LOGINSophia’s POVMy vision blurs, but the first things I see are my roses for today, already in a glass vase, all thanks to Ava.My precious Alexander.A smile is pushed on my lips despite the ache I feel all over. I stretch a hand to my bedside table, feeling for my glasses. My hand touches it, and I slowly put it on.I curve into a ball under the sheets and just stare at the roses as my mind travels to him. Today, they’re pink, just like the ones I sent to him. Yesterday, they were white. The day before was red. The red ones are my favorite. But I like the mix. I like everything he does for me.My smile stretches wide. I dreamed about him. About us. We got married and kissed for such a long time. My mom couldn’t watch us. Dimitri and the others were cheering. Layla was crying.Warmth spreads to my cheeks. I shut my eyes, turning on the bed as I replay the dream. I had so many others, but I’ve forgotten them. There was one where he showed me his piercings. I can’t remember the details; I
Alexander’s POVI drop my phone, watching as my secretary and brother move the flowers—so large, already in beautifully patterned porcelain vases—into my office.I acknowledge the men who brought them with a nod before the door shuts.She kept to her word.I’m not the hugest of fans, but the flowers she gave me the day I arrived from Singapore are still wilting in a vase somewhere in my kitchen. For some reason, I’ve been unable to throw them out. Now, more flowers.“Where do you want us to put them, Mr. Thorne?” Leah asks.“Where would you put them?” I reply as I meet Christian’s gaze, wondering what his surprise visit is about.“Over here.” She answers and moves. Christian follows.My phone buzzes.I pick it up, reading the message: {Consider it done, sir.}Me: {For as long as he’s here, I want him nowhere near Sophia.}I hit send, delete the entire chat, and lock my phone. Sophia’s words last night repeat in my head: ‘Even if he comes knocking on my door, I’m not going to see him
Alexander’s POV“My aunt went home… we can go inside together.” Sophia murmurs.Aunt Mel…I nod as my mind travels to that aunt of hers and what she can do with what she’s found out tonight—tell Sophia’s father, or mine, or the entire world. But my eyes stay fixed on my mother, beautiful in her dazzling black dress. Arms crossed and staring at Sophia and me with warm eyes. I can guess what’s on her mind right now: ‘My beautiful boy.’Unlike what I feel for my father, I hold nothing against her; she did the best she could for me. In the end, everyone submitted to that man.Someone rushes out to meet her. It’s my sister. Clothed in a pink-and-black ball dress, she speaks to my mom. Whatever she’s saying is immediately cut short the second her eyes travel to Sophia and me. They widen for a moment before she moves close to our mother.They both stare at us.My head pounds. Chin on Sophia’s head, I shut my eyes, imagining a reality where everything turns out well—laughing with her after we
Alexander’s POVShe instantly puts her face to my dark window, sticking her tongue out and winking so poorly.Everything stutters to a slow stop in my head. A harsh cold crashes over me, butting me back to reality.Frozen and unsure, I stare at her. She keeps making silly faces after another, smiling, and rolling her eyes until all I see are the white parts. Then she giggles, cracking herself up; I hear it, and my heart kicks.More silly faces continue, well aware that I can see her while she probably can’t see me.I watch her with no thought; only a dull hum runs through my head.She takes a step back and pushes her gorgeous hair out of her small face.The door clicks open from the outside.Sophia, sweet-smelling and bright-eyed, holds my door, peeping at me. She pouts so adorably. Her pink Birkin bag dangles on her arm. I hold her gaze as my heart pounds.I should grab her, put her on these seats, and do what I came here to do, damning morals and her feelings. But everything burning
Sophia’s POVAlexander (hubby): {Why would you send a guy flowers every Friday for three months??}My heart thumps rapidly.With a soft chuckle, I lick my top lip and type a response: That was a long time ago…I pause before hitting ‘send’ and keep typing.Me: {That was a long time ago. He was sick, and I wanted to show him that I cared.}Send. Alexander (hubby): {You’re not going anywhere with him.}I put a hand over my mouth as a giggle bubbles out of me. Me: {I know he likes me, but I already said yes.}{I’ll have to tell my mom. I think she’ll let me go. I met Jake’s mom, and she’s really pleasant. She likes me, just like his brothers did when I met them.}Alexander (hubby): {Why are you meeting his mom?}Him: {You’ve met his brothers?}My screen switches immediately. It’s Alexander calling.Relief floods my entire body, coursing rapidly through my veins. I take a deep breath and just lean against the wall, watching my phone ring. For the first time, it feels like I have some p
Sophia’s POVWhat a horrible start to my birthday week.Everything aches—my feet, my head, my heart.I press a hand over my eyes while I squat to cry.Sniffing, I slide my fingers into my hair and raise my head to unlock my phone. I just stare at the unread message I sent to him.Memories bleed into my mind—memories of my proposal, all the times he tickled me and made me laugh, the time he brushed my hair, the time he transformed his penthouse into a mini-stadium just to surprise me, the time he told me he’ll support me when I discover what I love to do… when he dedicated his award to me…Conflicting with these memories is something darker. Something that took me a while to realize, and when I did, I decided to bury it away. Something I only realized when we didn’t speak for almost a week, after that horrifying seizure incident in his penthouse.You know what I did? I still chose him, still wanted him, still craved him. Call it attachment or anything, but I chose the man who keeps say
Alexander’s POVHe staggers.“I got you.” I reach for him quickly, holding him up. He reeks of booze.“You’re a piece of shit, Alex. That’s what you are.”Unsteady, he peels himself off me.With one hand, I dust off my shirt, still holding on to his wrist because he looks totally out of it.“You to
Sophia’s POVAlexander moves. He stretches his right hand, and a phone’s screen comes on. Mine.Unblinking, I stare at the screensaver—a picture of me hugging my dad. My lungs shut instantly, dread warming my face.What have I done?“I need to take you home,” he mutters and drops the phone. But no
Sophia’s POVWe eat in silence.He does all the slicing, sending little pieces of steak my way before I run out.It’s so tasty. But there’s a tightness in my chest. I shouldn’t be eating ribeye steak.He tops my wine glass. And I can’t say no.I clank my glass with his, sipping my second glass slow
Sophia’s POV“What was that, Sophia Rosetta?” My mom questions for the second time, her face pale as a sheet, Airpod in her fist.Mouth open, I stare at her in shock.My heart races at an alarming rate, my breaths are inconsistent—an aftermath of what I’ve just listened to, what my mom heard a port







