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 woke up to the sound of loud music blaring from the poolside. The sun was already up, peeking through the heavy curtains, casting a warm golden light around the room. The sheets were tangled around me, a reminder of how the night had been, a mix of drinks, laughter, and blurry moments. I stretched out, feeling the ache in my muscles from dancing all night, and then I grabbed my phone from the nightstand.


I sighed, wondering if I had any reason to feel guilty about sleeping in so late. But honestly, what was the point of staying in a luxury hotel if I wasn't going to fully enjoy the experience? I had been here for three days now, just taking in the sights, sounds, and all the distractions that came with a place like this. I wasn't sure what I was even trying to escape from, but being here, away from everything, felt like the perfect temporary fix.


Chapter 208 - 210