The soft light of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. Seraphina stirred, slowly waking from a deep, peaceful sleep. She felt a gentle touch on her lips and opened her eyes to find Damien sitting beside her on the bed, a tray of breakfast in his hands.“Good morning, most beautiful,” he said with a warm smile. “I thought I’d surprise you with breakfast in bed.”Seraphina sat up, her heart swelling with affection. The tray was laden with freshly baked croissants, a bowl of mixed berries, and a steaming cup of coffee. “Damien, this is wonderful,” she murmured, touched by his thoughtfulness.“Is it? Because I have another surprise for you,” he said. “How do you feel about a picnic today?”Seraphina’s eyes lit up with delight. “A picnic sounds perfect,” she replied, her mind already drifting to the possibilities of the day. “Where are we going?”“It’s a secret,” Damien teased, leaning in to kiss her gently. “But I promise you’ll love it.”They spent the
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, just enjoying each other’s presence. The world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in their own little bubble of happiness.“So, tell me something embarrassing about you,” Damien said, breaking the silence.“Hmm,” Seraphina said, pretending to think. “Well, there was that time I tried to dye my hair purple in high school and ended up looking like a grape.”Damien laughed. “I bet you rocked it.”“Not even close,” Seraphina replied, giggling. “I had to wear a hat for weeks until it faded.”“Well, I’m sure you made it look good,” Damien said, leaning in to kiss her.The kiss was sweet and tender, filled with the promise of their deepening love. When they pulled apart, Seraphina sighed contentedly.“This is perfect,” she said, leaning her head on Damien’s shoulder. “Just you, me, and this beautiful day.”“It really is,” Damien agreed, wrapping his arm around her. “Let’s make a pact. No matter what happens, we’ll always find time
Alex sat at his desk, staring blankly at his wall in his office. His mind kept wandering back to Seraphina and Damien's latest social media post. They looked so happy together, so in love.He felt a pang in his chest, a mix of jealousy and longing. Why couldn't he have that with Seraphina? Why did she choose Damien over him?Alex sighed and rubbed his eyes. He had been thinking about this nonstop since their separation, even though it was his own doing. He couldn't focus on work, couldn't sleep at night. All he could think about was Seraphina and how much he wanted her back.He slowly got up from his chair and walked to the window. Staring out at the city skyline, he felt a sense of emptiness, of loss. He knew he needed to do something to get his mind off Seraphina, but what?"Damn you, Damien," Alex muttered to himself. "You think you can just pop in and take her away from me? Not a chance."He paced around his office, his mind racing with plans and strategies. He would show Damien w
Her heart skipped a beat as she looked up to see Alex standing before her, his eyes locked on hers with an intensity that made her breath catch.He was wearing the same cologne she had bought him on their anniversary, the same scent that had driven her wild with desire. She tried to brush it off as a coincidence, but her traitorous body betrayed her, responding to the familiar scent with a flutter in her stomach.Alex's hair was freshly cut, styled in the same way she had always loved. His eyes seemed to bore into her soul, and his full lips curled into a smile that made her heart race. She tried to step back, but he grasped her elbow, holding her in place."Don't go," he whispered, his voice low and husky, sending shivers down her spine.Seraphina's mind raced as she tried to process the sudden encounter. She had avoided him for so long, and now here they were, face to face, with only inches between them. She was confused - how did he know which street she lived on? She had moved
Seraphina unlocked the door to her apartment, her hands trembling slightly as she turned the key. She stepped inside, closing the door behind her and leaning against it for a moment. The encounter with Alex had left her shaken, and she needed a few seconds to gather herself.Taking a deep breath, she walked into the living room and dropped her bag on the couch. The space felt unusually quiet, amplifying the whirlwind of thoughts in her mind. She replayed the interaction with Alex, his intense gaze, the way he had held her arm, the cryptic words he had spoken. She felt a mix of anger and nostalgia tugging at her heart.Moving to the kitchen, she poured herself a glass of water, hoping it would calm her nerves. As she sipped, her eyes drifted to the small bouquet of peonies on the counter - Alex’s gift. She had left it there that morning, not knowing what to do with it.“Why now?” she whispered to herself, feeling a pang of frustration. “Why did he have to come back and complicate eve
Meanwhile, in her own apartment, Seraphina sat alone at the kitchen table, absentmindedly stirring her coffee. The once-cozy kitchen felt cold and empty without Damien's usual cheerful presence. He usually comes to her place after work. She glanced at the clock, noting that he had already left for work without their usual morning call.She sighed, a feeling of loneliness settling over her. She missed the little things - the way he would surprise her with her favorite croissants, the affectionate kisses on her forehead, the whispered "I love you" as they started their day. Those moments had become rare as Damien threw himself into salvaging his company from Alex's relentless sabotage.Seraphina picked up her phone, scrolling through the texts they had exchanged recently. They were mostly brief updates or questions about mundane things. There were no sweet messages or romantic plans, nothing that reflected the deep connection they used to share.She set her phone down and took a deep
Alex sat at the head of a long, polished mahogany table in his expansive office, the room filled with the hum of hushed conversations and the rustling of papers. The walls were lined with framed accolades and photos of Alex with influential business figures, but today, his focus was solely on the blueprints and market analysis reports spread out before him.His team of top executives and advisors sat around the table, their eyes fixed on Alex as he meticulously outlined his plan. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation and a hint of trepidation."Let's get started," Alex said, his voice cutting through the murmurs. He stood up, pointing to a large whiteboard filled with diagrams and notes. "We need to hit them where it hurts the most... their market position and their reputation." Talking about Damien’s company.He tapped a section of the board labeled "Client Base." "We've identified their top clients. These are the ones we need to target first. If we can undercut his prices an
The following day, Alex’s office buzzed with quiet anticipation. The groundwork had been laid, and now it was time for a more aggressive maneuver. He dialed another number, this time connecting to a shadowy figure known only as “Ghost,” a hacker with a reputation for digital sabotage.Alex leaned back in his chair, a phone pressed to his ear. The dim light of his office cast shadows across his face, highlighting his focused expression.“Ghost,” he greeted curtly. “I have a job for you. Target: Damien Blackwood’s company. I want website crashes, data breaches, system failures... the works.”There was a brief pause before a calm, assured voice responded, “Consider it done. You’ll see the results within 24 hours.”Alex hung up, a satisfied grin spreading across his face. The digital onslaught was about to begin, and he was eager to see Damien’s reaction.The following morning, chaos erupted at Damien’s company. The first sign of trouble came when the website crashed repeatedly, each time