Sarah P.O.V
It's been a week since I arrived in NYC. As soon as I landed in my birthplace, I got busy unpacking and setting up my home. This house was bought by my mother before she died. She wanted to keep it as a home, yet now, no family member is here with me today.
My family knew about my arrival, but no one had tried to meet me or contact me.
I brushed off those thoughts and continued sipping my coffee while sitting in the living room when I heard my phone ring.
I quickly stood up and grabbed the phone lying on the desk. A smile formed on my lips when I saw the name on the screen, and I answered the call.
"Hello, Grandpa! How are you? How is Grandma doing?"
"We're both fine, dear. How are you? Have you settled into your new home?" he asked excitedly.
"Yes, Grandpa, I've settled in. I just wish you both were here with me," I replied, a bit sadly, making my grandpa chuckle.
"We'll be coming to NYC this weekend, sweetheart. It's time I finally hand over the company to you," Grandpa said in a serious tone.
"Yes, Grandpa, I remember that. I just hope I can handle the responsibilities well."
"You'll do great, my dear. You're perfect for leading the company," Grandpa assured me.
"Well, let's hope for the best," I said, trying to stay positive.
"OK, sweetie, see you this weekend," Grandpa said.
"Sure, Grandpa. Say hello to Grandma for me. Bye."
I disconnected the call and started reflecting on how different things are now.
My grandpa, Stephen D'Amario, never trusted my father after what he did to me when Mom died. My grandpa started this company when he was in his 20s, and my mom was the legal heiress since she was an only child. After she married my father, they both managed the company well until my mom was diagnosed with cancer.
Gradually, my mother spent most of her time at home or in the hospital, while my father managed our company. But my grandpa made sure that once I turned 21, the company would be legally transferred to me.
I remembered how badly Lisa treated me so that she and her daughter could get all the benefits from the company—money was all she cared about.
Lisa made sure I didn't fit the criteria to handle the company in the future. She even manipulated my father into trying to stop my education after high school, and she was somewhat successful. My father told me I wasn't capable of attending university.
Although I always maintained good grades—I wasn't the top of my class, but I was among the few good students who consistently performed well throughout high school.
I still remember those dreadful memories, which haunt me with nightmares to this day.
FLASHBACK
I had just come back from high school and was busy finishing my assignments when Jessica and Chloe burst into my room.
"Hey, ugly bitch. I heard you called Adrian last week," Jessica said angrily.
"Yes, I did. I was missing him, and it's been a long time since we talked," I replied without looking at her.
"Well, an ugly duckling like you doesn't deserve a friend like Adrian. I don't know why Adrian even decided to be your friend," Chloe said loudly.
"I guess he chooses his friends regardless of how they look or how rich they are. Let him decide who he wants to be friends with," I said. As soon as those words left my mouth, I felt something hard hit my face.
I felt blood at the corner of my lips. Before I could comprehend what had happened, Jessica punched me in the stomach.
Before I could defend myself, Chloe grabbed my arms from behind. Jessica slapped me again, and when she was done with the abuse, she spat in my face.
"I guess you've learned your lesson, bitch. Stay away from Adrian, or next time, the consequences will be worse," Jessica said angrily before they both left my room.
Before leaving, they made sure to ruin my assignment, tearing it apart even though I needed to submit it the next day.
I sat there crying, hugging myself. I didn't understand why they had a problem with my friendship with Adrian. He was the only friend I had left. I wiped my tears and decided to start my assignment over from scratch.
Finally, after three hours, I finished my assignment. When I noticed the time, it was already 1 a.m. My stomach rumbled, but I chose to go to bed. I didn't want any more drama that night.
FLASHBACK ENDS
I sighed, remembering those memories. I hated myself back then for not standing up against the abuse.
Maybe I was weak—I didn't have any support at that time.
Although Grandpa and Grandma always suspected something was wrong, I didn't want them to stress over me.
Today, I'm a stronger person. I can protect myself now. I even learned basic self-defence when I enrolled in university. Seeing how strong and decisive I am today gives me the confidence to take on the responsibility of being the heiress of D'Amario Enterprises.
Adrian P.O.VI've always gotten everything I wanted in life—from money to power, I had the finest of it all.At 25, I'm one of the most successful businessmen in the country. Two years ago, my dad entrusted me with the full responsibility of the company, and today, it's one of the leading corporations in the USA. But the best part of my life is the love of my life, Jessica Martin. She's everything a man could ever ask for.I've known Jessica since we were about 5 years old, but at 12, I moved to a boarding school in London. Despite the distance, Jessica and I always stayed in contact, and she supported me through every up and down.During vacations, we always made sure to spend time together. I even remember Sarah, who used to be a good friend of ours. But after I moved to London, she started ignoring Jessica and even asked her to stay away from me. Jessica always told me how Sarah bullied her in high school.As time went on, Jessica only grew more beautiful, both inside and out. Two
Adrian P.O.VThe past few days have been chaotic, as my parents' wedding anniversary is approaching. I've been busy with the arrangements for the party. It's also the day I plan to officially tell my parents about Jessica and my intention to marry her by the end of the year.I even bought a ring for Jessica. If everything goes well, I'll propose to her at the party in front of everyone.I looked up when I heard a knock on my office door and saw my father, James Parker, entering with a serious expression."How are you, son? We hardly see you these days. Your mom misses you a lot," he said, sitting on the couch."I've just been caught up with work, Dad. I'll definitely visit Mom today," I replied while scanning some important files."I need to discuss something important with you. It's about the company." I put my file down and turned to face him, waiting for him to continue."Since you've taken over the company, your mother and I think it's time for you to settle down. You'll be turnin
Sarah P.O.VI felt tense and doomed after hearing what Grandpa and Grandma told me. They arrived in the States last night, and today they've given me the biggest shock of my life.According to them, I must marry for the merger or lose a 40% share of Amario Enterprises. Before they could finish their next sentence, I slammed my hands on my lap and stood up."I can't accept this proposal, Grandpa. I just graduated, and right now, I want to explore new things. I don't want to get married so soon.""Sweetheart, we're not forcing you, but we want someone strong to take care of you. Grandpa and I are getting old, dear; we won't always be here to support you. That's why we want you to be secure and happy," Grandma said, making me sit down again as she held my hands.I thought about everything happening. When it comes to marriage, love, respect, and trust are the pillars of happiness.I've always been nervous about relationships, scared of rejection and being unloved.I feared I'd be the one
Sarah P.O.VIt was nearly 11 in the morning, and I was ready with my decision. I went downstairs and knocked on Grandpa's door; he opened it.I entered the room and saw Grandma sitting on the couch, reading a magazine. I sat next to her while Grandpa sat across from us. I cleared my throat before speaking."Grandpa, Grandma, I've made my decision. I want to save my mother's company; I don't want to lose Amario Enterprises. I'm ready for the marriage," I told them.As soon as I finished speaking, I saw both my grandparents beaming with happiness. Grandma immediately hugged me tightly."Oh Sarah, I knew you would make the right decision. I'm sure this marriage and merger will bring much happiness to your life," Grandpa said while kissing my forehead."I'm sure you'll fulfil the responsibilities of both a wife and the new CEO of Amario Enterprises," Grandma said, clasping her hands together.Both Grandma and Grandpa started discussing the merger and wedding. It had been ages since I'd se
Adrian P.O.VTomorrow is the day we sign the agreement with Amario Enterprises. I was anxious about the marriage and merger, but Jessica reassured me that Chloe would handle everything.She explained the entire situation the other day, and we discussed the plan regarding the agreement last evening."Dad hasn't mentioned anything about this agreement yet. Maybe he's waiting until the last minute so I can't back out. What if he doesn't listen to me if I refuse to marry?" Chloe asked nervously.Chloe had a point. What if her dad didn't accept her decision?"Don't worry, I have a backup plan," Jessica interrupted.Noah entered the room carrying his coffee and sat beside me."What are you guys talking about?" Noah asked as he placed his cup on the table."About how to decline the marriage agreement without Adrian losing his company," Jessica informed him."Well, as I was saying, the backup plan is if Chloe's father opposes her decision, Adrian and Chloe can proceed with the agreement and g
Sarah P.O.VIt's been four days since I signed the agreement at home. I was about to leave for the company with Grandpa that day when suddenly Grandma started feeling uneasy. We immediately called our family doctor, who examined Grandma and told us that her blood pressure had dropped, causing her discomfort. He prescribed some medication and advised her to stay in bed for the next two days. Grandpa wanted to cancel the meeting, but Grandma insisted that we proceed as planned. Therefore, I signed the papers at home and asked Grandpa to handle the meeting.A few hours after Grandpa left for the company, Grandma began to feel a bit better. I was in the kitchen preparing soup for her when Grandpa walked back into the house. He asked about Grandma's health and later informed me that the agreement had been signed. Adrian and I will be engaged at Adrian's parents' anniversary party, which is scheduled for this week.The rest of the week passed in a blur. I was mostly preoccupied with adjusti
Adrian P.O.VI arrived at the venue, and all the arrangements for the anniversary were managed impeccably by my staff. I spotted Mom and Dad in the room, engaged in conversation with some guests. I made my way towards them."Hey Mom and Dad," I greeted, giving Dad a side hug and kissing Mom on the cheek."Hello, Son. How are you? You hardly visit us anymore," Mom said with a hint of sadness."I'm fine, Mom. I've just been busy with work. I'll definitely come and stay with you once I'm free," I replied."You did an excellent job organizing everything for today," Dad said, patting me on the shoulder."Anything for you both. I'm glad you like it," I replied, feeling pleased as I continued talking with them and mingling with other guests.Soon, I excused myself to attend to a few business associates when I noticed Jessica at the entrance. She immediately spotted me, and as our eyes met, she smiled seductively. She walked towards me in a short cocktail dress. Once she reached me, I quickly
Sarah P.O.VTaking slow steps toward the stage, I felt my heart pounding harder with each step. As I reached the stage, Lauren immediately turned towards me. "Ahh! Here comes my beautiful daughter-in-law," she said warmly, pulling me into a hug. "All the best, dear," she whispered in my ear, sensing my nervousness."Ladies and gentlemen, today my son is beginning a new phase of his life with the beautiful heiress of Amario Enterprises, Sarah Darrell," Mr. Parker announced. I stood next to Adrian, both of us wearing forced smiles."My son, Adrian, has worked very hard for the company over the past few years, and I hope that marrying Sarah will lead to even more success for them both."The rings were soon brought out, and we exchanged them. Adrian slipped the ring onto my finger with a forceful touch, making it clear he wanted to leave as soon as possible. After we exchanged rings, the crowd erupted into applause and cheers."I have one more important announcement. Since I will be leavi
Sarah POVI gazed at my reflection in the mirror, wrapped in my robe, with Alessandro's text shining like a ray of hope in my hand."I understand we've had a rough patch. But if you can spare one night, I'd like to attempt to fix things.No expectations. Just you, me, and a little honesty. I’ll be waiting.”My heart ached. The sincerity in those words hit something raw inside me. I missed him, missed us. Missed the warmth of our mornings, the soft laughter that once filled our home. But pain changes things. Doubt makes strangers of the people you love most.Just then, there was a knock.“Come in,” I called, not looking up.I recognised the perfume before the door fully opened. Chanel No. 5. Chloe's signature. Of course.She stepped inside like a queen visiting a kingdom she meant to burn down.Silk robe fastened with precision, wine glass clutched like a villain in a sad drama. She always loved to put on a show."Going out tonight?" she inquired, her eyes sparkling as they darted to th
Alessandro’s POVIt had been ten days since we returned from the farmhouse. Ten days since everything unraveled.I sensed Sarah drifting further away from me, bit by bit, like sand slipping through an hourglass.She hadn’t raised her voice. She hadn’t lashed out. But her silence said more than any screaming match could. The way she avoided eye contact. The way her footsteps always trailed toward the guest room instead of ours. The way she smiled politely, but not warmly, when I handed her coffee in the mornings.I’d made a mistake. A big one.Not because of Mira, not entirely. That chapter of my life had been over years ago. And Mira’s accusations had never made sense to begin with. But I should’ve told Sarah everything the moment we got serious. I should’ve trusted her with my truth before someone like Adrian could twist it.God, Adrian.Even now, the thought of his smug face as he dropped that bomb still made my jaw clench. He’d timed it perfectly right when we were finding peace. W
Adrian’s POVThe city still felt cold, but the chill in my bones had shifted not from warmth, but from purpose. I finally had a plan.I sat at my desk, eyes fixed on Alessandro’s digital trail. His online presence lit up like a roadmap—threads of the past just waiting to be pulled. But I knew better now. Whispers and half-truths wouldn’t be enough. If I wanted to break them, I needed more than suspicion. I needed leverage. Misdirection.And I needed someone on the inside.That’s when it clicked.Chloe.Sarah’s perfect little world had always been cracked at the edges, and Chloe was one of those cracks. They were step-sisters in name, but anyone who spent five minutes with them knew there was no love lost. I remembered the subtle digs Chloe made at family dinners, the way Sarah would force a smile and pretend not to hear. But I heard them. I felt the tension.Chloe didn’t just dislike Sarah, she resented her.That kind of bitterness? It could be moulded. Turned into something useful.I
Sarah’s POVNew York City’s noise had always been oddly comforting, the honking cabs, distant sirens, and hurried footsteps on pavement. But today, it felt too loud, too sharp, like it was echoing the storm still raging inside me.It had been a week since we’d returned from the farmhouse.Seven days of strained silences, clipped conversations, and the kind of emotional distance I never thought I’d feel between Alessandro and me. I still hadn’t fully processed everything. I’d barely slept. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the look on his face when I walked away.But how was I supposed to just pretend like it hadn’t happened?He had kept something huge from me. Not just about Mira, but about how little he must have trusted me—to think I couldn’t handle the truth, to let someone like Adrian be the one to reveal it. After everything we’d fought for, the secrets still found a way to wedge themselves between us.And it hurt.Today was my first day back at the office since Gabriel’s birth.
Alessandro’s POV I stood there, watching the woman I loved crumble in front of me, her eyes scanning that godforsaken document Adrian had handed her like it was a grenade. And maybe it was because I felt the explosion the second her expression shifted from confusion to disbelief… and then to something that scared me more than anger ever could. Distance. It was like she was standing across a canyon, unreachable, even though she was just a few feet away. Her voice cracked when she asked me if it was true, and that alone shattered something inside me. God, I wanted to fix it. But how do you fix something you didn’t even know was still broken? In the past, I thought I’d buried it. That nightmare with Mira... it had happened years ago, in a life that felt a million miles away from who I am now. I had been young, foolish, and too trusting. I never touched her. I never crossed any line. But when things ended, Mira spiralled. I tried to reason with her, but she twisted everything. S
Sarah POVA few steps back, I noticed a captain whose face was completely devoid of colour. Words seemed to want to escape from his lips, but they were nowhere to be found.His still figure, rigid and motionless, also changed his hands into fists, which revealed the stress he was holding.This was simply too much to handle. My thoughts were fragmented, unable to reach a coherent conclusion. “Do tell me this isn’t the case,” I spoke in my flat voice. “Please tell me this is some unexpected blunder that someone made. That this… this woman is lying. Alessandro took a slow step toward me, but stopped when he saw me flinch not in fear, but in raw emotional recoil. That hurt in a way I couldn’t describe.The reflection of his features contorted with agony. "Sarah," a soft admission escaped as his throat felt like it was choked with raw feelings. “That's not the case.”We were close once, back in college. Yes, we dated for a few months, but when things didn’t work out, she didn’t take
Sarah’s POV I stood still, the document quivering slightly in my grip, as if the words on the page were too heavy for me to bear. My breath seemed to have gotten trapped somewhere between my lungs and my throat, in a region where incredulity and betrayal met. I read it again, slowly this time, each word punching a little deeper. Mira Solanki. Sexual harassment complaint. Alessandro’s name… linked with it. I looked up at him, the man I had let into my heart, into my life, into Gabriel’s life. The man who had been my anchor through the storm was Adrian. The man I trusted with my son, my dreams, my healing. He stood a few feet away, his face pale, lips parted as though he had something to say but hadn’t quite figured out how to say it yet. His hands were by his sides, stiff, clenched into fists that betrayed the tension under his otherwise still frame. I couldn’t process it. My mind refused to connect the dots. “Tell me this isn’t true,” I said finally, my voice hollow. “
Sarah’s POVThe late afternoon sun spilled soft light into the room as I folded the last of Gabriel’s little sweaters into his duffel bag. The scent of lavender from the fresh laundry clung to the fabric, and it made me smile. He’d had such a beautiful time here. We all had. For the first time in weeks, things had felt… steady. Like the ground beneath my feet wasn’t constantly shifting.I glanced over my shoulder at Alessandro and Gabriel outside. Alessandro had Gabriel perched on his shoulders, and they were walking around the garden one last time before we left the farmhouse. Gabriel’s laughter echoed through the air, pure and infectious. My heart swelled at the sight.I didn’t know when exactly it had started feeling this way, but watching the two of them together felt like a glimpse into the kind of life I had always wanted—peaceful, warm, and real. Gabriel adored him. And Alessandro, for all his quiet strength, adored him right back. That bond, though unexpected, had grown into s
Adrian’s POVThe sun had begun its descent, casting a golden hue across the farm, soft and warm, like a lull before the storm. I stood behind the half-drawn curtain of the guest room, watching them through the glass. Sarah, Alessandro, and Gabriel were in the garden, enjoying their last evening here. To anyone else, it looked idyllic—like a postcard of the perfect little family.But to me, it was unbearable.Gabriel was laughing, loud and free, as Alessandro chased him around the patch of wildflowers. Then, in one smooth movement, he scooped him up into his arms and tossed him into the air, catching him with ease. Gabriel’s squeals of joy rang through the air, piercing right through me. And then I saw it—the way Gabriel looked at Alessandro. Eyes wide with trust, with adoration. As if he were the safest place in the world.As if he were the father.Not me.I felt something sharp twist in my chest, a pain that was part jealousy, part rage, part heartbreak. Gabriel was my blood. My son.