LOGINThe day was finally here. The day Roman had been waiting for the past week. When he finally leaves the city that left him first and caused him so much heartache.This seemed like the new normal now.Flights. Suitcases. Goodbyes.Only this time he didn’t have a large crowd to send him off.No Alec. Victor. Even Bernard couldn't make it. Eleanor was struggling to accept he wanted a divorce.So it was just him and his mother and things hadn’t improved much in forty-eight hours.Salima stood across from him, hands folded.“When are you going to stop being upset, Roman?” She asked.“I’m not upset.” He shook his head. “You haven’t spoken to me since Victor left.”Roman scoffed. “To be fair, I haven’t spoken to anyone.”Salima’s face dropped in disappointment.Roman noticed. He exhaled sharply.“I’m not doing this to punish you, Mom, but right now — I just don’t know how to feel.”“Then let me tell you how I feel.” “No!” Roman said sharply. “I understand that Dad’s return might have been
Roman sat alone in the study, staring at nothing.The house was quiet. Too quiet. Without Alec's presence, without Tessa’s charm, without the hum of conversation, the walls seemed to press in closer.He hadn't moved from the armchair since walking out of the living room. His mother's words still echoed in his head. Telling him it’s not that simple.But it was. A soft knock pulled him from his thoughts.Roman looked up.Victor stood in the doorway, his hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable."Can I come in?" Victor asked.Roman nodded.Victor stepped inside and closed the door behind him. He didn't sit. He stood by the window, looking out at the dark sky.“If you’re here to talk about what happened downstairs…” Roman said. “I want you to know I meant every word.”“Oh, I know.” Victor chuckled. "I know you're upset with your mother. But I don't want you to be."Roman's jaw tightened. "Why not?""Because it's not her fault. It's just a natural thing for her to feel conflicted."
It’s been one week since Roman lost Tessa at the airport. He didn’t know if she was halfway across the country or the continent, whichever it was, she wasn't by his side.And now…another goodbye waited for him.Roman stood quietly at the edge of the foyer as members of the house staff carried the last of Alec and Lakshmi’s suitcases toward the waiting SUV. The polished marble floors echoed with footsteps, soft conversations, and the occasional scrape of luggage wheels.Everyone had gathered to see them off.The atmosphere was warm—filled with smiles that tried very hard to hide the sadness beneath them.“Oh, Lakshmi,” Salima said, pulling the young woman into a warm embrace. “It was so good having you here.”Lakshmi smiled as she hugged her back.“Thank you for having me, Mrs Blackwood. You made me feel like family from the very first day.”“You are family,” Salima corrected gently. “Don’t ever think otherwise.”Lakshmi’s smile widened. “I won’t.”Salima stepped aside, turning toward
5 AMThe morning was pale and cold. Tessa stood in the doorway of her bedroom, watching as Daniel moved through the house with practised efficiency.Suitcases lined the hallway. Boxes were stacked by the front door. Everything they owned, packed into containers and labeled with a destination she hadn't chosen.Chicago.She still couldn't believe it."You ready?" Daniel asked, not looking up from his phone.Tessa didn't answer.He glanced at her. "Tessa?""I heard you." She snapped."Then answer the question." He fired back.She crossed her arms. “Sure.”Daniel's jaw tightened, but he didn't rise to the bait. "The car will be here in twenty minutes. Make sure you have everything. I’ll get Dad.”He walked past her toward the kitchen.Tessa stood there for a moment longer, then turned back into her room.The bed was bare. The walls were empty. The closet was a graveyard of hangers.She had packed light — one suitcase, one carry-on, one bag for things she couldn't bear to leave behind. A
Roman sat in his car, parked outside his own house.The engine was off. The night was quiet. But inside the car, the only sound was the relentless beep of a call that wouldn't go through.He pulled the phone from his ear and stared at the screen."What the hell Tessa?” He murmured.He had called her seven times today. Fourteen times this week. Dozens of times over the past month.Yet, no response.The line just kept beeping. No ring. No voicemail. Just... nothing.She blocked me.The thought sat in his chest like a stone.He understood things had been difficult between them. He understood she was hurt, angry, confused. But to block him completely? To cut him off without a word?That was more frustrating than he’d like to admit.He groaned and tossed the phone onto the passenger seat.His eyes fell on the items beside it — flowers, chocolates, a small velvet box he hadn't touched. Romantic things. Hopeful things. Things he had planned to give her tonight.Now he just looked stupid.He
The sound of Eleanor's heels against the marble floor echoed through the corridor.She had faced many difficult situations before. Boardroom battles. Social scandals. The return of a dead husband. But this — watching her son be led away in shackles while the world watched — this had to be the most humiliating.She put on her dark glasses and continued down the corridor."Eleanor."The voice stopped her cold.She turned.Salima and Roman walked toward her, side by side. Roman's face was unreadable. Salima's was not.Eleanor exhaled sharply. "Salima. Roman." She adjusted her sunglasses. "I believe you are here to gloat."Salima stepped closer, her shoulders high, her chin lifted. The years between them seemed to collapse into a single moment."Do you remember," Salima said quietly, "months ago... in this very courthouse... you stood there after you tried to lock up my son. And you told me that it was just the consequences of his bad decisions?"Eleanor's jaw tightened. She said nothing.
Nandini’s voice cracked as she finished.“That’s how we got here.” She said, wiping a streak of tears from her eyelashes. “Thank goodness, because it’s been one hell of a night.”Salima spoke first, voice gentle.“That poor girl. And you?” She reached for Nandini’s hand. But Nandini jerked back.“I
“How surprising of you to join us, Grayson,” Salima said dryly. “However, it would have been better for you to inform me.”“What’s the point of informing anyone?” Grayson stifled a chuckle, his smile easy and sharp. “I love seeing the look on people’s faces when I surprise them.”Tessa shifted in h
Roman and Alec pushed through the front doors of the mansion just after 2 a.m. Although outside looked like something out of a circus. Inside the house was quiet now. “I’m going to check on my mom,” Alec said. Roman nodded once and Alec disappeared up the stairs leading to the guest rooms. Roma
TWO WEEKS LATERTwo weeks had passed and everything had drifted into the new normal.The bedroom was dim, curtains drawn against the late-morning sun. Sheets twisted around their legs and soft moans filled the space.“Yes—fuck yes!” Tessa whimpered as Roman slowly stroked inside her. Roman moved







