Sarah's POV I breathed in deeply as the memories of that night came rushing back. "It was when Nora was three years old," I began. "I had just gained admission to study part-time at the university, and I was staying with Tasha at the time." I paused and glanced at Adrian. His gaze was focused on me as he listened intently. "Tasha was still a nursing student at the time and was away on a night shift, leaving Nora and I alone at home."I felt a sob clawing its way up my throat as I continued. "I had just put Nora to bed when someone picked the lock and forced their way in. Turns out it was my ex.""Nora's dad?" He asked, his eyes a silent comfort. I nodded in response. "He had just been released from jail earlier that day and he managed to track me down."I flinched as I remembered how when I had refused to follow him, Michael had thrown me against the wall and punched me in the guts. It was that sight Nora woke up to. Adrian's jaw tightened as I spoke, his hands clenched into fis
Adrian’s POVThe soft glow of sunlight streamed through the kitchen windows as I descended the stairs, the scent of fresh coffee filling the air. It was one of those rare mornings where everything felt normal. Peaceful.Sarah was bustling around the kitchen, dressed in a simple but elegant blouse and jeans, her hair swept into a loose ponytail. Nora sat at the kitchen island, humming a cheerful tune while munching on a piece of toast."Good morning, ladies," I greeted, taking a seat across from Nora."Good morning, Daddy!" Nora chirped, her face lighting up with a grin. My heart felt like it would burst open. I didn't think she'd take what I said the day before so seriously. Sarah glanced over her shoulder, a spatula in hand. "Eat your breakfast quickly, Missie." She scolded, hiding a smile. "What does the best chef have for us today?" I asked, pouring myself a cup of coffee. Sarah rolled her eyes, but I caught the faint smile tugging at her lips. "Toast and scrambled eggs."As we
Sarah’s POVThe faint hum of coffee machines and the quiet chatter of customers had been my background for most of the day. The cafe had been my haven, a place to work and let my thoughts roam freely. I had spent hours drafting ideas for my new freelance position and working on my new article, a sense of accomplishment warming my chest.As the day waned, I glanced at my watch. I needed to get home early enough to prepare for the dinner Adrian had promised. A soft smile tugged at my lips as I gathered my things. Dinner as a family—it was such a simple thing, yet it filled me with a warmth I hadn’t felt in years.By the time I got home, Nora was already playing in the living room, her laughter echoing through the house. “Mommy!” she called, running toward me.“Hey, sweetheart,” I said, bending down to scoop her up. “Let’s get you all dressed up for dinner, okay?”Her eyes sparkled. “What should I wear? Something sparkly?”I laughed, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Something ni
Adrian’s POVThe moment Sarah fell asleep, I slipped out of the room, careful not to wake her. She was exhausted, and I hated that she had to go through this mess because of me. She didn’t deserve to carry the weight of my family’s power games or the vultures circling her past.If she hadn't gotten involved with me, her past wouldn't be plastered all over the place. Neither she or Nora would be in danger.I made my way downstairs, the quiet of the house doing little to soothe the turmoil inside me. My phone was still in my hand, the text from my father glaring back at me like a taunt.“Fix this mess, Adrian. Now.”Fix this? The audacity of the man. My father had spent years molding me into the perfect heir, dictating every move, every decision. And now, with Sarah’s past dredged up and splattered across headlines, he probably thought he could use this as leverage to remind me who truly held the reins.Not this time.I dialed his number, pacing the length of the living room as it rang.
Sarah’s POVThe night dragged on like a bad dream I couldn’t escape. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw headlines screaming about my past, and Adrian’s name tangled in the mess. I tossed and turned, clutching the sheets, praying for the darkness to give me some peace.But peace didn’t come.When dawn broke, my body finally succumbed to exhaustion. It wasn’t until the sun had climbed high enough to seep through the cracks in the curtains that I stirred awake. Dragging myself off the bed, I headed to the bathroom to freshen up after which I passed by Adrian's room.I knocked to check if he was still in. There was no response. Checking his study, I noticed he'd left home earlier. The cup of half-drank coffee sat on his table, a telltale sign that he hadn't slept throughout the night. I turned on my phone hoping for a message, but there was nothing. Adrian had left without a word, and that made my guilt worsen. He wouldn't be in this mess if not for me.A knot of worry formed in my s
Adrian's POVThe boardroom felt colder than usual, even though the temperature hadn’t changed. Maybe it was the weight of the glares directed at me, or the suffocating tension that filled the air.I sat at the head of the long mahogany table, my hands folded calmly in front of me, masking the storm brewing beneath my exterior. Around me sat the board members, most of them my father’s hand-picked allies. Loyal to him first, and to me only when it suited their agenda.The scandal had given them the excuse they’d been waiting for—to question my leadership, my judgment, my very place at the helm of Blackwood Enterprises."Let’s get started," Richard Blackwood’s voice cut through the silence, commanding as always. He sat at the far end of the table, his presence as domineering as ever. He wasn’t the chairman anymore, but everyone knew his influence still held sway.“As you all know, the recent media storm surrounding Adrian has brought unwelcome attention to the company,” Richard began, hi
Sarah’s POVI hung up the phone, clutching it tightly as if it could somehow bridge the distance between Adrian and me. His words were reassuring, but I knew him well enough to sense the weight he was carrying. It wasn’t just the scandal or the board—it was the relentless expectation to prove himself, to be everything everyone demanded of him.The thought made my heart ache.I glanced at Nora, who was sprawled on the living room floor with her coloring books, completely unaware of the storm swirling around us. Her innocence was a fragile shield, one I was determined to protect at all costs.But how could I protect her when I could barely hold myself together?I needed air. Grabbing my coat, I called out to Nora. “Sweetheart, I’m stepping outside for a minute. Stay here, okay? I’ll be right back.”“Okay, Mommy!” she chirped, not looking up from her drawing.I stepped onto the porch, the crisp morning air biting against my skin. Taking a deep breath, I tried to clear my head, but the we
Adrian’s POVI hung up the phone with Sarah, the weight of her words still lingering in my chest. The conversation had left me with more questions than answers. She sounded calm, but I knew her too well to miss the cracks in her voice. Something was off. But before I could dwell on it any longer, Neville entered the room with a sense of urgency in his step.“Sir,” he said, holding up a tablet with the headline flashing across the screen. “You need to see this.”I took the tablet from him, my eyes scanning the words. The headline screamed at me like a cruel joke: “Sarah Blackwood’s Past Exposed—More Secrets Uncovered.” The article was filled with old photos of Sarah, ones I’d never seen, not the kind of images anyone would want resurfacing. Each photo painted her as someone far removed from the woman I knew—someone caught in a life she’d long since left behind.There were many more posts similar to that one.My heart pounded as I looked at the text beneath the photos, the commentary de
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