Jasmine must face a difficult choice when her father flees money from his employer, Mr. Hawthorne. As payment for her father's wrongdoing, Jasmine is forced to become Mr. Hawthorne's mistress. The meeting is the beginning of a journey full of conflict and forbidden feelings, the unraveling of mysteries, and the revelation of the true power of their relationship.
View MoreJasmine pondered for a moment at the scattering of shards on the floor, the result of her careless hand not nudging the glass. She raised her gaze slowly, finding one of the men already standing directly in front of her. The man's presence asserted authority, while the other burly figure remained in place as if to show who their leader was.
"What do you want?" cried Jasmine with her hands clenched into fists, trying not to be afraid to face the men alone.
"Tell me your name," said the man Jasmine believed to be the leader. His eyes looked sharp and his tone was threatening.
Jasmine didn't want to talk about herself to the stranger who had barged into her house, so she didn't answer.
Jasmine's uncompromising attitude only made the man smirk, then he took out a box of cigarettes from his pocket and lit one. While time passed, he smoked quietly in front of the woman who looked at him with a disapproving expression.
"It's that simple, can't say it?"
The bespectacled man suddenly stepped in front of them, thrusting a mysterious document. "This is the data you requested, Mr. Hawthorne."
The man with a dense aura of power, called Mr. Hawthorne, was now reading the document in his hand. "Hiding it won't do you any good. I can have my people find out about you, Jasmine Everhart."
The bespectacled man swiftly took over the document as Mr. Hawthorne handed it to him, then he backed away slowly.
Cigarette smoke billowing in the air, Mr. Hawthorne dropped the cigarette he had only taken a few puffs on and stomped on it.
"Where is your father?"
The sharp question left Jasmine shocked and confused. "Why... my fa—ther?"
"Let's keep this short," Mr. Hawthorne said, his voice firm. "Your father took my money and I don't know where he's hiding now. Do you know where your father is?"
"No way..." Jasmine whispered in disbelief.
Mr. Hawthorne raised his eyebrows. "What'l do you mean no way?"
Jasmine swallowed. "My father wouldn't have stolen someone else's money. H-he...!"
Jasmine's gaze darted around, somewhat dazed by the circumstances under which she had to face such a large number of men. Her heart was racing and sweat was already flooding her body.
Jasmine tried to focus herself, to fight for her father's good name again. "My father is not that kind of man!" she said loudly.
Mr. Hawthorne moved forward as Jasmine stepped back. At that moment, Jasmine whimpered as the sole of her foot stepped on the shard and her body instantly stiffened in place.
Mr. Hawthorne grabbed Jasmine's chin. "So, you're saying I'm hallucinating?"
Jasmine used both hands to release the grip. It was not easy as the more she tried to break free, the stronger the grip got.
"I hate people who steal my property the most. Now all you need to do is pay your father's debt before my patience runs out."
Jasmine whimpered, even the heated eyes were already dropping tears. As the drops hit between Mr. Hawthorne's fingers, the grip was roughly released.
Jasmine held her cheeks trembling, on the other hand she also knew that she needed to end their encounter at any cost. "N-now I don't have any money, but if I'm given time to pay it off—"
Mr. Hawthorne smiled lightly. "You can find a hundred thousand dollars in one night?"
"One hundred thousand dollars?!"
Jasmine's eyes nearly jumped out of their sockets. Obviously, it was impossible for her to raise a hundred thousand dollars overnight. After all, what would her father take away that much money for?
For some reason, Jasmine felt guilty about this incident, considering that her father worked hard all by himself to make ends meet. She knew that her father worked hard to send her to college, and maybe he stole the money to make their lives better.
Jasmine sighed, still not expecting her father to go to such lengths. "Please give me one week. I will definitely pay off everything my father owes you," she said in a pleading tone.
"Don't try to fool me. It will be impossible for you to repay them even if you die. Do you think I didn't find out about my workers? Your father was a hopeless man who begged me to support his only daughter. Now he's forgotten his nuts and you're asking me to trust the daughter of a traitor?"
Jasmine immediately fell at Mr. Hawthorne's feet, undaunted by the bloodied soles. "Mr. Hawthorne, please give me a chance," she whispered.
Mr. Hawthorne looked down at the spot where Jasmine had tearfully pleaded. Perhaps if it had been him back then he would have felt compassion, but things were much different now.
"You must pay it back right this moment."
"W-with what? We have nothing of value."
Mr. Hawthorne's expression turned fierce. "With your life, because that's the only thing worth paying for. You will stay by my side and do only what I command."
The silence was heavy, as if absorbing every word that left Mr. Hawthorne's lips. Those words also managed to make Jasmine feel like she was being struck by lightning.
How can I be by this horrible man's side for an indefinite period of time? Jasmine said to herself.
"Miss Everhart, I need to warn you that denying my words is asking for death."
"I-"
"Let me tell you the only way out to escape from me."
Mr. Hawthorne slowly crouched down, one knee resting on the floor. He raised Jasmine's chin with a tactile arrangement of his forefinger and thumb. "Your father is your last resort, if he's still alive of course." Both ends of her lips lifted until they could form a grin.
Jasmine shuddered, barely able to breathe. That horrifying stare and those sharp words had managed to drive right into her heart.
"Take this girl, without the shard and the blood on her feet," Mr. Hawthorne ordered.
Mr. Hawthorne got up and walked out of that small house. His presence commanded respect from his followers who could not enter and could only stand guard outside.
Mr. Hawthorne waited in the car for some time. Jasmine entered after having her leg treated and bandaged by a bespectacled man who claimed to be Mr. Hawthorne's secretary.
With a low rumble of the engine running, the cabin door was closed. On the passenger seat with Mr. Hawthorne, Jasmine tried to create a wide berth. The car drove off after receiving an order from Mr. Hawthorne and brought them to a tense silence.
Jasmine tried to glance at the man beside her even though the self-doubt was still looming. After deliberating for a long time, she let out a voice, "Where are we... going?"
"Pinnacle Heights Suites."
"Wh-what... P-pi ...."
Mr. Hawthorne let out a long breath. "Pinnacle, Heights, Suites."
Jasmine tried to understand Mr. Hawthorne's lips, trying to grasp the direction of their destination.
Mr. Hawthorne saw the incomprehension on Jasmine's face. He turned to the road they were traveling on as he uttered, "I don't know why I have to pronounce it for someone like you."
"What do you want me to do in that place?"
"You will find out later."
Jasmine looked down, holding back the fear that continued to creep in. In the confusion that crept into her mind, she wondered about what other events awaited her ahead.
"Am I going to work to pay off my father's debt?" That was all that was surfacing in Jasmine's mind right now.
Mr. Hawthorne gave Jasmine a sharp look, his expression reflecting disapproval. "Don't make me repeat the same words because I don't like that." His voice filled the cabin space with an increasingly thick dark aura.
Jasmine lost the courage to open her voice further, so she could only look down or let her gaze drift out the window.
Moments passed, the wheels of the car passed through the gate and stopped in the front yard of a building. Someone opened the door for them, first was Mr. Hawthorne and followed by Jasmine as the newcomer.
"Follow me," said Mr. Hawthorne, his steps steady towards the front door of the building.
Jasmine walked behind and joined him inside the building which exuded an exclusive aura. The receptionist bowed when she noticed Mr. Hawthorne's arrival. There Jasmine saw the letters Pinnacle Heights Suites on the wall, reminding her of the conversation in the car.
"Why?"
Mr. Hawthorne's heavy voice broke her reverie. Jasmine shook her head and followed the steps that led her to the elevator.
Ting!
Mr. Hawthorne swung his legs out of the elevator, Jasmine following hesitantly. The dim light of the corridor welcomed her, the elegant accents on the walls seemed to permeate the silence. The plush carpeting that produced a subtle sound accompanied each step, further putting Jasmine on edge.
Mr. Hawthorne opened the penthouse door, using smart sensors that automatically detected his presence. The door opened smoothly. The sophistication witnessed by Jasmine left her gaping.
As footsteps crossed the threshold, an atmosphere of luxury instantly pervaded. Soft light embraced the room, illuminating the luxurious furniture and art that was gracefully displayed in the penthouse. Jasmine was mesmerized for so long that she did not realize that Mr. Hawthorne was now standing in front of her, watching her.
With stern words, Mr. Hawthorne declared, "Until your father is found, you will live in this penthouse."
Confusion immediately seized Jasmine. "Huh?"
"Don't think you're here to relax."
"Okay!"
Mr. Hawthorne frowned. "Okay? You haven't even been told what job you'll be doing."
Jasmine scratched her temple. "That's... because I'm not allowed to ask."
Mr. Hawthorne pointed at Jasmine's face seriously. "You will be a mistress who will serve me, that is what you are here for."
"Mis-tress?" As if she had not been able to fully digest, Jasmine was too late to be surprised. Her pupils fluttered as she slowly backed away. "No, I'm..."
Mr. Hawthorne laughed widely, growing fear in Jasmine's eyes. "Don't be so surprised, Miss Everhart. I was just about to start."
Jasmine understood the meaning of a mistress, a connotation that referred to a relationship outside of marriage and was considered unethical. Right now she was being degraded, while the man standing before her seemed perfectly content with that ghastly laughter.
Mr. Hawthorne calmly scrolled through Jasmine’s phone, briefly playing one video before swiping to the next. Each passing second made Jasmine increasingly anxious.Their eyes met as Mr. Hawthorne raised an eyebrow, his gaze making Jasmine feel the heat rise to her face. The intense embarrassment made her feel small in front of him.“So, you’ve been into adult video all this time?”Jasmine looked at Mr. Hawthorne with clear frustration. “I already told you, it was from Dr. Lawson as part of a therapeutic method. Dr. Lawson said that if I got accustomed to it, my trauma would fade, replaced by desire.”Mr. Hawthorne placed the phone on the nightstand and turned to Jasmine. “Am I not enough to make you desire me?”“Not at all. You’re physically perfect; no woman would be disinterested in being intimate with you. Your touch is always satisfying and thrilling. I just needed to get used to it so that my traumatic memories would completely disappear. But don’t worry, I haven’t watched it any
As Jasmine was engaged in conversation with Mr. Harper, the door suddenly swung open, revealing Mr. Hawthorne standing in the doorway, leaning casually with a stance that seemed almost challenging.“I’ll continue packing my things,” Mr. Harper said, his tone calm but nearly disingenuous.Jasmine quickly stepped toward Mr. Hawthorne and whispered, “I told you I’d be the one to talk to Mr. Harper. Why did you come anyway?”Mr. Hawthorne crossed his arms over his chest. Without lowering his voice, he replied, “I was just curious why my girlfriend was taking so long.”Mr. Harper, busy packing, paused momentarily. He forced himself to believe that what he had just heard was merely an illusion.“There’s nothing to worry about. Jasmine and I were just discussing her studies.”Mr. Hawthorne smirked. “I’m sure you were. But I think your conversation is over.”Jasmine tried to diffuse the growing tension. “Mr. Harper, thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”Mr. Harper smiled gently, thoug
Jasmine ended the call and sighed as she stared at her phone screen. “I can’t let him come here,” she muttered to herself. “Everyone’s talking about working at Kins Enterprises after graduation. If they see the owner here, it’ll cause a commotion. That would be troublesome.”She put her phone away and started down the corridor again. Just as she was nearing Mr. Harper’s office, someone suddenly grabbed her wrist. When she saw who it was, she was startled—it was Sabrina.Sabrina was wearing a hoodie and a face mask, her eyebrows furrowed as if she were angry. When Jasmine tried to pull away, Sabrina tightened her grip.Sabrina glared at her, her voice full of menace. “We need to talk, Jasmine. Now.”“About what? I’m in a hurry.”“Don’t pretend you don’t know. I know you’re involved with Kinsley Hawthorne. Do you think you can use him to get ahead here?”“Let go of me!”Sabrina ignored her plea and dragged Jasmine to a secluded corner behind the campus building. There, Sabrina pulled do
Jasmine sat nervously in Dr. Lawson’s office, recounting her concerns. Dr. Lawson listened attentively, then opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out a small object.“This...?” Jasmine eyed the object with hesitation.Dr. Lawson nodded confidently. “From what you’ve described, I believe you’re pregnant.”“P—pregnant? Me?”Dr. Lawson smiled. “Yes, but you should confirm it with this pregnancy test, though I’m already one hundred percent sure that my assumption is correct.”Jasmine took the test from him, looking at it with a mix of emotions. She had never expected Dr. Lawson’s conclusion to be pregnancy; she thought she was just sick.Am I really pregnant? She wondered.Amid her anxiety, a thought crossed her mind. She shifted her gaze from the small object in her hand to Dr. Lawson, then asked curiously, “Do all the doctors in this hospital keep pregnancy tests in their desk drawers?”Dr. Lawson was momentarily stunned, then grinned. “Do you really want to know the answer?”“That’s
Behind Mr. Hawthorne’s calm demeanor, there was a fire of desire struggling to be tamed. That fire consumed every bit of rationality he had. Every glance, every touch, was fuel that intensified the flames within him, forcing him to constantly battle against the burning desire.“Earlier, you walked toward me like a newly blossomed flower, tempting me to touch you,” Mr. Hawthorne said in a hoarse voice, his hand trailing down Jasmine’s back, slowly following the path of her dress’s zipper. “I’ve restrained myself throughout my recovery, and now I feel like I’ve reached the limits of my patience.”“But you just got out of the hospital not long ago. Can’t you hold off a bit longer for the sake of your recovery? W—we can do this after you’ve fully healed.”Jasmine’s eyes darted to the side, feeling the zipper of her dress slowly being pulled down. “Dr. Lawson also said you shouldn’t exert yourself too much.”Jasmine held onto Mr. Hawthorne’s arm, hoping to quell his rising desire. But her
Soft music flowed from the corner of the room, setting the mood for the indoor wedding reception. Jasmine walked gracefully, her peach-colored silk gown fluttering with every step. Guests whispered among themselves, their eyes glued to her elegant figure.Jasmine’s gaze soon met Mr. Hawthorne’s, who stood outside the room, clearly visible through the large windows. She hesitated for a moment, realizing that his gaze was just as intense as those of the other guests. Her heart pounded faster, though she tried hard to remain composed.Steeling herself, Jasmine stepped outside and approached Mr. Hawthorne.“Natalie’s still getting ready. Lilly’s very keen on staying with her, so I didn’t bring her here.”Mr. Hawthorne had already pulled out a cigarette when Jasmine started speaking. He lit it with a nonchalant air, as if Natalie’s and Milton’s wedding was not something worth his attention.“Kinsley,” Jasmine called out.After a brief moment of contemplation, Mr. Hawthorne shifted his gaze
Mr. Hawthorne lay in bed, surrounded by medical equipment monitoring his every heartbeat and breath. The gunshot wound in his chest still ached, even though he had been unconscious for weeks.A knock on the door interrupted the quiet of the late morning. Theodore entered, followed by two police officers in dark blue uniforms, their faces serious. They approached Mr. Hawthorne, looking at him with investigative eyes.“Good morning, Mr. Hawthorne,” one of the officers said. “We’re here to ask you a few brief questions about the incident at Dominic Merrick’s company.”Mr. Hawthorne took a deep breath. “Of course. What would you like to know?”“Can you describe the sequence of events at Dominic Merrick’s company, from the beginning until you were injured?”Assisted by Theodore, Mr. Hawthorne began recounting the events. The police officer listened intently, occasionally jotting something down in his small notebook.After about fifteen minutes, the officers realized that Mr. Hawthorne need
Jasmine stood in the cold, brightly lit hospital corridor, her emotions in turmoil. From a distance, she could only watch as Dr. Lawson argued with a nurse stationed at the emergency room door.“I need to be in there! I can’t just stand here.”“I’m sorry, Dr. Lawson, but you’re not in the right emotional state to be part of this operation.”The nurse arguing with Dr. Lawson suddenly reached into her uniform pocket and pulled something out. From her vantage point, Jasmine couldn’t see clearly what the nurse handed over.Dr. Lawson immediately turned around, his steps full of emotion as he approached Theodore, who was standing not far away. Dr. Lawson shoved the item roughly into Theodore’s chest. Jasmine only realized what was given when the object slipped from Dr. Lawson’s grasp—a pistol encased in clear plastic.“What’s the meaning of this, Theodore?! Kinsley brought his weapon, but why is he so badly injured? He’s never been hurt this badly before. What if he can’t be saved? You shou
The tension and worry suffocated every corner of the room. Jasmine’s heartbeat quickened as Mr. Merrick pointed a gun directly at her.“Mr. Merrick, you can’t do this to my daughter!” Thomas shouted, a mix of fear and anger boiling in his chest.Mr. Merrick sneered, his aim unwavering. “Why can’t I? This is my chance. Kinsley Hawthorne will feel my pain if your daughter disappears.” He tightened his grip on the gun and continued, “You just need to choose who I should take out first—your father or the man you love.”Jasmine shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Please, don’t hurt them,” she pleaded, her voice trembling almost to the point of inaudibility.“Then walk over here. Now!” Mr. Merrick barked.Jasmine was about to follow Mr. Merrick’s order, but Mr. Hawthorne’s hand, still holding hers, seemed to refuse to let her go.“I’ll count to three. If you’re still there, I’ll shoot,” Mr. Merrick threatened.“Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you,” Mr. Hawthorne said, his v
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