XANDER’S POV“Yes,” she answered, waiting for me to speak but I couldn’t say anything. Instead, I watched her. This was the first time I was sharing a meal with her, a fact that hit me harder than I expected. I thought of how I acted after our wedding. I never ate what she cooked back then. I was always out, never staying home. She waited for me every night, and I never cared. I was really cruel.Adeline looked at me, confused. She dropped her spoon on the table and sipped her water, her eyes searching mine.“Is everything okay, Xander. You called my name and said nothing.”"I'm glad we're doing this shoot, you and I," I said, breaking the silence. "I really wanted to talk to you for a very long time, but I had no idea where to start. And you hated and avoided me."I spoke sincerely and she nodded uncomfortably and said,"It’s just work. Let’s get through it." She tried to stand and go drop her plate, but I reached out and held her hand."Please," I said, feeling her hand slip awa
ADELINE’S POVThe smell of chicken stirred in my nose, pulling me from my jet-lagged slumber. The 32-hour flight had been brutal, leaving me more exhausted than I’d ever been. I had been sleeping since we landed. But now, my stomach growled. I pushed back the covers and sat up, rubbing my eyes. The smell was too tempting to ignore. I followed my nose, feeling like a cartoon character being led by an invisible scent trail, my feet padding softly on the cold, hardwood floors as I made my way to the kitchen.There, standing by the microwave, was Xander. He looked as handsome and sexy as ever, even in the harsh fluorescent light of the kitchen. His dark hair was tousled, and he wore a simple t-shirt and jeans that clung to his well-built frame. The sight of him took my breath away for a moment. I shook it off quickly, reminding myself why I was here.This was a job, nothing more. I hated him. He turned as I entered the kitchen, his eyes locking onto mine. He smiled, a slow, lazy grin t
ADELINE’S POV***I rummaged through my bag, my fingers brushing against lipsticks, sunglasses, and my phone charger. But there was no lotion or supplements in sight. The room felt stuffy, and I didn't have a shoot today."What now?" I sighed to myself, glancing at the clock on the wall. The mall seemed like a good idea.I slipped into a white crop tee and my favorite jorts, pulling a cap over my hair. It was going to be a simple, relaxing day.As I opened the door, I almost bumped into Xander. He was leaning against the wall, scrolling through his phone. He looked up, raising an eyebrow."Where are you headed?" he asked, pocketing his phone."To the mall," I replied. "I need to get some lotion and supplements."Xander grinned. "Mind if I join you? I'm bored out of my mind here."I hesitated for a second but then nodded. "Sure, why not?"We headed down to the car and he unlocked the car, and we both got in.He started the engine and glanced at me. "So, what exactly are we buying?""Lo
ADELINE’S POVIt was the last day of the shoot, and I sat under the huge umbrella where Jennie, the makeup artist, was doing my makeup. The sun was bright and the day was hot. Everyone was excited and relieved that the shoot was finally coming to an end. Jennie, was talking about the pool party the director was throwing later that night."You know, after the shoot, the director is throwing a pool party before we head back to Manhattan tomorrow," she said, her voice full of enthusiasm as she carefully applied mascara to my lashes.I sighed, feeling tired from the long days of shooting. "I might just sleep," I replied, trying to keep my tone light.She paused and looked at me with a mock frown. "No way! There is no party without you and Xander. You two are the stars of this shoot. We’d all be lost without you."I laughed softly, shaking my head. "I don't know, Jennie. I'm really tired."She waved her hand dismissively. "Nonsense! We'll go and get bikinis after the shoot. It'll be fun,
XANDER’S POVI leaned back in my seat, the hum of the airplane engines lulling me into a restless sleep.Adeline was next to me, her head resting gently on her shoulder, sleeping peacefully. It was a long flight back home from Macau, and despite wanting to talk we were both exhausted. I kept thinking of yesterday night in the pool. Her laughter, her body against mine, and our kiss, it all felt like a dream I couldn’t wake from.When we landed, she quickly disappeared into the crowd. I didn’t think much of it at first; we were both tired, and I assumed we’d catch up once we were rested. But days turned into weeks, and I hadn’t heard a word from her. I called her phone numerous times, left messages, and even sent texts. But there was no response. It was as if she had vanished.Each day became increasingly unbearable. I replayed that night over and over in my head, the way she had looked at me, the sound of her laughter, and the feel of her lips. I couldn't concentrate on anything els
***ADELINE’S POV***The gentle hum of the air conditioner and our breath was the only sound in the room. We stood close, too close. I could feel his eyes on me, burning with an intensity that made my heart race."Adeline," he whispered, his voice barely audible.Before I could respond, his lips were on mine. The kiss was sudden, taking my breath away. I pushed him away slightly, my hands on his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart beneath my palms."Xander, we shouldn't," I started to say, but he pulled me back, his lips capturing mine once more, this time deeper and more fervent.I didn't fight back. Instead, I surrendered, letting him take my lips. My hands moved from his chest to wrap around his neck, pulling him closer.Our bodies pressed together as if we were holding on for dear life, as if the world around us could crumble at any moment and we would still be here, lost in this kiss.When we finally broke apart, both of us gasping for air, he looked into my eyes, his gaze
SASHA’S POVI know Xander asked me never to come to his home anymore but I had to visit immediately his mom called and said she missed having me around.I stood in front of my closet, staring at the array of clothes hanging before me. I needed the perfect outfit. Something that would make her see me as the perfect daughter in law. Today was important since she was the one that invited me to their mansion I couldn’t afford to mess this up. Not after what happened.Xander had thrown me out of his office. It was the most humiliating experience of my life. He was done with me, wouldn’t listen to anything I had to say. But I wasn’t ready to give up. I needed to find a way back into his life, and I was certain Mrs. Devon could help.After much deliberation, I settled on a navy blue dress. It was elegant but not too flashy. I paired it with a simple necklace and earrings. As I looked at myself in the mirror, I took a deep breath. “You can do this, Sasha,” I whispered to myself.The drive t
TRISTAN’S POVI sat on the 35th floor of my company building, staring out the window at the sprawling city below. My fists were clenched, and all I felt was rage.It was all because of one woman; Adeline. She was the most proud and pompous person I had ever met. No matter how hard I tried to break her, she never bent.She never wanted me. The thought of the look of disgust on her face every time she saw me annoyed the crap out of me.No one had ever been able to resist my charm. Women usually fell at my feet, eager to please me. But not Adeline. She was different. And it drove me insane.Five years ago, I was home after a wild night out with friends. I had partied hard, and I was passed out in my room, oblivious to the world. I remember the door opened, and my father's booming voice jolted me awake."Tristan !" he shouted. "Get up!"I groaned and tried to focus on his face. It was hard, considering my head was pounding from the drinks and weed."What?" I mumbled, rubbing my temples.