Sarah POVAs those words left his mouth, I immediately shot up from the couch, my heart pounding in disbelief.“Are you serious?” I asked, my voice shaking, a mixture of shock and fury thickening my tone.Adrian stood there, composed in the face of my anger, his jaw clenched as though bracing himself for what was coming.“I’m not going to do anything like that, Adrian,” I spat, my breath uneven. “This is our child. How can you say something like this so easily?”His face hardened. “Then what exactly do you want me to do?” he demanded, his voice cold and authoritative. He reached out, gripping my arm firmly, as if trying to physically tether me to his point of view.I yanked my arm free, glaring at him. “I don’t want anything from you, Adrian. I just wanted you to support this child along with me,” I said, my voice cracking under the weight of my conviction.He sighed deeply, frustration bleeding into his tone. “Sarah, please. We can’t have this baby now. We’re not ready for a child ye
Sarah POV“Adrian, we can’t be like a normal couple. Not now, not ever in the future,” I said firmly, my voice unwavering despite the tremor building inside me. “I haven’t changed my mind about the divorce. We are getting divorced in a few months.”His expression twisted into a mixture of disbelief and frustration. I could see the words forming on his lips, but I didn’t give him the chance to speak. I pressed on, determined to make my stance crystal clear.“My intention behind telling you about this pregnancy was only because you had the right to know. I thought maybe—just maybe—you could take on the responsibility of being a father and support the baby,” I continued, removing his hands from my shoulders with a deliberate finality. His touch no longer held any power over me.Adrian’s jaw clenched, his voice low and tense. “Sarah, I never said I wouldn’t be there. I will be there for my child, but not right now. I can’t handle this pressure. Try to understand, Sarah. We need to work on
Sarah POVHe opened his mouth to say something, but I didn’t wait to hear it. Turning on my heel, I walked briskly into my room, slamming the door behind me. The sound echoed through the house like a final verdict. My fingers trembled as I turned the lock, creating a barrier between us that I desperately needed.The silence inside the room was deafening, pressing against my ears. I leaned back against the door, my chest heaving as I fought to contain the storm within me. But I failed. A tear escaped, hot and heavy, tracing a path down my cheek. I wiped it away angrily, but more followed, blurring my vision.Why did his words hurt so much? Why did his rejection of this child feel like a dagger straight to my heart? I should have expected this. I should have known better than to hope Adrian would accept this baby or act as a responsible father.I sank onto the edge of the bed, my mind drifting back to a time I had tried so hard to forget.After my mother passed away, I clung desperately
Sarah POVFlashback StartsThat day, like every other, I walked home from school with my head down, trying to drown out the giggles and whispers behind me. Chloe and Jessica were trailing a few steps behind, their high-pitched laughter cutting through the air like knives. I didn’t have to turn around to know they were making fun of me—again.I clenched my fists but kept walking, pretending I couldn’t hear them. Confronting them never did any good. It only made their torment worse.Once I reached home, I hurried past the living room, ignoring the sound of the television and Lisa’s voice in the background. I bolted up the stairs, two at a time, and entered my room, closing the door behind me.Dropping my school bag by the desk, I caught sight of my reflection in the mirror. My heart sank as my gaze traveled down to my white pants. A large, vivid red stain spread across the back.Panic seized me. What was this? Blood? My hands trembled as I changed out of the pants, pulling down my under
Sarah’s POVI don’t know why I expected him to support me in this. I don’t know why it hurts this much.The moment I told Adrian I was pregnant, I saw the panic flash in his eyes—a flicker of something raw and unsettling. And then came the words—the ones I can’t forget, no matter how hard I try.“You can’t keep it, Sarah. It’ll ruin everything. Think about us, our careers… our future.”Those were his exact words, cold and calculated, like I was a business decision gone wrong. My stomach churns just thinking about it. The father of my child saw this as a mistake, a problem to be erased. And yet, I was foolish enough to think he’d stand by me, that there was still some trace of the man I once loved.I should’ve known better. Adrian has always been about control—about things fitting neatly into his version of life. A baby? That didn’t fit his carefully curated image.The memory of that night plays on a relentless loop in my head. The sting of rejection, the hollow ache that settled in my
Sarah’s POVThe drive to the office is uneventful, though my mind is anything but calm. My thoughts are a chaotic mess, replaying countless scenarios where Alessandro rejects me, telling me he’s done, that he doesn’t want anything to do with me anymore. I try to shake the intrusive thoughts away, but they cling to me like a shadow.The city buzzes around me as I navigate the streets, indifferent to my inner turmoil. Skyscrapers loom above, their glass windows reflecting the morning sunlight, but even the vibrant energy of the city does little to soothe my anxiety.When I finally pull into the parking lot, I take a moment to collect myself, resting my forehead against the steering wheel. “Get it together,” I whisper to myself. With a deep breath, I straighten up, grab my bag, and step out of the car.The sound of my heels clicking against the polished marble floor echoes as I enter the building. The familiar scent of coffee and office air freshener greets me, a strange comfort in its p
Sarah’s POVThe meeting room buzzes with energy as my team discusses investment details, their voices blending into a steady hum. I try to focus, but my thoughts are scattered, like leaves caught in a whirlwind. My fingers fidget with the corner of my notepad as I glance at the door, anticipation twisting my insides.And then he walks in.Alessandro Dante.My breath catches in my throat. He looks effortlessly handsome in a dark charcoal suit, the tailored fabric hugging his broad shoulders perfectly. The top buttons of his crisp white shirt are undone, revealing a tantalizing hint of his tanned skin. His stubble is darker, giving him an even more rugged appearance.My heart thuds painfully against my ribs.Our eyes meet for a brief, electric moment before he looks away, his expression cold and distant.My heart sinks.The Alessandro I know is warm, charming, and attentive—a man who lights up any room he enters. But this version of him is a stranger, distant and unreadable.Ester’s voi
Sarah POVIt was a quiet Sunday evening, and I found myself sprawled lazily on the couch, indulging in my third tub of chocolate fudge ice cream. The creamy sweetness melted on my tongue, offering a temporary escape from the whirlwind of thoughts swirling in my mind. The living room was bathed in the warm glow of the lamp by the corner, casting long shadows across the walls as the television flickered with yet another episode of Friends. Chandler’s witty sarcasm barely registered in my ears as I absentmindedly spooned another bite of ice cream.Pregnancy cravings were no joke. I had read countless articles about them, but living through the experience was entirely different. One moment I craved tangy pickles, and the next, it was all about sweet indulgences. With how things were going, I was pretty sure I'd be gaining a significant amount of weight soon—and honestly, I didn't care. My baby’s well-being came first.The comforting aroma of freshly cooked food wafted from the kitchen, mi
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