INICIAR SESIÓNHelena’s POVI knew I didn’t like surprises.I really didn’t like surprises.And standing right there on the sidewalk, watching Tessy practically vibrate with excitement while refusing to tell me where we were going? Yeah. This was exactly why.“Tessy,” I called, narrowing my eyes slightly as she adjusted her bag like she didn’t have a care in the world. “Where are we going?”She didn’t even look at me. “That’s the fun part,” she said lightly.I blinked. “No. That’s the annoying part.”That made her laugh. “Relax,” she said, finally glancing at me. “You’re acting like I’m taking you somewhere dangerous.”“I don’t know where you’re taking me,” I pointed out.“Exactly,” she grinned and I stared at her.“You’re unbelievable,” I exclaimed.“And you’re overthinking it,” she shot back easily.“I’m not overthinking,” I muttered. “I just don’t like not knowing things.”“Well, good thing I do,” she said, already stepping ahead.But I didn’t move a step further.“Tessy,” I called but she didn't
Helena’s POVHer words wouldn't have done much if not for the face she kept giving me.The look she only gave when she had something crazy planned.Or when she was about to say something I wouldn't like.I blinked, staring at her with my head tilting to the side, trying to see through her smile.“A favor?” I repeated, and she nodded like it was the most obvious thing in the world.She then leaned back in her chair with that same annoying, confident smile. “Yes. A very important one,” she added.I narrowed my eyes slightly. “Why do I suddenly feel like I should be worried?”“You shouldn’t,” she said quickly, and that alone made me more suspicious.“Tessy,” I called out carefully.“Wharrttr?” She slurred, shrugging innocently. “I’m trying to help you out here,” she added rather too excitedly for someone trying to help me.“By doing what exactly?” I asked carefully and she leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table and locking her eyes onto mine.“Well, I’m getting you out of this h
Helena’s POVI stared at my phone longer than I should have.That message, as much as I expected it, I didn't see this effect coming.It just sat there… like it meant more than it said.My fingers hovered over the screen way longer than it took me to read.Still holding?My chest tightened before I could stop it as it seemed everything was closing into my chest.He already has someone.The thought came so quickly, so naturally, it annoyed me. I wasn’t supposed to care. I didn’t care. Right?I swallowed, shifting slightly on the bed, pulling the duvet over my legs even though I wasn’t cold.It shouldn’t matter.He was just… B.A stranger. Someone I agreed to marry out of desperation, someone I only text at night.Someone I haven’t even met.But still… my fingers felt frozen in place.I took a deep breath and steadied myself, whatever will be, will be.So I sent in my reply before I could overthink it.Me: That sounds serious.A few seconds passed and he looked to be writing back, but
Helena’s POVI couldn’t breathe.It felt like the walls were closing in, like the air itself had grown too thick for my lungs to take in properly.“Well?” My grandfather’s voice came again, breaking through my thoughts even as he remained calm but expectant. “Helena,” he added when I didn't say a word.But that single word felt heavier than it should have.I tightened my grip on the arm of the chair with my gaze fixed somewhere on the floor, though I wasn’t really looking at anything.He was waiting, probably for an answer, for my decision.And I had none to give.My mind was a mess, a mess of thoughts overlapping each other and emotions clashing together, even memories that refused to stay buried.Liam.B.My past.My present.One familiar, one unknown.“I…” My voice came out weak, barely holding together. I swallowed, trying again. “I need a moment.”Silence followed, and I didn’t look up, but I could feel his eyes on me.“You’ve had enough moments,” he said gently.That did it.My
Helena's POV Why him?Why did it just have to be him?Of every human in the world, it had to be him.“No… that’s not possible,” I muttered as the words came out quieter this time, like saying them softer would somehow make them true.I stared at the phone in my hand with my grip tightening around it as if the image could slip away.It just had to him, had to be Liam Carter.My chest rose and fell badly as I shook my head slowly.“No,” I whispered again, more to myself now. “You’re wrong.”“I’m not,” my grandfather said weakly as his voice went calm. Too calm.I looked up at him, pulling my brows together as I struggled to accept what stood in my hands.“That’s not—” I let out a breath, running a hand through my hair as I paced a step back. “That doesn’t make any sense.”“It does,” he replied simply.“How?” I snapped, lifting my head to him. “How is that even possible?”He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he just watched me, like he’d been expecting this exact reaction.“You’ve kno
Helena's POV I remained rooted where I was, nothing in me made to reach for the seat.And after minutes later, his voice came again, slightly higher than it needed to be. “I said you need to take a seat,” he said. It carried his usual weight of authority that he used on me. That he used on me that particular day I ran away.It pressed against my chest and made it harder to breathe, but yet, I didn’t move.“I’m fine standing,” I countered firmly.“You’re not,” my grandfather replied evenly. “And neither is this conversation for that.”My fingers flexed slightly at my sides with my nails digging into my palms as I held his gaze. There was something different about him now. It was no longer just the seriousness in his eyes, it was something I hadn't seen before. This was heavier, like whatever he was about to say had been sitting on his chest for years.“Just say it,” I muttered. “You’ve already gone this far,” I added stubbornly.A brief silence stretched between us. Then, slowly, h
Helena’s POVI pushed the thought away and sat up.“Focus,” I muttered under my breath.Today wasn’t about the money. It was about my Grandpa.I swung my legs off the bed and stood, stretching slightly before heading to the bathroom. My steps felt heavy, slower than usual. Like I was trying to ste
Helena’s POVI knew something was wrong the moment I opened my banking app.Not wrong in the way that makes your stomach drop instantly.No, this was slower, heavier. Like my mind saw it… but refused to understand it.I sat still on the edge of my bed with my phone clutched in my hand and my thumb
Helena's POV The words cleared the sleep from my eyes before I could read them twice.I blinked twice, staring at the words on the screen for the second.Then I followed the lines till I read a set of words that spread chills over my body.An Official Offer Letter from Barron TechnologiesI stared
Helena’s POVMy spine stiffened.That was the name I had given the lawyer during the signing process.He couldn't possibly know that, but the way he said my name got me thinking otherwise, it made something shift inside of me.He looked down at the paper again, then back up to my eyes.Then repeate







