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Chapter 20
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Trade Breaker Chapter 21
Solo leaned her head against the cool glass of the car window, watching the streets whiz by in a blur as she rode back to her apartment. Charles sat beside her, his fingers scrolling through his phone. Now and then, she could feel his concerned glances, but she didn't have the energy to reassure him. All she wanted was to be back in her apartment, alone with her thoughts."Everything alright?" Charles asked, breaking the comfortable silence."Yeah," she smiled as she rubbed her stomach. "Just…a lot to process.""Understandable," he said, his tone gentle. "You're handling all of this well. Most people in your situation would fall apart.""I don't know if 'handling' is the right word," Solo mused, her thoughts trailing back to the appointment earlier. Her children's heartbeat still echoed in her mind—steady, strong, and undeniable. She had made peace with her future, but the past still lingered in her mind.The look Charles gave her was half teasing, half serious. "You're stronger than
Trade Breaker Chapter 22
The drive back from the address felt like the longest of Dominic’s life—another lead, another dead end. The frustration was becoming unbearable, but what stung most was his growing acceptance that Solo was hiding—her erasion from his life had been thorough. That knowledge cut deeper than any of his failed searches."Maybe Jake’s right. She doesn’t want to be found, not by me,” he muttered, gripping the steering wheel tighter. That thought didn’t sit well with him. He had to believe that if she understood the regret gnawing at him, things would be different if she knew what he felt.How did he feel?He wasn’t sure if he knew the answer to that question either. He just knew he wanted her back.Pulling into his driveway, he cut the engine and sat there, staring ahead. He had forwarded the information the old lady had given him to Jake.The world outside seemed calm, but inside, a storm was brewing.His phone buzzed. It was Jake."Anything?" Dominic asked, answering the call. His tone was
Trade Breaker Chapter 23
The evening air in Florence carried a light chill as Solo adjusted her dress in front of the mirror. The upcoming House of Ricci event loomed large in her mind, but her thoughts were elsewhere—in the email she had received about the impending arrival of an investor from New York. It gnawed at her, a creeping sense of unease that she couldn’t shake."New York," she whispered, her knuckles turning white as she tightened her grip on the vanity chair. Even after all this time, the city's name was a minefield of memories—too many remnants of her life with Dominic. Florence was supposed to be her fresh start, but the past always sneaked back when she least expected it.As Solo stepped out onto her balcony, the sounds of Florence at night enveloped her. The distant hum of Vespas, the laughter from nearby cafes, and the smell of fresh pasta wafting through the air should have brought her peace. But tonight, it only served as a reminder of how far she had come and how fragile her new life was.
Trade Breaker Chapter 1
Dominic sat across from Solo, his face stoic. Like a mask still and unmoving, his eyes were cold and distant. The silence between them—thick. All Solo could hear was the ticking of the wall clock. He spoke, his voice devoid of any warmth."Solo, what we have between us stops today. She's back."His words cut through the silence in the room like a knife through butter, sharp, deliberate. Solo's breath hitched, but she didn't let it show.She'd been preparing for this moment. Still, the blow landed harder than she expected. Sapphire. The girl who Dominic loved had left him three years ago, cheating on him and abandoning the relationship they had built. Now, she was back.Despite the storm raging within, Solo swallowed, and her expression remained neutral. Dominic, the man who had been everything to her, sat across from her like a stranger."Okay," Solo said, her voice quiet but steady. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her break. Not here. Not now.Dominic didn't flinch.
Trade Breaker Chapter 2
Solo stood outside Dominic’s apartment, the keys he had given her feeling heavy in her hand. The morning sun fought through the clouds, casting a pale light over the city. She paused, her heart pounding. She had spent three years in that apartment, but now, it felt foreign, devoid of shape and familiarity.Her time here was over. The place wasn’t hers anymore. It never was.She sighed.With a steady breath, she unlocked the door and stepped inside. She walked through the apartment, her eyes scanning every room. Memories flooded her mind with each step and object she saw.The familiar scent of Dominic’s cologne lingered in the air. Once comforting, the faint scent now wrapped around her as if dragging her into the past.She closed her eyes, letting herself remember—the quiet moments shared when they would sit in silence after dining together, the evenings when he would work late into the night, his sharp voice cutting through the stillness with quick phone commands.He had always been
Trade Breaker Chapter 3
Solo sat in the sterile office, her hands resting at her side. The hum of the ultrasound machine filled the room, the rhythmic beeping of her heartbeat blending with the two tiny lives growing inside her.She stared at the screen, watching the outlines of her twins swimming around like two little coffee beans—a bittersweet smile playing at the corners of her mouth.“You’re carrying two healthy babies.” The doctor's voice was kind but clinical. “Everything looks good.”Solo nodded, her mind wandering. Healthy babies. That was all that mattered. She’d decided not to tell Dominic weeks ago when she first discovered her pregnancy and had wondered how she could break their deal.Dominic must never know about her children. He had made it clear that Sapphire was all he needed. There was no place for Solo or the children in his life, not to mention his cold and distant family. In her opinion, the Hale family was not fit to raise a pet, let alone a child.Their outlook on life was pretty despi
Trade Breaker Chapter 4
Solo sat across from Charles Bellamy, her mentor, the man who had helped launch her career in the jewelry design business years ago. They were engulfed in the buzz of the upscale café, filled with the soft clinks of glasses, cups, dishes, and murmured conversations. Solo’s mind, however, was focused on the opportunity Charles presented.“The event is two weeks away,” he said, tapping the side of his coffee cup. “You’ll be presenting under your new name—Solaire—I expect it to make quite the impact.”She nodded, trying to suppress the wave of anxiety that washed over her. It had been so long since she had immersed herself in the jewelry world. Now, she was returning with a new identity, more at stake than before. Her career had to take off—not just for herself, but for her children’s future.She closed her eyes, steadying her nerves, then snapped and opened them. “I’m ready,” she said, though the words felt heavier than anticipated.Charles smiled, his eyes filled with pride. “Good. I h
Trade Breaker Chapter 5
Solo sat at her workbench, surrounded by the soft melodies from her radio as she worked in her small studio. Her studio was a hall closet under the stairs of the old converted two-story house she was staying in. The stairs led to the upstairs apartment. The sketches and unfinished jewelry pieces Solo had scattered before her were more than designs—they were symbols of the future she was crafting. Charles, her mentor, told her the upcoming event was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to re-establish herself in the jewelry world under her new identity, ‘Solaire.’ She ran her fingers over a bracelet she was working on. Her mind focused on the intricate details, and she became excited and anxious about the event as the time drew near. It wasn’t just about her career—it was about proving to herself she could build a life without relying on Dominic or the world she had left behind. Toward the end of their relationship, she had noticed that she had become too comfortable with having things
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