Sarah's POVAs I walked back to my room, Adrian’s words from earlier played on a loop in my mind. "I’m here. For you and Nora. Not because of the contract or any obligation, but because I care."It had been years since someone said something like that to me—and meant it.I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at my laptop. The financial projections I’d been reviewing earlier now felt meaningless. My life had always been about survival, about making it through one day to the next without falling apart. But Adrian took that away. I could sleep peacefully without having nightmares of not being able to foot Nora's bills or even keep a roof over our head. He was beginning to thaw at my walls which were there for a reason.People like Adrian didn’t stay. They didn’t fight for someone like me, not once they saw the scars and baggage I carried.But as much as I wanted to protect myself, I couldn’t deny how much he’d already done for Nora and me. He’d given us stability, a sense of safety I ha
Adrian’s POVThe steady rhythm of my car’s engine filled the silence as I drove toward the office. The morning rush was in full swing, and yet my thoughts weren’t on the day’s meetings or the endless emails awaiting my attention.They were on Sarah.I shook my head as though the motion would drain away the thoughts I was having. I pulled into the parking garage and stepped out, the cool air brushing against me as I headed toward the elevator. The elevator doors opened to the sleek expanse of Blackwood Enterprises’ top floor, where glass walls and polished marble floors reflected the sunlight streaming in from the large windows. Neville greeted me with his usual efficiency, handing me a schedule as I stepped into the office.“Good morning, Mr. Blackwood. You have a meeting with the marketing team at 10 AM, a quarterly review at noon, and Mr. Carson is scheduled to arrive at 2 PM to discuss the land acquisition,” he said, his tone brisk.“Perfect. Let Carson know I’m expecting him,” I
Sarah’s POVTasha began pulling snacks from her bag — chips, a pack of pizza, a tub of ice cream, and a bottle of wine. “Mary Poppins, much?”She laughed, throwing her head back. “I wanted to come prepared. We’re going to talk, laugh, and eat like we’re twenty again,” she declared, kicking off her shoes.I chuckled and grabbed a couple of glasses. “You’re lucky I don’t mind the mess you’re about to make.”Tasha grinned, popping open the wine. “Mess? This is organized chaos, my dear. Now, sit and tell me what’s been going on. I want all the juicy details.”I hesitated, unsure of how much to share. Tasha wasn’t just my best friend; she was my rock. Still, I wasn’t sure I was ready to unpack all my feelings about Adrian.“Well,” I started, “Nora’s doing much better. She’s getting stronger every day, and her doctor says she’ll be ready to return to her normal activities and go back to school soon.”“That’s great news!” Tasha squealed, raising her glass. “To Nora’s recovery!”I clinked m
Adrian’s POVI entered my study to find Julian pacing back and forth, his polished shoes clicking against the hardwood floor. He looked disheveled, his usually impeccable suit slightly wrinkled and his tie loosened. That alone was enough to tell me something was wrong. Julian was never anything but poised, at least outwardly.“Julian,” I said, shutting the door behind me. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”He stopped pacing, turning to face me with a grim expression. “It’s worse than that.”I raised an eyebrow, leaning casually against my desk. “You’re going to have to be more specific. What’s going on?”Julian hesitated, running a hand through his hair. “The branch I’m managing, it’s falling apart. The investors are pulling out, the staff morale is at an all-time low, and the numbers… they’re nonexistent.”I folded my arms, waiting for him to continue.“I’ve tried everything I can think of to fix it,” he said, his voice rising slightly. “But nothing’s working. And if Dad finds out…
Sarah’s POVAdrian's expression shifted as he stared at his phone, the tension rolling off him in waves. Even Nora noticed, her small hands tugging at his sleeve.“Uncle Adrian, are you okay?” she asked innocently, tilting her head.Adrian forced a small smile and kissed her forehead. “I’m fine, sunshine. Go on and finish your cartoon.”Nora hesitated, her big eyes darting between us, but eventually nodded and scampered off to the other end of the couch. I watched Adrian stand, his movements tense, and head toward the balcony with his phone.“Adrian?” I called after him, but he was already closing the sliding door behind him.Something about the way he’d said “work stuff” earlier didn’t sit right with me. And now, seeing his reaction to that call, I knew it was more than that.“What’s wrong with Uncle Adrian?” Nora asked, her voice breaking the silence.I glanced at her, offering a reassuring smile. “He’s just busy, sweetheart. Grown-up things.”She nodded and returned her attention t
Adrian’s POVI shut the door to my study and let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. The quiet hum of the desk lamp greeted me as I sank into the chair, my fingers instinctively running through my hair. The tension from the evening still clung to me, even after Sarah’s cooking and Nora’s innocent antics had offered a brief reprieve.Julian.He always meant well, at least for the company, but his mistakes had a way of turning into my problems. I pulled my phone from my pocket, scrolling through the messages I’d ignored earlier. They painted a picture of a branch on the verge of chaos—and a father who was just waiting for me to fail.A sharp knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. I frowned.“Come in,” I called, expecting Sarah—or maybe even Nora with another clever excuse to delay bedtime.It was Sarah, holding two steaming mugs. She had changed into her pajamas, an indication that she was getting ready for bed. She closed the door behind her and crossed the room, p
Sarah’s POVThe sound of laughter from the living room drifted into the kitchen as I dried the last plate and placed it back in the cabinet. Nora was giggling at some cartoon, her high-pitched squeals filling the air. She ought to start school as soon as possible, the time she was spending in front of the TV was getting too much. Adrian had been quiet all morning, leaving later in the afternoon for the office without much more than a brief goodbye. I hadn’t pushed him—he had enough on his plate, and I could tell his mind was already drowning in work.“Done, Mommy!” Nora announced, skipping into the kitchen with a triumphant smile. She held up her empty juice box as evidence.“Good job, sweetheart,” I said, kneeling to her level and brushing a stray curl from her face. “How about we take a walk to the park later?”Her eyes lit up. “Can we get ice cream too?”“We’ll see,” I teased, tapping her nose.As Nora ran off to gather her shoes, I found myself thinking about Adrian. The weight
Adrian's POVThe house was quiet again, save for the faint hum of the air conditioning. Nora was fast asleep in her room, her tiny hands clutching the stuffed bunny she refused to part with. I lingered in her doorway for a moment, watching her chest rise and fall in the rhythm of deep sleep.She reminded me of Sarah who was resilient, full of life, and always finding joy in the smallest things. It was one of the many things I admired about her. Sarah had brought light into my life in ways I hadn’t thought possible.Seeing them together reminded me of the love only a mother could give. It made me miss my mum.I closed Nora’s door softly and walked down the hallway toward the living room. Sarah was there, folding the throw blanket Nora had been using earlier. She looked up when she heard my footsteps, a small smile curving her lips.“Thanks for carrying her,” she said, tucking the blanket neatly over the arm of the couch.“No problem,” I replied, leaning against the wall. “She’s a great
Adrian’s POVFriday dawned grey and golden, with streaks of early light filtering through the blinds. I was already awake, staring at the ceiling and listening to the soft rhythm of Sarah’s breathing beside me. The day had come—the handover, the press, the board, the gala.My phone buzzed on the nightstand. 6:14 AM. Julian.Julian: You ready to be the face of Blackwood Enterprises?I smirked at the text and responded:Me: I was born ready. Or at least, I fake it well enough.Sarah stirred and rolled toward me, eyes still heavy with sleep. “It’s today, isn’t it?”“Yeah,” I whispered, brushing her hair back. “The big day.”She reached for my hand beneath the covers, her fingers curling around mine. “You’ve earned this.”“I know,” I said quietly. “But it still feels like walking into a storm, just this time, I’m the one holding the lightning.”That earned a sleepy smile. “And a really good suit.”I kissed her forehead. “Go back to sleep. I’ll try not to wake the whole house.”*By 8:00 A
Sarah’s POVThe smell of grilled chicken filled the air, mingling with the faint sound of cartoon laughter from the living room. Emily stood beside me at the kitchen island, chopping vegetables like a pro while I stirred the pot on the stove. The kitchen was warm, lively, and full of the kind of chaos I had grown to cherish.“I swear, if Nora teaches Alex one more dramatic line from those princess movies, I’m telling her you and Adrian will leave her alone for a week,” Emily said, tossing sliced peppers into a bowl.I laughed. “She probably learned it from you. You’re the one who let them watch Frozen three times in one day.”Emily rolled her eyes. “That was self-defense. They ambushed me before coffee.”From the living room, we could hear the kids yelling excitedly about who was winning their game of “magic couch lava.” Their laughter echoed off the walls, blending seamlessly into the cozy rhythm of the evening.The front door opened and shut, followed by the unmistakable sound of tw
Adrian’s POVThe boardroom was finally empty.I leaned back in my chair, the quiet hum of the city drifting through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Blackwood Tower. The meeting had gone exactly as expected—formalities, final signatures, and an overuse of the word “legacy.” It was official now. The handover ceremony was set for next week.I’d thought I’d feel relief.Instead, I felt... still. Like the moment before a storm breaks or the silence that follows a gunshot. This wasn’t just a transition of power. This was a final blow to the people who tried to destroy everything I stood for. Rome. Daniella. The chaos they’d tried to bury us under—it was about to come to light.And I wasn’t sure if I was ready for the mess that would follow.A smile tugged at my lips as I recalled Sarah's text. She always knew how to ground me. Just a few words from her had a way of steadying the war going on in my head.I stared at the screen a second longer before locking the phone and rising to my feet. M
Sarah’s POVThe house was quiet when I woke up the next morning. Adrian had left early for work, and Nora was already off to school. I stood at the kitchen counter, sipping my coffee, the warmth of the mug comforting as the cool morning air drifted in from the open window. It felt like the calm after a storm, the kind of peace I hadn’t realized I was craving.Emily was sitting on the couch when I walked into the living room, her legs tucked underneath her, a blanket draped over her lap. The silence between us was still new as we'd only really started getting to know each other.“How are you holding up?” I asked, setting my coffee mug down on the table and sitting across from her.She gave a soft, almost relieved sigh. "I don’t think I ever really knew what peace felt like until now," she said, her voice low but steady. "I spent so many years just... surviving. And then, when the divorce happened, I thought I’d lose myself in it all. But now, being here, having time to breathe, I feel
Adrian’s POVSleep didn’t come easy.Not because I wasn’t tired—I was. Bone-deep and soul-weary in that quiet, post-confession kind of way. But something about tonight stirred everything in me. Her words echoed through my head on repeat.“You make it feel safe.”That did something to me. Cut through layers I didn’t even know I still wore.I watched her breathing even out, her lashes fluttering slightly, one hand curled beneath her cheek. She looked peaceful. Like something sacred. And for the first time in a long time, I felt like I didn’t have to earn the right to breathe beside her. I just could.I slipped out of bed quietly, careful not to wake her. The floorboards creaked under my weight, but she didn’t stir. I pulled on my hoodie—the same one I’d worn on our walk—and stepped out onto the porch.The night hadn’t changed. Still full of stars. Still wrapped in that quiet, velvet stillness.But I had changed.I ran a hand over my face and sat on the steps, elbows on my knees, staring
Sarah’s POVI couldn't sleep.The atmosphere was too beautiful to waste on sleeping, so I struck up a conversation just as I felt Adrian nodding off beside me.“Do you want to go for a walk? The moon looks nicely bright,” I whispered in his ear.He stirred, turning slightly toward me. “Now?”“Just for a little while,” I said. “Please.”He opened his eyes, gave me a groggy but indulgent smile, and nodded. “Give me two minutes.”I slipped on my sweater and socks while he pulled on a hoodie and sneakers. We crept out of the cabin like teenagers sneaking out after curfew, careful not to wake Nora. The air outside was crisp but gentle, and the sky was a velvet canvas scattered with stars. The moon hung low and full, casting silver light across the lake.We walked in silence at first, the sound of leaves crunching beneath our feet the only interruption. I took his hand and he gave mine a reassuring squeeze.“I used to dream about places like this when I was little,” I said quietly. “Peacefu
Adrian’s POVI hadn't expected Sarah to leave the house so early on a Saturday morning but when she said she had to see Dr. Monroe, I didn't stop her. That morning, breakfast was a quiet affair without Sarah and Julian around, and with things still being a bit awkward between Emily and I. After breakfast, Emily offered to take the kids to the park. I helped her get them ready, packing a basket for a little picnic while they were there. Once they left, the house was empty for the first time in a long while. It reminded me of the days before I met Sarah. They were dark and lonely days which blended into each other. Sarah had been the beacon of light I didn't know I needed. I made my way to my study to get some work done. Operations at the company had continued without supervision while the chaos about who would be chairman went on which meant I had a lot to cover now that it was mostly over. I briefly thought about Dad who was now on permanent bed rest in his home. If he had his w
Sarah’s POVThe house was quiet.Emily and her kids were asleep, and Julian was staying the night out.Nora had fallen asleep in Adrian’s arms during bedtime stories, and he'd tucked her in like always—soft smile on his face, even after everything that happened earlier. I was curled up on the couch now, knees hugged to my chest, a blanket draped over me. My hair was still slightly damp from a quick shower, but the ache in my chest had nothing to do with fatigue.Adrian came into the room with two mugs of chamomile tea. He handed one to me without a word and sat beside me, close enough that our knees touched.For a few minutes, we just sat there in silence, the weight of the day slowly settling.And then, softly, I said, “I thought I was going to break again.”He turned toward me, eyes gentle. “But you didn’t.”“I know,” I whispered. “That’s what’s strange. I thought seeing him would send me spiraling like last time. That the fear would come back… the shaking, the flashbacks, the guilt
Adrian’s POVIt was finally Friday, the day I'd been dreading all week.It was the day Sarah chose to meet with Michael. The moment I saw his name flash on the private security log, I felt something cold settle in my chest.Michael.I hadn't seen him since that day in the motel—the day he barged back in Sarah's life and sent her spiraling into a seizure. The day I had looked him straight in the eye and told him to never come near her again.And yet… here he was. Again.I glanced at Sarah sitting beside me in the private lounge we’d secured for this meeting. She was tense, shoulders rigid, hands clasped so tightly her knuckles were white. Julian had wanted to be in the room. I told him to wait outside—but close.She shouldn't have had to see him again. I hated myself for even allowing this meeting to happen.But she said she wanted closure. Not answers—because Michael had none—but closure. Finality.The door opened. He walked in like he hadn’t thrown our lives into chaos the last time