LOGINChapter 10Skylar's POV"First is there any form of sport or exercise you're comfortable with?"I thought about it. "Well, I loved skipping when I was younger. It's been a long time, really. I don't know if that counts as much of an exercise.""It does." He smiled. "Let's start with something you enjoy so you don't burn out on day one. And good news. I have a jump rope in here."My eyes lit up. "Really? I'll try then."He handed me the rope and asked me to grip the handles firmly and give him twenty skips. Nice and easy to start."Easy peasy," I said.Then I got to work.The first time my feet left the floor, the impact when I landed sent a small shudder through the room. Or at least it felt that way. I thought briefly that maybe something structural was happening.I kept going. Skip after skip, the rope whipping overhead. Sweat broke out fast on my forehead, my chest, under my arms, the backs of my knees, places I hadn't thought about sweating in years. My lungs started complaining b
Chapter 9Skylar's POV"You don't have to do anything you don't want to. But think about it. If it becomes public that you're in a relationship with a powerful man, who would dare cross you?""I'm a married…" I paused. Something flickered across his face, brief and quickly buried. I recognised it anyway. "I'm sorry. I don't know, it's just... it's complicated. You understand, right?""Stop apologising. It's not necessary." He tugged at his tie and looked away.I fidgeted with the hem of the blanket. "I don't want to be labelled…you know how people talk. A woman who leaves her husband and jumps straight into another man's arms. It doesn't matter what the truth is. And my kids too. They'll…" I exhaled. "I don't know what to do.""You didn't think about any of that when you left the house. Or when you almost hurt yourself. Or when you ditched your phone and moved into my place. You've been figuring things out this whole time. Why stop now?"He seemed annoyed. Not at me, exactly or maybe
Chapter 8Skylar's POVWhen I woke up in the hospital, my head spun like someone was bouncing a ball directly in front of my eyes. I sat up slowly and blinked until the room settled.Zane was beside me. He had fallen asleep in the chair, his head tilted at an angle that looked deeply uncomfortable. His neck was bent, chin dropping toward his chest, one hand still resting on the arm of the chair like he hadn't quite let go of whatever he'd been holding onto.That must have hurt. This man really had to go through so much because of me.I pressed my fingers to my temple and let the memory come back in pieces. The restaurant. The earring. Turning around. And then his secretary, sitting right there, at the table beside ours, without so much as a flicker of guilt on her face when our eyes met. That shameless home wrecker hadn't even flinched. She had looked at me like I was the inconvenience, like I was the one who had wandered into the wrong story.The only thing I was grateful for was tha
Chapter 7Zane's POVShe came out in the deep burgundy dress.This was the first time I had seen her in something fitted. She always wore flared skirts and loose gowns, but today, I could admit it. She looked very pretty. The dress suited her. She just didn't know it yet."Is that the only one you picked?"She nodded.I shook my head. "That's not enough. Do you want me to help you pick more?""It's not like I'm debuting as a model or something. I don't even have anywhere to go.""Hand me the catalogue." I signalled the staff member standing beside her. She stepped forward immediately."Here it is, sir."I scrolled through. Most of the dresses were available in smaller sizes only. Skylar needed a size the store didn't carry on the rack. Only their tailoring team would be able to make the adjustments.I called the staff member back. "Are these all the sizes you have?""Yes, sir, but our design team can make the necessary adjustments to suit your requirements." She glanced briefly at Sky
Chapter 6Skylar's POV"Don't think too much." He smiled. "I just want to feed you."I exhaled slowly. Why had I immediately assumed he wanted to kiss me again? As if I even wanted him to."Why would you do that? I can feed myself.""You see, that's the thing about you." He set the spoon down briefly. "You're too stubborn. The doctor advised you not to strain your wrists when we left the hospital, and yet here you are insisting. If your wrists don't heal properly, I won't let you anywhere near the fitness coach."I sighed. What a difficult man.Then I opened my mouth.His eyes softened. He raised the spoon to my lips carefully, steadily, and I let him. There was something almost funny about it . A grown woman being spoon_fed at a dining table in a penthouse . But I didn't have the energy to be proud about it. The food was warm and good and he didn't make me feel small for accepting it.After what he apparently considered sufficient baby treatment, he walked me to my room. He even offe
Chapter 5Skylar's POVI pulled back suddenly and stared at him.My phone had stopped ringing. The only sound in the large foyer was my heart thumping — loud and unsteady, filling the silence where everything else had gone quiet.Did he just kiss me?I was still trying to register the thought when I felt his hand move toward my hair again, drawing me back. His face was inches from mine. I panicked and stood up too fast, knocking my jaw against his."I'm sorry — I'm really sorry."His lips parted like he wanted to say something, then he stopped himself and rubbed his jaw with his right hand. I sat on the edge of the chair, as far from him as the cushion allowed. He stood, walked to the window, and stood there with his back to me.What was wrong with Zane? Was he ill?He turned and walked back toward where I sat. His shadow fell over me."What did I do?" I said, barely above a whisper.He sat down. "Do you remember what you told me that day — when I was about to jump off?" His voice was







