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 couldn't stop smiling as I wheeled Mia back into her hospital room. She looked tired but so content, and that made everything worth it. I carefully adjusted her blanket and tucked her in like she was something delicate and important. She smiled up at me, sleepy but peaceful.


"Goodnight, Mia," I replied, brushing a strand of hair away from her face.


Her eyes fluttered closed almost instantly, and I stood there for a second longer than I should have, watching her chest rise and fall in that gentle rhythm. Then I turned around, my heart thudding like I'd just run up the hospital stairs.


I made my way back to my office slowly, taking my time. The halls were quieter now, the night shift staff moving about calmly. My office light was still on, casting a soft glow onto the floor as I opened the door and stepped inside.


Chapter 216 - 218