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
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
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
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 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 feel it as soon as I see them—the knot in my stomach tightens the moment Carlos and Lina walk into the room. I know this is coming, I should’ve prepared for it, but seeing them together still stings like fresh salt on an old wound.Carlos is laughing with his arm wrapped around Lina’s waist, guiding her through the crowd like she belongs there—like she belongs with him.The worst part is that she does belong there now, doesn’t she? She is his girlfriend. The love of his life. His first love. The woman he can’t forget.I try to look away, to focus on the conversation happening in front of me, but my eyes betray me, following their every movement, every step they take toward the family.My heart tightens, and a feeling of jealousy twists deep inside me, but I swallow it down. It isn’t worth it. It has never been worth it.From the corner of my eye, I see Juliet’s lips curl into a scornful sneer as she watches them. Her voice is low as she mutters, "Husband snatcher."I exh
EMILY'S POVIt is time for dinner. The clink of a glass cuts through the air like a sharp note of music, signaling the start of dinner. Lady Helen clinks her glass loud emough for everyone to hear and gestures for everyone to take their seats. We all know what that means. I sigh, forcing myself to stand up from my corner of the room. My stomach twists nervously, though I can’t quite pinpoint why. Who am I kidding? Of course, I know why. As the others make their way to the table, I follow suit. My steps falter slightly as I approach the dining table. And then, my eyes lock onto his—Carlos. He stands near his seat. We lock eyes. For a brief moment, the entire room seems to blur into the background. Time slows. It is just me and him. No one else exists.His ocean blue eyes pierce mine and something—some unspoken thing—passes between us. My heart skips a beat. My body becomes frozen. I can’t tear my gaze away, as though I am waiting for him to say something, to break the spell. The
Emily's POVThe air is colder than it has any right to be. Even with the soft golden glow of fairy lights on the garden across the garden, the warmth doesn’t reach me.Not tonight.I stand just past the stone archway, where the laughter and clinking glasses from the dinner have become background noise. My hands are clenched into fists around the fabric of my dress. I can still hear her laugh—Lina’s. Light, airy, perfect. I don’t even need to turn to know Carlos is beside her, smiling like she painted the sun itself.It’s too much. All of it.I lean against the edge of the stone fountain, lost in thought.Greece. They’re going to Greece. I almost laugh. Of all the places, it has to be that one. The same country Carlos and I spent months dreaming about, late at night tangled in bedsheets, whispering about the blue rooftops of Santorini and the white sands of Mykonos. We were going to travel the world together, hand in hand, starting with Greece. It was supposed to be our own vacation.B
CARLOS' POVThe screen behind me lights up with the final slide of my presentation. It's a clean detailed graph that shows our revenue climbing steadily over the past two quarters. I let the room fall into silence for a few seconds, savoring their anticipation before I speak again."—and if we follow this trend, introducing the Phoenix Expansion Project next month as outlined," I say, "we're projected to increase profits by an additional eighteen percent before the end of the quarter."I click the remote once more. Another graph appears. This one highlights our competitor’s sluggish growth in comparison. Quiet murmurs spread through the boardroom.I glance at the long table, where the board members sit in their dark suits. Some are leaning forward, some sit back with their arms crossed — but all with their eyes glued to me. And then, my gaze drifts to the man at the head of the table — my father.He isn’t leaning forward or sitting stiffly; he is relaxed with a small rare smile tuggin
EMILY’S POVThe air in the room thins until it feels like I’m breathing through a straw.I stare at Lina in shock. For a moment, I think I’m seeing things.What the hell is she doing here?My mouth is dry and my heart is hammering so loud I can barely hear anything else. She stands there in the doorway like she owns the place, hips cocked to the side, perfectly manicured nails tapping against her tablet. Her red dress clings to her body like it’s painted on. Her hair falls down her shoulders in perfect, glossy waves.I force my voice to work. "Lina? What... what are you doing here?"“Lina?” Bridget echoes in confusion.Lina smiles. That smug, superior smile she’s perfected so well. It’s like she’s drinking in the chaos she’s just unleashed, savoring it. She catwalks into the room as if she belongs there.Around me, the board members shift uncomfortably. I hear low whispers.Bridget, from the side of the room, mutters under her breath, "Oh, you've got to be fucking kidding me."Victori
EMILY’S POVThe trip to Paris was great. Alexander’s driver drops me off at home. I didn’t have anything to drink but for some reason, I feel hungover.I’m barely through the front door when my phone buzzes again. A maid opens the door for me.“Good day, Miss Emily” she greets.“Hi” I say to her with a smile “How are you?”I go in, slipping out of my shoes, and glance at the screen. It’s an email.I tap it open, expecting another promotional message or maybe something from the clinic — but when I see the subject line, my heart leaps into my throat.Partnership Proposal: Maison de Lune Fashion House.I blink once. Twice. Just to make sure I’m not seeing things. No, I’m not imagining it.My fingers fumble a little as I click it open, reading the words over and over again. They’re inviting me — me — to a meeting. They want to talk about bringing my designs to life. They’re interested in opening a studio. With me.A squeal rips out of me before I can stop it. I spin around in the middle o
DANIEL’S POVI sit at my desk. My fingers are tapping on the table as the monitor in front of me flashes search results. Lina. Lina. Lina. Dozens of articles. Hundreds of names. None of them her.Each time I think I've found a lead, it slips through my fingers like smoke. A "Lina Morales" in Boston — no match. A "Lina M." in Los Angeles — wrong face. Wrong age. I close each tab one after another. With each second, I get more frustrated."She's a ghost," I mutter under my breath. Not even a damn traffic ticket. Not a whisper of scandal. Nothing. And that, in itself, is the biggest red flag of all.Nobody's that clean. Not unless they have a reason to scrub their past.I know nothing about her apart from the fact that she was married which I find absurd.I lean back in my chair, running a hand through my hair.Why are you hiding, Lina? What the hell are you so desperate to erase?I can't shake the feeling — that itching intuition that something big is sitting just beneath the surface, h
CARLOS’ POVThe sun is too damn bright.I squint as I step out of the car, watching Lina prance ahead of me toward the massive baby boutique like she’s heading into a candy store. Her heels click confidently on the pavement and her hand waves behind her as if to say come on, slowpoke. I catch up because I have to—not because I want to.Truth is, I feel like I’ve been dragged here. Like a leash has been tied around my neck, pulling me along with every smile, every “Carlos, this’ll be fun,” As the glass doors slide open, I hear the sound of lullabies inside the store. Everything is shiny. Expensive. The kind of place where cashmere blankets are folded like art and cribs cost more than some people’s rent.“Isn’t it beautiful?” Lina’s voice is sugar. She spins on her heel and takes my hand, tugging me forward. “I’ve been dying to come here.”I give her a faint smile. “Isn’t it a little early to be shopping?”She waves me off. “It’s never too early. We’re gonna be parents, Carlos! We nee
CARLOS’ POVIt’s nearly midnight by the time I pull into the driveway.I don’t move.My hand rests on the steering wheel. My fingers are clenched around it like I’m hanging on to something that isn’t there anymore. I stare at the door. The light above it is on—of course it is. Lina always waits up. Whether it’s out of care, obligation, or suspicion, I still haven’t figured out.I lean back into the seat and close my eyes, trying to breathe through the weight that presses down on my chest.Emily.Her name slips into my thoughts. No matter how hard I try to shove her into some corner of the past, she always finds a way to creep back in. Her laugh. The way she used to greet me at the door in those big, fuzzy slippers with her hair pulled back and a smile that felt like home.God, I’m such a damn idiot.I divorced her. Why?Because it started as a contract. That’s what I keep telling myself. It was supposed to be transactional. Practical. We were never meant to feel anything.Except we do
Emily’s POVThe silk of the green dress shimmers under my fingertips as I smooth it down over my hips. I stare at my reflection one last time. The sweetheart neckline is modest yet elegant.The dress is perfect. Absolutely perfect.I snap a few pictures, biting my lip as I angle my phone just right. Then I hit send—to Bridget and Helen, because of course I have to. Almost immediately, my phone buzzes.Bridget: Girl, are you trying to end him? 😍🔥Helen: You’re a goddess. If he doesn’t faint on sight, I will.I laugh out loud. With one last spritz of perfume and a shaky deep breath, I step into the hallway and make my way down the elevator.Alexander is waiting in the lobby.The moment his eyes land on me, his eyes widen in surprise. He straightens to his full height. His eyes are locked on me like I’m the only woman in the world. Slowly, he walks to me with his lips partly open.He stops just in front of me, reaching for my hand as though it’s sacred. Then he lifts it to his lips.“Y
EMILY’S POVBack at the hotel, I slip off my shoes and finally exhale. After a quick shower, I pull on an oversized t-shirt Alexander gave me and crawl into the ridiculously soft hotel bed. I grab my phone and snap a couple of photos—the city skyline glowing from the window, the luxurious bathroom, the impossibly fluffy robe hanging on the door.I send them to Bridget and Helen.Bridget replies almost immediately: You’re one kiss away from falling for this man.I snort. Not gonna happen. He’s just… being sweet.Helen sends three heart-eyes emojis. Sweet is a slippery slope.I toss my phone aside and lie back, staring up at the ceiling. The room is quiet. I should feel relaxed, but instead, my mind won’t shut off. I’m grateful, absolutely. This whole surprise trip is thoughtful and generous. But not romantic. Not for me. And yet…I wonder if I’m being unfair. Am I giving Alexander the wrong idea? Should I have drawn a clearer line? He’s sleeping in the next room, probably thinking thi
EMILY’S POVThe jet touches down in Paris, and even though I’m tired to the bone, I press my face to the window like a kid. The city lights sparkle below us, and off in the distance, the Eiffel Tower glows like something out of a dream.I’m here.I’m actually in Paris.I can hardly believe it.Sure, I’ve traveled to a lot of places. But the fact that Alexander brought me here is still surprising to me. I mean, what guy takes you on his private jet to Paris all because you were having a stressful time? It says a lot about him and I don’t know how to process it.I rub my belly, smiling down at my child.“Hey baby” I whisper “We’re in Paris”As we step off the plane, the cool night air hits me. I shiver a little, and Alexander places a hand lightly on my back.“Welcome to the City of Lights,” he says with a smile in his voice.I smile back, trying to hide how overwhelmed I feel. “I still can’t believe you brought me here.”He gives me that look—like he’s proud of himself. “Just wait unti