Adrian P.O.VIt’s been six days since Sarah left the mansion. Even though I now have everything I ever wished for, it feels as if something is still missing. Today, I have Jessica with me, and soon I will be a father. Sarah has chosen to leave my life, but still, I’m not happy. Her absence is affecting me more than I expected.You're missing her, Adrian.Accept that.I know I never truly wanted Sarah. Our marriage was a business arrangement, a decision I made for the sake of my company. And when she was here, I didn’t waste any opportunity to humiliate or belittle her. I wanted her to feel the same pain I endured being separated from Jessica. I made her life miserable, hoping it would bring me satisfaction. But when she finally left, I thought I’d reclaim my happiness with Jessica and start the family I always dreamed of. Yet, why am I not satisfied? Why does my heart feel so empty?Why is Sarah on my mind 24/7?Why do I see Sarah’s face whenever I close my eyes?Why do I hear her voi
Adrian POVShe can't know you're here for her."Where's Sarah?" I blurted out before I could stop myself. I saw Miss Caswell about to say something, but Noah interrupted."Oh, she went to the restroom a while ago."I nodded and downed my drink, trying to calm the storm brewing inside me. The alcohol burned down my throat, but it did nothing to extinguish the jealousy igniting my veins. Just then, my phone rang. I glanced at the caller ID and felt a smile tug at my lips despite my foul mood."Hey, love. When are you coming home?" Jessica's sweet voice came through the line."Hey, sweetheart. I'm just at the club with Noah. I'll be home in an hour or two," I replied, raising my voice to be heard over the thumping bass."Alright, I'll be waiting. See you soon." She sounded content."Bye, love," I said before disconnecting the call. As I turned back, my eyes landed on a familiar figure on the dance floor.Sarah.My breath hitched as I saw her, dressed in a stunning blue dress that clung t
Adrian POVIt was early morning, and the golden hues of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the bedroom. I stood by the wardrobe, adjusting my tie, my gaze drifting to Jessica. She lay sprawled across the bed, her golden hair tousled on the pillow, breathing softly in her peaceful sleep. I felt a pang of guilt mixed with affection. She looked so serene, completely unaware of the turmoil brewing within me.I leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss on her forehead. She stirred slightly but didn’t wake. "I'll see you later, love," I whispered before straightening up and heading downstairs.The aroma of freshly brewed coffee greeted me as I stepped into the kitchen. Memories hit me unexpectedly memories of Sarah bustling around this very kitchen, her hair tied up messily, a faint smile on her lips as she prepared breakfast. No matter how strained things had been between us, she had never missed a morning meal. Her pancakes were unparalleled, and even now, my taste
Adrian POVHalf an hour later, I pulled up in front of Sarah's house, killing the engine with a frustrated flick of my wrist. The morning sun bathed the quaint home in soft light, but my mood remained stormy. I strode up the stone pathway, each step fueled by simmering irritation.The bell echoed sharply as I pressed it, the sound cutting through the stillness. I folded my arms, tapping my foot impatiently as I waited. When the door finally creaked open, Sarah stood there, framed by the doorway.Damn. Even in the morning, with barely a touch of makeup and her hair in loose waves, she looked effortlessly stunning.Focus, Adrian. You're not here to admire her looks. You're here to confront her.Her brows lifted slightly in surprise, though she said nothing. That calm, composed demeanor she always wore made my frustration spike. Without waiting for her to invite me in, I brushed past her, the faint scent of jasmine trailing after her as I entered the house. My shoes thudded against the p
Adrian POVShe looked down at the shirt, her expression carefully neutral. I couldn't tell what she was thinking, and that only made my thoughts spiral further. My mind raced, grasping at every possible explanation for why she was wearing it.Maybe she just likes wearing men's shirts.Or perhaps it’s some new fashion trend I’m unaware of.But none of those possibilities made sense to me. Not with Sarah. Not with the past we shared.Her voice broke through my chaotic thoughts, soft yet firm, carrying an undertone of finality. "Adrian, just sign the papers and leave."There was a weariness in her words, almost as if she were pleading to avoid another conflict. For a fleeting moment, I considered doing just that signing the damn papers, walking away, and freeing both of us from this endless tug-of-war.It shouldn't matter to me anymore. Her personal life was no longer my concern.I picked up the pen, ready to scrawl my signature and be done with it when I caught movement from the corner
Adrian POV"She's still my wife. Not his. I have a right to her."The thought gnawed at me, relentless and savage. Behind that closed door, anything could be happening. The image of Sarah willingly choosing him, letting him into the spaces that were once mine, made my blood boil. My fists clenched at my sides as jealousy twisted into a dark, bitter knot in my chest.But I reminded myself of the cold, inescapable truth — she wasn't my concern anymore. I had signed the divorce papers. Soon enough, in a matter of months, I would be free to build a life with Jessica and our child.I repeated this fact in my head like a desperate mantra, trying to dull the ache that gnawed at my pride. Sarah's choices shouldn't matter to me anymore. They wouldn't.Taking a steadying breath, I straightened my clothes and forced my emotions back into their cage. With every ounce of strength I had left, I turned on my heel, pushed aside the searing pain, and walked out of her house without looking back. As I
Adrian P.O.V.It had been an hour since Baldwin left my office, but I was still staring at the evidence laid out before me. The documents seemed to mock my foolishness, each detail a bitter reminder of how far I had let my doubts and ego drive me.A wave of guilt hit me hard, knocking the air out of my lungs as I thought about all the terrible things I had done to her.What have I done to her?I punished Sarah for things she never did.She had pleaded with me, insisted on her innocence time and time again, but I hadn't listened. I had been blinded by jealousy and my insecurities. Instead of protecting her, I had been the one to cause her the most pain.My chest tightened as I recalled the way I had ignored her tears, dismissed her desperate cries for understanding, and, worst of all, forced myself into her life in ways that were beyond unforgivable. I clenched my fists, the memory of my cruelty making my skin crawl.I pulled at my hair in frustration, the weight of my actions pressing
Adrian POV"Stop lying, Jessica. I heard everything. Tell me the truth why did you fake your pregnancy?" I demanded, my voice trembling with fury.Jessica's face turned pale, but she quickly tried to regain composure. "I... I only faked it so you'd come back to me and divorce Sarah," she stammered tensely, her voice faltering.The confession hit me like a punch to the gut. My fists clenched, and I struggled to keep my composure. "What about the lies about Sarah's affair? The stories you fed me? I know the truth now, Jessica. I know you've been lying for years, so don't give me this bullshit."Her eyes darted around nervously, searching for an escape, but there was none. "Adrian, I did it for us," she insisted, desperation creeping into her voice. "You don't know how cunning Sarah is. She always tries to take what's mine—"I cut her off sharply. "Enough, Jessica. Stop twisting the truth. My mind is finally piecing it all together. It was you who had issues with Sarah, not the other way
Sarah's POVI don't know when it became normal Adrian being here, taking up the spaces Alessandro used to leave behind.Initially, it had been uncomfortable. Unwelcome, even.I reminded myself that I didn't need assistance, that I could manage everything, that allowing Adrian in would just make things complicated. But eventually, he wore me down.Not with pressure, not with guilt. With kindness.A new coffee mug sat on the counter as I walked into the kitchen at six in the morning, my eyes heavy and my hair messy from yet another night without sleep.When I forgot to change the diapers, he silently delivered a package.When Gabriel got irritable at 2 a.m., and I hadn't even noticed Adrian was still around, I found him slowly walking with my child in his arms, singing softly under his breath.He never made me owe him. Never asked for anything.It was… easy.And I resented the fact that I required easy at the moment.Tonight, after Gabriel had curled up into his cot, I went back downst
Alessandro’s POVThe silence had been deafening.I’d thought to call her. To reach out. A thousand texts drafted and deleted, but I couldn’t bring myself to send them. What could I possibly say? It had been days since I walked out of the door, since I left Sarah standing in the flickering candlelight, her face ashen with confusion and heartbreak."I believe we should take a break."Those words were like a curse now. They haunted me in every waking moment. In every passing second, I replayed that night in my mind: Sarah, looking at me as if I’d just shattered the world we had built. My world.Our world.But I hadn’t been honest with her. Not about the reason. Not about what I was really facing.The night I left was the night Mira showed up at my door. Her presence had been a surprise, unexpected, but when she explained what had happened between us in the past, everything clicked. Her charges were nothing short of dynamite, threatening to disclose something that may destroy everything I
Sarah’s POVThe days began to blur again, not in the same dull ache that followed Alessandro’s departure, but in the quiet, strange rhythm of something new, unfamiliar. Or perhaps something I’d tried to avoid naming.Adrian was around more often now. Not in a way that felt suffocating, not overt or insistent. Just there. Like a lamp quietly turned on in the corner of a dim room, steady, unremarkable at first, but always present, always warming some small patch of your shadow.He had started picking up on our routines, filling in the silences Alessandro had left behind. Gabriel laughed more when he was around. That squealing, hiccup-laced giggle spilt from his tiny chest when Adrian made ridiculous faces or sang off-key versions of nursery rhymes.I watched them one afternoon. Adrian gently bounced him on one knee while Gabriel reached for his nose with sticky hands.“You’re a menace,” Adrian chuckled, catching his hands midair and kissing his forehead. “Tiny, adorable menace.”I smile
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