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 the next morning feeling lighter, a smile lingering on my face. It was strange, really. After everything that had happened, especially with Sabrina, I had expected to feel anger or sadness, but I didn't. Maybe it was because I had decided not to confront Alex about his life, about his marriage or whatever complicated situation he had with Sabrina. I was going to play it cool, keep things calm, at least for now. There were too many things to think about, and I didn't want to add more chaos to my life.


When Alex and I had talked last night, it felt like a weight had been lifted. It was as if we had a moment to just be, to laugh and talk about simple things, like the driving lessons he promised me. That thought made me smile again. He'd really gone out of his way to arrange a driver for me, and I appreciated it more than I let on.


Chapter 160 - 160