Adrian POVAs the night stretched on, I found myself studying Alessandro. The way he moved, the way he interacted with Sarah, the way he seemed so effortlessly in control of every situation. He was composed, unwavering, always knowing exactly what to say. And Sarah… she responded to him in a way that made my stomach churn. The way she looked at him, the way she laughed softly at something he said, it was all too much.Then, a dark thought flickered through my mind—brief but potent.What if he wasn’t here?If Alessandro was gone, would things be different? Would I finally have the chance to rebuild what I had lost with Sarah? Would I finally be able to step into the role of the father I so desperately wanted to be without feeling like I was constantly competing with another man?The thought startled me with its intensity, but it refused to fade. I wasn’t a violent person. I didn’t wish harm on Alessandro. But… what if something happened? What if he simply wasn’t around anymore? Would S
Adrian POVAs the evening wore on, I found myself retreating into my thoughts, the noise of their conversation fading into the background. I watched the way Alessandro interacted with Sarah, the way she responded to him, and the anger inside me began to fester again. It was like they had their own language, a shorthand that I couldn't break into. Every laugh, every shared glance, was another reminder of how far I had fallen in Sarah's eyes.When Alessandro got up to leave, saying he had some work to catch up on at home, I felt a strange mixture of relief and dread. Relief that he was leaving, giving me some space, but dreaded the thought of being alone with Sarah, knowing that I couldn't compete with the image of him that was so clearly etched in her mind."I'll see you tomorrow," Alessandro said to Sarah, his voice low and affectionate. Then he turned to me, giving me a nod that felt almost condescending. "Adrian.""Yeah," I replied, barely able to muster a civil tone. I watched him
Sarah POVIt's been two weeks since Alessandro left for Italy, and the house feels different without him. The air is quieter, lighter in a way, yet there's an undercurrent of tension that never fully dissipates. Without his presence, the balance I had carefully maintained feels unsettled, as if something vital has been removed, leaving an unfamiliar void. Adrian has been around more often—helpful, attentive, and making a clear effort to insert himself into Gabriel's routine. He volunteers for small tasks without being asked, offers to help with errands, and seems determined to prove his worth as a father.I see it in the way he watches Gabriel, how he adjusts his behavior to make things easier for me, as if he's trying to remind me of the man he used to be or perhaps convince me that he has changed. There is a quiet determination in him now, an unspoken insistence that this—whatever fractured version of a family we have—can work. But I’m not sure it’s that simple.Adrian’s presence is
Sarah POVThat evening, after Gabriel is asleep and the house is filled with the soft hum of nighttime silence, Adrian and I find ourselves sitting on the couch together. A comfortable distance separates us, yet the air between us feels charged, heavy with unspoken words. The television is on, but neither of us is paying attention. It feels like we’re waiting waiting for the conversation we’ve been skirting around ever since Alessandro left.The silence stretches between us, thick and expectant. Finally, I gather the courage to speak, breaking the tension that lingers like a ghost in the room."You've been great with Gabriel," I say softly, my voice carrying the weight of sincerity. "He's lucky to have you."Adrian's eyes meet mine, and in that moment, I see something in them that catches me off guard vulnerability, raw and unfiltered. He shifts slightly, exhaling as though summoning the strength to say what’s been on his mind for weeks."I just want to be the dad he deserves," he say
Sarah POVHis lips brushed against mine softly at first, hesitant, as if testing the waters. A part of me knows this is wrong, that this is only going to make everything more complicated. And yet, I don’t pull away fast enough. The warmth of his breath, the familiarity of his touch—it all feels dangerously intoxicating.Before I know it, the kiss deepens. It’s bittersweet, filled with everything he once had and everything he’s lost. His fingers tangle in my hair, pulling me closer as if he’s afraid I’ll disappear if he lets go. My hands find their way to his shoulders, pushing him away weakly, but he instinctively tightens his hold. There’s a desperation in the way his lips move against mine, a plea I don’t want to acknowledge.Reality crashes back in like cold water dousing a fire. I suddenly pull back, breaking the kiss, my chest heaving as guilt and regret flood in. The room is spinning, the weight of what just happened suffocating me.The kiss is over, but the intensity of the mom
Sarah POV“No, Adrian, this is wrong,” I cut him off, my voice trembling. I wrap my arms around myself, trying to steady the whirlwind of emotions raging inside me. “This… whatever this is, it can’t happen.”The hurt in his eyes is unmistakable, but I force myself to stand firm. I won’t let this go any further. I can’t.“Adrian, no… this isn’t right,” I say, my voice shaky. I feel like I’ve just crossed a line I can’t uncross, and the weight of that realization hits hard.He’s staring at me with wide eyes, confusion and hurt etched into his expression. “Sarah… I’m sorry, I—”But before he can finish, the sound of the front door opening and closing echoes through the house. My stomach drops as I hear the familiar footsteps coming down the hall.I turn toward the doorway just in time to see Alessandro standing there, his suitcase still in hand, his eyes locked on us.His expression is unreadable—cold, distant, like a mask of carefully controlled restraint. But I can see the flicker of b
Adrian POVThe guilt claws at me the second Sarah rushes upstairs after Alessandro, her steps quick, almost frantic, as she disappears from sight. The air is thick with tension, the weight of what just happened settling on my chest like a boulder. I sink back into the couch, rubbing my hands over my face, as if I can wipe away the memory of the moment that just unfolded between us. I never should've kissed her not like that, not when she was so clearly conflicted, torn between the past and the present. But now that it's done, I can't take it back.And the worst part? A small, insidious part of me doesn’t want to.I exhaled sharply, my fingers pressing into my temples. What kind of man does that make me? Selfish? Manipulative? Probably. But despite the flicker of guilt gnawing at my conscience, I can’t ignore the opportunity this moment presents. Maybe, just maybe—this is the crack I need to wedge myself back into Sarah’s life, to remind her that what we had isn't completely gone. That
Adrian POVI take a deep breath and move toward the stairs, my steps slow and deliberate. I know it's risky, but if I can catch them at the right moment, it could be enough to plant the seed of doubt in Alessandro’s mind. And that’s all I need just a seed, just a whisper of uncertainty that will linger, that will make him question whether Sarah is truly his or if a part of her still belongs to me.I pause at the bottom of the stairs, listening again. Their voices are softer now, but there’s an unmistakable urgency in Sarah’s tone."We can work through this. We've come so far, Alessandro. Please don't let one mistake ruin everything."A plea. A desperate attempt to salvage what she’s afraid of losing.My grip tightens on the railing. I could walk away right now. I could let them have this moment, let them figure things out on their own. But if I do, I risk losing Sarah forever. And I’ve already lost too much.So instead, I start climbing the stairs, careful to make as little noise as p
Sarah POVI knew that if I wanted to truly move forward with Alessandro, I had to draw a line—one that Adrian couldn’t cross.Taking a deep breath, I typed out a message.Message to Adrian:Adrian, I need to be clear with you. I've chosen to be with Alessandro, and that means we need to set boundaries. I care about you as you are involved with my son, but I can't have you interfering in my relationship.Please respect that.My thumb hovered over the send button. A part of me feared how he would react—if he would lash out, try to manipulate me, or make me doubt my decision. But another part of me felt a quiet sense of relief. This was necessary. This was the right thing to do.I hit send.Seconds felt like hours as I waited, my stomach twisting in knots. I half-expected him to ignore the message or respond with something cryptic, something that would make me second-guess everything.But his response came quicker than I anticipated.Message from Adrian:I understand, Sarah. I don't want
Sarah POVAlessandro’s gaze lingered on me, his deep brown eyes searching mine for any sign of hesitation. I could feel the weight of his emotions pressing between us uncertainty, longing, fear. His jaw was tense, as if he was holding back words he wasn’t sure he was ready to say."Alessandro, you're right to ask," I said, my voice steady, though my heart was pounding. "I don't care about Adrian, I care about you. What happened to him... it was a moment of confusion, a mistake. I've realized that my heart has always been with you. That's why I told him we needed distance. I want you to know that you're the only one I want to be with."He exhaled slowly, crossing his arms over his chest, his posture still guarded. I could almost see the battle playing out in his mind—the part of him that wanted to believe me and the part that still held onto the pain of the past."And Adrian?" he asked finally, his voice softer now but firm. "What happens if he doesn't stay away?"I shook my head, step
Sarah POVA lump formed in my throat at the tenderness in his tone. I rested my head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.“Me too,” I whispered back. “I’m so glad we’ve been able to work through everything. I’m committed to us, Alessandro. I want you to know that.”His hold on me tightened slightly, and he pressed a lingering kiss to the top of my head.“I know,” he said. “And I’m committed to us too. Whatever comes our way, we’ll face it together.”As exhaustion pulled me into sleep, I felt a rare sense of peace settle over me. The doubts that had once gnawed at the edges of my mind were beginning to fade, replaced by the quiet certainty that Alessandro and I were on the right path.But even as I embraced that sense of calm, a small part of me couldn’t ignore the lingering weight of Adrian’s last message. His words echoed in my thoughts more often than I wanted to admit. There was something unresolved there, something that refused to fade into the backg
Sarah POVHis words carried an unmistakable edge of jealousy, laced with something deeper frustration, maybe even desperation. I could hear it in the way Adrian spoke, the way he hesitated just a fraction of a second before choosing his words. He wasn’t ready to let go, that much was obvious. But I had already made my decision.I wasn’t going to let the past interfere with the fragile, beautiful thing Alessandro and I were rebuilding.Instead of answering Adrian right away, I chose to ignore the message, setting my phone aside with a steadying breath. The temptation to respond, to offer him some kind of closure, gnawed at me, but I resisted. The best thing I could do for myself for my relationship was to keep my distance. Even if it hurt.So I threw myself into work that day, immersing myself in tasks, focusing on anything that kept my mind from drifting back to Adrian’s lingering words. But even as I busied myself with emails and meetings, I felt the weight of the unresolved tension
Sarah POVHis words settled deep within me, reassuring me in a way I hadn’t realized I needed. But there was still one more thing I had to say, a truth that needed to be voiced.“I wanted to let you know that I spoke to Adrian,” I admitted, watching his face carefully. “I told him we needed some space. I want you to know that you’re my priority, and I won’t let anything or anyone come between us.”For a moment, Alessandro didn’t say anything. His expression was unreadable, but then his shoulders dropped slightly, and he exhaled a breath he had probably been holding for too long. When he finally spoke, his voice was steady, appreciative. “Thank you for that, Sarah. I appreciate it. I’ve been worried about how much he’s been around, but I didn’t want to pressure you.”I gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. “I understand,” I murmured. “But you don’t need to worry. I’m committed to making this work. We’ve come too far to let anything get in the way now.”His thumb brushed over my knuckles,
Sarah POVSarah's POVAs the days passed after Adrian's unexpected visit, the tension between Alessandro and me began to ease. We had successfully navigated a difficult moment, but I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that Adrian's presence was still a looming threat to our relationship. Even when things felt light and easy between Alessandro and me, a small, anxious voice in the back of my mind kept whispering reminders of the past—of Adrian’s influence, of the confusion he stirred within me. I knew I had to confront the situation head-on, not just for Alessandro's sake, but for my own peace of mind.It was a bright, clear afternoon when I finally decided to send a message to Adrian. The sun streamed in through the curtains, casting golden patterns on the floor, but despite the warmth of the day, I felt an unmistakable chill settle in my bones. The words didn’t come easily, but I knew they were necessary.Message to Adrian:Hi Adrian, I think we must maintain some distance for a whil
Sarah POVBeside me, Alessandro shifts. His voice is calm, firm, but there’s an unmistakable edge to it. “We’ve been trying to focus on our relationship and work through things together. I appreciate your concern, but I think it’s important for us to handle this on our own.”Adrian’s gaze flicks to Alessandro, and for a moment, the air crackles with unspoken tension. Then he looks back at me. “I get it. I just didn’t realize how deep things were between you two. I guess I’m still trying to understand where I fit into all of this.”A pang of something guilt, frustration, maybe both presses against my ribs. I take a deep breath, steadying myself. “Adrian, you have to understand that I’m trying to rebuild my relationship with Alessandro. I’ve made it clear that I need to focus on that, and your presence here complicates things.”For the first time since he arrived, something in Adrian’s expression shifts. His shoulders relax just slightly, and some of the steeliness in his eyes fades. Th
Sarah POVThe tension in the kitchen is thick enough to cut with a knife. The scent of freshly brewed coffee mingles with the rich aroma of butter sizzling in the pan, but none of it is enough to mask the growing unease settling over the room. Adrian takes a seat at the table without waiting for an invitation, his movements deliberate yet casual, as if trying to stake a claim on the moment. I sense Alessandro’s eyes on me, his concern pressing against my skin like a silent question. He doesn’t have to say anything—I already know he’s on high alert.I try to steady my nerves, pushing down the wave of anxiety clawing its way up my chest. This unexpected visit could be nothing more than an awkward inconvenience, a minor speed bump on the road Alessandro and I are rebuilding. Or it could be the kind of turning point that shifts the entire course of our relationship.I glance at Alessandro, searching for reassurance in the warm depths of his gaze. He gives me a small, firm nod—silent suppo
Sarah POVWe move in perfect harmony in the kitchen, our bodies falling into an effortless rhythm as we prepare breakfast together. The scent of sizzling butter and warm spices fills the air, mingling with the quiet hum of our laughter. It’s easy, natural like slipping into a well-worn routine.Alessandro reaches for the same cutting board as I do, his fingers grazing mine. The brief contact sends a spark through me, and I glance up at him, my breath hitching slightly. He notices. His lips curl into a knowing smile, and for a moment, the rest of the world fades away.“You’re distracted,” he murmured, his voice laced with amusement.I smirk, shaking my head. “You wish.”His laugh is low and warm, wrapping around me like a comforting embrace. As the food on the stove begins to sizzle, Alessandro gently nudges me with his hip, pulling me closer to him. His touch is light, almost teasing, but there’s something deeper in the way he looks at me.“Sarah,” he says, his voice dropping into a w