EMILY’S POVAs soon as Helen tells me Carlos had an accident, I can’t help but worry about him. I’m not strong enough yet I don’t care about that. All I care about is him.I have to go see him.“I want to see Carlos” I say.Helen’s expression darkens the moment I tell her I want to visit Carlos.“You can’t be serious, Emily,” she says “You’re still recovering, and after everything he’s done—”“I have to see him,” I cut in “I need to see with my own eyes that he’s alright.”Lady Helen sighs “This is madness. He doesn’t deserve your concern. Not after—”“I don’t care,” I say, gripping the edge of my seat. “I just need to go. Please, ma’amLady Helen looks at me for a long moment before sighing in resignation. “Fine. But if he upsets you, we leave immediately.”I nod. “Agreed.”-When we arrive at the hospital, my heart pounds so hard that I feel faint. Lady Helen steadies me with a firm hand on my arm, but it isn’t her touch that makes my breath hitch—it’s the sight before us.Through t
EMILY’S POV I sit up in bed, stretching my arms and rolling my shoulders. A few days have passed since I first came to the hospital, and now, I’m finally being discharged. I feel relieved that I can finally go home. No more sterile white walls. No more endless beeping of machines. No more nurses coming in every few hours to check my vitals. A gentle knock at the door interrupts my thoughts. Helen steps inside. Her face lights up when she sees me. “You look like you’re ready to escape,” she teases. I chuckle. “More than ready.” Helen sits down on the chair beside my bed, studying me with a thoughtful expression. “How are you feeling? And don’t just say ‘fine.’ I want the real answer.” I sigh, running a hand through my hair. “I feel... better. Physically, at least. My body doesn’t ache as much, and I don’t feel like collapsing every time I stand up. Mentally?” I pause, searching for the right words. “That’s a little harder to explain.” Helen nods, understanding. “It’ll take time,
EMILY’S POVI take a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm.Lina stands before me, arms crossed with that infuriatingly smug smile plastered across her face. She knows she’s won—or at least, she thinks she has. I can feel the satisfaction radiating off her, as if she’s relishing every second of this moment.I don’t want to argue with her.I don’t want to give her the satisfaction of seeing how much this is breaking me.Instead, I turn to Carlos. I keep my voice steady, even though my heart is unraveling. “Fine. I’ll agree to your request.”Carlos exhales. His shoulders visibly relax “Thank you, Emily.”“But—” I add sharply, looking at Lina “She has to move out by tomorrow.”The smile slips from Lina’s face, but only for a moment. She quickly regains her composure, letting out a soft chuckle as if my demand is amusing to her. I don’t care.Carlos nods “I promise, Emily. She’ll be gone by tomorrow.”That should be enough to ease my pain, to give me some small sense of victory. But it
EMILY’S POVLina’s sobs echo through the room. My heart pounds as I watch her trembling form. Her hands are covering her face as if she’s the victim.For a second, I don’t know how to react. I had expected her to lash out, to throw another cruel insult my way. But this? This was calculated.What the hell is she doing?Before I can open my mouth, the door swings open.“What the hell is going on?”Carlos’s deep voice sounds from behind me.I turn to see him standing in the doorway. His eyes move between me and Lina, taking in the tension between us. His brows are furrowed, and there’s an edge to his tone, like he’s already assuming the worst.Lina sniffles, lifting her head slightly. Her eyes are red-rimmed and glossy with tears. “Carlos…” Her voice wavers. She sounds soft and helpless. “I—I didn’t mean to upset her.”I narrow my eyes.Unbelievable.Carlos immediately moves toward her. I can see the concern in his eyes. He crouches slightly, placing a hand on her back as she wipes at her
EMILY’S POVThe morning sun comes in through the windows, making the dining room look even more beautiful. I used to love the sight of this…until now. I sit stiffly at the dining table, wrapping my fingers around the delicate porcelain cup in front of me, though I have no intention of drinking from it.Across from me, Carlos and Lina sit close together. Their heads are inclined toward each other as they whisper. Lina giggles and whispers to him. Her voice is as sweet like poisoned honey. Her fingers trace idle circles on Carlos’s forearm. He doesn’t pull away. Instead, he turns to her with a soft smile, murmuring something under his breath that makes her laugh again.I can’t help but feel that hollow ache in my chest, but I push it down. I won’t give them the satisfaction of knowing how much this hurts.How could my life have come to this? Sharing a breakfast table with my husband and his mistress, enduring their romantic gestures towards each other.You know how I feel? I feel like I’
EMILY’S POVMy chest is tight and my hands tremble at my sides as I walk out of the dining hall. This place—this estate, the house I once called home—feels foreign now. It belongs to Carlos and Lina. Not me. Not anymore.As I reach the entrance hall, the front door opens. I turn, expecting to see a maid or one of Carlos’s business associates. Instead, my breath catches in my throat.Lady Helen.Carlos’s mother steps inside. As usual, her presence commands attention. She is dressed lavishly. Her silver-streaked hair is pulled into an elegant bun. Her eyes scan the room till they land on me.“Emily,” she says with a smile.I barely have time to react before she closes the distance between us, wrapping me in a warm hug.“You weren’t expecting me,” she says, pulling back to study my face. “But I had to come.”Before I can ask her why, movement behind her catches her attention. She turns and her expression darkens instantly.Lina.Lina shifts uncomfortably under Lady Helen’s scrutiny. The
CARLOS’ POVThe car is silent as we move through the city. I watch the world pass by outside the window, but my mind is tangled in the words my mother threw at me earlier.“She only wants you for your money.”I grit my teeth and shake my head slightly, hoping the thought will rattle out of my brain. That couldn’t be true, right? Lina loves me. I know she does. But still… my mother’s words echo in my mind.Emily had never given me a reason to doubt her. She was a great wife—supportive, patient, and kind. And even though things between us had fallen apart, I couldn’t deny that she had always been there for me. Maybe that’s what was bothering me. Maybe I expected to feel something more, something greater, now that I was with Lina. But there’s something missing, something I can’t quite place. I should be happier than this.A soft sigh pulls me from my thoughts. I glance over at Lina, noticing the way her shoulders slump, her hands wringing in her lap. The sorrow on her face is obvious, an
CARLOS’ POVThe moment I step onto the balcony, I see her. Emily.She’s sitting on a lounge chair. The golden rays of the sunset highlights her beautiful face. Her long hair falls over her shoulders, catching the light in a way that makes my chest tighten. There’s something about her—an effortless beauty, a quiet strength—that I can’t ignore. My fingers twitch at my sides. I feel a foreign warmth spreading through me. I push it down, forcing my face into its usual neutral expression.Clearing my throat, I step forward. “Emily.”She barely acknowledges me. She tilts her glass slightly, swirling the juice inside before bringing it to her lips. Her eyes move toward me for the briefest moment before looking away.She’s upset.I can tell.I hesitate. The tension between us is thick, but I press on.“I wanted to apologize for what happened before.” I say “But I also need you to be more understanding toward Lina.”At this, she stiffens. Her fingers tighten around her glass, and when she fina
EMILY'S POVEMILY’S POV(THE DAY OF THE DINNER)That evening, I pace my bedroom with my phone pressed to my ear, Alexander’s smooth voice filling the space around me. I let out a sigh, twirling a strand of hair around my finger."I don’t know, Alexander," I admit, sitting on the edge of my bed. "This dinner… it just feels like a bad idea."He chuckles on the other end. "Why? Because Carlos might bring Lina? Emily, you’re stronger than this. And honestly, what better way to show him you’ve moved on?"I scoff. "I never said I was trying to prove anything to Carlos.""Maybe not, but deep down, you want him to see you thriving. And you are, Emily. You’re beautiful, independent, and way out of his league. He just didn’t realize it until it was too late."His words send warmth spreading through me, and before I can stop myself, I laugh. "You’re ridiculous, you know that?""Ridiculously right? Yeah, I know." I can hear the smile in his voice, and for some reason, it makes my heart skip a bea
EMILY'S POVI sit on the couch with one leg curled beneath me. Bridget, Helen, and I are on a video call."Emily, I’m telling you, this whole situation is insane. Carlos came to visit you yesterday? Why?" Bridget asks.I sigh, rubbing my forehead. "Bridget, I don’t know, okay? I don’t have the energy to think about it right now.""You should, Em. Because if you don’t, I will. I swear, if I ever see that bastard—""I think it’s cute," Helen says. "He’s trying to make up for things.""How about his little girlfriend then?" Bridget asks Helen.A sharp knock at the door makes me sit up. I frown, glancing at the clock. It’s too late for visitors, and I’m not expecting anyone."Bridget, I’ll call you later," I say, already getting to my feet."Wait, who is it?""No idea," I murmur."Be careful. And if it’s Carlos, kick him in the balls for me," Bridget says.I snort, shaking my head. "Goodbye, guys."I hang up and walk toward the front door just as one of the maids opens it. My breath hitch
EMILY’S POVI wake up to the sunlight the next morning. My fingers stretch across the sheets, looking for warmth, looking for him. But the other side of the bed is cold and empty. Just like every other morning since he left.Carlos.I let out a bitter laugh, rubbing the sleep from my eyes as I force myself to sit up. “Damn it, Emily,” I mutter, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed. “You’re stronger than this.”Except I don’t feel strong. I feel hollow. But I can’t let myself drown in that emptiness. Not when I have someone else to live for now.My hands cradle my stomach.“It’s just you and me now, sweetheart,” I whisper, running my fingers over the soft fabric of my nightshirt. “We’re going to be okay.”The baby doesn’t answer, of course, but the thought of them is the only thing keeping me calm. Keeping me moving. If I stop, I’ll fall apart.I push to my feet and make my way to the kitchen. The routine helps. Coffee. Emails. Anything to keep my mind busy. Anything to silence t
CARLOS' POVI swirl the liquid in my glass as I sit alone, lost in thought. I take a slow sip, letting the burn go down my throat, but it does nothing to clear my mind.Lina's voice echoes in my head. Our last conversation left a bitter taste in my mouth, one that no amount of whiskey can wash away. She had been right—of course, she had. But I had been too stubborn, too caught up in my own lies to admit it.She asked me if I was still hung up on Emily. I had hesitated, and that hesitation had said more than any lie could. I wanted to believe that Lina was what I wanted. That I could be happy with her. But sitting here now, staring at the old, faded photograph on my desk, I know the truth.Emily.I drag a hand down my face with a sigh. I had promised myself I wouldn’t think about her, wouldn’t let her haunt me. But seeing her at the ball had shattered that resolve. She had been breathtaking, standing there with Alexander. The way she had looked at him—I clench my jaw, gripping the gla
LINA'S POVThe sunlight pours into my bedroom as I pace around, phone in hand, still caught up in the magic of last night.“Elisa, you should have seen it! The ball was breathtaking. I swear, I felt like royalty walking through those golden doors,” I say, running my fingers through my hair as I step into the bedroom.Elisa laughs “I’m sure you did, darling. You always know how to command a room. Did Carlos stay by your side the whole time?”I scoff, looking through my vanity for my lip gloss. “Of course not. He had to entertain some business acquaintances. But you won’t believe who I saw there.”“Who?” Elisa asks, intrigued.“Emily.” Just saying her name makes my skin crawl.There’s a sharp inhale on the other end. “What? What the hell was she doing there? Is she stalking you guys?”“I wouldn’t be surprised,” I mutter, rolling my eyes. “She was definitely watching. It was pathetic. You should have seen the way she kept staring at Carlos like she still had a chance.”Elisa groans. “Ugh
EMILY’S POVThe classical music playing fills the entire ballroom. I move with Alexander. Our steps are in perfect sync as he leads me effortlessly across the floor. His touch is gentle. His hand rests at the small of my back while our fingers intertwine. The warmth of his palm against mine sends a shiver up my arm."You’re a wonderful dancer, Emily," Alexander says.I laugh softly, tilting my head to look up at him. "That’s all you. I’m just following your lead."He smirks. "I wouldn’t be so sure about that. You move with such grace, it’s as if you were made for this."I can’t help but blush. Alexander has a way with words. He knows exactly how to make a woman feel like the most precious thing in the room."Flatterer," I tease, shaking my head."Honest man," he corrects with a wink. "I have a confession.""Oh?" I raise a curious brow.He leans in slightly, his lips mere inches from my ear. "I’ve been waiting all night to dance with you."His words send a rush of heat through me. "Is
CARLOS' POVI stand there, frozen, watching Emily disappear into the crowd with Alexander. My hands clench into fists at my sides, and my pulse hammers in my ears. She’s gone, just like that, and there’s nothing I can do about it.Beside me, Lina scoffs, breaking the silence. "Seriously, Carlos? You look like you’ve seen a ghost. What?"I don’t answer. I can’t. My chest feels tight, like something is squeezing around my ribs. But Lina isn’t done. "I don't know what you ever saw in her. She's so... plain. And come on, Carlos, there’s no way a man like Alexander Gonzalez is actually interested in her. She probably slept her way into his life."My head snaps toward her. I can’t help the anger flaring hot inside me. "Lina. Don't say that."She blinks, caught off guard by the sharpness in my voice. "What?""Don't ever say things like that about Emily," I say. "You don’t know her. You don’t know anything about her."Lina scoffs again, louder this time. "Are you seriously defending her right
CARLOS’ POVI see her before she sees me.For a moment, I think I’m hallucinating. I blink, once, twice, trying to convince myself that it isn’t real—that she isn’t real. But she is. Standing across the ballroom, dressed in shimmering gold, looking every bit like the goddess she was always meant to be.Emily.My chest tightens as I drink her in, the way the dress clings to her curves, the way the soft lights of the chandelier dance against her skin, giving her an ethereal glow. Her dark hair is falls to her shoulders in flawless waves. Her hair highlights the curve of her shoulders in the most beautiful way. She looks breathtaking, more than I remember, more than I deserve to see.I feel a sharp pull in my chest. I try to ignore it, but my feet move before I can stop them.“Carlos?” I hear Lina call from behind but I pay her no mind. How can I? all I can focus on is Emily.What’s she doing here? I never expected to see her here.Lina says something again but it feels like background
The reflection in the mirror stares back at me. The knot of my tie is perfectly straight. I adjust the cuff of my suit jacket, exhaling slowly as I mentally prepare for the night ahead. The charity gala. Another evening of polite smiles, handshakes, and empty conversations I have no interest in having.The bedroom door bursts open, slamming against the wall."Carlos!" Lina raises her voice.I don’t even flinch. Sadly, I’m already used to her outbursts.I meet her furious gaze in the mirror, watching as she storms in."Have you seen my lip gloss? The one in the gold tube?"I sigh, turning back to my reflection. "No."Lina huffs, yanking open drawers, tossing things aside. "I swear, I left it right here! And now it’s gone. Just perfect."She continues looking. I can feel her frustration growing with every passing second. "I don’t understand why things keep disappearing in this house!"I pinch the bridge of my nose. At this point, my patience is thinning. "Lina, you have a whole damn dra