CHAPTER ONE

I stretch my arms over my head, wiggling my toes as a yawn escapes my lips. My body is sore ànd everything ache in the most delicious way.

Then it clicks in my head, a realisation that has me sitting up in bed with a jerk. This isn't mine ànd Javier's room and definitely the man with me last night wasn't my husband.

Well, ex-husband because he served me divorce papers on our third wedding anniversary.

My eyes scan the room ànd nothing seems familiar about it, not until a hauntingly familiar voice jerks in my brain.

" I thought you'd want to sleep in some more considering what happened last night."

My heart race and my breathing quicken.

I will myself not to look at the direction of the voice . But, against my better judgement, I do and holy crap! I am immediately mesmerised by the sight before me.

Lorenzo stands at the entrance of the bathroom clad in nothing but a towel loosely tied around his waist.

My eyes land on his lips and goddess! I can't forget how those sinful lips kissed me down there, eating me up like some delicious dessert until I screamed in sheer ecstasy.

His wet hair drips down his face and body, the beads of water running down the ridges of his body and I bit my lip, resisting the urge to lick each and every one of them off.

My eyes follow the drop of water sliding down his face, his neck and into his chest. My mind goes back to last night when I sucked his neck while his hands roamed my body, leaving trails of fire in their wake.

His skin glistens and I want nothing else but to trace my fingers along the trail of dark hair disappearing into his towel.

I shake my head, trying as hard as possible not to focus on that particular area. But it is of no use. Lorenzo is an Adonis, a gift from God. With his killer smile and panty dropping body, he can rival any model here in Chicago.

He smirks and the way his eyes bore into me, the way they seem to caress every part of my body. My gaze locks with his, his eyes dark and lust-filled and I swallows thickly.

"See something you like?"

My head jerks at the sound of his voice, and I feel a blush creep up my cheeks.

I have been caught checking him out and judging by the look on his face, he seems to have thoroughly enjoyed it. Every bit of it.

"I..uh...I was just-"

"Caught red handed?" he asks, a smug smile on his face.

I roll my eyes at him, choosing to ignore him as I got out of bed.

My phone chooses that exact moment to ring. Scrambling to pick it, I answer without checking who is calling, anything to get away from this embarrassing situation.

A moment later, my phone slips to the floor and I gasp, wishing I hadn't answered it

My face pales and the colour drains from my face.

Without much as a word, I scramble to pick my scattered clothes, putting them on before walking away, ignoring Lorenzo's desperate çall for my attention.

I feel numb all over and my body moves in autopilot.

Thirty minutes later, I push the cab door open before racing towards the entrance of the white building.

St Luke's hospital.

That's where my father lies, in a critical condition.

I race to the receptionist desperate to find out about my father.

" Hello, I'm here to see Mr Rogers Clark. I'm his daughter." I announce and the lady looks at me with... disdain?

" So you are his shameless daughter? Here to finish him off?" She spats distastefully.

I frown, taken aback by his words.

" Head straight to your left. The first room. " she spat and I don't need to be told twice.

I practically ran to the room, throwing the door open. My eyes fall on the unconscious man lying on the hospital bed and tears sprung into my eyes.

Dad.

My father who had always been strong. He is lying unconscious, tubes stuck in him. His eyes closed and face pale.

I ran towards him, tears running down my face as I dropped to my knees beside his bed.

"Dad."

My hand trembles as I touch him, the tears coming out full force.

I am responsible for his condition! I caused this!

Pain, regret and untamed fury

fill me, threatening to tear me apart.

The door opens and I hear footsteps behind me, but I don't bother to turn.

I don't want to see whoever it is. I just want someone to Snap me out of this cruel dream. Tell me that I amjust dreaming. That my father is not lying in a hospital bed fighting for his life.

" You know for someone who always acts like she is above others, this is so satisfying to watch. "

That voice. That voice filled with mockery and so much undisguised loathe is all too familiar.

Sophia, my adopted sister. I turn around, shocked to hear her words.

" Why? " The question leaves my mouth as soon as it floats in my mind.

Why would she sleep with my husband on our wedding anniversary? Who knows how long they have been sleeping around?

Oh god! I am such a fool to never see that she hated me.

But why?

" I hate you and just want to see you suffer. Is that answer good enough? " Sheer mockery laces her words.

" But then why do you care about that? You should worry about keeping your father alive because that's the only thing left for you. "

My gaze fly to my father who lay on the bed, pale, his eyes shut, the heart monitor showing a steady heartbeat.

" What are you talking about, Sophia?"

I am tired and exhausted, emotionally drained and in no mood to deal with her antics.

" Oops, I thought you knew? " A gasp, a mocking one leaves her lips adding more to my confusion.

" Know what?" Her sinister gaze tells me that whatever she is about to say is going to shatter me even more.

" Your father transferred the company to Javier last night. Not just the company, all your family assets too. "

Her words register in my brain, and I shake my head in disbelief.

" That's impossible. Dad would never…”

" It's very possible. You are such a fool. " She laughs.

" Your father never trusted Javier so after your wedding, they signed an agreement. If he ever betrayed you, all his assets would go to you and vice versa.

Last night you spent a night with a man, you know what that means, right Megan? "