Sarah POVMy fingers curled around the door handle, but I didn’t push it open. I stood there, staring at the wood, fighting the emotions swirling inside me."You already made your conclusions, Alessandro," I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper. "You were supposed to listen to me. But instead, you judged me. You accused me of something without even knowing the full truth."I turned around, my gaze finally meeting his. His eyes, usually so confident and sharp, now looked clouded with regret. The dim lighting of the hallway cast shadows on his face, highlighting the tension in his clenched jaw."Sarah, I was an asshole. I let my insecurities take over," he admitted, running a hand through his jet-black hair. "Seeing you there with him… seeing his hands on you, watching you both kiss—God, it felt like someone ripped my heart out. I thought… I thought you still wanted Adrian as your husband, especially after everything with your father."I stared at him in disbelief. Was he seriou
Sarah POVI searched his face, looking for any signs of dishonesty, but all I found was sincerity. His guilt was raw, his regret painfully clear."I trust you, Alessandro," I finally said, my voice steady. "I trust your words, your intentions. But I don’t want our relationship to be affected by our past, by Adrian, by my father, by Chloe. From today, I want us to focus on what’s ahead, not what’s behind us."Alessandro looked at me with a mix of disbelief and hope. "You’re sure? Sarah, I "I cut him off. "I am choosing you, Alessandro. Because I love you. And because I believe that we have something worth fighting for. I know we’ve both made mistakes, but I refuse to let those mistakes define us. I want to build something real with you."A slow, almost disbelieving smile spread across his lips. He reached out, brushing his fingers gently under my chin, lifting my face toward his. His touch was rough yet warm, familiar yet electrifying."Thank you for believing in me," he murmured, his
Sarah POVHe sighed, running a hand through his hair. "For me, intimacy isn’t just about sex. It’s about something deeper. It’s about truly understanding each other, about trust, about seeing into each other’s souls. I don’t just want to sleep with you, Sarah. I want to be the reason for your happiness. I want to be the one who makes you smile, who brings you flowers, who holds you when you’re sad."I swallowed, my heart swelling at his words."I want you to be sure about us before we take the next step," he continued. "Because if I let myself go now… I won’t be able to stop."Tears pricked my eyes, but for the first time in a long time, they weren’t tears of sadness."Trust me, Alessandro," I whispered. "I’ve never been more sure about anything in my life."I moved closer, feeling the space between us dissolve.This time, I knew I was exactly where I belonged.Without thinking further, I leaned forward, closing the distance between us, and pressed my lips against his. The moment our l
Sarah POVMy hands, eager yet trembling with anticipation, reached for the lapels of his jacket. I pushed it off his shoulders, letting it fall to the floor before I began unbuttoning his shirt. With each button undone, more of his sculpted chest was revealed, his muscles tense under my fingertips. I bit my lip as my fingers traced over the ridges of his abdomen, taking in the warmth of his skin.We pulled apart briefly, catching our breaths. Alessandro's gaze darkened as he observed my expression, his lips slightly parted, his chest rising and falling with deep breaths."You drive me insane, Sarah," he murmured, his voice low and thick. His fingers trailed up to my bun, unclipping it. My hair cascaded down in waves, and he ran his fingers through it, tangling them in the strands. "I prefer seeing you like this. It makes you even more irresistible."He leaned down, pressing slow, open-mouthed kisses along my neck. The sensation sent waves of pleasure rolling through me, my body reacti
Sarah POVI was pulled out of my thoughts by a wave of pleasure crashing over me. Alessandro’s touch sent electric currents coursing through my veins, igniting every nerve in my body. His fingers found their way to my clit, moving in slow, deliberate circles, making me crave him even more."You are so drenched, Sarah," he murmured near my ear, his deep voice laced with desire. He squeezed my thigh, causing a shiver to run down my spine.His breath was hot against my skin as he dug his teeth into my bare shoulder, leaving a trail of fire in his wake. His fingers teased my folds, sending me into a frenzy of need. I moaned loudly, unable to suppress the sounds of pleasure escaping my lips."You have no idea how much I love seeing you like this, aroused by my touch," he whispered huskily, his fingers now tracing slow, torturous circles around my entrance.Damn. His words alone were enough to drive me insane."If you want, I can stop," he asked between his uneven breaths, his lips brushing
Before I could reply, Alessandro’s eyes darkened with desire. The intensity of his gaze sent a shiver down my spine as his lips trailed lower, leaving soft kisses along my stomach. His hands roamed my body with a slow, deliberate touch, igniting a fire deep within me. I felt his fingers teasing the waistband of my panties, his movements excruciatingly slow, as if savoring every second. My breath hitched when he parted my thighs, his fingers tracing delicate patterns against my sensitive skin."Keep them open, love," he whispered, his voice husky with amusement and hunger.My pulse quickened as he leaned down, his warm breath fanning against my inner thighs, sending waves of anticipation coursing through me. Then, without warning, his mouth found my aching center. A sharp gasp escaped my lips, my body jerking in response to the overwhelming pleasure. My fingers clutched the sheets as his tongue moved in slow, teasing strokes, building the tension with an unbearable gentleness."You are
Sarah P.O.VAlessandro was staring at me intensely, his piercing gaze filled with concern and unspoken emotions. He was waiting for an explanation, and I could see the flicker of worry in his eyes. Taking a deep breath, I steadied myself and began recounting everything about the scar, my voice trembling with each painful memory resurfacing.As I finished, an overwhelming wave of emotions crashed over me, and I could feel my cheeks becoming moist from the tears that had unknowingly escaped. I quickly wiped them away, but it was no use—the dam had already broken."What the hell, Sarah !!" Alessandro's voice was laced with anger, not at me, but at the monster who had left this scar on both my body and my soul. "Why didn't you tell anyone about what that bastard did? You could have complained about him to your father."His fingers, calloused yet gentle, traced over the scar as if trying to erase the pain it carried. I shivered at the touch, not because it was unwelcome, but because it fel
Sarah POVI could feel the warmth of the sun's rays falling gently on my closed eyelids, the soft glow making its way through the sheer curtains. The gentle rustling of the breeze outside and the faint chirping of birds reached my ears, signaling the start of a new day. I shifted slightly, feeling something warm against my cheeks, a comforting presence that made my heart flutter.Slowly, I opened my eyes, letting them adjust to the soft morning light. My gaze landed on the ceiling for a moment before I became aware of my surroundings. I was in bed, a cozy duvet covering my body. I turned my head slightly and placed my hands on what I assumed was the pillow. But as I pressed down, I quickly realized it wasn’t the pillow at all.It was Alessandro’s arms.A soft gasp left my lips as I turned my body, only to find him already awake and staring at me with a small, knowing smile on his lips. His eyes, still clouded with sleep, held a certain warmth that sent a pleasant shiver down my spine.
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