ALANNAWhat is it about Elevators and the urge to fuck in them?Nolan is insufferable, Nolan is a glutton for punishment. He doesn't know when to stop, he doesn't know when I have reached my limit. I breathed out as soon as I shut the door of my office and leaned on the door frame.“Ahhhhhhh” I yelled out slightly, hitting my fist repeatedly on the door.Fuck him!Fuck him!I hate him! I hate him so much! Why does he always put me in a situation where I need to fight against my will? He is such a terrible person. I was still lamenting about my Nolan ordeal when I heard a knock on the door. I startled and rose from the door, adjusting my blue flair gown, I said a silent prayer hoping it was not Nolan. I already had enough of Nolan for one day. I peeped through the glass and saw it was indeed a Mr. Westbrook, not just the one I loathe. Brad WestbrookI let out an exasperated gasp and pulled the doorknob. “Alanna,” Brad greeted, his eyes beaming at the sight of me.“Brad, pleas
ALANNA“Not when they show up without booking an appointment ahead of time,” I replied with a smirk on my face and I could see her eyes widen in disbelief. I loathe this woman just as much as I did her son or even more. She is a witch, the devil at best. “Do you know who I am, how dare you talk to me in such a manner?” she replied, I could see her already fuming in rage. I grinned, “Please enlighten me, it has been a while and I don't really remember,” I was making my way back to my seat and crossed my legs against one another. “You little girl, you think you can come back here and destroy everything, my son Nolan had worked for. But there is one thing you miscalculated on,” she paused, she was probably expecting me to ask but I didn't. Instead, I kept staring at her, then she continued, “Nolan has a mother, who is ready to do anything to stop anyone from getting in his way,” she concluded and I chuckled. “Is that a threat Mrs. Westbrook?” I asked, feigning ignorance. “Take it
BRADGod Alanna is so fucking gorgeous, she is the bodily embodiment of heaven on earth. A fucking goddess. Gosh, I want to fuck her. BadlySlow down cowboy, this is not your play, you need to take it slow and steady, or else you will lose her. Right now she thinks you are better than all the fucking Westbrook in this empire, so you need to keep her thinking that way, I chant to myself. I made my way outside her office, Beaming that she agreed to go on a date with me. As I made my way towards my office, I decided that where is the fun if I don't get to rub it in Golden Boy Face? I strode to his office and thankfully his door was open so I walked in. I didn't need an invitation, he was on a call but as soon as he saw he paused mid-sentence and glared at me. “I will come over to your house later Jake,” he said right before hanging up the phone, I knew who he was talking to. His loyal dog of a friend, Jake.“What do you want Brad, is it not too early to be lost?” he asked as he
CHAPTER 25BRADI should really hit the gym. Why can't I break free from Nolan’s grip? Nolan is cold, Nolan is self-absorbed, and Nolan is a prick, but one thing Nolan has never been is aggressive. “She is mine and mine alone,” those words kept echoing in my ears as his grips turned firmer and tauter. Then he glared into my eyes and suddenly he released me and I came crashing down to the chair I was seated in. Almost stumbling back.“For a married man, I didn't expect that reaction or choice of word,” I countered, trying to steady my breath. I was already on the verge of passing out. “Get the fuck out of my office,” he yelled out and I knew that I had already reached his elastic limit, any more and he would be sending me to the abyss. I stood up without saying anything more and strode out of his office, I made my way back to mine when I saw a familiar figure, one that I knew all too well. It was Chloe. “Ever since Alanna arrived you have not given Nolan any form of breathing s
ALANNA“You are dead to me, Alanna,”Those words echoed in my ears as I tried to comprehend if this woman who I stood before was truly my mother. I took in a deep breath reminding myself that she was sick and dying and nothing I would say or do would change that. So I needed to show her sympathy. “I know you are going through a lot of pain Mum and….” I paused as soon as she rolled her eyes when I called her mum. I could see the gaze of disgust fall upon her. Did she really hate me that much? That it felt unbearable to her to hear me call her mum. I shrugged that thought away and continued, “I want to let you know that despite all our differences, I care about you a lot and I will be here for you no matter what,” I finally said in a low tone. “You think now that you have money, it can buy and erase all that you did, to me, to Brian,” she replied, glaring at me. “I am not trying to buy or erase anything, Mum,” and again she shrugged at the word. Tears began to well up in my eye
NOLANWhy would Alanna agree to go on a dinner date with Brad?Of all people, Brad is the worst kind of acclaimed good because he is not even great. I hope she is not being fooled by her seemingly good-guy act. Maybe he was lying and just using all this to taunt and get to me. But Alanna had agreed to go out with him right before my eyes. I was still caught up in my thoughts when I heard a knock coming from the door.It better not be Brad. I was prepared to send him to hell this time if he comes back to say more. “Come in,” I called out and immediately the door swung open, it wasn't Brad but on the sight of this other person, I began to wish it was Brad. “Mum,” I said in a low tone. “You don't seem excited to see me,” she responded with a smile as she approached me and I placed a soothing kiss on her cheek. I wasn't excited to see her, my mum didn't really concern herself directly with the office matters, she was involved but not directly, she was more of a supervisor oversh
ALANNAHow can one hate someone so dearly and still get so wet just thinking about the person? For a week, all that had been on my mind was the weird encounter I had with my father and the possibly awkward date I was going to have with Brad today.I had to push forward my date with Brad last week because I had to go on a business trip outside the country. I also used the trip as a means to buy myself time. But right now, all that didn't matter, I was seated directly opposite Nolan, silently exchanging glance with one another and seven of the shareholders. Brad wasn't present, because apparently, it was executives only.“The profit margins between the last four months and the previous had an increase of sixty-eight percent which also means the number in figures has well surpassed six hundred million in profit, in just six months,” he spoke in a stern tone, his face fixated on the projected number and chart on the screen. Fuck, Nolan looked like some Egyptian god at this moment, he
ALANNANOLAN IS CRAZY, A FREAKING PSYCHOPATH. When we were done with the meeting, I tried to escape back to my office as quickly as I could, to come up with a plan that would stop me from going on a trip with Nolan.“Alanna, where are you running to?” Nolan called out and I paused, rolling my eyes, I hate being caught in the act. “I have work to do, Nolan, you should know that,”“I do, so what is your plan about our trip,” he teased and I sighed, I shouldn't have spoken up to defend him. I brought this upon myself. “Look, Nolan, I am not in any way pleased to go on a trip with you, but business is business and as much as I don't want to, I have something to prove to people like Raina who doubt my capability, so I will appreciate you put on your professional hat too,”He chuckled and moved towards the doorsteps, it was as if he read my mind and I knew that I was about to exit. “You know your little boyfriend, set her up to it?” I gazed at him in utter perplexion, “What little bo
ALANNAStanding at the back of the church, the soft melody of the wedding march echoing through the air. Who would have thought that after everything—after all the pain, the heartbreak, and the betrayal—I would find myself here, about to marry Nolan Westbrook, the man I once believed was the source of all my suffering? Life has a strange way of leading you exactly where you need to be, even when you fight it every step of the way.Pedro, my rock, my father in every way that mattered, stood beside me. He looked at me with pride, his eyes shining with unshed tears. "You ready, Dear?" His voice was steady, but I could hear the emotion behind it.I nodded, feeling my heart swell with gratitude. This was the man who had taken me in, loved me unconditionally, and gave me the family I had always longed for. And now, he was about to walk me down the aisle to start a new chapter of my life.As we began to move forward, the sight before me took my breath away. The church was filled with the peop
NOLAN"Closure doesn't come from forgetting the past but from facing it head-on."The wind blew softly as we stood at Chloe's grave, the air filled with the scent of freshly turned earth and the distant hum of the city. It had taken us a long time to get here, to stand at this place with a sense of peace instead of anger or regret. I looked down at the headstone, its cold surface a stark reminder of all that had happened, all that we had lost and gained.In my arms, little Chloe stirred, her tiny hands grasping at the air. She was so innocent, unaware of the twisted history that brought her into this world. But that was how it would stay. Alanna and I had promised each other that this child, this beautiful little girl, would never know the darkness that shadowed her birth. She would be loved, cherished, and protected from the truth that could shatter her world.Alanna knelt beside the grave, placing a single white rose on the headstone. Her voice was soft, but there was strength in it
ALANNAWhen Lucas stepped out of the shadows, gun in hand, my heart clenched with a fear I hadn’t felt in years. The happiness of moments before—Nolan’s proposal, the promises of a future together—seemed to shatter like glass around us. All I could see was Lucas, his face twisted with rage and pain, his eyes filled with a darkness that sent chills down my spine.It was as if everything we’d gone through, every battle we’d fought, was leading up to this moment. But instead of feeling strong, I felt vulnerable, exposed. Lucas was no longer the boy I once knew. He was a man consumed by hatred, and that hatred was directed at me.“You came into my life and took everything,” Lucas snarled, his voice trembling with barely suppressed anger. “You took my family, you took the only love I had ever known, and now you’ve ruined everything!”I tried to find the right words, something that could reach him, something that could make him see reason. But nothing came. All I could do was stand there, f
ALANNA"Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies."Shopping with Angela was just the distraction I needed. The weight of everything—Nolan’s court case, the uncertainty of our future—had been pressing down on me like a storm cloud. But here, in the brightly lit aisles, surrounded by the scent of fresh clothes and the chatter of happy customers, I felt lighter. Angela had a way of making even the most mundane tasks feel like an adventure.We wandered through racks of dresses, holding up options and debating the merits of each one. Angela was in the middle of showing me a deep red dress when she suddenly paused, a small smile playing on her lips.“Jake asked me to move in with him.”The words hung in the air between us, and I felt a surge of happiness for her. “He did? That’s amazing, Angela! How do you feel about it?”Angela looked thoughtful, her fingers brushing the fabric of the dress she was holding. “I don’t know. I mean, I love him, and I can see a future with him.
Nolan"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."The courthouse loomed before me, a symbol of the justice I’d been seeking ever since that fateful day. The memories of what Brad had done—of what he’d put my family through—played on a loop in my mind. There was no forgetting the fear in Alanna’s eyes, the sound of the gunshot, the moment when everything nearly ended for us. Today was about more than just a verdict; it was about setting things right, about reclaiming the peace that Brad had stolen from us.As I sat in the courtroom, the weight of the moment settled heavily on my shoulders. This wasn’t just about me. It was about Alanna, about our children, about the future we’d almost lost. I glanced over at Alanna, who was seated beside me. Her hand rested in mine, her grip tight and unyielding. We had come this far together, and we were going to see it through to the end.Mr. Collins, my lawyer, stood and approached the stand where I was seated. He was calm, composed, the
ALANNA“Family isn't just about blood; it's about who stands by you when the world falls apart."As we walked into the restaurant, the warm glow of the lights and the soft hum of conversation made me feel at ease. This place, with its cozy ambiance and inviting atmosphere, was perfect for the first dinner we’d have together as a family—one that finally felt whole. I glanced around at everyone, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness. It had been a whirlwind of emotions since discovering the truth about my past, and now, here we were, trying to create something new from the ashes of what once was.Nolan squeezed my hand gently as we approached our table. He could sense my nerves and, as always, knew exactly what I needed—a reminder that I wasn’t alone in this. The kids ran ahead, excited to see the menu and all the possibilities it promised. Mrs. Westbrook, who had become such a steady presence in our lives, followed behind them, her eyes twinkling with affection as she watched
ALANNAALANNA*"The truth is like a slow-burning fuse—inevitable and explosive, lighting up the darkest corners of our past."*The air in the room felt heavy, laden with the weight of all the secrets that had been suffocating us for years. Chloe's father sat across from me, his eyes tired and red, as if he had been wrestling with his conscience for a long time. I knew this conversation would change everything, yet I wasn’t prepared for what was coming.For so long, I had lived under the shadow of a truth I didn’t fully understand. I knew that the people I had called my parents weren’t truly mine, but beyond that, there was only darkness—a void that left me feeling lost and incomplete. Today, it seemed, that void was about to be filled.He took a deep breath, as if trying to steady himself for what he was about to reveal. "Alanna, I owe you the truth, even though it's a truth I've buried for far too long. You see, your real parents—they weren’t who you thought they were."I nodded, my
ALANNA“Some truths are too heavy to bear, but they must be carried nonetheless.”The phone rang late in the evening. Nolan and I were curled up on the couch, enjoying a rare moment of peace. When he saw Chloe’s name flash across the screen, he hesitated, the tension immediately creeping back into his shoulders. He glanced at me, his brows furrowed in concern.“I’ll answer,” I offered, knowing that whatever she had to say would weigh on him. He handed me the phone, relief mingled with worry in his eyes.“Hello?” I tried to keep my voice steady, but my mind raced with possibilities. Why was she calling now?“Alanna,” Chloe’s voice was weak, almost unrecognizable. There was an urgency in her tone that sent a chill down my spine. “I’m at the hospital. I need you and Nolan to come… please, it’s important.”Before I could respond, she hung up. I stared at the phone, my mind reeling.“What did she say?” Nolan’s voice broke through my thoughts.“She’s at the hospital. She wants us to come… N
NOLANI don't want this night to end," I murmured, my lips brushing against her ear. The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning and longing. I looked into Alanna's deep blue eyes, and I knew she felt the same way."Then let's not let it end," Alanna whispered back, her fingers trailing down my chest, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. The touch of her hands on my skin sent a shiver of anticipation running through me. I couldn't resist her any longer. I swept her off her feet, carrying her up the stairs to our bedroom, where we could forget about the rest of the world and just be with each other.I couldn't help but think about how far we had come. It wasn't just about the physical connection, though that was incredible. It was about the way she looked at me, the way she touched me, the way she made me feel. I knew that I had found something special with Alanna, something that I never wanted to let go of.I kissed her deeply, my tongue exploring her mouth as our bodies pressed t