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 was smiling the whole drive home. The kind of smile you wear when everything feels right, even if only for a moment. The wind through the open window felt good on my face, and for once, I wasn't overthinking anything. I was just… happy. It had been a long time since I felt that way. I had this strange glow inside me that made the world seem a little brighter.


A strange wave of dizziness washed over me. My hands tightened on the steering wheel, and I blinked hard, trying to stay focused. The road started to blur, and I knew I couldn't keep driving like that.


So I slowly pulled over by the side of the road and switched off the engine. I leaned back in the seat, closed my eyes, and breathed in deeply.


"What the hell…" I whispered under my breath, pressing my hand to my forehead.


Chapter 228 - 230