MATURE

Life hasn’t been kind to me. One moment, I was a carefree eighteen-year-old with dreams of a bright future. The next, I was a 28 year old lady and my world went up in flames. literally. My mom died in the fire that destroyed our home, my little sister is in a coma, and my brother’s in jail for trying to keep us afloat. My dad? He left us drowning in debt and despair.

I thought I’d hit rock bottom, but then I found myself working in a place where dreams go to die, doing things I never imagined just to survive. That’s when he walked into my life, Alex Romanov. Dangerous. Mysterious. And entirely out of my league.

He’s everything I should fear, but there’s something about him that draws me in. Maybe it’s the way he looks at me like I’m more than just another broken soul. Or the way he makes me feel alive when I thought I’d forgotten how.

But Alex has secrets, dark ones that could destroy us both. And as my past collides with his world, I’m left wondering: Can I trust the man who’s slowly stealing my heart, or will his darkness swallow me whole?

This isn’t the life I wanted, but it’s the one I’ve been given.

I sat on the edge of the bed, watching Bella sleep. Her face was finally peaceful, her breathing slow and even. She looked so tired, like the weight of the world had been sitting on her chest for too long. And yet, somehow, she still found a way to smile. She still found the strength to love.


The moment she told me what Sabrina did, that she had gone to the prison to threaten Noah, to lie and manipulate and twist things just to break Bella down, I felt something snap in me. I had never felt rage like that. I had been angry before, sure. But this? This was betrayal. This was unforgivable.


Still, I kept it together for Bella. I didn't want her to see me lose it. Not tonight. Not when she needed calm and comfort. I kissed her forehead gently, pulled the blanket up to her shoulder, and whispered, "Sleep, Bella. I've got this."


Chapter 187 - 187