“Thane?”With his bulk filling the doorway, he stood there. Though his expression was composed, she could not help but notice the intense intensity in his eyes, which gave her shivers. There was tension in the air between them, only magnified by the way he held himself, so calm, so quiet. Strange feelings of dread began to seep into Kendall's chest; she had a gut feeling that this visit would not be beneficial."Kendall," he said, his voice soft but with a hint of menace in it that made her stomach turn around. A somewhat smiling expression played on his lips, yet it was cold. "We must have a conversation." Kendall's fingers gripped the wood of the doorframe tightly, as though it was the only thing keeping her grounded. Especially at this point, the last thing she wanted was to be left alone with Thane. Especially with everything hanging by such a fragile thread. She started, trying to remain composed, her voice trailing off a little. "Now's not really a good time—" However, Thane in
Kendall stirred her coffee without paying much attention, her mind preoccupied with the thoughts of the day ahead as she sat at the kitchen island. Upon seeing the clock, she recognized that it was becoming extremely late. Though "early" seemed to signify something different these days, Jason had promised to get home early. Her phone chimed on the counter while she was sipping, interrupting her moment of concentration.It was a notification from a news app. The headline screamed at her: “CEO Jason Carter’s Shocking Past: Ties to a Family Scandal!”Kendall’s heart raced. Her fingers trembled as she opened the newspaper and read the years-old accusations made against Jason's family. She started to realise the ramifications as she dug farther. She was not just reading about Jason; she was now part of the story. Fantastic," she whispered beneath her breath, her fury building. She took a deep breath and reached for her phone, frantically trying to call Jason. "Hello, Kendall," he replied
As Kendall walked out of the lift and towards Jason's office, the sound of her heels clicking against Carter Enterprises' polished floors reverberated sharply through the hallway. The weight of the message Jason had sent earlier that morning continued to hang over Kendall, and each step she took felt heavier than the last. “We need to talk at the office. Meet me here.” For hours, she pondered over those words, experiencing a mix of fascination and dread. She felt her stomach tying in knots after reading the words, and it had remained that way since.In comparison to the lovely morning outside, the air in the office felt unusually cold. It was cold around her, not even the bright sunshine coming in through the glass windows to warm her. She could feel eyes on her, the occasional glances from employees as she passed by, making the tension in her shoulders tighten. Although Jason's company had never seemed particularly welcoming, it felt oppressive today. She and Jason had been harborin
As the car came to a halt outside the opulent hotel hosting the charity event, Kendall felt her heart rate increase. An instant later, a feeling of anxiousness crashed through her due to the bright lights and hordes of cameras waiting outside. Jason was sitting next to her, seemingly unaffected by the outside world, as he remained composed and at ease. His expression was unreadable, his focus on the flashing cameras ahead.“You ready?” Jason’s voice broke the silence, his eyes turning to her.With a hard gulp, Kendall nervously smoothed the hem of her evening gown with her fingers. Although the garment Alicia had chosen for her was stunning—sleek and black satin with a sophisticated neckline—it seemed more like armor than actual clothing. She didn’t feel ready. Not for the cameras, not for the questions, not for the need to put on a happy front. "As prepared as I can be," she answered, speaking softer than she had meant to. Jason nodded curtly to her, then opened the car door and st
Though the car ride home from the gala was filled with silence, Jason and Kendall's anxiety was evident; it was as though the air inside the car had become heavy with unspoken words. Gazing out the window, Kendall's reflection became indistinct against the flickering city lights. She sensed that the heaviness of the night was overwhelming her, pressing on her chest. His jaw was tightly clenched as he sat beside her. She could feel the storm brewing, waiting to erupt the moment they were alone.The moment they stepped into the penthouse, Jason’s calm facade shattered.As soon as the door behind them closed, he turned on her and said, "What the hell was that tonight?" The sharpness in his words caught Kendall off guard, causing her to blink. "What do you mean?" With a savage motion, "You—" he cut the air with his hand.“You were a nervous wreck out there. It was written all over your face. Do you know how that looks? How it does reflects on us?”“Reflects on us?” Kendall echoed, her vo
As evening descended on the city, Kendall sat by her bedroom window and gazed out at the sky that was growing darker. Her thoughts were consumed by the previous encounter she had with Jason, their disagreement still echoing in her ears. She had wanted space, a moment to breathe, but space seemed to only magnify the growing distance between them. Each day, their relationship felt more like a series of cold transactions rather than a marriage. It was basically a commercial arrangement, and she couldn't help but feel constrained by its conditions. As her mind raced with ideas, Alicia's message on her phone beeped, requesting her to stop by. Kendall paused for a brief while. Alicia had been the one constant through all of this chaos. Their friendship, though tested, still provided a sliver of comfort. But lately, even Alicia seemed to be pulling back, her usual easy confidence replaced by an underlying tension. Still, Kendall needed someone, and she couldn’t turn Alicia away.Kendall rep
There was a change in the atmosphere between Kendall and Alicia. Despite Alicia apologizing, Kendall was unable to rid herself of the nagging suspicion lingering within her. There was something off about the way Alicia tried to cover up her mistake about Clara. She had faith in Alicia - or so she believed - but now that faith felt shaky, worn out. While Kendall remained in her room's silence, she found herself repeatedly going through their conversation, analyzing each word carefully.Was Alicia hiding something more?It wasn’t just about the secrets Alicia had kept regarding Jason’s family. There was another thing, something below the exterior. Kendall couldn't pinpoint it exactly, but Alicia had been acting strangely for weeks. Her occasional avoidance of eye contact, her confidence appearing unsteady at unexpected times. And now, after the slip-up about Clara, Kendall couldn’t help but wonder if Alicia had been keeping other things from her as well.Her thoughts were interrupted by
Kendall walked back and forth in the living room, thoughts rushing through her mind. After a few days passed, Alicia continued to hide things, and Kendall couldn't shake off the growing suspicion from their previous talk. Alicia was concealing something significant, something with the potential to alter everything. Kendall was fed up with the partial truths and avoiding responses. She required explanations, and she was determined to receive them this evening.Alicia showed up shortly after, her face tight as though she was already aware of what was about to happen. She entered cautiously, quickly scanning the room before focusing on Kendall."We have to have a conversation," Kendall said, her voice more harsh than she meant.Alicia let out a sigh as she placed her purse on the sofa. “I figured as much.”Kendall folded her arms, her stare never faltering. What have you kept from me, Alicia? I need the truth—about Jason, about the family. You let something slip the other day, and I know
"Unloved?"“Dismissed?”Thane's expression showed intense anger and feeling of being let down, his gaze focused on Isabella. Every word she spoke felt like a blade piercing his chest, and the burden of her falsehoods appeared to bear down on him, suffocating him with the harsh truth that he had simply been a pawn in her scheme. "Thinking about it now, all along you've been giving me reasons why we couldn't schedule a date, why you required more time for your 'career.'" His voice was thick with anger, a brittle edge that bordered on disbelief. “Were you ever planning on marrying me, Isabella? Or was I just some convenient distraction?”Isabella's expression contorted in annoyance, her usual sweet demeanor completely disappearing. "Oh, stop being so morally superior, Thane. You think I delayed the wedding for fun?” Defiance sparkled in her eyes as she raised her chin. I was ensuring my future. It's not my responsibility that you were unable to perceive what was directly in front of
Thane remained immobile, his thoughts battling to comprehend the unfolding situation in front of him. His gaze filled with betrayal and disbelief as it focused on Isabella. This was not the woman he thought he knew.“Isabella?” he finally managed, his voice low, laced with the sting of betrayal. “You… you’re pregnant? With Jason’s child?”Isabella’s jaw clenched, her gaze flickering briefly as she weighed her response. But her silence spoke volumes.Jason seized the moment, his expression resolute as he stepped forward. “Thane, you deserve to know the whole story. This has gone on long enough.” He pulled out his phone, his fingers tapping a few buttons before holding it out to Thane. “See for yourself.”Thane looked at Jason, a trace of wariness in his gaze, before reluctantly accepting the phone. The video started, and as it played, Thane’s face grew pale. Isabella was on the screen, putting something into Jason's drink and throwing herself on him with a cunning expression, looking a
Jason was focused on his report, combing through the details with his usual meticulous precision, when the office door swung open without warning. The abrupt intrusion jolted him, his concentration snapping as he looked up to see Isabella standing in the doorway, her expression stormy and unrestrained."Hi Jason," she said in a harsh voice, filling the room with hatred. He didn't try to hide his annoyance. Isabella. Why are you here? Ignoring his query, she walked fully into his office, and Jane, his assistant, was close after her, evidently flustered.“Ms. Isabella, Mr. Carter is busy with meetings today. You really need to—”“I’m not here for you, Jane,” Isabella said curtly, not even sparing the assistant a glance. Her focus was locked on Jason, her gaze steely, unyielding. “Jason and I need to talk. Alone.”Jason let out a resigned sigh, gesturing to Jane to leave. “It’s fine, Jane. I’ll handle this.”Isabella's tension was noticeable as soon as the door closed behind her, her e
Jason sat in the conference room, watching the projector screen attentively while one of his managers went over the quarterly reports in a monotonous tone. The numbers became hazy in front of him, constantly shifting in clarity. He had examined the information numerous times, yet on this day, his thoughts refused to calm down. Every few minutes, he caught himself thinking about Kendall. That morning, she was quiet and slightly more timid as she stood in the doorway, observing him as he picked up his coat. He still recalled how her face softened, a silent message in her eyes as she bid him farewell for the day. The memory stuck with him, unwilling to disappear. As the presentation droned on, he checked his phone out of habit, noticing a few missed messages from Isabella. He dismissed them with a swipe, his attention drifting back to the last glimpse he’d had of Kendall. He found himself wondering if she was alright, hoping she was feeling better after their recent challenges. It wasn
"Thane," Kendall greeted, her voice a forced calm, though a tight smile barely softened the edge of her unease. "Jason isn’t here."“That’s fine.” He spoke quickly and showed little interest. His eyes quickly scanned over her, sharp and evaluating, pausing to scrutinize the room's details as if looking for a hidden object. "I am here to have a conversation with you." A strange dread settled in her stomach. She dismissed the maid with a quick nod, hoping to mask her discomfort. As the maid retreated, Kendall gestured reluctantly for Thane to enter. His presence was unsettling, a dark cloud clouding the safety of her home, and every step he took seemed to carry a weight that filled the room.“Would you like something to drink?” she offered, hoping to fill the heavy silence with something—anything—to distract from his cold intensity.“No need.” He settled onto the couch without waiting for her invitation, his air of entitlement unmistakable. His gaze remained fixed on her, unwavering. "
Jason woke up to the soft light coming in through the curtains, creating gentle shadows in the room. Looking at Kendall next to him, he glanced over and saw her resting peacefully with a relaxed expression on her face. Her being there soothed him unexpectedly, providing a peaceful reassurance that was both fresh and recognizable. He briefly observed her, feeling warmth in his chest, surprised by the sudden appearance of this feeling. Kendall awoke, her eyes opening slowly, and when she looked at him, a faint smile formed on her lips, showing how tired she still was. She whispered "Good morning," in a gentle and sleepy voice. "Jason responded, his smile soft, mirroring the warmth in his eyes, saying, 'Morning!'" “How are you feeling? Still tired?”Kendall paused to breathe, moving a piece of hair from her face. "She actually admitted she was doing better, stretching out her arms." “I think I just needed a good rest… and maybe some company,” she added with a light laugh, though her e
Jason’s laughter filled the cozy living room as he poured two glasses of champagne, his smile easy and unguarded. Kendall observed him, feeling a warmth envelop her as she noticed the uncommon, easygoing side of him. Their festive dinner was a modest yet sincere event, filled with soft dialogue, exchanged looks, and a tacit comprehension lingering in the atmosphere. "To fresh starts," Jason remarked, raising his glass in her direction. Kendall raised hers in reply, locking eyes with him, and they tapped their glasses together. "To new beginnings," she repeated, a gentle smile dancing on her lips. While they drank, Kendall started to sense a slight wave of tiredness washing over her, more intense than normal. She dismissed it, not wishing to spoil the moment. Jason inclined his body forward, his eyes fixed as he observed her expression. “Are you okay?” he inquired, his tone reflecting a hint of worry. “You seem… tired.”Kendall shook her head, smiling reassuringly. “I’m fine, just…
Jason’s office hummed with subdued anticipation, his team moving restlessly in the background, gazes glued to the phone as they waited for the official announcement. Jason was at his desk, attempting to look composed, yet his fingers drummed a constant beat on the edge, revealing his eagerness. Kendall faced him, her gaze supportive and kind as she observed him. A sharp ring cut through the room. Jason’s assistant, Jane picked up, a hint of excitement flashing in her eyes as she turned to him. “Mr. Carter, it’s the call.”He nodded, inhaling deeply to calm himself. Kendall offered him a supportive smile, silently saying, "You can do it." Jason felt a surge of comfort from her being there. He lifted the receiver, his voice calm, yet there was a hint of something else—a subtle assurance. “Hello, yes, speaking.”The conversation began with formalities, and Jason’s responses remained professional, yet Kendall noticed how his shoulders gradually relaxed, a subtle shift in his expression
When the long-awaited day finally came, the big hall was filled with happy chatter and the sound of youngsters laughing blended with soft background music. Bright balloons, animated streamers, and tables brimming with toys adorned the location. Kendall strolled next to Jason, her eyes absorbing the vibrant scene with a gentle, caring look.A little girl tugged on her dress, drawing her attention. She bent down, meeting the child’s curious eyes. “Hi there! What’s your name?”The girl blinked shyly, hiding her face for a moment. “Lily.”Kendall’s smile brightened as she offered her hand. “Well, Lily, I’m Kendall. “Could you please show me which toys are your favorites?” The girl's expression brightened as she agreed, grasping Kendall's hand and guiding her to a table filled with stuffed animals and vivid blocks. Jason observed the situation from a short distance, his face relaxing as he noticed Kendall laughing and conversing effortlessly with Lily. “You’re really good with kids,” Jas