Chapter 7

Eren's POV

The late afternoon sun spilled through the glass walls of my office, illuminating every surface with a stark, unforgiving brightness. The polished mahogany desk, the sleek leather chairs, even the framed photographs on the shelves—everything seemed laid bare, too vivid. But it wasn't the sunlight that unsettled me. It was the creeping dread that had been building in my chest ever since Axel started his little game.

I leaned back in my chair, the pen in my hand poised over a stack of contracts. My focus should have been on the lines of legal jargon and the numbers that could make or break this deal. Instead, my thoughts circled back to Sarah. This morning, she'd looked at me with a hesitation that felt like a knife pressing just shy of the skin.

Was it doubt?

Axel's interference was starting to unravel the careful balance I'd worked so hard to maintain. My jaw clenched at the thought of his smug face, the way he always knew exactly where to hit to inflict the most damage. And now, he wasn't just targeting me—he was going after Sarah.

My Sarah.

The knock on the door was sharp, pulling me from my thoughts.

"Come in," I said, my voice colder than intended.

Luke stepped in, his posture stiff, his expression serious. He was one of my most trusted associates, but even he looked wary today.

"You wanted the update on Axel," he said, closing the door behind him.

I gestured for him to continue, my eyes narrowing.

"He's been digging," Luke said, his tone measured. "Not just into the company records—he's looking into your personal files. Your past."

The words hung in the air, heavy and foreboding.

"What exactly is he hoping to find?" I asked, my voice calm despite the storm brewing inside me.

Luke hesitated. "I'm not sure. But he's persistent. If he keeps going at this rate…" He trailed off, the implication clear.

I leaned forward, my hands folding on the desk. "Keep him under surveillance. I want to know every move he makes. And if he steps out of line…" My voice dropped, ice lacing every word. "Handle it."

Luke nodded, understanding the weight of the command. He left without another word, the door clicking shut behind him.

I I exhaled slowly, trying to ease the tension in my shoulders. But it was futile. Axel was pushing boundaries, and if Sarah started believing him…

No. I wouldn't let that happen.

---

Sarah's POV

The hotel felt suffocating when I returned. The silence was thick, the kind that made every little sound feel amplified—the soft creak of the floorboards beneath my feet, the distant hum of traffic outside. I set my bag down on the kitchen counter, my hands lingering on the cool surface.

Axel's words had left a mark, one I couldn't shake no matter how hard I tried.

He's not who you think he is.

The memory of his voice, low and insistent, replayed in my mind like a broken record. My fingers tightened around the edge of the counter. What if he was right? What if Eren had been hiding something from me all along?

I shook my head, trying to banish the thought. No. Eren wasn't like that. He loved me. He'd never lie to me—at least, not about anything that truly mattered.

But the doubt was there now, gnawing at the edges of my sanity.

The sound of the front door opening snapped me out of my thoughts. I turned to see Eren stepping in, his suit perfectly tailored, his tie slightly loosened. He looked like he always did—composed, in control. But there was something in his eyes tonight, a flicker of something dark and guarded.

"You're home early," I said, my voice carefully neutral.

"I thought I'd surprise you," he replied, a faint smile tugging at his lips. But it didn't reach his eyes.

He crossed the room in a few strides, his hands finding my waist. His touch was firm, grounding, but there was an edge to it tonight—an urgency I couldn't quite place.

"Rough day?" I asked softly, my hands resting on his chest.

"Just the usual," he murmured, his lips brushing against my forehead. "Meetings, contracts… nothing you need to worry about."

I nodded, though the words felt hollow. There was a distance between us tonight, a barrier I didn't know how to cross.

"You've been quiet lately," he said, his voice a low rumble against my skin. "Is something bothering you?"

For a moment, I considered telling him about Axel—about the doubts, the questions that had been swirling in my mind since our encounter in the park. But the words caught in my throat.

"I'm fine," I lied, forcing a smile. "Just tired."

Eren's eyes searched mine, as if trying to read the thoughts I wasn't sharing. But then he leaned in, capturing my lips in a kiss that was slow and deliberate. His hands slid up my back, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us.

"I missed you today," he whispered against my lips, his breath warm and intoxicating.

My heart ached at the tenderness in his voice. For a moment, I let myself sink into his embrace, into the safety of his touch. But even as our bodies moved together, the shadow of Axel's warning lingered, a ghost that refused to be silenced.

---

Axel's POV

The hotel bar was dimly lit, the scent of whiskey and cigar smoke hanging heavy in the air. I sat at a corner table, my fingers idly tracing the rim of my glass as I watched the entrance. She wouldn't come. Not tonight. I wasn't foolish enough to expect that.

But still, I waited.

The scotch burned as it slid down my throat, but it did little to dull the edge of my thoughts. Sarah's face earlier today—her confusion, her fear—played on repeat in my mind. She was starting to see it, the cracks in the perfect facade Eren had built.

Good.

Eren thought he could keep her locked in his web of lies forever, but he underestimated her. She was stronger than he realized. And when the truth finally came crashing down, she'd need someone to help pick up the pieces.

Someone like me.

A slow smirk tugged at my lips as I raised my glass in a silent toast.

To the beginning of the end.

---

Sarah's POV

That night, I lay awake in bed, my body curled next to Eren's as he slept soundly. The soft rhythm of his breathing should have been comforting, but it only made the turmoil inside me more pronounced.

I turned onto my side, watching him. His face was serene, his lashes casting shadows on his cheeks in the dim light. He looked so peaceful, so… innocent.

But was he?

Axel's voice echoed in my mind, relentless. He's hiding things from you—things that could change everything.

My chest tightened as the weight of his words settled over me once again. Eren had always been my anchor, my safe place. But now, doubt was creeping in, threatening to unravel everything we'd built.

And as much as I wanted to push it all aside, to bury the questions and pretend everything was fine, I couldn't shake the feeling that my world was about to change in ways I wasn't ready for.

The man I loved was keeping secrets.

And I was terrified of what would happen when I finally uncovered the truth.