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Chapter 24
Huling Na-update:
2024-06-24 07:01:37
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A Bargain With The Devil Chapter 25
I followed Ethan’s advice but instead of the brooch he suggested, I went with a large veil covered in small cream colored flower details that went perfectly with the dress. By the end of the evening Grace was dabbing at her eyes, pure joy written on her face. I found myself sharing in her excitement too. I was getting married.Several times I would catch myself admiring the full look in the mirror, and picturing whatEthan’s face would be like if he saw me. As soon as I noticed, I would shut the thought down. The lines between reality and out pretend marriage was blurring quickly. “It’s becoming harder to keep my hands off you”. I looked around guiltily like I suspected everyone could see my thoughts written on my faceWith my dress packed up for the reveal for my parents, I left to find Gideon to take me home. I found two men standing outside his car when I got to him.“Goodday, Miss Ricci.” The dark skinned man said, stretching a calloused hand to me. “My name is Hakeem, and thi
Huling Na-update : 2024-06-24A Bargain With The Devil Chapter 26
It was only when I was in front of Ethan that I admitted to myself that I actually missed him. He came, with another car in tow to convey me, my family and Lisa to his mansion. Naturally, we rode alone, in a quiet so intense that it was almost tangible.My anxiety for the engagement and my move into Ethan’s house forced me to break it. “How was your week?”“Good.”“Did you tear down any small towns?” -He glanced at me with an irritated look.-“I was joking.” “I noticed.” There was silence again.“Are you still searching for the person responsible for the gala incident?”“Yes.”“Do you like my dress?”“What is this? Twenty questions?” I was impressed that he knew the game show.“You said you wanted me to relax around you, how do I do that when your face is set in a permanent scowl and you refuse to have conversations with me?”He sighed. “Yes, I like your dress. It’s stunning, but you would look great in a potato sack, so it’s not so much the dress as it is you.” I basked in hi
Huling Na-update : 2024-06-25A Bargain With The Devil Chapter 27
When his words sunk into my head, I found the strength to push him away from me. His surprise about my reaction bought me enough to roll away from him and scoot to the edge where I stood.When Ethan recovered from my actions he rolled off the bed stalked me again.“What are you doing Ethan?”“What does it look like I’m doing?”“You said there would be nothing physical between us. You specified that in the contract.”“It can be easily changed, what do you want? More money?”In essence, he wanted me to sell my body to him. I remembered all those nights ago, where he had dropped wads of money to ‘appease’ me after we had slept together. I had refused to take his money then, there would be no difference now. Especially, when he still thought so lowly of me.“I don’t want your money Ethan.”“Could have fooled me.” He snapped, as he trapped me between the door and his body. He grabbed my hips and pressed me into him, where I could feel his hard length. I bit my lip, willing my body
Huling Na-update : 2024-06-26A Bargain With The Devil Chapter 28
I was waiting. Waiting for Ethan to break the silence during the car ride, but knew it would not be possible with Gideon driving us to his home. I fought the urge to fidget in my nervousness. I didn’t want any part of my body revealing how apprehensive I felt. This was it, i was moving in with Ethan. As if this wasn’t difficult enough, he had the gall to suggest a change in our contract.My hands gripped Wynona’s gift tightly when the car slipped through the automatic gates, gliding to halt in front of his doors. Again I marveled at the beauty of his home. It had the outward appearance of a cyberhouse. With its smooth edges and sharp cuts. In a way they mirrored their owner. I spared a glance in his direction and found his head forward.Soon it would be just the two of us in the house. For all the hope i had that Gladice would be around, i knew she only came during daytime.I rolled my shoulder when i got out of the car and Ethan’s attention slipped to it. I froze, till he walked a
Huling Na-update : 2024-06-27A Bargain With The Devil Chapter 29
I plastered a smile on my face and walked towards them. The tension that was in him when he left my room last night was gone, and replaced with a warm but calculating expression. I wasn't sure if I liked this side of him either.I smiled and said good morning to Gladice, brushing my hand across Ethan's shoulder in my unwillingness to get any closer him. Gladice watched my awkward movements impassively. A split second after I thought I was in the clear and just before I was to take my perch on the stool beside him, he grabbed my hand and yanked me towards him. His eyes burned with a hint of desire and mischief as he lowered his mouth to mine.With a simple kiss, he claimed me. It was a statement that I was his to take, to gladice it may have looked like a normal kiss but i knew a threat when i saw one.I hated him for his cockiness, but my hate did not stop my body from molding into his andsubmitting under his ministrations.When he pulled away, he brushed his lips against mine,
Huling Na-update : 2024-06-28A Bargain With The Devil Chapter 30
I shrugged. “I donno, for starters, why you’re such an asshole.”He smirked lifting his hands to my mouth. His hand swiped against my bottom lip and it darted out to get whatever he was trying to wipe off.“You have quite a mouth on you. I bet I could put it to use in other ways.”“Ethan…”“I have agreed to your terms Mae, We’ll play by your rules for a little while.”“How about dinner tomorrow night?”“Why not now?”“I wasn’t lying when I said I have work to get to. I’ll be holed up in the office all day.” I felt a twinge of disappointment.“Fine. Tomorrow.” Was I really agreeing to this? A date with Ethan Crowe. We might as well, He wanted to get get in my pants, I wanted him in it too, and I know sooner or later it would happen. It was best that we had some semblance of control over the situation. I was starting to see why he liked having power so much.Ethan left me downstairs to work in his room and i had the whole downstairs to myself. Gladice had not come back in so it
Huling Na-update : 2024-06-29A Bargain With The Devil Chapter 31
Ethan’s POV Cartwright glanced in the direction of the hidden camera and smirked before he climbed up the stairs to the house.“Long time no see, Cartwright.” Bethany greeted as he walked in. He smacked the door “Babes, missed ya.” I heard him answer through the intercom.I had a good reason to be possessive i assurred myself. Cartwright was an airhead who flirted and fucked anything in a skirt, if he was here trying to charm my wife. It would not bode well for him, or my fake relationship for that matter.Ignoring the crack I heard when the tablet connected to the desk, i kicked off from my chair, forcing air out of my lungs evenly.Just as i breezed into the living room I heard the last parts of Cartwright’s conversation.“…have lunch with me.” He asked MY fiancée. My jaw ticked when she chewed on her lip as if she was considering it. She had a warm smile on her face, one that she managed to turn off whenever she noticed I was in the room. I was the one saving her little town
Huling Na-update : 2024-06-30A Bargain With The Devil Chapter 32
“What?”“You know better. I am very guarded about my property Mae Ricci, and for the entirety of our contract, you are mine. I won’t have you acting like a hussy where Cartwright is involved.” And we were back to square one.I huffed as I jumped from his lap, ignoring the erection he was sporting. His hands slipped off me easily. ” You know what Ethan. you can take your adjusted contract and shove it up your ass because I’m no longer interested.“And then I marched to my room like the bad ass queen that I was. Soon to be very hungry, but bad ass nevertheless.I slipped down the stairs an hour later unable to contain the rumbling of my stomach. Damn Ethan Crowe for making me act like a child. I bumped into Cecilia on my way down.She shrieked startled and then placed her hand on her chest. “Miss Ricci, you scared the shit outta me. I was actually coming to check on you.”“I’m sorry. I thought it would be just me and Ethan in the house.”“It should be, I’m here on my own. I left
Huling Na-update : 2024-06-30
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A Bargain With The Devil Chapter 127
MAEThe moment the door opened, and I saw who it was, my heart stopped. “Dad?” I croaked, my voice barely above a whisper. Tears sprang to my eyes almost immediately. I tried to sit up, but he was already by my side, gently pressing me back down. “Don’t push yourself,” he said softly, but there was worry in every word. He pulled up a chair and sat next to me, his hand covering mine. “You should be resting.”I blinked up at him, confused. “What… how are you here? Shouldn’t you also be resting?” My dad had fainted just two days ago and seeing him there made my chest ache.He gave me a small smile and shrugged like it was nothing. “I heard about a certain Mae being treated at the hospital. Someone mentioned your name, and I… I had to make sure it was you.” His voice cracked a little at the end.I swallowed hard, my throat hurting. “I’m okay now, Dad. I promise. I should be the one worrying about you. How do you feel?”“I'm fine.” He replied with a small smile. He just held my hand, his
A Bargain With The Devil Chapter 126
CMAEThe moment Ethan walked in, my heart stopped. Not in a good way. He looked rough like he’d been through hell and back, but he still had this commanding presence about him. And those men in suits behind him? Yeah, that didn’t help. My stomach twisted, the knife in my throat feeling colder and sharper than ever now. Ava’s grip on me tightened, and I could feel her shaking just slightly. Their coming closer was making her nervous and her knife pressed into my neck even more, scaring me.“Ethan,” she said, her voice cracking but still carrying that desperate tone. “Tell them to stay back, or I’ll kill her.” That sent a chill down my spine, like ice running through my veins. She pressed the knife closer, and I winced, biting my lip to keep myself from crying out. It hurt, my shoulder had still not healed from the accident and the way she was pressing it down hurt badly.Ethan raised his hands, palms out, his voice calm, like he was trying to also calm her down. “Ava, just let her
A Bargain With The Devil Chapter 125
ChaMAEMy eyes snapped open, and for a moment, everything was a blur. My head throbbed like someone had hit it many times, and my mouth was dry, my tongue sticking to the roof of it. My head hurt badly, like badly, especially the back of my head like it had been hit.I blinked a few times, trying to figure out where I was, trying to remember what had happened, but nothing made sense. The air was damp and cold, and there was this faint, musty smell that made my stomach twist. I looked around, my vision finally clearing, and panic hit me almost immediately, making my heart pound harder than ever.I was in a huge, dark basement, the kind you only find in horror movies, except this was real life, my life. The only light came from a single bulb hanging from the ceiling, swaying slightly like it might go out any second. My arms and legs felt heavy, and when I tried to move, I realized why. I was tied to a chair. Thick ropes dug into my wrists and ankles, holding me in place no matter h
A Bargain With The Devil Chapter 124
MAEIt was Julianna. Of course, it was Julianna. Why did I think she wouldn't come? Of course, she would. Seemed like everyone knew her except me and it was killing me. I wasn't even sure if she and Ethan had dated before. I wasn't sure about anything anymore.She walked onto the balcony like she owned the world, dressed to kill in this beautiful black dress that hugged her figure perfectly. She looked completely perfect. Her makeup was flawless, not a smudge out of place, and her hair looked like it had been styled by some overpriced Hollywood professional. She had this effortless grace about her like she knew people were watching, and she loved it. I felt tiny in comparison. I felt out of place at that moment. She was like the epitome of beauty, and I was the epitome of nothing. Well, not nothing. I believed in loving my body, but she just suited him perfectly while he and I were odd together.She made her way over to us with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, slipping he
A Bargain With The Devil Chapter 123
MAEI spotted him the second Lindsey walked away like my eyes had been programmed to find him in any crowd. He stood near the far wall, looking way too good in a perfectly tailored suit, a drink in his hand, and that confident, effortless stance that used to make me melt. My stomach did this weird flip, and for a second, I thought about bolting right back out the door. But then Lindsey’s voice yanked me out of my thoughts. “Okay, I'm back.” Before I could react, she handed me another drink, her energy as bubbly as ever. “Thanks for coming. Seriously, it means so much to me!” I forced a smile, trying my best to match her enthusiasm. “Of course. I’m honored to be here.” She rolled her eyes and smacked my arm lightly, laughing. “Oh, stop being so modest. You’re family. I'm surprised you and Ethan didn't come together, but oh well. Couples always fight, right? Now, eat whatever you want, okay? I’ll be right back. Again. I have to say hi to a million more people.” “Go, go,” I s
A Bargain With The Devil Chapter 122
MAEIt was another picture of Ethan and Julianna. They were holding hands, her other hand clutching a bouquet like they were in some sort of romantic movie, which made me sad instead of happy.My chest felt tight like someone had taken a fistful of my heart and squeezed it. And it hurt badly. I wished there was medicine for heartache because I couldn't take any more of this pain. I just wanted peace. Sighing, I tossed my phone to the side, the screen going dark as it hit the pillow. My fingers brushed against my cheeks, and I realized tears had started falling again. Why couldn't I stop crying? It was definitely because of my pregnancy. Not because of Ethan. Not.I curled up on my bed, wrapping my arms around my stomach without even thinking about it. My voice cracked as I whispered, “I’m sorry, baby. I’m sorry you can’t be close to your father right now.” My hand instinctively rubbed the small curve of my belly, as I could somehow comfort the little life growing inside me. The ac
A Bargain With The Devil Chapter 121
MAEEthan walked toward us, his chest rising and falling like he’d just sprinted a marathon. “How’s your dad?” he asked with worry. He sounded sincere, like he was genuinely worried, but I couldn't think about why he was there or how he even knew my dad was at the hospital. I glanced at Miles, waiting for him to answer, because I sure wasn’t about to and the only other person who could have told him was Miles. I'd been with Mum all night so it sure as hell wasn't her and if it was Miles, I was going to kill him. Tear him in half.Miles rubbed the back of his neck, looking awkward, and said, “He’s stable now. My mom's with him now.” I stood there, my arms crossed tight against my chest, looking between the two of them. My brain was spinning. Why was Ethan here? He couldn't have magically known Dad was here. My eyes narrowed suspiciously at Miles, and he caught the look. He sighed like he knew what my question was. “I called him,” he admitted, shrugging like it was no big deal. “W
A Bargain With The Devil Chapter 120
MAE Miles and I bolted outside, my heart hammering in my chest. The second we stepped out, I froze. My dad was lying on the ground, his face pale, his eyes closed. My mom was kneeling over him, her hands on his chest, crying. “Oh my God! Honey!” she sobbed. “Please, get up! Don't do this to me!”“Dad!” I shrieked, running toward him, my broken foot hurting way worse than earlier. Miles sprinted past me, grabbing his phone and already dialing. “I’m calling 911!” he shouted, his voice shaking, not helping my frayed nerves at all.I dropped next to my mom, my hands hovering over Dad like I didn’t know what to do. “Dad?” I whispered, my voice cracking. “Come on, wake up. Please.” He didn’t move. He didn’t even flinch. My mom’s cries were breaking me into a million tiny pieces. My heart was pounding hard, blood rushing to my head, making it very hard to think or breathe. The walls seemed to be closing in on me.It felt like forever before the ambulance arrived, though it couldn’t have b
A Bargain With The Devil Chapter 119
MAEI zipped up my bag with shaky hands, my chest heaving as I threw the last of my stuff inside. My heart was screaming at me to stop, to wait, to give him a chance to explain, but my brain wasn’t having it. I wanted him to also say something, anything, apologize, beg me to stay, tell me what actually happened, at least explain, but Ethan? Ethan didn't seem to care.He wasn’t even begging me to stay. He wasn’t apologizing. He was just standing there like I wasn’t literally packing my things and leaving, like I didn't mean a single thing to him, like what we had, our love, our bond, our marriage meant nothing to him. And it fucking hurt. It hurt to not see him fight for us. Did he even care about us at all? Did all this even mean anything to him?And then he said it.“Maybe we do need a break from each other.”I froze. A break? I wanted to believe I'd heard wrong, but I didn't. He had said we needed a break and I wanted him to say that he was kidding. I wanted him to say he wasn't s
