Sarah' P.O.VI don’t think a single word exists that could encompass the emotions swirling within me right now. The pain, the anger, the heartbreak—it all felt too overwhelming, too suffocating. My mind was a battlefield, my heart a shattered mess, and no matter how hard I tried to suppress my thoughts, they kept resurfacing, tormenting me relentlessly.What I witnessed two days ago still haunted me, replaying in my head like a cruel joke. It was as if life had decided to mock me, to remind me of my foolishness, of my gullibility. How could I have been so blind? How could I have been so naive to believe that Alessandro was different?I had truly thought he was. He had made me believe it with his gentle words, his reassuring smiles, and his promises. But in the end, he proved me wrong just like everyone else had.I had allowed myself to trust him, to let my walls down, and what did I get in return? Betrayal. Deception. Heartbreak.Ever since I had stormed out of that restaurant with Es
Sarah POVHe stood at the doorway, his face a mixture of desperation and regret. His usually composed demeanour was gone, replaced by something I had never seen before something that almost made me falter.Almost.I clenched my jaw, gripping the edge of my desk to steady myself.“What the hell are you doing here?” I asked coldly, my voice betraying none of the turmoil inside me.“I just want to talk,” he said softly, stepping inside despite the icy glare I sent his way.“There’s nothing left to talk about,” I snapped. “I told security not to let you in. How did you ”“I had to see you,” he interrupted, his voice filled with urgency. “Please, just hear me out.”I let out a bitter laugh. “Hear you out? After what I saw? After what you did?”“Sarah, it’s not what you think ”“Don’t,” I cut him off sharply, standing up. My hands trembled, but I refused to let him see my weakness. “Don’t insult me by pretending there’s some ridiculous explanation that could justify what you did.”“Just giv
Sarah P.O.VEster shifted uncomfortably, hesitating before she spoke. "Sarah... the woman he was kissing she wasn’t just anyone.""What do you mean?" I asked, my stomach twisting."She was your step-sister, Chloe."Her words hit me like a ton of bricks. My mind reeled as I tried to process what she had just said."No," I whispered. "You must be mistaken.""I saw her, Sarah. When we were leaving the restaurant, I caught a glimpse of her face. It was Chloe."I shook my head, feeling my breath hitch. "Why? Why would Alessandro be with her? Are they having an affair?""I don’t know," Ester admitted. "But I think you deserve to find out the truth."I felt numb. My mind was racing with a thousand thoughts, none of them making sense.Ester gently rubbed my back. "Whatever you decide to do, I’ll support you."I nodded absentmindedly, offering her a weak smile in gratitude. We sat there for a few more minutes before finally deciding to leave.We walked together to the parking lot. Unlocking th
Sarah P.O.VThe pounding in my head continued a relentless, unforgiving rhythm that made every thought feel sluggish and distant. My eyelids felt like they weighed a ton as I forced them open slightly. The dim light in the room barely illuminated my surroundings, but even in my disoriented state, I knew something was wrong.I tried to move, but a sharp, searing pain shot through my body, rendering my limbs weak and useless. My breath hitched, panic spreading through me like wildfire. I was still in my work clothes, the fabric wrinkled and slightly damp from sweat. That detail alone should have reassured me, but it didn’t.Because this wasn’t my room.My heart pounded against my ribs, and my fingers clenched the sheets beneath me. The walls dark, almost suffocating stood in stark contrast to my usual bright, open spaces. I scanned the unfamiliar surroundings, my breath coming in short, panicked gasps. My mind reeled as a sense of utter wrongness settled into my bones.Where the hell wa
Sarah P.O.VHe stood there, casually leaning against the wall as if he hadn’t just drugged me and brought me to this godforsaken place against my will. His dark eyes held an unreadable expression, but I didn’t care. My rage burned away any hesitation.“Where the hell am I?” I snapped, ignoring the nausea clawing at my stomach.Alessandro sighed as if I were the one being unreasonable. “Relax, Sarah. You’re safe here. We’re at my mansion.”Safe? The audacity.“How dare you bring me here without my permission?” I shot back, venom lacing every word. “Being anywhere near you is the last thing I want.”His expression hardened. “You’ve been avoiding me for three days, Sarah. You blocked every possible way for me to reach you. This was the only way to make you listen.”The sheer arrogance of this man.“There is nothing to talk about,” I hissed. “I saw everything I needed to. You betrayed me, Alessandro. You betrayed us.”I turned, determined to put as much distance between us as possible. Bu
Sarah POVAlessandro exhaled sharply but nodded. He took out his phone and made a call. A few minutes later, his driver informed him the car was ready.As I walked past him, he grabbed me one last time, his forehead pressing against mine. “Please,” he whispered, “don’t shut me out completely.”I pulled away, forcing myself not to look back.I stepped outside, sliding into the waiting car. As we drove away, I caught one last glimpse of Alessandro standing in the doorway, his gaze locked onto mine until I disappeared from his sight.I turned away, staring out into the dark streets.I didn’t know what hurt more—the betrayal, or the fact that despite it all, a part of me still loved him.______________________________________________________________________________"Your reports seem pretty good compared to your last visit, Mrs. Parker," Dr. Annita said while scribbling something on her notepad."Thank you, doctor. I hope my baby is healthy and fine?" I asked, placing my hands protectivel
Sarah POVThe cab soon pulled up in front of Amario Enterprises. I stepped out, adjusted my blouse, and walked into the towering building. The elevator ride to the conference floor felt longer than usual as I nervously smoothed down my skirt, making sure I looked presentable.As soon as I stepped off the elevator and made my way toward the conference room, I heard my name being called—no, yelled—from behind."SARAH!"The voice was loud, furious, and unmistakably Ester’s.I turned around, already knowing what was coming. "Shhh, lower your voice, woman. We’re still inside the office," I whispered, trying to calm her down before she made a scene."I wouldn’t be so loud if you had told me about your doctor’s appointment today! I would have accompanied you, Sarah," she said, her arms crossed, looking absolutely livid.I sighed, rubbing my temple. "Ester, it was just a routine check-up. No need to be pissed about it. There are still a lot more appointments to go; you can come along next tim
Sarah POVWhile Adrian's personal assistant discussed a few points from Parker's side, I could hardly process any of his words. The constant tickling sensation on my skin made it nearly impossible to focus. Adrian's fingers traced slow, deliberate patterns along my thigh, sending unwanted shivers up my spine.No one could see what was happening under the table. Adrian and I were the only ones seated on this side, away from prying eyes. I tried to keep my movements to a minimum, terrified that any shift in position would expose more than I intended. My skirt had already ridden up dangerously high, and I knew that one wrong move could give Adrian a perfect view of my lingerie.The torture seemed to last forever. Every second beside him was suffocating. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the meeting concluded. I exhaled in relief as the event details were finalized, and people began gathering their things to leave the room.I remained seated, bidding farewell to everyone as they
Adrian’s POVIt was all starting to fall into place.I could see it every hesitant smile Sarah offered, every time her shoulders relaxed just a little when I walked into the room. The way Gabriel cooed when he saw me, his tiny arms stretching out like he knew exactly where he wanted to be. He was still calling Alessandro “Da-da,” but even that was fading. Soon, that name would mean nothing to him. Soon, he’d forget the man who walked away.And then, it would be me. Just me.I hadn’t needed to lift a finger to break them apart. Alessandro did that all on his own. All I had to do was wait watch him get sloppy, arrogant, careless. And Mira? She was the perfect tool. A beautiful, broken mess with just enough resentment left in her to be useful.He thought he could run with her, escape the mess, and start fresh.But I had plans of my own.Tonight, I was meeting Mira again. Same hotel, same room. She liked the sense of secrecy—liked the way I fed her ego, told her she was “powerful,” “dange
Sarah's POVThree days had already passed since Alessandro requested space, and every hour seemed like an eternity.I made an effort to keep myself occupied. I plunged myself in work as the sole thing keeping me grounded in reality—emails, meetings, tasks that I used to outsource once occupied my focus. None of them filled the void in my chest. None of them filled the hollowness in my chest.Because when nighttime came, when the world outside hushed and vanished, when the babe finally slept in his crib, Alessandro's words rang louder than anything else:"I believe that we should take a pause."He hadn't given an explanation. He didn't have to, not after what I'd witnessed that night—him, dashing out of the building, with Mira. No explanation, no defense, just silence and that bomb he'd dropped in three in the morning, as I sat waiting on the couch for the candles to burn down.I'd not heard from him since.He hadn't even inquired after Gabriel.And that… that's the bit that used to ke
Sarah’s POVI didn’t sleep.Not even close.I sat curled up on the couch for hours, the meal Marta had purchased crumpled beside me like an abandoned dream.Every sound outside—the wind striking the windows, a distant siren, the quiet buzz of passing cars—made my heart race with eagerness.I kept thinking I’d imagined it. Mira. The way he left. The way my name never seemed to matter in that moment.I had tried not to check the time.But by 2:57 a.m., it was impossible not to notice the cold space beside me on the couch.I hadn’t moved from that spot. Didn’t bother to change. Then I heard the sound.The front door creaked open with the quiet care of someone attempting not to be heard. Footsteps followed, slow and deliberate, as if he were entering a chamber full of ghosts.I stood up before I even thought about it.And there he was.Alessandro.He looked exhausted eyes hollow, jaw tight, the jacket he’d rushed out in now draped over one shoulder. The top two buttons of his shirt were
Sarah’s POV I sat in the office long after Chloe had gone, staring at the open closet, the dress I’d pulled out earlier still hanging limply from the hook.I hated that she got to me. I hated that her words had slithered into my thoughts, muddying everything Alessandro and I had built.But I hated even more how uncertain I felt. How easily the doubt crept in, no matter how hard I tried to shove it away.Still, Alessandro’s message echoed louder than Chloe’s venom.“No expectations. Just you, me, and a little honesty.”Honesty. That was what I wanted more than anything else. If there was truth left between us, I wanted to see it in his eyes, not through whispered accusations or cryptic proofs.I got up to return home, I quickly packed up my things and called the driver. The driver pulled up outside our building just as the streetlights began to glow amber in the dusk. My fingers fidgeted in my lap. I imagined him lighting the candles, smoothing his hair, maybe even practising what he
Sarah POVI gazed at my reflection in the mirror, wrapped in my robe, with Alessandro's text shining like a ray of hope in my hand."I understand we've had a rough patch. But if you can spare one night, I'd like to attempt to fix things.No expectations. Just you, me, and a little honesty. I’ll be waiting.”My heart ached. The sincerity in those words hit something raw inside me. I missed him, missed us. Missed the warmth of our mornings, the soft laughter that once filled our home. But pain changes things. Doubt makes strangers of the people you love most.Just then, there was a knock.“Come in,” I called, not looking up.I recognised the perfume before the door fully opened. Chanel No. 5. Chloe's signature. Of course.She stepped inside like a queen visiting a kingdom she meant to burn down.Silk robe fastened with precision, wine glass clutched like a villain in a sad drama. She always loved to put on a show."Going out tonight?" she inquired, her eyes sparkling as they darted to th
Alessandro’s POVIt had been ten days since we returned from the farmhouse. Ten days since everything unraveled.I sensed Sarah drifting further away from me, bit by bit, like sand slipping through an hourglass.She hadn’t raised her voice. She hadn’t lashed out. But her silence said more than any screaming match could. The way she avoided eye contact. The way her footsteps always trailed toward the guest room instead of ours. The way she smiled politely, but not warmly, when I handed her coffee in the mornings.I’d made a mistake. A big one.Not because of Mira, not entirely. That chapter of my life had been over years ago. And Mira’s accusations had never made sense to begin with. But I should’ve told Sarah everything the moment we got serious. I should’ve trusted her with my truth before someone like Adrian could twist it.God, Adrian.Even now, the thought of his smug face as he dropped that bomb still made my jaw clench. He’d timed it perfectly right when we were finding peace. W
Adrian’s POVThe city still felt cold, but the chill in my bones had shifted not from warmth, but from purpose. I finally had a plan.I sat at my desk, eyes fixed on Alessandro’s digital trail. His online presence lit up like a roadmap—threads of the past just waiting to be pulled. But I knew better now. Whispers and half-truths wouldn’t be enough. If I wanted to break them, I needed more than suspicion. I needed leverage. Misdirection.And I needed someone on the inside.That’s when it clicked.Chloe.Sarah’s perfect little world had always been cracked at the edges, and Chloe was one of those cracks. They were step-sisters in name, but anyone who spent five minutes with them knew there was no love lost. I remembered the subtle digs Chloe made at family dinners, the way Sarah would force a smile and pretend not to hear. But I heard them. I felt the tension.Chloe didn’t just dislike Sarah, she resented her.That kind of bitterness? It could be moulded. Turned into something useful.I
Sarah’s POV New York City’s noise had always been oddly comforting, the honking cabs, distant sirens, and hurried footsteps on pavement. But today, it felt too loud, too sharp, like it was echoing the storm still raging inside me. It had been a week since we’d returned from the farmhouse. Seven days of strained silences, clipped conversations, and the kind of emotional distance I never thought I’d feel between Alessandro and me. I still hadn’t fully processed everything. I had hardly gotten any sleep. Whenever I shut my eyes, I envisioned the expression on his face as I turned to leave.But how was I meant to simply act as if it never occurred? He had kept something huge from me. Not just about Mira, but about how little he must have trusted me—to think I couldn’t handle the truth, to let someone like Adrian be the one to reveal it. After everything we’d fought for, the secrets still found a way to wedge themselves between us. And it hurt. Today marked my return to the office aft
Alessandro’s POVI stood there, watching the woman I loved crumble in front of me, her eyes scanning that godforsaken document Adrian had handed her like it was a grenade. AAnd maybe it was due to my awareness of the explosion the moment her face shifted from confusion to disbelief to something that scared me more than any anger. Proximity. Although she was merely a few feet distant, it felt as if she stood across a canyon, unreachable. God, I wanted to fix it. But how do you fix something you didn’t even know was still broken?In the past, I thought I’d buried it. That nightmare with Mira... it had happened years ago, in a life that felt a million miles away from who I am now. I had been young, foolish, and too trusting. I never touched her. I never crossed any line. But when things ended, Mira spiralled. I tried to reason with her, but she twisted everything. She wanted revenge. And she got it in the worst way.I never expected it to follow me here, to this life. This future I’d bee