Sarah POVHis words cut through the fragile hope I had been clinging to like a knife. "Not today." The finality of his response echoes in my mind, reverberating with the cold reality that maybe I'm not going to fix this as quickly as I had hoped. The ache in my chest deepens, a dull, persistent pain that refuses to fade. I nod, swallowing back the lump forming in my throat, forcing myself to accept that this won’t be easy, that his distance is not something I can bridge with a single conversation."Okay," I whisper, stepping back, giving him the space he needs. I can’t push him, not now. I’ve already done enough damage. "But whenever you’re ready... I’m here."He acknowledges my words with a small nod but says nothing more. Instead, he turns his attention back to his coffee, as if our interaction never happened. The silence between us is thick and heavy, pressing down on me like a suffocating weight. I feel like a ghost in my own home, haunting the edges of his life, present yet unsee
Sarah POVBy mid-morning, I find myself in the kitchen, my hands moving on autopilot as I gather ingredients. I decide to bake his favorite—lemon cake. It’s been a long time since I made it, but I know it’s one of the few things that Alessandro genuinely loves. A rare indulgence. I remember the nights we would sit together, sharing slices of cake, talking about everything and nothing, our fingers brushing as we reached for the same fork. I want to bring back even a fraction of that warmth, that closeness. Maybe this small gesture can remind him of what we once had.As I mix the batter, memories flood my mind: his laughter as I smudged flour on my nose, the way he would close his eyes in bliss at the first bite, the way he used to steal pieces when he thought I wasn’t looking. A sad smile tugs at my lips. Those moments feel like a lifetime ago, like they belonged to different people. But I want them back. I want us back.The aroma of lemon and sugar fills the air as the cake bakes, wrap
Sarah POVWhen I reach the bedroom, I find Alessandro sitting by the window, his back partially turned to me, his gaze fixed on the world beyond the glass. The soft afternoon light catches in his dark hair, casting faint shadows over the sharp angles of his face. He doesn’t notice me at first, and I hesitate, my fingers tightening slightly around the edges of the tray I’m holding. This moment feels unbearably fragile, as if one wrong move could shatter the delicate balance between us.I take a step forward, my breath catching as I study him—the strong, familiar lines of his jaw, the slight furrow in his brow that deepens when he’s lost in thought. He looks exhausted, as if carrying the weight of something far too heavy. The sight makes my chest tighten with guilt and longing. I want to reach out and smooth away his worries, to touch him, to remind him that he doesn’t have to go through this alone. But I don’t know if he’d let me anymore."Alessandro," I say softly, my voice barely mor
Sarah POVHe doesn’t respond, and I don’t expect him to. As I close the door behind me, the sting of rejection burns hot behind my eyes. I release a shaky breath, blinking rapidly to keep the tears from falling. I thought the cake might be a small step toward reconciliation, a way to remind him that I’m still here, still trying. But it’s clear that the road ahead is longer and more difficult than I had hoped.But I can’t give up.Back downstairs, I find myself pacing the living room, my mind racing with ways to reach him. I’m determined to show Alessandro that I’m still the woman he fell in love with and that our love is worth fighting for. But with every passing hour, the doubt grows stronger. What if I’ve already lost him? What if no amount of apologies or gestures can fix the damage I’ve done? What if my presence only reminds him of the pain I caused?I shake the thought away, refusing to let it take root. I have to stay positive to keep trying. My gaze flickers to the clock, and I
Sarah POVSuddenly, a soft knock at the nursery door startles me. My heart stutters for a brief second, my breath catching in my throat as I look up, half-expecting Alessandro. But instead, it's Adrian. He lingers at the threshold, his expression a storm of emotions—concern, hesitation, and guilt all tangled together. The dim light from the hallway cast long shadows over his face, emphasizing the weariness in his eyes.I tense instinctively, my grip tightening around Gabriel, feeling his small body warm and safe against mine. The last thing I need right now is another conversation that unravels the delicate threads barely holding my life together. My pulse thrums in my ears, an anxious rhythm that matches the chaos in my mind. But even as my body protests, I know I can't avoid this forever.I force a slow breath through my nose, steadying myself. "Come in," I say quietly, barely above a whisper, careful not to disturb Gabriel's peaceful sleep.Adrian hesitates for a moment longer befo
Sarah POV"I know," he says, his voice hoarse. "I just... I care about you, Sarah. And I never wanted to make things worse between you and Alessandro."My chest tightens at his admission, a bittersweet ache blooming in my ribs. "I care about you too," I admit, my voice trembling slightly. "But not like that. Not in a way that makes any of this right."Adrian looks down, his hands clenching into fists before he exhales and relaxes them. The slump of his shoulders, the downward tilt of his head—it’s as though my words have knocked the wind out of him."I understand," he murmurs, his gaze fixed on the floor. "I'll keep my distance if that's what you need. I just... I want you to be happy, Sarah. And I know that's with Alessandro."I inhale sharply at the certainty in his voice, at the unwavering belief he has in a relationship that currently feels so fractured. My throat tightens, a lump forming that I struggle to swallow past. "I don’t know if I can fix this," I confess, my voice barely
Sarah POVLater that evening, as the house falls into a hushed stillness, I gather the courage to talk to Alessandro. The weight of everything between us presses against my chest, making it hard to breathe. He's in the study, the soft glow of the lamp casting elongated shadows over his sharp features as he reads. The sight of him, so absorbed, so distant, sends a wave of uncertainty through me. I hesitate at the doorway, my pulse pounding in my ears, but I know this conversation can't wait any longer."Alessandro?" I call softly, my voice barely above a whisper as I step inside.He looks up from his book, his expression guarded, unreadable. His eyes flicker with something—hesitation, maybe, or quiet resignation. "Yes?"I move slowly, deliberately, taking a seat across from him. The air between us feels thick with unsaid words, unspoken wounds that neither of us has dared to touch. "Can we talk? Really talk?"He sets the book aside, his movements measured, careful. He nods, folding his
Sarah POVThe next few days are tense, filled with cautious interactions and careful words. Alessandro is still distant, still holding me at arm’s length, but he doesn’t flinch when I touch his hand or sit beside him in the evenings. Small moments, barely noticeable to anyone else, but to me, they feel monumental. Like the slow, careful dismantling of a wall that’s been built between us, brick by brick.But just as I start to believe that things might be getting better, a new storm begins to brew.It starts with a phone call. I’m in the kitchen, chopping vegetables for dinner when the phone rings. The sharp trill cuts through the quiet, making me jump. I wipe my hands on a towel and glance at the caller ID.Adrian.My stomach tightens with unease. My fingers hover over the decline button, but something stops me. I don’t want to answer. I know I shouldn’t. But I do."Adrian?" I say cautiously."Sarah," he breathes, his voice low, urgent. "I need to talk to you. It’s important."A fresh
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