Time ticked by, and at first, the masked man was filled with confidence. But as the minutes slipped away, unease began to creep in. Why hadn’t he received a call by now? The delay could only mean one thing. His meticulously crafted decoy had failed. If that were true, it meant not only that his true identity would be uncovered, but also that his base could be compromised. If Nash arrived with backup, everything would fall apart.“Nina, you and he must have a deep connection,” the masked man sneered, his gaze piercing as he looked at her. “Otherwise, how could he have spotted the imposter so quickly?” He tried to brush off his failed plan, thinking he still had her as leverage. Both Nash and Micah would be reluctant to let her be harmed, making her a powerful bargaining chip in his hands.He stepped closer, ripping off his mask to reveal a remarkably plain face beneath. “The bet’s over, I lost,” he admitted. “Per our agreement, I’m showing you my face. But there’s one more thing
Nash, of course, immediately approved the leave. What neither he nor anyone else knew was that Ben harbored an unrequited love, someone he adored in his youth but came to despise over the years. ……“Ben, not here... please...” Jamie Lewis’s voice quivered in pleading as he held her tightly against the narrow vanity. She was trapped, nowhere to escape under his unyielding hold. Her protests did nothing to sway him.His gaze only hardened with a cold fury. “Now you know how to beg?” he sneered. “Where was your mercy when I was the one pleading?” Jamie swallowed hard, her throat constricting painfully as she forced the words, “Ben, I know I wronged you back then. But Winnie is innocent. She’s out there right now.” It was the engagement day of her younger sister, Winnie Lewis. While Winnie stood outside, joyfully greeting the guests in her wedding dress, Jamie was trapped here, humiliated by Winnie’s own fiancé. Terror and a crushing guilt overwhelmed her, leaving her para
Jamie’s face went pale instantly. Winnie, oblivious to her sister’s turmoil, released Jamie’s hand and moved toward the source of the sound, only to discover Ben’s phone sitting on the vanity by the mirror.Jamie felt her stomach twist in anxiety. How could she possibly explain this?With a relieved smile, Winnie commented casually, “So careless, leaving his phone behind.” She picked up the phone without a hint of suspicion. Jamie held her breath, quickly shifting the conversation. “You’re the guest of honor today. Get back out there. I need to run to the restroom again.”Without waiting for a response, Jamie dashed into the restroom and locked the door in one fluid motion. But once inside, she felt Ben closing in behind her, pressing her back against the door with an ominous intensity.Just as his hand began to roam in a way that was both cruel and deliberate, Winnie’s voice sounded from outside the door, “Jamie, I really think you should go to the hospital. I’m going to get J
Jamie was certain of one thing. Ben did not love Winnie. This engagement party was nothing more than a trap. It was a twisted game Ben was playing for revenge against her. He had known about Winnie’s connection to her all along and had orchestrated each move to pull her into his plan.She had no choice.“Don’t tell her. I’ll do whatever you want,” Jamie said, defeated.“Perfect. Tonight, I want to see you at my feet, playing the obedient little dog I need. Don’t disappoint me,” he sneered, leaning in close, his breath hot against her ear, yet filled with chilling cruelty.Jamie steadied herself and, with shaky steps, forced herself to leave the room. After a moment, she joined Winnie outside.Winnie rushed over to her. “Jack couldn’t get here right away, so I had someone pick up some medicine from the pharmacy. And, Jamie,” Winnie continued with a determined look, “later, I’m taking those jewelry pieces to get some cash for Charlie’s hospital bills.”Each word pierced Jamie’s h
As Winnie's gaze drifted to the side, she noticed Ben approaching, dressed in a sleek black three-piece suit. Behind her, Jamie saw him too, and memories came rushing back. “Jamie, the man you were once with was Jack Green, but now he's Ben Lucas. You have to let him go!” Jamie thought to herself.He was both Ben Lucas and Jack Green. She could have been happy with Jack, but with Ben, there could be no connection. That was why she chose to walk away. She had buried Jack deep in her memory until today, when her sister’s repeated mentions of his name brought those memories flooding back.He was using his identity as Jack to get close to her sister, and now her sister was carrying his child. He wanted her to move into his house with her sister. It was all part of his revenge. But why drag Winnie into this? She had done nothing wrong. If anyone was at fault, it was only for having her as a sister.“I just went out to meet a guest. Are you all set on your end?” Ben asked casually, sl
“‘Innocent?’” Ben scoffed coldly. “You took all that money and didn’t share a cent with your sister? If that’s true, maybe this whole sisterly bond isn’t worth as much as you think.”Jamie's heart sank again. She knew that nothing she said would make a difference now. Ben would never believe her. To him, she was just a woman who took what she could get, unworthy of even a second glance. Still, she found herself pleading with him, “It’s been four years since we ended. Now Winnie is carrying your child. If you’re truly committed to her, please treat her well.”But Ben’s gaze only grew colder. His hand slid to her collar, and Jamie felt a spike of panic. They were in a public hallway, surveillance cameras overhead, and anyone could walk by at any moment. If someone saw them like this, the scandal would be unavoidable. What would happen to Winnie? All she wanted was a family of her own, a loving husband and an adorable child.Jamie’s guilt weighed heavier with each passing second. W
Ben leaned in close, so close that Jamie could hear his every breath. He asked, his voice cold, “Then tell me, what exactly do you think I should do? Should I go and break up with Winnie right now? Should I tell her what we just did, then drag her to a clinic for an abortion? Would that make you happy?”“Of course not!” Jamie quickly protested, her face going pale. “That’s your own child. Do you even hear what you’re saying?”Winnie wanted nothing more than a loving, happy family. Jamie couldn't bear the thought of shattering that dream.“So, what’s your solution?” Ben straightened up, looking down at her with cold amusement. “Go on, Jamie. Tell me what’s really on your mind.”Jamie took a breath, speaking as sincerely as she could. “I’ll do my best to make it up to you. I’ll gather whatever money you want. I can disappear if that’s what you need. Move far away so I’ll never cross your path again. Just… take care of Winnie and pretend I’m gone.”Ben’s expression only hardened, h
“Jack, what were you just talking about with my sister?” Winnie asked, her eyes bright with curiosity after greeting guests. It was her sister's first time meeting her boyfriend, and she felt a bit anxious. What if Jamie didn’t like him?Ben shook his head. “Just some small talk. I have a question for you though. How would you describe your sister?”“My sister is the best in the world,” Winnie said with a smile. “She’s incredibly kind to me, and all her friends think so highly of her too. There’s just one thing…” Winnie’s face fell as she sighed.Ben prodded gently, “Mind telling me?”“Well, it’s not really a secret since we’re family now.” Winnie glanced around, then continued, “She had a boyfriend she really loved, but they broke up, and it really hurt her. She was down for so long, and I don’t think she’s fully moved on even now.” Winnie's expression darkened at the thought. Jamie had never shared the details, but it was clear her sister was deeply affected. Winnie could only
But instead of feeling touched, Vera’s first reaction was nausea. A wave of discomfort surged up from her stomach, and Vera’s face paled. She bolted for the bathroom. Caleb followed quickly. “Are you feeling sick?” “I don’t think so. I’ve been eating normally—nothing too heavy or weird lately.” Vera clutched her stomach, just as confused as he was. Then, a possibility flashed through her mind. Caleb clearly had the same thought. Without a word, he turned and walked into their bedroom, returning moments later with a pregnancy test. Vera looked at him, stunned. “When did you buy that?” He responded matter-of-factly, “Better safe than sorry.” Vera was momentarily speechless. Five minutes later, she stepped out of the bathroom, her hand instinctively resting on her stomach, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief. It was positive. They had only been married for three months. How did this happen so fast?Caleb, on the other hand, remained composed—at le
Of course, Vera wasn’t about to dump all her responsibilities on her assistant. That would be exploitation. She called her assistant into her office. “You’re twenty-five this year, right?” Her assistant blinked, confused. Wasn’t her age common knowledge? Why was Vera suddenly bringing it up? A thought struck her. Was this an arranged marriage situation? Her face immediately filled with silent refusal. “Miss Vera, I’m still young. I’m not thinking about marriage anytime soon.” Vera tapped her pen against the desk. “I’m not telling you to get married.” “Oh.” “I just want to offload some of the smaller daily tasks to you. You don’t have to run every minor document by me.”Her assistant instantly understood. A raise. After confirming she was on board, Vera gave her a salary bump and had her hire a few more assistants to distribute the workload. “If I don’t have time to handle everything, you guys will take care of it. If something’s too complicated, jus
Vera could sense danger the moment the conversation turned in this direction. Her father had never questioned her about married life, and she was lucky enough to avoid nosy relatives. But just because she hadn’t experienced it firsthand didn’t mean she hadn’t seen it happen to others. Without hesitation, she abandoned the half-folded pastry in her hands. “I... uh, need to use the restroom.” Before she could escape, Mrs. Smith caught her wrist. “You and Caleb aren’t getting any younger,” she said matter-of-factly. “You should start thinking about kids—make sure you’re putting in the effort, hmm?” Vera left the kitchen visibly drained. Mrs. Smith was a wonderful mother-in-law, the kind who treated Vera like her own daughter. Despite knowing Vera came from a well-off family, she had still gifted them a house as a wedding present. Of course, Caleb already owned a place, but his mother had insisted. “That’s your house. This is the home I’m giving you as a weddi
That undeniable possessiveness flickered in Caleb’s gaze—subtle yet impossible to ignore. It was the kind of look a powerful man might give his beloved in an old Hollywood film. And right now, the photographer felt like the unlucky bystander who had accidentally stumbled upon an intimate scene. His voice wavered slightly, caught up in his own imagination. “Mr. Smith, lift your eyes toward the camera.” Caleb’s sharp gaze flickered over, intense and commanding. The photographer instinctively pressed the shutter. They continued with several more poses, reviewing the shots as they went. Vera loved them all, but her favorite was still the vintage-inspired one. “How long until we get the final prints?” she asked. “Two to three days at most,” the photographer replied. “I’ll have them shipped directly to you.” Then, after a slight pause, he hesitated before making a request. “I actually have a personal favor to ask—would you both be open to letting us displa
Vera was tempted. They had already taken plenty of wedding photos—several sets at the island, more at the wedding itself. But this wasn’t just any photo studio. It was privately booked and known for being one of the most prestigious studios in the city. Appointments here were nearly impossible to get. The fact that Caleb had managed to secure a session meant he had gone to great lengths to make it happen. If they were just going to take ordinary wedding pictures, it would be a waste of an opportunity. Still, she wasn’t sure what kind of shoot she wanted. The photographer, understanding her hesitation, pulled out a sample album. “You can take a look at our past work. These are some of the styles we’ve done.” Flipping through the pages, Vera saw an array of stunning concepts—each picture more breathtaking than the last. Then, one particular set caught her eye. A Golden Age Hollywood theme.It was classic, nostalgic, and beautifully atmospheric. “Ca
After the wedding, Vera considered taking some time off for a honeymoon. But the thought quickly faded when she realized Caleb had been practically living at the hospital. With a sigh, she dismissed the idea. She was used to it, but to say she wasn’t disappointed would be a lie. Her assistant picked up on it. “Mrs. Smith, don’t you want to go on a honeymoon?” she asked one day. “One of my friends just got married, and she’s been obsessively researching destinations. “She even said a marriage without a honeymoon is already half a failure.” Vera froze mid-page, suddenly losing interest in the documents she had been reviewing. Her assistant hesitated, then offered a suggestion. “Why don’t you go visit Dr. Smith at work?“You seem… distracted. Maybe seeing him will help.” Vera snapped out of her daze, suddenly aware of how preoccupied she had been lately. It was embarrassing to admit, but she had been zoning out far too often—especially after coming hom
Whenever they did this in the past, Caleb always maintained some restraint. But tonight—he didn’t hold back at all. He took her from the bedroom to the bathroom, then back to the bed, his searing kisses trailing every inch of her skin. The next morning, even as she woke up, Vera could still feel the lingering traces of last night’s intoxicating pleasure. As expected, she ended up taking the day off. It wasn’t until two days later that she finally returned to work. *Everyone at the company had already prepared for this. The moment Vera walked into the office, she was greeted with knowing smiles and teasing remarks. “Congratulations, Mrs. Smith!” “Newlywed bliss, huh?” “Three whole days off? Someone had a good time.” It didn’t take a genius to figure out what she had been up to. Obviously, her married life was going exceptionally well—so well that she had completely abandoned work for it. Under the weight of their mischievous stares, Vera barely k
Yelena still hadn’t accepted Hunter, but he wasn’t giving up either and was relentlessly closing in on her. Knowing Yelena’s soft heart, Vera figured it was only a matter of time before she gave in. She let out a sigh. Her friend’s love life wasn’t something she could interfere with. Besides, Caleb had already given her a little inside scoop. “She came to the hospital for a follow-up a few days ago,” he had mentioned casually. “Hunter was the one who brought her.” Vera had clicked her tongue at the news. Yelena always seemed quiet and reserved, but apparently, she was full of surprises.*Time flew by in the blink of an eye.By mid-month, Caleb had rented out an entire vineyard and spent several days transforming it into the perfect wedding venue.When the day arrived, the celebration took place right there.The vineyard was sprawling and elegant, every bit as grand as any luxury hotel—if not better. Even the wine cellar remained untouched, stocked with years-
“Did you plan this from the start?” Vera narrowed her eyes, feeling like she had just walked into a carefully laid trap. “Mm.” Caleb smiled, then leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. Because yes—he had always been planning this. The biggest change in Vera’s life after the island proposal was the ring now sitting on her finger. It wasn’t just any ring. It was custom-made, something Caleb had specially ordered. She only found out by accident when she glanced at his phone one day and saw the purchase record. It had been ordered two months ago. Vera did the math and was stunned. He had been preparing for this long before she even started getting impatient. Her heart swelled with emotion. And as soon as Caleb’s parents heard that their son had finally proposed, they wasted no time pushing them to get the marriage license. *One day, Vera overheard Caleb’s mother lecturing him. “Your dad and I weren’t expecting much from you. With how much ti