One quiet evening, Sabben having dozed off, and Sabrina and Benedict find themselves alone in the living room of Sabrina as it is warm with coze. The dim luminescence of the fire place brightens up both their faces as they sit on a couch, with palpable tension in the air.Benedict cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "Sabrina," he started low and hesitant. "I know things haven't been easy between us, and I. I want to talk. Really talk."Sabrina looked at him, her face expressionless but inquisitive. "I'm listening, Benedict." she said softly, folding her hands in her lap.Benedict took a deep breath. "I've done so many wrong things. I hurt you in ways that I'm not even capable of justifying. But losing Saben for even those few hours. it made me understand how much I need this. Need us." His eyes locked into hers. He didn't move, didn't look away. "I know it takes time, but I want to rebuild what I have broken. I want to earn back your trust.".There was unshed pain in Sabrina's b
Sabrina had watched him as he staggered toward the bed her heart burdened by his state of inebriation. As he lay there between the reality of sleep and wakefulness she stroked his brow with her fingertips and whispered to him, "Sleep my love, it is well, I'm with you again Benedict."Benedict raised his head slowly from the fog of his dream, and in the distance beheld a form magnificent in beauty approach his bed, calling his name as she came.Looking up, his eyes now open he pulled a strand of hair away from her neck as she leaned over him and sank his teeth into the softness there. She moaned exhaling as she did, her nails digging into his shoulders."Oh Benedict, I have missed you so," she cooed softly!All the candles he'd placed about the room lit in unison of their own accord, and their wavering light began to fill the air. His heart swelled in his chest as he gazed at her face, and a mist slowly covered the love filled sheen of his eyes."I love you Sabrina," he'd responded!Hi
She convulsed tightly around Benedict's thrusting member, urging him to spill his seed in the warmth of her softness. Now he could no longer abstain; his bag jerked and tightened as he blasted into the seducing warmth of Sabrina's soft grinding opening, filled with the fire of life as his agonized cry of pleasure filled the room.Her demanding softness shattered him, casting his strength down stories below on a bed of jagged stone. Where he lay broken and empty, a mere shadow and shell of the formidable driving force he'd been moments ago."I love you Benedict," she purred against his chest, as his last shuddering thrust filled her satiated form above him!"And you my love are the end of all my sweetest dreams," he gasped desperately! The cool air of the room kissing his fevered flesh, as he slipped from the warmth of her soft sheath!She raised herself at last and looked down into his face, her hair was lit with a strong wash of moonlight that created a gypsy halo, as thin as vapor g
Sabrina cast a quick glance towards Benedict. Her expression changed immediately as she was worried. "Benedict, dress yourself. Saben could come in at any minute," she whispered.Benedik nodded, softening his face. He wouldn't want to make it uncomfortable, especially since both of them had gone through a lot. Carefully stepping out of the bed, he moved silently towards getting into a shirt and trousers. His eyes caught up with Sabrina's and gave her an easy smile while he could feel how apprehensive she looked in his eyes.Sabrina stood up as well, moving toward the door. “I’ll go get him,” she said softly. But before she could open it, she heard Saben calling again, more insistently this time.“Mommy? Where are you?”Sabrina took a long breath, smiling at Benedict as she stood before the door with a hand resting on the doorknob. "Let's be a family again," Sabrina said, her words filled with tenderness to Benedict.Benedict walked up behind her and gently touched her arm. “We are, Sa
Unbeknownst to them, Clara's hired operative hid in the crowd, merging himself with other guests. His camera, hidden away in his jacket, quietly snapped one picture after the other of the unsuspecting family. Benedict's proud stance, Sabrina's radiant smile, and Saben's infectious laughter-all were frozen in time and sent directly to Clara.Clara’s instructions had been precise: document everything, study every interaction, and uncover any chink in their seemingly perfect armor. The operative zoomed in, his lens trained on the way Benedict’s hand gently rested on Sabrina’s back, a gesture of quiet affection. He snapped another shot as Saben tugged playfully on his father’s tie, causing the crowd around them to laugh."Good," the operative muttered, slipping away unnoticed as the family remained blissfully unaware of the storm brewing in the shadows.Hours later, Clara sat in her dimly lit apartment, her eyes fixed on her laptop screen as the photos uploaded one by one. Each image fuel
The night was quiet in the Thompson household, filled with warmth and family bonding in every corner. Sabrina tucked Saben into bed, kissing his forehead as his laughter still lingered in her ears. Benedict stood by the doorway, watching them with a tender smile that reflected his gratitude for this second chance with his family. "He's growing so fast," Sabrina whispered as she pulled the blanket over Saben.Benedict nodded, taking another step closer and slipping his arm around her shoulders. "And every day, I see more of you in him. He's strong, kind, and full of life. Just like his mom."Sabrina smiled, leaning into the touch. For a moment, it felt like the outside world didn't exist. It was just the three of them—a family tied together by love and resolve to move beyond the past.But the storm that was brewing in the shadows would not wait long. Elsewhere, Shadow’s eyes scanned lines of encrypted data, his mind focused on his mission. Clara's instructions were clear, and Shadow p
"Then hurry it up," Benedict cut him off. "I expect results."Sabrina stayed in her home office amidst supportive notes left by her closest friends and employees who would not allow the rumors to define who she was. Amidst all the chaos, a hurt part of her felt attacked that so many others can judge her quickly. In a lavish café across the city, Clara sipped her coffee, scrolling through the trending hashtags with a satisfied smirk. Every post, every comment, every share was a victory.“They thought they could have everything,” she muttered to herself. “But happiness like theirs doesn’t last. Not when I’m watching.”Her phone buzzed with a message from Shadow.Shadow: Phase One is successful. Ready for Phase Two?Clara's smile opened wider. She typed one word back: Clara: K Continue Benedict and Sabrina were no longer able to escape the bright glare of the public's attention. Wherever they went, cameras and microphones followed. News anchors camped outside their home, reporters tr
The air was charged with tension as Benedict stepped into the conference room. The room buzzed with reporters, their voices a murmur of anticipation. Flashes from cameras created a staccato rhythm, illuminating the polished wood of the podium. Sabrina clutched his hand tightly, her knuckles white. She glanced at him, her hazel eyes swimming with both fear and determination."You ready?" she whispered.He nodded, jaw gritted. "We have it."Behind them, silent but stern, stood the commanding figure of Wendy Taylor. Beside her sat Saben, his toy car in restless hands, a peaceful child with no notion how serious things were.He stepped up to the podium. His eyes passed over the tide of faces before him and the noise was muted when the room took its breath collectively. Deep and resonant, Benedict's voice came forward from its silence."Good morning. Over the last few weeks, my family and I have been victim to vicious lies that intend to destroy everything we've worked for and hold dear. To
Her fingers stroked the material. "Okay," she breathed.The boutique manager came back once more, and Eliana smiled, her voice more even now. "We'll take this one.""Good choice, Miss Thompson." The manager clicked her fingers together, obviously delighted. "We'll have it steamed and wrapped up to deliver this evening, or would you like to take it with you?"He rested against the door of the fitting room, arms crossed, suit perfect, tie razor-sharp—but jaw clenched, eyes contained, tracking her each movement in the mirror."You're staring," she said without raising her gaze."You knew you would."Eliana swung around reluctantly, glancing at him.The way he regarded her—it wasn't admiration. It was possession, and something in his eyes that bordered on restraint."Well?" she breathed. "Too much?"His gaze dropped to the V of the neckline, black, and up to her face."It's perfect," he said softly. "Perilously perfect."A silence. The whir of the boutique died under weight of air between
There was silence. Alexa was always too professional ever to say anything that wasn't absolutely imperative, but Eliana could almost feel the twitch of interest in the static."Oh, of course, ma'am. I'll alert Mr. Wolfe right away."The intercom clicked off.Eliana slowly breathing out through her nose, her fingers running along the top of the desk as if signing the lines of her own doubt.Why does the ring of his name feel like pulling on wire that had twisted hard against her ribcage?Damian Wolfe. Her shadow. Her bodyguard. The man whose lips whispered softly, and whose eyes whispered too loudly, leaving her quivering.It was not right—the way he gazed at her. The way he avoided gazing at her when he should have.As Nathaniel had been comfortable with the old version of her… Damian was comfortable with the woman she wasn't yet. With the one with burning rage, fear, and smoldering lust all twisted up in one.She sat back from her computer screen, attempting to escape in work, but he
She did not scroll to the top of her phone contact list. She did not have to. Damian Wolfe was the first on everyone else's list—just like Nathaniel Carter was. Two names. Two men. One choice she'd never been able to make.Until today.Her thumb was still hovering, her breathing even.One telephone call changed the direction of her life.Before she could get cold feet, she heard footsteps—heavy, slow, familiar.She turned.Damian stood in the doorway to her office.And something about the way he was looking at her—as if she were his shelter and his tempest—stole her breath."Eliana," he said softly. "I'm not going to press you. I swear. I just. I needed to confirm that you were okay.""I am not," Eliana said softly. "But I will be."He bobbed his head. "Good. Because I've watched you shatter and remade myself. I understand how strong you can be once you finally begin not to attempt to flee from yourself."There was something primal in his gaze, something smothered yet deeply well-wrou
Vincent smiled at her. "Does your security detail have a habit of crashing high-level meetings?"Noelle smiled to himself as he put away the tray."Men, take a five."Reluctance was there, but Vincent finally relented. "As you desire, bella."The others flowed out of the room, and he was left alone with her.Eliana stood in front of Damian, arms crossed, but her voice was filled with softness. "You didn't need to defend me like that."He leaned in over her. "I wasn't sticking up for you. I was reminding them who the hell you are.""I know who I am.""Then why are you allowing this world to destroy you just so you won't hurt?" His words cut her like glass."I'm not avoiding—You haven't even cried," Damian breathed, pulling another closer to her. "Not for the disaster Harper created. Not for Nathaniel. Not even for you."She pulled her face away. "If I do, I would not be able to stop."She waited. Then:"I'd defend you if you did."Her eyes were burning. She raised her face, and there
She hauled herself up, carefully brushing her matted hair out of her face, her heart slowed a bit now. More confident. Less frantic.Her gaze returned to the phone.No new messages.And for once, that didn't sting like abandonment.It felt like freedom.She stood, walked barefoot into the kitchen, and poured the forgotten tea down the drain. It had cooled. Like the version of herself who sat around waiting for someone else to pick her.That version had fallen silent now, too.A vibration on the counter startled her.Damian.Just his name. No note. Just a missed call.She gazed at it forever, then she murdered the screen's power. She wasn't ready—not for him, not yet. Perhaps never.She moved to the living room, attracted by the hum of the television behind her. Her brother's form glowed under the blue light, stretched out on the couch with a pillow over his face as if he hadn't intended to sleep but the rest of the world had otherwise."Saben?" she whispered.He groaned. "Mmhmm?""Did
The door closed gently, but to Eliana it was a gunshot.Her spine against the wood, she was frozen, her breathing barely more than a stillness. Her voice was still stuck in her throat, her heart bruising under the words she had said to Nathaniel-the words she had only recently realized for herself. "What have I done?" Eliana whispered into the silence, her voice faltering slightly.The Thompson estates did hulk over her in oppressive silence. The sort that did not forgive-it judged.Stumbling, she fell to the couch with her knees buckling under her. Her hand brushed against the thick cushion next to her, which Nathaniel would lean against for drawing her into himself and whisper, "You feel like home.""Then why do I feel so far from it now?" she whispered.Her phone flashed when she answered it. No messages. No missed calls. No apologies. No begging. No promises. Just her. Alone. With the wreckage of something she couldn't fix.She stared at Damian's name burning on her screen. Her t
Eliana resolved to speak with Nathaniel.Nathaniel's presidential suite door was too intimate. It repelled her.She’d memorized the weight of her hand knocking on it. The scent of his cedarwood cologne that always lingered in the hallway. The way her heart used to leap—used to believe—that she belonged here.But now, everything felt quieter.Not empty. Just. still.He opened the door after two knocks, like he’d been waiting. Like he knew.“Eliana.” His voice cracked the silence like thunder rolling in slow motion. “You’re here.”She nodded, catching her breath.He hadn't slept. Rumpled shirt, rolled-up sleeves. Hair ever so slightly too messy. Eyes ever so slightly too shattered.As if he'd been injured by her very indecision."May I enter?" she asked, knowing the response in advance. Nathaniel stepped aside. "You don't need permission."She entered as if it would be her last time ever pushing the door open.He stood there with arms crossed over chest, shoulder blade against the wall
The sun filtered a reluctant angle over Eliana's headboard blinds, tinting the floor in pale golden stripes as if someone was trying to make amends for a bitter, long-fought battle. She was lying on her side, the crescent moon charm still amazing her palm, her fingers clenched around it as if it might prevent her heart from breaking into fragments.But there was reality—that her heart was already broken. In more than one place.Tap. Light. Soothing."Enter," she breathed, already suspecting who it was.Sabrina entered, loose linen thrown over her, bearing a tray full of hot tea. She put it down on the floor without a word at all, eyes drinking in the broken pieces of her daughter's mind.Eliana sat up, legs tucked under her, hair wet from last night's rain. "May I ask you something?" she asked."Always," Sabrina replied, sitting on the bed, facing her."How did you know?" Eliana's voice broke. "How did you know Dad was the one? Was it easy?"Sabrina's eyes softened. "No. God, no. It w
The storm was over, but the earthy scent of the rain remained. Fragile mist curled from the window panes of Eliana's room; now the sun had to struggle to break free from the clouds, while everything around looked bathed in soft golden light. The world looked washed clean—fresh, mysterious, like a blank page with wet ink smeared at the edges.Eliana sat on the edge of her bed, the silver crescent pendant sitting quietly in her palm. She smoothed its curve with her thumb repeatedly, as though it would somehow open up a hidden answer to her if she pressed hard enough.The sketch Saben left lay beside her, and she’d stared at it until the ink seemed to blur and reshape itself. Damian on one side. Nathaniel on the other. And her—right in the middle, like a bridge being pulled at both ends.She hadn’t slept. Not really. Just drifted in and out of thoughts so loud they echoed inside her skull."You’re the shadow that never departed.""You were the light when I was shattering."Two truths. Tw