Sarah P.O.VIt’s been almost twenty minutes since Alessandro and Adrian left the room to talk, and my mind refuses to rest. A million thoughts swirl through my head, each more unsettling than the last.What is taking them so long?I grip the edge of my plate, my appetite nearly gone despite the fruit I was mindlessly eating. My thoughts keep circling back to Adrian. Is he up to something? Is he trying to manipulate Alessandro? He has always had a way of twisting words, turning situations to his advantage. I wish I could trust that this conversation will lead to something constructive, but my heart is wary.In an attempt to distract myself, I reach for my phone and start scrolling. The screen floods with posts from yesterday’s event—pictures of the elegant venue, the perfectly arranged tables, and of course, the guests. My breath catches when I spot a few pictures of myself with Adrian. We appear like a well-coordinated pair, even if reality tells a different story. My fingers hesitate
Sarah POVAs I gather my thoughts, I realize something—I’m not alone in this. It's Alessandro. His unwavering support grounds me, reminding me that no matter how difficult things get, I don’t have to bear it alone.Just as the room begins to settle, Adrian clears his throat. "But I have one condition," he says, cutting through the moment.I stiffen. "What condition?"His jaw tightens before he speaks. "I want joint custody of our child. Even after the divorce. It’s important to me that we both remain actively involved in their life."His words knocked the breath out of me.Joint custody? The suddenness of his demand throws me completely off balance.I take a moment to gather my thoughts, my pulse racing. "Adrian, why are you doing this now?" I ask cautiously. "This is a big commitment. We’ve had so many differences and fights in the past."Adrian nodded, his expression unwavering. "I know we haven’t always seen eye to eye, Sarah, but I believe this is the best thing for our child. The
Sarah POVAs the evening drew to a close, the guests began to disperse, making their way back to their rooms. I had spent the rest of the day attending to their needs, ensuring everyone was comfortable and enjoying their stay. Alessandro and I had also toured the rest of the property, discussing potential improvements and changes. Throughout the day, I occasionally caught glimpses of Adrian, who seemed to be keeping a respectful distance. He watched me quietly, his expression unreadable, but he never approached or interrupted.After dinner, the guests slowly filed out of the dining room, and I felt a sense of relief wash over me. It had been a long and emotionally draining day. Alessandro and I made our way back to our room, walking in silence. The air was thick with unspoken words, but for now, silence felt more comforting than conversation.Once inside the room, Alessandro closed the door behind us and turned to face me. "How are you holding up?" he asked gently, his concern evident
Sarah POVAlessandro appeared in the doorway, his hair tousled from sleep but his eyes alert. "Good morning," he greeted, walking over to kiss me on the cheek. "How did you sleep?""Better than I expected," I admitted, handing him a cup of coffee. "I think I'm starting to accept everything, little by little."He nodded, taking a sip of his coffee. "That's good. We'll take it one step at a time."As we sat down to eat, the doorbell rang. My heart skipped a beat, thinking it might be Adrian. Alessandro squeezed my hand reassuringly before getting up to answer the door.To my surprise, it was the family lawyer Alessandro had contacted. He was a tall, distinguished man with a kind but professional demeanor. "Good morning," he greeted, stepping inside. "I'm Mr. Thompson. Alessandro and I have spoken about your situation, and I'm here to help.""Good morning, Mr. Thompson," I replied, offering a smile. "Thank you for coming on such short notice.""My pleasure," he said, setting down his bri
Sarah POVOnce Mr. Thompson had left, Alessandro turned to me, his expression searching. "Feeling better?"I nodded, though the weight of the conversation still lingered in my chest. "Yes, I do. It's a lot to take in, but having good support makes it easier."His lips curved into a reassuring smile as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close for a brief but comforting embrace. "Good. Now, let's tackle the rest of the day. We have a lot to do."The morning flew by in a blur of phone calls and preparations. I reached out to my grandparents, explaining that we needed to have an important discussion with both families. Alessandro, on the other hand, spoke to Adrian, insisting that he get his parents involved as well. There was no room for misunderstandings or loose ends in something as significant as our child’s future.By early afternoon, everyone had gathered in my room. Adrian and his parents sat across from Alessandro and me, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and
Sarah POVAlessandro, ever the composed strategist, leaned forward, his tone firm yet fair. "We believe in giving people a chance to change," he said. "But actions speak louder than words, Adrian. If you’re serious about this, you need to prove it through consistent effort, not just promises."Adrian nodded vigorously. "I understand. I’ll attend the parenting classes, I’ll be present for my child I won’t let you down."At this, Mr. Thompson, who had been quietly taking notes, spoke up. "It’s crucial that we set up regular check-ins to ensure everything is progressing smoothly. These can be in-person meetings or video calls, depending on what works best for everyone involved.""That’s a great idea," Adrian’s mother agreed. "It will keep things on track and help hold everyone accountable."A sense of cautious relief settled over me. While this conversation didn’t solve everything, it was a step in the right direction. "Thank you, everyone," I said, my voice thick with emotion. "This mea
Adrian's POVI closed the door to Sarah's room quietly, the weight of our conversation lingering in my mind. The tension still clung to my skin, making every breath feel heavier. I walked down the dimly lit hallway, my footsteps echoing faintly against the wooden floor. The house was bathed in a warm, golden glow from the lamps, casting long shadows that flickered like ghosts of our past. I paused for a moment, glancing at the framed pictures on the wall—snapshots of a life I had taken for granted. Pictures of Sarah and me from when we were still happy, our smiles unburdened, our hands intertwined without hesitation.As I neared the living room, I found my parents sitting in their usual spots, their faces lined with the weariness of people who had seen too much. My mother looked up first, her gentle eyes searching mine."Adrian," she called softly, beckoning me over. "How did it go?"I took a deep breath, rubbing the back of my neck, trying to shake off the weight pressing on my shoul
Adrian POVThe next morning, I forced myself out of bed early. It was still dark outside, the air thick with the quiet stillness that comes before dawn. I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling slowly as I pushed off the covers. My body protested the early hour, but I ignored the stiffness in my limbs. I needed to start fresh. I laced up my running shoes, tightening them more than necessary, as if grounding myself physically could help settle my restless mind.Stepping outside, the crisp morning air wrapped around me, sharp and invigorating. The sky remained a deep indigo, the horizon barely hinting at the first signs of daylight. I took a deep breath, filling my lungs before setting off at a steady pace. My feet hit the pavement in rhythmic succession, the soft thud matching the steady beat of my heart. Running had become my sanctuary, the only time my mind wasn’t cluttered with regrets and unspoken words. The air felt fresh against my skin, and for a brief moment, I let the motion car
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