Sophia POV: I've always lived a life that others could only wish for. Born into the Greenwood clan, my father, Greenwood is the wealthiest in New York, a tycoon in real estate and luxury. From waking up, the world was at my fingertips. Private school, designer clothes, lunch dates with Paris, it all just happened effortlessly.Hard work? Struggle? Those were foreign concepts. My father always told me, "You don’t work for what you deserve; you command it.". I've lived by that motto every day of my life.It’s no surprise that Ethan fell for me. We’re both products of power and prestige, two halves of a perfect dynasty in the making. Together, we’ll be unstoppable.My phone buzzed on the nightstand, interrupting my thoughts. I grabbed it, smiling, when I saw a text message from Marcia, my wedding gown designer.Marcia: “The dress is ready! Can you stop by the studio today for the fitting?" and so on.I quickly replied, eager to see the gown I’d been dreaming of for months.Me: “Absolute
Ethan. There, the heavy oak door to my father's room stood before me, polished brass handles glinting on the expression of strain in my body. I rang once and walked in without waiting for a response.“Ethan, my father, Mr. Gray, said, barely glancing up from the stack of documents on his desk. His glasses rested on the top of his nose, and his bearing was as impressive as before.I have to tell you something about Sophia," I said, "no point sitting down.Eye lifted" but did not interrupt perusal of manuscripts. “What about her?”“She’s… impossible, I said, the words spilling out before I could stop them. “She’s rude to people, constantly controlling, and so clingy that I can’t breathe. She's just making me do things I don't want to do. She also insulted Rachel just now in my presence again.That caught his attention. He put the papers aside, taking off his glasses and reclining in his chair. “Ethan, stop being dramatic. You’re engaged to one of the most powerful women in New York. Do
Sophia Pov: No response. The previous night, he hadn’t returned my calls and hadn’t even bothered to text me back.The nerve of him.I dropped my phone on the silk covers and my anger came to the top. He was ignoring me. Me.Giving up the attempt, I made a call that I seldom dial. Mr. Gray, his father.It didn’t even ring twice before he picked it up.“Sophia,” he greeted, his tone cool and businesslike.“Mr. Gray,” I snapped. Ethan has not replied to me since last night and that's totally unacceptable. I expect my fiancé to at least have the decency to answer my calls. You need to handle this.”There was a break, and then, his serene tone said, "I will see to it that Ethan will contact you within the hour.“Good,” I said sharply. If I do not hear from him soon I will re-evaluate certain arrangements—personal and business-oriented.The line went dead before I could say more, leaving me fuming but satisfied.---As promised by Mr. Gray, Ethan’s name soon appeared on my phone screen in
Ethan POV:The next morning, I sat in my office, staring at the latest reports from the marketing team without really processing any of them. My brain was still stuck on the dinner party from the previous night and the amount of mess Sophia had made out of my life. My phone buzzed, pulling me from my thoughts.Rachel was at the door.“Come in,” I said, my tone unintentionally brusque.Rachel entered, holding a sleek portfolio under her arm. Her facial expression was calm, professional, and nothing like the tempest raging in my soul.“I’ve been working on some designs for the fall launch, " she began, placing the portfolio on my desk. “I wanted to get your feedback before finalizing them.”I nodded, opening the portfolio and scanning the pages. Her sketches were always smart and strong but graceful, with a fresh feel, which would undoubtedly appeal to our customer group.“These are good,” I said, my tone softening slightly. “Really good. You’ve outdone yourself.”“Thanks,” she said wit
Ethan PovEthan leaned back in his chair, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. Across the table, Liam was happily munching on a plate of french fries, bumbling around as usual, while Grayson remained cool and composed, ruminating on his drink with a twinkle in his eye."Alright, Ethan," Liam said, leaning forward dramatically. "Spill it. What's going on with you and Rachel? You’ve been walking around like a lovesick puppy."Ethan exhaled, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "It’s not that simple, Liam. You know I’m engaged to Sophia. But... Rachel, she’s different. She makes me feel alive, like I'm finally able to express myself.Liam clapped a hand on the table. "See? That is the kind of thing that goes into movies about romance. Follow your heart, man! If Rachel’s the one making you feel good, well then go for it. Life’s too short to be stuck with someone like Sophia—no offense.".Grayson arched a brow, setting his glass down. "Liam, you can’t be serious. Ethan, I get it, you’re in
Ethan POV:Ethan walked back into the lounge where Liam and Grayson were waiting, both men looking up as he entered. The tension from earlier still hung in the air, but Liam broke it with a sarcastic grin."Well, if it isn’t the drama magnet himself," Liam said, leaning back in his chair. "Are you here to lecture us or apologize?"Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Apologize. What happened earlier shouldn’t have gotten out of hand. I’m sorry Sophia dragged you both into this mess." He looked at Liam specifically. "And I’m sorry for what she did to you. You didn’t deserve that."Liam waved a hand dismissively. "Don’t worry about it. I’ve taken worse. But, Ethan, you need to get your head straight. Forget the parents, the company, and Sophia’s tantrums. What do you want? If it’s Rachel, then stop second-guessing yourself. Trust your heart, man, and let the dice roll as they please.Grayson frowned, his expression pensive. "Liam, it’s not that simple. This isn’t just about f
Sophia POV:Sophia fixed her gaze on the drink in her hand, her thoughts swimming in a tide of anger, betrayal, and desperation. Michael sat next to her, leaning on the bar with his typical grin. She loathed that phrase but, right now, she did need him.She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, the memory of how they’d met flickering in her mind.It had been three years ago, during her time abroad. She’d been caught up in a scandal—some ridiculous mix-up involving a stolen designer bag at a high-end party in Milan. The local people showed no interest in her high social status or her histrionic assertion of her innocence.Michael had already been there, using the smooth-talking trait to get to the position. His charm had gotten her out of trouble, and she’d been grateful at the time. In the weeks that followed, they’d crossed paths again at a series of elite events, striking up a casual friendship. He’d seemed interested in her, but she hadn’t taken him seriously. Michael was fun,
Rachel. Morning light streamed through the windows while Rachel placed plates on the dinner table for breakfast. The triplets—Dante, the eldest, Damian., and little Daniella were sitting quietly, flipping through the pages of a new magazine I bought. Rachel’s heart swelled at the sight of them, their giggles filling the room as they shared a secret joke. “Mommy, look!” Daniella’s voice broke through her thoughts. She lifted a shiny sheet, eyes of large, brown orbs almost twinkling with excitement. Ethan, smiling confidently, stood beside her at a recent charity event. She had forgotten how many cameras had been there, capturing every moment. Daniella tilted her head, her little brows furrowing. “Mommy, is he our daddy?” Rachel’s breath hitched, her pulse racing. She tried to reply but her words would not follow. The question hung in the air, heavy and unsettling. “Sweetheart, Rachel said, kneeling beside Daniella, “that’s. Someone I work with. He’s not... he’s not your dad
"Emerald Designs: The Rising Star Threatening Mavericks & Co." His forehead creased and his jaw clenched. The article detailed how this new brand had taken social media by storm, challenging the long-held dominance of Mavericks &Co. in the fashion industry.He tipped his cup to the floor and coffee flowed from it onto the desk. He didn't even bother to call any help without wasting a second, he called Greg and summoned his core team for an urgent meeting.---The meeting room buzzed with tension. Mark, Ethan’s father’s long-time friend, sat with a smug expression, leaning back in his chair as though he already knew how the meeting would end. Danny, the publicist, did a restless tap on her laptop as Liam crossed his arms inside and an inky frown screwed itself on his face. Greg glanced at Ethan, waiting for him to speak.Ethan entered the room, his presence commanding attention. His tie was slightly loosened a sign of the stress weighing on him. He dropped the tablet displaying the Eme
Rachel walked back and forth in the living room, just after putting the children to sleep. Her arms crossed snugly around her breast, her mind buzzing with anger and hurt. Ethan sat on the edge of the couch, his elbows resting on his knees, staring at the floor. The tension in the air was suffocating, both of them unsure of how to start the conversation that hung heavily between them.Rachel finally broke the silence, her voice trembling but sharp. “Do you even realize what’s happening, Ethan? It’s because of you. You've dragged me into this mess and now everybody hates me. Hundreds of thousands of people who don't even know me are calling me names, criticizing me for something, calling me names and a husband snatcher”Ethan’s head snapped up, his eyes filled with guilt. “Rachel, I know you’re hurt. I’m trying to fix this—”“Fix this?” Rachel cut in, her voice becoming hoarse in a round of pain-struck gestures as her hands shot to her waist. “You can’t fix this, Ethan. This is Sophi
Lying on her velvet armchair, Sophia read a book when suddenly her door opened loudly. Of course, she did not flinch, because she knew how Michael would burst into her room. He entered furiously but at the same time looked puzzled; his dark eyebrows knitted, his lips pressed in a thin line."You knew!" Michael spat, slamming the door shut behind him. "You knew those kids weren't mine, and you didn't think it was worth telling me?"Sophia calmly set her book on the side table, crossing one leg over the other, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips as she regarded him with an air of superiority. "And ruin the fun of finding out yourself? Where is the excitement in that?" she said in a tone full of mockery.Michael's jaw clenched, his fists at his sides. He stormed over to the liquor cabinet, yanked the door open, and grabbed a bottle of whiskey. He poured himself a glass with shaking hands, spilling a few drops onto the glass table.I should have known this was your doing, he grumble
Ethan sat at his desk, fingers beating on the wood veneer in some rhythmic way. Outside the heavy wood doors of his office, there was a soft hum of activity, but he focused only on the glowing screen of his laptop as he went through the drafts of the official statement Danny had made, his eyebrows furrowed.Danny knocked first, then entered, clasping a clipboard tightly against her chest. "Sir, Greg said he has something going on tracing the videos back to their origin, but it's taking him longer than anticipated. He needs more resources in order to speed up the process."Ethan leaned back in his chair; the leather groaned a bit as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Give him everything he needs, Danny. This is priority one. I don't care about how much it's going to cost or how many people he's got to bring on board-just get it done.""Yes, sir," Danny said with a nod, jotting a quick note on her clipboard. "And about the statement you wanted to release regarding the videos?"Ethan st
Rachel sat at the dining table and watched as the children dug into their pancakes, syrup dripping down their little hands, their giggles filling the room like a soothing melody that momentarily quieted the storm raging in her mind. Events of the past days had shaken her, but it was moments like these that made her feel back on solid ground. She absent-mindedly scrolled through her phone with one hand and sipped her coffee with the other, hoping to be distracted.Then she saw it-a headline with her name. Her heart dropped. Her fingers froze mid-scroll before she gained the courage to tap the link. Much to her surprise, the page came up blank. She refreshed it once, then twice. A wave of relief washed over her when she realized the content had been removed, no doubt due to Ethan's work. She inhaled deeply, but the weight in her chest didn't completely lift.Mom," Daniella's tiny voice broke into her thoughts, tugging at her sleeve. Rachel looked up at her daughter, who stared at her w
Ethan sat opposite the lead investigator at the police station. His fingers tapped impatiently on the edge of the desk, while his face screwed tightly, his jaw clenched down, and a thin furrow set between his eyebrows. A fact that Ethan had hardly slept well for days was aptly reflected in the dark circles hanging like bruises beneath his eyes."Mr. Carter," the officer started, his voice even but threaded with frustration, "we questioned every single protester. None of them met anyone directly. All they got were private messages-anonymous, untraceable."Ethan's eyebrows shot upwards while his lips pursed into a thin line. "Anonymous?" he repeated, his voice sharp. "You are telling me that somebody out there is running this whole mayhem from behind the scenes and you can't tell who?" The officer leaned back in his chair with steepled fingers. "Whoever is behind this knows what they are doing, and they covered their tracks well.Ethan blew heavily and massaged his temples. His face r
Above, fluorescent lights hummed softly above the police station-a very soft hum that did nothing to drown out the tension in the room. Ethan sat forward on the chair, his jaw clenched, his fingers tapping impatiently on the cold metal armrest. Across the table, a knot of protesters slumped, bravado drained from earlier posturing. They shifted under the officers' sharp gazes, their guilt across slouched postures and darting eyes.Ethan leaned forward, his dark eyes boring into them. "Who put you up to this?" he demanded, his voice low and steady, laced with steel.The protesters shifted uneasily, eyes darting about, their feet scuffling the tiled floor. Finally, one of them spoke-a young man with a scraggly beard-his voice quavering. "We don't know who it was. Somebody sent us money. Told us to, uh. show up and, you know, cause a scene."Ethan's brow furrowed, his lips pressed into a thin line. "And you didn't think to question it?" he snapped, frustration bubbling over. “You didn't
Rachel adjusted her blazer, the fingers trembling, as she stepped out of the cab. The soft click of her heels against the pavement was drowned by the chaos ahead: the normal entry building of her company now was a battleground. Protesters crowded the front entrance, their faces twisted in anger. Chants echoed through the street, accompanied by the sound of eggs splattering against the glass doors. Rachel froze for one second, her heart sinking as it finally registered. Her shoulders stiffened, but she forced herself to take a steady breath. “ You built this company from nothing,she reminded herself”. “You’re not going to let it crumble now.” Keeping her head low, she circled to the back entrance, her steps quick and purposeful. Her chest tightened with each step, the echoes of the protesters’ angry cries trailing behind her. As she slid into the building, the usual warmth of her office felt eerily cold. Donna, her secretary, was waiting at her door. Her face was white and her
Morning sun poured in through the windshield through the driver's side at times from the windshield when Rachel steered the car onto the street. They were in the back of the car and their discussions filled the car. Rachel smiled softly, glancing at them through the rearview mirror. Her chest filled with love, while listening to the song, as Daniella hummed, while Damian and Dante shared a secret in hushed tones.“Mummy, our class teacher told us that we are going to have parents day in school soon" Dante tells her after gossiping with his brother.“Really!" Rachel smiled as she stared at them through the mirror.“Yes" the voice of Damian filled the car with his joyful tone. “So you want me to come?" She asked them “Yes mama" Damian shouted.“Alright, don't strain yourself Damian" she said softly as he settled down quietly.When they got close to the school, Rachel observed a black SUV in close shadow behind her. She frowned, checking her rearview mirror again. Soon, another car joi