As Thiago stepped out of the room, leaving me alone on the bed, the lingering warmth of our interrupted encounter slowly began to dissipate, replaced by a cold, creeping sense of unease. I couldn’t just lie there, waiting for him to return. The nagging questions in my mind refused to be silenced, and I knew I needed answers.I pulled on a robe and quietly followed Thiago, the soft padding of my feet on the floor the only sound in the otherwise silent house. His voice, low and controlled, drifted from his study, where the door was slightly ajar. I hesitated, not wanting to eavesdrop, but my curiosity got the better of me.“This had better be important,” I heard him say, his tone clipped and authoritative. There was a pause as the person on the other end spoke, and I strained to hear, catching only a few scattered words—“Miami,” “security breach,” “target.” My heart skipped a beat, my breath catching in my throat. Was this about me?Thiago’s response was curt, “I want a full report
It had been several days since we returned from the Maldives, and yet, something felt off. I couldn’t quite place it, but the unease gnawed at me like an itch I couldn’t scratch. Every morning, I woke up alone, and it had become disturbingly routine. Thiago was always gone by the time I opened my eyes. No more lazy mornings watching him get dressed in front of me, no stolen kisses before he left for work. Just an empty bed and an unsettling quiet.I tried to tell myself it wasn’t a big deal—maybe he was busy, handling whatever threat he mentioned that night after the phone call. But every time I woke up to the cool side of the bed where Thiago should’ve been, the knot in my stomach tightened. What could he possibly be doing so early in the mornings that he couldn’t share with me? It wasn’t like him to be secretive—at least, not with me.Shaking off the thought, I refocused on my work. I had responsibilities at the company, and I couldn't let my concerns with Thiago interfere with t
The rest of the day passed in a blur of meetings, emails, and phone calls, but no matter how hard I tried to immerse myself in work, I couldn’t shake the nagging thoughts about Thiago. His absence in the mornings, the phone call that interrupted our intimate moment, the vague warning about the people pursuing us—it all played on a loop in my mind.That night, I tried to stay up later than usual, hoping to catch Thiago when he got home. I settled into the living room with a glass of wine, pretending to read, but my ears were attuned to every sound. The clock ticked steadily, each minute feeling like an eternity. Finally, I heard the front door click open. My heart leaped in my chest as Thiago stepped inside, his tall frame silhouetted in the dim light. He looked exhausted, his shirt slightly rumpled, and the tension in his shoulders made it clear that whatever he’d been dealing with had taken its toll.He froze when he saw me, a flicker of surprise crossing his features. “You’re sti
The tension between Thiago and me hung in the air like a storm about to break. After his confession, everything felt different, darker, as if the walls of our world were closing in. I couldn’t shake the fear that now gnawed at me, not only for myself but for the man I had committed to stand beside. The next few days were strained. Thiago was often absent, sometimes leaving in the middle of the night, always returning with the same grim look on his face, as if he had been fighting shadows I couldn’t see. I busied myself with work, diving into projects with a ferocity that surprised even Lucia and Marcus, but no amount of distractions could keep me from wondering what Thiago was up to—or what dangers were closing in.It wasn’t until one night, after another long, tense day, that things came to a head.I was sitting at the dinner table, pushing food around my plate when Thiago walked in, his face drawn, eyes dark with whatever burdens he had been carrying. He sat down across from me, n
The next few days after Thiago’s revelation felt like I was living in a haze.My father—my own flesh and blood—was not just a controlling figure in my life, but someone who had been playing a dangerous game for years, one I was now caught in the middle of. Every moment I was awake, my mind raced, trying to make sense of the betrayal, wondering how I had missed it. The nights were worse. Sleep came in fits, haunted by dreams where my father’s face blurred with the faceless enemies Thiago had warned me about.Thiago was consumed by his secret war. He still left before dawn, his absences gnawing at me. I knew he was trying to protect me, but it felt like we were living in two different worlds, worlds that were threatening to collide.On a particularly cold Miami morning, I woke up alone again. The side of the bed where Thiago slept was cold, as if he had been gone for hours. I stared at the empty space, feeling the growing void between us. What was he doing every morning? Who was he m
Following that, Thiago and I went on to start with our plan to destroy my father and the Martinez Corp. However, doing that, I know, wouldn’t be an easy path.it wasn’t an easy task for me, most especially, since everything must begin with me trying to have full trust and power of Thiago’s company. However, doing that seemed to be like walking in a den of fire waiting to burned alive for trying to reach the top. And I could very well see that now while I hold the company’s monthly shareholder and board meeting.The boardroom felt suffocating, the tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. The air was filled with the weight of judgment, every pair of eyes in the room fixed on me like vultures circling their prey. I sat at the head of the table, my fingers tracing the edge of the polished wood, my heart pounding beneath the calm exterior I was trying so hard to maintain.Thiago wasn’t here to protect me this time. This fight was mine."Ms. Bridgette," one of the older board member
The evening was still, the soft hum of the air conditioner the only sound filling the grand dining room. I sat at the table, poking at the food on my plate without any real appetite. My mind was racing, stuck in a loop of the chaotic board meeting. Their words echoed in my head: unqualified, unworthy, only here because of Thiago.The board didn’t respect me. And as much as I tried to brush it off, it hurt more than I cared to admit. I was too deep in thought to even notice when Thiago started speaking. "Wifey?" Thiago’s deep voice snapped me out of my daze. I looked up to see him watching me, his brow slightly furrowed. "You’ve been miles away this whole time. Are you going to tell me what’s going on?"I sighed, putting my fork down. "It’s nothing, darling. Just... work stuff."He narrowed his eyes slightly, not buying my deflection. Thiago was always sharp, always attuned to my mood in ways that made it impossible to hide anything from him. But tonight, I didn’t feel like talking. N
The next few days passed in a blur of endless meetings, emails, and strategy sessions. I buried myself in work, determined to prove the board wrong and show them that I was more than just Thiago’s wife, more than just a placeholder CEO. But the pressure was relentless, and it was taking its toll. I hardly saw Thiago during the day, and by the time I got home at night, I was too exhausted to do much more than collapse into bed. And Tonight was no different from the previous nights. I dragged myself through the door, my mind buzzing with thoughts of revenue projections and market strategies. The weight of the company’s future felt like a boulder pressing on my chest. I was so preoccupied that I barely registered the sound of Thiago’s voice as he called out to me from the living room."Wifey? Come over here for a moment."I turned, seeing him sprawled on the couch, his shirt unbuttoned halfway down his chest. He looked relaxed, his eyes watching me intently as I stepped inside. The co
The weeks following Emilia’s birth were filled with tender moments and sleepless nights, but it was a rhythm Bridgette and I quickly embraced. She was thriving in her new role as a mother, and seeing her light up whenever she held Emilia made everything we had gone through feel worth it.But peace never seemed to last in our world.One afternoon, as I was working in my study, Lucia burst into the room without knocking—a sure sign something was wrong.“What is it?” I asked, putting down my pen.Her face was pale, her usual confidence replaced by unease. “Thiago, there’s a situation.”My stomach tightened. “What kind of situation?”She hesitated before replying. “It’s Victor. He’s back, and he’s making noise about challenging your position in the company.”Victor. My former right-hand man turned adversary. He had been ousted years ago after betraying my trust and attempting to sabotage a critical project. I thought I’d seen the last of him, but apparently, he had other plans.“What’s hi
With the chaos behind us, our days slowly found rhythm. Bridgette’s health continued to improve, and her confidence grew stronger with each passing day. Though we had overcome so much, the weeks leading up to the baby’s arrival were filled with new challenges, albeit ones we welcomed.One afternoon, Bridgette stood in the middle of the nursery, her hands resting on her belly. She’d chosen soft greens and whites for the room, accented with woodland animal decals along the walls. The crib sat under the large bay window, sunlight spilling over its polished wood.“It’s perfect,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.I stepped behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist and resting my chin on her shoulder. “It’s not just perfect—it’s ready for our little miracle.”She smiled, leaning back against me. For the first time in months, her laughter came easily, like music filling the quiet of the room.As we moved forward, an unexpected visitor brought a reminder of our past. Victor arr
Despite the glimmers of hope and progress, Cynthia and Justin refused to back down. Their next move came in the form of a court summons—an audacious lawsuit claiming defamation and damages from the public fallout after Bridgette’s pregnancy announcement.“They’re claiming we ruined their reputation?” Bridgette exclaimed, pacing the living room. Her hand rested protectively over her belly as her frustration mounted. “They’ve been the ones spreading lies about us!”“They’re bluffing,” I reassured her, though I couldn’t hide my own irritation. “This is a scare tactic. They want to distract us from the real fight.”Victor, seated across from us with a stack of legal documents, nodded in agreement. “Their case is flimsy, but we’ll need to counter it aggressively. If we can prove malice and falsehood in their claims, we could turn this into a significant win.”We decided to take control of the narrative once and for all. I arranged a press conference where Bridgette and I addressed the rumo
{thiago]The pressure was relentless, and even with our best efforts, the weight of Cynthia and Justin’s schemes loomed over us like a storm cloud. Bridgette, always so composed and strong, had been working tirelessly, determined to protect her family's legacy. But as the days dragged on, I began to see the toll it was taking on her.One evening, I found her in the studio, staring blankly at her unfinished sculpture. Her hands trembled as she tried to work the clay, but it crumbled beneath her touch.“Bridgette,” I said softly, stepping closer. “You’ve been pushing yourself too hard.”She shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. “I can’t stop, Thiago. If I let up even for a moment, they’ll win. They’ll take everything.”I reached for her, gently pulling her into my arms. “We’re fighting this together. But you have to take care of yourself too. What happens to all of this if you burn out?”She didn’t answer, just buried her face in my chest, her body trembling with suppressed emotion
The calm after the exhibit was short-lived. Bridgette’s triumph was celebrated in Monaco’s circles, her sculpture making waves beyond the event. But success had a way of drawing out old ghosts, and soon enough, whispers began to circulate—whispers that hinted at the return of someone neither of us wanted to deal with: Cynthia.It started with a simple call from Lucia.“She’s back,” Lucia said, her tone sharp. “I overheard her talking at a private luncheon. She’s been asking about you and Thiago.”Bridgette was seated across from me at our breakfast table, savoring a fresh croissant when I put the phone on speaker. Her relaxed expression turned icy at the mention of Cynthia’s name.“What does she want now?” Bridgette asked, her voice steely.“Leverage,” Lucia replied. “From what I gathered, she’s trying to position herself back into Victor’s favor—and that means dragging your name through the mud.”Bridgette clenched her jaw, her fingers tightening around her coffee mug. “She never kno
The days in Monaco had settled into a rhythm—a quiet lull before the baby arrived. Bridgette seemed more content, her fire still present but tempered by the anticipation of motherhood. Yet, our peace was interrupted one brisk morning when a knock on the door echoed through the penthouse.I wasn’t expecting anyone. Neither was Bridgette, who sat cross-legged on the couch, flipping through baby name books. Her head lifted, curiosity flickering in her eyes.“I’ll get it,” I said, moving toward the door.When I opened it, I was met with a face I hadn’t seen in years—Alonso Serrano, an old business rival. His polished suit and calm demeanor belied the sharp edge he’d always carried.“Thiago,” he greeted with a smooth smile. “It’s been a while.”“What are you doing here, Serrano?” I asked, keeping my tone neutral but guarded.“May I come in?” he asked, his gaze flickering past me, likely catching sight of Bridgette.I hesitated for a moment before stepping aside. Whatever this was, it wasn’
Bridgette was restless, pacing back and forth in the grand living room of the penthouse in Miami. The faint glow of city lights illuminated her determined expression. I leaned against the doorway, watching her silently. She was consumed by this—her father’s company, the stolen assets, the legacy she wouldn’t allow to crumble.“They’re not just thieves, Thiago,” she said, finally stopping to face me. “They’re parasites. Feeding off years of my father’s hard work and dedication.”“And you intend to hunt them down,” I replied calmly, stepping closer.Her eyes blazed with determination. “Yes. Someone has to. My father is too kind—too trusting. But I won’t let this slide.”I admired her fire, but I also knew it would take more than passion to solve this. “We’ll do it together. But we have to be smart about it. We’re not just dealing with thieves; we’re dealing with professionals.”We started by reviewing the financial records Bridgette managed to retrieve from her father’s office. Late nig
[THIAGO’S POV]Bridgette was scrolling through her tablet one quiet morning while lounging on the couch. Her relaxed demeanor suddenly shifted as she frowned at the screen, her fingers rapidly tapping to navigate through a series of news articles."Thiago," she called out, her voice tight with concern.I emerged from the study, coffee mug in hand. "What’s wrong, love?"She looked up, her face pale. "It’s my father’s company. There are reports of financial troubles. They might be on the brink of bankruptcy."I set my mug down and approached her. "Bridgette, I know this is worrying, but you’re in no condition to take on stress right now. Let someone else handle it."Her brow furrowed, and I could see the determination in her eyes. "No, Thiago. I need to go back to Miami and look into this. If the company goes under, it’ll ruin everything my father worked for."I sighed, already sensing where this was headed. "You’re pregnant, Bridgette. Traveling, dealing with business stress—it’s not s
As Bridgette's pregnancy progressed, I became increasingly worried about leaving her alone while I went to work. Though she insisted she was fine, I knew better. She was stubborn but vulnerable, and I wasn’t about to take any chances.So, I decided to hire someone to look after her—a personal maid who could help with errands and chores, making Bridgette’s life easier while I wasn’t around.The morning I introduced the new maid, Clarisse, things didn’t exactly go as planned.When I brought Clarisse to the house, I was all smiles. "Bridgette, this is Clarisse. She’ll be helping out around here so you can rest more."Bridgette’s eyes narrowed as she took in Clarisse, who, admittedly, was strikingly beautiful. Tall, blonde, and perfectly poised, Clarisse looked like she’d just stepped out of a fashion magazine.Bridgette’s lips pressed into a thin line. "I don’t need a maid.""It’s just to help you," I said, trying to ease the tension. "She’ll handle everything—cleaning, errands, cooking—