Lena's POV"Damien," I said with a softer, apologizing voice for what happened the previous day. "I shouldn't have snapped at you." He waved it off with a little nod, leaning against the edge of my desk. "Don't worry about it. I know it wasn't about you." Still, I felt that I needed to explain. "I just... I wasn't in the mood for anything or anyone, and then my parents came." "How was it with them last night?" he asked, his tone careful. Bitter laughter escaped me as I shook my head. "Didn't have time to deal with them, or maybe I didn't want to. But either way, more of the same lectures, guilt trips, and acting like they're the victims in all of this." He studied me for a moment, dark eyes unreadable. "And this morning? I sunk into the chair, exhaustion creeping into my voice. "They want to talk about the party tonight when they think they have some right to be there." I scoffed, crossing my arms. "As if showing up out of nowhere after months of silence earns them an invitation
Grant's POVIt was quieter than normal as I walked into the house, which was long-casting shadows of everything under the faint chandelier light. The almost quiet entry leads toward the foyer, where my mother can somehow be heard down the hallway. She seemed to be speaking into the phone from the other end, with a low, firm voice, as if the words were meant for no one else to hear.So, I felt like I was walking a few more steps toward the inside of the house, knowing it would catch her attention. Her head jerked up and when her eyes met mine, she quickly ended the call. "I'll talk to you later," she hushed into the phone and terminated it with unusual urgency.“Who was that?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at her.The tight smile creased her lips - the one she used when she was suppressing something. "No one is important. Just some business matters.""Business," I echoed with evident skepticism. "You don't do business, Mom." So, what's up?"That dismissive gesture really did seem as if sh
Lena's POVIt felt as if time was crawling. The very universe mocked me. The more I threw myself into my work, afraid to let the background thought of the party in the evening pervade my thoughts, the more a storm cloud loomed over me. The five o'clock chime allowed me to snap shut my laptop with a certain finality: Enough was enough. Time to face the inevitable.Home was as empty as I had left it; the silence between me and the raging chaos inside my mind was indeed a small comfort. My parents had not arrived, so, at least for now, I had some peace.After a brisk shower, I started my rituals. Tonight was the party; it was a battlefield, and my appearance would be my armor. A black satin gown with a high slit on one side, crosswise, and a complicated neckline that falls heavily onto my shoulders. The fabric clung like a second skin to my body, which accentuated the power and grace.I spent additional time on my makeup app: bold, red lips, and eye smoke that added a dramatic effect to
Grant's POV Lena turned and at that moment there was a slight wavering look on her face, but after that, her green eyes caught mine, surprised? Annoyed? They flickered and then she composed herself. "Grant," she said, her tone polite but distant. "I didn't expect to see you this soon." Damien's dark gaze switched from one to the other, but the stance of the man was rock-solid. "Require anything, Grant?" he asked, his voice cold yet the warning undercurrent thick. I acted as if I had not heard him and continued watching Lena. "Can we talk? Alone?" Lena hesitated for a moment; eyes went on Damien. I thought for a second that she would say no, but then she squared her shoulders and nodded. "All right." Damien stepped forward, in a towering presence. "If you have something to say, you can say it here." "It's fine, Damien," Lena interjected while placing a hand on his arm. Her touch was light but seemingly did something to help that tension. "I can handle this." Damien's jaw clench
Lena's POV Damien, who had stuck beside me silently, gazed at the same thing I was seeing. His face remained unchanged, although it was betrayed even by a mere crease of the brow. "Why is Cassidy's family here?" I asked, my voice low though charged with irritation. He met my eyes, calm but sober. "Her family is more important than you think," he answered, giving me the deep look I was expecting. I blinked. "What do you mean?" "The Graham family has strong connections," he explained, in measured tones, "like ties with old money, with political circles...and most likely with more businesses than most people can keep track of. Having them here is not just about Cassidy; it is about what their name means." I frowned and focused back on Cassidy, who was laughing at something said to her by Grant. With his arm around her, the two looked so very familiar. "So? " Must we just suppose that we will find a red carpet for them because they are powerful?" I almost hissed, not able to keep t
Lena's Point of View Finally, I was back inside the hall. I tried my best to suppress that feeling of frustration within me, which I realized would simmer with time. I sat in what I hoped was a normal posture, but my mind was racing. My eye caught Damien in the corner watching me. He bore an unreadable expression. He did not say anything, although it was obvious that he knew that something was wrong. I gave him a little shake of my head, silently telling him to leave it alone for now. As I sat there pretending to listen to the surrounding conversation, I couldn't help being drawn towards my parents, who were already mingling about the party, charming their way through the throng as if they really belonged here. I clenched my jaw, gripping the stem of my champagne glass a little too tightly. This night was supposed to be all about moving forward-that would entitle me to claim my place here under my own terms. But then came my parents to make this feel like fighting on every front.
Lena's POV Verana stepped closer, her gaze fixed on my mother like a hawk sizing up its prey. “Grant doesn’t need empty flattery, Charlotte. He’s accomplished more on his own than most could dream of.”The words were a subtle jab, but the meaning was clear. Verana saw my mother for what she was: a manipulative opportunist.My mother’s smile tightened, but she didn’t respond. Instead, she turned her attention back to Grant, determined to regain the upper hand.I’d had enough.Pushing my chair back, I stood and walked toward the nearest balcony. The cool night air was a welcome relief, a stark contrast to the suffocating tension inside. I leaned against the railing, staring out at the city lights as I tried to calm the storm raging inside me.I hated this. I hated the way my parents could waltz in and upend everything without a second thought. I hated the way they used me, the way they treated my life as a tool for their own ambitions.Most of all, I hated the way they made me feel lik
Lena's POV "We are here for Lena," my father said finally."Oh, and why not?" replied Verana with a tight smile. "How fortunate for her." Trying to understand, Grant interrupted. "Well, I'm just glad you're able to make it. It's always nice to see familiar faces."His attempt fell short, and silence steeped in unsayables filled the vacuum. Both parents exchanged glances at each other, only for my mother to speak again. "Now we won't keep you any longer," she said breezily. "Grant, it was lovely catching up. Lena, we shall see you later." And they turned and faded away into the crowd, leaving a taut silence behind. I released a belligerent breath, the knot in my chest loosening just a little now that they're gone. "Are you alright?" Grant inquired in a low tone. I nodded. Yes, the weight of the evening was still heavy on me. "Yeah. Thanks for....handling that." He flashed a grin, just brushing my hand with his. "Anytime." As he pivoted to join party-goers, Verana stepped in ev
Lena's pov I turned around, unable to hold his gaze any longer. And whether my body trembled because of the cold rain or from a cacophony of emotions raging inside me, I do not know. My clothes stuck to my skin. And I wrapped my arms around myself, as though it might shield me from him and that gaze that measured into me as if he might still care.While I stood still as a statue, he spoke to me softly, whispering, "Lena, you do not need to do it alone anymore". Bitter laughter choked out of me when I shook my head and stepped back, trembling slightly. "What is it you want to know, Grant? " What exactly do you think I've been doing?" He turned at me, glaring fury into my eyes. "Oh no! You don't get to swoop in after years of silence, disrupt my life, drag me to some godforsaken resort, and act like you're my savior. That is not how this works."He ran a hand through his wet hair, frustration evident on his face. "You think I don't know how much I've hurt you? You think I don't reply
Lena's POV I walked straight to the door, it banged shut behind me by a sound that resounded around the whole house like the beating of my heart. All was a blur in my vision- a cocktail of rage and absolute disbelief. Grant's words seemed to ring loudly even being drowned by that sound; they cut through my defenses like a knife. As though everything he did to drag me away from his wedding and among some other guests at this lonely resort would fix himself for those years. In short, he was wrong. Very wrong.I hurried through the corridor, my steps heavy against the wooden floors. The air outside smells thick and humid, but as soon as I stepped outside, it felt like a release of breath. I wouldn't have cared where I was or how far he had brought me away from civilized areas. All I could think was that I had to be away from him. I needed space to think, feel, and breathe.It was the moment I pulled out my phone to call someone-anyone-that I realized there was no service. Of course. Wh
Lena's POV His words flooded over me like a tidal wave, threatening to pull me under. I wanted to be angry, to scream at him for his complete recklessness, but part of me-a small, fragile part-wanted to believe him. Wanted to believe he meant every word. "Just what do you mean by that?" I asked, my voice shaking. "You can't just get up and decide in the middle of your wedding that you want me." That's not how this works, Grant. "I know I messed up," he said, leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "I used to make so many mistakes, Lena." But not again will I be able to leave you.”I shook my head, as I could feel storm-like emotions swirling inside me. "Do you even know what you just did? This is more than just a thing between us, Grant. There are real and tangible consequences. Cassidy, your family, my reputation, how am I supposed to face any of those after this?" "I will fix it," he said positively, with blazing eyes. I don't care what it takes; I will do whatever is r
Lena POV The room was silent. It was almost too silent, as the realization came crashing down on everyone. They didn't move. They dared not breathe. I couldn't breathe. Frozen in place, my hand instinctively reached out to him, almost as though the weight of his words had shattered the world around me.Grant took hold of my wrist and pulled me toward him. His grip was strong and urgent. He didn't look back at Cassidy, didn't say a word to anyone. Instead, he tugged me toward the door, his face set in determination.I knew the entire room was watching me, but I didn't care. I hardly noticed anything else about it as he pulled me from the altar, away from the church, away from everything of today. His touch was a lifeline, and I didn't know if I was hanging onto him or him to me.The church doors opened, and outside was a waiting black car. Grant brings me to the car and opens the door for me, all without a single utterance. He slid in beside me, never letting go of my hand. The driver
Lena's POV I couldn't believe it. The weight bore down on me like a ton of bricks as I walked into the grand, candle-lit church, my heels all the while clicking sharply against the marble floor around me. Roses and lilies filled our air along with the faint sound of a string quartet playing in the background. Everything looked so perfect, so immaculate, as if this was some kind of dream I didn't belong in. But that was it; I stood at the back of the church to witness the marriage of ex-husband Grant to ex-girlfriend Cassidy.There was no knowing how I had ended up at this event and even less why I allowed myself to say yes to attending. The only thing that mattered was the deal I had to secure. I was here for business, not for love, not for any personal vendettas, even though I couldn't deny the bitter taste in my mouth as I watched them stand at the altar. This was a business transaction wrapped in a veil of romance. I was never superstitious enough to think that one day I would be
Lena'S POV There was no fear of who could keep me awake late at night. Damien's offer rang through my head, both a blessing and a kind of challenge. Some part of me wanted to take him up on it, to accept the security that his family business could provide, but the other part knew that I might never be independent if I relied on his money and could never be indebted again. Independence was everything to me. As the date of the wedding approached, I could not deny that a part of me longed for some sort of stability. The entire time struggling and fighting to maintain control just began to wear me down. There would be times when I could just take a break and breathe but would then remind myself what the stakes were in my company's future, my heritage, so the brakes were off. On the night before the wedding. I stood staring at myself in the mirror of my bedroom. Hanging on the back of the door was the lovely, delicate dress that I was going to wear and leave it till I decided it was tim
Lena's POV The days afterward became somewhat of a blur due to meetings, phone calls, and strategy sessions. I had to be on my toes all the time because all I could think of was how and where to keep maintaining the lead. But no matter the work, one thought would not leave me alone: marriage. Grant had agreed to go ahead, but the precipice between us seemed so palpable. It was not merely the heat of the deal; it was something deeper, something unsaid. I could not push it aside any longer.I knew that as the weekend approached, I had to speak with him. The man was evading the truth no longer. Pretending that everything is okay can't go on...with a looming wedding. Time to find out if we really want it this way or are really trapped.That night, after a long day at work, I rolled up to Grant's apartment. I knocked at the door with no niceties, and he opened the door for me. The first thing that caught my attention was his eyes-the same exhausted, haggard look that had been haunting my
Lena's POV “Now Grant,” I began, maintaining a calm voice. We have been through that. The wedding is a major issue in all this. " We must show the Grahams that we are committed.”“I know, but he hesitated, and I could easily hear that in his voice. “It was not just the Grahams anymore, Lena. It is me. I don't know if I can pretend anymore, not after all that's happened."Exhaling, I tried to think of the right words that would help. "You are not pretending, Grant. We both know that. This is about securing the future of the company. If you back out now, it is not just the wedding that is at stake. Everything is."There was a prolonged silence at the other end. My heart rate started climbing as I felt that the seconds were stretched out. The decision was difficult, and I knew that I had to push him to the edge. He could not afford that luxury of indecision anymore."You can't back out now," I repeated this time with more gravitas. We're together in this. I'm going to do everything with
Lena's POV He realized that this was not only about the wedding or the deal. It was about the unwinding thread of a relationship that once seemed solid, built on mutual respect and understanding. Somewhere along the way, that condition had started to fray, and now, here I was forced to sew it back together.My phone rang no sooner had the vibration stopped as I received another call from Damien. I didn't know whether to answer or not since I had no idea what to expect from him now. The last time we talked, I said a firm no to the help he offered, although part of me did appreciate what he had tried to do.“Lena,” his voice came from the loudspeaker, smooth and confident as always. I wanted to check in. How are you holding up?”Sighing and leaning on the window frame, I answered, “I’m managing.” That was me trying to keep my tone even. “But there’s a lot to figure out.”“I know,” he said. “I don't expect you to do it on your own.” If you change your mind concerning my offer, I'm here.