She blinked to fight back the tears that were about to fall as she said, "I can sell my house, and in time the villa in Jeju Island, I suppose." It was inconceivable to her that her father would have implicated her in a criminal act as far back as 10 years ago.He sat down on the bench next to her and cupped her chin in his palm before turning her face to look at him. "But I do have a solution; I'm prepared to invest all of the money necessary to get your father out of this mess and make the company viable again, but I want something in return," David said.Anna said, "I have complete faith that my father will do whatever you ask him to do." "In general, he is a decent human being; however, there are..."David concluded for her with a caustic comment, saying, "he had an expensive wife and lifestyle." "However, I am not interested in your father; rather, it is you, Anna," he said. I want to get married to you.Her initial assumption was that the man had lost all semblance of sanity, bu
The obstetrician called him already but why is he acting like he doesn’t know? She wouldn't be surprised by the prospect. “A case of morning sickness struck me.” After a brief gap, she tried to be humorous. “At about three o'clock in the afternoon.” David would not be fooled for long by her acting skills. “Another flash of memory came to me.” It was a continuation of the truth, and it gave her a little chill. David reassured her as he caressed her temple with his kisses. "I will call Rick and arrange for him to meet me at a restaurant if you are not in the mood for dinner this evening." "Amy has gone to a lot of trouble," Anna said hastily, before saying, "No." Even though she was fast asleep, she was startled when he climbed into bed and stretched out to her. A showdown was what she desired. She wanted to go to battle with him, dammit. That was not the case, though, when a dinner guest was expected to show up in—how much time? In under thirty minutes? “Shouldn’t we prepare o
For what seemed like an eternity, he remained silent; when he finally did speak, it was with an unsettlingly harsh and depressing tone. “I will claim full ownership of the child you are carrying.” “Our child should be valued for more than just being a legal battle pawn in the custody battle.”“I wed you because I could not bear to watch my father suffer financially and emotionally. It was lethal for him to be bankrupt. He might not survive jail time because he is old.”She accused him angrily, saying, "You engineered a diabolical game."He kept staring at her for what felt like an eternity. Reminding her, his eyes remained vigilant even though they were partially closed."You took the arrangement personally and tried to turn it into an advantage for yourself against me."She had deceived herself into thinking she was doing well at first. The only difference was that she had developed romantic feelings for him during their journey."I never pretended that our relationship was perfect,
Jacob was left with the Pajero wagon while David was driving the Porsche into the city. She should talk to David about it tonight. After lunch, she rummaged through her closet in search of an appropriate dinner gown. After much consideration, she settled on a deep yellow-fitting gown after narrowing her options down to two. The hue was a striking contrast to her black hair, complemented her dark eyes, and brought out her light honey skin's creamy smoothness. Around four o'clock, Jacob brought her home from physical therapy. At five o'clock, she showered, cleaned her hair, and had Amy style her long hair with fat rollers. After that, she took care of her nails. As she was putting on her makeup, David walked into the bedroom, and she calmly accepted his analytical assessment. "How is your hand doing?" Anna was acutely aware of his nearness the moment he stepped towards her. Showing off the pink scar, she remained silent. "I assume the report from the expert has already been sent to
No. Inside her thoughts, the quiet denial roared. The slightest shrug required an enormous amount of energy. If I said anything, would it matter? She couldn't say a word.It seemed as though he was using a force of extraordinary control to contain his anger.With an icy tone, he reminded her, "We have a dinner engagement.""I propose that you change."The idea of attending a formal dinner with the city's social elite was too much for her to handle.“I just can't bring myself to act this out tonight, David.” She murmured with a bitter cynicism. Her eyes were dazzling deep chocolate hues."I have faith that you can rationalize my absence with an acceptable reason," She said adding, “Amelia would be happy.” She said mischievously.He stared at her for what felt like an eternity, his demeanor a captivating mask that she instinctively drew back from."You drive me to the edge of violence," he whispered with an ominously low voice that made her delicate hair stand on end in silent terror.H
As her eyes welled up and tears started to fall down her cheeks, she swore. Tears were rare for her. Aside from that time, my mother, Allen, and Aunt Martha passed away. Her hormones and her emotional heart must be at odds with each other, dammit. I was devastated. ‘I couldn't believe it.’ It seems like her pregnancy worsened her temperament. Unending torment, she corrected. Her mind is full of pointless banter. A few minutes later, everyone was yelling in her head. She leaned back in her chair and nestled her head in the crook of her arm because she was exhausted from feeling so many emotions at once. At that spot, David discovered her. He remained there for quite a while, staring at her delicate features—the way her hair clung to her neck, the beautiful arch of her slim neck highlighted by the bedside lamp, the slim curves beneath her plain white cotton nightgown. And the subtle sign of crying. He undressed slowly, walked over to the chair, and gently took her into his arms. Som
"Let Jacob know that I'll be waiting at the Culver Blvd near Centinela Ave."Thirty minutes later, though, the black Porsche, not the Pajero, was the one that rolled into the curb.It just took one look at David's features to know that a fight was likely to break out.Opening the passenger door, David leaned across. Then enter. Anna buckled her seatbelt and snuggled in next to him as his voice sounded raspy.The sheer volume of vehicles leaving the city made it difficult for him to maneuver the Porsche ahead of the traffic, and it took until the following set of lights to do it.“I was hoping to be home earlier than this.”The comment did not constitute an apology. A no-brainer.She pivoted to face him, her anger bubbling to the surface."I refuse to be confined in a golden cage by you, David."A glimmer appeared in the corner of his eye.“The press has done a good job of covering my business stance.” On the side of his jaw, a muscle tightened.“A small number of extremists in today's
She surrendered fully to the pleasures of unrestrained passion as, beneath his sensual dominion, a dormant fire burst into flaming life. Anna did not object as he undressed her and himself; she voluntarily arched her back as his lips traced a path over her entire body. Her hands clasped his hair as he lingered in between her legs. A surge of pleasure rushed through her as he licked her sensitive clitoral area over and over until she trembled in ecstasy. A series of hushed cries came from her lips as she pleaded with him, expressing her deep desire for his undivided attention. He slid on top of her and plunged deep into her. Anna savored his every thrust as her hands caressed his buttocks. She let out a scream as she eagerly welcomed his mouth to hers, her intense sensations building to a joint climax that probed the depths of primal gratification. She unwillingly embraced the pinnacle of sexual bliss. Anna took pride in her independence and decided to drive the Mercedes out every d
David cupped her face and said, “There is nothing that can make me queasy when it comes from you.”“Your body is where my child grows, and your blood is her blood also.”“Don’t ever think that it is something to be embarrassed about.”Anna smiled weakly at the man before her. ‘How could she not love this man?’David led her to the shower while helping her out of her clothes.He reached out to take the soap, but she said, “Please let me do it on my own, my breast is so sore, and it hurts too much.”“Okay, but let me do your back.” he insisted as he watched her.“We can visit the baby after breakfast.” he said.At this point, Anna was excited to see Selene. She swiftly finished her bath and changed into a wrap-around pink floral dress.They ate their breakfast and went to the hospital after.They were looking at their child through the incubator, she was so beautiful yet so fragile. 'I can't wait to hold her in my arms,' Anna thought. She felt so mesmerized by her. David wrapped his arm
Anna woke up in the hospital the next day. Last night, she had a c-section because of the preterm labor. David was sitting near her. “Is the baby, okay?” She asked weakly. “The baby is in intensive care,” David said calmly. “Oh my God, is she going to be, okay?” concern was evident on her face. “All her vital signs are okay; however, she is in the incubator.” David cupped her face gently. “No need to worry, Anna, her pediatric doctor is a known specialist.” David reached for Anna and hugged her. At this very moment, she wanted to feel his warmth because she couldn't control her anxiety. Then the Doctor came to visit. “Good morning, Mrs. Miller.” She was an older woman with kind eyes. “I’m Doctor Avery Samuel, nice to meet you,” she said. “Nice to meet you too Doctor,” Anna replied. “Can I see my baby?” “Yes, but We had to wait for your OB-GYN, Doctor Ethan's recommendation.” “When it’s safe to move you, then you can visit your baby, but you have to understand that you cannot
Anna dialed a memorized number on her phone.A sleepy voice answered her call, and Anna felt a surge of relief. “Sara? How about lunch?”“I didn't get to bed until three, you impossible person. Must it be today?”“We could make it a late lunch,” Anna persisted and heard Sara's laughing approval.“Name the time and place, and I'll meet you there.”“One-thirty. At the Grove,” she returned without hesitation.They met within minutes of the appointed time and managed, by good fortune to be shown to atable overlooking the fountain. After the serious business of ordering was completed, they settleddown to exchanging news, something which lasted through the starter, and well into the maincourse.“You're positively blooming,” Sara complimented quietly.“Your hair, your skin. everything about you. I couldn't be more pleased everything is working out.”Anna managed a bright smile that didn't fool her friend in the slightest.“Not quite, huh? What's the problem?”“I didn't ask you to meet me
She rose to her feet and gathered the cutlery and glasses, then carried them through to thekitchen.David followed, and she heard him locking the outer doors and setting the security alarm.It was a simple task to load the dishwasher, and she had just finished when he entered the room.He looked over all the powerful masculine: dark trousers, light tan skin, dark hair, in stark contrast to the white shirt. Tall, he almost seemed overpowering, and, while she craved his touch, there was a part of her that cried out against any sexual defeat.She watched as he dispatched food down the waste disposal unit, then dropped emptycontainers into the pedal bin before washing and drying his hands. In silence, he turned andcaught hold of her hand, leading her through to the lounge, and then he selected a slow song.Soft music emanated from the speakers and Anna looked at him speechlessly as he drew her intohis arms.Crazy, she thought, as he pulled her close against him and began to drift slow
“There's an excellent piece you really must see. Expensive, but worthy of investment.” He riffledthrough the catalog pages and brought the item to David's notice, then made his excuses assomeone else demanded his attention.“I happen to like Zhang Hongtu,” Anna protested as David's amused gaze rested on her expressive features.“So do I,” he assured her, and, placing an arm around her waist, he directed her towards a display.“Shall we begin viewing?”Some paintings verged on the bizarre, others resembled caricatures of design over brilliant slashes of color. One, in particular, looked as if a very young child had indulged in a wild battle with numerous pots of multicolored paint.“What do you think?”Anna turned towards David and tried to present a considered viewpoint. After severalseconds she voiced with restraint, “I'd prefer not to answer on the grounds that anything I saycould be overheard, taken into account, and held against me.”“A remarkable nonconformist piece,” David d
“Anna. How are you, darling? Sorry to keep you waiting.”She closed the magazine and rose to her feet with a ready smile. “Michael.”“Your hand? It is still giving you pain?' He drew her towards the far end of the salon and seated her at a basin.“It aches a little.”Michael's personal attention was rare, and Anna, by virtue of being David's wife, appeared tobe one of the favoured few.She wrinkled her nose as he sluiced water over her hair and applied shampoo, rinsed and repeated the process with conditioner, then towelled it dry before leading her to a mirrored cubicle.“Are you able to drive again?”‘The specialist says I can. David would prefer Jacob to continue in the role of chauffeur. Although he has compromised and bought me another car.'“He is being protective, hmm?”“You could say that,” she agreed with suitable dryness.Michael picked up his scissors and comb and went to work. “Don't knock it, darling,” he cautioned wryly.“Men are not usually protective unless they care.
‘Would it ever be any different?’‘Could it be? Sadly, she didn't think so…’Even if she prepares herself for what is to come, she knows that David will also fight for this child to be his. ‘It will be a long battle.’Anna wandered down to the swimming pool and sat in one of the chairs positioned beneath a wide sun umbrella. The sun felt warm against her bare skin, and she leaned her head back and closed her eyes.“Anna? It is eleven-fifteen.”She came sharply awake at the sound of Amy's voice, amazed that she could have lapsed into a light doze. Her hand had swollen slightly and was beginning to show signs of bruising. There was also a degree of pain when the physiotherapist supervised her exercises, a fact which he noted, adding an admonition to be more careful. There didn't seem to be much point in assuring him that it was not self-inflicted.At home, she ate the chicken salad Amy had prepared for lunch, and then she changed into a bikini,selected a book, and wandered out to sit b
When another couple joined them, Anna let out a breath of relief because most of the people were aimlessly wandering from table to table. While the woman had a light talk with Anna, the man—a business associate of David's—began an intense debate with him.Anna glanced at David with a look of surprise as he rested his arm across the back of her chair twenty minutes before they departed.“It is getting close to eleven o'clock.”“Our mission has been accomplished.”“Are you ready to go?” Anna nodded in agreement.Without saying a word more, he had them leave the ballroom and start to lead the way. A number of his friends wanted to talk to him, and while he waited a second to say a few expressions of courteous reply, he did not remain.Anna sank into the leather-cushioned seat and relaxed as David lowered the Bentley to street level, joining the steady flow of traffic leaving the city.It was pleasurable just to relax in the car. The pulsing in her hand had diminished in intensity, and th
Anna caught her breath as David locked eyes with the model, who appeared innocent, in a way that only Amelia could.“Yes, to my great joy.” Underneath the velvety smoothness of his voice, there was no mistaking the steely core.As the guest speaker stepped up to the podium, Anna removed fruit segments from their meringue nest and set the plate aside, choosing tea as the dessert arrived, which was a letdown.Then, a DJ played some tunes in the background and urged everyone to get down on the dance floor. With grace and elegance, Amelia and her partner were among the first to ascend the stairs.She had an air of confidence and sophistication. Anna could tell the model was fully aware of the impact she was making on her partner from the subtle allure of her face.She wanted to know if it was helping David out or not.Meeting his shadowed stare unsettled Anna, who sneaked a peek at him. She blinked when he reached out and intertwined his fingers with hers, and she smiled tentatively becau