Rima’s POV
A consistent knock on the door roused me from my deep slumber. I groaned and turned to the other side, willing whoever was knocking to go away if I kept my eyes closed and ignored them. I was dead tired, I didn’t want to wake up for at least ten more hours. Jacob's bed was like a cloud, soft and warm, hugging my tired body in a cocoon of comfort.
But the knocking continued, insistent and unyielding. With a sigh of resignation, I forced my eyes open, squinting at the dim light filtering into the room. My watch read eight-thirty in the evening. With my body protesting every movement, I hauled myself out of the comfortable bed and trudged towards the door, ready to dismiss whoever dared to disturb my much-needed rest.
As I swung the door open, I found Jacob standing in the hallway. His raised fist hung in mid-air, a surprised look on his face swiftly transforming into a smirk "Hey there, sleepy" he greeted me, his eyes twinkling with mirth "T
Rima's POVAs dinner came to an end, a sense of communal camaraderie filled the room. We all pitched in to clear the table, the clattering dishes resonating with the warmth of shared responsibility. April, however, excused herself to attend to the soft cries of her baby echoing down from upstairs.Initially, the family insisted I abstain from the cleaning, treating me with the delicate hands reserved for guests. But when I persisted, they relented, allowing me to carry the dishes back to the sink and cleaning the table.Once the table was cleared and the dishes were arranged into the dishwasher, we migrated to the living room. The comfortable couches welcomed us, the soft fabric a contrast to the hard wood of the dining table. Just then, April descended the staircase, cradling her tiny baby in her arms, a beacon of motherly love.She took a seat next to Jacob, her arms comfortably nestled around the bundle of joy. The baby, seemingly oblivious to the worl
Rima’s POVThe family reappeared in the room carrying a multitude of colorful gift bags and boxes. A renewed sense of anticipation filled the room as they handed their presents to Diana one by one.Alex and Jenny were the first to present their gift. They handed Diana a delicately wrapped box. As she opened it, a sparkle caught the light. It was a lovely silver bracelet, its elegance reflecting Diana's own gracefulness. It was simple, yet sophisticated, a perfect match for Diana's style.Next came Lucas and Angelina. They handed over a larger box, beautifully wrapped and adorned with a ribbon. As Diana opened it, her eyes lit up. Inside was a leather-bound journal, its pages empty and waiting for her wisdom and thoughts. Knowing Diana's love for writing, it was a thoughtful and fitting gift.April and David were next. They presented her with a smaller box. Inside was a beautiful pair of pearl earrings. The pearls were a soft, warm color, gleaming su
Rima’s POVI stood in the shadows, my heart pounding in my chest like a drum. I wanted to step out, to explain to Jacob that he had misread the situation with Demir and me. His attempt to force Alex into accepting a deal merely to sever my connection with Savas would be futile. The two matters were entirely unrelated. But to express this, I would need to provide evidence, a logical reason for permitting Demir into my world. Yet revealing such a secret would open a torrent of other inquiries I was not prepared to confront.As the silence stretched on, it was Alex who broke it, his words cold as ice "You seem to have forgotten who the leader is here, Jacob. Your position still stands but it will not force me into a decision I am not even ready to make yet. Not for a woman you have feelings for that she so obviously does not return"An unexpected ally rose in the form of Lucas, his voice steady yet filled with an undercurrent of challenge "Maybe she does. Why
Rima’s POVThe room shifted, two additional figures materializing next to Alex. Suddenly, I was the center of attention, their eyes all fixed on me. It felt as though I was sinking, drowning in a sea of embarrassment. The position I'd been caught in was far from ideal.Lucas was the first to break the silence, a playful lilt in his voice that seemed entirely out of place given the tension "Well, isn't this interesting" he mused, a smirk playing on his lips "Just how long were you here, darling? Just so we are all on the same page about how much of our little chat you overheard"His casual demeanor was a stark contrast to the icy glare Alex continued to bore into me. And Jacob, he was still silent, his expression one of surprise. A wariness had crept into his eyes, as though he was rapidly calculating the potential fallout of my unexpected eavesdropping.I couldn't fault Alex for his reaction, his anger was justified. It was a private conversation, o
Rima’s POV“Don’t do this, please…” I started to say in agony but he interrupted me."No" he said, his voice a fortress against my plea “No, no more arguments. I am not asking for anything back from you, I am not having any expectations. I was wrong to force you to choose that night. You weren’t ready to open up and I backed you into a corner, I regret it so much and I won’t do that again. I want us to start fresh, to try again and this time I promise I won’t pressure you into anything. I won’t ask you to say something you don’t want to tell me about. I know you have feelings for me Rima, I am not imagining things. You are pushing me away because you don’t think you can open up to me, and I accept that part of you. It’s completely fair if I know what to expect from you. I want you in any way you can be with me”His words left me speechless, my gaze locked on his. The depth
Rima’s POV“At the time, I believed his plan was too dangerous and would risk too many lives. In our quest for revenge, many of our own men and Patrick’s men were going to die. So that night, I infiltrated his house without alerting anyone and silently killed him in his home office. It was the first and last time I ever killed someone. I had thought it would be hard for me, but it wasn’t. I didn’t even hesitate as I shot him three times without blinking. I thought that I would feel something then – remorse for taking a life, even one who deserved it, or relief for ending the life of the man who had destroyed our family. But I felt nothing. Absolutely nothing. I left his office planning to return the way I had come when I was stopped dead in my tracks by the sight of Jenny outside her room"He fell silent then, unable to continue. I could see the battle raging within him, the struggle to put into words the emotions that were evidently
Rima’s POVI gazed at him tenderly, witnessing a side of him that was far removed from the image he held of himself. He was not a monster, but a man deeply attuned to the feelings and struggles of others, shouldering their burdens as if they were his own and striving to offer his unwavering support."But Alex and Jenny seem deeply in love" I said tentatively, trying to make sense of the paradox."When he said he ruined her life, and his, back at the dining room... it didn't add up. They seem to be profoundly in love despite the circumstances of their marriage""They are" he affirmed, his voice gentle "They fell in love quickly and deeply just a week after Alex forced her into marriage. They've weathered many storms together since then, and each one has brought them closer. Initially, when Alex brought her home, it seemed doomed. We were all expecting her to hate us for killing her father, just as we were prepared to despise her for her father's role
Rima's POVI was roused from my sleep by the soft cry of a baby echoing through the silence. Blinking against the morning light that filtered into the room, I stretched languidly, my gaze drifting towards my wristwatch. It read half-past seven. Despite the early hour, I felt the refreshing tendrils of a good night's sleep wrapping around me, leaving me feeling rejuvenated.Quickly, I slipped into the ensuite, letting the warm water of the shower wash away any lingering sleepiness. As I dried my hair, the baby's cries continued to echo in the background, a soft undertone to the morning's tranquility.I dressed simply, pulling on a pair of casual blue jeans and a comfortable white sweater with long sleeves. The outfit was simple yet chic, perfect for the morning ahead.The baby's cries, persistent yet soft, were now emanating from downstairs. As I descended the staircase, the sounds of an awakening household greeted me. The living room was alive with activi