Sarah's POVI leaned back against the bathtub, warm water lapping against my skin as I stared at the ceiling. The soothing scent of lavender filled the bathroom, but my thoughts were anything but calm.Two weeks.Two weeks since Jessica had stormed into my house, wild with accusations and heartbreak. Two weeks since Adrian had stood by my side, his arm around my waist, declaring that I was the one he chose. The memory lingered in my mind, sharp and surreal.Adrian’s transformation baffled me. How was this the same man who once despised my very existence? And yet here he was, behaving like the perfect husband—attentive, considerate, and persistent.He’d made it clear he wasn’t going anywhere, despite my repeated attempts to remind him that his efforts wouldn’t change my decision. We had no future together, but Adrian, stubborn as ever, seemed convinced that time and persistence might sway my feelings.I sighed, running my fingers through the water.The only bright spot lately had been
Sarah’s POVHis white shirt hugged his frame perfectly, the sleeves pushed up to reveal strong forearms. The sun caught the golden flecks in his dark eyes, making them sparkle as his gaze locked on me."Hey! What are you doing down here?" I greeted him with a smile, quickening my pace."Hey," he replied, his voice smooth and warm. He opened his arms slightly, and I didn't hesitate to step into the familiar comfort of his embrace. His scent a mix of fresh citrus and wood wrapped around me, making my heart skip a beat."I was just about to head upstairs," he added, his voice a low murmur near my ear."Come on, let's go up. I'm starving," I said playfully, grabbing his wrist and tugging him toward the entrance.But instead of following, Alessandro planted his feet firmly, pulling me back. My breath hitched as I stumbled slightly, my body colliding against his chest.The sudden proximity sent a jolt through me. His arm steadied me, strong and unwavering."You look absolutely beautiful, Sa
Sarah POVI had almost finished the fruit on my plate, savoring the buttery richness of the scrambled eggs when an unsettling churn twisted in my stomach. The sharp discomfort caught me off guard, but I brushed it off, assuming it was just indigestion.However, the sensation intensified, turning into a nauseating swirl that made my skin clammy. A bitter taste crept into my mouth as bile surged up my throat. Panic set in, and I instinctively clamped a hand over my mouth, rising abruptly from my seat.“Sarah?” Ester’s voice was tinged with concern.“Are you okay?” Alessandro asked, rising from his chair, eyes wide with worry.I couldn't respond. I bolted toward the bathroom, my footsteps unsteady. The voices calling after me faded as my focus narrowed on one thing reaching the sink or toilet before I lost control.I barely made it in time, collapsing to my knees in front of the toilet as the contents of my stomach came up violently. The acrid burn in my throat made my eyes water, and I
Sarah POVI clutched the medical report in my trembling hands, the word "Pregnant" glaring back at me, refusing to be ignored. My heart thudded painfully in my chest as I read the lines over and over again, as though repetition would change the reality staring me in the face.How could this be happening? My mind raced, rewinding to those nights with Adrian. His touch, his whispered promises in moments of passion. The memory was sharp and vivid now, cutting through my shock. He hadn't used protection the last time, and despite my efforts to stay on track with the pills, I must have missed some doses.The realization was a punch to my gut. I had been careless—recklessly so. The weight of that carelessness was now pressing down on me, crushing my breath.A shiver ran through me as I placed a hand over my stomach. An unfamiliar warmth bloomed there, soft yet heavy, the mere thought of a life growing inside me sending a tidal wave of emotions crashing over my fragile defences.I wasn’t rea
Sarah POVAn hour later, I walked out of the hospital with Ester by my side, the doctor’s instructions echoing in my mind: a proper diet, medications, and adequate rest. It all felt surreal, as though I was living someone else's life instead of my own.Ester offered to drive me home, and I accepted without argument. My body felt too drained to protest. I sank into the passenger seat, buckled the seatbelt, and let out a shaky breath as she started the engine.Silence stretched between us for a while, broken only by the faint hum of the car engine. I stared blankly out of the window, watching the city blur past in shades of gray and gold as evening crept in. My mind swirled with a thousand thoughts, none of which settled long enough for me to grasp.Ester's voice cut through my spiraling thoughts. “Have you decided to tell Adrian about the pregnancy?”I pressed my lips together, unsure how to respond. “I don’t know, Ester. I’m so confused with everything happening.”She sighed, her tone
My hands were clammy, heart racing as I tried to steady my breathing. Anxiety gnawed at the edges of my resolve, but I knew I couldn’t hold back any longer. The truth had to come out. No matter how messy things had become between Adrian and me, this was something he had a right to know.The door creaked open, and I turned to see him entering the room. His tall frame was rigid, and his face carried that familiar cold, bitter expression that had become a permanent fixture between us. But as soon as our eyes met, something shifted. His shoulders relaxed, and his lips curved into a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.“Hey, wife!” he greeted cheerfully, the forced brightness in his voice striking an odd note. “I’m sorry I couldn’t meet you in the morning before leaving.”Before I could react, he closed the distance between us and pulled me into a firm hug. His cologne was sharp and familiar, stirring a confusing mix of emotions within me. For a moment, I stiffened, instinctively wantin
Sarah POVAs those words left his mouth, I immediately shot up from the couch, my heart pounding in disbelief.“Are you serious?” I asked, my voice shaking, a mixture of shock and fury thickening my tone.Adrian stood there, composed in the face of my anger, his jaw clenched as though bracing himself for what was coming.“I’m not going to do anything like that, Adrian,” I spat, my breath uneven. “This is our child. How can you say something like this so easily?”His face hardened. “Then what exactly do you want me to do?” he demanded, his voice cold and authoritative. He reached out, gripping my arm firmly, as if trying to physically tether me to his point of view.I yanked my arm free, glaring at him. “I don’t want anything from you, Adrian. I just wanted you to support this child along with me,” I said, my voice cracking under the weight of my conviction.He sighed deeply, frustration bleeding into his tone. “Sarah, please. We can’t have this baby now. We’re not ready for a child ye
Sarah POV“Adrian, we can’t be like a normal couple. Not now, not ever in the future,” I said firmly, my voice unwavering despite the tremor building inside me. “I haven’t changed my mind about the divorce. We are getting divorced in a few months.”His expression twisted into a mixture of disbelief and frustration. I could see the words forming on his lips, but I didn’t give him the chance to speak. I pressed on, determined to make my stance crystal clear.“My intention behind telling you about this pregnancy was only because you had the right to know. I thought maybe—just maybe—you could take on the responsibility of being a father and support the baby,” I continued, removing his hands from my shoulders with a deliberate finality. His touch no longer held any power over me.Adrian’s jaw clenched, his voice low and tense. “Sarah, I never said I wouldn’t be there. I will be there for my child, but not right now. I can’t handle this pressure. Try to understand, Sarah. We need to work on
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
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