Nathan POV:My hands were sweaty as I stood in the De Rossi mansion's giant entryway.My heart pounded against my ribs like a drum solo.This was my last shot – my one chance to win Agatha back and fix everything I messed up.The past few weeks had been a harsh wake-up call. Watching my company crumble while Agatha thrived at NexGen… it made me realize how badly I screwed up.I took her for granted, treated her like she didn't matter. I was an idiot for letting go of the only woman who ever truly loved me.And now, staring into her beautiful, guarded eyes, I knew I had to spill my guts, no matter how embarrassing it felt.Camille and the baby? They were a million miles away in my mind.All that mattered was Agatha, and convincing her to give me another shot."Agatha," I began, my voice shaky."I know I messed up. I have no right to be here, to ask you to forgive me.
Agatha POV:My heart thumped against my ribs as I walked away from Nathan.The raw pain in his voice, the desperation on his face... it shook me to my core.A part of me wanted to run back, to give him the second chance he begged for.But then I remembered the hurt, the betrayal, how easily he'd tossed me aside.That memory, burned into my brain, reminded me why I had to let him go. It didn’t matter that a part of me still cared.I couldn't risk that kind of heartbreak again.Charles walked beside me, his eyes burning into my back.I knew he was watching, waiting for me to fall apart, to show weakness.And I hated how much power he had over me, how he'd wormed his way into my life.Once we were alone, I turned to face him, my face cold."What was that, Charles? I thought we were done with the games, the manipulation."He looked embarrassed, holding up h
Charles POV:The city blurred past as I drove, my mind a whirlwind. Taking down Nathan felt good, powerful. But a nagging feeling, like a pebble in my shoe, wouldn’t go away. Had I gone too far?Lying to Agatha about us… it went against everything I usually did. She deserved honesty, the chance to make her own choices. But the thought of losing her, of seeing her go back to Nathan… it made my stomach twist. I’d come too far, invested too much. Agatha was mine. Or she would be, if I played this right.I kept checking the rearview mirror, half expecting to see Nathan’s car on my tail. The guy was desperate, unhinged. What would he do next? He’d already stopped begging in front of Agatha. What lengths would he go to win her back?My phone buzzed, snapping me out of my thoughts. I glanced at the screen and smiled. My partner in crime was calling.“Well, well, if it isn’t my favorite accomplice,” I answered, my voice light.“Charles, my friend,” a smooth voice purred. “I trust you
Charles POV:I paced my fancy penthouse, my mind racing. The plan my ally had come up with was bold, risky – a gamble that could either win Agatha over completely or blow up in my face.I stopped at the giant windows, looking out at the city lights. In the distance, I could see the De Rossi mansion, a constant reminder of the woman who had captured my attention.Agatha.Just thinking her name sent a thrill through me. From the moment I met her, there was a spark, a connection that went beyond my rivalry with Nathan.I was captivated by her intelligence, her confidence, her strength. She demanded respect, refusing to be controlled by any man. And that’s what drew me to her.But now, thinking about the plan, I felt a twinge of guilt. Using Agatha's vulnerabilities against her felt wrong. This wasn’t just about winning her over anymore. This was a power play, a game of control.I ran my hand through my hair, sighing in frustration. Had I become so ambitious, so obsessed with Aga
Agatha POV:Sitting in Dad’s giant office, I felt the weight of the world pressing down on me. The past few weeks had been a crazy blur – lawsuits, reporters hounding me, and problems at work that pushed me to my limit.Richards Inc.’s collapse had sent shockwaves through everything. With Nathan’s company falling apart, everyone was pointing fingers at NexGen, at my family. They accused us of spying and dirty tricks, and I was constantly fighting fires and trying to make us look good.And then, just when I thought things couldn't get worse, a new threat popped up. A mysterious investor from Xing Enterprises wanted to buy a big chunk of NexGen. It was terrifying – what would that mean for my family’s company, for our future?I sighed, drumming my fingers on Dad's big, fancy desk. “This is a mess, Dad. A total mess.”My dad, Aldo De Rossi, always calm and in control, looked at me thoughtfully. “It’s… complicated, Agatha. But we’ve been through tough times before, and we’ll get th
Agatha POV:I sat across from Charles in Dad’s fancy office, the weight of our new “partnership” heavy in the air. My gut churned with a feeling of unease that wouldn’t go away, no matter how much I tried to tell myself everything was okay.“So, Charles,” I started, keeping my voice calm and steady. “What’s the plan? How do we deal with this Xing Enterprises situation?”Charles leaned forward, his elbows on the shiny desk.“Well, Agatha, I’ve been doing some… deep research on Xing Enterprises. And I’ve found some… interesting things.”I raised an eyebrow, curious in spite of my doubts. “Go on.”“It seems Xing Enterprises has been making some… shady deals lately. Deals that, if everyone knew about them, could ruin them.”A chill ran down my spine. “Shady deals? What are you saying, Charles?”He held up his hand, looking serious. “Now, now, Agatha, don’t get me wrong – I’m not saying your family did anything wrong. But Xing Enterprises… they have a reputation for being… dirty in thei
Agatha’s POV:Days blurred into weeks, a chaotic jumble of meetings and strategic planning. The potential alliance between Campbell Enterprises and NexGen felt like a giant, complicated dance, with me stuck in the middle trying to please both my father and Charles. And all the while, a tiny voice inside my head whispered, "What about what you want, Agatha?"But it was hard to even think about what I wanted with Nathan’s shadow still looming over everything. He was like a stubborn weed in my perfectly manicured garden, popping up again and again no matter how hard I tried to pull him out.I couldn't shake the memory of him showing up at my house, his eyes pleading, his voice raw with regret as he begged for another chance. It had shaken me, made me doubt my decision to push him away. Had I been too harsh? Was there still a chance for us, even after everything?Those thoughts battled with the very different feelings Charles stirred in me. His smooth charm and constant attention wer
Agatha’s POV:I stared at my computer screen, my reflection staring back at me – a woman with dark circles under her eyes and a frown etched on her forehead. agatha POV:Exhaustion tugged at me, but sleep was a distant dream these days.The Xing Enterprises threat loomed over everything. Charles and Dad were working nonstop, trying to find a way to stop them from taking over NexGen. Charles was… intense. He was always around, offering help, advice, and those lingering touches that sent shivers down my spine.But after his stunt with the ring, a part of me held back. Could I really trust him? He said all the right things, but his methods… sometimes they felt a little too ruthless, too calculated.My phone buzzed, pulling me from my thoughts. It was an email from… Nathan. My heart skipped a beat. Why was he contacting me?I clicked on the email, my fingers trembling slightly. It was short, the subject line simply reading: “Something you need to know.”My breath caught in my throat a
Agatha POV:"Lena," I answered, my voice tight, trying to sound normal, professional, acutely aware of Charles standing rigidly by the window, his back to me, but radiating tension like a high-voltage wire. "What is it? What leak?""Agatha," Lena’s voice was low, urgent, stripped of its usual calm professionalism. It sounded… strained. Scared. "Are you sitting down? Are you alone?"My heart lurched. "No, Charles is here," I whispered, glancing nervously towards his still figure. "Why? Lena, what's happened?""Okay," Lena took a deep breath, the sound crackling slightly over the line. "Okay. Just… listen. Don't react if you can help it. This is… bad, Agatha. Really bad.""Lena, you're scaring me. Tell me." My knuckles wer
Agatha POV:"...so if we shift the Q4 projections for the micro-optics division slightly, it buys us breathing room with the Tanaka investment without raising immediate red flags for the rest of the board." Charles tapped a pen against the polished surface of my desk – Dad’s desk – his brow furrowed in concentration. He’d shown up unannounced an hour ago, ostensibly to discuss NexGen strategy, though his presence always felt like more than just business these days. Ever since the hospital, since Dad started recovering… things between Charles and me were… complicated. Strained. He acted like everything was fine, like our brief intimacy had sealed something permanent, but I kept pulling back, needing space he seemed unwilling to grant."It's aggressive, Charles," I countered, leaning back in my chair, trying to focus on the figures he’d laid out, not on the way his knee occasionally brushed mine under the desk. "Moving those projections relies heavily on the successful rollout of Pha
Nathan POV:The chipped Formica tabletop felt gritty beneath my elbows.Outside the grimy window of this third-rate apartment Manuel had dug up, the city skyline was a distant, mocking silhouette.No penthouse views here. Just peeling paint, the lingering smell of stale cigarettes, and the constant drip, drip, drip from a leaky faucet in the kitchenette sink – a fitting soundtrack to the wreckage of my life.After knocking James Wei out cold back in his NYC office, I’d made that frantic call to Campbell, thinking I could leverage what I knew, maybe force an alliance against Wei. What a joke. Campbell had probably laughed after hanging up.I’d grabbed Wei’s burner phone – the one he used for his dirtiest dealings – and bolted, getting o
Agatha POV:The automatic doors of St. Jude's Hospital slid open with a quiet whoosh, admitting us into the familiar chill of conditioned air, tinged with the unavoidable scent of antiseptic and floor cleaner.Beside me, Charles radiated an almost unnerving enthusiasm, a stark contrast to the knot of apprehension tightening in my stomach."Ready, darling?" He placed a hand on the small of my back, a proprietary gesture that had become disturbingly frequent."Aldo's going to be so thrilled to see you looking so well. And to hear our news, of course.""Charles, we talked about this," I started, trying to keep my voice low, even. "I don't think today is the day to…""Nonsense," he inter
Agatha POV:The spoon felt unnaturally heavy in my hand, the mint chocolate chip ice cream cloyingly sweet on my tongue.Usually, it was my comfort food, my go-to indulgence after a stressful day. Tonight, each spoonful felt like swallowing lead.Across the low coffee table in my living room – Dad’s living room, technically, though I’d started thinking of the mansion as mine these days – Charles beamed, digging into his own bowl with gusto.He’d arrived exactly an hour after my text, a pint of the most expensive artisanal mint chip available clutched in one hand and a bouquet of pale pink roses, my favorites, in the other. The perfect picture of the doting, attentive partner.My skin prickled.
Agatha POV:"Everything looks perfectly healthy, Ms. De Rossi. Strong fetal development, right on track for ten weeks."Dr. Williams smiled warmly, adjusting the ultrasound wand slightly. On the screen, a tiny, flickering shape pulsed – a small miracle, a terrifying reality. My reality."See, Agatha? Perfect." Charles squeezed my hand, his voice radiating a proud, almost proprietary warmth that made my skin crawl.He leaned closer to the screen, his expression intense, focused."Heartbeat looks strong, wouldn't you say, Doctor? Any potential complications we should be aware of? Given Agatha's… history?"
Charles POV:Agatha stood before me, pale, defiant, her words a physical blow: My baby. I don't plan to register you as the father.Panic, cold and sharp, pierced through the red haze of my anger. Take my child away? Erase me from their life? Let me walk away and marry some suitable drone my father approved of? The very idea was unthinkable, a violation so profound it shook me to my core.No. Never.The anger, the explosive rage that had surged moments before, receded as quickly as it came, replaced by a desperate, clawing fear. Fear of losing her. Fear of losing this… this unexpected, terrifying, miraculous connection. Our child.
Agatha POV:"Yes, Doctor Williams, thank you for calling back so quickly." I paced the length of my living room, the plush rug doing little to cushion the nervous energy thrumming through me. "Of course, Ms. De Rossi," Dr. Williams' voice came through the phone, calm and professional, yet with an underlying note of something… unusual. "I just wanted to follow up on our conversation from yesterday. And also… to mention something a bit odd.""Odd?" My grip tightened on the phone. "What is it?""Well, shortly after you left the clinic yesterday, a man came in asking questions. About you."My blood ran cold. "Asking questions? What kind of questions?""He was… persistent," the doctor continued, her voice hesitant. "Asked about the nature of your visit, your overall health, even tried to inquire about future appointments. Said he was a concerned 'family friend'."Family friend. The phrase hit me like a physical blow. Charles. It had to be Charles. Nathan was gone. James was subtle, a ma
Charles POV:"Tell me again, Thompson. Henderson’s exact words." I leaned back in my office chair, the supple leather cool against my skin, a stark contrast to the heat simmering beneath my carefully maintained composure.My fingers steepled, tapping lightly together. Patience. Control. That was the key."He stated, and I quote, sir," Thompson's voice came through the speakerphone, flat, precise, devoid of inflection, "that Ms. De Rossi's appointment as interim CEO is 'a temporary measure born of sentiment, not strategy,' and that he intends to 'formally challenge her suitability and demand a full board review of leadership capabilities' at the earliest opportunity."Henderson. Malcolm Henderson.A pompous, puffed-up peacock stru