Stephanie’s POVThe ride back to the villa is silent. Henry’s hand remains on my back, a comforting weight, but my mind is a whirlwind. Darci’s theatrics, Vince’s blind acceptance, the sheer audacity of their deception – it all boils inside me. I stare out the window, the city lights blurring into streaks of color, mirroring the chaos in my thoughts.I didn't succeed in suing Darci, ultimately.Because Vince reminded me that the most crucial evidence has been destroyed, and that if I sue Darci at this point, there is a high probability that I won't get the result I want. Apparently he was trying to protect her.I know in my gut that he's right, I'm just not reconciled.“Are you alright?” Henry’s voice breaks through my reverie.I turn to him, forcing a small smile. “I will be. I’m just… disappointed.”He nods, understanding. “They underestimated you, Stephanie. And that’s their mistake.”A heavy sigh escapes my lips. “It’s not just about the project, Henry. It’s about the principle. T
Stephanie‘s POV“She’s back. Sign the divorce papers.” His voice is flat, detached, like this is just another line item on his to-do list, not the disintegration of our life together.The air is sucked from the room. My heart pounds so loudly in my ears that for a moment, I can’t process what he’s just said. Then the words sink in, heavy and sharp, hollowing me out until I feel like a shell of myself.Four years ago, we got drunk and slept together for the first time. It was amazing, and I thought I had won him over. Back then, I was just a designer at his company, secretly in love with my boss. Not long after that, I found out I was pregnant and accepted Vince’s proposal. So what if Vince had feelings for someone else? His ex-girlfriend Darci was already engaged, and I was certain I could win his heart eventually. But everything that happened today proved just how wrong I was.My gaze drops to the papers on the table. The bold, official font feels obscene, mocking me with its fin
Stephanie‘s POVThe sunlight filters through my window, weak and indifferent, as if it knows nothing can lift the weight crushing my chest.I smooth down my blouse, take a deep breath, and tell myself it doesn’t matter. Work is the one thing I have left, the one place I can prove my worth. I won’t let this ruin that, too. My name is top of the list for a supervisor promotion. I’ve worked my ass off for this, and I deserve it. And today is the big day.When I step into the office, the air feels strange. People glance at me, then quickly look away, whispering behind their hands.“Stephanie?” I hear someone mutter as I pass. Their tone is laced with disdain, and it makes my heart picks up speed, my stomach twisting.I shake it off. Maybe it’s just paranoia. Maybe I’m imagining it. Then I see it. “Hey!” I shout, my voice sharp enough to make heads turn.Two coworkers are standing at my desk, carelessly tossing my belongings into a cardboard box.My breath catches in my throat as I sto
Stephanie‘s POVThe sterile scent of antiseptic fills the air, sharp and overwhelming, as my eyes flutter open. The harsh fluorescent lights above blur in and out of focus, and for a moment, I can’t place where I am.What happened? How did I get here?“Don’t move,” a familiar voice cuts through the haze. It’s low, steady, and completely unexpected. “You’re hurt. Just lie still.”I turn my head slowly, wincing at the dull ache spreading through me. My gaze lands on him, and my breath catches. Henry.He hasn’t changed. Thick, dark hair that frames a chiselled face. Bright grey-green eyes. He’s smiling, face gentle, but his bulk fills the small plastic chair. He’s even more muscular than I remember.He's a character I used to know, now a stranger—or more precisely, an enemy—due to his betrayal of Vince's company.But now Henry’s sitting by my bedside like it’s the most natural thing in the world.Why the hell is he here? The last we spoke, he’d left Vince’s company. It was bad, too. Bad
Stephanie‘s POVThe taxi ride is a blur, the soft hum of the engine barely cutting through the storm in my head. My fingers slide restlessly across my phone, refreshing my emails, scrolling through apps, anything to distract myself.The thought of facing my parents fills me with bother. They’ve never cared about my life—only about what I could provide. Since marrying Vince, their demands for money have been relentless, their concern for my well-being nonexistent.My jaw tightens as I think about telling them about the divorce. How will they react? Will they rage about the lost financial pipeline, or will they simply dismiss me, as they always have?The taxi pulls up to the house I once called home. I steel myself before stepping out. My mother is seated in the living room, her lips pressed into a thin line. When she looks up at me, there’s no warmth, only the cold judgment I’ve known all my life.My father and brother didn't show up, a situation all too familiar to me. It usually mean
Stephanie‘s POVThe luxurious parlor is beautiful, like something out of an old-timey movie. I sit stiffly on the edge of a velvet armchair, my hands clasped tightly in my lap, facing the two strangers who claim to be my biological parents.Their words reverberate in my mind. I had never suspected, nor had I ever dared to imagine, that I was not biologically related to my parents, the Sullivans.It all suddenly makes sense, why I always felt that my parents were cold towards me since I was a child, why I always felt like an outsider in the family who only had a use for me.They were never my flesh and blood to begin with.A fragile hope stirs within me, tentative and trembling. Could they be the parents I've always longed for—the ones who might finally offer me the love and warmth I've been denied?Their faces soften, and my mother - my real mother - reaches out to take my hand. “Stephanie,” she says softly. “It’s been far too long. I’m sorry we couldn’t find you sooner.”"Why now?" I
Stephanie‘s POVThe room feels emptier now, and I am alone with Henry. His presence dominates the space.He can’t be serious? A guy like him, succumbing to family pressure and proposing a contract marriage? I don’t know why he’s going along with this stupid ordeal.I meet his gaze, keeping my voice steady. “Why me?” I ask, the words sharper than I intended.Henry doesn’t flinch. Instead, he regards me with a measured calm, like he’s been expecting the question.“I need a wife. And since you owe me a favor, I hope you'll marry me.” His tone was casual, as if the matter were of no significance. “After all, you mentioned being willing to help me in any way you could, and this is what I'm asking for.”"What... what?" I rubbed my ears, feeling like I had heard too many absurdities today. "Marrying for a favor?"“This is good for you too.” he replies. “I might not be the wealthiest in my family, but I’m far wealthier than Vince. I can provide for all your needs. I can help you build a bette
Stephanie‘s POVThe car Henry arranged for me arrives precisely on time, a sleek, glossy black vehicle that looks like it’s stepped right out of a luxury magazine.Henry’s arrangements left me with a strange sense of discomfort. With Vince, attending events had always been a far more spontaneous affair—never such meticulous planning, even the dress was hastily chosen by myself. It made me wonder, as I stared at his every move, if he still hadn’t given up on the idea of an engagement.The gala venue comes into view, a grand building lit up like something out of a dream. Inside, the ballroom is breathtaking. Crystal chandeliers cast a golden glow over the polished marble floors, and the scent of roses mingles with the faint aroma of champagne.Waiters in crisp white uniforms glide through the crowd, offering trays of delicate hors d'oeuvres and flutes of sparkling wine.A group of young women sipped champagne, engaging in lively conversation, their laughter ringing clear and light. But
Stephanie’s POVThe ride back to the villa is silent. Henry’s hand remains on my back, a comforting weight, but my mind is a whirlwind. Darci’s theatrics, Vince’s blind acceptance, the sheer audacity of their deception – it all boils inside me. I stare out the window, the city lights blurring into streaks of color, mirroring the chaos in my thoughts.I didn't succeed in suing Darci, ultimately.Because Vince reminded me that the most crucial evidence has been destroyed, and that if I sue Darci at this point, there is a high probability that I won't get the result I want. Apparently he was trying to protect her.I know in my gut that he's right, I'm just not reconciled.“Are you alright?” Henry’s voice breaks through my reverie.I turn to him, forcing a small smile. “I will be. I’m just… disappointed.”He nods, understanding. “They underestimated you, Stephanie. And that’s their mistake.”A heavy sigh escapes my lips. “It’s not just about the project, Henry. It’s about the principle. T
Stephanie’s POVThe tension in the boardroom is suffocating. I can feel my pulse pounding in my ears as Vince and Darci stand across from me, their expressions unreadable. I grip the edge of the table, forcing myself to stay calm even as frustration burns beneath my skin.Darci’s smug smile lingers, and I know she thinks she’s already won. She believes she’s backed me into a corner, that I’ll be forced to relinquish the project and accept their fabricated allegations.Then the boardroom doors burst open.The room collectively turns toward the interruption, and my breath catches in my throat as Henry strides in, his presence commanding and unyielding. He moves with purpose, his sharp eyes scanning the room before landing on me.He’s holding a thick folder in his hand, and I recognize that look in his gaze—the one that says he’s here to end this charade.“I believe we have some unfinished business,” Henry says smoothly, stepping forward and dropping the folder onto the conference table.
Stephanie’s POVThe room is heavy with tension, the weight of accusation thick in the air. I finish speaking, and for a moment, Vince and Darci are speechless. But Darci quickly recovers, her voice laced with disbelief. "Stephanie, darling," she says, her tone dripping with sarcasm, "while we appreciate your efforts on this project, let's be honest. You're a talented designer, no doubt, but you're hardly a name that commands the attention of the Rush family. Surely you don't think you're on their level?"Vince smirks, adding, "Indeed. You're well-known in certain circles, but compared to the Rush empire, you're practically invisible. I'm quite curious, actually. How do you manage to convince them to even consider this collaboration? Do you perhaps... offer them a little something extra to persuade them?"Darci stands in the center, her perfectly manicured fingers curled around a stack of papers—evidence, she claims, of my betrayal. Her lips curl into a smirk as she slowly, deliberate
Stephanie’s POVI blink.My ears must be deceiving me.Of all the ridiculous accusations Vince and Darci could throw at me, this is what they chose?“WHat does that mean?” I say slowly, making sure my voice remains calm, level, even as something inside me boils.“You heard her,” Darci says, crossing her arms, smugness radiating off her like cheap perfume. “You used Vince’s company resources for that project, and now that it’s been conveniently handed off to the Henrys, the only explanation is that you leaked it.”I let out a sharp laugh, incredulous. “That’s the best you could come up with? That I somehow stole my own project?”Vince takes a deliberate step forward, his glare cutting through me like a sharpened blade. “It was never your project, Stephanie,” he snaps. “It belonged to my company. My company. Now you’re standing here, trying to play innocent while handing it over to Henry?”I bristle.“It was mine long before you decided to claim it,” I counter, meeting his fury with my
Stephanie’s POVI wake up feeling warm. Too warm.The weight draped across my waist is solid, steady, and unmistakably not a blanket.I freeze.My mind, still sluggish from sleep, struggles to make sense of the situation until reality crashes into me like a tidal wave.Henry.His arm is wrapped around me. His breath, slow and even, ghosts against the nape of my neck. His body, solid and firm, presses lightly against my back.I am in Henry’s arms. Oh my God.Every part of me screams to move, to slip out of his grasp before he wakes up and realizes what’s happening, but I’m completely paralyzed.How did this even happen? I fell asleep on my side of the bed. I made sure of it. I had kept my distance, kept to my side, and yet here I am, wrapped up in Henry like some lovesick fool.I feel the slow rise and fall of his chest, his deep, rhythmic breathing telling me that he’s still asleep.Thank God.I can fix this.Carefully, painstakingly carefully, I inch my body away from him. His arm ti
Stephanie’s POVThe bathroom door opens with a soft creak, releasing a wave of warm steam into the room. I glance up instinctively—and immediately wish I hadn’t.Henry stands before me, fresh from his shower, a towel slung casually around his waist. Droplets of water trail down his sculpted chest, following the ridges of defined muscles before disappearing beneath the towel’s edge. His dark hair is damp, strands clinging to his forehead, giving him an almost boyish look that is completely at odds with the sharp, imposing presence he usually carries.I swallow hard. I shouldn’t be looking. I am absolutely looking.A blush creeps up my neck, and I tear my gaze away, desperate for a distraction.Henry seems entirely unbothered by my flustered state. He towels off his hair, acting as if it’s completely normal for us to be sharing a room—sharing a bed—as if this is just another business arrangement and nothing more.“You’re staring,” he says without looking at me, amusement clear in his vo
Stephanie’s POVI pace the room, arms crossed over my chest, still grappling with the reality of our situation. Sharing a bed with Henry was one thing, but knowing that Joseph would undoubtedly be keeping a close watch on our relationship? That was a whole new level of pressure.I bite my lip, glancing toward Henry, who seems completely at ease as he reviews some notes about our upcoming project.“You know your grandfather is going to be watching us, right?” I finally say, breaking the silence. “I mean, really watching us.”Henry doesn’t even look up. “Of course.”I narrow my eyes. How is he so calm about this?“Doesn’t that bother you?” I press.Now, he does glance up, one brow lifting in mild amusement. “Why would it?”I throw my hands up. “Because it’s weird! He wants to make sure you’re happy, and he’s obviously skeptical of me. What if I mess up; what if he realizes this is all fake?”Henry sets his papers aside and leans back in his chair, arms folding over his chest. “Stephanie
Stephanie’s POVRobert doesn’t even hesitate.“No.” His tone is absolute, sharp, like a gavel hitting a courtroom desk. There is no room for negotiation in his voice, and yet, I don’t falter.I expected this. I anticipated this level of resistance.So, I smile.Not sweetly, but coldly, calculated, like a chess player making their next move.“That’s unfortunate,” I sigh, leaning back in my chair. “I was really hoping we could work something out amicably.”His expression remains unreadable, but his eyes narrow slightly. He doesn’t trust me.Good.I tilt my head, my voice softer now, but laced with a quiet threat. “If you’re really refusing… well, I guess I’ll have no choice but to go public.”A pin-drop silence follows.Henry, seated beside me, remains still, though I sense his amusement. His fingers tap lightly against his knee, as though waiting for the inevitable outcome.“You wouldn’t,” Claire sneers, her nails digging into the fabric of the chair.I smile wider. “Oh, guess.”I lean
Stephanie‘s POVI think I have finally escaped Ryan’s harassment. But just when I think I can breathe again, that same, revolting touch resurfaces.My heart races, and every inch of my body screams in protest.I can't take it anymore. I’m done.I don’t hesitate.With calculated force, I bring my heel down on Ryan’s foot, pressing down hard enough to make sure he feels it.He lets out a choked yelp, his whole body jerking in pain. The room goes silent.All eyes turn toward us. Henry, seated beside me, tenses immediately, his sharp gaze flicking between me and his brother.“What’s wrong?” their mother demands, her voice clipped with irritation.Ryan grits his teeth, schooling his face into something more composed, though I see the flicker of anger in his eyes. “It’s nothing,” he mutters, but when Claire glares at him, he quickly adds, “Stephanie… came onto me.”A heavy silence blankets the room.I blink, stunned for a moment at the sheer audacity of his lie.Ryan exhales sharply, wincin