ASHER’s POINT OF VIEWI couldn’t do this.I couldn’t tell her the truth, it was only going to hurt her.And break our friendship.Or whatever it was that we had together.“Nae,” my voice seeped through the air like a cold wind, trying to cool the heat burning alongside the tension. “I— I know nothing.”She frowned, staring at me like she didn’t believe. And I felt her hands slowly slip away from my neck.“You’re lying, Asher.”I wish I didn’t have to do that, but the truth made my throat go dry after forming a lump.“I’m not.”“Then what ‘truth’ was Sage talking about?” She threw at me sternly, her eyes turning cold and serious. “If it’s nothing— like you claimed, then, how did you know what happened wasn’t my fault?”My throat burned. I was at a loss for words. The right replies to give. Lying my way out was harder than I’d thought.I tried to reach for her. To coerce her that it was nothing serious like she had in mind. “You’re overthinking everything.”“Am I?” She asked sarcastica
ASHER’s POINT OF VIEWMaybe I’d made the wrong move.Maybe I shouldn’t have done that.Maybe I’d crossed all boundaries.She was my brother’s wife, for goodness’s sake! What the hell was I thinking?“Nae, I—‘’“— We shouldn’t be doing this, Asher,” She wasn’t looking at me, but her voice was dripping with reluctance, and her hands went to my chest to push me off slowly. “I’m still married to Sage.”I cut through her whisper with a heavy sigh, my right hand running over my face dejectedly. It hurt me that Sage was toying with a woman as good as Nadira. She was fucking loyal to the core.How could she still think about him after everything he’d put her through?I took a step backward, searching her eyes with mine, but she refused to hold my gaze.“Nadira,” I wanted her to look at me, but she was fervently avoiding eye contact. “I’m sorry for crossing the line.”She’d just had a miscarriage, yet all I could think about was having her beneath my body and making love to her all night.Hel
NADIRAI lost… my baby.My husband.My marriage.Everything that mattered to me.Sage had thrown me out of the house the minute the doctor declared that I’d suffered a miscarriage.And to top it all? I was left with nothing on me. Not even a single penny.“I’m sorry… for everything. You— you don’t deserve being treated like this, Nadira.”I slumped my shoulders on the couch, sobbing quietly for what felt like hours. Asher had taken me to his house, since there was nobody else I could turn to for help.I didn’t say a word to Asher. Instead, I sat quietly in my seat, brooding over my next line of action.Sage had done me dirty. He’d had me treated like a slave for the past five years. And I’d endured it all— his anger, his maltreatment, his infidelity and abuse.But now? It was all over.I was done with everything.Done playing nice.Asher’s voice sounded distant even when he was sitting right next to me. But I could hear him call out my name, his voice laced with concern.“Nae?”“I wan
NADIRA’s P.O.V“What are you doing back in LA?” I heard Sage ask his brother, his lips twisted in annoyance.Daphne held on to his arm tightly, like they were glued to each other. I saw her expression of shock when she saw Asher. Her bulgy eyes were widened, and her jaw hung slack in the air.She definitely wasn’t expecting to see him…again.Asher’s countenance held so many unspoken words. His eyes kept twitching, and his gaze wouldn’t move away from Daphne.I understood how he felt, considering the relationship they had going on.“I came back because I missed home.” Sage scoffed. And I caught sight of the malicious smirk on Daphne’s face. She was happy, it was clearly stated in her actions. She was the reason everything started falling apart in the first place.“I thought we had a deal.”I arched my brows in confusion. Deal? What deal? Was Sage aware of the reason Asher had disappeared all of a sudden five years ago?Asher ran a hand through his hair nervously. “It’s been five ye
NADIRA’s POINT OF VIEW “I want a divorce.” Sage broke those words to me, shattering every piece of my heart. I couldn’t believe it. My biggest fear was happening right in my face, but at the wrong time.I clutched the pregnancy test I was holding behind my back tightly, my eyelashes batting. “W-Why?”He tightened his jaw, and I saw a flash of hatred in his dark eyes as they stared at me. He had no remorse in his voice, and blatantly, I heard him utter. “Daphne is back.”I swallowed. And then my eyes widened in shock. So, that was the reason? Daphne?“You promised…” my lips quivered, feeling the tears that stung my eyes, “I— I stayed because you promised what you had with her was over.”I watched him scoff. And then he turned sharply to me with twisted lips. “Well, I was wrong.”My face fell, and my shoulders slumped. “After everything?” I shrieked, unable to stop the tears that were already flowing down my cheeks. “I gave up everything for you, Sage! I—‘’“—Enough of your nonsense,