His Starlight, Her Fiery Reckoning

don. He called me his "Starlight," and I, a bri

ldhood friend, Elenor, revealing I was

for Elenor, who taunted me by putting it on a stray dog. When I sna

gloating Elenor: Kristofer had secretly filmed every intim

eak me. He want

d died that day. I walked out, set h

would be the

ecret lover, was already pulling away. My heart, foolish and hopeful, still thrummed a desperate rhythm against my ribs. I

room moments before. He didn't even look at me. His eyes were fixed on the sunrise p

just so. I loved him with a ferocity that scared me. I wanted to reach out, to trace the path of my

eeded more than these stolen moments, more than h

talk, Adah. Last night. We always talk." He finally turned, his gaze sweepin

ble cog in his massive machine. That was my official

oice, hating my own weakness. I knew the answer, but I needed to hear it

on. Professionalism." He wound the watch, his movements precise, unhurried. He was a

nalism? What about... us?" The word felt fo

e is no 'us,' Adah. Not in the way you mean. You know that." He finally looked at

otted tie, they weren't just clothes; they were his armor, shielding him from anything real. He grabbed his phone from the nightstan

heard it before, whispered by colleagues, a long-lost friend, someone im

. "I'll see you at the office," he said, his voice already distant. Then he w

cruel reminder. My mind raced, trying to make sense of the heart emoji,

r. I didn't know where I was going, only that I needed to know. I saw his car pa

hand across the table, his thumb gently stroking her skin. The same hand that had just been tangled in my

him. I was Adah Burch, an orphan, a junior software engineer desperate to prove herself in a wor

ith fire in my belly. Kristofer Gordon, the CEO. Everyone said he was untouchable, a genius, b

is office, working. I don't know what possessed me, maybe it was a

my voice steadier than

fixing on me. "Burch. And you." It wasn'

" I pushed a flash drive across his desk. "It's a small optimization for t

ze scrutinizing. "Fifteen perc

f adrenaline. I wanted him to see me, not

ng, curled on his lips. "You're

d is worth it," I sa

e. And then, he invited me to dinner. It started subtly, late-night talks, intellectual sparring that ignited a different k

heart flutter like a trapped bird. "My little starlight," he'd whisper, his lips against my ear, an

ummeted. I confronted him, tears stinging my eyes. He was calm, dismissive. "Elenor is an old friend. A business arrangeme

ty. The secret meetings, the late-night departures, his carefully guarded phone. It wasn't discret

a fresh wound, gaping and raw. My phone buzzed. It was my uncle, Jeffrey

place Jeffrey, my legal guardian, grudgingly called home. He was a man drowning in

walking into his study.

ed out, without preamble. "It's back on. The Shaff

desperate attempt to secure their legacy, a contract I' d always fought a

rd tasting like ash in

in surprise. "You will? But... you alway

t had once defined me. "I've learned a valuable lesson, Uncle

nges everything. But there's just one thing, Adah." He hesitated, his gaze shifting uncom

The last shred of my composure snapped. I stared at him, my voice dangerously low.

uest. A very important guest." He wrung his hands, avoidin

g in? Is this your doing, Uncle? Another one of your schemes?" He had al

ng. "This is a respectable arrangement! And Elenor i

ublic humiliation. A cold fury settled deep in my bones, replacing the raw pain. "Protection," I

"Watch your tone, girl. Y

now. "I have conditions for this marriage, Uncle." My voice was flat, emotionless. "Everything I inherit

t's absurd! I'm your guardi

marriage is finalized, I want control of my parents' remain

ed. "That's preposter

haffers why their future daughter-in-law walked away from the biggest tech empire in the cou

rring with resentment. "But Eleno

ed past him, my head held high, though my heart felt like a hollowed-out she

everything alright?

ome. My uncle's house, which was now her temporary sanctuary. My heart, which I thought had died, felt a new, burning p

ed and walked straight into the living room. Elenor sat on the pristine white couch, looking porcelain-fr

a pleasant surprise. I hope you don't mind me staying here for a while." Her gaze subtly shifted to Kristof

't mind. Not at all." A cold, hard resolve was settin

ry crack in her facade. She knew. She knew everything. And Kris

rushing into the room. "Adah, a

ble, Elenor," I said, my voice laced with an icy sweetness. "You'll need i

g them both stunned in the opulent living room,