Dante’s POVSophia remains a mystery I can’t seem to solve. One moment, she’s loud and argumentative, making my blood boil, and the next, she’s indifferent, acting as if nothing in the world matters.I can’t figure out if she truly loved her ex. She doesn’t seem like someone who can love deeply or someone who’s heartbroken.What do I know about love anyway? Except for one thing—my mother.She taught me what love really means. True, pure love is always unconditional. She made me see that there are many types of love, each coming from different places. Lust and attraction can lead you to the door of love, but they can also be easily confused with it.For most of my life, all I’ve felt for women was lust. They satisfied my desires, nothing more.There was a time when partying was my life. Those were the reckless years—when I was the rebel, the irresponsible teenager. Back then, all I wanted was to explore the things my mother warned me about and those she never mentioned.I spent my night
Sophia's POVThat idiot is with Clara.He lied to me. He said they weren’t dating. He told me he’d stopped talking to her, yet here they are, together at a club, holding hands.What am I supposed to think? Am I supposed to believe they just ran into each other by coincidence?Maybe I’m the fool here.Clara, Liam, and I don’t usually go to the same clubs, and Cart’s Club is one of those random spots we rarely visit. We’ve only been there once. Normally, we stick to our regular spot downtown, so it didn’t even occur to me that I might run into them there.Tonight, I was only trying to cheer Dante up, to distract him from his mother’s illness. I thought he’d appreciate the effort. I even hoped he’d play along and act sweet when I called out their names. But no, he didn’t. He just stood there. Yet I’m always the one making this charade look real.What an asshole. We shouldn’t have gone to the party in the first place.As soon as we step out of the car and he enters the mansion gate, it sta
Dante's POVFor the first time in years, my conscience is judging me for how I acted toward Sophia’s accusation last night. She clearly expected something different from me, and I let her down.I shouldn’t feel bad for her—she isn’t exactly a saint—but somehow, I can’t shake off the guilt. She was right.I am selfish. She helped me, and yet it didn’t even cross my mind to help her make her ex-boyfriend jealous, to make him realize what he lost.Maybe that’s because I honestly think losing her might have been the best thing for him. She’s a handful, full of trouble, and no man in his right mind would want to be with her.At least, that’s what I thought.But now that I think about it, it’s obvious they loved each other, despite her flaws. Their breakup wasn’t because of who she is—it was because he cheated.Why do men cheat?The question drags me down memory lane. I sigh as I sit in the back of the car, a box in my hands.I’m heading home.I bought Sophia a gift to apologize for what I
Sophia's POVEvery time I see or think about him, the urge to do something drastic overwhelms me—a sharp desire to hurt him for betraying me.As much as I’ve tried to move past the idea of revenge, there’s a lingering temptation to go back on my word and finally act. Maybe then, I’d feel some semblance of peace.But I hate feeling like this. The sinking sensation is back, likely because I ran into him again today. This time, it wasn’t Clara on his arm, but someone else.The spark is gone, extinguished. All I feel now is pure hatred. If only I could turn back time and erase every moment that tied us together.I regret everything—my curiosity about him, the way I let myself fall in love so deeply, and especially the day I agreed to be his girlfriend.With a sigh, I drop my bag, kick off my shoes, and sink onto the bed, my limbs heavy with exhaustion.Earlier, I told the maids to move my bed back into my room. Even though the space feels cold and empty, I needed solitude. The forecast say
Dante's POVA candlelight dinner date is the plan for tonight. Honestly, I’ve been looking forward to this evening since I was at the office. I debated going home to change, but thankfully, I wore something decent to work today.I’m in a slim-fit suit with black suede shoes, feeling appropriately dressed for the occasion. As I glance around the empty restaurant, my eyes land on the beautifully set table adorned with candlelight and a bouquet of flowers.Sophia was right—there’s not much we can do to save my mother. That’s why we’re here. Pretending for a while won’t hurt. Besides, Sophia and I are getting along well, faster than I expected.This will make my mother happy.It might even be worth faking a pregnancy if it means putting a smile on her face.I can’t keep living in this cloud of grief. Accepting reality is the only way forward, for both me and Sophia.Once my mother is gone, there won’t be a reason to continue this charade of a marriage—aside from the contract we’ve signed.
Sophia's POV"Impressive" doesn't quite cover Dante's behavior tonight. For the first time since our paths crossed, he actually sent me a message—ending it with a heart emoji, no less.Then, he made sure one of the guards drove me here, which was oddly thoughtful.He even brought flowers—on top of the necklace he gave me last night, which I still haven’t been able to bring myself to wear.And now, he’s pulling off the gentleman act, almost as if he's trying to make me forget Liam entirely.I can’t deny it—he insists on calling me "Soph," and for some reason, that nickname stirs something inside me. Something I can’t quite figure out.It’s not just anger or a bitter reminder of Liam. It’s deeper than that—something unspeakable that I haven’t yet unraveled.Dante isn’t wrong when he says I haven’t moved on from Liam. If I had, I wouldn’t have cried last night. Well, not a full cry—just one rogue tear. But it was enough to remind me of the vow I made: never to cry over Liam—or any man—ag
Sophia's POVI toss and turn in bed, unable to fall asleep. The night has turned cold, and although the forecast claimed no rain for days, my instincts tell me otherwise.My mind replays everything that happened at the restaurant, every vivid detail. From the frustration to the laughter, the staged show, and, most intriguingly, the cameraman.Who is he?I asked Dante, but he only smirked, clearly proud of his handiwork.I have two possible answers: he’s either working for Dante’s mother or is a paparazzo poised to plaster those photos across tabloids by morning.Should I be happy?Liam and Brenda will see the pictures. Liam will probably seethe with jealousy at the supposed affection between Dante and me. Mrs. Lorenzo will likely be pleased too.But deep down, I don’t feel the satisfaction I thought I would.At first, I was fine with this charade—pretending to be in love—but now, doubt gnaws at me.All I feel is guilt.Guilt for deceiving the public. For lying to a sick, hopeful woman
Dante's POVThe taste of her soft lips sends my mind into a frenzy, and before I know it, I’m leaning in for more, hoping she’ll open up so I can explore deeper.Instead, she places both hands firmly on my chest and pushes me away, a deep frown etched across her face, her eyes flashing with frustration.Rather than feeling guilty, I can’t help but grin widely. But before I can even enjoy the moment, she pushes me right off the bed.“What was that for? Are you insane?” she roars, her anger clear as day. I can’t help but laugh from the floor.Why am I laughing? I have no idea.“Just a little practice. We might need to kiss in front of my mother tomorrow…” “What?” Her brow furrows, her anger intensifying.I sit up slowly, brushing myself off before sitting back down on the bed. “We’re meeting with her tomorrow,” I explain casually.She goes silent, and I try to read her expression, feeling a twinge of guilt for kissing her without her consent.But I can’t regret it—her lips were so swee
Dante's POVFor reasons I can’t explain, my heart keeps racing, and wild imaginations flood my mind about what might have happened—or what could happen.This man isn't safe. He isn’t well either.Something is wrong.I keep questioning whether my father is responsible for him collapsing unconscious after I left his room—or if this is all just desperation taking its toll.I’ve been trying to call Sophia all morning. The phone rings, but she doesn’t answer. It’s making me uneasy.Eventually, I called my mom to ask about Sophia, and she said she hadn’t seen her either. That was all I needed to hit the edge of panic.Fear gripped me. My emotions threatened to burst out of my chest as the possibility of something bad happening to her sank in.Mrs. Adams is nowhere to be found, either, which only makes things more confusing.When Sophia finally picked up her phone, her voice sounded calm—like nothing was wrong. I hoped she would show up at the hospital soon.Her father is still in the emerge
Sophia's POVLiam is blackmailing me into having lunch with him because I accidentally bumped into his car. I’ve already spent two hours with him, and it's almost noon.Determined to annoy me, he told me to take his car to the mechanic. Fortunately, I found some notes in Dante's car, and after getting the car fixed, Liam demanded that we have lunch together.I know I shouldn't be agreeing to have lunch with my ex-boyfriend. I’m supposed to despise him, especially after everything he did to hurt Dante, but Liam feels like a stranger now. I guess my curiosity got the best of me."You still look beautiful," he says, making me pull the straw away from my mouth as I stare at him.I didn’t have breakfast before heading out, and by the time we were done with his car, my stomach was already rumbling, which is why he suggested we grab lunch nearby.With a smug grin, I respond, "Just like Clara."He turns away, muttering under his breath. "Clara is nowhere near as beautiful as you, Sophia. You
Dante’s POVJohn honks the horn again, the sound growing more irritating with each second. I’m about to lose my patience when I wave for him to stop. I get out of the car and look around, my arms crossed.Aren’t they home?I walk toward the gate, relieved to see it’s not locked. I push it open, confirming my suspicion. I glance back at John, who shakes his head.Apparently, they no longer have guards or even a gateman. They should’ve at least locked the gate.I signal for John to wait outside while I open the gate and step inside. The place is a mess. The flowers are wilting, probably because the gardener’s been let go. The courtyard looks neglected, and I can’t help but wonder if this is part of Sophia’s worries for her parents.I push aside the disarray and head for the front door, hands tucked in my pockets.This is the third time I’ve come here. The first time, John honked the horn for several minutes, hoping someone would answer the door, but there was no response.The second tim
Sophia’s POVDante’s ex-girlfriend was the third woman I saw alongside Liam and Clara the other day, the one from the nightmare. I couldn’t place her at the time, but today, I recognize her more clearly. Her face, the way she carried herself—it’s all too familiar. That’s not what’s bothering me, though. What confuses me is why she’s there with Liam and Clara, and why she keeps appearing in my dreams. Who is she to Liam? Does she know Clara too?Summoning the strength to get out of bed, I do so, replaying what happened last night at the restaurant. It nearly ended in disaster because of Liam and that woman showing up, which set Dante off. I still don’t understand why Dante was so angry with Liam or why that woman was with him.I’m left wondering about everything—why Dante hasn’t made an effort to clear up my confusion. Is he waiting for me to demand answers? Why did he ignore my question when I asked who she was last night? Is he ashamed to admit she’s his ex? What exactly went down be
Dante's POVSophia's hands wrap tightly around my waist, holding me back from throwing another punch at Liam.I can't explain the anger that surges through me when I see him, but something about the way Sophia is here, her presence, only makes everything worse.A wave of warmth flows through me at the feel of her touch. It calms me, and for a moment, all I can do is stare at her hands, wishing they'd stay like this forever."Liam, stop!" Sophia's voice pulls me out of my thoughts. Liam is rushing toward me, but she shoves him back, causing him to fall on his backside. "What is wrong with you?!" she yells at him, her voice a mix of fury and frustration.I wonder about the kind of relationship they had, but honestly, it's none of my business.I drop my hands and take both of Sophia's in mine, spinning around to face her. A sudden knot forms in my stomach when I see the fear in her eyes. I’ve never seen her like this—not even when she was attacked.Without thinking, I pull her into a hug
Sophia's POVThis must be one of his girlfriends—another woman he might try to make his sex partner.She’s a model type, with long legs and a curvy shape. I have long legs too, and I’m curvy, but her outfit is on another level. It reminds me how I’ve been neglecting the perks of being married to a billionaire.Her jewelry is from one of New York’s top stores, and that handbag? Definitely a designer piece.I had completely forgotten about Liam until he cleared his throat, pulling my attention back to him. I was surprised to see him, but not as shocked as seeing him with yet another woman.I always expect to see him with Clara now and then. I keep hoping they’re together, somehow making my breakup worthwhile, but from the looks of it, they aren’t.Either Clara has already dumped him, or he never loved her the way he loved me.That pain strikes again—the same old ache in my heart. It’s like something inside of me dies every time I see his face, ever since he betrayed me.I thought I was
Dante’s POVShe’s something else, I swear.I thought for sure she’d get jealous when I asked that question—maybe even throw a tantrum. But she’s not doing anything like that, and I feel... unsatisfied.I can’t explain it. Just the other day, I was pumped about the idea of us getting closer, but now, after asking for her permission, the excitement has completely faded.What’s going on with me?I watch as her eyes widen in surprise. Honestly, I’m just as taken aback. I didn’t mean to ask her that—it just slipped out, but something deep inside me made me say it.Something I shouldn’t have said. Something that feels wrong.“What?!” she asks, repeating herself for what seems like the tenth time.I shrug, just as confused as she is. I don’t know why I said that either.Then, I chuckle, trying to defuse the tension, and see her roll her eyes at me before letting out a long sigh. “You’re kidding, right?”I shrug again, this time with no idea what I’m doing.She hisses out of frustration, and
Sophia's POVThere stands Christine Moore.My favorite guitarist.My mouth drops open in disbelief, and I quickly glance over at Dante, who is smiling proudly. Before I even realize it, I'm running into his arms.We’re already out of the car, but I can’t believe my eyes. I needed to step out quickly to make sure I wasn’t imagining things.Christine stands before me, looking effortlessly handsome in a black cotton jacket and a white-purple shirt. He pairs it with blue-purple trousers and a brown leather belt.His matching black sneakers complete the look. His short wavy black hair perfectly complements his outfit, and as he slides the guitar across his body, I can barely breathe.I realize I’m still in Dante’s arms, and I quickly pull away with a nervous laugh.I have no idea how Dante knew about my obsession with Christine’s music, but whatever he did to make this happen, I’m grateful.I’ve always admired Christine from a distance, watching him on TV. Back when my father’s business wa
Dante's POVSophia has been avoiding me for over a week now, ever since I told her I didn’t approve of her telling my mother that she was pregnant without my consent.My mother has been thrilled by the news, and now, everyone knows that Sophia is pregnant.Every time I try to resolve things between us, I find her curled up in bed, leaving the couch for me to sleep on.I had the maids bring in another bed for the room I’m staying in now. I’m not on the couch anymore, but I really wish I could sleep beside her again.Guilt is something I’ve felt more since Sophia came into my life. I don’t know how she manages to make me feel this way, but she does.I feel bad for what I said to her, which led to her being upset with me. I really want to apologize, but I don't know how to start.She’s just trying to help.Casually, I walk out of her room and close the door behind me when I bump into someone. It’s Sophia, and she raises an eyebrow at me.“What were you doing in my room?” she asks, scrunc