Sasha’s POVI felt like I had endured a catastrophe. Suddenly, I needed to know who Sandra was.Why did Valentino keep mentioning her name whenever he abused me?It seemed likely Sandra resembled me in some way, or he wouldn't accuse me of impersonating her.One thing was clear: Sandra had deeply wronged Valentino, evoking both his love and his hate.The next morning, I woke up feeling like my bones might shatter. Despite my weakness, I muster the strength to rise from the bed.I see my mistakes and how I allowed my naivety to take over. The contract with Valentino was just the beginning.From Valentino's demeanor yesterday, it's clear he harbors both deep hatred and love for Sandra. I must be the one he's chosen to replace her.I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself, but end up retching instead.Examining the bruises and ambiguous marks on my body, I grimace. I gingerly step off the bed, only to find my legs buckling beneath me, forcing me to sit on the floor.My legs are like
Sasha's POVValentino stood at the door, but before he could utter a word, I had instructed Jared to drive off.My change had unsettled him. It seemed he couldn't control me. He had signed the contract, but my transformation surpassed his expectations.As soon as I entered the company, I was greeted with immense respect."Good morning, Chairman Sasha!""Good morning, Chairman!"...and so on.Everyone greeted me with reverence, their eyes filled with admiration.I acknowledged their greetings with a nod, maintaining a professional distance. Walking briskly, I surprised those around me with my speed.Most employees had met me before.Previously, I was like a timid rabbit, protected under the former chairman's wing. I rarely took an active role, visiting the company more as a formality than to engage with its operations.Now, everything has changed in just a month. My presence exuded confidence and capability.Not only had my demeanor transformed, but my competence had also grown.Clemen
Sasha's POVA few minutes later, as soon as I leave to handle some matters, Jared immediately calls Dr. Luke."Luke, I need to ask you something.""What is it?" Dr. Luke sounds surprised to receive a call from Valentino's special assistant."My boss, do you think he might have a mental illness?" Jared hesitates, then asks directly. "After Sandra left, he seemed greatly affected. Could he have suffered psychological trauma? Should he seek treatment?"On the other end of the line, Dr. Luke bursts out laughing. "Jared, you have quite the reflex arc. Why didn't you think your boss had a heart condition from the start and only brought this up now?""It's not me who brought it up—" Jared starts to say before stopping himself."Let me guess, was it Sasha, your current boss?" Dr. Luke chuckles knowingly."Dr. Luke, you're sharp. Please don't tell the boss," Jared says earnestly."To be honest, your boss does have some quirks, but his condition is stable. It's nothing serious. I'm more concer
Sasha's POV"Who is Sandra?" I asked, my mind racing as I processed the information from the documents. "I don't have any connection with Valentino beyond the contract. There's no point in confronting me with this."But then, Amelia suddenly exclaimed, "Sasha, why are you digging into Sandra like this? Do you know she's a sensitive topic for Valentino? What are you trying to accomplish?"I raised my brow, surprised by Amelia's sudden change in appearance. I turned to see Valentino standing behind me, his expression cold and unforgiving.Well, there was no use arguing now.Amelia quickly spoke up, clutching the papers in her hands. "Valentino, she was asking about Sandra and pressed me for information. I don't know how she found out about our connection, but she cornered me and threatened me.""I didn't investigate Sandra," I cut in sharply as I returned the documents to Amelia. "She invited me for coffee and gave me these documents. Thank you. I understand who Sandra is now. I'll take
Sasha’s POVThe passersby instinctively cleared a path.All eyes turned towards me.I was stunned.Why was Valentino seeking me out now?Beside me, Priscilla was also momentarily speechless, sensing Valentino's gaze fixed on me.I recalled seeing news reports that mentioned Valentino helping me regain Rex Corp. It seemed those reports weren't baseless."Is he your man?" Priscilla whispered.I shook my head. The relationship between Valentino and me was nothing like that of a husband and wife. It was more like the relationship between Priscilla and Maria—where she was taken care of financially, and I received assistance and mentorship from him.In essence, it wasn't all that different.The commotion around us erupted into a chorus of exclamations."Wow, is that Valentino's girlfriend?""She's stunning!""Isn't that Sasha? I remember a magazine report about her and Valentino's ambiguous relationship. They said Valentino helped her reclaim her company.""Are Sasha and Valentino more than
Sasha’s POVRegardless of whether Valentino ate them or not, I dug in. I was genuinely hungry after a long day of class and an evening without dinner. It was late now, and this meal felt like supper. Instant noodles was the most convenient and delicious food in the world.Valentino hesitated for a while as he saw me eating. His stomach growled audibly, clearly betraying his hunger.After a few minutes of thinking, he sat down and took a bite. Observing my satisfied expression, he refrained from requesting anything else.His initial distaste softened as he continued eating.The taste wasn't as bad as he'd expected.I sipped some hot water to clear her palate, then looked up at Valentino. "I guess the taste isn't as bad as you thought, right? It's quite delicious. Eat up while it's still hot."With that, I resumed devouring the noodles, not bothered about looking porsh or acting like a big girl. I could feel myself sweating a bit from the heat.After I finished eating I used a tissue t
Sasha's POVI tried to close my eyes, pretending not to hear anything, pretending to be asleep.It was so embarrassing. We weren't a couple, not even dating. Just a physical relationship, yet here I was, sharing a bed with Valentino without understanding why. Did I accidentally attract him today, like putting honey on myself?"Come here," his voice called again, making me shiver.In the darkness, I continued to feign sleep, hoping he'd leave me alone."You're asleep? Can you sleep every second?" His voice dripped with irony.I froze.Suddenly, his large hand pulled me towards him, and I found myself nestled against Valentino's warm chest. His grip was firm, holding me close, making me feel uneasy all over.But then, he used me as a pillow, his arms and legs wrapped around me, until his breathing evened out.I dared not move. Trying to shift away only made him hold me tighter as if warning me not to escape.The position was uncomfortable, and eventually, exhaustion took over, and I fel
Sasha's POV"Jared, you're a one-of-a-kind find. If I weren't your boss, I'd be trying to poach you for myself," I teased.Jared chuckled, the sound warm and familiar.He'd been Valentino's right hand for years, and everyone knew his loyalty was unshakeable. Headhunters circled him like sharks, offering better deals and brighter futures, but Jared remained steadfast. It wasn't just loyalty that kept him at Valentino's side, though. There was a spark in his eyes when he talked about the company, a passion that sometimes flared into a kind of controlled frenzy.We left the office together, heading for my place. Jared was there to meet the new trainer who'd be whipping me into shape.A black SUV pulled up as we arrived, and a tall, broad-shouldered man emerged. Victor. He radiated a rugged masculinity, his athletic build straining against his comfortable workout gear. There was a no-nonsense air about him, a directness in his gaze that I found instantly appealing.After introductions and