LOGINSoon, she turned her head in my direction. Our eyes met, and the smile on her face vanished.Did I frighten her?Was there something in my expression that made her smile drop?I couldn’t look away, no matter how hard I tried. My eyes refused to leave her.She glanced at me several times while continuing her conversation, her smile growing increasingly forced. I hated being the reason it had disappeared.I had reached my limit.I couldn’t keep pretending anymore. I couldn’t keep swallowing words that were slowly destroying me.“Sir…”My driver’s voice cut through the chaos in my mind.“Should I drive Ms. Lena home first?”I slowly turned toward him. “The keys?"He hesitated. “But, sir… the after-party. Mr. Eric said your presence is important.”I looked at him. One look was enough. His words died instantly. Without another sound, he handed me the keys.My gaze returned to Lena. She had finished speaking with the others and was carefully lifting the hem of her gown as she walked towar
TARZAN’S POVThe one moment I thought I would finally have a chance to talk to her alone slipped through my fingers like smoke.My phone buzzed with an urgent message from one of my insiders.The Best Dressed results. Someone had rigged the votes.The award that should have gone to Lena was about to be handed to some model who’d paid for the privilege.I saw red.Not because I gave a damn about the award, but because the thought of anyone stealing *anything* from her made my blood boil.I had no choice but to intervene.I pulled strings, issued threats, and cleaned up the mess. By the time everything was straightened out, the night had already stolen every opportunity I had to be alone with her.Now I stood a few feet away, suit jacket slung loosely over one arm, watching her laugh politely with Jean Pierre’s team. The sound of her joy twisted like a knife between my ribs. I couldn’t tear my eyes away. She looked devastatingly beautiful—the kind of beautiful that makes a man forget h
I was so happy... until...."Tarzan—"My heart stopped and the world tilted.That single word shattered the fragile hope I'd pieced together in the last few seconds.I must have misheard. Mitch.It should have been Mitch.Lena loves me. Lena will always love me.How could she have forgotten that?"I love you, Tarzan. I just want you to know that," she said, then added a quiet, almost shy, "Thanks."The crowd erupted in applause.I couldn't lift my head. I scoffed as tears burned behind my eyes, and I let them fall, hot and silent, down my cheeks.I am losing it.For a second I was actually happy thinking she was referring to me.A heavy hand landed on my shoulder. I flinched."Man..." Jake's voice was low, careful. "Pull yourself together. It's not the end of the world."But it was. It felt like it was.I couldn't bear the weight in my chest—the years I'd swallowed, the humiliation I'd accepted in the name of being a house husband, all for a chance to reach out to Lena.I should'
She stood on that stage now, glowing, breathtaking—ans being celebrated by a crowd filled with Hollywood celebrities and famous artists around the globe and other distinguished guests. This couldn't be real. The Lena I remembered was timid, always looking tired with ark circled and puffy face, her eyes downcast, apologizing for everything I complained about. She shares same face and body as the woman on the screen yet she appears to be more comfortable in her body. I glanced at Derek and Jake. They were staring at the massive screen with the same stunned silence that had gripped me. If I was hallucinating, were they also hallucinating?I watched as Lena stepped up to the microphone, her hand trembling slightly as she adjusted it. The room fell silent, waiting.She laughed—a nervous, beautiful sound that cut through me like a blade bringing back memories of the first time we met met as teenagers at that dingy coffee shop. "I'm sorry I haven't done this before," she said so
I stared at him with a tight frown."I am not talking to you, Derek. Stay out of this—because I don't fucking care what you think of me. I'm talking to my best friend."He stood up."Oh no, you were talking to both of us, Mitchell. You expect us to feel guilty because you overheard the truth?"Jake shot Derek a warning look."Derek...chill down man."But Derek ignored him."No, Jake—let him hear. I don't think he realizes the position he's in now. His ego is still very much alive. You don't get to play the victim. You've spent years looking down on people. You mocked your friends and humiliated your own wife because she gained weight. You acted like everyone else was beneath you. And we all tolerated your bullshit."His voice remained calm, but every word landed like a hammer."And now? Life knocked you down. You've become the very person you used to laugh at."He shook his head, his eyes pinning me in place."You don't get to cry just because you finally don't like the taste of your
MITCH'S POVWhen Jake called me to the living room, I ignored him. After everything I'd overheard, I wasn't in a hurry to join them. I took my time getting the baby to sleep before I finally returned."Man... why didn't you come when I called? You won't believe what we just saw on the screen."I glanced toward the television.The camera swept across the audience inside the glamorous awards venue—celebrities applauding as the host announced the next performance. Then, for barely a second, a famous actress appeared on the giant screen. Long dark hair. Her profile visible as she turned to smile at someone beside her."You called me out here to look at an actress on television?" I asked flatly, almost annoyed.Derek leaned forward. "No, it wasn't her. I swear we saw someone who looked like your ex-wife, Lena."Jake narrowed his eyes. "Derek's right. The woman really does look like her. Maybe her doppelgänger.""Why not have a seat and wait..." Jake muttered. "Maybe they'll show her again.
I swallowed hard, my pulse hammering against my ribs.Tarzan just sat there, arms crossed over that broad chest, the black nose mask and cap making him look more like a celebrity dodging paparazzi than a cousin paying a visit.Oh God, make him play along. Please.My marriage is about to be restored
“Care about me? Oh please Mitch! If you cared, you wouldn’t be calling out for Lena in your sleep!”"It is a fucking dream! Why does it matter! The fuck are you talking about, I wasn't in my right sense because I was sleeping, damn it Elena!*I yelled angrily.Her eyes widened at that."Look,I sna
LENA’S POV My eyes fluttered open to a pristine white ceiling. The room looked different—the curtains were no longer soft white but a calm, muted grey. My heart was still racing, and I gasped for air. That heavy, aching pressure lingered low in my abdomen, tingling painfully, desperate for a rele
The moment the cab finally pulled up to the Sapphire Suites Hotel, my men were already waiting. Three of them in dark suits stood by the entrance when we arrived. Before the driver could even get out to open the door — probably as thanks for the cash I’d given him — they approached. The driver st







