ADELINE’S POVI wanted to run away from everything. I was so tired and so done. I stared out the window of the small apartment I was staying in, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders. Everything was falling apart, and I didn't know how to fix it. The scandal, the reporters, the hateful comments. It was all too much.I wanted to run away from everything and go back to New York, back to where I felt safe.My thoughts drifted to Mama, the woman who saved me five years ago. I could still remember the first time I met her. I was wandering the streets, lost and desperate, when she found me. Mama took me in, gave me a place to stay, and showed me kindness when I needed it most.One evening, I had told her about my dream. "I want to start a jewelry business," I said.She looked at me with a gentle smile. "Why will you want to stress yourself over a business? You can have everything you want."I shook my head. "Mama, I haven’t done anything in my life. I'm happy now because of you
SASHA’S POVI moved into the Devon’s mansion just as Xander’s mom instructed. The place was still grand, with large rooms and beautiful furniture. The walls were covered with paintings, and the floors were shiny and clean. I felt a little like a princess in a fairy tale. But it wasn’t as magical as it seemed the first time.Xander’s mom, welcomed me warmly. She hugged me and said, “Sasha, you are like a daughter to me. I’m so happy you’re here.”“Thank you, Mrs. Devon,” I replied, trying to sound cheerful. But inside, I felt nervous.A few days after I moved in, I saw Xander. He looked tired and stressed. When he saw me, he just nodded and walked past without saying a word.I felt a pang in my heart. I had hoped he would be happy to see me or even be civil at least but he didn’t even smile.Later, I went to Mrs. Devon, tears streaming down my face. “Xander won’t talk to me,” I sobbed.She hugged me and patted my back. “Don’t worry, dear. He’s just stressed. He’ll come around. Give hi
AdelineI set the table for two, even though I knew better. The clock on the wall ticked steadily, its sound echoing in the silent kitchen. The aroma of roasted chicken filled the room, a blend of herbs and spices that I’d hoped would be enticing enough to lure Xander home for dinner. But I knew it wouldn’t work. It hadn’t in years. “Why do you bother, Adeline?” I muttered to myself, shaking my head. “He’s not going to walk through that door.” I took a seat at the table, staring at the empty chair across from me. I could almost see him there, his tall frame and stern expression, but it was just a trick of the mind, a ghost of what never really was. Xander had always been indifferent to me in our marriage. He barely acknowledged my presence, his attention constantly absorbed by work or his own thoughts. In the beginning, I had tried to reach out, to break through the wall he had built around himself, but over time, I realized my efforts were in vain. He didn't love me. He never had.
AdelineThe night passed in a haze of restless tossing and turning. Sleep denied me of it's embrace, slipping through my fingers like grains of sand. I couldn't bear the thought of signing those divorce papers, couldn't fathom the idea of giving up on us without a fight. After everything, despite the indifference that had always been in our marriage from the start, I still loved Xander. And I couldn't let him go without at least trying to understand why he was so determined to leave. As the first light of dawn filtered through the curtains, I made a decision. I would go to Xander, confront him, demand answers that he had so callously refused to give me. I needed to know why, needed to understand what had made him do this. Although he has been cold to me since marriage, he has never mentioned divorce. I need to figure out why he suddenly asked for divorce. I dressed quickly, my hands shaking with nerves. I didn't bother with breakfast, couldn't stomach the thought of food when my
Adeline “Sit down, Adeline,” My father said. Thank you to him for relieving my embarrassment. I sat mechanically on the couch with my mind blank. Sasha was seated right beside Xander, his arm draped over her. "Adeline! So lovely to see you again," she trilled. I knew it was all a performance. That sweet smile, the wide, welcoming arms - none of it reached her eyes. “Sasha, when did you come back? Xander, why are you here with Sasha?” When I finished asking, I realized that my voice was hoarse. No one can remain calm after seeing her husband and sister show intimacy. “Adeline, don’t be rude to Sasha,” Xander said. Am I rude? I just asked normally that he was so protective of my sister and neglected his wife. If he has been as cold as he has been in the past few years, I can live with it. But seeing him so protective of Sasha, I couldn’t stand it anymore. “Am I rude? She stole my husband and flirted with my husband.” I spat, unable to hold back the venom in my voice. Sasha ga
AdelineAs I stepped through the front door of the house that Xander and I once shared, a chill swept over me. The place now felt like an empty shell.I wandered through the rooms. The silence was deafening, broken only by the hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen. I found myself standing in front of the dining table, my fingers tracing the grain of the wood.It was here that I had spent countless evenings waiting for Xander to come home, dinners growing cold.I sighed. "This isn't my home anymore," I whispered to myself.I moved to the bedroom, the room we had once shared. The bed, neatly made. I sat on the edge."Why did it have to end like this?" I asked the empty room. There was no answer, of course. There never was.The closet stood half-empty, Xander's clothes noticeably absent. I pulled open a drawer, finding it filled with my things – neatly folded, untouched. It felt like our marriage, my presence carefully contained and largely ignored.I wandered back into the living room
XanderThe embossed invitation felt slick with a kind pressure in my hand. The designer hosting the event was a top name in the industry, the kind of person every trendy woman like Sasha, my girlfriend, worshipped. Sasha had been raving about the jewelry for weeks, especially the new piece Adie Luxe was set to unveil. Personally, I couldn't care less about jewelry or fashion. When the invitation arrived, I wanted to skip it entirely, but Sasha wouldn’t hear of it.“Xander, you don’t understand,” she had said for the hundredth time, practically bouncing with excitement. “Adie Luxe is releasing a new piece! We have to go. I need to see the face behind the brand. Everyone’s talking about it. This is the biggest event of the season! Did you know their last piece sold for half a million at auction? That’s how influential they are. Just imagine seeing their work up close!”I nodded absentmindedly, her words blending into the background. I didn't share her enthusiasm for jewelry or fashion
ADELINE ‘S POV"Adeline," I caught a hint of pain in his voice , and my heart skipped a beat. I glared at him as he spoke, and my face hardened. I feigned confusion, and I tilted my head to the side. He moved closer, and I raised my hands to stop him. "Adeline, it's me, Xander your–" He stopped halfway as he tried to find the appropriate word. "Ex-husband," He completed. I reached out my hands for a handshake, and I smiled at him as he took it. His features brightened up, and I finally spoke. "It seems you are confusing me for someone else," His smile disappeared, and at the corner of my eyes, I saw Sasha throwing death glares at me. "But I do hope you find her. Please enjoy the night," I dismissed as I pulled my hands away. I walked away from where I stood to find my assistant."Adeline!" A voice called, and I turned my head to see the head of one of the biggest magazines in the country. "Mrs Claudia!" I beamed happily as the woman pulled me in for a French kiss. "O