Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 1 - Chapitre 8

The night I left Alexander Sterling, the rain fell as though the heavens themselves were mourning the death of our love.I stood outside his penthouse with a suitcase in one hand and a trembling heart in the other. Behind those expensive doors was the man I had loved for three years—the man who promised me forever, only to make me feel like I was never enough.My phone vibrated.**Alexander:** Where are you? Come back. We need to talk.I stared at the message, tears blurring the screen.Three years ago, those words would have made me run into his arms. Tonight, they only reminded me of how many times I had waited for him while he chose everything else over me.His company came first. His meetings came first. His reputation came first.And I always came last.I typed a reply, deleted it, and finally switched off my phone.For the first time, I chose myself.The taxi ride to the airport felt endless. Every street carried a memory: our first date at a little Italian restaurant, the night

The woman beside Alexander Sterling had a name.Victoria Hale.I discovered that at exactly nine fifteen the following morning, when Clara walked into my office carrying a tablet and an expression that suggested she had just uncovered a scandal.“Boss, you need to see this.”I looked up from the sketches spread across my desk. “If it's another meeting invitation from Sterling Holdings, decline it.”“It's not a meeting invitation.”She placed the tablet in front of me.A photograph filled the screen. Alexander stood outside a luxury hotel with Victoria's hand resting on his chest. Her face was tilted toward his, and his expression looked serious enough to convince anyone that their relationship was more than a business arrangement.The headline read: A NEW QUEEN FOR THE STERLING EMPIRE?I stared at the picture longer than I intended.“Interesting,” I murmured.Clara studied me carefully. “You're not upset?”“Why would I be?”“Because you and Mr. Sterling used to be together.”“Used to

I read the letter until the words blurred before my eyes.*Isabella must never discover what happened that night. If she learns the truth, everything will fall apart.*Those words carried Alexander's signature, but I couldn't understand their meaning. What had happened that night? Why had someone wanted me to leave before a wedding announcement? And whose wedding had they been talking about?I checked the date again.Three years ago.The same week I had packed my suitcase and left the man I loved without looking back.My phone lay beside me, its screen displaying Alexander's name. He had called twelve times since our encounter outside the restaurant. Each missed call felt like another question I wasn't ready to answer.I finally picked up the phone and typed a message.*Did you write this letter?*I attached a photograph and pressed send.His reply arrived almost immediately.*Where did you get that?*My stomach tightened.He hadn't denied writing it.*Answer my question, Alexander.*

My name stared back at me from the document.ISABELLA MARIE REYES.Beneath it were signatures, legal stamps, and a handwritten note that made my blood run cold.The girl must never learn about the original agreement.I looked at Alexander, hoping he would tell me that the document was fake. I wanted him to laugh and explain that someone had played a cruel joke on us.Instead, he stood beside my desk with his jaw clenched and his eyes fixed on the paper."Where did you get this?" I asked."From my father's private study. He kept it inside a locked cabinet with several old contracts.""And you only discovered it last week?""Yes."I studied his face, searching for a lie."Why didn't you bring it to me immediately?""Because I didn't know what it meant. I needed to verify the signatures and understand the agreement before involving you."I let out a bitter laugh."Still making decisions for me, Alexander?"He flinched."I know how that sounds.""No, you don't. You keep saying you want to