Adlan I paced outside the hospital room, my body thrumming with unease. A lady—Stephie as she had introduced herself, came out earlier and attempted to make a conversation, but I had no interest in talking to anyone who wasn’t Laura. Call me obsessive. I didn’t care. I wanted to know what was happening inside that room. Were they fighting? Had Christian said something to upset her? I had been willing to tolerate him for her sake, but if he was going to hurt her again, if he was going to undo all the happiness I had given her tonight then I didn’t give a damn if he was lying in a hospital bed. I took a step forward, torn between respecting Laura’s privacy and barging in to make sure she was okay. Then I heard it, a thud. Followed by the sound of something, someone hitting the floor. I didn’t hesitate. I threw the door open, my heart slamming against my ribs and what I saw made my blood run cold. Laura was on the floor, her body sprawled awkwardly, her face pale, eyes closed.
Laura For the first time, I told Adlan everything. I laid bare the parts of my past I had never spoken out loud—the ones I had buried so deep I had almost convinced myself they didn’t matter anymore. I told him about my father. About how he left when Christian was just a baby. How my mother spent the rest of her days chasing his ghost, drowning in her sorrow, unable to be the mother we needed her to be. How she was diagnosed with cancer. How she died when I was fifteen. I didn’t tell him about the debts. The money I had spent bailing Christian out of one mistake after another. I couldn’t. If Adlan knew, he would never forgive Christian for putting me through that and if we were going to last, if this thing between us was going to be real, I needed him and Christian to at least try to get along. Adlan was quiet for a long moment, his expression unclear as he processed everything I had just told him. Then, without a word, he stepped closer, wrapping his arms around me. It wasn’t
Adlan I slid into the driver’s seat, but my eyes lingered on Laura. She sat beside me, watching me with something close to pride flickering in her gaze. It made me want to beat my chest like a damn caveman. “You okay?” she asked, her voice softer than usual. I scoffed. “You’re not allowed to ask me that until you’re better,” I replied. She needed to focus on herself for once, just for a little while. No worrying about her brother, no worrying about her father, and especially not worrying about me. For one damn night, I wanted her to breathe. I started the engine, but as I drove, my eyes kept flicking toward her. I wanted to gauge her emotions, to know what she was really feeling. Laura was an expert at keeping things bottled up, only letting me in through subtle shifts in her eyes or the occasional twitch of her lips. Right now, she was unreadable. “You’ll be okay. I promise,” I said, my jaw tightening. She turned to me, her face expressionless. “You can’t guarantee that. No
Laura “No way! That was such a dick move. You should do it again!” I laughed, shaking my head as Lara smirked over the rim of her wine glass. It was funny how I had marched up here ready to wage war, and now I was sitting comfortably on her expensive couch, laughing at the wild stories she had been telling me for the past hour. I hadn’t expected to like her but somehow, here we were. 30 Minutes Earlier “Who are you?” she asked again, her brows pulling together in an almost cute pout. She moved to close the door, clearly uninterested in a conversation, but I slapped a hand against the frame, keeping it open. I met her gaze head-on. “I’m Laura, from Room 6B downstairs. I get that you love a good party, but other people are trying to sleep. Your music is too damn loud. Will you turn it down?” It was unnerving to be staring at someone who looked so much like me but wasn’t related in any way. Wasn’t there some old superstition about doppelgängers being a bad omen? Great. Just what
Laura I just got the shock of my life. One minute, I was expecting to deliver a simple pizza to some rich stranger, and the next? I was standing face-to-face with Adlan. My boyfriend. How did I not piece this together earlier? His place was in an exclusive, high-end neighborhood. Of course, he would be the one ordering from an expensive gourmet pizza place but none of that mattered right now. What mattered was that I was standing in his doorway, holding a damn pizza box, and I had absolutely no excuse for being here. “Laura?” His voice snapped me out of my circling thoughts. “What are you doing here?” My brain scrambled for an answer, anything that wouldn’t make me look suspicious. “I, uh…” I swallowed hard. “I saw the delivery guy coming up and… took it from him.” What the hell is wrong with me? Why did I lie? Why couldn’t I just tell him the truth? I didn’t know, but I prayed he wouldn’t see the sweat forming on my brow or the way my hands were gripping the box too tightly
Laura I just delivered my tenth order for the day. Exhausted and worn out. I was ready to go home but I needed every penny right now. While driving back, my mind flashed back to two days ago about the argument I had with Adlan. He hasn't called or texted. Not even once. And why would he? I hurt him. I saw the way he looked when he knew I was lying, absolutely broken! I don't think I could face him and watch him not look at me with love in his eyes. I felt horrible about what happened but I was too much of a scaredy cat to call him and apologize. He has every right to think I was cheating on him especially when it was so obvious I was blatantly lying. Now that I think about it, why did I even lie? I shouldn't be ashamed of the job that put food on my table and clothes on my body. I drove past my old workplace, fully intent on ignoring it, but something made me slam on the brakes and reverse. A sign. WORKERS NEEDED. What happened to Peter and the bullies? I parked the car and
Adlan Two days. It had been two long, agonizing days since I last saw Laura, and I hated every second of it. The fight still sat heavy in my chest. I wanted complete trust in our relationship, but it seemed we had none and maybe I had been wrong. The way her face had shattered when I asked if she was cheating... fuck, I hated myself for that but if she wasn't cheating, then what the hell was she hiding? I knew the risks of someone in my position falling in love. Women in my world saw power and wealth as currency, something to latch onto and never let go of. I had spent my life keeping them at a distance, always aware that the moment I lost everything, they would vanish without a trace but Laura? I didn't think she was like that. At least, I didn't until two days ago. "Sir, a lady is here to see you." I barely glanced up from my laptop. "I don't have any meetings scheduled today, Peggy." I responded. I was pretty sure I didn't have the patience to fend off any admirers today. I
Laura I left Adlan's office, mortified. I'm pretty sure Peggy knew what we were doing cause she smiled knowingly when I passed her on my way out. 30 minutes earlier The knock on the door was like a splash of cold water, jolting us back to the reality that we were still in a public place. "Sir? Your 12 o'clock is here," Peggy's voice echoed through the office. Adlan straightened, pulled my panties up, and pushed my skirt down gently helping me off the desks since my legs were still a little shaky before responding. "Thank you, Peggy. I'll just be a minute late, send him to the conference room." I could physically hear her pause before replying. "Okay," and then walked away, her footsteps fading the farther she got. He stood and turned to me, his eyes filled with a mixture of amusement and desire. "Duty calls," he murmured, a playful glint in his eyes. I huffed and pouted, unhappy with the way he seemed unaffected even with what had just gone down. He walked me to the door then
LauraThe details were hazy, lost in a blur of heat and desperation, but somehow, we managed to leave the club and make it home. How we hadn’t crashed along the way would forever remain a mystery, especially with Adlan’s hand resting high on my thigh, his fingers drawing lazy circles that sent shivers through my entire body.The moment we stepped inside, I barely had a second to catch my breath before his lips crashed into mine, urgent and unrelenting. He tasted like whiskey and temptation, his hands possessive as they roamed over my body, pulling me closer, and anchoring me to him.We took the stairs, kissing while our tongues and teeth clashed. I drew back for air and mumbled, "Bedroom." His response was a hand tangled in my hair. His fingers pulled me, and I crashed back to him to slate our mouths together. His lips moved urgently against mine with need while his other hand found my ass, squeezing and pulling me roughly against him.My hand traced his jawline, feeling the stubble
Laura Adlan agreed without hesitation, and soon we were dressed and on our way. My heart pounded with anticipation, not just for the night ahead but for the truth I hoped to uncover. The club was unlike anything I had ever seen. The parking lot alone screamed luxury, with cars so expensive they could buy out my entire apartment building. The valets were dressed in sleek black suits, moving with an efficiency that suggested their tips alone could pay my rent for a year and this was where Adlan had believed I belonged? That I had waltzed into this world without missing a step? The thought was almost laughable. I smoothed my midnight-blue dress—a shimmering fabric that clung to my curves, the hem barely skimming past my ass. Adlan had tried giving me his jacket before we left, but I refused. I liked the way his eyes darkened every time I moved. The door opened, and a strong hand reached out. I placed mine in it and stepped out, offering Adlan a soft smile. I loved how he always behav
LauraI was in the kitchen when I heard the front door open. My heart leaped, expecting to see Adlan, but instead, a tiny old woman stood in the doorway, clutching a handbag that was half her size.I hesitated for a second before recognition set in. “Hello… Sorry, I didn’t get your name last time.”The last time she was here, I had been too nervous waiting for Adlan to return that I holed myself up in his room, hoping I didn’t come across as rude.But judging by the sharp glint in her eyes, she didn’t seem like someone who cared whether I knew her name or not. She carried herself with an air of authority, completely at home in the space.Without answering me, she strode inside with confidence, heading straight for the kitchen like she had been here a thousand times before.“I’m Mrs. Carlos,” she finally said, her thick Spanish accent curling around her words. “Lanny must have been too busy that night to mention me, hmm?”I blinked. “Lanny?”She turned, raising a brow at my confusion.
LauraI needed to work.If I had to be forced to rest one more time, I was going to scream. Adlan hadn't been happy about it, of course. He said I hadn't recovered enough, that I was pushing myself too hard but what was I supposed to do? Sit around and think?Thinking was dangerous.So, I went back to the diner, and to my absolute amusement, Rick spent the entire day avoiding me. Usually, it was the other way around. I made a mental note to ask Adlan what exactly he had threatened him with.Peter had been sweet, immediately wrapping me in a bear hug and telling me to sit while he took my tables. Even Andrew had gone out of his way. He got me lunch from a Chinese restaurant and even offered to cover a delivery for me.It was weird but I wasn't complaining.The kindness was a blessing because I spent the entire shift floating in and out of my own head. Adlan. Obsidian. John Hamilton. Their names looped through my mind like a haunting melody. The last one made my skin crawl.He was
LauraI returned to my apartment with a single goal in mind, to pack my things and leave.I wasn’t abandoning the place. I would still keep it… just in case things didn’t work out but deep down, I knew I wasn’t coming back.Adlan had given me no choice. Not really.He had insisted. Pushed. Demanded and for the first time in a long time, I wanted to be taken care of. I was exhausted mentally, emotionally, physically and maybe, just this once, I could let someone else hold me up.As I climbed the stairs, I nearly collided with Lara, occasional friend, and a walking ball of unfiltered energy.She gasped dramatically when she saw me. “Oh my goodness! I haven’t seen you in forever! What happened to you?!”Before I could react, her eyes swept over me, freezing when they landed on the bandages around my wrist.Her expression morphed into sheer horror. “Oh my God! Was it a man? Did your boyfriend do this to you? I’ll help you sue him!”The words shot out of her mouth like bullets.I blinked,
AdlanI drove Laura to my apartment, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter than necessary. There was no way I was letting her go back home alone, not when her brother was off, doing God knows what. Either she moved in with me, or I moved in with her, there were no two ways about it.When I pulled up in front of my building, I watched her reaction closely.She glanced at the sleek, towering structure before turning to me with amusement dancing in her eyes. “Really?”I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. “I wasn’t going to let you stay home alone.”She laughed, the sound light and sweet, like music I never wanted to stop hearing.“Honestly, I’m surprised you didn’t do this sooner,” she teased.I arched a brow. “Did you want me to?”Her cheeks pinkened, and she quickly looked away.I smirked. “You like me being a caveman? Good to know.”She ignored me, stepping out of the car before I could circle around to open the door for her.I sighed.I was never going to break her out of
LauraThe past three days in the hospital blurred together in an endless cycle of doctor visits, medications, and my brother’s overbearing concern but the one constant, the one unexpected thing was Adlan.He was always there.I knew how important his work was to him. I had seen how ruthless he was in business, how he never let anything disrupt his focus and yet, he had spent every waking minute with me.It was surreal.He cared for me in ways I never imagined he could. He brushed my hair when I was too weak to lift my arms. He made sure I was fed, that I was warm, that I was comfortable.The nurses adored him.They whispered among themselves whenever he walked in—smiling, giggling, even sending me sly looks like you’re so lucky and maybe I was.The only one not enamored with him was my doctor.Probably because Adlan had been glaring at him from the moment they met.I wasn’t sure if it was because the doctor was male or if Adlan just hated the guy on principle but that wasn’t what unse
LauraI floated in darkness, weightless, lost in an endless fog.Pieces of images flickered through my mind; visions of a man with piercing blue eyes, staring at me like I was his entire universe. Then another, younger, his expression carved from sorrow, and finally, a third man with devious green eyes and a wicked, knowing smile.Who were they?The memories twisted through my unconscious state like whispers in the night, just out of reach, taunting me.I bobbed between the land of sleep and sleeplessness, trapped in the void, safe in the darkness... until a sudden pull yanked me back into the world of the living and then, I woke.At first, it felt like waking up from a long, satisfying nap, the kind that left you feeling languid, like a cat stretching under the sun but the moment I opened my eyes, I knew I was wrong.This wasn't my bed.The sharp scent of antiseptic filled my nostrils. I blinked against the blinding white of the hospital room, my body sinking into the stiff mattress.
AdlanMy footsteps echoed against the sterile hospital floor, each one like a hammer blow against the fragile wall I had built around my emotions.The doctor walked ahead of me, silent, his face carefully neutral. We stopped outside a small room with a window, and he gestured inside.I looked through the glass and immediately spotted him—the boy responsible.He sat hunched on a plastic chair, his face buried in his hands. His shoulders trembled, his entire body looking too small for the weight he carried.Good.I didn't hesitate. I pushed the door open, the click of the latch breaking the tense silence.His head snapped up instantly. Bloodshot eyes met mine, glassy with fear and exhaustion. His face was pale, his breathing uneven. He was young, barely more than a kid and yet, he had nearly shattered my entire world."I'm... I'm so sorry," he stammered, tears already rolling down his cheeks, his voice raw with guilt. I hadn't even spoken yet.I gritted my teeth, an unexpected wave of a