Vanya's POV“No” I replied, my grip tightening on the scalpel. “You don't get to control me anymore Cian. Not now, not ever”“Damn it, Vanya” Cian growled, his temper finally breaking through. He reached out to grab my wrist but I was quicker, slashing the scalpel across his forearm. Blood welled up from the cut and Cian hissed in pain, but his grip on my wrist only tightened.Before I could react, the door burst open and several nurses and doctors rushed in. They pulled my struggling form away from Cian, restraining me as I fought against them.“Let me go!” I screamed, thrashing against their hold. But they were too strong and within seconds, a needle was pressed into my arm, the tranquilizer spreading through my veins like a virus.The last thing I saw before darkness overtook me was Cian, his golden eyes burning with a mix of anger and something else I couldn't quite place.***When I woke again, the room was dark and I was alone. My body felt heavy, the effects of the tranquilizer
Cian's POV I paced the length of my office, my mind consumed by Vanya's recent actions. The image of her, wild-eyed and brandishing a scalpel, haunted me. I couldn't fathom how the gentle, submissive woman I had once known could transform into someone so defiant, so violent. It was as if she had become a different person entirely, and it infuriated me. I had tried everything to get through to her, to bring her back under my control. The flowers I sent to her hospital room were supposed to be a gesture of goodwill, a reminder of the affection I once showed her. But every bouquet was returned, rejected without a word of thanks. The more she pushed me away, the more determined I became to have her back.I had always prided myself on my ability to control every aspect of my life, including the people in it. Vanya was no exception. She had been mine, once, and I would make sure she was mine again. I visited the hospital regularly, ignoring the fact that she never wanted to see me. Her
Cian's POV"Get out" I said coldly, my voice devoid of any emotion. Josephine looked up at me, confusion and pain written across her face."Cian, I...”"Get. Out." I repeated, my tone leaving no room for argument. I didn't want to see her, neither did I want to be reminded of my failure.Josephine scrambled to her feet, clutching the remnants of her torn clothes around her. She cast one last, desperate look at me before fleeing the room, her sobs echoing down the hallway.I collapsed back onto the couch, running a hand through my hair. My mind was a mess of conflicting emotions-- rage, frustration, and something darker, something I didn't want to acknowledge. I had hurt Josephine, yes, but the person I truly wanted to hurt was Vanya. I wanted her to feel the pain, to understand that she couldn't just walk away from me.But she was gone, out of my reach for now. The thought gnawed at him, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. I closed my eyes, trying to banish the image of Josephine's t
Vanya's POV:I stepped through the front door of the house, exhaustion weight heavily on my shoulders. The familiar scent of the place—lavender and freshly baked bread—welcomed me, but it did little to soothe the turmoil churning inside me. I barely had time to drop my bag before Marco and Emilia appeared in the hallway, their expressions a mix of concern and frustration.“Vanya” Marco started, his voice stern but tinged with worry. “What were you thinking? Leaving the hospital like that?”Emilia folded her arms, her gaze sharp. “You should be resting, not running around like everything's fine. The doctor was very clear about what you needed”I sighed, leaning against the wall. “I couldn't stay there, Marco. Not with everything that was happening. I needed to be home, with you both and with the kids”“You needed care” Emilia cut in, her time brokering no argument “you collapsed, Vanya. This isn't something you can just brush off”“I'm fine now” I insisted, though I knew it wasn't enti
Vanya's POVWhen I arrived at the office, I was surprised to see David waiting outside. He leaned against the wall, his gaze sharp as he watched me approach."David" I greeted him with a nod, trying to mask my irritation. "What are you doing here?"He straightened up, giving me a curt smile. "Just checking in on you, Vanya."My eyes narrowed. I knew better than to believe that. David was Cian's right-hand man, his loyal enforcer. If he was here, it was because Cian had sent him."I don't need checking in on,” I replied coldly. "'m fine.”David's smile didn't waver. "Of course. Just doing my job." I resisted the urge to snap at him, instead pushing past him and into the building.Tara and the rest of my staff greeted me with warm smiles, and for a brief moment, I allowed myself to relax. But the feeling was fleeting. Every time I turned around, I felt David's eyes on me, watching my every move.By the time evening came, I was exhausted. Tara suggested a team dinner to lift everyone's
Vanya's POV:I had tried, I really tried, to stick to the two-week break Marco and Emilia had practically forced on me.For the first few days, I indulged in the luxury of not having to rush anywhere. I spent time with my children, making them breakfast and driving them to school. I even allowed myself the guilty pleasure of spending a quiet afternoon reading a book, something I hadn't done in ages. You might say I was living my best life.But the itch to return to work, to the life I had built so meticulously, became impossible to ignore. By the end of the first week, I found myself pacing the house, feeling restless and uneasy. Every time my phone buzzed, my heart would skip a beat, half-hoping it was a work-related emergency that would justify my return to the office. But it never was. Instead, my phone seemed to be a direct line to Cian's persistence.Every morning, noon, and night, without fail, he would text me. At first, I blocked his number. Then he started sending emails. I
Vanya's POVVanya's POV:I had tried, I really tried, to stick to the two-week break Marco and Emilia had practically forced on me.For the first few days, I indulged in the luxury of not having to rush anywhere. I spent time with my children, making them breakfast and driving them to school. I even allowed myself the guilty pleasure of spending a quiet afternoon reading a book, something I hadn't done in ages. You might say I was living my best life.But the itch to return to work, to the life I had built so meticulously, became impossible to ignore. By the end of the first week, I found myself pacing the house, feeling restless and uneasy. Every time my phone buzzed, my heart would skip a beat, half-hoping it was a work-related emergency that would justify my return to the office. But it never was. Instead, my phone seemed to be a direct line to Cian's persistence.Every morning, noon, and night, without fail, he would text me. At first, I blocked his number. Then he started sendin
Vanya's POV I sat in the muse of what I now thought to be a blissful evening, one of the best I have had in quite a while. The surprise party had been a success, full of laughter, warmth, all with a fleeting sense of safety. For a brief moment, I had allowed myself to believe that perhaps I could reclaim a semblance of normalcy in my life. But as I stood in the quiet aftermath of the celebration, surrounded by empty champagne flutes and deflated balloons, I realized how naive that hope had been.I was tidying up the last of the decorations when I heard footsteps echoing in the empty hall. My heart skipped a beat, a sense of unease creeping into my chest. When I turned to face the intruder, my breath caught in my throat.There he was, standing at the entrance with a smug grin plastered across his face Cian. Dressed immaculately in a dark suit that seemed to blend with the shadows, he held a bouquet of roses in one hand and a small box wrapped in silver paper in the other. The sight o