(Sabatine’s POV)Chicago.The city pulsed with energy, cars honking, people moving in fast, purposeful strides, sirens crying in the distance, but inside me, there was nothing but hollow quiet.I had flown in earlier that morning, eyes bleary and body running on nerves and too much coffee. This trip wasn’t a choice, it was survival. My company was flailing, bleeding at the seams, and this meeting… it might be my last shot at saving it.Everything rode on one man. Stanley Woods.He was a giant in the business world, with a reputation built on fear, brilliance, and ruthless precision. If I could win him over, secure even a fraction of his influence, I might just pull us back from the edge.My assistant had set it all up, weeks of back and forth, confirmations, reminders. I’d rehearsed my pitch until I could deliver it in my sleep. I’d revised the slides, tweaked the figures, and polished the projections. Every word, every visual, tailored to him.And now, I was here. Standing in the sle
prologue..... Vanessa pov The cathedral was stunning, towering marble pillars, golden chandeliers casting a soft glow, and rows upon rows of high-society guests, all dressed in their finest. The scent of luxurious perfume and fresh roses filled the air, blending with the incense curling up from the golden censers. Everything was flawless.Too perfect. The fragrance of blooming roses and high-end perfume filled the air, blending with the faint sound of classical music. Laughter echoed among the crowd, champagne glasses clashing in joy. It was a dream, one I had been instructed to value, to desire. Yet beneath the grandeur, beneath the polished smiles and whispered congratulations, I sensed it. The unsettling anxiety. The silent cry stuck in my throat, desperate to break free. It slithered through my veins, an icy whisper of truth I refused to acknowledge. I held the bouquet of white roses so tightly that the fragile petals wrinkled beneath my fingers, their once perfect shap
Three months earlier..... (Evelyn pov) I couldn’t stop smiling. Humming gently, I placed the new bouquet of roses in the crystal vase, fine-tuning each stem to reach perfection. The fragrant scent of lilies and roses permeated the air, mixing with the cozy scent of vanilla candles dancing on the dining table. Everything needed to be perfect, just as our love. In two nights, Sebastian and I will be celebrating our anniversary. Our fifth year of celebration. Five years filled with love, joy, and common aspirations. I ran my fingers along the exquisite silverware, imagining how his eyes would sparkle when he walked in, how his lips would turn into that unique, sincere smile, the one he saved just for me. But that wasn’t all. This anniversary was going to be even more special. I softly placed my hand on my abdomen, a warmth radiating within me. Sebastian was about to become a father. The mere idea flooded me with warmth, blending feelings of excitement and anxious an
(Evelyn pov) I ended up the call with Vanessa, but something about her tone lingered in my mind, an implicit reluctance, a forced lightness. Had I imagined it? I dismissed the discomfort and reminded myself that this evening wasn’t focused on Vanessa. It was about us, Sebastian and I. Our anniversary was nearing, and despite my husband being distant recently, I was set on reminding him of what we shared. I inhaled deeply, pushing aside the rising uncertainty, and headed downstairs to see how the maids were doing. The home was already immaculate, the atmosphere fragrant with fresh roses from the arrangement I had set in the foyer earlier. The team had performed excellently, as usual. In the kitchen, Maria, our head maid, was putting away the last of the dishes. She turned when she saw me. “Ma’am, do you need anything?” I smiled, even if it felt constricted. "You all can retire for the evening." "I'll handle dinner." Maria took a moment to think. “Are you sure, ma'a
“ Evelyn?” Sebastian called my name once more. The sound sent shivers through me, and I gripped the doorframe tighter while struggling to breathe. I needed to behave normally. He had no way of knowing that I had been standing there, eavesdropping. Stepping forward as if I had just arrived, I angled my head, pretending to be puzzled. "Yes?" I heard you called my name. Did you fall? “Are you in need of anything?” His expression remained unreadable, but a flicker appeared in his eyes, caution? Guilt? It disappeared just as quickly, replaced by a practiced calmness. “No, I’m fine. I just needed something from you.” His eyes scanned the room before settling back on me. “Where are the maids?” “I sent them off,” I answered calmly, my heart pounding. His brows furrowed slightly. “Why is that?” I paused for just a moment . "Nothing," I replied, but the subtle shake in my voice gave me away. He examined me with his piercing eyes, as if stripping away my layers, attempting to u
“Vanessa?” Her name escaped my mouth, but it felt strange, acrid, like very poisonous. The woman in front of me wasn’t just my best friend. No, she was more than that. She was my sister. Not by blood, but by everything that mattered. Vanessa and I were raised together in our grandfather’s home, united by a childhood rich in whispered secrets, collective dreams, and an inseparable connection. From the moment we learned to walk, we were always together, chasing fireflies on warm nights, building forts with old blankets, and sneaking into the kitchen for midnight snacks. We laughed until our stomachs hurt, wept in each other's embrace during life's hardships, and stood strongly together, shielding each other from the world's harshest blows. She was more than simply my cousin; she was like a sister in every significant aspect, the one person l I relied on to consistently back me up. When everything in the world felt against me, Vanessa was my safe haven, the only person I
(Evelyn pov) The divorce paper shook in my hands, the ink blurring as my vision swam. My chest constricted, and my breathing came in brief, agonizing breaths. The atmosphere in the room was stifling, weighing on me like an invisible pressure, yet I would not allow them to witness me break down Not here. Not in front of them. Sebastian stood across from me, his expression unreadable, making it seem as if this moment, the end of everything we created, was nothing more than a minor inconvenience. Vanessa, on the other hand, crossed her arms, her gaze sharp and expectant, like she was waiting for me to surrender, to sign without a fight. But, I would not. Not without answers. I swallowed hard, forcing the tremor out of my voice. "How long?" Sebastian’s eyebrow knitted together slightly, but he didn’t ask for clarification. He knew exactly what I meant. Vanessa released a dramatic sigh, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. "Eve, does it actually make any differ
(Evelyn pov) A sharp, rhythmic beep pulled me from the abyss. Cold. The room was cold, yet my body burned from the inside out. My eyelids felt like lead, my limbs heavy, weighted down by an unseen force. The sterile scent of antiseptic clung to the air, sharp and suffocating. A harsh glare pressed against my closed eyes, forcing me to acknowledge the blinding reality waiting for me. Where…? A groan slipped past my dry lips as I shifted slightly, only for a dull, aching pain to radiate through my skull. It was nothing compared to the hollow emptiness clawing at my chest. Then it all came crashing back. Sebastian’s cold voice. Vanessa’s triumphant smirk. The divorce papers. The suffocating pain. I tried sitting up, but a firm hand pressed against my shoulder. "Take it easy," a soft voice murmured. "You're in the hospital." I blinked, my vision swimming until it settled on a nurse adjusting an IV drip next to me. "The hospital?" My voice rasped, throat raw.
(Sabatine’s POV)Chicago.The city pulsed with energy, cars honking, people moving in fast, purposeful strides, sirens crying in the distance, but inside me, there was nothing but hollow quiet.I had flown in earlier that morning, eyes bleary and body running on nerves and too much coffee. This trip wasn’t a choice, it was survival. My company was flailing, bleeding at the seams, and this meeting… it might be my last shot at saving it.Everything rode on one man. Stanley Woods.He was a giant in the business world, with a reputation built on fear, brilliance, and ruthless precision. If I could win him over, secure even a fraction of his influence, I might just pull us back from the edge.My assistant had set it all up, weeks of back and forth, confirmations, reminders. I’d rehearsed my pitch until I could deliver it in my sleep. I’d revised the slides, tweaked the figures, and polished the projections. Every word, every visual, tailored to him.And now, I was here. Standing in the sle
(Evelyn's POV)The sky stretched above us in a soft, pale hue, like a sheet of watercolored silk draped over the world. The car moved steadily, gliding past familiar clusters of trees and unfamiliar streets that blurred into the edges of memory. I sat quietly in the back seat, hands clasped loosely in my lap, a hush of anticipation fluttering between my ribs and echoing with every slow beat of my heart. It wasn’t dread. Not entirely. It was something deeper, restless and uncertain.Liam drove, his hands steady on the wheel, his eyes flickering to the rearview mirror every few minutes. Watchful, like always. He didn’t say much, but his presence filled the space, protective, grounding. He’d offered to drive without needing to ask why. He just knew.We were headed to Chicago. Not for a vacation or a business trip. This was for Mia, her remembrance, her absence wrapped in ceremony and silence.It didn’t feel real.Even after all this time, it still felt like a chapter I had read too man
(Vanessa’s POV)I stood at the edge of the rooftop garden, the breeze tugging softly at my hair as I held the phone to my ear. Below, the city hummed with life, cars weaving through streets, voices rising from open windows, but I barely noticed. The sun was beginning its descent, spilling golden light across the skyline like molten glass. Everything shimmered with beauty, but none of it reached me."Yes… thank you for sticking to the deal," I said, my voice calm and even. "They’ll be released this evening. You kept your end of the bargain, and so will I."A brief silence lingered on the other end, heavy and deliberate, before the line clicked off. Just like that.I lowered my hand, slipped the phone into my coat pocket, and stood still, letting the quiet wash over me. My gaze remained fixed on the horizon, but I wasn’t seeing any of it. The release wasn’t an act of mercy. It wasn’t forgiveness. It was simply the end of a transaction. Closure, not compassion. I didn’t need leverage ove
( Sebastian POV)On my way home, I found myself turning off the main road without thinking. One moment, I was driving past familiar buildings, replaying the conversation I'd just had in my head, and the next, my car had slipped into a small parking lot beside a bright, cheery-looking store with cartoon stickers on the glass windows.A kids’ store.I sat behind the wheel for a moment, staring at the entrance. I hadn’t planned this. I wasn’t even sure what made me turn. But something had pulled me here, quiet and insistent. Maybe it was the memory of her laugh. Or maybe it was the way she clung to me earlier, so easily, like I was already someone she trusted.Before I could second-guess myself, I stepped out of the car.The bell over the door jingled as I walked in, and suddenly I was surrounded, shelves of pastel onesies, racks of tiny jeans and frilly dresses, little shoes lined up like toys. The air smelled faintly like baby powder and plastic, and the colors, so many of them, felt l
( Sebastian pov)Evening couldn’t come fast enough.Time stretched itself thin, like taffy pulled too far and refusing to snap. Every tick of the clock echoed louder than it should have. Each passing hour dragged like an anchor tied to my thoughts, weighing me down as the day inched forward.Meetings came and went, their content dissolving into static. Faces blurred. Voices became background noise, like the hum of a refrigerator you only notice when everything else goes silent. I nodded when required, offered clipped responses when prompted, but my presence was a ghost, my body in one place, my mind elsewhere entirely.Back to the result.I’d told Dr. Jude I would come pick it up myself. I don’t know why I insisted. Maybe it was a need for control, some desperate attempt to own the truth before it owned me. Or maybe I believed that seeing the paper, holding it in my hands, would somehow make it more bearable. Less real. Less final.By the time I stepped out of the office, the sun had
(Evelyn pov)The scent of freshly brewed coffee wrapped around me like a soft hug, drifting through the air and mingling with the faint citrus notes of the cleaning spray from earlier. The warm mug sat snug between my palms as I stirred a generous spoonful of honey into the rich liquid, watching the golden stream swirl and melt away. A quiet sigh escaped my lips as I leaned against the edge of the table in my office, letting the gentle warmth seep into my hands, hoping it would somehow reach my chest too.Mornings like this used to mean something, a sliver of stillness before the storm of the day. Peaceful. Predictable. But lately, they only served as fleeting distractions, temporary veils draped over the chaos I refused to name. I stared at the cup a second longer before taking a small sip, letting the sweetness linger on my tongue.Then, I heard the door click open behind me. Not hurried. Not hesitant. Just familiar. Too familiar.“You’re late,” I said, not bothering to turn around
(Sebastian’s POV)I woke up with a weight on my chest.Not the kind that comes from restless sleep or a stiff mattress. This was Heavier. Like something inside me was sinking, pulling the rest of me into the same dark gravity.For a while, I didn’t move.I just laid there, eyes fixed on the ceiling, tracing the faint cracks in the paint like they held answers. The walls creaked softly, familiar but distant, and from below, the quiet murmur of a house slowly waking up, the low hum of the refrigerator, the occasional thump of settling wood.I could’ve stayed like that forever.But eventually, I sat up, slowly, like peeling myself away from something sticky and invisible. My limbs felt weighed down, my breath tight in my chest. I moved to the edge of the bed and just… stopped.I don’t know how long I sat there.Minutes? Hours? Time didn’t feel real. It never does when everything inside you is unraveling.The silence pressed in around me, not peaceful silence, but that thick, choking ki
Sebastian’s POVThe drive to school was quiet. Too quiet.The kind of quiet that Was not peaceful but unsettling. Crawling under my skin like an itch I could not scratch.My fingers gripped the Steering wheel. My Knuckles White as My thoughts tangled into a mess I couldn’t unravel. The call. The nagging doubts. The questions that loomed without answers.Beside me, Vanessa talked. Her voice was light, animated. Filling the silence with talk of Princess, the dress, the shoes, something about a tiara. Normally, I’d nod along, maybe even throw in a comment to show I was listening. But today, her words barely registered. Drowned under the weight pressing against my chest.“Seb?”Her voice cut through the fog, followed by a gentle nudge against my arm.I blinked. The road ahead had blurred for a moment, the lines smearing together before snapping back into focus.“Hm?” My voice came out lower than I intended, rough around the edges.Vanessa sighed. “I said, should we get her the pink one or
(Sabatine pov)My finger hovered over the answer button, but I didn’t press it.Not yet.A bitter taste lingered on my tongue, a mix of betrayal and something far worse, realization. If Vanessa had lied about something this big, what else had she been hiding? What other secrets had she so effortlessly buried beneath that sweet smile?I clenched my jaw, my grip tightening around the phone. The screen glowed in the dim light of my office, her name flashing insistently.Vanessa.My pulse pounded in my ears, each ring fueling the storm brewing inside me. I wanted answers. No, I needed them. But I wouldn’t be fooled again, wouldn’t let myself fall into the same trap.Not this time.The phone buzzed again, vibrating against my palm like a silent challenge. I exhaled sharply, steadying myself. Proof. I needed proof before I faced her. Because if my suspicions were right, then Vanessa was capable of far worse than just a simple lie.And I refused to be the fool who found out too late.Her nam