Kylo's POVI sat in my office, having the phone on my desk and I watched it vibrate non-stop. I immediately noticed the great amount of messages and my forehead was covered in a line. On either clicking one of the links that popped up, I got a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.The headline screamed at me: "Heiress Caught in Hotel Scandal – Secret Affair Exposed!"On the screen, there appeared a selected picture with Varya and Mark in the hotel lobby. My mind reeled. How could she have done this?I could hardly pay attention to the clocks as I rushed through the house; my steps stomped with aggression and pain. Varya was in the kitchen when I went in, she sat with the phone in her hand and the look on her face was one of pure shock."Varya," I demanded, my voice cold and hard. "What the hell is this?"I thrust my phone towards her, displaying the damning photo. Staring back at me she was with large tear-filled eyes.”I… I didn’t mean it to happen this way, It's certainly not ho
VARYA’S POVThe room was a black, airless hole that matched the huge weight on my chest. I was lying on the bed looking at the ceiling and crying my heart out. My mind ran through everything that had happened the entire day like a stuck record—scandal, accusations, and Kylo’s painful words.Not only had I lost all reputation but also Kylo believed the worst about me. My heart hurt so much it felt like slow disintegration.Everyone else in the house was asleep and quiet reigned supreme here. It was almost spooky with its lack of movement, save for my heavy breathing.I closed my eyes wanting to get lost in darkness but there were no answers from within me; instead, inner turmoil crumpled me up inside as though to say: “No.”All of a sudden, the silence is broken by a creaking sound at the door. My heart raced towards my mouth as I looked up at its source. In this dim light his figure made out just within the doorway stood Kylo.Thin smells of whiskey combined with faint hints of cologn
Varya's POVThe morning light broke through the curtains and spread a gentle light across the room. I lay awake in bed, with my eyes fixed on the ceiling as my mind raced. It seemed that everything that occurred during the previous night would not stop playing back in my mind;Kylo’s uninvited entry, his drunken declarations, our feelings for each other. Even for an instant, I had allowed myself to entertain a notion that perhaps something could be salvaged.But now, with morning reality sinking in, doubts began creeping into my thoughts. Next to me, I saw Kylo shifting around then he opened his eyes and attempted to make sense of what was happening.“What am I doing here?” He mumbled as he rubbed his temples searching for bits of last night’s experiencesMy heart sank when he said those words unknowing again. Of course, he doesn’t remember anything if he was that drunk. The realization hit me like a cold wave leaving me feeling naked and at risk. As though it had all been worthless,
VARYA’S POVIt was still very early in the morning when I was going to work, and the sun had not yet penetrated through the low grey clouds. The events of yesterday night were a haze of pain as Kylo left me feeling emptier than before.My heart was rage-filled with anger, sadness, confusion, and a grieving sense of unfaithfulness.I walked toward the office with a foreboding feeling coming over me. Scandalous photos of me with that guy outside had gone viral overnight thus spoiling my name. I could already hear people murmuring and turning their faces in disgust at me.When I stepped into the building, it felt like all eyes were on me. Conversations stopped as I passed by and started up again in hushed whispers and stifled laughter.My colleagues who used to be so friendly and welcoming now only glance at me with investigatory interest mixed with some disdain.“Heard about those pictures?” someone said behind me in hushed tones."Unbelievable," another voice said. "She's married and s
“Varya, we'll work things out. You're not by yourself. We'll work to have your name cleared."Although her words soothed my hurting heart, the ache remained, raw and excruciating. I tried to get my strength back by wiping my eyes and taking a big breath.This could not shatter me. To save my life and my honor, I had to figure out how to fight back.It was a war the rest of the day. I made an effort to block out the murmurs and critical looks and concentrate only on my work. No matter how routine the task, it was a tiny victory and a step toward taking back control.However, the scandal's weight hovered over me, a continual reminder of the nightmare my life had become.I packed up my belongings as the day came to an end and got ready to go. The office was almost empty, the quiet a sharp contrast to the morning's turmoil. I tread down the shadowy hallways, my footfall resonating in the silence.It was a relief to get outside at last and feel the cool evening air. I inhaled deeply, attem
I did not wait for him to continue whatever he was going to say. I angrily spun around and headed off in the other direction, with my pulse racing in my chest.God, the cafeteria did not sound even remotely appealing now, but it was crucial to distance myself from him. So I walked to a small park right opposite the office thinking that somehow the fresh air would help me.Perching on a bench I felt my heart rate rising. The things Theo said to me played in my mind like a movie, something I wanted and worked so hard to wipe off my memory.Our relationship was a sad story, a drama of pain and deceit that had been a part of my life. It has not been easy for me to leave him but that was the best decision I made for my own good.In fact, he was the reason I had to go through all the hell I have been through in my life until now. I suffered the deadly pain from that surgery and had my miserable heartbroken, thrown away like a piece of trash.Finally landed myself in a billionaire’s mess, an
VARYA’S POVThe constant beeping from my phone on the nightstand jolted me out of a restless sleep. I reached over and squinted my sleepy eyes at the TV. I kept seeing headline after story, each one more dramatic than the last.Everything in its path was being consumed by the scandal, which had taken on a life of its own."Mrs. Cassian Caught in Hotel Scandal: Cheating on Husband?""Cassian Family Business Suffers as Scandal Erupts!""Is CEO Kylo Divorcing His Wife Over Recent Scandal?"That last blow really hit me hard. I threw down the phone on the table and dropped my head into my hands as if I hoped this might bring some peace from everything surrounding me.My life had become a huge joke in public with all media taking up the news about it. My reputation was ruined and there were serious losses incurred by the Cassian family business because of that nasty incident.With great difficulty, I made myself get up and face the day, even though I wanted nothing more than to hide under t
KYLO’S POVThe office was quiet, too quiet. That kind of quiet gnawed away at my mind while letting the scandal send its tendrils back. The headlines were unceasing, daggers pointed directly at Cassian's family’s heart."Is CEO Kylo Divorcing His Wife Over Recent Scandal?"I clenched my jaw and slammed the laptop shut. The scandal had not only ruined Varya’s reputation but was also starting to damage the business. Clients were getting spooked, investors were nervous. This was exactly what I had always tried to avoid.As I drove home my head was a mess of anger and confusion. Varya had let me down and also our family, now our name was mud because of Varya.But there was also one more thing I did not want to acknowledge: the pain. Why was it that painful? The marriage was not based on love. It was an economic deal. So when she betrayed me why did it feel like someone hit me in the stomach?I drove into the driveway and stayed there for a minute in my car taking deep breaths. I needed to