I throw my arm around him and push a smile.“What time is it?”“Er… Lemme check.” As I roll back to the other side, he rises. I hold the sheet to my chest and look over my shoulder to see him getting out of bed. I quickly reach for his phone. The screen lights up. “It’s eleven-forty-nine.”“Sh*t!” he mutters, strolling to my sofa as he rips his hand through his hair.“Are you late for something?”He nods, chuckling under his breath, already grabbing his clothes from my sofa. “I’ve got a meeting at twelve.”I press my lips together, a twinge of guilt biting me as I watch him rush to put on his clothes. I knew he had a meeting at twelve. I saw Leah’s text, but there’s nothing I could have done. We both fell asleep after sex.He meets my gaze, smiles, then tracks back to me, using his hands to bracket my face. He leans in next and puts a kiss on my nose. It tickles. “It’s n
Sophia’s POVHe doesn’t move, and neither do I. My mind is tuned to the sound of the water cascading over us and the closeness—it’s like a silent conversation that seems to go like this:Alexander: ‘I love you so much, Soph, even if you’re mad at me. Even if life wants to separate us, I’ll keep crawling back to you if I have to. I’ll cling to you, stick to you like glue. I’m right here.’And my response: ‘I don’t want you to ever leave me. No matter what happens, I want to be with you forever, Alexander.’With my eyes still closed, I sigh softly and make the first move, turning around with careful movements. His arms loosen around me, allowing me to turn easily. Now, I face him and lift my head. He tightens his grip, pulls me close, and presses his mouth on mine. I’m electrocuted from brain to feet. Gasping, I cling to him, throw my hands up, and stand on my tiptoes. It takes him less than a second to pick me up, pushing my back against the wall. A deep sigh spews out of me, parting m
Sophia’s POVI don’t need a seer to tell me he didn’t get enough sleep last night. Exhausted, I still watch him for a while, pulling my coat tighter to keep out the cold. His arms are folded across his body. I think about what I want to hear from him so we can move past this. An apology and an explanation might suffice, but I’m no longer sure. He might not want to apologize because of what I said.As if sensing my presence, he opens his eyes, and they land on me instantly. I blink and step back. His eyes widen. He straightens and stretches an arm in my direction, then opens the door from inside.“I came to get the gifts,” I say before he can utter anything.“I can help with them.”“Thank you,” I murmur and move to the door behind mine.“Just go inside. I’ll bring them to you.”I nod and move back in. Alexander arrives a few minutes later. Silence spreads across the studio, followed by murmurs as every eye turns to him, mine included. And he announces to everyone, “My wife came bearing
Sophia’s POVAvoiding Alexander’s gaze, I walk past him and get into the car. Beautiful pink-and-black seats that I admire for a second surround me. I place my bag on the center console, drop my phone into my lap, set my mat on the floorboard, fasten my seat belt, and stay still. For a moment, he just stands there, not moving or shutting my door. I know he’s staring at me, but I don’t give him the satisfaction of meeting my gaze.“Soph?”“I don’t want to be late,” I murmur, dropping my eyes to my black nails. They’ve grown out a little and need an appointment. I’m getting them done tomorrow.Finally, he shuts my door and walks around the front of the car. I turn to the window the second he enters. He shuts his door, and the silence is pure torture, heavy with his scent and presence. My toes curl in my sneakers, I fold my fingers in my lap, softening yet fighting to stay mad at him, so he knows what he did last night hurt me a lot and won’t be forgiven so easily.“You didn’t take your
Sophia’s POVMy alarms woke me up at exactly 06:31 A.M. I got up sad, drained from crying till I fell asleep, and still upset at my husband. I know he has to leave for the company at the exact time I woke up; it’s now 07:30 A.M., but he just left. No text, no call, not even bothering to check in on me or trying to make up for what he did last night. Garvey texted that he’d be taking me to Pilates, so if I needed help carrying anything to the car, I could leave it in the foyer. It’s the first thing I did. I took all the gifts for my Pilates girlfriends to the foyer. They were a lot; I’d hoped Alexander would help, but he really just left me alone in the penthouse. It was empty and quiet when I came out. His dinner was still in the oven, untouched. The only unusual thing was the roses he put in a vase in the living room.I miss him. I miss us.“You look so beautiful, my baby.” My aunt says over the phone as I brush my hair, sitting in front of my vanity.“Thank you.” I sigh without loo
Sophia’s POVAlexander’s calmness fills the elevator like gravity. I stare at my reflection against the panel—blonde hair secured in a neat bun, my teal silk skater dress falling perfectly—a 360-degree improvement from the last time I was here.He slowly holds my hand and locks our fingers with gen
Sophia’s POV⁓August 25, 2025: Dimitri & Lena’s Wedding Day⁓It’s exactly one week since my failed attempt at running away. One week since my second and best kiss ever. One week since I got reintroduced to Alexander Thorne as his fiancée. And one week of receiving large rose bouquets from him daily.
Sophia’s POVHe’s got nipple piercings, a back half-full of tattoos, smokes cigars, swore never to get married, but says he’s marrying me in October.I’m the first woman he’s invited into his penthouse and bedroom; he kisses like a sinner and promises to show me things I can’t handle yet. He lies ef
Alexander Thorne’s POVPhone in hand, I tap a slow rhythm against the steering wheel, my gaze fixed on the pristine lineup of cars in my private garage. My mind is elsewhere.Dimitri left thirty-five minutes ago. I sent Garvey home, too, yet I’ve been seated inside the darkness of this car, waiting.







