RAFFAEL DAYS LATER The contract in front of me blurred as I tried, for the fifth time, to focus on it. Numbers and clauses swirled on the page, meaningless. My pen hovered above the dotted line, but my hand didn’t move. It wasn’t the deal that bothered me—it was solid, lucrative even. Yet, no matter how much I told myself to pay attention, my thoughts drifted. To her. And him. I leaned back in my chair, exhaling slowly. Jordan. A sudden regular patron of the club. The guy’s name was an itch I couldn’t scratch. I’d noticed he had always been asking for Erica. Always lingering. He spent generously, which, on paper, should’ve pleased me. The whole point of this business was to rake in cash, and she was doing exactly that. A loyal, generous client like him was a jackpot. But every time I saw him with her, I felt the same sharp pang of irritation. He looked at her like he knew her, like he had the right to laugh with her, to sit too close and touch her hand. And she didn’t stop him.
CLARISSA I woke up to a throbbing ache in my skull, the kind that made my entire body feel like it weighed a ton. The room smelled faintly of alcohol and cheap cologne, and the sheets around me were tangled and suffocating. For a few seconds, I was disoriented, my mind foggy from whatever had fueled last night’s disaster. But then it hit me like a freight train—the club, the drinks, the tears, Ray. Panic gripped me, icy and relentless. I turned my head, almost unwillingly, and there he was. Ray. Lying on his back, his chest bare and his face calm, as though this was just another ordinary morning for him. His dark hair was tousled, his features relaxed in sleep. It made me sick. I sat up so fast that the room tilted, and I had to steady myself by grabbing the edge of the bed. My heart pounded as memories from last night rushed back in disjointed flashes—his voice coaxing me, his hands on my skin, and the alcohol that made it all feel like a haze. My stomach twisted in revulsion. “W
ERICA The music thumped through the walls of the private lounge, muffled but persistent, a constant reminder of where I was. The air inside was thick, dimly lit by the faint glow of the neon signs outside. I sat across from Jordan, my only friend, the only person who felt like a piece of my past in a world I barely recognized anymore. His expression was a mixture of determination and concern, and his hands rested on the table between us, palms up, as if he was physically offering me something I couldn’t take. “Erica, you can’t keep doing this,” he said, his voice steady but filled with frustration. “This isn’t you. It’s not the girl I grew up with.” I avoided his gaze, staring down at my hands. “That girl doesn’t exist anymore, Jordan.” “That’s not true,” he said firmly. “She’s sitting right in front of me. You’re just stuck in this… situation, but you’re still her. And you can get out of this. We can get you out.” I let out a dry laugh, shaking my head. “You don’t understan
ERICA Raffael’s glare burned into me like fire, his jaw clenched so tight I could almost hear his teeth grinding. “Who the hell do you think you are, Erica?” His voice was low but filled with so much venom it made my chest tighten. “Entertaining your little lovers under my roof?” My heart sank as I stood frozen, trying to steady my breathing. “Raffael, it’s not what you think—” “Not what I think?” He cut me off, his voice rising. “I walk into my club and see you trying to lock lips with some nobody, and you dare tell me it’s not what I think? Don’t insult my intelligence.” “It’s none of your business!” I snapped, my voice shaking but firm. “You own my debt, not me. My personal life has nothing to do with you.” His laugh was cold, cruel, and sharp enough to make my skin crawl. “Nothing to do with me? Everything you do has to do with me, Erica. You’re mine until your debt is paid, and I don’t take kindly to being disrespected.” I felt a surge of anger rise in my chest. “Yo
ERICA The ride home was suffocating. The silence between us was loud—deafening, really. Raffael didn’t say a word, but I could feel his anger like a storm brewing in the cramped space of the car. He gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles were white, his jaw clenched, and his eyes fixed on the road like it had personally offended him. I wanted to say something, to defend myself, but the weight of his fury kept me frozen. What could I say, anyway? He wouldn’t believe me. He never did. I stared out the window, the neon lights of the city blurring into streaks of color as we sped through the streets. My chest was tight, my mind racing with everything that had happened. Jordan’s face kept flashing in my head—how he’d tried to protect me, how he’d offered to help even when he had so little to give. And how Raffael had beaten him for it. My stomach churned at the memory, guilt and anger mixing into a toxic cocktail. Jordan didn’t deserve that. He didn’t deserve to be dragged
RAFFAELI woke up earlier than usual, the sunlight streaming through the windows irritating my already pissed mood. The faint sound of birds chirping outside did nothing to soften my disposition. I’d barely slept last night, my mind replaying the argument with Erica over and over. Her sharp words still stung, but I brushed it off. She’d learn her place soon enough.I threw on a shirt and headed downstairs, expecting the usual smell of coffee brewing and breakfast sizzling on the stove. But when I walked into the kitchen, I was met with silence—and an empty countertop. My brows furrowed as I glanced around. The table wasn’t set, and the kitchen was untouched.“What the hell?” I muttered under my breath.I waited for a minute, expecting Erica to come rushing in, offering some half-hearted apology for being late. But there was nothing. Just more silence.My irritation flared. She was pushing her limits again. After last night, she should’ve known better than to test my patience. I storme
Clarissa pushed her way into the club, her heart pounding harder than the bass reverberating through the walls. The usual haze of smoke and neon lights felt suffocating, but she barely noticed. Panic gripped her chest like a vice, making it hard to breathe. Her eyes darted across the room, searching desperately until they locked on Ray. He was lounging in his usual corner booth in the VIP section, his signature smirk in place as he held a glass of whiskey. The sight of him brought no comfort—only more fear. Without hesitation, she moved toward him, weaving through the crowd with shaky steps. When she reached the booth, Ray glanced up, his smirk widening briefly before his brow furrowed. “Clarissa,” he drawled, leaning back against the plush leather. “What’s got you in such a rush? You look like—” “Shut up,” she snapped, sliding into the seat across from him. Her voice was trembling, her hands gripping her purse like it was the only thing keeping her grounded. “I need to talk to
ERICA The world felt distant and heavy, like I was trapped under a suffocating weight I couldn’t push off. My head throbbed, and my body ached as if I’d been wrung dry and left to freeze. Blinking slowly, I tried to focus on the blurry shapes around me. They shifted and sharpened until I could make out the outline of a man in white—a doctor—fussing over an IV bag that was connected to my arm. My gaze drifted, searching for something familiar, and then I saw him. Raffael. He stood near the doctor, his arms crossed tightly against his chest, his face etched with a tension I rarely saw in him. He looked… worried? No, that couldn’t be right. Raffael didn’t worry. Not about me. I tried to move, but the effort sent a wave of pain through my body, pulling a weak groan from my lips. Immediately, Raffael’s head snapped toward me. His eyes locked on mine, relief softening the hard lines of his jaw. “Erica,” he said, his voice lower and gentler than I’d ever heard it. He stepped closer, h
MONTHS LATERThe hospital room was quiet, save for the soft beeping of the monitors and the occasional cooing sound from the tiny bundle in Erica’s arms. Warm sunlight streamed through the large windows, casting a golden glow over the space. It felt peaceful—like the whole world had stilled just for this moment.Raffael sat beside the hospital bed, his eyes never leaving them. His wife. His child. His entire world wrapped up in a single frame. He had never known a love like this before, never imagined he could feel so much all at once.“She’s perfect,” he murmured, reaching out to gently trace a finger over their daughter’s tiny hand. The baby stirred slightly, her fingers curling instinctively around his. His heart clenched.Erica let out a soft laugh, exhaustion evident in her voice, but her eyes shone with warmth. “She has your nose.”Raffael smirked. “And your lips.”Erica glanced down at their baby, brushing her thumb over the soft skin of her cheek. “I still can’t believe she’s
ERICA’S POVThe house felt strangely quiet after Clarissa and her mother left, as if all the tension had been sucked out of the air along with them.Raffael’s mother, still standing in the middle of the living room, let out a long, tired sigh. She turned to her son, her expression softer now—almost vulnerable.“I owe you an apology,” she said quietly. “I should have told you the truth a long time ago.”Raffael didn’t respond immediately. His jaw was tight, his hands still clenched at his sides. I could tell he was still processing everything that had just happened.His mother continued, her voice thick with emotion. “Clarissa’s mother has used this secret to blackmail me for years. Every time I tried to stand my ground, she would threaten to tell you. I was so afraid of losing you, of what you might think of me.” She swallowed hard. “But today… today, you stood up for me.”Raffael finally exhaled, his shoulders loosening just slightly. He stepped forward, his voice steady. “Nothing wi
ERICA’S POVIt had been a week since we got back from Chicago, but the tension in the air made it feel like no time had passed at all.Things should have felt different. The house should have felt like home again. But instead, it felt like we were holding our breath, waiting for the next storm to hit.And today, it finally did.Raffael’s mother had insisted on this meeting. She claimed it was necessary after Clarissa went to her, sobbing about their engagement being over. Raffael had been furious when he found out. He didn’t want to see Clarissa, let alone entertain her or her mother in his house. He had made it clear that whatever history they shared was over.But in the end, he agreed.Not for Clarissa. Not for her mother.For his own mother. And, in some way, for me.Now, we sat in the living room, and whatever peace we had hoped to maintain had long since shattered.Clarissa’s mother sat stiffly across from us, her face pinched in disapproval. Her sharp gaze moved between Raffael
ERICA’S POVI sat in the living room, curled up on the couch, staring blankly at the coffee table. My hands rested in my lap, fingers intertwined, squeezing together every now and then just to feel something—anything—other than the dull ache in my chest.The house was quiet. Unsettlingly so.The silence pressed in from all sides, heavy and suffocating, amplifying the thoughts I had tried so hard to push away. The weight of it sat in my chest, making it hard to breathe, hard to think.I hadn’t seen Raffael since last night. Since that moment. Since my world turned upside down.I told myself I didn’t care. That I didn’t want to see him, that I didn’t need to hear whatever excuse he had prepared.But the truth was, I had spent the whole day waiting.Waiting for him to come to me.Waiting for him to explain.Waiting for something.Something that never came.The hours stretched painfully, each second dragging on longer than the last. Every small sound in the house made my heart jolt, only
RAFFAELThe conference room was empty, silent except for the faint hum of the air conditioning. I paced back and forth, dragging a hand through my hair, my thoughts a chaotic mess.I hadn’t slept.Not a second.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the look on Erica’s face when she walked in last night—the shock, the hurt, the betrayal. It burned into my mind like a wound that wouldn’t close. She hadn’t given me a chance to explain, hadn’t let me tell her that I pulled away the second Clarissa kissed me.But why would she?She had every right to shut me out.I had spent the entire night waiting for her to open her door, knocking, calling her name, begging for just a second of her time—but she never did. The silence on the other side of that door was louder than any words she could have said.And this morning?Nothing.Not a single sign of her.The realization that she didn’t even want to see me twisted like a knife in my chest.I clenched my jaw, my hands fisting at my sides as I turned
ERICA’S POVThe moment Raffael pulled away, everything inside me shattered.I stood frozen in the doorway, my feet rooted to the floor, my breath caught somewhere between my lungs and throat. My vision blurred as my brain struggled to process what I had just seen. Raffael. Clarissa. Their lips.I felt sick.Clarissa’s eyes landed on me first. The corners of her lips curled into a smug, knowing smirk, and her gaze flicked between me and Raffael like she had just won some twisted game.Then Raffael turned. The second he saw me, all the color drained from his face, his eyes going wide with shock and something that almost looked like fear.“Erica—” His voice was sharp, urgent, desperate.But I didn’t wait to hear whatever excuse he had.I turned and ran.My heart pounded violently against my ribs, my stomach twisting into painful knots as I rushed down the hallway. I could hear the quick, heavy thuds of Raffael’s footsteps right behind me, hear the way he called my name, voice full of urg
RAFFAEL’S POVI sat at my desk, fingers flying over the keyboard as I worked, my eyes fixed on the screen. The glow from the monitor was the only source of light in the dark room, creating shadows across the walls. The document in front of me was filled with numbers, reports, projections—things that required my attention. Things that demanded focus. And that was exactly what I needed right now.Work had always been my escape. The one thing I could rely on when everything else felt out of my control. It was predictable, structured—unlike the chaos unraveling in my personal life. Numbers didn’t change on a whim. Spreadsheets didn’t come with complicated emotions. Deadlines didn’t demand explanations.Unlike Clarissa.I clenched my jaw, fingers pressing harder against the keys.Everything between us had spiraled so fast. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. I hadn’t planned for tonight to end in a fight, hadn’t expected to break things off with her in such a brutal, final way. But it had
ERICA’S POVThe room felt frozen.Clarissa stood in the doorway, her gaze flickering between me and Raffael, her expression unreadable for a moment—until she laughed.A sharp, manic laugh that sent a chill down my spine.Raffael tensed immediately. His hands clenched into fists at his sides as he slowly stood up. I could feel the shift in his demeanor, the way his entire body stiffened in shock.“What are you doing here?” he asked, his voice low, controlled—but I could hear the irritation bleeding through.Clarissa smirked, flipping her long dark hair over her shoulder as she stepped inside, completely unbothered by the tension crackling in the room.“Is this why you didn’t bother telling me about your little trip?” she drawled, sauntering past him like she owned the place. “So you could sneak off with her and let her warm your bed?”My heart pounded.Raffael inhaled sharply, nostrils flaring as he turned to face her. “Clarissa, don’t start—”“Oh, I will start,” she snapped, turning t
ERICA’S POVIt had been a week.Seven days since Raffael had looked me in the eyes and told me he loved me. Seven days since he’d shattered every assumption I’d ever had about him. Seven days since I’d decided—against my better judgment—to give him a chance to prove it.And in those seven days, I had seen a version of him I never thought existed.It still didn’t feel real.I kept expecting the old Raffael to slip through the cracks—the cold, arrogant man who had once treated me like an inconvenience. The one who barely acknowledged me unless it was to make a sharp remark or push me away. But that man had seemingly vanished, replaced by someone… softer.Not soft—Raffael could never be soft. But different. Gentler.He still had that quiet intensity, that unwavering confidence that made it seem like the whole world revolved around him. But now, that intensity was directed toward me in ways I didn’t know how to handle.He brought me flowers every morning—fresh, beautiful arrangements that