Natalie Pov
Monday morning arrives too soon, as always. I wake up early, the faint rays of dawn filtering through the tiny window of our cramped studio flat. The air is cold, but I ignore it, slipping out from between the triplets' tangled limbs.
After carefully maneuvering out of bed without waking them, I make my way to the tiny kitchenette, where I begin preparing their lunch. The scent of peanut butter and jelly fills the air as I press sandwiches together, sliding them into their lunch boxes alongside some fruit and snacks. Once done, I place them on the counter, scribbling a quick note on a Post-it:
Don't forget your lunch.
With that, I take a deep breath and turn toward the sofa bed, which takes up most of our tiny space. I brace myself, then slam my palm against the wooden frame.
"Up! Get up, you little monsters!"
Groggy groans fill the air as three small bodies shift and stretch, their faces scrunching in protest.
"Five more minutes," Aaron mumbles, burying his face into the pillow.
"No. Now," I say firmly, yanking the blanket off them.
"I hate Mondays," Aaron groans, sitting up and rubbing his eyes.
"Me too. It means another week of school," Zade mutters, flopping back down dramatically.
"Well, I love Mondays," Hannah chirps, stretching her arms above her head.
Aaron and Zade both turn to her, giving her identical looks of suspicion.
"That's because you can't wait to see Matthew," Aaron accuses, a sly grin creeping onto his face.
"Who's Matthew?" I ask, arching a brow.
"Hannah's little crush," Zade supplies with a smirk.
"I do not have a crush on him!" Hannah huffs, her cheeks turning an unmistakable shade of pink. "I just think he's lonely, and that's sad."
Aaron and Zade share a knowing look before bursting into laughter.
"She's blushing," Zade teases.
"She totally likes him," Aaron adds.
Hannah crosses her arms, pouting. "At least I'm not obsessed with superhero comics like you two."
Aaron gasps dramatically. "How dare you?"
Zade nods solemnly. "That was uncalled for, Hannah."
I chuckle, shaking my head at their antics. "Alright, alright. Enough teasing. Get up and get moving before you're late for school."
Grumbling, they finally climb out of bed and shuffle toward the bathroom. While they take turns getting ready, I prepare a simple breakfast—cereal and milk.
By the time they emerge, dressed in their school uniforms, they dig into their food with enthusiasm, munching loudly and making faces at each other.
When breakfast was done and their brunch boxes were secured in their bags, I herd them toward the door. I don't even flinch at the sound of our screaming neighbors, the faint stench of alcohol in the hallway, or the sight of a passed-out drunk by the staircase.
I don't have time to mind these things anymore.
This isn't our forever.
It's just temporary.
As we step outside, the cool morning air greets us, and I instinctively grip Hannah's small hand. We weave through the crowded streets, past honking cars and fast-moving pedestrians, making our way to the bus stop.
The triplets continue to bicker about Matthew until the school bus arrives.
Zade climbs in first, then turns back to me. "Since you got a new job, will we finally move?"
I nod, ruffling his dark curls. "That's the plan."
Aaron gives me a skeptical look. "And you won't quit this one in a week like the last one?"
I sigh. "I'll do my best."
Hannah throws her arms around me. "Good luck, Mommy!"
I press a kiss to her forehead. "Behave today."
"Always," she sings sweetly before skipping onto the bus.
The moment the bus pulls away, I exhale sharply, my smile fading.
Time for me to face my own battle.
By the time I reach Pierce Holdings and Titan Capital, I pause at the entrance, staring up at the gleaming skyscraper. It's an intimidating sight—modern, elegant, and screaming of wealth and power.
I still can't believe I got the job.
During my interview, I felt like a mouse in a room full of lions. I applied to smaller firms, assuming a place like this would never accept someone like me. Maybe they took my time at Cambridge into account. Maybe it was luck.
Either way, I'm here now.
I straighten my back and walk in.
Security checks my ID and lets me through. Inside, everything is pristine—marble floors, glass walls, and men and women dressed to perfection.
After signing my trial contract at Human Resources, a woman named Diana hands me my temporary access card.
"You'll be working on the twentieth floor," she says.
I freeze. "The top floor?"
Hayley gives me a look I can't quite decipher before shaking her head. "Good luck."
Her reaction leaves me unsettled, but I push it aside as I step into the elevator.
Why the twentieth floor? I was hired as an assistant to a junior partner, not an executive. It doesn't make sense.
I take a deep breath and touch the pendant around my neck—a small, silver charm that I've worn for nine years. The one he gave me.
You can do this, Nat. You have to.
The elevator dings, and I step into a sleek, modern office space. The floor is quieter, more refined. Interns sit at their desks, typing away, but my attention is on the second office to the left—the one with the blinds drawn.
I walk toward it, my heartbeat picking up.
This is it.
I knocked.
"Come in."
The deep, familiar voice—one I haven't heard in nearly a decade—sends a shiver down my spine.
No.
No. It's only my stupid imagination that I can never manage to control.
There's no way in hell it's him
Chasing that ominous thought away, I push the door open and freeze.
It can't be.
I tell myself I'm imagining it. That fate wouldn't be this cruel.
But the moment I push the door open, my breath catches in my throat.
Green eyes. Piercing. Cold. Unforgiving.
My st
omach plummets. My lungs stop working.
It's him.
The man I loved. The man I left. The man I never stopped thinking about.
The man who ruined my life as much as I ruined his.
Alexander Pierce.