LOGINSophia’s POVHe stands still, eyes fixed on mine, with a black medium-sized suitcase in his grip. My purse still hangs across his body. His eyes drop to the picture frame in my hand, and tears finally leak out of my eyes.Choking, I palm my face with my right hand, breaking down in tears.“Sophia?” He calls softly.In a few seconds, my head is pulled against his hard chest. I shut my eyes and pull the frame to my chest.“What is it?”I shake my head, sobbing. Frame still in my grip, my arms go around him. He does the same, pulling me closer with his arms wrapped around my back. He strokes it with gentleness as I keep sniffling.A memory rushes into my mind: that CEOs and Business Owners Charity Gala—the words he uttered when he dedicated his CEO of the Year Award to me.‘Without knowing, she gave me the push I didn’t know I needed… You’re my reason and will to keep going forward… When I thought I’d drown, life gave you to me…’I couldn’t make sense of it at that time. I thought I didn
Sophia’s POVIt’s pitch black. My heart pounds with reckless excitement mixed with slight unease as I touch my fingers to the blindfold. The fabric is soft against my skin.Alexander quietly ties it behind me.“How many fingers do I have up?” He asks.A strained chuckle slips out of me. “I can’t– I can’t see anything… um…”My hands tremble just a little.Heat from his body caresses me as he moves. I feel him standing very close, right before me.“Soph?”“Mm?” I mumble, swallowing hard.His fingers go around my wrists and peel my hands off the blindfold. Then, they slide to hold my shaky hands. “You’re safe with me.” He utters in a calm, sad tone, lifting my hands to his lips. He kisses my right knuckles first, then the left ones, and keeps his mouth on my hand. His breath is warm against my hands.I nod, hoping he doesn’t feel too bad that I panicked.“If you’re not comfortable, I can take off the blindfold and have you just close your eyes.”“No,” I shake my head and go close, tight
Sophia’s POVMy chest keeps swelling, fists tightening behind him. His eyes hold mine with uncertainty. But in his gaze is a look I’m seeing for the first time—pure, sincere desire. Not the one where his eyes darken with something I can never name.Without thinking, I press my lips on his.And everything stands still.No movement. Just the feel of gloss and soft, warm lips parted slightly against mine.Sensations crawl in my stomach.I release a sigh, pressing my bottom lip between his.His hands fall to the small of my back. I shut my eyes, ready to go all the way.Slam!I pull away with a gasp, dropping to my seat and turning sharply to see where that noise came from. God forbid someone saw us.My eyes widen. My heart pounds.It’s Garvey!He’s just shut the door to Alexander’s G-wagon, grinning from ear to ear with a sunflower bouquet in his grip.Reluctantly, I turn to Alexander. He stares into space like he’s lost. Instantly, he meets my eyes. I quickly avert my gaze, but don’t f
Sophia’s POV“Bye, Mom!” I say to her, waving and grinning so much that my cheeks hurt. She stands at the door and waves back. Ava stands behind her in the shadow, still teasing me with winks while pointing at Alexander, who walks ahead with my small duffel bag and purse hanging across each of his shoulders. I simply roll my eyes and wave at her.Oddly enough, my mom didn’t question my little luggage. Although she did stare at it with a suspicious look the whole time I carried it, until Alexander took it off my shoulder.“Bye, my darling! Have fun and see you soon.”Giggling with happiness, I raise my second hand to wave with more vigor while backing away. “See you soon…”See you tomorrow. I turn around when I get to my new car, still smiling as I watch Alexander. He shuts the door after dropping my white duffel bag on the back seat. Then goes around to get my door.All the roses have been taken out and kept in the garden for now because there were too many. He gets to me, wearing
Sophia’s POV⁓October 24, 2025: Sophia’s 24th birthday⁓I’m twenty-four today. Yay. I pray this is the year I grow, so no one ever takes advantage of me again.As usual, my parents were in my bedroom at midnight to wish me a happy birthday with my first batch of presents—a pricey gift card and some new books to read. Alexander sent a message at exactly 12:00 A. M.: {Happy birthday, Sophia. Thank you for coming into this world on this special day.}I only saw it after my parents left. We’ve not spoken since I last saw him two nights ago, but he’s sent apology messages three times. I read them and had no words, so I only responded with a white heart.I’ve had some time to myself to think and partly process the way he hurt me. It hurts a little less now. And I miss him already.Glasses on and still in bed, I stare at my countdown calendar on my dresser, fixing my gaze on the date circled in red. My wedding is in exactly a week.I shift my eyes to my windows. Today’s roses have not arri
Xander’s POVMy grip on the handlebars tightens, firming up my biceps. Adrenaline bursts in my veins. I twist and release the throttle to rev my bike’s engine as I fly against the wind, moving through rows of cars like I’m invisible. Headlights flash like a blur, going past me in milliseconds. I keep my eyes ahead, staring through the dark smoke visor of my helmet. Horns blare, the engine roars noisily beneath me, yet it remains quiet in my head. I put a gloved hand to the zipper of my jacket, lowering it a little to let the cold air seep into my chest.A memory of the last time I flew against the wind plays in my head: while Sophia was asleep in my bed on her first night in my penthouse. I was out riding until dawn and only slipped under the sheet to tease her—one of the many ways I tried seducing her. One that worked. She’d looked so flustered and scared, yet curious. Now, all I feel is regret and remorse. I can’t believe it was months ago.I glance at my watch and keep flying fas
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.
Sophia’s POVHe breaks our kiss, hands going still on my thighs. I lock gaze with him, seeing how dark and dilated his pupils have turned. He’s panting just as I am, looking unusually unsettled. His face is frozen—an expression of shock I don’t miss. My body trembles, but I shake my head weakly, l
Sophia’s POV“It’s a guest bedroom,” he says, rolling the strap of my purse around his knuckles. I stare at my purse, mouth dry and open. I don’t know if it’s shock from learning that I’m spending the night in his bedroom or from having my purse snatched from me. My phone, my money, my passport—all







