LOGINSophia’s POVAlexander (hubby): {Why would you send a guy flowers every Friday for three months??}My heart thumps rapidly.With a soft chuckle, I lick my top lip and type a response: That was a long time ago…I pause before hitting ‘send’ and keep typing.Me: {That was a long time ago. He was sick, and I wanted to show him that I cared.}Send. Alexander (hubby): {You’re not going anywhere with him.}I put a hand over my mouth as a giggle bubbles out of me. Me: {I know he likes me, but I already said yes.}{I’ll have to tell my mom. I think she’ll let me go. I met Jake’s mom, and she’s really pleasant. She likes me, just like his brothers did when I met them.}Alexander (hubby): {Why are you meeting his mom?}Him: {You’ve met his brothers?}My screen switches immediately. It’s Alexander calling.Relief floods my entire body, coursing rapidly through my veins. I take a deep breath and just lean against the wall, watching my phone ring. For the first time, it feels like I have some p
Sophia’s POVWhat a horrible start to my birthday week.Everything aches—my feet, my head, my heart.I press a hand over my eyes while I squat to cry.Sniffing, I slide my fingers into my hair and raise my head to unlock my phone. I just stare at the unread message I sent to him.Memories bleed into my mind—memories of my proposal, all the times he tickled me and made me laugh, the time he brushed my hair, the time he transformed his penthouse into a mini-stadium just to surprise me, the time he told me he’ll support me when I discover what I love to do… when he dedicated his award to me…Conflicting with these memories is something darker. Something that took me a while to realize, and when I did, I decided to bury it away. Something I only realized when we didn’t speak for almost a week, after that horrifying seizure incident in his penthouse.You know what I did? I still chose him, still wanted him, still craved him. Call it attachment or anything, but I chose the man who keeps say
Sophia’s POVTerror overtakes her face. I spring out of Alexander’s hold, turning to face my aunt. But words, excuses—they all elude me. She’s caught us.My hands tremble. My heart wouldn’t stop pounding. “S–Sophia?” She stutters, blinks, and shifts her eyes to Alexander. “W– what are you doing to her?!”“A-aunt Mel…”Alexander is silent beside me. I glance at him. He keeps his head down, eyes down, tracing a shaky finger on the marble counter.“I’m calling your father.”Her words strike my brain hard. “No!” The scream tears out of my throat. Eyes widening, I rush to her as she takes her phone out of her pocket. “Aunt Mel, NO!”Hands frozen in the air, her eyes spread in shock.Alexander shifts behind me. I look over my shoulder, meeting his troubled gaze. “Soph, maybe it’s for the best.” Aunt Mel replies quickly, “Nobody asked you to speak.” Chest tightening, I whip around, looking at my aunt. “Don’t talk to him like that. Don’t, please.”She ignores me, eyes on Alexander. “I wan
Sophia’s POV“Jake? Um…” I part my hair out of my face. “You don’t just tell people who are engaged that you like them… It’s– it’s never a fair thing to do. What if they get swayed or–”“Are you swayed?”My eyes flutter as I blink. “No. No, I’m not. I’m getting married… in less than two weeks.” I murmur, clasping my hands as I hold his gaze.His mouth twists into a knowing smile. “It’s an arranged marriage, innit?”My lips fall open, ready to utter an answer, but my head blanks out on me.He touches my hand. “Sophia–”“No, Jake. Don’t. Please.” I slip my hand away, biting my bottom lip. “I’m truly sorry for failing to see or respond to your messages for two years… Two years. Oh, God… I’m so sorry. But I–”“You’re beautiful… impeccably beautiful.”My jaw goes slack. It takes seconds before I gain composure again and snap my mouth shut. I drop my eyes and mutter, “Thank you.”“Been absolutely itching to say that to your face.”Discomfort brews in my chest. I look at him. “Jake, I’m–”“I
Sophia’s POVI turn to look at the white-haired woman, who stares at Jake, her eyes widening with delight. She is his mother?“The same Sophia?!” She expresses and meets my gaze. Then she laughs, eyes forming a happy line. “You must be mistaken, Jake… She is getting married to Abigail’s first son.”“Doesn’t matta…” Jake says beside me.My mouth falls open. I return my eyes to his. And he just purses his lips, folds his arms on the armrest of my chair, while holding my gaze so intently with eyes that do not conceal anything. At all.A muscle twitches in my face.“How are you, Sophia? It’s been ages!”“Hi… small world…” I reply and glance at my fingers, staring at the diamonds on both of my ring fingers before meeting his eyes again. I wore both engagement rings today. But they don’t seem to have any effect on him.“It’s so good to see you after all this time.” He says, keeping a charming smile on.“It’s good to see you, too…”A memory hits me, and– “Oh my God! How are you?” I sit up
Alexander’s POVIt’s past midnight when I step into my penthouse.The ringing in my head hasn’t stopped, but the wicked thrill that buzzed through me earlier today has subsided a great deal, leaving in its wake an emptiness I’m well accustomed to.My fingers slide through my hair as I step into black slides and head for my bedroom. As if what I’ve done to her is not already enough. I was going to use her—use her in the most objectifying and cruel way possible. And for what?To get back at that– that–My father’s face appears in my head, and a foul word tumbles out of my mouth. In my bedroom, I slip my phone out of my pocket and pause.Missed calls from that unknown caller who’s been blowing up my phone all day. Unknown number: {You can’t marry Sophia Rose!!}{Stay away from Sophia!!}{Don’t even think about…}“Fu– you.” I croak and clear every notification, keeping my eyes glued to my lock screen wallpaper. The screen goes off. I tap it, still staring when it comes on.‘I can’t liv
Sophia’s POV“Your daughter’s run away?” Alexander utters as if it’s news to him. He takes the phone off his ear, taps the screen, and switches to loudspeaker.“Sophia’s never acted out like this,” my dad’s frantic voice echoes. “She’s just… she’s a little sensitive…” My heart shatters.“The news m
Sophia’s POV“Y-your bride?” I stammer.His eyes glint with something unreadable, like an almost predatory amusement. It’s all the answer I need.The man I’m to marry is Alexander Thorne? This lethally beautiful, seducing billionaire, who’s spent the past months haunting my quietest thoughts?An eng
Sophia Rose’s POV“Sophia, you’re getting married,” my dad’s resolute voice replays in my head, like a gnawing, splitting headache. It’s been over twenty-four hours since I found out; over twenty-four hours since I last slept. My breath deep and shaky, I sit in my bright closet, quickly rolling a s
“Let me touch you the way you touched me…” He began after a pause. “Take off your bra, Sophia.”Were these the words that changed everything for Sophia? I think not. This twisted, yet beautiful chase started way before this day. Way before she ever found out that she was arranged to marry him in sev







