Semua Bab Bound by Desire : Bab 1 - Bab 10

Alexander pov The photos are still plastered across my computer screen when I pick up my phone and type out a message to Victoria.Last night was fun, same time next week? Three dots appear immediately, she's typing, eager, they always are.Her response pops up with a string of heart emojis and I smirk, toss my phone onto my mahogany desk.Manhattan can talk all they want, I couldn't care less.My office at Harrington Global takes up the entire fifty-seventh floor, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city I practically own. This empire is mine now, built on my decisions, my ruthlessness, my refusal to let anyone tell me how to live my life. I lean back in my leather chair and scroll through my messages, Victoria from last night begging for more, Simone from last week asking when she'll see me again, Gabrielle wondering if I'm free this weekend.Three women, three different conversations, all of them wanting more than I'm willing to give, which is exactly how I like it.Ma

Alexander pov I watch Elena remove her jewelry with trembling hands, the emerald gown pooling at her feet, and all I can see is her laughing with Marcus Rivera, actually laughing, that genuine smile I've never seen directed at me, and rage burns through my veins like acid.The car ride home was suffocating silence, tension so thick I could taste it, now we're in the bedroom and she thinks she can just walk away, pretend tonight didn't happen, pretend she didn't humiliate me in front of half of Manhattan.I pour myself a scotch, my third of the night, watch her reach for the door handle."We're not done talking."My voice stops her cold, she turns slowly, still in that ridiculous gown, her face exhausted."What else is there to say, Alexander? You've made your position very clear.""Have I?" I set down my glass harder than necessary, "because it looked like you forgot your position tonight, chatting up my enemy at a public event, laughing like you don't have a care in the world."Her

Elena's POVThe photograph burns into my vision even after Alexander lowers his phone…. me and Marcus sitting across from each other at that café, our hands touching on the table."Care to explain this?" Alexander's voice is cold, businesslike, like he's addressing an employee who missed a deadline rather than confronting his wife.My mouth goes dry….I try to find words that will make this better but I know nothing will "It was just lunch, we talked about my literacy foundation, about potential partnerships for the children's programs.”"I don't care what excuse you've prepared," he cuts me off. "You lied about where you were going, you met with a man behind my back, that violates our arrangement."Something inside me snaps, four years of biting my tongue, four years of swallowing my anger. "Our arrangement? You mean this prison sentence you call a marriage? At least Marcus treats me like a human being, at least he looks at me when I'm talking."Alexander's face hardens, his jaw

Elena's POVThe restaurant in SoHo is beautiful, all exposed brick and soft lighting. I spot Marcus at a corner table and my stomach does a nervous flip…. he stands when he sees me, pulls out my chair before I can even reach for it."Thank you for meeting me." I say, sliding into the seat."Thank you for trusting me enough to come." Marcus replies, his smile warm and genuine.We order lunch and Marcus leans forward."Tell me about your foundation, I want to hear everything, what programs are you running, what's your vision."I blink, surprised, "You actually want to know about the work?""Of course, why wouldn't I?""Alexander never asks," the words slip out. "He funds it because it makes him look charitable but he's never once asked about the actual programs or the children we help."Marcus's face darkens…"Then he's a fool."Something in my chest loosens and I find myself really talking, about the mobile libraries we run in underserved neighborhoods, about the reading mentorship pr

Elena's POVThe doctor finally releases us with care instructions and a prescription for children's pain medication. Julian is asleep in my arms, his sprained wrist wrapped in a blue bandage that makes him look so vulnerable.Alexander insists on driving us home, the silence in the car is suffocating.. I stare out the window watching the city lights blur past while holding Julian close.Julian wakes up halfway home, groggy and confused"Mama? Is Daddy mad?""No baby," I soothe, stroking his curls."Daddy's not mad.""Why doesn't Daddy live with us?" Julian asks with a child's brutal honesty."He's always gone."Alexander's hands tighten on the steering wheel, his knuckles going white."Daddy lives with us sweetheart," I say carefully. "He just works a lot, very important work.""Uncle Marcus doesn't work all the time.Julian says innocently, "He plays with me, he's funny, can Daddy play too?"I freeze, my blood running cold "When did you meet Marcus sweetheart?""Yesterday at the