Here she is now—the only option other than going inside the house is to insist that he fly her back to Cordova, which leaves her with a bag full of cement. "Okay," she agreed rebelliously. "I'm going in." But it's like going back in time. The last time they left, they both thought they'd be back soon, and the house had that feeling - as if they'd left soon and everything was just as it was.Her heart churned in her chest as she stepped into the depths of the living room, memories flooding her, her pulse racing wildly. "You're obviously happy here," he said softly, walking behind her. "And I like to see you happy." She closed her eyes because she heard what he didn't say. He didn't like seeing her hurt. He didn't like knowing he was going to hurt her. He fears becoming like his father, fears that their marriage will spiral into the same horrific merry-go-round of squabbles.She turned to face him, needing to reassure him. "I'm happy in Córdova, too," she lied. "You're avoiding me
Tears glistened in her eyes. "I love you," he added simply, when all the grander expressions seemed unnecessary at the time. "I'll keep you here until you understand this." She smiled. "I think I get it," she blinked, "but I'm happy to pretend I don't, just for tonight." "A couple of nights," he bartered, and then, before she could object, He raised a hand. Put your finger on her lips to calm her down. "At least."She nodded, feeling a pain in her heart. "It sounds like heaven to me." ***Much later, as their feet dipped into the warm waters of the soft sand and the sky was dusky pink and orange, Amy's phone started ringing. She took out her mobile phone from her back pocket, frowned when she saw the unfamiliar number, and swiped the screen to answer it. "Hello?" "Is this Mrs. Amelia Montero?" She smiled at Victor, filled with emotion, because she really was Mrs. Amelia Montero, in every fiber of her body. In the bones, in all the cells of her heart."Indeed it is." "It's Dr.
Book 3 BlurbA Misunderstood Marriage Miranda couldn't possibly have prepared herself for tycoon Jacob Delrama. He proposed to Mira—well, he insisted: "Y—you'll have a wedding ceremony, and in return, you'll receive a big amount of cash and a divorce as soon as I arrange it."Mira agrees to a secret wedding at the behest of her late brother, but she is distressed that Jacob has completely misunderstood her. The longer she spent with him, the more she knew that she couldn't be his temporary wife. Only one thing - her secret must be told!***After the peak, with her heart beating like a drum, Mira climbed into the church and slid to a pew near the back to listen to the memorial service from a safe distance. Dimitri Castor is well known in the city of Córdova. The dimly lit interior was packed with those who wanted to pay their last respects. A black and gold embroidered scarf covered her drooping head, and Mira trembled, lost in the dark abyss of sorrow.She had been alone for as long
At age 10, Jacob Delrama lost his parents in a hiking accident. Dimitri and Clara took Jacob into their home and raised him as their own sibling. It never occurred to Dim that Mira would be displeased with his constant mention of the countless virtues and talents that replaced her brother,It is unwarranted injustice to despise yourself just for such childish impulses. Mira fell silent. She trembled at the sound of her own footsteps. She was supposed to be sober the day Dimitri died, but she was so shocked she literally stopped functioning. Just five weeks ago, he was hospitalized with a mild heart attack. She was first at his bedside,When she realizes that Clara and Jacob are already en route from the airport, she reluctantly separates from Dim. "Stay—ring the bell with all of them!" Dimitri growled recklessly, already irritated by the nurse's attempt to prevent her from entering his private chamber. "You know you don't mean that. You can't do that to your wife," Mira murmured tig
Her trembling mouth clenched into a bloodless line. Dim kept their secret to protect his wife. Years of betrayal went to the grave with him. She has an obligation to keep her faith in her brother. What good is the truth if it only brings more pain and distress? She didn't need anything Dim left her. She has her own life to live, and she doesn't want to possess anything that should belong more to her brother's widow.She felt that was wrong, morally wrong. Rings are different. It's her only tangible connection to a tradition and background she hasn't had in her entire life. "As you can see—I'm leaving." Mira raised her bright head high, examining the frighteningly tall black figure with bitter revulsion, "You have nothing to worry about. I'm not going to hang out and embarrass anyone—""If it was that simple, we wouldn't have this unpleasant meeting," Jacob said sternly. "I will drive you out of this house forcibly!" Mira laughed contemptuously, and her temper became more and more in
"It's recent," Jacob said slowly. "But you should have told me," Clara scolded in an uneasy but gentle tone. "How can you believe that I feel angry for your happiness? If only you knew how crazy I was thinking when I came to this door—A taxi was noisily pulling into the driveway." My Taxi," Mira whispered in relief. "You're leaving? But I just met you," protested Clara, surprised and disappointed."I'm afraid Miranda has a flight to catch, and she's already late," Jacob interjected ingeniously, grabbing Mira's suitcase with one hand before Mira reached for it again, and quickly carried it away. Out of the house, probably to allow her to leave faster. "Miranda—that's a very—very beautiful name," Clara mused after a moment of strange hesitation, her eyes quickly clouded, before raising her head again and continuing with palpable warmth. "Forgive me for coming uninvited, but I look forward to spending time with you soon." "I'm sorry but I have to leave I'm in such a hurry," Mira mu
Sheldon walked wearily into the kitchen. He was over six feet tall, with shoulders like the handle of an ax and a huge chest, but the hard physical labor drained even his impressive resources. His long, thick black hair tangled limply and wetly over his rough features. "Is there any chance you ever bought a beer or soft drinks when you went shopping?"Mira barely looked up from the grimy cooker she was scrubbing and gave him a look of disbelief. "You're just kidding!" "You can't be mad at me." Sheldon treated her with a look of pained male incomprehension. "You should have called. If I get a warning that you're coming back, I'll bring Sheila to clean up—A gleam of contempt flashed in Mira's eyes. "Your sister has her own full-time job and a life. You should be ashamed of yourself, Sheld. When we moved here, you promised you would do your best. What should you do the moment I turn around?" she asked with bitter resentment. "You've turned the cottage into a filthy mess and my garden
Jacob stood in the doorway of the messy lounge with a poised expression, his chiseled silhouette full of derision. "You're living like a pig!" He turned around again, taking a breath in disgust. "Unwashed—your home is dirty. I would get goosebumps if I entered that room. You need pest control."Shocked, Mira fell into a rare silence, gasping at him as he avoided her and strode quickly back outside. "We'll stay here for some fresh air."Mira, her cheeks burning with rage and humiliation, chased him again. "How dare you?" "Keep quiet." Jacob looked at her coldly and menacingly. "Be quiet and listen carefully. Dim is one of nature's gentlemen but I'm not and I've figured out what your game is. I now understand why Dim wrote that new will. He drafted the document without legal advice, had it witnessed by a servant, and placed it on his desk the day he returned to Manila. He's worried he's going to have another heart attack and is very worried about your future—why?" Her breath caught in
Clara clear all doubts and misunderstandings!"Where are you going?" Jacob asked big-sister Clara."This is just an in-flight visit to clear up misunderstandings. I will come back to see Castiglio next time. By the way, Mira—"Mira raised her head nervously. Clara laughed again. "Your brother managed to convince his mother not to sell the family painting with the house. I'm glad to see them hanging where they belong."***"Clara can run in circles," Mira muttered as the limousine disappeared from view. "She was mopping the floors with us." Still in shock, she started back indoors. Then it dawned on her: Clara knew everything. There's no need to pretend anymore, and there's no need to wait for a divorce any longer. Suddenly, Mira's lower limbs struggled limply through the swamp like toothpicks. Clara removes the artificial boundaries formed by their relationship. They are running out of time. "How can you tell her our marriage is fake?" Jacob angrily condemned. "Do you really thin
Mira took a step back, frustrated by the bodyguard's barely concealed hostility. He hesitated, apparently determined not to insult Jacob for his assistance during her stay. From the door, she glanced back."Things are not what you think." She said helplessly. "I shouldn't be thinking about anything, Mrs. Delrama." But there was accusation about him, his usual quiet friendliness chilled by what she believed to be a fiercely defensive loyalty to Jacob.It's only when Jacob is in this situation that he realizes that Jacob is too damn manly and proud to want her around him, which prompts Mira to go back to her room. She lay in bed and watched the dawn break. He was really upset, he must have been drunk. Mira tried very hard to understand. Hadn't she herself betrayed Dimitri's trust in the same way? She agreed to marry Jacob only under duress,If she had known what their fate would be in the morning after the ceremony, she would have run a thousand miles. Jacob wasn't trying to disinher
"I don't hate anyone." But Mira is still ashamed because she remembers her resentment against his legal family reaching explosive proportions before her brother's death, only that was when she met Jacob and Clara and before she let herself face reality."Dimitri doesn't love anyone," she pointed out sternly. "He never stopped loving Clara. Even if he knew about me, I think Clara knows this and that's why she never gives him a choice." "You didn't give me a choice either," Jacob reprimanded bitterly. "You let me continue to think that you slept with Dimitri. Even though you know this belief breaks my heart, you keep me believing it!""I keep telling you we're not lovers, but I know it's pointless! The only possible explanation for Dimitri's will is the one I've come up with." Jacob's eagle-like profile was frozen with suppressed emotion, and he gave her a sharp look."But I must admit that I cruelly and cynically misjudged Dimitri and did everything in my power to shirk the responsibi
But not just in the moment when she revels in the fact that he can't take his eyes off her. Mira was awakened by the thunderous slam of the door. She blinked confusedly in the light and stood up against the pillows, looking vaguely at Jacob, standing at the foot of the bed, shirtless except for a pair of faded skinny jeans hanging down over his thin hips. There was a gentle smile on her lips. He looks so magnificent, he always looks so magnificent,She could even forgive him for accidentally waking her out of a deep sleep for the first time in days. Vicious black eyes stared at her fiercely. Mira froze in amazement, her smile gone, her abdominal muscles tensing. Waves of seething tension emanated from Jacob. "What's wrong?" she asked in a low voice."I'm hungry. I got up to get something to eat and on the way down I started wondering what was so important about these documents that my lawyer felt the need to fly over and put them in my hands himself and if they were worth that much.
Raw triumph flashed in his glistening eyes. He ran slowly, looking for his fingers in the pouty mound he had bared for fun. As his thumb brushed the stiff pink bud approaching him, she gasped and stood up against him, every nerve ending in her body screaming in response. He pushed her to the ground with passionate kisses. She kissed him back with desperate urgency, everything she had suppressed for so long.Endless days suddenly betrayed her in a possessive storm. Her hands ran over his body, smoothing the warm golden skin that encased the whiplash muscles, and she let out a hungry moan of impatience. "You're always in a hurry—" Mira writhed and squirmed, on fire wanting him, without a semblance of self-control, not even remembering. Her fingers gripped his thick, silky black hair, and she moved her legs in an invitation to pain more blatantly than words.With a sharp groan, Jacob reached for her hips and pulled her under him. Then he hesitated. "I don't want to hurt you anymore."
"Change it." Mira pleaded sincerely, and hurriedly avoided him and walked towards the house. "I'm going to take a shower." "See you upstairs," Jacob said softly. She froze and then understood what he meant. He had to change, and although he slept in the bedroom opposite to her, half his clothes were in the closet in her room. Her head was still spinning. One kiss and she's gone without a trace, and Jacob can do anything to her! No wonder he was laughing!She was his and he knew it. A taxi was already waiting in the courtyard, and when Mira entered the hall, a maid was leading a man with a briefcase into the living room. The man stopped for a moment and almost looked at Mira in surprise. Then, just as suddenly, his piercing black eyes veiled nodded politely and disappeared from her view.Mira looked curiously at Klaud standing under the stairs. "Who's that?" "Mr. Delrama's lawyer." No doubt the man was staring at her because she looked horrible in her gardening attire it wasn't a
"I know what I'm doing, Sol." "How can you say that? There's no peace in Castiglio. We're all crawling around the house—no smiles, no laughs. That wonderful delicious food—He said if he didn't finish another meal, he'd leave!" "Jacob is very bad-tempered." "Having a wife who works all day in the garden, he has a reason. You're neglecting your husband." Not in her dream, she didn't."He thrives on neglect." Sol gritted her teeth disapprovingly, shook her head, and got up to leave. "You're as stubborn as he is." Mira regained her energy and continued weeding. If her brother looked down on her and Jacob now, she knew he would blame her too. But from the moment Jacob asserted that if she were related to Dimitri, he would feel obligated to maintain a married relationship with her, Mira decided not to try to use that as a basis to attract and keep him.After successfully seducing her into bed, Jacob candidly admits that his only interest in her is sex. If he knew she was Dimitri's sist
The powerful car stopped in the yard. Jacob turned off the engine and turned to look at her, black eyes as hard as jet in a vibrantly handsome face. "When you lose your temper with Sheldon, your mood can turn bad. He is your security blanket and I think you are old enough to live without him. Times have changed, don't try to tell me differently, baby. What you want now is me—"Forever, and always, she thought horrified, clutching at the depths of her own vulnerability. She wants so much more than she hopes to achieve. Jacob held up a strong hand and gently tucked a handful of colorful spirals between his fingers. He lifted her brooding face, subjecting her to the onslaught of his stern scrutinizing gaze. "I want you," he said with great succinctness. "So what's the problem? In my opinion, this is a simple and completely straightforward relationship."Mira held her breath, almost drowning in the evocative scent of him being so close, and a flurry of small reactions made her dizzy an
Sheldon makes a deliberate U-turn in the colored vehicle. "I've always promised myself to take a vacation. The moment you said you were in Castiglio, I saw the sun, water, and the sand and I realized where you had to be. From there, it was just a matter of studying the map." As he drove down the steep mountain road at the crawling speed of a fear of heights, holding the steering wheel painfully tightly, rounding each zigzag corner with ease,Mira thought about Jacob feverishly until she was dizzy with tension. Bang! He stole her peace and security. And what did he give her in return? A terrible sense of inadequacy and self-loathing, and an unreliable temper like an active volcano. "If you are threatened by Jacob, please yell." Just last night, he told her that she had a fight with him and wanted to arrest him! He's seen inside of her and understood something that she didn't understand herself, and it's horrific.She should have known she was in love with him the moment she found her