JAYDEN’S POV "That is absolutely not happening," I snapped, looking from my mother to Mr. Pembroke, who sat there with his eyes fixed on me, burning with barely contained fury. "I just got out of a marriage. What do you think people are going to say if I jump straight into another one?" Mr. Pembroke's lips tightened as he leaned forward. "Well, you should have thought about that before you knocked my daughter up," he spat back, his tone like cold steel. "I don’t care how you do it, Jayden, but Melissa will be married before this bump is obvious to the world." He cast a withering glance in my direction, making it clear that he expected no arguments. I ran a hand through my hair, muttering, “This was a mistake,” loud enough that I hoped it would echo off the walls and sink into someone’s stubborn skull. My heart felt like it was going to beat right out of my chest as I paced the room. How did I even get here? Mr. Pembroke stood up and looked around. "I will be waiting for an i
FLORA’S POV I practically sprinted toward Alex as he stepped out of his sleek car, a beaming smile plastered across my face. I probably looked like a kid seeing candy, but I couldn’t help it. “Good morning, Mr. Bennett,” I greeted, praying my blush wasn’t as noticeable as it felt. Alex’s lips curled into that irresistible smile that made my heart do somersaults. “Good morning, Ms. Roberts. Did you have a good night?” he asked casually, strolling into the busy reception hall like he owned the world—which, technically, he kind of did. Good night? Oh, he had no idea. After what he did to me, my night had been nothing short of spectacular. But we had agreed to keep things strictly professional at work, so I swallowed the urge to gush and slapped on my professional face instead. “Yes, sir,” I replied, keeping my tone as neutral as possible. As we moved through the reception, the familiar chorus of “Good morning, Mr. Bennett” followed us like an entourage. Alex nodded politely whi
FLORA’S POV I bolted from my desk, forgetting to shut down my computer as Jolly trailed behind me, her heels clicking against the tiled floor. A small crowd of employees had gathered by the hallway leading to my office, their hushed murmurs mingling with one loud, unmistakable voice. Jayden. By the time I reached the scene, it was clear why everyone was gawking. Jayden was standing at the center, yelling my name like a lunatic. The receptionist, visibly flustered, was trying her best to block him from storming in any further. “She’s my wife, and I need to see her!” Jayden bellowed. Heat crept up my neck as mortification washed over me. My fists clenched at his audacity. Did he seriously think this was acceptable behavior? “I’ll take it from here,” I told the receptionist, forcing calmness into my voice. She hesitated, glancing between Jayden and me as if unsure whether to leave. “Are you sure?” she muttered under her breath, clearly unimpressed. “I was about to call security
FLORA’S POV Alex stood by his window, his silhouette stark against the city skyline. He was now stripped to only his crisp white button-down shirt. One hand was shoved casually into his pocket, while the other gripped a glass of whiskey like it was the only thing tethering him to sanity. Even with his back to me, I knew he felt my presence. But he didn’t turn around. I cleared my throat, trying to gather my thoughts. “Sir, um...” My voice faltered. Jayden’s words still echoed in my head, jumbled and raw. “I’m... I’m really sorry about that.” Alex finally turned, his expression calm but distant. His piercing gaze didn’t meet mine as he downed the rest of his drink in one swift motion. He walked back to his desk with measured steps, setting the empty glass down before taking a seat. “David just called,” he said, his tone flat. “The mask party has been rescheduled to the night of the Rockshire Fashion event. Adjust my schedule accordingly.” I blinked at him, completely thrown. W
MELISSA’S POV “Don’t even think about calling me again!” I hissed into the phone. “Do you have any idea what I’ve got on the line here? I will have you arrested if you ruin this for me! I’m getting married in a few days to the father of my child. What is wrong with you?” I hung up, almost flinging the phone across the room, but my heart leaped when it started ringing again. This time, I froze as my father’s name appeared on the screen. I wondered if the caller had already reached out to him. I swallowed hard and picked up. “Hi, Daddy,” I greeted, injecting a forced brightness into my voice. “How are you holding up, princess?” my father’s deep, steady voice rumbled through the line “I’m fine,” I said, exhaling shakily. “Just busy with wedding preparations. Jayden wants something small and private, but Lisette is pushing for something big and elaborate.” “Go with Jayden’s preference,” he said firmly. “The less attention we draw to this, the better, especially when it all come
FLORA’S POV Rockshire Fashion Night was finally here—or, well, tomorrow, and I was practically vibrating with excitement. A whole month and a few weeks of sketches, late nights, and caffeine-fueled brainstorming sessions were about to pay off. My designs were ready to shine, and I was more than eager to prove myself. But, as with most things in my life lately, joy didn’t come without its shadows. The situation with Alex was a thorn in my side, and not the sexy kind that made you tingle. Ever since Jayden’s unexpected and dramatic office visit, Alex and I had been operating on an unspoken no-contact policy. I was furious at him for his aloofness and remarks about that situation, and to make matters worse, he didn’t even seem phased by my cold shoulder. He mirrored my behavior with frustrating ease, keeping everything between us strictly professional, even when we were alone. Sure, I caught him sneaking a look my way more than once. His gaze always holds a flicker of... somethin
FLORA'S POV I had spent nearly the entire day in the kitchen, sweating over a stove. This wasn’t just any meal; this was the Kensington family memorial feast. Cooking was my therapy, my happy place—unless I was doing it for people who saw me as the human equivalent of a smudge on their designer shoes. But this time, I was determined to blow their heads off, even if they would probably still complain that the soufflé wasn’t fluffy enough. Jayden’s family began to file into the dining room, taking their places around the long, intimidating table that looked like it belonged in some Gothic castle. Today marked the first anniversary of Mr. Kensington’s passing, Jayden’s grandfather. The old man had died of heart failure, though, knowing this family, I wouldn’t have been surprised if he had faked it just to escape their company. The Kensingtons were loaded—like, "buy a small island without blinking" loaded—and they had never accepted me as anything more than the gardener’s daughter
FLORA’S POV The next morning, as soon as I opened the door, there he was—Jayden, standing like an angry statue by the doorway. His face was twisted in fury, his jaw clenched so tight I thought his teeth might crack. Before I could even say a word, he barged into the room, slamming the door shut behind him. “What was the meaning of that last night?” he barked; his voice sharp enough to cut through steel. I stared at him like he had just sprouted a second head. Seriously, had he finally lost it? Folding my arms across my chest, I raised an eyebrow. “I don’t know, Jay. Why don’t you tell me?” He threw his hands up in exasperation. “You left the party and locked yourself in here just because you saw me and Melissa in the room?” I couldn’t help the sarcastic chuckle that escaped my lips. “Oh, you make it sound so simple, Jay. I walked in on you and your ex making out on our matrimonial bed. What did you expect? For me to hand you both a round of applause?” “If you had let me exp
FLORA’S POV Rockshire Fashion Night was finally here—or, well, tomorrow, and I was practically vibrating with excitement. A whole month and a few weeks of sketches, late nights, and caffeine-fueled brainstorming sessions were about to pay off. My designs were ready to shine, and I was more than eager to prove myself. But, as with most things in my life lately, joy didn’t come without its shadows. The situation with Alex was a thorn in my side, and not the sexy kind that made you tingle. Ever since Jayden’s unexpected and dramatic office visit, Alex and I had been operating on an unspoken no-contact policy. I was furious at him for his aloofness and remarks about that situation, and to make matters worse, he didn’t even seem phased by my cold shoulder. He mirrored my behavior with frustrating ease, keeping everything between us strictly professional, even when we were alone. Sure, I caught him sneaking a look my way more than once. His gaze always holds a flicker of... somethin
MELISSA’S POV “Don’t even think about calling me again!” I hissed into the phone. “Do you have any idea what I’ve got on the line here? I will have you arrested if you ruin this for me! I’m getting married in a few days to the father of my child. What is wrong with you?” I hung up, almost flinging the phone across the room, but my heart leaped when it started ringing again. This time, I froze as my father’s name appeared on the screen. I wondered if the caller had already reached out to him. I swallowed hard and picked up. “Hi, Daddy,” I greeted, injecting a forced brightness into my voice. “How are you holding up, princess?” my father’s deep, steady voice rumbled through the line “I’m fine,” I said, exhaling shakily. “Just busy with wedding preparations. Jayden wants something small and private, but Lisette is pushing for something big and elaborate.” “Go with Jayden’s preference,” he said firmly. “The less attention we draw to this, the better, especially when it all come
FLORA’S POV Alex stood by his window, his silhouette stark against the city skyline. He was now stripped to only his crisp white button-down shirt. One hand was shoved casually into his pocket, while the other gripped a glass of whiskey like it was the only thing tethering him to sanity. Even with his back to me, I knew he felt my presence. But he didn’t turn around. I cleared my throat, trying to gather my thoughts. “Sir, um...” My voice faltered. Jayden’s words still echoed in my head, jumbled and raw. “I’m... I’m really sorry about that.” Alex finally turned, his expression calm but distant. His piercing gaze didn’t meet mine as he downed the rest of his drink in one swift motion. He walked back to his desk with measured steps, setting the empty glass down before taking a seat. “David just called,” he said, his tone flat. “The mask party has been rescheduled to the night of the Rockshire Fashion event. Adjust my schedule accordingly.” I blinked at him, completely thrown. W
FLORA’S POV I bolted from my desk, forgetting to shut down my computer as Jolly trailed behind me, her heels clicking against the tiled floor. A small crowd of employees had gathered by the hallway leading to my office, their hushed murmurs mingling with one loud, unmistakable voice. Jayden. By the time I reached the scene, it was clear why everyone was gawking. Jayden was standing at the center, yelling my name like a lunatic. The receptionist, visibly flustered, was trying her best to block him from storming in any further. “She’s my wife, and I need to see her!” Jayden bellowed. Heat crept up my neck as mortification washed over me. My fists clenched at his audacity. Did he seriously think this was acceptable behavior? “I’ll take it from here,” I told the receptionist, forcing calmness into my voice. She hesitated, glancing between Jayden and me as if unsure whether to leave. “Are you sure?” she muttered under her breath, clearly unimpressed. “I was about to call security
FLORA’S POV I practically sprinted toward Alex as he stepped out of his sleek car, a beaming smile plastered across my face. I probably looked like a kid seeing candy, but I couldn’t help it. “Good morning, Mr. Bennett,” I greeted, praying my blush wasn’t as noticeable as it felt. Alex’s lips curled into that irresistible smile that made my heart do somersaults. “Good morning, Ms. Roberts. Did you have a good night?” he asked casually, strolling into the busy reception hall like he owned the world—which, technically, he kind of did. Good night? Oh, he had no idea. After what he did to me, my night had been nothing short of spectacular. But we had agreed to keep things strictly professional at work, so I swallowed the urge to gush and slapped on my professional face instead. “Yes, sir,” I replied, keeping my tone as neutral as possible. As we moved through the reception, the familiar chorus of “Good morning, Mr. Bennett” followed us like an entourage. Alex nodded politely whi
JAYDEN’S POV "That is absolutely not happening," I snapped, looking from my mother to Mr. Pembroke, who sat there with his eyes fixed on me, burning with barely contained fury. "I just got out of a marriage. What do you think people are going to say if I jump straight into another one?" Mr. Pembroke's lips tightened as he leaned forward. "Well, you should have thought about that before you knocked my daughter up," he spat back, his tone like cold steel. "I don’t care how you do it, Jayden, but Melissa will be married before this bump is obvious to the world." He cast a withering glance in my direction, making it clear that he expected no arguments. I ran a hand through my hair, muttering, “This was a mistake,” loud enough that I hoped it would echo off the walls and sink into someone’s stubborn skull. My heart felt like it was going to beat right out of my chest as I paced the room. How did I even get here? Mr. Pembroke stood up and looked around. "I will be waiting for an i
FLORA’S POV I walked back into my room, second-guessing everything. Was this a good idea? My heart raced, and my hands felt clammy, but there was no denying the thrill bubbling beneath my nerves. At least my room was immaculate; all those years at the Kensington estate had drilled tidiness into me. I never left my space messy—a habit that came in handy tonight. The room was dark when I stepped inside. I flicked on my phone’s flashlight, casting a small glow across the space. There was no sign of Alex. My heart jumped. Where was he? I turned slowly, directing the light around the room, but before I could complete a full turn, an arm wrapped firmly around my waist, pulling me back against a warm, solid chest. A hand covered my mouth, silencing the gasp that almost escaped. “Not a sound, flower,” he whispered right against my ear, his breath hot against my neck. A delightful shiver ran down my spine, my body instinctively melting into him as my nerves buzzed with anticipation. “O
FLORA’S POV "Mr. Bennett, would you like to join us for movie night?" my mother asked, completely out of the blue after dinner and the whole birthday celebration. I shot her a glare, but she pretended not to see it, looking as innocent as a saint. Here I was, already feeling a bit unsettled that my boss was here, sitting in on what seemed like our little family gathering—and, annoyingly, his presence had me wet all over. And now, Mom was also asking him to join us for a movie. "Uh, I think Mr. Bennett is a busy man," I started, hoping to save both of us from this awkward scenario. "Nonsense," Alex replied smoothly, flashing that million-dollar smile at my mother. "It’s the weekend, and I would be honored to join you." I stared at him, dumbfounded. Was he really okay with sitting down with three women watching a sappy romance movie? Because that’s all we watch. To escape reality, we choose romantic movies, even the cliché, unrealistic ones. Mom, looking thrilled by his answer
FLORA’S POV I sat there frozen as Alex and Sasha made their way into the living room. My mother’s gaze darted between Alex and me, her eyes wide and questioning. “Isn’t that Alexander Bennett?” she mouthed, her face clouded with disbelief and curiosity. Before I could even react, Alex was at the table, flashing that million-dollar smile that had my heart stumbling over itself. “Hi,” he said, locking eyes with me in a way that was way too casual for the way he was looking at me. My heart raced, but I managed to snap out of my daze, getting up from my seat. I couldn’t believe he had come all the way here for my birthday. I didn’t know that whatever we had had progressed to this. Sasha took the gift boxes from him and dropped them on the couch, while he extended the bouquet of flowers toward me. “Happy birthday,” he said softly, still smiling, his gaze unwavering. I took the flowers, feeling a little lost for words. Alex looked polished, as always, but there was something abou