ADELINE’S POV"Are you surprised to see me?" Matt asked, grinning as I got into the car. His smile was perfect and his eyes crinkled with amusement as I stared at him."Of course, I am! What are you doing here in town and how did you find me?" I asked, waiting for an explanation.“I missed the ball and I had to make it up to you. I wanted to take you to dinner immediately I landed in Manhattan but you weren’t at the Company and your secretary told me you’d be here. I was about to call you when I saw you.” He explained.“I remember telling you it wasn’t a big deal and you didn’t have to come.” I say even though I was happy to see him."What can I say," he started, "You left, and Washington became boring. And a little bird told me you turned Manhattan upside down with your unveiling. I had to come see it myself. You’re the talk of the town and your face is everywhere right now," he continued, his smile widening."Don’t flatter me," I said, smiling hard. "You left your company to come he

SASHA’S POV"I'll see you later, babe," Xander said, giving me a quick kiss before leaving the house.I watched him go, feeling a knot of anger in my stomach.Xander left right after Adeline, and it annoyed the fuck out of me. He tried to act like he wasn't in a hurry, but I could tell he was rushing after her and the fact that he showed up right after she arrived bothered me.I stood up, lost in thought, when I heard my dad's voice."Sasha, aren't you happy to see your sister doing so well? Finally, our family is complete again," he said.I flashed him a toothy grin and nodded. "Of course I am. I never imagined that bitc... Adeline would ever come back into our lives again," I said before storming off to my room.I couldn't stand having Adeline back. Her return felt like a terrible storm sweeping through my life, about to drown me.She was here to take what was mine, and I knew it. Worse, she had this smug confidence that got under my skin.At dinner, seeing Xander stare at her like

ADELINE’S POVI walked out of the conference room after a grueling five-hour meeting with new investors and my company lawyers.The contract negotiations had been intense, and I felt completely drained. I stepped into my office with my secretary, Clarissa, and collapsed on the seat."Do I have any other schedule for the day?" I asked her, my voice betraying my exhaustion."You have dinner with Matt at 8, but I can contact his secretary and cancel if you're not up for it," she replied calmly, though I knew she was concerned."No, don't," I said, shaking my head.Clarissa had been with me for four years. She was more than just my secretary; she was my confidante and always looked out for me. I had promised Matt this dinner, and I had already postponed it once. I might as well get it over with."Tell the driver to bring the car to the front," I instructed, ready to leave the office."You can't go to dinner looking like that," Clarissa said quietly, her eyes scanning me. I glanced down a

ADELINE’S POVI tried to stay calm, but I couldn’t. My heart raced and my hands trembled as we stepped out of the restaurant.The night air was cool, but it did nothing to soothe my nerves instead it chilled my bones.“Is everything okay?” Matt asked as soon as we left the building. His voice was gentle, but I could tell he was studying me.I opened my mouth to answer, but no words came out. My mind was blank, and all I could do was stare at the ground.“Adeline, you’re pale. Are you sick? Who are those people?” he asked again, more urgently this time.“Matt,” I finally managed to say, “can you please take me home?”He frowned. “What’s wrong, Adeline? Who are they and why are you affected so much by what they said? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”I shook my head, trying to clear the fog in my brain, but the image of Sasha and Xander kept flashing before my eyes. Sasha’s hand on her belly, Xander holding her waist, their glowing faces, and the way they looked so happy. The joy in h

XANDER’S POV"Sasha!" I heard a piercing scream.My heart skipped as I opened the door and walked into the house, only to see the most horrifying sight ever. I ran towards the stairs, my pulse racing. Sasha was falling from the top of the stairs, her body tumbling in slow motion. My legs moved on their own, but I wasn't fast enough. She hit the ground with a sickening thud, crumpling into a heap at the base of the stairs."Sasha!" I yelled, dropping to my knees beside her. Her face was pale, and blood was seeping from her white dress. Her eyes fluttered open slightly."Xander," she whispered, her voice weak.I leaned in closer, desperate to make sure she was breathing at least. "Adeline... pushed me," she breathed out, just before her eyes closed again."Help! Somebody help!" I screamed, my voice breaking. I looked up at Adeline, who was standing at the top of the stairs, frozen in place. "Call an ambulance!"Adeline didn't move, her eyes wide and her face pale. She seemed unable to