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.

Richard's eyes narrowed, the tension in his jaw tightening as he asked, "Who exactly is this Alex? What kind of man is he?" His voice was low, edged with both curiosity and the raw, aching need to understand what had pulled his daughter away from him.


I met his gaze steadily. "Alex is someone powerful. Not just in influence, but in the way he controls people, especially Bella. He's got a grip on her that's hard to break." I paused, watching the flicker of anger and concern ripple across Richard's face. "But don't worry. I'll keep giving you information, everything you need to know to handle this situation. You won't be left in the dark."


He gave a slow, weary nod, the exhaustion in his eyes mingling with a flicker of hope. "Thank you," he said quietly. Then, without another word, he rose from the table and left the cafe, his steps measured but purposeful.


Chapter 259 - 261