Adrian's P.O.VI was so excited to tell her that I wanted this child.I hurriedly finished up my work in LA within a week, wrapping up meetings, signing documents, and making final calls to ensure everything was handled in my absence. The moment I was done, I booked the earliest flight back to New York, my heart racing with anticipation. I couldn’t wait to see Sarah, to tell her that I was ready, that I wanted this baby, that I wanted us to try again.But all my hopes were crushed the moment I arrived and saw my wife in someone else's arms. My feet felt like they had been nailed to the ground, my breath caught in my throat as I watched her kiss another man.And just like that, the tiny shred of hope I had been holding onto was shattered.She had moved on.She had replaced me.The realization hit me like a freight train, sucking the air from my lungs.I guess he was the reason she no longer wanted to work on our marriage. Or maybe she didn’t want me in her life even if he wasn’t there.
Adrian's P.O.V"Well, I saw how tense you were, I just wanted to be there for you," Chloe whispered, her voice sultry as she moved closer to me.Her breasts pressed against my torso, her touch lingering far longer than necessary. A slow smirk played on her lips as she placed her manicured fingers around my member, her eyes dark with mischief.Before I could react, before I could push her away, she pulled the seat back and adjusted herself between my legs, her fingers deft and determined.Without wasting another moment, she freed me from my pants and took me into her mouth.For a split second, I didn't move. I didn't stop her.Maybe I was too exhausted.Maybe I was too consumed by my own torment to push her away.Or maybe, deep down, I just wanted something—anything—to take away the overwhelming storm of emotions raging inside me."I'm sure this can make you feel a lot better, Adrian," Chloe murmured against me before continuing, her lips and tongue working with practised ease.But my
Adrian’s POVBrrrrrringggg…Brrrrrringgggg…The relentless ringing of my phone shattered the silence, piercing through my sleep like an alarm screeching in my ears. My body felt heavy, weighed down by exhaustion, but the urgent sound forced me to move. Groaning, I reached out blindly, fumbling for my phone on the nightstand. My fingers finally grasped the device, but by the time I lifted it to my ear, the call had already ended.With a frustrated sigh, I sat up, immediately regretting the sudden movement. A splitting headache slammed into me, a dull, pounding ache that felt like someone hammering inside my skull. I rubbed my temples, trying to ease the pain, but it only intensified. I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment before forcing myself to focus on my phone’s screen.As soon as I saw the notifications, my heart dropped.30 missed calls from Noah.20 missed calls from Dad.7 missed calls from Jessica.What the actual hell?A sinking feeling spread through my chest as I quickly dial
Adrian P.O.VI parked my car outside Amario Enterprises, gripping the steering wheel tightly as I took a deep breath. My heart pounded against my chest, and my mind was clouded with emotions. Today wasn’t just about clearing my name—it was about seeing Sarah. I owed her an explanation, and most importantly, I owed her an apology for last night.I shouldn't have reacted that way when I saw her with another man.I was the one who pushed her away. I was the one who shattered her trust.If she wanted to move on, I had no right to stop her.Sighing, I pushed the door open and stepped out of the car, straightening my suit jacket before walking toward the entrance. The moment I entered the building, I felt the weight of dozens of eyes on me. The murmur of whispers buzzed through the lobby, followed by disdainful glances in my direction.Great. Now everyone knows.Of course, they do, Adrian. It’s all over the goddamn news.I ignored the judgmental stares and strode toward the elevator, keepin
Adrian POVI took a deep breath, stepping closer to her desk, feeling the tension tighten around us like an invisible rope. “Sarah, that news about me and Chloe—it’s not true. There’s nothing going on between us. I was drunk last night when she approached me. I swear I—”“You don’t have to explain,” she interrupted me, her voice calm yet piercing.I frowned slightly. “What?”She leaned back in her chair, arms crossed as she studied me. “I already know what happened between you two.”A wave of confusion washed over me. “You… do?”Nodding, she stood up, moving toward the floor-to-ceiling window behind her desk. “Since I took over all the authority of Amario Enterprises, Chloe’s father and his family have been struggling financially. As soon as the news broke out, I knew Chloe had something to do with it.”My brows furrowed. “What are you saying?”“Chloe needed money, Adrian.” She turned to face me, her gaze sharp. “And she figured that getting involved with you would benefit her. That’s
Sarah's P.O.VIt's been a few days since that scandal was finally settled. Surprisingly, Adrian has been behaving differently nicer, even. He no longer brings up the past, nor does he ask me to give him another chance. There are no more tantrums, no more arguments. Just silence. A silence that, for now, I am grateful for.When I saw the headlines that morning, I had my doubts about the entire situation. Something didn't sit right with me, so I did some digging. A background check revealed the truth it had all been a trap, orchestrated by Chloe and Lisa to blackmail Adrian. I should have known. When I confronted Chloe, she didn’t even hesitate before demanding money in exchange for telling the truth in front of the media.I wasn’t surprised.But what unsettled me the most was my own reaction. Why did I defend Adrian? It was the perfect opportunity to expose him, to humiliate him in front of the entire world. I could have ended everything and announced our divorce once and for all. And
Sarah’s POVEster’s words lingered in my mind like an unshakable echo."He wanted to keep this hidden, Sarah. We all just want to finish the project so you can finally get out of that marriage with that jerk," she had said firmly, her voice laced with conviction.Her words only added to my growing confusion about Alessandro.On one hand, he had been acting as though I didn’t exist, his cold indifference cutting through me like a knife. On the other, he was helping me behind my back, making sure I had a way out of this unwanted marriage. It didn’t make sense. Why go to such lengths in silence? Why distance himself so much while secretly ensuring my freedom?Was it guilt? Obligation? Or something else entirely?Shoving my emotions aside, I took a deep breath and responded in a steady tone. "We need to inform the Parkers about the project's completion. Once that’s done, we can discuss a date for the resort’s opening."I masked my emotions in front of Ester, unwilling to drag her into my
Sarah POVI gripped the steering wheel tightly, my knuckles turning white as I sped down the road. My heart pounded erratically, the image of Alessandro kissing that woman burned into my mind like a scar I’d never be able to erase. My hand throbbed from the broken glass, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the storm raging inside me.Ester sat silently in the passenger seat, her worried eyes flickering toward me every few seconds. The air in the car was heavy with unspoken words, but I wasn’t ready to speak. If I opened my mouth now, I might break.I blinked rapidly, willing away the tears threatening to spill. I had cried enough for men in my lifetime.I had been foolish.I should have known better.The car came to an abrupt halt as I pulled into the parking lot outside my apartment. I killed the engine and exhaled shakily, staring blankly at my blood-streaked fingers. Small shards of glass were still embedded in my skin, the crimson streaks standing out starkly against my
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
Sarah POVA few steps back, I noticed a captain whose face was completely devoid of colour. Words seemed to want to escape from his lips, but they were nowhere to be found.His still figure, rigid and motionless, also changed his hands into fists, which revealed the stress he was holding.This was simply too much to handle. My thoughts were fragmented, unable to reach a coherent conclusion. “Do tell me this isn’t the case,” I spoke in my flat voice. “Please tell me this is some unexpected blunder that someone made. That this… this woman is lying. Alessandro took a slow step toward me, but stopped when he saw me flinch not in fear, but in raw emotional recoil. That hurt in a way I couldn’t describe.The reflection of his features contorted with agony. "Sarah," a soft admission escaped as his throat felt like it was choked with raw feelings. “That's not the case.”We were close once, back in college. Yes, we dated for a few months, but when things didn’t work out, she didn’t take
Sarah’s POVThe paper trembled a little in my hands as if it knew what it held was too much for me to handle, and I stood motionless. My breath became trapped in my chest, in that agonising space where heartbreak and incredulity collide. I read it again, slower this time, praying I’d misunderstood. But every word sank deeper, each one a blow I hadn’t been ready for.Mira Solanki. Sexual harassment complaint. Alessandro’s name… tied to it.I looked up at him—the man I had let into every part of my life. My heart, my home, Gabriel’s world. The man who’d been my safe place after everything fell apart… was Alessandro. The person I trusted with my son, my recovery, and dreams I was hardly brave enough to share aloud.His gaze was directed towards the ground, pale, and his lips parted open like he was contemplating speech, but the words were not forthcoming. The tension was evident as he held up his arms and kept his fists in place, trying to conceal the strain. I couldn't take it in. Non
Sarah’s POV As I packed the last of Gabriel's small sweaters into his duffel bag, the late afternoon sun spilled gentle light into the room. I smiled as the fresh laundry's lavender scent clung to the fabric. He’d had such a beautiful time here. We all had. For the first time in weeks, things had felt… steady. Like the ground beneath my feet wasn’t constantly shifting. I glanced over my shoulder at Alessandro and Gabriel outside. Before we left the farmhouse, Alessandro had Gabriel sitting on his shoulders as they took a final stroll around the garden. The pure and contagious sound of Gabriel's laughter filled the air. A reminder that love wasn’t always about fireworks and chaos. Sometimes, it was about the way Alessandro always remembered how I took my coffee, or how he brushed Gabriel’s hair back before bed like it was second nature. It was safe. It was deep. Seeing them together made my heart feel full. It reminded me of the life I've always dreamed of—something genuine, cozy,
Adrian’s POVThe sun was slipping from the sky, casting a mellow light across the land; it felt like a reprieve. I stood in the hallway in my guest-sister’s room, peering through a silken curtain at them. Sarah, Alessandro and Gabriel had gone into the garden for a final evening together. To an outsider, it must have seemed like bliss – that scene of a perfect family.I couldn’t bear it.Alessandro was chasing Gabriel around the wildflower patch while he was laughing loudly and freely. He then effortlessly caught him again after swooping him into his arms and throwing him into the air. Gabriel's laughter reached me exactly where I was standing, resonating through the silence of the area. And then I saw it—the way Gabriel looked at Alessandro. Eyes wide with trust, with adoration. As if he were the safest place in the world.As if he were the father.Not me.A pain that was a mix of heartbreak, rage, and jealousy twisted sharply in my chest. I was descended from Gabriel. My son. Nevert