“I've found the love you were not able to give me with someone else. She makes me happy Flora. She tells me how much she adores me. How could I not fall for her?” ------------ On their third marriage anniversary, Flora's husband announces he's leaving her for another woman. At first, she's willing to let him off and end things quietly, but when she discovers his mysterious mistress is her stepsister who has bullied her since childhood, she decides to hurt them both the way they have hurt her. To do this, she decides she's going to team up with her ex's rival, Damien Hayes, to destroy him. But Damien doesn't only want to help Flora - he also wants to have a relationship with her, and won't take no for an answer. In order to get what she wants, Flora is going to have to risk her heart falling in love again.
View MoreFlora glanced at the clock, and let out a sigh of relief. She had spent her morning interviewing candidates from different cleaning agencies, and the last interview had just wrapped up. Her decision had been made. She had finally found the right person among the many hopefuls that had paraded through her living room today. Though her mansion of a home could easily accommodate a large cleaning team, she preferred a smaller setup, especially since she only used a few rooms regularly. The work was too much for Catarina alone, but the new girl would offset the balance just right. “I think Esther will do just fine,” Flora said to Catarina, who had been helping her sift through the candidates who had arrived. The maid nodded, her face warm with approval. “She’s a good choice, Miss Wicks. Young, but she has a good head on her shoulders. She’ll learn quickly.” Flora handed over the chosen maid to Catarina, knowing she would be in good hands. “Show her around please. I need to freshen up
Flora sat in Damien’s office, mentally going over the new information she had learned from Catarina. The folder the maid had given her had not only included those incriminating photographs but also some pretty damning financial statements that would pointing wagging fingers at Henry not only from the public but also the shareholders of his company. Leaning on the table in front of her, Damien was concluding a business call with his personal assistant. As the call ended, he pressed a kiss to Flora by way of greeting. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”She wasted no time in recounting the details of Catarina’s information to him, and as she handed him the manila folder, Damien’s expression turned from curious to calculating. He carefully unsealed the envelope and unfolded the documents within. They painted a clear picture of Henry’s infidelity and financial misconduct. Olivia’s was just a bonus. Silence descended upon the room, broken only by the rustle of papers.
An insistent ping roused Flora from a sleep that felt deeper and more restful than she’d had in several days. Glancing at the clock, she realized she’d slept in – a welcome change from the restless nights spent tossing and turning. A familiar pang of loneliness hit her as she remembered Damien’s absence. He’d left early, not wanting to impose and had promised to call later.Her phone pinged again and she reached for it and unlocked it. She was immediately bombarded with notifications. A flurry of missed calls – all from Henry – and two text messages. The first one was a simple chilling sentence – 'I know he slept over, Flora'. The second one was a vile tirade, laced with insults and accusations. She’d heard his car drive away, so how had he known Damien had slept over at the mansion? The texts solidified Flora’s suspicions that Henry was stalking her somehow. Disgusted, she tossed her phone back on the nightstand. Henry’s words wouldn’t get to her. Today was a new day and s
Damien rose an eyebrow at her, his jacket thrown over his shoulder. “Condition?”“We raid the pantry for snacks. I’m starving.”A grin spread across Damien’s face. “You drive a hard bargain, Flora Wicks, but I accept your terms.”The next hour was a whirlwind of activity. They rummaged through the pantry, pulling out forgotten bags of chips, boxes of cookies, and bowls of popcorn kernels. Merriment echoed through the kitchen as they argued over which of the snacks were better while the microwave readied the popcorn. The sound of kernels popped cut through their conversation often.Finally, laden with their spoils, they settled onto the sofa amidst a sea of cushions and blankets. Damien wrestled with the bag of potato chips, expertly maneuvering them into a bowl. Flora, in the meantime, scrolled through the movie selection on TV. Her brow furrowed in concentration as she tried to find the perfect film to watch. “What do you feel like watching? Acti
Damien pulled the car to a stop in front of Flora’s grand Victorian house. The lamps lining the driveway cast an ethereal glow on the intricate gingerbread trim. “It isn’t my first time seeing it,” Damien said, taking in the impressive architecture. “But this place is massive.”“It is a bit much,” Flora admitted. “Though there are perks to having all this space. I’d planned to sell it at first after my divorce was finalized but now, I’m not so sure.” On a sudden whim, she blurted out, “Would you like a tour?”Damien raised an eyebrow, surprised by the invitation. “Are you sure? It’s late.”Flora shrugged, masking her nervousness. “Just a quick one then. Besides, I haven’t even properly thanked you for this evening.”Intrigued, Damien followed her inside.The house was a labyrinth of high-ceilinged rooms and winding staircases. As they walked, Flora pointed out hidden nooks and curiosities she’d collected over the years. With eac
Damien had said he’d pick her up by eight, and by seven-thirty, he’d already arrived in his sleek, navy sedan. The soft purr of the engine signaled the beginning of their evening together. Flora emerged from her house, smiling softly as she approached the waiting car. She’d chosen the jade dress Eva had suggested in the car as they’d driven away from the boutique. It was knee-length and ruffled at the arms, hugging her curves. She’d paired it with silver earrings shaped like tear drops and a single diamond bracelet. Damien grinned appreciatively as he held open her door for her. Desire gleamed in his eyes. “You look radiant tonight, darling,” he said, a hint of male appreciation in his tone as she slid into the plus leather seats. There was no driver tonight, which meant Damien wanted to be absolutely alone with Flora tonight. It thrilled her like nothing else.A flush of pleasure spread across her cheeks at the compliment. “You look pretty dashing yours
Flora spent the next few days getting rid of all of Henry’s belongings that remained in the mansion. As she went through the closets and his study, she found several items of his, seemingly forgotten – his favorite football club jersey, a branded watch Flora had given him on their six-month anniversary and even a treasured set of office pens with his initials scripted on them he’d proudly displayed on a bookshelf in his study.It might look as if he’d merely been careless but Flora knew it had been deliberate. Once, when her relationship with Henry had still been new, she and Henry had gotten into a big fight because Henry had forgotten Flora’s birthday even though she’d reminded him just the week before. He’d refused to apologize even when she’d told him unhappy it had made her and in anger, Flora had told him to get out of her studio apartment and that they were breaking up.Henry had packed his things in a hurry and stormed out, swearing they were over
The sun hung low in the sky as Flora stood before the imposing structure of the mansion she had once shared with Henry, a house that was now hers alone. The sight of it filled her with a mixture of emotions – nostalgia, sadness. A twinge of bitterness also lingered beneath the surface. This had been their home once, a place filled with laughter and love but now it stood as a silent testament to everything that had gone wrong between them.As she stepped through the front door, the air inside felt heavy and suffocating. The room echoed with the ghosts of the past. But despite the bittersweetness of the moment, Flora knew that this was a necessary step in moving forward with her life. With a determined sigh, Flora set to work unpacking her belongings, the sound of her footsteps resounding in the through the empty halls. Whether out of spite or consideration, Henry had dismissed all the servants on the grounds, leaving the house well and truly empty.As
Just as she and Damien were indulging in a chocolate lava cake, the sound of camera shutters filled the air, drawing Flora’s attention to the commotion outside. She glanced out the window, spotting a group of paparazzi gathering on the sidewalk below, their cameras trained on the restaurant. “They’re here,” she said, voice filled with wonder. Damien smiled knowingly. His eyes locked onto hers, a hint of a smile playing on his lips, as if to say, ‘I told you it would work’. “Well, why don’t we give them what they came for?”As they exited the restaurant, Damien took her hand, his fingers intertwining with hers in a gentle yet possessive gesture. The paparazzi swarmed around them, snapping photos and shouting questions. Flora felt exposed, vulnerable, as if her carefully constructed look was crumbling before her very eyes.As she stole a glance at Damien, she couldn’t help but wonder if he felt the same way. Before she could voice her concerns, Da
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