I took a taxi back to my house. No, scratch that. My previous house as it seemed. I'd never expected a day like this to come. The day that the mansion my own father left for me; in my name would be taken away all because of the blind trust I had in someone.Ridiculously funny. Now I know better. Moral of the story, trust no one.Surprisingly I didn't go through the heartbreak phase of weeping day in day out with tissues scattered around and me looking like some rotten cheese.I was still in my “sexy black dress” as I noticed the driver glancing at me through the rare mirror. I knew I was the temptation here.“I don't see any ring on your finger ma'am.” He stroked his tongue against his lower lip.“I'd be merciful enough to pretend you didn't speak; drive.” I'd have definitely given him a hard knock on his bald shining-armor head for trying to mess with me, but I'd let it slide just because I wore something that exposed me .“Stop here,” I said and highlighted the vehicle. I had pai
There was a strange tension between us. As the saying goes, ‘the world is indeed a small place.” How on earth could the lady that insulted me be his sister. My life would definitely be a living hell. I could see the shock on her face. She undoubtedly knew she had messed up big time.She greeted Sebastian with a curt nod before turning to me. I squeezed a smile, trying to ease the tension but it was still visible. No doubt she was amazingly dressed but she still looked warm.“Hi, Genevieve.” I said, stretching out my hand.“Is this the woman you said you married?” She asked, turning to Sebastian while my hand was left hanging.Interesting, isn't it.“Yes, is there a problem?” I could see her anger suppressed. She definitely didn't want to speak to make Sebastian not figure out the brief fight that transported between us.“Nevermind.” She squeezed a smile and shook my once hanging hand.“Nice to meet you. And you are?”“His wife, Natalie Wilson.”“Interesting. I'm Genevieve. So, you’r
I had returned from work where I needed to get some of my documents back home since Iris had decided to treat me this way, it was fine. But it was better she kept it at the back of her mind that I was coming back…not just coming back for the sake of it, but coming back stronger. She had better be prepared for me.I went into our room, mine and Sebastian's, but he was nowhere to be found. He must have been really occupied since his usual close hour was six PM. I wanted to call…besides I wasn't his real wife per se, so I had to quit acting like one. Bro could come home anytime he wishes. Perhaps he'd doing some shit with some girls.Who cares?I undressed and did my thing in the shower, stepping out felt like a burden was lifted from my shoulders. But before I knew it, dressed in my skimpy nightgown, I dozed off only to be awakened by a yell.My eyelids fluttered open. No one was in the room. Where could the voice be from them? I got up, drawing nigh to the door only to discover it was
Sebastian's POV I shut the door in her face. I know nothing in particular about this so-called Iris of a girl, but from the proposals she'd been making and Natalie's perception of her, was enough reason for me to think she was up to no good. “What did she say, Sebastian?” Natalie’s voice came from behind me, cutting through my thoughts. I turned to see her standing in the kitchen, her face etched with curiosity and concern.“Nothing important,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. “Just the usual nonsense.”Natalie’s eyes narrowed. “Usual nonsense?. Did something happen? Something must have definitely happened.”I sighed, rubbing my forehead. “She was just demanding something from me. Nothing I want to deal with right now. Let’s just focus on breakfast, please.”I could see the frustration in Natalie’s eyes, but she nodded and turned to the kitchen. The smell of pasta filled the kitchen, with the aroma of fresh coffee. It wasn’t the usual breakfast I’d expect, but at least sh
Natalie's POV I got up the next morning prepared to meet with Sebastian’s mother. He had told me last night that his mother was returning from England - she had been on a business trip and she was finally home. So we would be going to pick her up from the airport and we'll all have dinner together. At least, a chance to introduce myself to her. Heww, this marriage of a thing would cost me a lot.“Oh, my…you look so beautiful.” a voice intruded my thoughts. It was Sebastian. I put on the second pair of earrings, and adjusted my red dinner dress. “Oh, stop with your flattery.” I wasn't in for all that. He was infamous for being the seductive billionaire CEO. How in hell would I take him seriously?“I'm damn serious.” He jumped on the bed, roughing the bed I had made this morning. A childlike anger filled me. “Why did you do that? You know I hate seeing the bed scattered. Fix it up.” I yelled.“No need to raise your voice, kitten. Come here.” “What?” “I said, come here.” What was
Natalie's POV.I thought dinner with Sebastian's mother would be something pleasant and memorable, oh well I thought wrong. From the moment I saw her, I knew something wasn't right. She wasn't polite enough and there was this tension I couldn't shake. And there was Genevieve, Sebastian's sister, she was a thorn in the flesh.She sat at the head of the table, her actions cold and stiff. The moment our eyes met, I could feel her resentment towards me. I wasn't sure why, but she made zero effort to hide her disdain. It was obvious to everyone she didn't like me.And I must say, even though I am that person who cared less about people's perception of me, I cared about hers this time. “So, you’re the new wife,” she said, her voice sharp like a knife. “How does it feel to be part of this family?”I forced a smile, even though her words made me uncomfortable. “I’m grateful for the opportunity,” I replied, trying to sound polite.Her lips curled into a small, cold smile. “I see.”We are the
Sebastian's POV I had to reach out to Iris. She had kept on with her pressures and at times I sat to wonder why she controlled me with her threats. And why did I seem to care? Yeah, well, it had to do with one's life, so I was bound to care.I battled with the thought to tell or not tell Natalie the truth. To get things straight, I would not for anything accommodate the thought of even having a thing to do with Iris. Not now, not ever. I looked down at my shoes; they were untied. Plus, I was already late for the meeting by nine. I was about to bend over when a handheld me.“Let me do that.” She smiled. It was Natalie.A chill ran down my spine as I felt a sting in my chest. I thought she was still fast asleep.She bent down slowly and grabbed the shoelaces. Slowly, she crossed one lace over the other, pulling them tight. Her fingers worked quickly to make a knot, then she pulled the shoes to check if they were tied well.She seemed to be a master.“You would make a name for yourself
Natalie's POV.I had rushed out as soon as Sebastian left, to see Iris. She needed to explain more about what she had said to me last night. To God who made me, I found it pretty hard to sleep even after I had refreshed myself.The words kept on playing…”Tell Sebastian to meet me at the hotel.” For crying out loud, who says that? I know I wasn't in the position to choose who he had sex with, but this was my man, at least in the public eye and I had to make her believe I was really married.She had taken enough from me, not this one.I reached my former house and a turmoil of nostalgia filled my head till its brim. I had once belonged here. This was my home, my treasure, now it had been taken away from me. But I wouldn't just back down. I was in to make things work out for me. My hands were in my hands and I'd make sure I got it back at all costs.I stepped foot into the house and the first person whom I caught sight of was and hadn't expected to see was Alfred - the power hungry milli
Natalie’s POVI locked the door and leaned against it. My chest was tight, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe. Tears were already streaming down my face, but I didn’t bother wiping them. What was the point? They just kept coming anyway.I walked to the bed, but halfway there, my legs gave out. I just sat on the floor, staring at nothing. Everything hurt. My chest, my throat, my head. It was like the sadness had taken over my whole body, and I couldn’t do anything to stop it.Why did I let myself get into this mess? Why did I think I could handle this?I hugged my knees, trying to hold myself together. But it wasn’t working. I felt like I was falling apart, like the pieces of me were breaking one by one.Samantha. That name kept playing in my head like an echo. Samantha. Samantha. Samantha. She ruined everything. And the worst part? I couldn’t even blame her completely. She wasn’t the one who dragged me into this.That was hi
Sebastian's POVI sat on the edge of the couch, staring at the floor. My chest felt tight, and my head was pounding. Natalie’s words replayed in my mind, over and over. Coward. She’d called me a coward. The one person I thought understood me, the one person who was supposed to be on my side, didn’t believe in me anymore.I couldn’t blame her. I really couldn’t. Everything was a mess, and it was my fault. She was right about that. I started this whole thing - faking a marriage to protect my business, dragging her into it, convincing her it was the best move for both of us. And now Samantha was holding it all over my head, dangling my life’s work like it was some kind of game to her.I rubbed my face, trying to think straight, but my thoughts were all over the place. I hated Samantha, hated her smug little smile when she walked out of here like she owned the world. But more than that, I hated myself. How did it come to this? How did I let her get this much control?Natalie’s voice echoe
Chapter 54: Sebastian’s POVSamantha leaned back in the chair like she had all the time in the world. Her eyes flicked between Natalie and me, and there was a smirk on her face that made my skin crawl.“I want one night,” she said finally, her voice calm and sharp.Natalie stiffened beside me, and I felt her anger radiate like heat. “One night for what?” she snapped.Samantha’s smirk deepened. “With Sebastian.”I blinked, sure I had heard her wrong. “What are you talking about?” I asked, my voice flat.She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. “It’s simple, really. You spend one night with me, Sebastian, and I keep your little secret. No one has to know you’re not married.”Natalie stood up so fast her chair scraped against the floor. “Are you insane?” she said, her voice rising. “That’s not happening.”Samantha shrugged, completely unfazed. “Your choice. But if you refuse, Iris will know by morning.”I could feel the blood drain from my face. This wasn’t just about me or
Chapter 53: Sebastian’s POVAs we walked into the cafe, Natalie almost bumped into a guy. sh was at the verge of raising her voice, but I had to stop her. I knew she was exhausted and everything raised her temper at this point. We went in and Natalie sat beside me, her back straight, her hands folded so tightly her knuckles were turning white. I could feel the tension around her already, and honestly, I felt the same way. Samantha stood in front of us, leaning casually against the wall like she owned the place. Her expression was smug, too smug, and I hated it.I shifted in my seat, clearing my throat. “Alright, Samantha. We’re here. Say what you need to say.” My voice came out steadier than I expected, but my heart was pounding in my chest.She smirked. That irritating smirk. “Finally. I was starting to think you’d never ask.”Natalie’s voice was sharp, cutting through the room like a knife. “Stop playing games, Samantha. If you’ve got something to say, just spit it out.”Samantha
Natalie’s POVI didn’t think. I just leaned forward and kissed him.Sebastian was in the middle of saying something, pacing back and forth like he always did when he was thinking too much. His hand was halfway in his hair, and his mouth opened, probably to argue with me again about some plan he wasn’t ready to share. But I didn’t care. I just kissed him.For a moment, he froze. I felt his body stiffen, and I was about to pull away, embarrassed. Maybe I’d crossed a line. Maybe this was too much. But then his hand cupped the side of my face, and he kissed me back.It wasn’t slow or sweet. It was rushed, like he was trying to say something he couldn’t put into words. His grip was firm, almost desperate, and it caught me off guard.When he finally pulled back, he stared at me, his chest rising and falling like he’d been running. “What… what was that?” he asked, his voice a little hoarse.“I—” I hesitated, trying to find the right words. “I don’t know. I just… I’m tired, Sebastian. Tired o
Chapter 51: Sebastian's POVI stayed in the living room for a while after Natalie left. My thoughts were all over the place. Part of me was glad she agreed to fight back, but I still wasn’t sure if she could handle it. She looked so tired, so drained. I couldn’t blame her. Iris and Alfred had put her through hell.I rubbed my face and leaned back in the chair. My eyes wandered around the room, not really looking at anything, until they landed on something on the coffee table. A piece of paper. I frowned. That wasn’t there before.I picked it up and looked at it. It wasn’t just a random piece of paper—it was a note. The handwriting was messy, but I could still read it.“Iris and Alfred aren’t as untouchable as they think. I know their secrets. Meet me at the old warehouse on Maple Street tomorrow night at 9. Come alone.”I stared at the note, my mind racing. Who the hell left this? How did they even get in here? I didn’t hear anyone come in, and Natalie was here the whole time.Then it
Sebastian's POV I sat in my room, staring at the ceiling. The conversation with Natalie wasn’t over, not really. I could see it in her eyes when I left the living room earlier. She was trying to be strong, but I knew her better than that. She was hurting, angry, and unsure about everything.I stood up, ran a hand through my hair, and sighed. If we were going to do this, she had to be all in. Half-commitments wouldn’t work, not with people like Iris and Alfred. They’d eat her alive if she showed any weakness.After a few minutes, I headed back to the living room. She was still there, sitting in the same spot, looking at nothing. Her hands were clasped tightly in her lap, her knuckles white.“You’re still here,” I said, walking in.She looked up at me, her eyes red. “Where else would I go?”I shrugged and sat down across from her again. “You’ve been quiet. What’s going on in your head?”She hesitated, biting her lip. “I don’t know, Sebastian. This whole thing… it’s a lot. I feel like I’
Natalie~~~~~~I sat on the couch, staring at the empty coffee cup in my hand. The room was quiet, but my mind wasn’t. It kept replaying the moment I saw Iris and Alfred today. The smug look on Iris’s face, the way Alfred stood there like nothing had happened between us. It made my stomach turn.I put the cup down on the table and leaned back, closing my eyes. I needed to think, to plan, but all I could feel was anger. No, not just anger - betrayal, frustration, everything mixed together. I felt like I was sinking in it.The door opened, and I heard Sebastian’s footsteps before I even looked up. He walked in, his coat around his arm, and stopped when he saw me.“You look terrible,” he said, blunt as ever.“Thanks,” I muttered. “Just what I needed to hear.”He dropped his coat on the chair and sat across from me. “What happened?”I sighed, rubbing my temples. “I saw them today.”“Them?”“Iris and Alfred,” I said, my voice shaking a little. “They were together. All over the place like no
Sebastian's POV The walk up to the house felt like dragging chains behind me. Every step was heavier than the last. I stuffed my hands deep in my coat pockets. I wasn’t here for nostalgia. I just deeply regretted why I was here. But I needed to be here. My mother's husband couldn't get away with his "threats".Before I could knock, the door swung open.“Sebastian.”She stood there - Mom - looking exactly how I remembered. Her hair tied back in that same tight bun she always wore when she was annoyed. The lines on her face had deepened, though, like life had been pressing its thumb down hard on her lately. She looked at me like I was a stranger.“What are you doing here?”Straight to the point. I stared at her for a second, debating whether to be polite or blunt, especially after our last encounter. I went with blunt.“I need to talk to your husband.”Her expression tightened, the way it always did when his name came up. “ That’s why you’re here?”“Yeah.” I tried stepping past her, b