Nathan POV:
My hands were sweaty as I stood in the De Rossi mansion's giant entryway.
My heart pounded against my ribs like a drum solo.
This was my last shot – my one chance to win Agatha back and fix everything I messed up.
The past few weeks had been a harsh wake-up call. Watching my company crumble while Agatha thrived at NexGen… it made me realize how badly I screwed up.
I took her for granted, treated her like she didn't matter. I was an idiot for letting go of the only woman who ever truly loved me.
And now, staring into her beautiful, guarded eyes, I knew I had to spill my guts, no matter how embarrassing it felt.
Camille and the baby? They were a million miles away in my mind.
All that mattered was Agatha, and convincing her to give me another shot.
"Agatha," I began, my voice shaky.
"I know I messed up. I have no right to be here, to ask you to forgive me.
Agatha POV:My heart thumped against my ribs as I walked away from Nathan.The raw pain in his voice, the desperation on his face... it shook me to my core.A part of me wanted to run back, to give him the second chance he begged for.But then I remembered the hurt, the betrayal, how easily he'd tossed me aside.That memory, burned into my brain, reminded me why I had to let him go. It didn’t matter that a part of me still cared.I couldn't risk that kind of heartbreak again.Charles walked beside me, his eyes burning into my back.I knew he was watching, waiting for me to fall apart, to show weakness.And I hated how much power he had over me, how he'd wormed his way into my life.Once we were alone, I turned to face him, my face cold."What was that, Charles? I thought we were done with the games, the manipulation."He looked embarrassed, holding up h
Charles POV:The city blurred past as I drove, my mind a whirlwind. Taking down Nathan felt good, powerful. But a nagging feeling, like a pebble in my shoe, wouldn’t go away. Had I gone too far?Lying to Agatha about us… it went against everything I usually did. She deserved honesty, the chance to make her own choices. But the thought of losing her, of seeing her go back to Nathan… it made my stomach twist. I’d come too far, invested too much. Agatha was mine. Or she would be, if I played this right.I kept checking the rearview mirror, half expecting to see Nathan’s car on my tail. The guy was desperate, unhinged. What would he do next? He’d already stopped begging in front of Agatha. What lengths would he go to win her back?My phone buzzed, snapping me out of my thoughts. I glanced at the screen and smiled. My partner in crime was calling.“Well, well, if it isn’t my favorite accomplice,” I answered, my voice light.“Charles, my friend,” a smooth voice purred. “I trust you
Charles POV:I paced my fancy penthouse, my mind racing. The plan my ally had come up with was bold, risky – a gamble that could either win Agatha over completely or blow up in my face.I stopped at the giant windows, looking out at the city lights. In the distance, I could see the De Rossi mansion, a constant reminder of the woman who had captured my attention.Agatha.Just thinking her name sent a thrill through me. From the moment I met her, there was a spark, a connection that went beyond my rivalry with Nathan.I was captivated by her intelligence, her confidence, her strength. She demanded respect, refusing to be controlled by any man. And that’s what drew me to her.But now, thinking about the plan, I felt a twinge of guilt. Using Agatha's vulnerabilities against her felt wrong. This wasn’t just about winning her over anymore. This was a power play, a game of control.I ran my hand through my hair, sighing in frustration. Had I become so ambitious, so obsessed with Aga
Agatha POV:Sitting in Dad’s giant office, I felt the weight of the world pressing down on me. The past few weeks had been a crazy blur – lawsuits, reporters hounding me, and problems at work that pushed me to my limit.Richards Inc.’s collapse had sent shockwaves through everything. With Nathan’s company falling apart, everyone was pointing fingers at NexGen, at my family. They accused us of spying and dirty tricks, and I was constantly fighting fires and trying to make us look good.And then, just when I thought things couldn't get worse, a new threat popped up. A mysterious investor from Xing Enterprises wanted to buy a big chunk of NexGen. It was terrifying – what would that mean for my family’s company, for our future?I sighed, drumming my fingers on Dad's big, fancy desk. “This is a mess, Dad. A total mess.”My dad, Aldo De Rossi, always calm and in control, looked at me thoughtfully. “It’s… complicated, Agatha. But we’ve been through tough times before, and we’ll get th
Agatha POV:I sat across from Charles in Dad’s fancy office, the weight of our new “partnership” heavy in the air. My gut churned with a feeling of unease that wouldn’t go away, no matter how much I tried to tell myself everything was okay.“So, Charles,” I started, keeping my voice calm and steady. “What’s the plan? How do we deal with this Xing Enterprises situation?”Charles leaned forward, his elbows on the shiny desk.“Well, Agatha, I’ve been doing some… deep research on Xing Enterprises. And I’ve found some… interesting things.”I raised an eyebrow, curious in spite of my doubts. “Go on.”“It seems Xing Enterprises has been making some… shady deals lately. Deals that, if everyone knew about them, could ruin them.”A chill ran down my spine. “Shady deals? What are you saying, Charles?”He held up his hand, looking serious. “Now, now, Agatha, don’t get me wrong – I’m not saying your family did anything wrong. But Xing Enterprises… they have a reputation for being… dirty in thei
Agatha’s POV:Days blurred into weeks, a chaotic jumble of meetings and strategic planning. The potential alliance between Campbell Enterprises and NexGen felt like a giant, complicated dance, with me stuck in the middle trying to please both my father and Charles. And all the while, a tiny voice inside my head whispered, "What about what you want, Agatha?"But it was hard to even think about what I wanted with Nathan’s shadow still looming over everything. He was like a stubborn weed in my perfectly manicured garden, popping up again and again no matter how hard I tried to pull him out.I couldn't shake the memory of him showing up at my house, his eyes pleading, his voice raw with regret as he begged for another chance. It had shaken me, made me doubt my decision to push him away. Had I been too harsh? Was there still a chance for us, even after everything?Those thoughts battled with the very different feelings Charles stirred in me. His smooth charm and constant attention wer
Agatha’s POV:I stared at my computer screen, my reflection staring back at me – a woman with dark circles under her eyes and a frown etched on her forehead. agatha POV:Exhaustion tugged at me, but sleep was a distant dream these days.The Xing Enterprises threat loomed over everything. Charles and Dad were working nonstop, trying to find a way to stop them from taking over NexGen. Charles was… intense. He was always around, offering help, advice, and those lingering touches that sent shivers down my spine.But after his stunt with the ring, a part of me held back. Could I really trust him? He said all the right things, but his methods… sometimes they felt a little too ruthless, too calculated.My phone buzzed, pulling me from my thoughts. It was an email from… Nathan. My heart skipped a beat. Why was he contacting me?I clicked on the email, my fingers trembling slightly. It was short, the subject line simply reading: “Something you need to know.”My breath caught in my throat a
Nathan’s POV:My finger hovered over the send button, a bead of sweat trickling down my temple. The email draft felt dangerous, like a ticking bomb. Sending it would blow up any chance of fixing things with my dad, and maybe even destroy Richards Inc.What am I doing? Am I really going to betray my own company?But the memory of seeing Agatha at the De Rossi mansion, the hurt in her eyes, the way Charles loomed over her like he owned her… it ignited a desperate fire inside me.I can’t let them hurt her. I have to do something. Even if it costs me everything.I couldn’t let Xing Enterprises destroy her family’s legacy. Not when I knew Agatha was their target. Not when I held the power to stop them.This isn’t about winning her back, I told myself, but a part of me knew that was a lie. It’s about doing what’s right. About being the man she deserves.Taking a shaky breath, I closed my eyes and clicked “send.”Regret hit me like a punch to the gut. What have I done? I’d just thrown a