Hey, besties! First off, I’m so sorry for not posting these past few days—I’ve been swamped! This chapter is just a little filler to keep the story going, and I wanted to give you all a heads-up that updates might be a bit inconsistent for the rest of October. But don't worry! I’ll be back with more frequent updates starting in November. Thanks so much for your understanding and continued support. I really appreciate it!
MELISSA’S POV I sat on the bed, tears silently rolling down my cheeks, my head bowed like a child caught breaking a precious vase. And just like a child, I was being scolded—but for something far worse than a clumsy mistake. My father was standing before me, and I could practically feel his anger radiating off him like heat from a furnace. He had always been disappointed in me, and, once again, I was proving him right. “I’m so disappointed,” he bit out, his voice like a whip. “You had one job, Melissa. Just one!” His words were sharp enough to cut glass. “But what did you do? You messed it up again, as you always do.” “I’m sorry,” I muttered, barely loud enough for him to hear. “Sorry? Is ‘sorry’ going to fix this?” He gestured toward my stomach, where the weight of my effort rested. "Is that going to take out that child from your womb? You couldn’t even keep him with a pregnancy, and now, you’re hiding in this hotel like a coward!” “I tried!” My voice cracked, desperate. “Bu
JAYDEN’S POV My driver pulled up to the curb outside Le Jardin and cut the engine. I stayed seated, inhaling deeply, trying to calm my nerves. I wasn’t thrilled about this dinner, but work demanded it. “We’re here, sir,” my driver prompted, catching my eye in the rearview mirror. “Yeah, I know,” I muttered, scanning my tablet screen absent-mindedly. Normally, Cherry would have accompanied me to something like this, but Mr. Charlse had labeled it “casual.” With another exhale, I finally stepped out of the car, mentally gearing up for what was ahead. But before I could take two steps, I heard the distinct sound of another car door opening. Out stepped Melissa, looking polished in a professional pantsuit and flashing a smile I could only describe as triumphant. My brows knitted together in irritation. Great, just what I needed. “Surprised to see me?” she asked, strutting over. I cast a quick glance around, as if anyone else might be witnessing this unwelcome reunion. “What ar
FLORA’S POV "Are you okay?" Alex’s voice pulled me back, gentle and with an edge of concern. I forced a smile, swallowing hard. "Ye… yes, I’m fine," I managed, though my voice betrayed me, trembling slightly. Before I knew it, I had downed the rest of my wine. I caught Alex glancing behind him. I didn't look up to know who it was—Jayden and Melissa were making their way toward us. My heart pounded like it was trying to escape my chest. Please, don’t let Jayden ruin this night. I focused on the champagne bottle, keeping my eyes fixed, hoping they would pass by without stopping. And they did. Jayden and Melissa walked right by, not sparing me even a glance, as if I were a stranger, taking their seats two tables away. I breathed a sigh of relief, releasing the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. When I looked at Alex, he was watching me carefully, eyes narrowed like he could see through every last defense I had put up. “You seem tense, Ms. Roberts. Are you sure you’re alrig
FLORA’S POV Melissa kept staring at Jayden, her eyes practically willing him to pay attention to her, but he seemed oblivious to her looks. Then Alex reached out, leaning forward to help dab at the stain, but I quickly intercepted him, taking it from his hand. “I didn’t mean to ruin your dress,” Melissa said with fake sympathy. I forced a polite smile, refusing to give her the reaction she was looking for. “It’s fine, Ms. Pembroke. Accidents happen.” I turned to the rest of the table. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to use the restroom.” Without waiting for a reply, I hurried toward the restroom, heels clicking on the polished floor as I made my escape. Tonight had just turned disastrous, and I was boiling with rage. Once I got to the restroom, I stared at myself in the mirror, taking deep breaths to calm both my embarrassment and my anger. I wet a paper towel under the faucet and began to blot the stain, muttering under my breath, “Just breathe, Flora. She’s not worth it.” The
ALEX’S POV We were both silent for a while as we got into my car. Flora looked down at her fingers. I knew she was fighting to keep the tears in check, which made me want to hold her and tell her it was alright to let go. Instead, I reached for a handkerchief in the glove compartment and handed it to her quietly. She took it and gave me a grateful look. “Thank you,” she murmured, dabbing at her eyes carefully. I was grateful that I had given Homer the evening off and had driven to Le Jardin myself because of this situation. Now, driving us both home, I would have ample time to think—and unfortunately, all I could think about was what a mess I had created. I deserved a slap on the face for causing her such sadness and embarrassment. I now realized that my whole plan of reuniting Flora with Jayden was not only stupid but impossible, and sitting here with her beside me, I saw how deeply I had miscalculated. I had heard everything Jayden and Flora said in the restroom, and I coul
FLORA’S POV Thank God it’s Saturday. I cracked one eye open and glanced at the clock—it was almost noon. I scrambled up, half-panicked. What? Noon? Sure, it was Saturday, but I still had a ton of work to finish on my designs. Who was I kidding? I needed an excuse to set my eyes on my hot boss. As I hurried toward the bathroom, I couldn’t help but smile, thinking about last night. I had finally opened up to Alex about everything with Jayden. It felt strange, unloading those memories I had usually kept locked up tight, ashamed to recount it especially because of the part I have played. But the way he had listened—no judgment, no pity, just understanding—made me feel lighter than I had in ages. Smiling to myself, I picked up my toothbrush. I needed to freshen up and head over to his mansion—pretending, of course, to work on some designs while waiting for him to come talk with me. Freshly showered and buzzing with energy, I dressed quickly and practically flew out of my room
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
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 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