DelilahI look at the ring on my finger. It weighed on top of my finger like a ton of bricks. I choke back my tears and stare at him. I don't have a choice. I have to do everything he asked, endure every pain he gives me with a smile. I have to do it to protect my family from the embarrassment I will bring with this damned video."Fine, you win. I will marry you. But know one thing, I won't forgive you for this," I sniffled."Once you taste the wealthy lifestyle, you will forget all about your grudge. All women are similar that way, and you are no different," he hissed."You are wrong. But I won't argue with you. Please just erase the video. I will do anything you ask, I promise," I sob into my hand."I will keep this until we sign another contract. The marriage license one," Sebastian laughs out loud.I feel a shiver running down my spine. I thought he had a cruelty streak before, but this is a whole new level.I go back into my hotel room and then sob into the pillow.I feel like a
"Sebastian! I didn't know you came back here?" Lucia's face brightened."You two know each other?" I asked, even though it was evident that these two had a history."Lucia is Frederick's daughter. He is the manager at this hotel," Sebastian explains."We almost got married," Lucia declared.My brows rose together. "Who almost got married?""Sebastian and I, silly. We were in love," she chirped.I didn't know to process all this information. Lucia and Sebastian? In love? I felt a small amount of jealousy flickering inside me, but I forced myself to keep my face straight. I didn't know what to say for a moment. "Is that so?" I finally managed to say something."It's not true. At least not the full truth. Lucia and I almost got married, but we weren't in love," Sebastian said grimly and grabbed my hand."No need to hide it from Delilah. She is going to be your new wife, no? It would be best if you told her all of your secrets," Lucia giggled."I think Delilah and I will go dance for a bi
SebastianI don't feel well.The lights in the ballroom suddenly feel too bright, and people sound too noisy. I need to go back to my room and lie down.I look for Delilah and see her dancing with the district managers of one of the hotels. She looked like she was having a lot of fun, so I didn't feel like taking her with me.I tortured her enough these past few weeks, so I should give her a break this time. I head to the elevator alone.Lucia barged inside the elevator before the door closed, and I frowned. What does she want this time?I met Lucia ten years ago when I visited Italy for the first time. We had an instant connection.I thought she was gorgeous, and she was smitten by my good looks and charms. We started to maintain a long-distance relationship, with me visiting at least twice a month. After three years, I finally proposed, and she agreed instantly. I thought I had found the one.But then her true color showed. She started to take advantage of me. She used her fiancée s
DelilahI don't know what I am doing or why I am doing it.No...that's not true. I do know why. Seeing him lying there half-dressed made me feel antsy and overwhelmed with lust. The thought of him being inside of another woman made my blood boil.I straddle him. My hair falls all over his face as I look down at him."Kiss me," he said.No. I won't give him the satisfaction. If I kiss him now, it would feel too much like love, and I don't want him to feel loved. I want him to feel used."You don't get to kiss me until I'm satisfied," I said in a raspy voice."As you wish," he smirked.I lower myself more and lightly bite his shoulder, then kiss his chest instead of his lips."Your lips feel so good, fuck...I love them so much," Sebastian groans as I trail them down from his chest and stop right on top of his pelvic bone. I touch his hard erection and stroke it slowly. Then I lick it from the base to the tip then put it in my mouth.He moans and puts his fingers through my hair as I suc
Sebastian"What is the meaning of this?" I roar.Simon doesn't even flinch as he is used to my occasional outbursts."You said it was a done deal. How did they know about Steve Rogers?" I asked again. It's been only a day since I got back from my trip, and things were already stressful for me."I believe it has something to do with the rat. He spilled the beans about the interview date, and the other hotel reached out to him. We need to do something about it, and we need to do it soon," Simon said.I lean back and close my eyes while Simon patiently waits for me to say something."I've got an idea," I said all of a sudden. Simon looked at me but didn't say anything. He waited for me to elaborate."We will create a fake project. Something that would benefit both us and Crestwood Hotel. We can gradually plant information little by little and keep watch to see if they find out. We keep an eye on everyone and see who shows unnecessary interest," I said."Not bad. I am on board," Simon sai
DelilahI watch Sebastian storm out. Then I get back to work. I am done being swayed and doing all of his bidding like a puppet. I may be poor and weak at times, but I didn't lose all my self-respect yet. I won't surrender to Sebastian, no matter what.But still...I have to admit something. Sebastian treated me like a princess for the rest of our trip to Italy. He took me shopping and allowed me to pick anywhere I wanted to visit, and I forgot about all the torture he put me through momentarily.But once the day was over, I sat alone in my room and thought about everything. Sebastian isn't a nice guy. He is evil under that handsome face of his. He made me feel worthless numerous times before, and he will do it again.And the whole blackmail scene with the video of me. What kind of despicable man does something like this to a poor, helpless woman who has nowhere to turn to?Sebastian had proven to me that he was that kind of man numerous times.I can never love him, and I won't. I deci
SebastianI look at the photos that are scattered all over my desk, and I frown. I didn't know what to expect when I sent a private investigator to follow Ryan around town.I wanted to know the places he visited and the people he saw. Maybe I thought Ryan would meet up with someone from the rival hotel. Maybe a casual, secret brunch of some sort to exchange their dirty little secrets.But things turned out to be much worse.Ryan did see someone, but the person in the photographs was the last person I expected to see. The picture belonged to none other than Delilah Gibson, and it made my blood boil."Is this what you were looking for?" the PI named Marcus finally asked as I was sitting in silence."It is much more than what I was looking for, so thank you, Marcus. You've earned your pay. What else can you tell me about this meeting?" I asked.Marcus looked at his written report. "From what I heard from their conversation is that she is his ex-girlfriend, and Ryan is trying hard to get
SebastianI pour myself a glass of whiskey, then chug it down fast. The alcohol burns my throat on its way down, but I ignore it and pour myself another drink. I feel anger coursing through my veins when I imagine Delilah in another man's arms.Last night, Delilah pushed me off and walked out of the penthouse while trying to fix her messy clothes. Not before telling me how much she hated me. Several times. Her words cut through my heart like a knife, but I had seen it coming. I knew she would despise me after the way I treated her.But oh well, I can handle her hatred. It doesn't matter since she'll marry me anyway.I call Lewis and tell him to attend my so-called wedding. I decided to finish it as soon as possible. I have to make her my wife before she figures out a way to get out of it.And that asshole Ryan....I don't know what Ryan is planning. How is he going to use Delilah against me? I can't wait to spoil his plans.My uncle called and summoned me earlier, but it didn't feel l
Emma It's my wedding day. I feel like I'm in a daze, floating in the cloud. I can't believe this is happening to me and I'm about to marry this amazing, gorgeous man of my dreams. Things can't get any better. I look at Sam, who is running around and giggling with some of the other kids in his house. He is wearing a tiny tuxedo and looks absolutely adorable. My heart swells with love and pride. I can't believe how fast he's grown up and how lucky I am to have him in my life. As I take a deep breath, I can feel the excitement and anticipation building up inside of me. I can't wait to walk down the aisle and see my husband-to-be waiting for me. "Sam, be careful! You will trip over the decorations!" Delilah scolded him, but he only giggled louder. Delilah couldn't help but crack a smile and look at me. "Ready for your big day?" she smirks. "I don't know," I giggle nervously. She raises an eyebrow. "You don't know? You're not getting cold feet, are you?" I shake my head frantically
Jonathan I go back to the building to check on Alaric. I made sure to have Ray send someone to kill the wasps ahead of time and give Alaric medical attention if needed before my arrival. Alaric is sitting on the chair with his face and body swollen, but he appears to be breathing. "I see you survived the wasps," I comment. "Fuck you," Alaric mumbles. "I came here to give you good news and bad news," I say. He looks at me with confusion. "What?" "The good news is that Emma and I are getting married, and Sam will officially become my son," I say. "Samuel is my son," Alaric barks. "Not anymore, he isn't. You will be waiving all rights as his biological dad," I say, putting the adoption paper on his lap. Alaric glares at me as he looks at the adoption paper. He doesn't say anything for a few moments. I watch as his expression turns angrier. "I don't want to give up my rights," he says. "It's not up to you anymore," I reply. "I've already talked to my lawyer, and everything is
JonathanHere I am at the abandoned building again, three days later. I kept my promise to Alaric and didn't show up until now, leaving him in the dark. I'm sure he is covered in his own piss and starving. The thought gives me comfort. "How was life in darkness, Alaric? It's not fun, is it?" I ask after taking the tape off of his mouth. There is no window down there, so Alaric wouldn't have known the difference between day and night. "Fuck you, asshole! What the fuck is wrong with you, man?" Alaric barks. "I couldn't begin to tell you. Are you ready to confess yet?" I laugh. "Confess what? I didn't do anything!" Alaric shouts. "Ah, so we are still playing the game. Say, Alaric, are you hungry?" I ask and shake the Mcdonald's bag in my hand. "I am fucking starving, man. You left me here tied up for three days!" he says as if I don't know what I did already. I take the burger out and take a big bite. "Mmm...you know I have all the money in the world, and I can afford expensive f
Jonathan "Emma doesn't want the police involved," Sebastian says. "I see..." I say grimly, but I'm not surprised. "I don't blame her. They will ask her a lot of questions in court. It'll keep reminding her of her painful past." Sebastian nods. "There must be an alternative. I want that bastard Alaric to suffer, even if it's in an unconventional way." "Leave that to me. I'll take care of Alaric," I say with gritted teeth. Sebastian narrows his eyes. "Emma is my sister. I shouldn't put this all on you." I shake my head. "You don't understand, Sebastian. I'm taking this personally because I love Emma. She broke down in front of me and told me everything. I could see the pain in her eyes, and it broke me. I'll do anything for her, and I personally want to cause that piece of shit pain." "Alright. Just keep me updated. I have your back," Sebastian says. I nod, then head over to my meeting with someone really special who can help me with my plan. I know it's risky, but I'm willing t
Emma "Mommy! Where were you?" I smile as Sam runs toward me with his arms wide open. I pick him up in my arms, laughing. "Did you miss me?" I ask, giving him a kiss on the cheek. Sam nods his head enthusiastically, burying his face in my shoulder. "Yes, mommy! I missed you so much!" he says, his voice muffled by my shirt. I hold him tight, feeling a surge of love for my little boy. "I missed you too, baby," I say, stroking his hair. "What did you do while I was gone?" "We played cars and watched cartoons!" he exclaims, his face lighting up. "That sounds like fun," I say, smiling. "Did you eat your lunch?" "Yes, I did!" Sam replies, grinning up at me. "Good job!" I say, giving him another kiss. "I'm so proud of you." Sam giggles, squirming in my arms. "Mommy put me down! I want to go get a snack. I'm hungry!" "Okay, okay," I say, lowering him to the ground. "Go get something to eat." I say, feeling my eyes well up with tears. I hope his happiness lasts forever. Sam looks be
Jonathan I feel anger surging through me, but I keep calm for Emma's sake. I need to keep my head clear so I can think of a plan to find that bastard Alaric. And when I do, I will rip both of his arms off. "What happened to him?" I had asked her, and she shook her head. "I don't know. He broke up with my mom after I got pregnant. Maybe he got scared," Emma told me. "And your mom? Did you ever tell her any of this?" I ask. Emma looks down at her hand. "I tried once, but she got mad and beat me. She said I was just making up lies to hide the fact that I got pregnant by some loser." I take a deep breath and try to push down the rage that's boiling inside me. Emma has been through enough already, and I need to stay focused on helping her. I gently put my hand on her shoulder and give her a reassuring squeeze. "Listen, Emma. You did nothing wrong. Alaric is the one who should be ashamed of himself for what he did to you. And your mom... well, she clearly didn't handle the situati
Emma I wake up in his arms in the middle of the night, engulfed by his warmth. I feel his steady breath against my neck as I snuggle closer to him, appreciating the way his arms feel wrapped around me. It is as if I am cocooned in a bubble of safety. I trace my fingers over his chest, feeling the rise and fall of his breathing under my touch. It is a comforting rhythm. Why am I like this? Everything was perfect last night, he did everything right. He didn't push me into anything and showered me with warmth. And yet, I had my stupid panic attack and messed everything up. I touch his lips softly, careful not to wake him up. I can't believe I let my past get the best of me. I ruined the moment even though I wanted him to make love to me. I have to make things right, I think to myself, then climb on top of him to kiss him all over his body. And now he is awake, staring at me with those blue eyes, making me feel even more guilty about rejecting him last night. "Emma. You don't ha
Jonathan Fuck...maybe I am going too fast. The last thing I want is to scare her again by acting like a horny teenager. But she is not pushing me away. Instead, she took my hand in hers, still staring into my eyes. I take a deep breath, trying to calm the racing thoughts in my head. I don't want to mess this up. I don't want to push her away or make her feel uncomfortable. The cool breeze hit us both, and I felt her shudder against my arms. "Shit, you're cold. Let's get you inside," I say. "Maybe you can give me a tour of your house." She smiles. "Sure," I say, smiling at her. "I'd be happy to show you around." I start with the living room, then the kitchen. Then we move upstairs. "The upstairs has three bedrooms and a small terrace," I tell her. Emma looks around in amazement. "It's such a beautiful house." she pauses before speaking again. "Where do you sleep?" "Usually in the master bedroom," I say, gesturing towards the door at the end of the hallway. "Can I see it?" sh
Emma I run my fingers over the delicate silk of the dress. I've never seen any dress so beautiful, let alone wearing it. "Go ahead and try it on," Delilah says and smiles encouragingly. But as I hold it in front of me in front of the mirror, I feel weird. "I don't know if this will suit me," I say. "Of course, it will. Put it on immediately," Delilah orders. I laugh at her enthusiasm and then go inside the bathroom to change. I slip into the dress, and I can feel the smooth, silky fabric slide against my skin. It's like nothing I've ever worn before, and I can't help but feel a bit nervous. Will I be able to pull it off? I take a deep breath and step out of the bathroom and into the dressing room. Delilah's eyes light up when she sees me. "Oh my goodness, you look stunning!" she exclaims. "That dress was made for you." I turn to the mirror and can hardly believe what I see. The dress fits me perfectly, hugging my curves in all the right places. The color brings out the warm