Chapter: 45: Dodging A Corporate Bullet [Arella]Vivian turns to face me, her eyes widening in shock. Her blood-red lipstick falters slightly, though she quickly schools her expression. She’s dressed to impress, wearing a fitted white blazer with gold accents and matching high-waisted trousers, her stilettos clicking nervously against the tiled floor. Her sleek, chestnut-brown hair falls perfectly over her shoulders—too perfect, too practiced.“A-Arella?” she says incredulously, her voice trembling just enough to seem genuine. “What are you doing here?”I arch a brow, my pulse quickening—not with fear, but with simmering resentment. Her audacity still manages to surprise me.“I should be asking you that, Vivian,” I snap, keeping my voice cold and steady. “Haven’t you already been informed that we do not wish to work with Ames Finances?”The flicker of embarrassment in her eyes is brief before she recovers, her expression hardening.“And what gave you the right to turn down Ames Finances?” she prods, her voice sharp. Gon
Last Updated: 2024-12-17
Chapter: 44: Close Call[Arella]"I'd gladly bring you to Nevada next time, even if you don't have a doctor's appointment. You really seemed to enjoy yourself," Lincoln says, his deep, smooth voice carrying a teasing undertone as he leads me out of his Bentley. The cool evening air brushes against my skin, a stark contrast to the cozy warmth inside the car. His hand rests on my lower back, steady and protective.We spent the weekend in Nevada, indulging in a world that felt distant from reality, only landing this evening. It's a weekday already. Bridget's gonna give me an earful for vanishing like that. "I'd like that," I say, meaning it more than I should. His lips curl into a slow, satisfied smile that makes my heart lurch, traitorous as ever."Or we could go somewhere more exotic for our honeymoon," he whispers that last part just for me, his breath grazing my ear like a forbidden secret.The mansion looms before us, grand and imposing, its towering pillars gleaming under the soft glow of garden lights
Last Updated: 2024-12-16
Chapter: 43: Blacklisted[Deric]"What do you mean you're canceling the deal? This is unacceptable, I–hello? Hello?!""Fuck!" I snap, slamming my fist against the polished oak conference table, the sharp sound reverberating across the room. The board of directors seated across from me flinch, their faces pale and tense."Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" My breathing quickens, chest tightening. "We're losing everything! How did this happen?" My voice cracks with desperation."W-we have no clue," one of the men stammers, beads of sweat gathering at his temple. "It's as if we're intentionally being blacklisted by some force."His words send a chill down my spine. Blacklisted? By who? Why now?"What does that even mean?" I respond sharply, my voice cutting through the stifling air. "This issue isn't confined to San Diego—our suppliers and recruits are terminating contracts across the entire state of California!"How is it possible that no one wants to work with Ames Finances? The company I built with blood, sweat, and ruthles
Last Updated: 2024-12-15
Chapter: 43: A Raspberry?[Lincoln] "W-what?!" Arella lets out a startled gasp. "H-how did it happen?" "I don't know," I say, trying to keep my cool despite the storm brewing inside me. "I'm going to need you to calm down, baby. Can you do that for me?" "Lincoln…" she starts, fear widening her eyes, her breath coming in shallow pants. "Please, Ella," I plead, my eyes flicking back to the road as the car swerves dangerously. There's a large field coming up. It's fenced, but that isn't going to be a problem—not if I can help it. "Are your seat belts on?" I ask, my voice tight with controlled urgency. Her watery eyes meet mine. "Lincoln… I'm scared," she admits, trembling. The car jerks violently, nearly spinning out of control. Despite my calm façade, my head pounds with a thousand chaotic thoughts. Nothing must happen to them. Nothing. "Are your seat belts intact, Arella?" I ask again, firmer this time. She nods with a sob, clutching her seatbelt tightly as if it could anchor her to safet
Last Updated: 2024-12-13
Chapter: 42: Tampered [Lincoln] The ambiance of the 7-star Michelin restaurant is almost suffocatingly posh, reeking of old money and self-importance. Crystal chandeliers dangle from the high ceiling, their cold light shimmering off gold-accented walls. The faint hum of soft classical music seeps into the room, blending with the clink of fine cutlery and quiet murmurs of privileged patrons. Why Clement Thompson chose this particular restaurant for a simple lunch is beyond me. It feels like I’ve walked into a live-action display of "Who’s the Richest?" “Right this way, Mr. Sawyer.” A lady with a crisp British accent, dressed in an immaculately tailored suit, leads me through the maze of lavishly decorated tables to a private room. The air is thick with the scent of aged wine and freshly baked bread. Seating in front of Mr. Thompson, I relax my posture, though every instinct tells me to be on guard. His sharp, calculating eyes study me like I’m both a challenge and a prize he intends
Last Updated: 2024-12-12
Chapter: 41: Sly Foxes[Arella]The hot summer sun beats down, its harsh rays bouncing off Mr. Malcolm's bald head. I sit up straighter, tilting my head to avoid the glare coming through the open window. The office feels warm, with the AC struggling to keep the heat at bay.“What is the matter, Mr. Malcolm?” I ask calmly, masking my irritation.“Oh, please, cut that bullshit, young lady!” he snaps, his voice sharp and abrasive, echoing through the quiet office.I arch a brow, fighting the urge to roll my eyes. Funny how bold he is now that Bridget is out on business. His audacity is as suffocating as the humid air hanging heavily in the office.“I'll ask again, Mr. Malcolm. What is the matter?”He storms forward and slams a crumpled piece of paper on my desk, his thick fingers trembling with barely restrained rage.“This! This is the matter! What do you think of yourself, eh? That you can just come here and change the order of things? My project with the Ames finances will not be cut off the vision board,
Last Updated: 2024-12-11
Chapter: Chapter 57: Epilogue [Kendall]After we’re home, our baby finds his voice and screams the night away, but just when I think I’m getting to my breaking point, Camden's there.“I’ll take him for a while,” he says, pulling our son out of my arms.I run a hand through my mussed hair, exhausted. “He was crying all night,” I say.“Why didn’t you wake me?” he asks, frowning.“You looked so peaceful,” I tell him. “I didn’t want to disturb you.”Camden snorts. “Disturb me next time, principessa. I’m his father. I can do a lot of the work.”I look at him, disbelieving. I can’t believe he’s so involved when at first, I didn’t even know if he’d stick around even if he said he would.“I’m exhausted,” I admit. “And there’s baby vomit in my hair and I’m pretty sure his diaper is full of the most heinous thing you’ve ever smelled.”Camden barks out a surprised laugh. “I’m interested in where this is going.”“But I’m so happy, Camden,” I said, tears running down my face. “I’ve never been so happy in all my life. I didn’t
Last Updated: 2024-12-17
Chapter: Chapter 56: Epilogue KendallThe day of the wedding and everything goes wrong.It’s raining and Elora is late and I don’t know if I can go through with this.She finally shows up and her hair looks mussed and I groan.“I know you’ve got a man, you should just tell me,” I say, and she laughs.“Absolutely not. I just overslept. I’ve been single and with me, myself, and I,” she insists. “I’m so sorry, Kendall.”I haven’t seen Camden in three days and I miss him so much. We’ve been living together but I’ve been staying with my father for the last two days according to tradition.“I feel like I’m too pregnant for this dress,” I say.“You look beautiful. Camden is going to lose it the second he sees you,” she insists.°•°•°•°•°•°•°True to her words, when I walk down the aisle with Papa, Camden has a tear running down his cheek.“This dress is perfect, you are perfect,” he murmurs to me, and it reminds me of that first night, the first night he really noticed me in that dress, and I can’t help but smile, happ
Last Updated: 2024-12-17
Chapter: Chapter 55Camden“If you really want to get married…” I start, but Kendall cuts me off.“I don’t care about that,” she says. “I just need to know that this isn’t drugs, so tell me all of this again when you’re off them,” she says.I sigh shallowly so that I don’t hurt myself. “It’ll be a while before I’m off all of them.”“I can wait,” she says stubbornly.So, we wait. We wait until I’m out of the hospital and then she goes to her first ultrasound and tears well in my eyes when I see pictures of the little peanut.Kendall moves in with the help of Dante and Elora and sets up my bed in the living room so that I don’t have to go upstairs. We’re sitting in the doctor’s office at her five month appointment. She’s been living with me and taking care of me all this time, even though I’m getting better now.“Can I tell you now that I love you?” I ask her, and she shakes her head.“You’re still taking pills,” she argues.I groan. “Kendall, this is getting ridiculous. You live here. You take care of m
Last Updated: 2024-12-17
Chapter: Chapter 54KendallElora and I both are ordered to go home and we sleep in the same bed in my guest room, cuddled up together. We’ve been through a lot and we need that best friend comfort.When I wake, I immediately sit straight up in bed, thinking about Camden.“I have to get back to the hospital,” I mumble, and Elora yawns, grabbing my shoulder so I can’t get up.“Not yet,” she says. “You need to eat something. Have to feed that nephew of mine.”I chuckle in spite of everything. “You think it’s a boy?”“Just a hunch,” she says.“I guess we’ll see,” I say, rubbing a hand over my belly. “But shouldn’t we check on Camden?”“Mama’s up there with him now,” she says. “You don’t have to worry, she’ll call me if he sneezes.”I laugh a little. “All right. I guess I’ll eat.”My stomach feels like there’s a void in it, so I guess it’s a good idea.We walk downstairs and Marisa has made a spread that’s unbelievable.Mia is shoveling food in her face and she looks up at us and smiles.“Please sit. Maris
Last Updated: 2024-12-17
Chapter: Chapter 53CamdenThe doctor comes in and I’m irritated, moving around.“Mr. Andretti, you have to stay still,” the doctor pleads. “You have tubes in your chest and they can’t be moved.”“He’s in pain,” Kendall says, seeing something on my face.“No,” I say. “I don’t want any drugs.”Kendall’s face is pleading with me. “Please, Camden. I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”I sigh heavily and then groan because it hurts in my chest so much.“All right,” I croak, and the nurse puts a button in my hand.“Press this button,” she says, and when I do, something warm and relieving washes through me and my whole body relaxes. I feel myself drifting away.“Kendall,” I say, my words slurred. “Tell me that you know I love you.”“Sure,” she says, but I know that she doesn’t believe me.I struggle to say more but I can’t, I’m fading.“Camden,” she says quietly. “I—”But then I’m gone.°•°•°•°•°•°•°When I wake, Kendall isn’t in the room with me but I can still hear someone sobbing. When I turn my face, it’s El
Last Updated: 2024-12-16
Chapter: Chapter 52CamdenI dream of Kendall. I dream of her with her eyes puffy from sleep, with her nightie bunched up, how she writhes beneath me. I dream of her in that little bikini she wore at the safe house, looking up at me with wide brown eyes.I remember hitting Marco, beating him so thoroughly that his face was unrecognizable. I remember Angelo’s pale, drawn face as I looked up at him. I don’t remember being hurt. I don’t know where I am when I open my eyes, looking up at the ceiling.“Camden?” someone says, some sweet voice that I know deep in my heart, and I look over to see Kendall staring at me with wide brown eyes. “Oh my god, he’s waking up,” she chokes, and I reach out for her and there’s a stab of pain in my chest that makes my breath hitch in my throat.“Principessa,” I choke out, but my mouth is so dry that I can’t make more words. I clear my throat, and as if reading my mind, Kendall brings me a glass of water with a straw.I sip it gratefully. “What happened?” I croak.“You were
Last Updated: 2024-12-16
Taming My Cold Husband
"What are you hiding, Mr. Blackwood?"
Julian closed the gap in a heartbeat, leaving no space between them. She gasped, forced to tilt her head to meet his intense stare.
"I. Have. Nothing. To hide," he said, voice cold, his gaze never wavering.
The air crackled between them, charged and heavy. Anger lingered, but something else—something sharp and undeniable—hung there, too, just beneath the surface. Neither dared to acknowledge it.
•°•°•°•°•°•°•°
With her father’s health fading fast, struggling artist Leslie Harrison feels trapped, helpless to give him the care he needs. In a desperate twist, she finds herself caught in a marriage of convenience with billionaire Julian Blackwood, a man who thrives on control and keeps his heart locked tight. But Leslie sees through his icy demeanor, sensing there’s more beneath the surface.
As emotions get tangled and secrets begin to slip, their bond is tested in ways neither expected. Can Leslie help Julian face the shadows of his past, or will they pull him under?
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Chapter: Chapter 99: EpilogueLeslie's POVI unsheathed the dress from the wrap, and a gasp escaped me… woah! The dress was a beauty, and this wasn't even Lady P's signature style. I couldn't wait any longer and slipped the dress on. Oh God, soft ivory silk clung to me so beautifully. It was a midi A-line dress that stopped just above my knee at the front and, at the back, a shimmering organza trail. I felt the tears again. I never knew I was such a tearful person, but that's just what happens with Julian. He's so sweet sometimes I can't even take it. Who would have thought there was once a time when we couldn't stand each other? I smile at my reflection, my fingers slightly moving over my front, briefly stopping at my tummy. *I have a surprise for Julian too. I can't wait to see his reaction.* I styled my hair in a quick French twist that I'd learned when Julian took us to France to celebrate my mother-in-law's birthday two months ago. I placed the little flower crown, which I'd seen beside the wrap–no doubt dro
Last Updated: 2024-09-07
Chapter: Chapter 98: Epilogue Julian's POVSix months later"Happy anniversary, Les," I coo, startling my wife. She'd just stepped out of the shower, looking fresh and all mine. God, I love her so much."Julian, you scared me," she giggles, clutching her chest. "What's all this?" she arches her chestnut brow, referring to the platter in my hand."I got you breakfast in bed, love.""Aww, Julian, that's so sweet," her eyes soften, gifting me that molten evergreen gaze of hers."Thanks, baby," she coos, and I swear I turn to mush."Why did you get out of bed?" I grumble.She laughs and crosses the distance between us as I drop the platter of food on the bedside. She wraps her arms around my neck, her sweet delectable lavender scent filling my nostrils."Stop drooling, Mr. Billionaire," she whispers, and I catch myself."What can I say, Mrs. Billionaire? My wife looks delicious in the morning."She laughs. "I'm still in my PJ's, Julian.""You look delicious in anything," I contend, and she laughs harder. I could listen
Last Updated: 2024-09-07
Chapter: Chapter 97The car slowly drove up to Belton's Botanical Park, a local spot, one that Leslie had always dreamed of going to. *I wonder what kind of work Julian has here?* He didn't speak to her for days, and when he finally did, it was cold and detached. *I don't even understand why. He sounded really angry. Maybe he just had a bad day?* She planned on asking him that. *I don't want to fight anymore.*Her phone hovered over the call button. She’d wanted to call Betty or Arthur, but she humphed sadly when she realized that no one had remembered her birthday. She didn't even receive a text from anyone yet. She wasn't even sure Julian knew her birthday—they never really discussed it.As the car came to a halt in the now dark park, she thought, *But why is it so dark in here?* Her phone dinged. It was Julian. “Walk inside the park.”Leslie's brows furrowed. *I should walk inside a dark park?* She gulped. “Is this some kind of prank or something?” she texted back, trying to joke.“Don’t waste my tim
Last Updated: 2024-09-06
Chapter: Chapter 96Leslie opened her eyes to yet another morning of Julian not being in bed with her. He'd really taken the "I need space" a bit too far, and it instantly dampened Leslie's mood. "Didn't he miss me at all?" she grumbled as she brushed her teeth and prepared for the day. Her anger towards him had dissipated a lot as she understood things from his point of view. Each time she thought of a few nights ago, she shivered, knowing that if things had gotten worse, Vanessa would have killed her.Julian wasn't around much, neither did he try to appease her since the night of their “argument." He'd go to work super early and return at night when she was already fast asleep. She humphed. "Since he doesn't want to see me, I don't want to meet him either. I'll go meet Dad today," she perked up.After having a little breakfast with Eleanor, she headed for the car. The hospital was the same as always, only this time Leslie knew she wasn't going to receive any bad news. She adjusted her denim dress shirt
Last Updated: 2024-09-06
Chapter: Chapter 95 "If you so much as try to make any sudden moves, I swear I'll slit your throat!," the feminine voice threatened.Leslie felt her eyes glaze over as the grip of the blade on her throat tightened."Vanessa?""Surprise, surprise, bitch,!" Vanessa spat out venomously, clad in a black hoodie and matching tight leggings. Vanessa had a crazed, expression on her face, her eyes red and puffy, lips chapped and slowly turning black."Tell me why you didn't leave when I told you to, huh?""W-what are you talking about?" Leslie couldn't believe Vanessa was here in the flesh. Her mind raced *will I die here? Oh god!*."Haha, he loves your pretty face, right? Let's see if he'll still adore you when I botch up this face of yours!" Vanessa yelled, pulling Leslie by the hair and forcing her to the ground.Leslie was genuinely confused as to why Vanessa was attacking her like this fear pricked her skin and adrenaline flowed in her veins, she couldn't let Vanessa have her way. Before Vanessa could appro
Last Updated: 2024-09-06
Chapter: Chapter 94 Two months. It had been two months since Alexander's demise. Everything seemed to have fallen into place. Julian fired each and every single board of directors, got reinstated as the CEO, and made back profits and deals worth more than he'd made all year. Now seated on the luxurious couch in the living room, his eyes trailed to Leslie's painting, the one near the fireplace. His therapist had praised him for using hobbies like playing the piano to help with his PTSD and also advised him to take up painting. Leslie had somehow made him spill it out, and now she gave him lessons every now and then, even though he sucked at it. His mind went back to the night he'd seen her putting up her paintings around the living room. He chuckled to himself. She was so scared then, but now she didn't even bat an eyelid before putting him in his place. He glanced at the time again and chuckled. "Thank goodness I told her to get ready an hour earlier.""I'm ready!" Leslie cooed in a sing-song voice as
Last Updated: 2024-09-06
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