Benedict's icy glare felt like a winter storm, chilling Sabrina to her core. Her heart raced with a mix of fear and heartbreak as she faced him. He was Benedict Thompson, the only heir to the Thompson estates, a man known more for his wild ways than for his business brilliance. At a young age, he became a billionaire and led BMX Estates, a huge architectural firm. Now, he paced angrily in his family’s luxurious living room, each step echoing the thick tension in the air.“Last night, you seduced me,” he spat, his voice sharp and filled with anger. “What trick did you use to make my mother force me into this marriage?”Sabrina welled up with tears, trying to find the right words. She had never seen him like this; in pain and disbelief."I... I didn’t trick you," she stammered, her voice trembling. "I've liked you since we were kids. That’s all."His harsh laugh cut through her, deepening his rage. “You think I would believe that? The wedding, everything—it’s just a trap, isn’t it?”“I’
The next day came, though her feelings had been utterly smashed the night before, the wedding preparations continued on. Sabrina hardly recognised who peered back at her as she sat in the bride's suite: white, pale, tear-rimmed eyes, but still, a beautiful silken cloth hugged her body, soft curls framed her face.Her mother, Leila, entered and sat beside her. Her face etched with despair."Sabrina dear," she whispered softly, "do you really want to do this? You don't have to do this."Sabrina shook her head. New tears formed in her eyes. "Mom, what am I suppose to do?" she whispered in a barely audible voice, her voice barely above a whisper, quivering with uncertainty. "I love him, but he…. He hates me."The burden of her heart pressure weighed upon her chest so heavily that it became unbearable to breathe. She felt lost and scared, like standing at a crossroads with no signs guiding her.Then her eyes questioned her mother to seek solace as well as find answers that seemed really too
Locked with fury in her eyes, Teresa gripped Benedict's arm tightly with her fingernails digging deep into his skin. He was in the middle of an idle conversation with his friends, and the force of his mother's yank thrust him back into harsh reality. The smile dropped off his face, replaced by irritation."Turn around now and go back to Sabrina!" Teresa hissed to his face, her voice low but full of a venom that brought him up short. "This is your wedding! You're supposed to be with your wife, not out here screwing like some irresponsible idiot! Do you have any idea how embarrassing this is? How much shame you're bringing to our family?fix this Now!"She snapped her eyes to his with a warning so sharp he felt a jolt of anger-cum-tethers him to the moment. She wasn't letting this slide past. She gave one last withering glare to ensure the point had been wholly impressed, then turned and stormed off, heels clicking impatiently on the marble floor.Benedict clenched his teeth, pinioned and
As the applause subsided and guests resumed their own conversations, Benedict didn't hesitate to pull Sabrina aside. The phony smile he'd donned during their dance was gone within an instant, exchanged for a look of icy indifference. They stepped out of the ballroom, away from the crowd, and into a quiet corner of the reception hall. No warning, of course-just leaned and caught her by the arm, his fingers digging into her skin as he turned her to face him."You succeeded," Benedict spat, voice low but full of venom. "You managed to marry me, but don't for one second believe you'll ever have my heart.".She felt her eyes grow wide with the bitterness in his tone. Now she knew that he did not love her. But this was different-he said it all. On their wedding day, too. A sick feeling was in her belly as tears threatened to well up inside her once again. She bit down hard on her lip and kept them from falling."I don't love you," he continued, his eyes dark and unfeeling. "And I will never
Sabrina stood as a statue in the dim lit hall, her heart a racing and tears flowing ceaselessly down her cheeks. His curt words kept ringing in her ear; each syllable in his speech a burning hole reminding her of the schism between them. She slapped her hands on her chest, trying to hold herself inside."I will never have his heart," she whispered to herself, feeling the weight of his rejection settle heavily on her shoulders. "What did I expect? That love would conquer all?"That reality struck her like a chilly wave. The man with whom she had wished to spend all of life had just crushed all those hopes into pieces with a few brutal words. Wiping away tears, she heard the approach of footsteps.It was Teresa-the mother-in-law-whose expression seemed both full of concern and disappointment. "Sabrina? Okay?"Sabrina smiled, though it felt like shards of glass were lodged in her throat. "I'm fine, just. tired."Teresa narrowed her eyes. She didn't believe it. "You don't look fine. Where
And so she'd walked away, his words stabbing her ears as they struck home."You think you can just waltz in here and play like you're good enough to have my love? You'll never have it, Sabrina," he had sneered, the disgust spewing from him like acid that cut into her heart. Every step was hard as she moved through the grand house now that had become a cage of gilded bars and memories bitter with the poison of anger.She was lost in this world he created, full of resentment and anger. "Why even bother?" he had shouted at her, his face distorted in rage as she tried to reach out to him. "You're just a reminder of everything I hate about my life!"Yet still, she gave in . Deep down, there was still some love from her side of his body that seemed mutually less, but still true love between two souls. She had still not given up. Still catching for breath, "I'm not giving up on you," she could still stare at tear-stained mascara and tears, and hurt etched upon her face staring back from the
Morning sun spilled into the expansive dining room as Sabrina set the table for breakfast that took her hours to prepare. She had cooked all his favorites: scrambled eggs with chives, perfectly crispy bacon, and freshly squeezed orange juice. It was her silent way of showing Benedict she cared, despite the poison he threw her way every chance he got. She longed to bridge the distance separating them, compel him to look past his revulsion at her. Stepping back from the stove and the last plate, Benedict had entered the room; and certainly, his face showed no softer countenance for traversing it. He darted his look across the table; and then faced about and settled back in the chair with an irreverent huff of discontent. "This is all you had ready? " he snapped, pushing the plate aside as if it were insulting. "A good breakfast, and this is the best you could do?" Sabrina pulled up a small, tight smile. She clung to the side of the chair she leaned on to balance herself. "I — I prepared
Morning sun spilled into the expansive dining room as Sabrina set the table for breakfast that took her hours to prepare. She had cooked all his favorites: scrambled eggs with chives, perfectly crispy bacon, and freshly squeezed orange juice. It was her silent way of showing Benedict she cared, despite the poison he threw her way every chance he got. She longed to bridge the distance separating them, compel him to look past his revulsion at her. Stepping back from the stove and the last plate, Benedict had entered the room; and certainly, his face showed no softer countenance for traversing it. He darted his look across the table; and then faced about and settled back in the chair with an irreverent huff of discontent. "This is all you had ready? " he snapped, pushing the plate aside as if it were insulting. "A good breakfast, and this is the best you could do?" Sabrina pulled up a small, tight smile. She clung to the side of the chair she leaned on to balance herself. "I — I prepared
Eliana fought the phone back, gasping. "I'll take care of it Saben."Saben threw up his hands. "Fine. But if he tries to manipulate you again, don't say I didn't warn you Eliana."She pressed answer and switched the call to speaker."Eliana," Nathaniel's voice slurred, smooth as silk."I'm busy, Harper," Eliana said brusquely."Oh, I'm sure you are Eliana. That little press conference of yours? Masterful. Wonderful, really."Eliana arched an eyebrow. "Glad you saw it. Sucking up now, huh?"Nathaniel laughed. "On your life, I am not. I am from the Archangel, calling to congratulate you."Eliana snapped back at him. "Excuse me?""You did it flawlessly, Princess. I have to admit, I didn't think you would." "Pull out the Firenze Luxe play so hastily.""That's because you have the maddening habit of underestimating me," Eliana snarled."Never," Nathaniel said. "I just like seeing how far you'll take yourself when you're angry."Eliana's jaws snapped together. "Well, I hope you're enjoying
Nathaniel leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his smug expression still planted firmly as if he had just received a prize. "Oh, relax, Saben. It's just business."Saben ground his teeth together, his fists clenched. "You arrogant son of a—"Eliana stepped between them, her hand on Saben's chest. "Not here. Not now."Her voice was icy, but fury burned inside her just as hot. She swung to Nathaniel, cold steel eyes. "You invaded my launch presentation." It wasn't a question. It was a statement.Nathaniel feigned a gasp. "Already blaming? And where I believed we were throwing a party."Eliana gritted her teeth. "You condescending, manipulative—""Flattery will get you nowhere, Princess."Saben advanced threateningly. "Say that again, Harper, and I swear I'll—"Nathaniel raised a hand in mock deference. "Violence? Already? You're losing your touch, Saben."Eliana snapped. "Stop it!"The venom in her tone froze both men.She turned all her fury on Nathaniel. "Do you even know what you'v
The air was nothing less than awe inspiring. It was the grand ballroom with crystal chandeliers, glittering black and gold trim, a resplendent stage in its very center. Filled with journalists, corporate executives, and VIP investors, their talk merged into an urbane hum of anticipation.Eliana remained in the background, arms crossed over one another, watching everything with bird-like intensity. A week of hard work, sleepless nights, and diligent prep had led to this day. The Sabrina Ultra World-Wide Launch finally came. She watched as she saw Nathaniel Harper near the corridor, oiling a coterie of financiers, smile never wavering on his lips."Needless to say, he is having fun," she whispered through gritted teeth."Still suspicious of him?" Saben appeared at her side, sipping his champagne.Eliana’s eyes didn’t waver from Nathaniel. "I don’t trust him. I’m certain he’s up to something."Saben scoffed. "Of course he is. That’s Nathaniel Harper we’re talking about. The man probably
Nathaniel parked himself back in his leather chair, riding the whiskey that was swirling in his glass while the Manhattan lights gleamed off the floor-to-ceiling windows of his penthouse office. The ringing of his phone on the desk brought with it the name on the screen—William Harper.He smiled. On time.Engaging the answering button, he brought the phone to his ear. "Father."A deep, commanding voice rang over the line. "I hope you've made progress."Nathaniel chuckled, drinking slowly from his glass. "Headway? Oh, you mean getting infuriating Eliana Thompson so worked up she'll burn alive? Well, I'd say I'm doing superbly."There was a pause before William went on. "Don't get too cocky, Nathaniel. This is not a joke son. The Thompsons have been in our hair longer than anyone can remember. If you don't take them down, they'll be taking us down."Nathaniel's smile faltered. His father was always a tough businessman, but there was something different in his voice tonight—desperation.
Saben reclined against the soft couch, arms crossed. He wore an unreadable face, but a characteristic tension in his jaws betrayed his irritation. Next to him sat Eliana with her hands in her lap, her fingers quivering with indignation. She was angry. No, worse!Nathaniel Harper had crossed the line—once again.Their parents, Benedict Thompson and Sabrina Auburn, flanked them on either side, their expressions a mix of concern and chilly anger. But the true powers to be had in the room were their grandmothers: Wendy Taylor, the tough-as-nails businesswoman who had built her own empire from scratch; Teresa Thompson, whose lightning-fast thinking and strategic brilliance had taken their family businesses to dizzying new heights; and Leila Auburn, the elegant and calculating matriarch who had seen and survived every kind of business rivalry under the sun.They had all just returned from a month's yacht cruise, anticipating a serene homecoming—only to find themselves welcomed back by yet a
"And you wasted precious time!" Eliana lost it. "You don't make executive choices without me!" Nathaniel shrugged. "You were too slow. I acted."Eliana's face turned red. "Too slow? Do you even listen to yourself? This isn't all about you, Harper! This is about an entire company, employees, deadlines, distributors! You think you can just waltz in here and play God?"Nathaniel's jaw tightened very slightly. "I don't play, Eliana. I win.""Fine. At what cost?" Saben snapped. "Because from my point of view, you're nothing but a self-centered, manipulative—""Enough," Eliana interrupted him, holding up a hand. She turned to look at Nathaniel again, her voice cold now. "Fix it. Whatever you did, fix it. Now."Nathaniel relaxed once more, looking at her. "No."Eliana's eyes grew wide. "Excuse me?"Nathaniel's smile returned, his voice infuriatingly serene. "I told you no. The changes are already implemented, and believe me, they're better. You'll thank me later."Eliana let out a laugh tha
Eliana stormed into Nathaniel's office, her heels snapping ungentlely on the marble floor. She was hot with blood, anger radiating off of her in waves. She slapped a folder onto his desk, making him glance up from behind his papers with an infuriatingly calm face.Nathaniel raised a brow. "Good morning to you, too, Princess."Eliana pointed a finger at the folder. "Explain. Now."Nathaniel reclined in his seat, looking disinterestedly at the folder and then at her glare. "You'll have to be clearer, sweetheart. I ruin plenty of things on purpose or accidentally."Her face tightened. "Don't try to act dumb with me, Harper. You specifically held back the shipment of our primary material, and now the production has fallen behind. Do you understand what that is?!Nathaniel smiled. "That you'll need to count on me even more?"Eliana growled almost. "That we're going to miss deadlines, lose credibility, and cost a small fortune in penalties!"Nathaniel let out a dramatic sigh. "Oh, Eliana. S
Eliana's phone beeped on her desk, and she checked the message. Her heart beat rapidly as she read it: Nathaniel Harper had negotiated a exclusive contract with one of their providers for Sabrina Ultra. She felt her anger rising."Are you serious Nathaniel?" she snarled, slamming her hand against the desk. "This is not possible!She stormed into the factory office, her heels clicking in the silence. Nathaniel looked up, surprised. Fury raged inside her, contained almost as she left a thick folder on the desk before Nathaniel Harper.Nathaniel did not even flinch. Nathaniel had not even flinched it rather his back relaxed against his chair. Neatly coiled arms over his chest and still wore that damn same irritating smile on his face. "Well, well. You look disturbed, Princess."Eliana's nails dug into her palms. "You signed an exclusive agreement with our vendors?"Nathaniel nodded his head, playing dumb. "Oh, that? It's business, sweetheart."Her blood pressure came racing up. "Don't yo
Eliana had managed crises for years. Delays in the supply chain, faulty products, high-pressure investor meetings—she'd mastered them all with cold efficiency.Nothing, however, pushed her patience to its limits like Nathaniel Harper.She stood in the middle of the factory floor, arms folded, as employees scrambled around her, checking the five hundred faulty units that had brought the whole schedule into disarray.Nathaniel, naturally, by her side with his telltale smirk, observing everything as if this was his own soap opera."Gotta say, Princess," Nathaniel said, leaning in with a tilt of his head. "I didn't think your business had such a huge screw-up. I thought you had a tight ship."Eliana gritted her teeth. "I do have a tight ship. But even the best operations have hiccups."Nathaniel whistled. "Interesting. Because if this occurred in my firm, heads would already be rolling by now."She glared at him. "We don't fix things by firing people willy-nilly. Unlike some companies, we