Adrian POVI arrived at our favourite restaurant, a discreetly elegant establishment nestled in a quiet corner of the city. I scanned the room, searching for Jessica. She was seated by the window, her back to me, engrossed in her phone. Even from a distance, I could see the vibrant yellow of her short floral dress, a splash of sunshine against the muted tones of the restaurant’s décor. She looked radiant, her blonde hair cascading down her shoulders, her posture relaxed and confident."Hey, babe," I greeted her, leaning down to kiss her cheek. Her skin was warm and soft against my lips."Hey," she replied, her smile a little…forced. There was a hint of sadness in her eyes, a shadow that hadn’t been there before.I sat down beside her, taking her hands in mine. Her fingers were cool, a slight tremor running through them."What’s wrong, love?" I asked, my voice gentle. "You seem upset.""It’s nothing, Adrian Parker," she said, her tone laced with a familiar sarcasm.I raised an eyebrow,
Adrian POVIt was late afternoon, the sun beginning its descent, casting long shadows across the city. Around five o’clock, a knock echoed on my office door. "Come in," I called, turning to see Noah enter, his usually jovial face set in a serious, almost disapproving expression."Hey, Noah," I greeted him, trying to keep my tone casual."Hey," he replied, his voice tight. He closed the door behind him and leaned against it, his arms crossed. "What’s going on between you and Jessica?" he asked, his voice rising slightly. "I saw you both kissing at the restaurant a few hours ago. Don’t tell me you’re still involved with her.""Well," I said, shrugging nonchalantly, "there’s nothing new about that, is there? I still love Jessica. Sarah…Sarah is just a business arrangement.""I thought you’d closed that chapter when you married Sarah," Noah said, his brow furrowed. "I thought you were trying to…to make things work.""That chapter isn’t closed," I asserted, my voice hardening. "It’s just…o
Adrian POVHer eyes snapped open, the sleep instantly banished, replaced by a glare that could have frozen fire. She sat up, her movements stiff, her expression a mixture of anger and resentment. "Don't ever do that again," she said, her voice low and dangerous. She stood up, her back rigid, and turned towards the door, as if to escape my presence."Not so fast, Sarah," I said, my voice hard, grabbing her arm and pulling her back towards me. "It’s time to fulfill your duties. As my wife. And my whore."Her eyes flashed, but she didn’t resist as I pulled her closer. "Remove my shoes," I ordered, my voice leaving no room for argument.Her jaw tightened, her nostrils flared, but she didn’t speak. Without a word, she knelt down, her movements precise, and began unlacing my shoes. I watched her, a smirk playing on my lips. The power dynamic was intoxicating."Now," I said, my voice laced with command, "remove your clothes." I leaned back on the couch, watching her intently. "As my whore, y
Adrian POVSeeing no point in continuing the argument, in trying to break through the wall she had erected between us, I abandoned the pretense of conversation. I seized her waist, my grip firm and possessive, and pulled her closer, my body pressing against hers. I bit into her neck, my teeth sinking into the soft flesh just below her ear, then moved lower, my lips and teeth tracing a path along her collarbone. She whimpered, a small, involuntary sound that stirred something within me, a mix of desire and a darker, more primal urge to dominate.My mouth traveled lower, to her breasts, which bounced with each thrust she had taken, their fullness a tantalizing invitation. I began to suck on her pink nipples, my tongue lapping at their hardness, teasing them until they were erect and sensitive. She moaned again, a soft, breathy sound that fueled my desire. I could feel my member swelling inside her, stretching her walls, her wetness trickling down my legs, a testament to her arousal, howe
Sarah POVAdrian flipped me over, his movements rough, careless. His weight pressed down on me, heavy and suffocating. He thrust his member deep inside me, the sudden invasion a sharp, unwelcome reminder of my powerlessness. My body quivered beneath him, a mixture of pain and a dull, aching resignation. I closed my eyes, willing the moment to pass, praying for it to be over soon. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he reached his climax, a guttural groan escaping his lips as he released himself inside me. He collapsed on top of me, his weight crushing me, his breathing heavy and ragged."That was really good," he said, his voice laced with smug satisfaction. He stared down at me, a satisfied grin spreading across his face. "I'm impressed with your performance," he continued, his eyes glinting, "especially for your very first day.""Hmm," I muttered, my voice hollow, devoid of any emotion. I lay there beneath him, feeling lifeless, empty. His words, his blatant disregard for my
Sarah POVI turned off the shower, the sound of the water echoing in the quiet bathroom. I stepped out onto the bathmat, the cool tile a stark contrast to the warmth of the shower. I quickly dried myself, my movements mechanical, detached, as if I were going through the motions, my mind still replaying the events of the past hour. I slipped into my pyjamas, the soft cotton a small comfort against my skin. Returning to the bedroom, I was relieved to find it empty. Adrian had left. A wave of exhaustion washed over me. I had no energy to go downstairs and prepare dinner. I crawled into bed, pulling the duvet over my head, seeking the solace of darkness and warmth. Just as I began to drift off, the bedroom door creaked open, the sound jarring me awake. I knew who it was. I didn’t bother to look."Get up, Sarah," Adrian’s voice cut through the silence, his tone brooking no argument. "I know you’re not asleep."Reluctantly, I pulled the duvet down, my eyes meeting his. He was standing by th
Sarah POVThe next morning, soft rays of sunlight, filtering through the partially open window, warmed my face, gently rousing me from sleep. I blinked my eyes open, the remnants of sleep clinging to me like a soft blanket. I turned my head, my gaze falling on Adrian. He was still asleep beside me, his arm draped possessively over my body, our legs tangled together beneath the covers. He looked…peaceful. Vulnerable. A stark contrast to the domineering man he was during waking hours.Carefully, trying not to disturb him, I untangled myself from his embrace, his arm falling away from me as I slipped out of bed. The cool air against my skin sent a shiver down my spine. I padded silently to the bathroom, eager to escape the lingering tension of the night. After taking care of my morning routine and showering, I dressed in a beige top and black high-waisted pants, a professional yet comfortable ensemble. I applied some light makeup, trying to erase the traces of exhaustion from my face, an
Sarah POVI pushed open the heavy oak door to the boardroom, a polite smile plastered on my face. "Hello, everyone," I said, my voice bright and professional. "Sorry to keep you all waiting." My gaze swept over the group of five men already seated around the large mahogany table. They were all impeccably dressed, their suits tailored to perfection, their expressions a mixture of anticipation and impatience. One man, tall and well-built, with dark hair and piercing blue eyes, was standing with his back to me, engrossed in a phone call. I walked over and waited patiently for him to finish, my mind already reviewing the details of the proposal, the key points I needed to emphasize.He ended the call with a curt nod and turned to face me. Our eyes met, and I felt a jolt of…recognition. There was something familiar about him, something about the way his eyes held mine, something about the set of his jaw, the way he carried himself. But I couldn't quite place where I had seen him before."S
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 POV New 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 had hardly gotten any sleep. Whenever I shut my eyes, I envisioned the expression on his face as I turned to leave.But how was I meant to simply act as if it never occurred? 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 marked my return to the office aft
Alessandro’s POVI 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. AAnd maybe it was due to my awareness of the explosion the moment her face shifted from confusion to disbelief to something that scared me more than any anger. Proximity. Although she was merely a few feet distant, it felt as if she stood across a canyon, unreachable. 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. She wanted revenge. And she got it in the worst way.I never expected it to follow me here, to this life. This future I’d bee
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 POVThe paper trembled a little in my hands as if it knew what it held was too much for me to handle, and I stood motionless. My breath became trapped in my chest, in that agonising space where heartbreak and incredulity collide. I read it again, slower this time, praying I’d misunderstood. But every word sank deeper, each one a blow I hadn’t been ready for.Mira Solanki. Sexual harassment complaint. Alessandro’s name… tied to it.I looked up at him—the man I had let into every part of my life. My heart, my home, Gabriel’s world. The man who’d been my safe place after everything fell apart… was Alessandro. The person I trusted with my son, my recovery, and dreams I was hardly brave enough to share aloud.His gaze was directed towards the ground, pale, and his lips parted open like he was contemplating speech, but the words were not forthcoming. The tension was evident as he held up his arms and kept his fists in place, trying to conceal the strain. I couldn't take it in. Non
Sarah’s POV As I packed the last of Gabriel's small sweaters into his duffel bag, the late afternoon sun spilled gentle light into the room. I smiled as the fresh laundry's lavender scent clung to the fabric. 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. Before we left the farmhouse, Alessandro had Gabriel sitting on his shoulders as they took a final stroll around the garden. The pure and contagious sound of Gabriel's laughter filled the air. A reminder that love wasn’t always about fireworks and chaos. Sometimes, it was about the way Alessandro always remembered how I took my coffee, or how he brushed Gabriel’s hair back before bed like it was second nature. It was safe. It was deep. Seeing them together made my heart feel full. It reminded me of the life I've always dreamed of—something genuine, cozy,
Adrian’s POVThe sun was slipping from the sky, casting a mellow light across the land; it felt like a reprieve. I stood in the hallway in my guest-sister’s room, peering through a silken curtain at them. Sarah, Alessandro and Gabriel had gone into the garden for a final evening together. To an outsider, it must have seemed like bliss – that scene of a perfect family.I couldn’t bear it.Alessandro was chasing Gabriel around the wildflower patch while he was laughing loudly and freely. He then effortlessly caught him again after swooping him into his arms and throwing him into the air. Gabriel's laughter reached me exactly where I was standing, resonating through the silence of the area. 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.A pain that was a mix of heartbreak, rage, and jealousy twisted sharply in my chest. I was descended from Gabriel. My son. Nevert