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 thanked Alex with a soft smile, grabbed my bag, and stepped out of the house. The sun warmed my skin as I walked toward the main road to catch a cab. For some reason, there was a little extra skip in my step. Maybe it was the relief of knowing I'd finally get to see Mia again, or maybe it was the warmth still lingering from Alex's unexpected kindness. Either way, I felt lighter than I had in days.


I waved down a cab, climbed inside, and gave the driver directions to Michael's hospital. As the car sped through the streets, I leaned my head back against the seat, trying to relax, even though my mind wouldn't stop racing.


Chapter 132 - I'll be here