جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 40

Natalie’s Point of View The bar was dimly lit, hidden away on the quieter side of the city. Soft jazz played in the background, and the faint smell of smoke lingered in the air. I sat in the corner booth, legs crossed, the rim of my wine glass grazing my lower lip as I waited.He came late.Of course, he did.Adrian always liked making an entrance.“Still as beautiful as ever,” he drawled, sliding into the seat across from me, his smirk lazy but sharp. His black shirt clung to his chest, sleeves rolled to his elbows like he owned the night.I arched a brow. “And still as shameless as always, I see.”“Come on, Nat,” he said with a crooked grin. “No ‘hello,’ no ‘how are you’? After all we’ve done together?”My grip tightened on the glass. “We’re not couples, Adrian.”He leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table. “Maybe not. But we are friends… in crime.” My eyes snapped up to meet his. “Don’t say that out loud.”He laughed, the sound low and mocking. “Relax. No one cares. Beside

Reid’s Point of View The faint sound of heels echoed down the marble corridor before the door to my office creaked open again. She stood there, slightly breathless, cheeks flushed, a fine sheen of sweat glistening near her temple. Her hair had loosened from its bun, a few strands brushing her face. Fifteen minutes. Exactly fifteen. She’d walked all the way, didn’t take her car I guess. Typical Karline too stubborn to make things easier on herself. “Your coffee, Mr. Carter,” she said quietly, stepping closer and placing the cup on my desk. Her voice was steady, but her hand trembled faintly. She straightened her blouse before I could notice, keeping her gaze fixed on the floor. I picked up the cup slowly, swirling it once. The aroma hit me first, dark roast, faint caramel. Familiar. Maybe too familiar. I took a sip. It was perfect But I acted like it was Bitter. Not enough sugar. I set the cup down deliberately and leaned back in my chair, my eyes never leav

Karline’s POVBy the time I reached home, it was nearly eight. The sky outside had turned the color of fading ashes, a dull reminder of how long this day had been. My body ached from exhaustion, from running through the streets for coffee, from working overtime, from holding myself together, but all of that disappeared the second I stepped into the house.The living room lights were dim, and the faint sound of a ceiling fan echoed in the quiet.There, on the couch, sat my mother, Mamma Isabella, her eyes tired, worry carved into every line of her face. In her arms, Ethan lay curled up, his small body wrapped in a light blanket, his cheeks flushed unnaturally red. “Mamma…” I whispered, dropping my bag to the floor as my chest tightened. She looked up, her expression softening for a moment before sorrow clouded it again. “He was calling your name,” she murmured, her voice trembling. “All evening, Karline. Cried for you until he finally fell asleep.” My throat constricted as

Karline’s Point of View..The morning sun felt too bright, almost cruel. It poured through the glass walls of the office building like a spotlight on my exhaustion, forcing my heavy eyes to stay open. I stifled a yawn as I walked through the lobby, my heels clacking faintly against the polished marble. My head throbbed from lack of sleep. I had spent the entire night at the hospital beside Ethan, watching his fever rise and fall like the tides.By the time I got home, it was nearly dawn. I barely managed to change and rush back to the office.The smell of fresh coffee brewing from the break room only made me more aware of how tired I was. I wished I could drown myself in caffeine and forget everything for a few hours, but I couldn’t.I forced a polite smile to the receptionist as I passed by. “Good morning,” I murmured, though my tone was lifeless.The elevator ride felt longer than usual, the quiet hum amplifying every anxious thought in my head. My blouse felt too tight, my hair w

At the Ball VenueKarline’s POVBy the time I reached the venue, it was already buzzing with noise and motion. Workers rushed in and out, carrying boxes, adjusting lights, testing sound systems. The grand chandelier above sparkled under the early afternoon sunlight filtering through the glass ceiling.I adjusted the strap of my bag and took a deep breath, trying to shake off the exhaustion from the hospital. Focus, Karline. Just a few hours. Then you can go back to Ethan.I flipped open my notepad, the list my manager gave me and started moving through the hall, ticking things off one by one.“Drinks…” I murmured, walking toward the long bar counter at the side of the hall. Rows of wine glasses gleamed under the light. “Wine bottles arranged?” I asked one of the staff members.“Yes, ma’am,” he replied quickly. “Red and white both chilled. Champagne on standby.”“Good,” I nodded, marking it on the paper. “Make sure the champagne is brought out only after the toast.”Next, Food arrange