Ten months of sin

the audacity to speak to him rudely earlier. But it's not like he didn't deserve it. Now, see where my

g at me like he was waiting

stiff, her hands still clutching the cleaning rag she'd been using only m

ou know what I walked in on? This woman was hovering over Amara, touching her like she had the right! What if something

ked at Sophia. "That's not true, I wasn't doing anything wrong. Your daughter called

me my supervisor for any of this either. I followed orders, I

are just dirt. Job? You call wiping floors a job? That's all you are-someone who scrubs dirt. Don't stand there and act like you're some saint. My daught

chin. "I'm not pretending to be

ks if she get close to Amara she can replace me. But news flash, Alexander is mine and no one is taking him away from me. Her voice cracked with perfectly rehearsed grief. " If she doesn't apolo

ng in the ai

ene into a circus of lies. And Alexander... Alexander

ed, low and cutting. "So

e room. Sophia blinke

er, colder, "yet you weren't. You claim to be the concerned mother, but where were you when Valerie wa

arting as her carefully con

es, designers, photographers? Do you know how many times I've had to pick up the slac

went scarlet. "You-you dare speak to me like that? In fro

her eyes blazing. "I don't need you to defend me, Mr. Moretti," she s

der and Sop

r of every disaster that ruins my day? I've been insulted, humiliated, accused, and now you stand here deciding my character as if you know me

h a rag in her hands and a low-class background. And if quitting this job is the only way to end this madness-then I quit! And you can

ightened, but she

g there like some savior defending me. Because th

hat followed

g. Emily's words, raw and sharp, had cut through him deeper than any accusation Sop

ad been shaken. Because for the first time... he r

m... it sparked curiosity and i

_

han the last. Her chest ached like someone had wrapped chains around it, and

silently, her throat tightening. Why d

as silly as it may sound... The pay put together was nothing compared to this job-now slipping away because she couldn't bite her tongue. The co

footsteps echoing as she caught up. The older woman's e

ily's arm. "I'm so sorry. I didn't think it would

gize, Carmen. You were just doing your job. This...

down her cheek. She wiped it away angrily, her frustration boiling over. "Why

ruin anything. That man-Alexander-he's complicated, too powerful for his ow

I just walked out on the only job keeping me afloa

of distant footsteps and the steady beeping of machines behind closed d

ou thought about

inking at her i

money they pay for it would change everything for you. It's more than you'd make in six years, mayb

going to throw myself into something like that just because I'm desperate especia after

t means survival. And you deserve a chance to survive, don't yo

ances. She could still hear her own words ringing in the hospital room-her anger, her defiance,

to herself than to Carmen, "I don't k

hat test didn't feel so impossible. " OK... I'l

rmen said as she guided Emil

~

er so tightly her knuckles turned white. The sterile smell of disinfec

a test, sweetheart. Nothing more. You'll come back

... bad? If I don't pass?" Emil

t Emily didn't quite understand. "Then nothing changes. Yo

. Emily nodded, barely hearing the words, her mind floating somewhere between f

results," the doctor said br

though she'd been holding

ds. "There. It's done. And now, no matt

. She whispered, "Thank you, Carmen. For everything

alm. "Here. Go to my place. Rest. I won't be back until later, b

woman tightly, burying her face against

g her hair once before letting her go.

ile sense of relief, clutching Carm

now that eyes we

ively calm stance, Alexander watched her go. His face betrayed nothing, but in

it her defiance in his face, now looked small and breakable

en approached quiet

low, dangerous, filled with command. "Look into her. Everyth

wed again.

rayers for a better tomorrow, she had no idea that her every step had just be

th's

ll take this news. But

~

r E

erred to another prison facility upstate. They say it's for "administrative reasons," but we both know what

kend will be the last ti

eed into nights and nothing feels alive, you brought a light. Your kindness, your stubborn way of never looking at

ee it right now. I've watched you face humiliation, anger, and judgment, yet you still stand tall. That

Picture us laughing at the table, sharing secrets like we

er have before. And after that... we'll let t

h l

li

he mail box as we were outside serving our daily punishment of clearing the environment. This is all my fault and I can f

THE HO

s daughter was safe, that she was the only thing that mattered in this sterile room. It gave him peace to know he still had

manity he had left...the on

s her tiny hand, a rare softness i

hia couldn't leave

erfume sickly sweet in the air. "Alex," she whispered, her voice cracking wi

ter, didn't even look at Sophia. "Cut it out." His voice was ice,

inking up at him wi

said coldly, finally turning his gaze on h

one here is humiliate another woman, twist her into some kin

think it's a coincidence she's here, near our daughter, looking at you like-like you're her salvation? I know women like her. I know their tricks. I w

er doing her job? Don't flatter yourself, Sophia. Not everything in this world revolves around you-or your paranoia. And let th

ne to ever give up

eigned intimacy. " You're right, she is just a cleaner and we shouldn't let her make us fight" he looked at her with disgust in his e

by you? Those women will ruin you. But me-" Her lips tilted tow

pushed her face back, his eyes burni

eath h

d magically showed up two months before her breakdown. You have never been there Sophia, you weren't there when she said her first words ,you weren't there when she

. You think I've forgotten why? You cheated. You destroyed whatever was left between us. You've

ended it too... and for the first time in years he could see r

rage flickering in h

only person I'll protect in this room is her. Not you. Not your pride. Her... so please do u

heir divorce, Sophia realized