The morning sun filtered through the sheer curtains, casting soft golden rays over Sabrina's face. Her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the light. For a moment, she forgot where she was. The silk sheets, the scent of expensive cologne lingering in the air, and the distant hum of the sea reminded her she wasn't in her modest apartment anymore—she was in Alexander Knight's private island villa.
She sat up slowly, her body still aching from last night—not just the passionate intimacy they had shared, but the emotional weight of confessions and unspoken fears.
Alexander entered the room with two cups of coffee. His shirt was unbuttoned halfway, revealing the toned chest that once seemed so intimidating but now made her heart race for a different reason. His eyes softened the moment he saw her awake.
"Good morning," he said, placing the cup gently in her hands.
"Morning…" Sabrina responded, her voice still thick with sleep.
There was silence, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was the kind that came after something real had been shared. Something that shifted the ground under both their feet.
Last night, she had seen a side of Alexander no one else had. Vulnerable. Honest. She remembered how his voice had trembled when he talked about the trauma of his mother's death, the betrayal that followed, and why he had shut people out.
"You didn't sleep much, did you?" she asked softly.
He looked away for a moment. "Old habits. I've never been good at sleeping peacefully. But last night… it was different."
Their eyes met. There was something raw and unfiltered in his gaze—something that frightened and thrilled her all at once.
"Sabrina," he said slowly, placing his coffee down. "I need to tell you something. But I need you to trust me, no matter what."
Her heart skipped a beat. "What is it?"
Before he could answer, his phone rang. He frowned and picked it up.
"It's Marcus," he said, turning away to answer.
Sabrina watched the tension return to his shoulders. Something was wrong. She knew that stance now—the quiet stillness before the storm.
"Yes? … What? When? How?" he growled into the phone, his voice suddenly sharp. "No. Keep it contained. I'm coming back today."
He hung up and turned to her, jaw clenched. "I have to go back to the city. There's been a breach in the company's internal files. Someone accessed confidential data."
"Is it related to me?" she asked quietly.
He hesitated. "Possibly."
A chill ran down her spine. It wasn't paranoia anymore. Someone was watching. Someone who knew too much.
"I'll come with you," she said.
"No. You'll stay here. It's safer."
She stood, defiant. "I'm not going to hide every time something happens. We're in this together now, aren't we?"
He looked at her for a long moment, then gave a small, reluctant
Back in the city, chaos awaited.
Alexander's penthouse was swarming with security experts, legal advisors, and tech specialists. Sabrina kept close to his side, her hand occasionally brushing against his. It grounded them both.
Marcus approached with a grave expression. "We traced the breach. It came from someone inside. And the files accessed… were all related to Project X."
Sabrina frowned. "Project X?"
Alexander's lips tightened. "A classified development. If it gets out, not only the company—our lives—could be at risk."
Later that night, Alexander showed her the files in his private study. The images were disturbing—profiles of known enemies, covert deals, and… her name.
"Why is my name here?" she whispered.
He looked at her, guilt clouding his features. "Because… before we met, you were a subject of interest. Someone flagged you as a potential threat. I didn't believe it, but… I still had you investigated."
Sabrina stepped back, her heart pounding. "So, all this… was it planned?"
"No," he said quickly. "I didn't expect to fall for you. I never wanted to—"
"But you did," she interrupted, tears stinging her eyes. "And now I don't know what to believe."
He walked toward her but stopped, unsure if he had the right.
"I know I betrayed your trust. But what I feel for you now—it's real. I'll prove it, no matter how long it takes."
Sabrina didn't speak. She turned and walked out of the study, needing space to breathe, to think.
Outside, on the rooftop garden, the wind was cool against her skin. She closed her eyes and let the emotions wash over her.
Love. Betrayal. Fear. Hope.
She wasn't sure what tomorrow held. But one thing was certain—she couldn't run anymore. The truth would demand to be faced, no matter how painful.
And maybe… just maybe… love would survive it.