(Karis's pov) . I froze when Xander's lips captured mine for a tender kiss different from the domineering ones we shared last night. He was deliberately toying with my feelings and it annoyed me a bit. He gently bit my lips causing me to moan into his mouth as my lips parted and his tongue slipped into my mouth like a thief ready to explore a treasure chest. Xander deepened the kiss and every urge I had to push him away was thrown out of the window. His hand that was holding my chin let go of my face and went down to my lap. It made its way under my a-cut skirt, and immediately at that moment, I regretted why I decided to wear a skirt and made a mental note to wear more trousers. While his lips were glued to my lips, his hand were tracing gently around the curves of my lap. The rascal planned on using every means to make me submit. Suddenly, the image of how he was having wild sex with Emma on our matrimonial bed, banging her like no tomorrow from behind, popped into my head, and
(Karis's pov) A few minutes later a car was already prepared for me to leave. I decided to go with one of Xander's sports cars from his collection. To be honest, I was not a great driver, but driving a sports car wildly was always something on my to-do list. Unfortunately, in my past life, it was a wish I could never fulfil because my husband was not into wild girls. I had tried my best to act as docile as possible then. Now, since I already know what he hates in a woman, I was on a mission to use that information to make those two months a living hell for him. The car's speed and power were very impressive; I was amazed at how fluid it moved and how my driving skills were way better than I imagined. Finally, I arrived at my location. After exceeding my speed limit and crossing some speed limit, a feeling was newly formed inside me like that of a deliquescent. "Karis!!" A familiar voice called out to me waving from a distance. My face immediately softened when I caught
(Karis's pov) It was surprising to run into Skyler so soon. He was someone I never met in my past life, so I didn't know much about him except for a weird reason: Xander hated his guts. 'Is he the owner of this brand?' I wondered looking at the handsome guy with looks comparable to Xander's level. ' Why did our paths never cross in my past life?' My brows furrowed at the unknown in this life called Skyler. "Mr Crest." The sales girl blurted nervously. She started trembling immediately when Skyler appeared. "Where is the manager?" Skyler inquired. His eyes casually glance at the sales girl before falling on me. " The manager is currently with one of our VIP customers." The sales girl answered having cold sweats. Her entire personality seemed to have changed immediately after Skyler appeared. "Oh really, he is serving other clients when his boss is around. That's interesting." Skyler commented with an amused smile before he turned to look at the sales girl, who w
(Karis's pov) "I never want to see the likes of her in this store, or you can kiss your job goodbye." The Manager was shaken by Skyler's threats. From the way he spoke, it was obvious he was not joking. " I will make sure of that." The manager said with all earnestness. He had to make sure to secure his job. Skyler's cold blue eyes averted from the manager then turned towards me. Immediately, his eyes sparkled as a smile graced his lips. It was as if the cold look in his eyes earlier was just an illusion. "I am sorry you had to witness all that Mrs De Marco." He chimed at me. Why was everyone calling me Mrs De Marco as if they were rubbing it on my face? I had a name that was Karis, for crying out loud. "You can just call me Karis." I insisted, pursing my lips to a thin line. That surname reminded me of someone I wanted to forget, which was my husband Xander. "In that case, you and Bertha, can you call me Skyler since we already consider ourselves friends." He
(Karis's pov) Skyler was a daring person, "if you want to snatch me from my husband, you have to work harder because Xander is a very handsome and rich guy, not to forget he is a passionate lover." I played along with Skyler and said brazenly. Everything I said was true even though I had yet to consummate my marriage with Xander in this lifetime. In my past life we had several wild nights, and I remembered how passionate he was in bed. It was hard to believe what Xander said about being disgusted by me because if he was, there was no way he would have passionately made love with me over and over again until my legs went weak at his prowess. "Then I guess I will have to work harder, and I can promise you one thing: if you get into the same bed with me, you will never regret it." Skyler went again to shamelessly talk about having sex with a married woman. If he went along with this, my reputation might be ruined, and I would be known as a cheating wife. "I guess you
(Karis's pov) Xander continued to walk towards me with his eyes darkened, I could not understand that also made me excited at the same time. ' When the hell did I start liking such thrills? ' my thoughts screamed. I felt my back hit the wall, but Xander didn't stop until he was standing directly in front of me with both his hands, caging me at both sides, blocking any chance of escape. I nervously gulped and raised my head with every ounce of confidence in me to look back at him. My hazel eyes locked with his sharp grey eyes, and for a weird reason, my knees felt weak. "What do you think you are doing Xander?" I asked him with my voice trembling. ‘ Fuck it, why was I still shaking before him where did all my confidence go to?’ I thought pissed at myself. I bit my cheeks, trying to hide my nervousness. Xander had a smile on his face that seemed like he got mad at something. What did I do wrong? All I did was go out with my friend Bertha to have a fun day while getti
(Karis's pov) There was a little devil on my shoulders telling me to push him as badly as I could. I wanted him to suffer. Xander was very competitive. He didn't care about my feelings but just did not want me to care about anyone else. He was just fucking selfish. The dimly lit room was filled with tension. Xander was about to explode at any moment. Although I knew Xander was not the type to hit me or punish me physically, there were ways he had to make me regret whatever silly things I was bravely saying. "Did he touch you? You let someone other than me touch you." He said with a deadly calm voice. My heart beat spiked at his unnatural tone. The calmer he was, the more nuts that were missing from his head. I tried to pry his hand from my waist but they were like firm claws holding me in place on his chest. I could hear my heartbeat in my ears while the devil-cold aura at my back was going amok. Xander spun me to look at him, his eyes keenly observing mine. There were no emot
(Karis's pov). Things were getting heated up as the sexy man who I got married to, was sinfully giving me a bath to wash away my lover's touch. If I knew he was this crazy maybe I would not have let Skyler hug me. He took his time to wash me clean until I felt his hands touch the thin fabric protecting my innermost part. My heart was already beating erratically in my chest, spiked up. He deliberately played with the linen of my lacy panties just to tease me before his hands went down my lap. Forget it he was just using this as an excuse to touch me. This horny bastard was very smart. My eyes could catch sight of the apparent bulge being restrained on his trousers. He turned his attention to my hair, pouring shampoo on my hair, which he started to massage. His actions made me wonder if my imaginary lover could leave his mark on my thick chestnut hair. Xander suddenly stopped with his eyes zeroed at a spot in my body. "You let him touch you with his lips," Xander sai
(Emma's pov) The engagement was called off and I doubt Xander would continue with the plans because she chose to appear today. Everything is always about Karis. What's so good about her? She is just a country bumpkin. So what if she is a talented designer? I am also smart. After all, Dad would be giving the company to me. Xander left and he didn't care if I was watching him the entire time. What am I even thinking he never cared about me from the start. A dry laugh left my lips as I stood and watched them leave. It seemed like they were the main characters and I was the extra side character. I heard the fast-clicking sounds of heels coming my way, followed by Mum's voice. "How didn't you know she was still alive?" Mum asked me as soon as she was close enough she held my hands. It wasn't everything I could tell mum there were some secrets I kept too. She was trembling, and it seemed like she was affected by the news of Karis showing up more than I was. "Am
Third pov/Author's Pov His embrace was warm, exactly how she remembered it, with his cologne entering her nostrils. Karis remembered days she wished he held her like this but he never did. "Xander, please let go of me; your hold is too tight." She calmly said. Xander was lost in reverie, reliving his biggest fantasy of holding his dead wife in his arms, and couldn't control his strength. "I am sorry. I want to hold you a bit longer." He apologized, reluctant to let go. He was scared if he did, this would be the last time he might hold her like this. "Let go, Xander; your touch makes my skin crawl. My fiance would misunderstand if he saw us like this. " Karis lied and Xander froze. She needed him to let go before her pent-up emotions poured out. He was the biggest obstacle she had to overcome. Xander gritted his teeth after hearing Karis's words. Skyler was no longer her lover but her fiance. This had changed. She was not his little red anymore. "It hurts whe
(Xander's pov) The last thing I wanted was to get married to Emma or anyone else. Marriage was sacred, and I just could not see myself getting married ever again, but I just had to for Vance. After a lot of deliberations, I came up with a simple solution. To have a contract marriage, Emma could be my partner in the public eye and have the benefits that come with it, but the one promise I made to her was that we could never be anything except a show. She was to stay in another property and far away from me; that way, Vance would be protected, and Emma didn't have to always be in my face. "That's enough alcohol, Xander. If you drink further you might get drunk." I heard Mum's sharp voice from the door. Her nagging was getting under my skin lately. She was acting like I was a teenager, which caused her constant issues because I changed a bit. The Zed she was scared of was far more terrifying than the Xander now. I was just a tired guy. "This is my first glass, and I h
(Karis's pov) "Karis dear, what are you talking about? Are you saying that you have been with Skyler all this while?" I heard a pretentious voice gasp from behind me. I didn't need to turn around to know it was Miranda. She was trying to paint me as the woman who left her husband for a lover, but then again, they forgot Xander and I were already divorced. "Yes, mother. I am sorry I had to crash such an important event to announce our engagement. Since Emma is getting engaged today I decided why not bring it up today. The more the merrier." I chimed with a sweet smile at Miranda as I held onto Skyler closely. Xander was still stunned by everything and took his precious time to process what I was saying. "But what about you and Xander? We thought you were dead." Father asked this time around; his eyes were wary, and he had a couple of emotions that I could not understand at the moment. Maybe he was shocked his dead daughter was not dead or the fact I had destroyed hi
(Karis's pov) Our eyes met, and it seemed like everything froze at that moment. Xander's mouth parted and then closed. He was completely lost for words. Emma was in the worst situation when she saw me, like a ghost from the scariest horror movie you know, suddenly appear in front of you. Xander withdrew his hand from Emma and he just blankly stared at me. This must be super embarrassing for Emma; at this moment, everyone was just staring at us. Kyle clenched his jaw. "I guess you are happy now." Kyle vaguely mentioned that I always knew he never liked me, and honestly, I don't care anymore. I just don't understand what Bertha saw in this jerk. "Are you Karis? How are you still alive?" Camilla, let go of her husband's arm and walked towards me. "It is a miracle; I am Karis in the flesh; your eyes don't fool," I admitted and her hand rushed to cover her mouth to muffle out her cries. Up till now, Xander was still speechless to say anything. He hadn't moved an inch from wher
(Karis's pov) If you want to crash an engagement party never show up early. The party was scheduled to start by 8 pm and it was already 8:30 pm when I felt home. "I investigated your father as requested, and the rumours are true he plans on handing over the company to Emma. This year, the company has started syphoning funds to avoid paying the inheritance taxes." Skyler informed me drawing my attention from the window. "That's not unexpected," I muttered with my glance still on the night street as we drove to our location. At least some events were still the same as my past life. Dad was about to give his favourite daughter the company he built with my mother's family name. Dad's family was going bankrupt around the time he married Mum, and with her help, they escaped bankruptcy. I have a feeling he never loved her but just needed her mother. Mum was a fool in love, just like me, but I was not going to make the same mistake as her. Fuck love who needs that when you can get po
(Karis's pov) The winter ball was a success, and I was expecting a lawsuit from Xander or something, but it never came. So far things have been going well. I just had to stay longer until the entire Reynolds group was in my control. Something even came to my attention from Valeria's nanny. She said my angel made a new friend. I was glad she was enjoying her stay here. I twirled around in front of the mirror to make sure I was looking dashing enough to steal their breaths. I was not wearing my signature green dress for today's event because today was special, and I planned to steal the crowd. Standing in front of the full-length mirror, my eyes gazed upon my reflection in a floor-length red dinner gown. It was a sleeveless off-shoulder gown with a deep vee line in the back, a long slit on the left that ran from my thighs. I wore black lacy pantyhose because the goal for tonight was to crash a party and steal the limelight like a true villainess. Because now Kar
(Xander's pov) Three days later went by, and Vance was cleared to be discharged from the hospital. Since the first day at the park, Vance and Valeria played every day there. They played together and Valeria loved showing off her violin skills. . There was a restaurant close to the park, so we had our lunch there every day, and honestly, Valeria was a lovable but tricky girl. It was nice to see Vance make a new friend, and I didn't mind accompanying him during my lunch break. Her presence helped Vance improve his shyness, and he started acting more lively, way better than how he was the first time he moved in with me. "Daddy, I asked Valeria to register with me in a duet competition required for pianist and violinist." He excitedly informed me while Kyle was giving him a last check-up before he could be discharged. "That sounds nice, but her parents would have to give their permission before she can attend," I replied to Vance. For the entire 5 days,
(Xander's pov) The shock was what was evident in my eyes. It was such a large coincidence but not completely strange. I do her stories of doppelgangers, and if Angel was a boy, she would have an uncanny resemblance to Vance. She ran towards Vance's side, leaving the crowd where she was playing. I quickly understood the reason they were friends; they had a strong passion for classical music. "Xavier," she chimed again, getting to his side. "Stop calling me Xavier. Only Nonna calls me that, my name is Vance." He corrected her with a straight face. The little girl pursed her lips together and she tried to pronounce his name."Vance." She mumbled. "Your name is weird." She said which Vance didn't like. "Yours is weirder Angel." It seemed like they wanted to fight, and just moments ago, they were excited about seeing each other. "My name is not Angel. My mum and daddy Sky just love calling me their angel. My name is Valeria, and it rhymes with Vance." She replied