Annabel was completely lost in the passionate kiss, their lips moving in perfect harmony. However, her blissful moment was abruptly shattered when she suddenly realized that she shouldn't be doing this. Her eyes, which had been closed to savor the kiss, shot open wide with shock. She hurriedly pulled away, her hand instinctively covering her mouth in disbelief. "Oh my goodness," Annabel muttered in shock, fully aware of her actions and regretting them. Meanwhile, Andrew, seemingly unfazed, maintained his composure, hiding any hint of excitement he felt inside. The atmosphere in the room became tense and uncomfortable. Annabel, too embarrassed to speak, was at a loss for words and berated herself for her lack of resistance. Andrew glanced at Annabel and cleared his throat, ready to say something, but was interrupted by her immediate apology. With her head bowed, Annabel apologized to Sir Andrew, surprising him as he hadn't expected such an apology, considering he didn't thi
Annabel's eyes widened, the blue depths of her irises expanding to take in every detail of the scene before her. A gasp escaped her parted lips, barely audible amidst the pounding of her racing heart. She stood frozen in her spot, unable to tear her gaze away from the sight that held her captive.Andrew, a mischievous smirk playing at the corners of his mouth, sneered at her, his tone teasing and filled with amusement. "Like what you see?" he taunted, his voice laced with a hint of laughter. His chuckle, though faint, echoed through the room, and its sound pierced Annabel's dazed mind, jolting her back to reality. In an instant, she averted her eyes, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.As Annabel's gaze shifted away from Andrew, his smirk deepened, a silent victory etched on his face. He took a step closer to where she stood, his footsteps reverberating through the room, causing her heart to skip a beat. The rapid thumping in her chest served as a merciless reminder of her unease,
Sensing the need for a reprieve, she swiftly lowered her head and excused herself before anyone could utter a word. Andrew's instinctive response was to call her back, but he hesitated. She had already disappeared, leaving him to trail his hand through his hair in frustration. As he turned to face Albert, he couldn't help but notice the scrutinizing look in his friend's eyes. Perplexed, Andrew raised an eyebrow and questioned the reason behind Albert's peculiar stares. With a subtle chuckle, Albert brushed off the tension and remarked, "Oh, it's nothing. Just seemed like something happened between you and her." Andrew's eyes widened briefly at the insinuation before returning to their usual composure. Defensively, Andrew uttered, "Nothing happened between us." Albert's laughter filled the room, leaving Andrew bewildered and searching for an explanation. "Dude, chill out. I was just messing with you," Albert admitted, still chuckling lightly. Andrew rolled his eyes, slightly annoyed
The guest's reaction caught me off guard, and I quickly stammered, "I-I'm so sorry, sir. Please allow me to clean that up right away." I glanced down at the stain on their clothing, anxiety gnawing at me. The guest, however, seemed to regain their composure, their expression softening slightly. "It's quite alright, accidents happen,"he replied in a more forgiving tone. I breathed a sigh of relief and rushed to grab a cloth to clean up the mess. As I dabbed at the spilled drink, my mind raced, wondering who this guest was and why they had chosen to attend the party dressed in such lavish attire. It was clear that this event meant a great deal to them, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of curiosity about the drama that seemed to surround the family and the evening's celebrations. As I continued to clean the stain with as much precision as possible, I couldn’t help but overhear snippets of conversations from the nearby guests. They spoke in hushed tones, their words laced with int
As Zachary ambulated through the dimly lit passageway, his mind swirled with the bitter aftertaste of losing the contract to Andrew, each step accompanied by the clenching of his fists, a tangible manifestation of his simmering anger. The invitation to Andrew's party lingered in Zachary's thoughts, a festering suspicion that it was a calculated move to flaunt Andrew's triumph in his face. Yet, it was more than a mere assumption; it was an undeniable reality, a deliberate act by Andrew to revel in his victory. Lost in the labyrinth of his ruminations, Zachary, with a sudden awakening, found himself in the midst of the passageway, a solitary figure in a contemplative journey. His frustrated groan echoed as he ruffled his hair, regretting his presence at the event, fueled by the mere prospect of encountering Tracy, Albert's fiancée. Contemplating a hasty retreat, Zachary's ears caught a distant murmur—a symphony of sorrow and solace intertwined. Intrigued, he abandoned the notion
The sudden stillness in the aftermath of the brawl hung heavily in the air. Zachary, now on the ground nursing his injuries, wore a mix of defiance and surprise, while Andrew, his knuckles stained with the aftermath of the punch, struggled to maintain composure as he faced the repercussions of his actions. Amid the tense tableau, Annabel, still recovering from the abrupt push, found her footing. Averting her gaze from the clash, she attempted to fade into the shadows, seeking refuge from the tumultuous confrontation. Andrew’s mother, a silent witness to the drama, approached with a mixture of genuine concern and disapproval. Her gaze shifted between her son and ,Zachary on the ground, and the injured Annabel. The room, once filled with murmurs and distant melodies, now bore witness to the aftermath of an unexpected eruption of violence. In the uneasy quiet, Zachary rose from the ground, wiping away the blood from his nose with a defiant smirk. “Guess you finally learned to thr
Albert, immersed in his phone, briskly traversed the corridor toward Andrew’s room, driven by an urgency to share something significant. Without a second thought, he swung the door open, neglecting the courtesy of a knock, and began uttering, “Hey, bro, you need to see this.” However, his sentence waned into silence as he took in the surroundings—Andrew was conspicuously absent. A quizzical expression painted Albert’s face as he called out, “Andrew?” The ensuing quietude compelled Albert to conduct a thorough sweep of Andrew’s room, methodically checking each corner, even peering into the bathroom. The elusive Andrew remained a mystery, nowhere to be found. In an exasperated sigh, Albert closed the bathroom door, vocalizing his realization, “I guess Mom was wrong; Andrew isn’t in his room.” As he exited, shutting the door behind him, Albert found himself momentarily rooted in front of Andrew’s room. Lost in the digital landscape of his phone, the significance of seeking out Andr
As Annabel pondered the peculiar encounter with Andrew, the atmosphere in the room remained charged with a subtle tension. She retrieved the first aid kit and began addressing her wound. In the solitude of his room, Andrew found himself engulfed in contemplation. The vivid memory of Annabel seated on his lap lingered, creating a symphony of emotions that resonated within him. Pressing against his chest, Andrew grappled with an unfamiliar rush of feelings. He questioned the source of these emotions, bewildered by the intensity that surged whenever Annabel occupied his thoughts. A reflexive movement led Andrew to his counter, where a jug of water awaited. Pouring himself a glass, he hastily consumed its contents, hoping to quell the swirling thoughts. Yet, the mental reel persisted, projecting images of Annabel that danced before his mind's eye. Frustration etched across his face, Andrew ran his hand over his features, groaning audibly. "I must be going crazy," he admitted wit
It had been weeks since the incident with Annabel and the brothers. Since that night, Annabel had done everything in her power to avoid them. She followed Juliet’s advice to the letter: don’t get involved, just focus on the job. For now, she had nowhere else to go, and she needed the shelter the mansion provided—even if it meant enduring their presence. Andrew made several attempts to speak with her, but Annabel never gave him the chance. She kept her distance, her voice cold whenever he came close. He started to wonder if her silence had something to do with him being with Esme. Desperate for answers, he confronted Esme about that night. She’d given him a casual shrug and said, “We got drunk. We slept. That’s all.” But Andrew didn’t believe her. Not fully. Still, he didn’t press further. “Esme still hasn’t told you anything?” Albert asked, stepping into Andrew’s office. He leaned on the edge of the desk, watching his brother intently. Andrew just shook his head, eyes fixed
The next morning, Annabel stirred, her head pounding. A groan escaped her lips as she squinted against the light, her vision blurry. Everything around her spun for a moment before the room finally came into focus. “Where… am I?” she whispered, her voice hoarse and dry. She blinked, trying to make sense of her surroundings—and then felt a hand rest gently on her arm. She flinched. Her head snapped to the side. Andrew. Her breath hitched. Her heart pounded against her ribs as panic rose inside her. She shoved her hair back with trembling hands. Her gaze dropped to herself—bare skin, no clothes. Her stomach sank. She was completely naked. Air caught in her throat. Her lungs refused to work. Her chest tightened. No, no, no… Before she could even piece together the nightmare she had woken into, another hand touched her. Albert. Her scream nearly broke free—but she swallowed it down, eyes flying to her other side. Albert lay beside her. Naked. Just like Andrew. H
“I don’t think I’m interested in playing any of these games,” Annabel said softly, barely audible over the pulsing music. Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her dress. “Sir, I think we should leave,” she added, her gaze locked on Albert’s hand.Andrew, standing nearby with a drink loosely gripped in one hand, narrowed his eyes. Jealousy flickered in them like a storm ready to erupt.“Why can’t you play?” he asked sharply, his voice cutting through the music. “You running from something… or someone?”Annabel didn’t answer. Neither did Albert. Instead, Albert reached out, lacing his fingers through hers as if shielding her from the moment, and turned to leave.“You can’t just walk out!” Andrew snapped, voice rising above the club beats. “What the hell are you doing, Albert? You have a fucking fiancée, so why are you holding her hand like that?”Albert stopped in his tracks. His eyes met Andrew’s, dark with irritation.“That’s none of your damn business,” he bit back coldly.“Okay, oka
Annabel’s eyes widened in shock at what Andrew had just done. “What is the matter with you?” she demanded, rising quickly and hurrying over to where Albert lay sprawled on the floor to help him up.Andrew’s face flushed with anger and disbelief as he barked, “What is wrong with me? You were both about to fucking kiss—and he’s got a fucking fiancée!”Annabel’s tone was icy as she scoffed, “He was trying to get something out of my eye, you weirdo!” She steadied Albert, whose eyes darted around in embarrassment over the scene he’d just witnessed.Albert cleared his throat and, with a calm steadiness that contrasted sharply with the chaos, asked, “Why would you do that, Andrew?”“I wasn’t thinking. I’m sorry,” Andrew mumbled, his voice softening as he turned and stalked away toward Esme. “Let’s get out of here now,” he said, gripping Esme’s wrist firmly as they left the café behind. Annabel and Albert exchanged glances while watching them disappear through the door.Albert let out a sigh.
Annabel couldn’t shake the nagging uncertainty about where Albert was taking her. Dressed in a simple outfit—a basic top paired with worn jeans—she hoped she wasn’t underdressed for whatever surprise lay ahead. As the car cruised along the quiet road, Albert’s eyes flicked over to her, catching the subtle tension in her posture.“Are you okay, Annabel?” he asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.Startled, she turned to him, forcing a small smile. “There’s no problem, sir. I’m good,” she replied softly, though the tremor in her tone betrayed her. “I’m just a little cold—that’s all,” she added, a gentle lie meant to smooth over the awkward silence between them.Albert’s concern didn’t waver. “That’s no problem at all,” he said, immediately reaching over to switch off the car’s AC. “Better now,” he added with a warm smile. Annabel returned his smile, and the drive passed quietly, punctuated only by the hum of the engine and the soft whisper of the road.When they finally arrived, A
Andrew took a step back, putting distance between himself and Esme. A smirk curled on her lips, her eyes glinting with amusement."I’m glad I make you uneasy. That just means you feel something for me," she said confidently, tilting her head slightly.Andrew’s left eyebrow arched at her words."Feel something for you?" he scoffed. "I don’t give a damn about you, okay? And don’t get too close to me again. I’ve told you before, and I’ll say it again—I’m in love with someone else. So whatever you’re hoping for? It’s never going to happen." His tone was sharp, laced with clear irritation.Before Esme could respond, movement caught Andrew’s attention.Annabel.His eyes widened slightly as she approached, a sudden rush of worry washing over him. Had she seen what just happened?"Excuse me, sir. I'd like to get through," Annabel said, her voice calm, controlled.Esme turned to her, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "Oh my, are you a housekeeper here?" she asked, her gaze sweeping over Annabe
Andrew's mind reels as he watches Esme, confusion clouding his thoughts. Why is she saying this? What game is she playing?"I'm serious, okay?" Esme insists, her tone light yet unwavering. "When my dad told me I’d be meeting someone, I wasn’t exactly thrilled. He’s always setting me up with people I have no interest in. But with you… it’s different.” She tilts her head, watching him closely. “The way you stood up to your parents, refusing the marriage—it was something I’ve never seen a rich boy do before. It was… attractive." She smiles, but Andrew feels no warmth from it—only amusement, like she’s enjoying a game he never agreed to play.His frown deepens. "Don't get the wrong idea," he says sharply. "I said that because I don’t want to marry you—not because I was trying to impress you."Esme’s smile widens, as if his frustration is nothing more than entertainment to her. "I know. But now I want to marry you.”Andrew exhales sharply, barely containing his irritation. "Well, I don’t w
Andrew’s POVI loved the shocked look on my mom’s face. Now I was sure—this marriage would never happen."Hi, everyone. I’m Esme," she said in a nonchalant tone, barely looking up from her phone as she found a seat."This is my daughter, Esme," Griffen said nervously. I mean, who could blame him? Just look at his daughter."She doesn’t look shy to me," I said with amusement, only to be silenced by my mother’s sharp glare. I rolled my eyes but didn’t push it further."I think we should all eat," my mom said with a forced smile, trying to keep things civil.My gaze stayed on Esme. I wanted to tell her how relieved I was that she was the one here. There was no way my mom would ever accept her as her daughter-in-law.As we started eating, Griffen reached over and took Esme’s phone away. "Eat properly," he told her.Surprisingly, she listened without protest. She actually obeyed him. Well, I guess that wasn’t a bad thing."I know you all might have some questions about my daughter," Griffe
The house is beautifully decorated, warm lights casting a soft glow over the elegant setup. The scent of fresh flowers lingers in the air, mingling with the faint aroma of baked goods.Annabel moves about the kitchen, wiping down the counters, but her mind is elsewhere. Curiosity tugs at her as she watches the staff rush around with an unusual level of excitement.She finally turns to Mrs. Jones, who’s overseeing the preparations. "Mrs. Jones, what’s happening?" she asks, her tone laced with curiosity.Mrs. Jones pauses, a smile tugging at her lips. "Andrew is about to get engaged."The words hit Annabel like a sudden gust of wind. Her heart skips a beat, her grip tightening slightly on the cloth in her hands."What?" she breathes out, needing confirmation. "Is he really getting engaged today?"Mrs. Jones’ smile fades into a frown. "That’s exactly what I said," she replies with a hint of irritation. "Now, get back to work."Annabel nods absently, turning back to her task, but the news