The wedding planner escorted me to a private suite with Emily. She shouldn’t have been dragged into my mess with Kyros.
Inside, I asked Emily to stay in the living area while I retreated to the bedroom and requested the wedding planner to inform Maximus.
The phone barely rang twice before Kyros answered.
“Did you talk to Gazelle?” His words tumbled out immediately, clearly expecting Emily on the other end.
“Kyros.” Just his name left my lips, and he already knew.
“Gazelle!” His tone shifted from casual to desperate. “I was informed about what happened at the ceremony. Please listen to me. I didn’t know you would find out about all that. Just give me one last chance! I know you only married Max out of anger. You love me, and there’s still a chance for us... I know I was wrong. I know...” His voice cracked, dissolving into unmistakable sobs on the other end of
Kyros“Why did you document everything, Stella?!” I roared, my voice shaking with fury.My palm struck her cheek before I could stop myself. Rage had consumed me entirely, blinding me to everything but my own pain.Stella’s eyes were swollen from crying, her cheek now marked with an angry red imprint. Yet, in my fury, I barely registered her suffering.All I could see was betrayal. Gazelle, the woman I had planned to marry, had chosen another man—on what should have been our wedding day.And not just any man. She had married Maximus, the one person I despised most in this world.I wanted to scream, to storm back to Bryston City and demand answers. But all I had in front of me was Stella, sobbing, trembling.“Kyros, please,” she choked out. “I never meant to hurt you. I never thought this w
I realized I wasn’t wearing any panties. That was my punishment? The shock barely had time to register before it was consumed by a slow, burning heat.He pinched my chin, tilted my head back, and captured my lips once more—utterly in control.‘Goodness.’My mind drifted, lost in the intoxicating haze of him. When his lips trailed down to my neck, his hand followed, cupping my breast, kneading, setting me ablaze.I want him. I crave his touch everywhere.Every ounce of restraint, every lingering doubt about right or wrong, dissolved into nothing.I wanted him.I wanted him to take me.The sound of lace tearing filled the air, an astonishment rippling through me. Maximus easily breaks the expensive fabric to satisfy himself. And then, his tongue glided downward to one of my nipples as he eyed me with intention. I trembled uncontrollably.
My body bore the evidence of our wedding night—a constellation of bite marks, crimson bruises from passionate kisses, and darkened patches across my skin. Maximus Ferrero had claimed me as his, leaving his mark in many ways.Every inch of me ached. I felt like a lifeless zombie, sprawled on my stomach as I hugged a thick pillow for comfort.Damn it! So, this was the punishment he mentioned last night.The door opened quietly as Maximus entered carrying a tray laden with food. He placed it carefully on the bedside table before sitting beside me, his fingers gently threading through my hair in a surprisingly tender gesture.“Are you alright?”I mustered what little energy I had to look up at him, my eyes conveying the reproach my weakened body could not express.“I can’t feel my body...” I muttered.W
“How do you feel about that?” Royal asked when she noticed my silence after learning about Stella. “I don’t know, Roy. Honestly, I don’t know what to feel,” I said. “I can’t say I’m happy or sad. Kyros has been part of my life for years, and that wasn’t just some casual relationship. I shared my youth with him—almost every chapter of my life had him in it.” Memories of my seven-year relationship with Kyros resurfaced, playing in my mind like an old film. “He was there when I opened my acceptance letter to medical school or when I passed my exams, believing in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. He was there when Cristina betrayed me and when my mother passed. Kyros supported me even when I had decided to step away from the public eye.” I exhaled deeply. “But were those moments enough to make me regret our relationship? Enough to forgive what he did?” I shook my head. “That’s why I’m not sure. But you know what? But I feel a quiet pride that I found the strength to walk a
“Why?” Curiosity stirred inside me. “Because I’m jealous,” he replied.“You weren’t jealous of Kyros before.” My words were a statement, not a question. I clung to him tighter. Maximus was my husband now, and I was desperate to accept this new life I’d already embraced. The driver’s face flushed crimson as he entered the car, clearly embarrassed by our intimate position in the backseat. Despite his discomfort, he raised the partition to give us privacy and focused on the road ahead. Maximus’s gaze softened, and the back of his hand brushed against my cheek with surprising tenderness. “You have no idea how jealous I was back then,” he murmured, his breath warm against my ear. “I could have taken you somewhere and locked you away from everyone else.” My palm slid along his neck, tracing the strong line of his jaw. Something must be wrong with me. Instead of feeling afraid, I felt a thrill of intrigue.Maximus had this inexplicable power over me; this magnetic pull made me crave wh
Maximus The vehicle had barely traveled a single block when an unsettling awareness crept over me. Glancing down, I spotted Gazelle’s phone lying on the car floor; she must have dropped it during her hasty departure. “Turn back to the hospital,” I instructed the driver, holding up her phone. “Your Ma’am left this behind in the vehicle.” “Right away, Sir!” he replied. The bodyguard in the front used his radio to inform the security team in the car behind us about our change of route. I leaned back against the leather seat, trying to stay calm. I often sent Gazelle messages on a whim; sometimes to silence the dream that haunted my thoughts. But now, I just wanted to see her, to inhale her distinctive scent.It hadn’t even been an hour, yet my chest ached with an unbearable craving—a consuming need that demanded her presence. I closed my eyes, surrendering momentarily to mental images of her… the way her voice melted into a sensual whisper when she called my name... her kiss... he
Gazelle The sharp pain in my head intensified as I regained consciousness, causing me to wince involuntarily. A nurse appeared beside me, her worried face coming into view as she gently pressed an ice pack against my aching temple. “Dr. Sinclair! Finally, you’re awake!” she exclaimed. Memories flickered back… the hospital, Maximus bringing me here… and that man—my patient’s relative—who had lashed out. He grabbed me, and then… everything went dark. The nurse continued anxiously, “Dr. Sinclair, we were so worried. If you hadn’t regained consciousness, we don’t know what to do… President Ferrero was terrifying; he wasn’t himself earlier. Dr. Castillo had to force him to get treated for his injuries.” ‘Wait…’ Confusion clouded my thoughts. Injuries? Maximus not in his right mind? None of this made sense. “W-what happened?” I asked. The doctor who had examined me recounted the earlier commotion in the hallway. But what shocked me most was hearing about Maximus’s arrival, and ho
Maximus and I were separated for questioning. A female inspector spoke to me while another questioned Maximus. “Mr. Beckett claims there was an issue with the diagnostic tests and ultrasound,” the investigator explained. “He says you followed the wrong procedure and forced Lucy Beckett to terminate the pregnancy because you had no intention of treating the baby.” I frowned. “She was already bleeding when she arrived at the hospital,” I explained. “Her legs were covered in shards of glass. When questioned about it, she stated it was personal, so we respected her privacy and didn’t press further.” “She’s bleeding? And he believes this is some unpracticed medical expertise on your part?” the inspector questioned. “Inspector, I’m a physician. My responsibility is to ensure the safety of both mother and child during delivery. Do you honestly believe I would welcome a patient’s decision to terminate her pregnancy? We tried to convince her because there were risks and potential comp
Maximus“Sir, we received news that Ms. Mercer was sent to Dr. Sinclair’s hospital department,” Emma reported.I paused, considering whether this had anything to do with Gazelle. Stella had once been my secretary, but she settled into life as Kyros’ wife after marrying my brother. Not that I’d ever take her back—she was untrustworthy. Not even a little. She had once tried to seduce me, and I made it clear how unprofessional and repulsive I found her behavior.I suspected she might have been responsible for spreading rumors among my business partners, suggesting I had no interest in women.Was it my fault I found her unattractive? Was something wrong with me for never feeling drawn to anyone? Or was I simply... different? Most men in my social circles seemed to define stress relief through excess: expensive entertainment, sleeping with multiple women, maintaining mistress
I could hardly believe what Gianna had just told me. “So… she’s the one Stella warned us about? The woman Kyros was sleeping with?” My voice came out flatter than I intended, trying to process the revelation. “That’s right.” I was at a loss for words. A part of me felt awful for Stella—she was pregnant, and Kyros had a responsibility to step up, not fool around. I never imagined he was this kind of man. The man who had been with me for years and chased after me just weeks ago now felt like a stranger.“Are you okay?” Gianna’s voice pulled me from my spiraling thoughts.“More than alright.” I exhaled sharply. “Honestly, I feel like I just dodged a bullet. If things had turned out differently, I could have been trapped in a miserable marriage with Kyros.” I shook my head, frustration creeping in. “It’s not that I reg
“Dr. Sinclair, I’m assigning Dr. Matthews to you for now. Guide her through her internship.” That was the chief’s directive, so I took Dr. Tessa Matthews on a tour of our hospital’s obstetric and gynecological wing. I introduced her to the ward where mothers who had just given birth were recovering, along with patients dealing with other conditions. I explained the status of each patient, ensuring she understood their cases. Our tour continued through the department’s administrative areas. I showed her where to get medications and explained how the delivery schedules and doctors’ shifts were organized. By her third day, Tessa seemed to be adapting well. However, I lost my physician’s seal—the official stamp I used for medication requests in the patients’ ward. My good impression of Tessa started to change during her first week. One afternoon, the chief resident and another visibly upset doctor suddenly summoned me into a private consultation. “Dr. Sinclair, explain this,” th
I had no choice but to accept Stella. She had no doctor yet, and I was in charge of our department then. “Let her in,” I instructed Gianna. She gave a curt nod before inviting Stella into the clinic. In just a few moments, I was face-to-face with Kyros’ wife. The tension in the room thickened immediately. “I thought you wouldn’t take me in,” she said, flashing a fake smile. “Why would you think that? You’re carrying my brother-in-law’s child—you’re family,” I replied, maintaining my professional composure. “Brother-in-law? Oh, that’s right,” She let out a cold laugh. “I almost forgot you married Maximus, my boss. Was that how desperate you were on your wedding day? But now, still clinging to Kyros?” Her implication was clear, but I refused to take the bait. I closed her file deliberately and met her gaze. “Why are you here, Stella?” “To remind you that Kyros is my husband.” Her voice was sharp, her eyes burning with accusation. “I left my AirPods in his car, indicating he was c
GazelleMy head spun. I grasped at nothing, lost in the sensation. I parted my legs with a shaky breath, settling softly above Maximus.His body lay between my thighs, his warm tongue teasing my most sensitive spot, tracing slow, tantalizing circles. Each stroke sent a shiver through me, pleasure blooming in waves, leaving me breathless.“Max…”He held my waist firmly, guiding my movements as I lost myself in the rhythm of pleasure. A shudder ran through me, my cries of ecstasy filling the air as another climax crashed over me.“Your cum tastes perfect,” he murmured.My eyes glistened with emotion as I traced my fingers along his cheeks before capturing his lips. Mine had already grown soft from our unspoken battle, yielding to the pull of his kiss.His lips parted, inviting me to explore every inch of him with a slow, lingering
Kyros Inside the conference room, the board members, my father, Maximus, and I were all present. The discussion centered on the hospital incident and my brother’s subsequent handling of the crisis. While we had initially lost millions, Maximus had managed not only to recover but also to double our profits in the aftermath. “President Ferrero, your marriage to Gazelle Sinclair has barely begun, yet the problems are already piling up,” one of the board members remarked. I immediately recognized him—this was the same man who had once attempted to arrange a marriage between his daughter and Maximus. His motivation was transparent; he was searching for any opportunity to discredit Gazelle and potentially remove her from the picture. Maximus had erased all traces of his relationship with Gazelle from social media and the web. Naturally, people assumed he either didn’t care about her or wanted to avoid being dragged into her personal complications—the very woman who had been my fiancée u
It was no surprise that the hospital had caught the attention of reporters. Mr. Beckett had been making a scene for days, demanding compensation from Maximus.Now, with Lucy experiencing complications with her uterus, the situation had spiraled further out of control—especially since she dared to lie.“There! That’s the doctor who mistreated my son and his wife!” A woman—whom I assumed to be Mr. Beckett’s mother—thrust her finger accusingly in my direction. Gianna instantly tensed beside me. “Get rid of that doctor! She has no idea what she’s doing!” one voice shouted from the gathering crowd. “That’s right! She’s a disgrace to this hospital! If she stays, we’ll transfer our family to a facility that values patient safety!” another voice chimed in.I forced myself to maintain professional composure. The crowd’s anger swelled, their voices growing louder. From the corner of my eye, I caught the slight smirk on Cristina’s lips, proof that she was behind this chaos. I wasn’t sure if s
Hurriedly pulling on the lab coat, I headed to the labor room. In the hallway, I spotted Mr. Beckett pacing anxiously. His fingers were tangled in his hair, and his restlessness was palpable. When he noticed me approaching, his gaze locked onto mine, burning with fury.“You, negligent doctor!” he barked, springing to his feet. His bloodshot eyes blazed with rage. “This is entirely your fault. You mishandled my wife’s previous hospitalization. There are serious flaws in this hospital’s protocols, and I know you caused this! You’re the reason my wife’s bleeding! You’ll pay for this!”‘This lunatic!’ The audacity he had to pin his own reprehensible actions on me was infuriating. His tense stance and clenched fists made it clear he was moments away from lashing out. “Dr. Sinclair!” the nurse gasped.“You harmed my wife!” he shouted, lunging forward. Before he could get any closer, Gianna intercepted him with remarkable swiftness. She seized his arm, twisted it with precise technique, a
“What’s the meaning of this?” I asked Royal incredulously. Royal shifted her gaze to Gianna, silently asking her to confirm what they’d discovered. “According to what I’ve gathered, Lucy Beckett’s husband is Cristina’s cousin,” Gianna explained.“Her cousin?”Gianna nodded. “Yes. The couple owes your former friend a substantial amount of money. I analyzed their recorded interactions—I can read lips even from video footage—and Cristina demanded payment from Lucy.” Royal spoke next. “That means Cristina may have been the one who revealed Maximus Ferrero’s identity. The guy had been living abroad for years; not many people here in Bryston City would recognize him yet.”“So, you’re saying Cristina could be the one pushing the couple to extort money?” I asked.“I can’t be certain,” Royal admitted, “but the evidence points in that direction.” “There’s more. I discovered the couple’s relationship is severely dysfunctional,” Gianna added grimly. “She’s a victim of physical abuse.”“What?!”