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 my bed, staring at the ceiling, my hands resting gently on my stomach. There was life inside me. A tiny, fragile life growing each day. I still couldn't wrap my head around it. How could this be real? How could I be carrying Alex's child and yet feel so alone?


I pressed a hand over my mouth as emotions overwhelmed me. I had spent the entire day lost in thought, questioning everything. Should I tell Alex? Should I keep this to myself? The answer should have been simple, but it wasn't.


Alex was kind. He was thoughtful. He had always been there when I needed him. But he didn't love me the way I wished he did. And I knew, deep down, I couldn't risk this baby's future on a love that wasn't certain.


My eyes felt heavy from the weight of my thoughts, and at some point, I drifted off to sleep.


Chapter 147 - Breakfast