As I drove away from the mansion, the bitter chill of the night seemed to seep through the car windows, sharpening the anger and determination pulsing through me. The quiet hum of the engine was the only sound breaking the silence, but inside, my mind was chaotic, unraveling Thiago’s words, each one sinking like a blade into the depths of my resolve. He’d admitted to everything—without remorse, without hesitation. I could still see the cold indifference in his eyes as he’d said it, as if my mother’s death had meant nothing more to him than a minor inconvenience.But if he thought he could silence me or manipulate me into staying, he had sorely misjudged me. Whatever small, twisted bond we’d shared was gone, dissolved into nothing under the weight of his betrayal.I wasn’t just going to leave. I was going to make sure Thiago paid for every single life he had ruined—starting with my mother’s.I parked the car at a nearby overlook, the city lights below shimmering in a way that would’v
Days had passed since I’d stormed out, but the weight of everything that happened between Thiago and me still felt fresh, raw.Eventually I had decided to return for two reasons: one was to collect my things and finally close the door on the life I thought I’d been building here. The life I’d been lied into. And then the second, was to gather anything I could find from Thiago’s things that would associate him to my mother’s death.It has been so long since that murder happened, and I bet finding evidence from Thiago’s things would be rough but I was still willing to bet on whatever I would find.When I arrived back, I wasn’t really expecting him to be here, yet there he was, waiting in the foyer as if he’d known I’d return. His expression was unreadable, a mask of both anticipation and wariness. But I didn’t care to decipher his emotions anymore; I was done trying to understand this man who had made a fool of me.“I’m only here for my things,” I said, my voice sharp and emotionless,
Starting over was harder than I thought it would be.Filing my resignation at the Bermudez Group was the first step, yet walking out of that building felt like tearing away a piece of myself. My work had been tied to Thiago for so long, every project, every deal stamped with his mark, whether I liked it or not. I took a deep breath as I left for the last time, reminding myself this was the beginning of a new chapter. The divorce papers followed next. It was a hollow victory, knowing it wouldn’t be easy; Thiago’s stubbornness was practically a trademark, and he would drag this process out as long as possible.The knowledge weighed on me as I tried to slip back into some semblance of normalcy. Each day felt both liberating and strangely empty, like I was relearning how to navigate life on my own terms, without him lurking in the background, dictating or influencing my decisions. My focus was clear: rebuild and find out the truth. I needed to know exactly how Thiago was tied to my mo
I was still buzzing from the unexpected kindness Sevi had shown last night, my mind replaying his warm smile and easy laugh as he drove me to my hotel. So when he suggested lunch, I agreed, curious about what more I’d find beneath his calm exterior.When I met him in the hotel lobby, he greeted me with the same gentle smile that seemed to soften every hard edge in my mind. Dressed in a simple white shirt and dark jeans, he looked effortlessly put together."I hope you like cafes," he said, leading me to his car.“I practically live in them,” I admitted with a grin. “Perfect place to escape without really going anywhere, don’t you think?”He chuckled. "Then I know just the place for you.”The drive was filled with snippets of conversation that made me feel like I’d known him far longer than just a day. It was easy to fall into step with him, and by the time we reached a tucked-away part of the city, I was utterly at ease.The cafe Sevi had chosen was nestled between tall, vine-covered
The same day, I never expected that Sevi would actually rent a luxury looking motor boat for us use. As the boat sped through the clear blue waters, island after lush island rolling past us in the distance. He’d whisked me away after our time at the café, suggesting we take a boat out to explore some of the quieter islands.“Are you sure this isn’t too much?” I’d asked, laughing at his casual insistence that I “just wait and see.”“Bridgette, you’re on vacation,” he’d replied, his tone lighthearted as he adjusted the boat’s speed. “The whole point is to unwind and not think too much about things. Let me take care of it.”And so I did. I let go, let the wind rush through my hair as we passed secluded coves, sandy beaches, and dense palm groves. We finally stopped at a small, private beach on one of the islands, where Sevi cut the engine and helped me out of the boat. Ahead, there was a table set with white linens and delicate lanterns that flickered like stars against the night sky.E
As Sevi and I settled down into the cozy talk, I leaned back, sipping my coffee and trying to digest everything that had happened today. This “fake fiancée” plan was risky, and though the thought of it had me half amused and half terrified, I couldn’t deny it had a certain appeal. Something about the way Sevi looked at me made me feel strangely comfortable, as if I could trust him despite how fast everything was moving. But it wasn’t until he looked at me across the table with a slightly hesitant expression that I sensed we’d be veering into new territory.“Bridgette,” Sevi began, placing his coffee cup down and leaning in a little. “Before we go any further with this plan, there are some things you need to know about my family. Particularly, my father.”He said it so seriously that my amusement faded, and I sat up, giving him my full attention. “Alright,” I replied. “I’m listening.”He exhaled, his shoulders tensing as he started. “My father, Antonio Reynolds… He’s not just a regular
The next morning, I was up early, curiosity thrumming through me after Sevi’s vague invitation. He’d insisted we had plans today, but I had no idea what he had in mind. The surprise element didn’t sit entirely comfortably with me—especially after agreeing to this “fake fiancée” arrangement—but Sevi’s disarming sincerity made it difficult to say no. Besides, there was something about him that drew me in. And perhaps, I enjoyed the distraction from the usual grind and endless expectations my life entailed.Around noon, Sevi picked me up, offering me a warm grin as he held the car door open. “Ready for another adventure?”I raised a skeptical brow, feeling half intrigued and half exasperated by his nonchalance. “Depends on where we’re going,” I replied, sliding into the seat. “You’ve been pretty tight-lipped about today’s plans.”“Trust me. You’ll like it,” he said, though the mysterious glint in his eyes had me wondering what, exactly, I was in for.The car ride was mostly filled with
Finally meeting Sevi’s father, Antonio Reynolds, felt surreal. From the outside, his sprawling estate was nothing short of intimidating, exuding power and influence. The manicured gardens, towering columns, and understated elegance told me more than any article or biography about the man we were about to face. My nerves buzzed with anticipation as Sevi and I walked up the grand steps, his hand steady and comforting in mine, though he didn’t say a word. He didn’t need to; his silence held a heaviness I could almost feel, like he was bracing himself for an encounter he would rather avoid.As we entered the mansion, a dignified older man with salt-and-pepper hair and an air of reserved confidence greeted us. Antonio Reynolds was nothing like I’d imagined. While his posture and gaze spoke of authority, his eyes held a warmth I hadn’t anticipated, a subtle, kind gleam that contradicted every mental picture I’d painted. He extended a hand to me, his smile polite, and his voice was gentl
The next few days were filled with a sense of impending danger. I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were walking on a tightrope, and any misstep would send everything crashing down. Thiago seemed just as on edge as I was, though he didn’t show it on the surface. But I could see it in his eyes—the same hunger, the same drive, the same readiness for whatever came next.I met him in his office late one afternoon. He was reviewing documents, his sharp gaze scanning the pages with an intensity that was almost unsettling."Thiago," I said softly, stepping into his space. He didn’t look up, but I could feel the tension in his posture. "Leah called me last night."His eyes flicked up to meet mine, narrowing slightly. "What did she want?"I hesitated, then told him everything she had said. "She thinks she can make a deal, but I don’t trust her. This isn’t over."Thiago placed the papers down carefully, then stood, crossing the room to stand in front of me. His presence was overwhelming, and fo
The city skyline shimmered under the evening lights as I stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows of Thiago's penthouse. The weight of recent events pressed heavily on my shoulders. Leah's calculated moves had thrown our world into disarray, and the revelation of her betrayal still echoed in my mind.Thiago entered the room, his expression a mix of concern and determination. "Bridgette," he began, his voice steady, "we need to talk."I turned to face him, searching his eyes for answers. "About Leah?"He nodded. "She's not just targeting the company; she's targeting us—our relationship, our future."I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing thoughts. "We can't let her win."He approached, taking my hands in his. "Then let's fight back. Together."The next morning, Lucia, Marcus, and I convened in the conference room. The atmosphere was tense, the air thick with anticipation.Lucia began, "We've traced the leak to a secure server. Only a handful of people had access."Marcus added,
The days that followed felt like a slow, meticulous countdown. The taste of victory was still fresh, but the knowledge that the war was far from over lingered in the back of my mind. Leah was not one to surrender easily, and I knew she'd find another way to fight back. But for now, the cards were in our hands.Thiago had been unusually quiet since the meeting, his focus sharp, but there was an intensity in his eyes that I couldn’t shake off. As if he was preparing for something I couldn’t yet see.I sat across from him one evening in the penthouse, papers scattered in front of me, but my thoughts were far from the numbers on the page. My mind kept wandering to Leah—how she had looked at me when she left the room, her smile not one of defeat, but of patience, like she was biding her time. That worried me more than any immediate retaliation.Thiago leaned forward, breaking my thoughts. "You’re thinking about her, aren’t you?"I met his gaze, not surprised that he had read me so easily.
By noon, I couldn’t pretend the walls weren’t closing in.The silence after Leah’s visit wasn't the kind that gave you peace—it was the kind that echoed. Every word she’d said, every warning she dripped like poison, kept looping in my mind like a cursed song I couldn’t turn off.Thiago was mine long before you walked into his life.You’re carrying a weapon.I stood in the shower longer than necessary, letting the water scald away the chill that had crept beneath my skin. But no matter how hard I scrubbed, I couldn’t rinse her off me.When I stepped out, I found Thiago waiting.He didn’t knock. He just stood there in the doorway, sleeves rolled, tie gone, shirt clinging to him like armor that no longer fit.“You’ve been quiet,” he said.“So have you.”He stepped inside, shutting the door behind him like he was sealing us off from the world.“You want to yell at me?” he asked. “Do it. I can take it.”I didn’t yell. I dried my hands on a towel, then looked at him square in the eyes.“Was
The next morning, I didn’t wake up to the usual soft chime of my alarm or the scent of espresso brewing from Thiago’s automated machine. I woke up to silence.Too much silence.The kind that settles like a fog in the bones, whispering that something has shifted. That something is wrong.I sat up, the silk sheets slipping off my skin as I reached for my phone. No new messages. No updates from Lucia or Marcus. Not even a single email from the security firm Thiago had commissioned. The stillness wasn’t peace—it was calculated quiet.Someone had pulled the plug.I moved quickly, throwing on one of Thiago’s button-downs, not bothering to fasten every button as I padded across the floor, phone in hand. I headed straight for the control panel by the wall—one that synced to the penthouse’s surveillance and internal comms. The screen lit up. Offline.“What the hell?”I tapped the screen again. Nothing.“Thiago?” I called out. No answer. My voice echoed back at me.That’s when the hairs on the
Bridgette’s POVI stood in front of the penthouse window, watching the city lights blink below me. Everything looked so peaceful from here, but I knew better. Behind the glimmering exterior, everyone was moving, plotting, fighting, hiding. Even the glass separating me from the world below felt like a wall between reality and illusion.Thiago had done his part—leaving no stone unturned, going after every single person who might have leaked information about my pregnancy. At least, that’s what he said. But that wasn’t enough. I couldn’t rely entirely on him. This was my fight too. And I wasn’t about to be dragged into a game I didn’t understand.I let out a long breath and walked back to the table, picking up the digital tablet in front of me. Lucia, Marcus, and the rest of the team were still waiting for the next move. There were no comforting words from Thiago; just the calculated look in his eyes whenever he saw me. He seemed pleased with the progress. He was the kind of man who belie
Bridgette’s POVThe war room atmosphere had descended on the office.Lucia, Marcus, and a handful of trusted executives gathered in the conference room, their faces grim. Even the interns sensed the tension and kept their heads down. No one wanted to be in the crossfire, not when the walls seemed to have ears—and possibly eyes.I stood at the head of the table, arms crossed, scanning the room.“This leak wasn’t random,” I said. “Someone here is feeding intel. And considering how quickly it reached the public… it had to come from someone high up.”Lucia nodded in agreement, tapping at her tablet. “We traced the earliest gossip back to an anonymous tip sent to three digital tabloids. Same language. Same phrasing. It wasn’t a coincidence.”Marcus leaned back in his chair, arms folded. “And you’re thinking it was someone in this room?”I didn’t flinch. “I’m thinking someone in this room knows who.”The silence was deafening.Thiago’s POVI arrived midway through the meeting, my presence d
The next few hours felt like I was walking through a fog, each step heavy with the weight of what was at stake. The note had shaken me more than I cared to admit, but it was also a wake-up call. I couldn’t let this go unnoticed. Not now.I grabbed my phone, dialed Marcus’s number, and pressed it to my ear. The ringing felt like an eternity.“Bridgette,” he answered, voice smooth, like he hadn’t just been part of the most volatile corporate environment I’d ever been in.“Marcus,” I said, keeping my tone level. “I need to know if you’ve had anything to do with the leak.”There was a long pause, longer than I expected.“Bridgette, you know I don’t get involved in... sensationalist games. That’s not my style,” he replied. The casualness of his words didn’t sit right.“I’m not asking about style. I’m asking about leaks.” I pressed, my voice tightening. “You had access to sensitive information, and I need to know if you gave it to anyone.”There was another beat of silence before Marcus spo
[BRIDGETTE'S POV]The sound of Thiago’s breathing lulled me. Slow. Steady. Unshaken.I hated that.How could he lie there like he wasn’t on the edge of something catastrophic? Like our whole reality hadn’t shifted the second I handed him that test?Maybe it had always been this way—me unraveling in silence while he anchored us with that dangerous, deliberate calm.I lifted my head slightly, just enough to watch him sleep. His face looked younger like this. Less ruthless. The weight of control he always carried had slipped off, if only for the night.I should’ve felt safer. I didn’t.I felt... seen.And being seen terrified me more than the test ever could.I slipped out of bed before dawn, dragging the blanket with me like armor. My feet found the cold marble of the penthouse floor, but I didn’t flinch.I needed space.Not to run—Just to breathe.The bathroom lights were too harsh, so I settled on the balcony. The city was just waking up. Lights blinking to life like a million eyes f