Chapter Four ; With A Cold, Harsh Stranger
Alina’s POV The first thing I felt was the cold air brushing my bare skin. My eyes flew open. My heart pounded so loud it echoed in my ears. I was lying on a bed. A strange bed. White sheets. A soft pillow under my head. And I wasn’t wearing my clothes. “No… No, no, no,” I gasped, sitting up quickly. The blanket slipped off, and I realized I was in nothing but my underwear and a man’s shirt—unbuttoned. My body felt sore, weak, and my head was spinning. “This can’t be happening,” I whispered. My voice trembled. “I’m a married woman… I can’t— I didn’t—” I held my head, trying to breathe, but I was panicking. Everything was blurry in my memory. But flashes came back. The rain. The umbrella. The quiet voice. The hotel room. I looked around wildly, hoping it was all a dream. That was when I saw him. The man. He was standing by the window, fully dressed now. One hand in his pocket, the other holding his phone. He wasn’t looking at me, but I could feel the coldness in his air—like he had turned into a different person. My heart dropped. I stared at his back and reached for my bag. My baton. I always carried it for protection, even when I had no idea where I was going. I cracked it open with shaking hands and held it tightly. As if it would protect me from the truth. Suddenly, everything came rushing back. His voice. The warmth of his car. The silence between us. How I drank the wine he offered. How he watched me as I slowly lost control. How I undid his shirt. How he didn’t stop me. I covered my mouth. Tears filled my eyes. “What have I done?” I whispered. That was when he turned around. His eyes weren’t kind anymore. They were distant. Hard. Cold. “I knew I’d seen you before,” he said flatly, his voice without emotion. “Took me a while, but now I remember.” I blinked at him, confused. “What… what do you mean?” “You were at a hotel months ago,” he said, eyes narrowing slightly. “Different hair. Different name, maybe. But the same eyes.” “No!” I quickly shook my head, heart racing. “That’s not me. I swear, I’m not who you think I am—” He didn’t let me finish. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a black card. Then, without another word, he tossed it onto the bed. The card landed beside me like it carried poison. “Here,” he said. “For the night. However much you charge.” My mouth opened, but no words came out. “I don’t— I’m not—” “I don’t care,” he said sharply, cutting me off. “Just take it. I’ve paid. We’re done.” He turned and began to walk toward the door. “Wait, please—” I stood quickly, the shirt falling off one shoulder. I didn’t even care about my body anymore. I just needed to make him understand. “I didn’t come to you for money. I didn’t even plan any of this. I was just—” He didn’t stop. The door slammed behind him. And I was left alone. Completely alone. I stared at the black card on the bed for what felt like forever. It was heavy. Not just in weight, but in meaning. Shame burned through me. My chest ached. My eyes hurt from holding back tears. I had already lost everything, but now… it felt like I’d lost even myself. I dropped the baton and sat down on the floor, holding my head in my hands. What kind of woman had I become? A runaway. A stranger. Now… this. Yet a voice within my head said, You can stay on the floor, or you can get up. I looked at the card again. I did not want his money. But I needed to live. Just a helping hand. I stretched out trembling hands and took it. There was no name on it—just figures. Maybe it was enough. Enough to start over. Maybe I could rent a small apartment. Or a room. Maybe I could buy some clothes. Clean ones. Simple ones. And maybe… maybe I could get a job. Not to impress anyone. Not to fix my past. But to stand again. To be someone again. I stood up slowly and buttoned the shirt. It smelled of him. It reminded me of when I surrendered. But I would not be defined by it. Not anymore. I would survive. Even if I had to do it with nothing but pain, shame, and the card of a stranger in my hand. Because I was Alina. And I was not done yet.Chapree 137 - He CameI sensed a presence behind me. Turning, I saw him, Lucien. Tall, calm, precise, the way he always appeared when he wanted to make sure the world around me stayed in order.“Done for the day?” he asked, voice even, but there was a sharpness in his gaze that made me straighten up immediately.“Yes,” I said, trying to sound casual. “And I can go home by myself. I’m not a child anymore.”His lips twitched, almost a smirk, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Not a child? Alina…” He stepped closer, his presence filling the room. “You may not be little anymore, but you’re still my responsibility.”I rolled my eyes, trying to sound firm, but my chest betrayed me — it tightened at his words. “Lucien, I’m fine. I handled the office without you stepping in today. I can go home on my own.”He shook his head slowly, sighing. “You were never just fine to me. And you never will be. But if you insist…” His voice softened, with just a touch of amusement that made my stomach flip. “F
Chapter 136 - Alina’s PovChange The morning sun spilled gently across the streets as I walked toward the company. The air felt crisp, carrying a faint promise of a new day. Today, I felt lighter, almost like a small weight had lifted from my chest. My new home, Lucien’s words, and the little victories over Dima had given me a sense of control I hadn’t felt in months.As I entered the office, I immediately noticed the change. People who had once barely glanced my way now smiled, greeted me politely, and even went out of their way to be helpful. The whispers I overheard yesterday had vanished, replaced by nods and soft “good mornings.”I could feel it immediately — their kindness wasn’t genuine. I knew it was because of Lucien. The moment they learned he was CEO, the entire dynamic changed. They respected him, so they respected me. But I wasn’t blind to it. I could read the way their eyes lingered a little too long, the way their smiles were just a little too polite. I could feel the
Chapter 135 - The Law Firm Alina’s Pov I woke to the soft light spilling into the room and a familiar voice teasing me from the doorway.“I have something to show you. You’ll like it,” Lucien said, his tone gentle, but there was a spark in his eyes I hadn’t seen in a while.I blinked, still half-asleep, my body aching slightly from the surgery and everything that had happened. “What… what is it?” I mumbled, my voice hoarse.He stepped closer and brushed a strand of hair from my face. “You’ll see. Just get ready. We’re leaving soon.”Curiosity pricked me, but caution held me back. My body was still recovering. “Lucien… are you sure this is okay? I… I’m not feeling my best,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.He smiled softly, the kind of smile that always calmed me, but his eyes were serious. “I know. That’s why I’m with you. Don’t worry. Just come with me.”I nodded slowly, forcing myself out of bed. I dressed carefully, choosing something elegant but comfortable. Lucien watche
Chapter 134 - Disbelief Alina’s POVI walked into our apartment, my heels clicking softly against the floor. The day still felt heavy in my chest , mix of shock, pride, and disbelief. I couldn’t help but smile, shaking my head slightly. Lucien had done it again. He always had a way to surprise me, but this… this was beyond anything I had imagined.I threw my bag on the couch and turned to him, trying to catch his eye. “You have a way to surprise me always, Lucien,” I said, my voice soft but full of awe.He looked up from the papers he was reviewing at the dining table. His sharp eyes softened when they met mine, and a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “I’ll always care for you,” he said quietly, almost like a vow. “And I won’t let anything hurt you, Alina. Not ever.”I felt my chest tighten. Those words carried the weight of all the fear he had hidden, the worry he’d swallowed, the sleepless nights he had endured to protect me. For a moment, I wanted to run to him, throw
Chapter 132Alina’s POVThe moment I saw him walk into the office, my whole body froze. The noise in the room stopped at once, like someone had suddenly cut off the air. Every pair of eyes turned toward the door — toward Lucien.My husband.The man I left sleeping that morning, quietly drinking coffee as if nothing was wrong.The man who now stood before us in an expensive suit, calm, cold, and confident — like a completely different person.For a few seconds, I couldn’t move. My heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears.“Mr. Moretti…” someone from the staff whispered. “He’s the new CEO?”Dima turned sharply, his face pale at first, then slowly darkening with disbelief. “You?” he said, his voice low but sharp. “You’re the CEO?”Lucien didn’t answer right away. He took slow, steady steps forward, his gaze fixed on Dima. There was something about the way he walked — powerful, steady, sure. Everyone in the office seemed to shrink under his presence.Dima gave a short, bitter
Chapter 132 — Alina’s POVThe CEO I woke up early the next morning, feeling lighter than I had in days. The message from the CEO last night was still fresh in my mind. You can resume work tomorrow.Those simple words had brought me so much peace and joy. I didn’t know who the CEO was, but whoever he was, he believed in me enough to bring me back. I wanted to make sure I didn’t disappoint him.I dressed neatly, choosing a simple cream blouse and a navy skirt. I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my hair and touching the small necklace on my neck—the one Lucien bought me on our first anniversary.When I came downstairs, Lucien was sitting in the living room, reading something on his tablet. He looked up, and a small smile tugged at his lips.“You’re up early,” he said softly.I smiled. “I got a message from the CEO last night. They asked me to come back.”His expression didn’t change much, but his eyes softened. “That’s good news.”I tilted my head, trying to read his tone. “You d