جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 50

Karline’s Point of View As soon as my work ended, I didn’t even stop to breathe. I rushed straight out of the venue, ignoring the whispers behind me and the thudding ache in my heels. I could barely hear anything except the pounding of my own heart Ethan. My baby.By the time I reached the hospital, my lungs burned and my throat felt dry. The automatic glass doors slid open, letting in the sharp antiseptic scent that always made my chest tighten.“Room 204,” the nurse said as soon as she saw me. “Your mother’s been waiting.”I nodded quickly, clutching the small paper bag in my hand the one filled with Ethan’s favorite chocolate bars and the little packet of chips he always begged for when I came home from work.When I stepped into the room, the soft beeping of the monitor greeted me first. Then I saw him, my little boy lying on the hospital bed, cheeks flushed from fever, his tiny hands clutching the corner of the blanket. My mother sat beside him, gently brushing his hair away f

Karline Point of View The ride to the venue was… quiet. Unbearably quiet. I sat in the passenger seat, my hands pressed against my lap, the soft fabric of my red dress creasing beneath my trembling fingers. The sound of the car engine filled the silence between us, that, and the faint rhythm of my heartbeat hammering in my ears. Reid hadn’t spoken a single word since we left the office. Not one. And I didn’t dare to break the silence. His presence next to me was enough to make my throat dry. He looked effortlessly composed, resting in the backseat. The streetlights outside flickered across his face, highlighting the sharp jawline. When we arrived at the grand hotel where the party was held, the place glimmered with golden lights and soft jazz music spilling through the entrance. I stepped out carefully, fixing my dress, my heels clicking against the marble floor. Reid walked ahead of me, his broad shoulders cutting through the crowd with ease. I followed him, keeping

THIRD PERSON POINT OF VIEW The moment Karline turned, she froze.Her smile faded, her breath caught halfway.Because standing near Reid, was Natalie.For a second, the world seemed to tilt. The warm golden lights of the ballroom blurred, the hum of people laughing and the soft violin faded in her ears. All she could see was that familiar woman, tall, elegant, with her hair perfectly pinned and that same polite, honeyed smile that always felt too sharp to be sweet.Natalie.Karline’s hands clenched at her sides, nails digging into her palms. Something inside her snapped, a bitter, fiery ache that made it hard to breathe.So that’s why.That’s why he came back so calm, so controlled.He had brought her with him.The same woman whose words destroyed everything.Reid turned when he noticed Karline’s expression, confusion flickering in his usually unreadable eyes. “Karline..”She cut him off with a bitter laugh, stepping closer but keeping her distance at the same time. “You can dance wi

THIRD PERSON POINT OF VIEW Karline’s heels echoed across the marble floor as she walked out of the hall, her breath trembling. The laughter, the music, the lights, all faded behind her. She didn’t care if people saw her leave. She just needed to breathe. To get away from him. Her eyes were blurry with tears as she stepped into the cold night air. The wind brushed against her bare shoulders, cooling her skin but doing nothing to ease the ache in her chest. She walked faster toward the parking lot, fumbling for her car keys with shaking hands. Her heart still raced with anger. With pain. With memories she didn’t want to remember. The drive to the hospital was long, the road quiet and empty. Streetlights blurred past as she fought the sting in her eyes, gripping the steering wheel tight, praying Ethan was okay. Isabella sat on the small chair beside the bed, her eyes tired but gentle, a wet cloth in hand as she dabbed Ethan’s forehead. Matteo stood by the window, his arms crossed

REID'S POINT OF VIEW The city outside my apartment windows was quiet.A sharp contrast to the noise in my head.I loosened my tie, rolled my sleeves, and sank into the armchair. The familiar burn of whisky slid down my throat, and for a moment, everything felt… still.Still, but not peaceful.Never peaceful.Karline’s face kept flickering behind my eyes, the way she looked at me today night, all defiance and pain mixed together like poison and honey.Even after five years, her eyes could still cut through every defense I’d built.I was halfway through my drink when the doorbell rang.A frown creased my forehead.It was past ten. Who the hell..I opened the door.And froze.“Natalie?”She stood there, smiling as if she had every right to be on my doorstep, a suitcase beside her and a silk scarf wrapped neatly around her neck.“Surprised to see me?” she said lightly, her tone too cheerful for this hour.I stared at her for a moment, then stepped aside just enough to keep the conversati