After the doctor left and the door closed behind him, I couldn’t contain my excitement. I threw my arms around Pierce’s shoulders.The man who had once been too critically ill for any hospital to attempt surgery was now showing signs of improvement. His chances of a successful operation were much higher.Pierce gently cupped my face in his hands, and we shared a smile.Leaning against his chest, I listened to the strong, steady rhythm of his heartbeat. The dark shadow of death had lifted, replaced by the hope of healing and the joy of a second chance.When Pierce recovered, I promised myself I would take him to watch the sunrise by the sea, to have afternoon tea abroad, and to visit any place he desired. Wherever Pierce wanted to go, I would be by his side, no matter how far.Just then, Pierce lightly pinched my cheek, pulling me back from my wandering thoughts."Florence, you know there are still risks with the surgery," he said.My heart sank, but I forced a smile. "You’ve come so fa
My days with Pierce had grown sweeter, and everyone was eagerly waiting for his surgery and recovery. But just two days before the operation, something terrible happened.When I woke up that morning, the familiar warmth of his embrace and kiss was missing. I shot up, suddenly wide awake, and turned to find the bed beside me rumpled, but empty.Getting out of bed, I called out hesitantly, "Pierce?"A wave of dread washed over me, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst from my chest.The house was eerily quiet, empty.Suddenly, my foot bumped into something.Panic gripped me.When I saw Pierce collapsed near the bathroom door, my heart plummeted.I quickly dialed the family doctor and frantically called Grace, who had gone out to buy groceries.Pierce was now lying in a hospital bed, and the doctor had pulled me out of the room. As the door to his room closed, I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I covered my face, sobbing, tears pouring uncontrollably through my fingers.Gr
During our passionate relationship, Pierce Donovan disappeared from my life without a word. He was fifteen years older than me. Since he was my uncle, I should’ve treated him with more formality, but our relationship crossed the line three years ago.I still remembered that night—Pierce was drunk when he kissed me, finally admitting the love he’d kept buried for years. But the next morning, he left with nothing more than a simple goodbye, disappearing without a trace, and for three long years, I searched for him everywhere.Now, standing at the door of room 603, seeing Pierce again, the warmth in his eyes, once filled with love, was gone. What replaced it was nothing but cold indifference. If it weren’t for the small mole near the corner of his eye, I would’ve thought I had the wrong person."Florence, we’ve broken up. Don’t come bothering me again." His words were cold, piercing like a blade straight to my heart. I stood there frozen, staring at his face which appeared both familia
Following Tanya’s advice, I changed into the outfit she gave me, and after downing a few more drinks at her urging, I found myself once again standing at the door of room 603. Taking a deep breath, I braced myself before knocking.Pierce opened the door, surprised to see me. He hadn’t gone to bed yet, and his clothes were still neat.“What are you doing here?”Fueled by the alcohol, I didn’t say a word. Instead, I threw myself into his arms. He smelled incredible. As my jacket slipped off, I wrapped my arms around his neck, my exposed skin pressing against the cool fabric of his shirt. Pierce stumbled back a couple of steps, startled, trying to push me away, but in the end, he just closed the door behind us.“Why are you dressed like this?”I half-closed my eyes, tilting my head up to lock my gaze with his.There was a flicker of tension in his eyes, the stern look on his face softening slightly. He opened his mouth to say something, but I pressed a finger to his lips.Standing o
After a night of passion, I had no idea how I even fell asleep. When I woke up, my head was pounding. That alcohol from last night really packed a punch.Rubbing my temples, I sat up and exhaled deeply. Suddenly, a low, husky voice from behind startled me.“Awake?”I shuddered, feeling an overwhelming sense of anxiety, as though I’d been caught doing something wrong. Instinctively, I swallowed hard, pulling the blanket up to cover the intimate marks on my skin. I forced an awkward smile and glanced at him, my mouth opening and closing before I finally managed to say, “Pierce…”He was lying on his side, propped up on one elbow, his gaze intense and almost mischievous, as if he could see right through me. “That’s not what you called me last night.”My mind immediately flashed back to the madness of the night before, and my cheeks flushed with heat. Did we really…?He leaned down, burying his face in the crook of my neck, inhaling deeply as if savoring my scent, the scent that only b
I stood by the window, watching as Pierce’s car slowly disappeared from view, a heavy weight settling on my chest, making it hard to breathe. His unusual behavior kept gnawing at me, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something serious had happened.By noon, I was standing outside Pierce’s office building, carrying a homemade lunch. My steps quickened as I replayed his strange behavior in my mind, my heart racing with anxiety.I stepped out of the elevator only to see Pierce’s assistant hurrying toward me. Thinking he might have forgotten me after all this time, I was about to introduce myself, but before I could speak, he grabbed my arm and pulled me into a corner.Before I could ask what was going on, the assistant raised a finger to his lips, signaling me to stay quiet and leave. Suddenly, the sound of glass shattering from Pierce’s office made my heart lurch, and I stumbled back a step, panic rising in my chest.Through the frosted glass, I could make out Pierce’s furious figu
I jumped, a gasp escaping my lips. "Why is there blood? Are you hurt?" Panic surged through me as I hurriedly checked his palms and the backs of his hands. Pierce pressed his lips together, pulling his hands away, his movements betraying a hint of unease. I stared at him in confusion, but he avoided my gaze. Then my eyes fell on his elbow, where blood was still dripping down his arm. He seemed completely unaware of the pain, even casually brushing his hand over his neck.My heart raced as I grabbed his arm, my breath catching when I saw the deep, jagged wound. I gasped sharply. Pierce, now visibly more relaxed, simply said, "The blood on the floor must’ve splattered when I got hurt."As I tended to the wound, his brows furrowed, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead, yet he still managed to reassure me. "Don’t worry, it doesn’t hurt."Tears welled up in my eyes, nearly spilling over. That afternoon, he didn’t go back to work and obediently came home with me to rest. He claimed
Grace sighed deeply, while I sat frozen on the couch, my mind blank.The woman in front of me smiled sweetly as she extended her hand, but there was a clear challenge in her eyes. "You must be Florence Lambert, right? I remember you’re Pierce’s little niece. I’m Lucy Snow. From now on, you should call me Aunt."Aunt?Trembling, I reached out my hand, utterly shaken by everything happening before me. But Lucy grabbed my hand tightly, squeezing it hard enough to make me wince in pain. I quickly yanked my hand back, letting out a muffled groan.Her gaze flicked over me with a smirk, her eyes filled with unhidden mockery and contempt. Her face radiated disdain.Grace, watching the exchange, merely shook her head helplessly. “Pierce is going to get engaged to her. You should probably start calling her Aunt.”Engaged to Lucy?Impossible. Just last night, Pierce kissed my forehead, telling me over and over that he loved me. And today, he got engaged to this woman? What did he take me for?I
My days with Pierce had grown sweeter, and everyone was eagerly waiting for his surgery and recovery. But just two days before the operation, something terrible happened.When I woke up that morning, the familiar warmth of his embrace and kiss was missing. I shot up, suddenly wide awake, and turned to find the bed beside me rumpled, but empty.Getting out of bed, I called out hesitantly, "Pierce?"A wave of dread washed over me, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst from my chest.The house was eerily quiet, empty.Suddenly, my foot bumped into something.Panic gripped me.When I saw Pierce collapsed near the bathroom door, my heart plummeted.I quickly dialed the family doctor and frantically called Grace, who had gone out to buy groceries.Pierce was now lying in a hospital bed, and the doctor had pulled me out of the room. As the door to his room closed, I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I covered my face, sobbing, tears pouring uncontrollably through my fingers.Gr
After the doctor left and the door closed behind him, I couldn’t contain my excitement. I threw my arms around Pierce’s shoulders.The man who had once been too critically ill for any hospital to attempt surgery was now showing signs of improvement. His chances of a successful operation were much higher.Pierce gently cupped my face in his hands, and we shared a smile.Leaning against his chest, I listened to the strong, steady rhythm of his heartbeat. The dark shadow of death had lifted, replaced by the hope of healing and the joy of a second chance.When Pierce recovered, I promised myself I would take him to watch the sunrise by the sea, to have afternoon tea abroad, and to visit any place he desired. Wherever Pierce wanted to go, I would be by his side, no matter how far.Just then, Pierce lightly pinched my cheek, pulling me back from my wandering thoughts."Florence, you know there are still risks with the surgery," he said.My heart sank, but I forced a smile. "You’ve come so fa
I pushed aside all my work and stayed at the Donovan estate to take care of Pierce. I cooked his favorite dishes and stayed by his side, watching as the pallor of his face slowly gave way to a faint blush. He often smiled softly, gently caressing my cheek, and each day, his spirits lifted a little more. Under my care, the violent coughing that had plagued him for so long finally began to ease. The once dim and dreary bedroom now welcomed a bit of light.When his body was too weak to move, I would push his wheelchair around the house and garden, showing him the flowers I had recently planted. The warm breeze carried the scent of blooms, and as I tucked my windblown hair back, I leaned in to kiss him on the cheek.Pierce seemed flustered by the kiss, gripping the arms of the wheelchair so tightly his knuckles turned white. He reached for my hand, and I knelt beside him, carefully resting my head against his shoulder.Before us stretched a field of flowers swaying in the wind.It was th
My heart skipped a beat, and my hand hovered in midair. Pressing my lips together, I stepped around the shattered teacup and quietly entered the room, closing the door behind me with a soft click.As the latch clicked, Pierce gasped for air, his eyes lifting to meet mine. I felt a surge of nervousness, my fingers clutching at the hem of my shirt as I slowly made my way to his side."Pierce..." I called his name softly.He exhaled deeply, sinking back against the headboard. His eyes fell shut, and his lashes, delicate as feathers, trembled slightly."It must hurt... how long has it been like this?" My voice quivered as I spoke, my hand gently resting on his chest, trying to ease his breathing. Tears threatened to spill over, my heart breaking at the thought of how much he must have suffered in silence.I wiped the corners of his mouth with a tissue, and Pierce lowered his head without saying a word.I thought he wouldn’t answer, so I didn’t push him.But to my surprise, he took a deep b
Pierce had finally agreed to see me.I followed Grace into the estate. The house was dim, filled with an eerie silence. Despite the presence of several family doctors, not a word was spoken. As I entered, all eyes turned toward me. I gave a slight nod and made my way upstairs to the last bedroom. The strong scent of medicine hit me the moment Grace pushed the door open, and my legs almost gave out beneath me.It had only been a few months, but Pierce’s face was gaunt, his cheeks hollow, and his pale lips barely clung to life. He struggled to sit up in bed, his expression twisted with pain. Tiny beads of sweat covered his forehead, and every small movement seemed to bring him agony.Unable to accept the sight before me, Pierce didn’t even look at me. Instead, he stared blankly out the window, watching the rain fall.My soaked clothes dripped steadily, forming a small puddle at my feet as I trembled and slowly stepped toward him.Tentatively, I reached out to take his hand, but he pul
I stumbled back a step, tripping over the overgrown weeds and crashing to the ground. The gravel bit into my palms, sending a sharp pain through my hands. With a groan, I quickly stood up, eyes darting to the balcony.It was empty.But I knew Pierce was there.Swallowing hard, I didn’t hesitate and called out to the vacant balcony, "Pierce, can we meet? Please?"There was no response."Pierce, I know everything now. Stop lying to me. It was me who misunderstood you and hurt you time and again. I’m the one who should apologize."My voice broke, tears spilling freely as all the bitterness and regret that had built up inside finally burst free."Pierce, just meet with me, please. I’m begging you."I stood there, gasping for breath, hoping desperately for a response. Finally, his voice came, cold and distant."Go away. I don’t want to see you."The words hit me like a blow, and I collapsed to the ground. My eyes grew hollow as memories of our time together flashed through my mind. I cover
The moment I heard the news, my entire body trembled. I crouched down, hugging my shoulders tightly. My eyelashes fluttered as something cold slipped from my eyes, like icy water pouring over me, drenching me to the bone and chilling my heart to the core.Why…Why did Pierce have to bear it all alone?I finally understood why he kept pushing me away, only to return time and again—begging, helping, even pleading with me not to marry someone else. He loved me, but he believed he couldn’t afford to love me. He saw his love as a burden to me.So, Pierce began weaving his lies. He deceived me into thinking he’d fallen out of love, that he was moving on, that he was getting married and even having a child. His indifference, his disdain, and the way he played with my emotions—all of it was an act.He did it all to drive me away, to make sure I’d never look back.Pierce didn’t want me trapped under the shadow of his death. He figured that if I hated him enough, then when his time finally came,
Before the two employees could finish, the receptionist standing beside me cleared her throat, cutting them off. The moment they saw me, they instantly shut their mouths and hurried away with their heads down.I watched them leave, confused by their panic. What were they whispering about? What had happened with Pierce that got his employees talking like that?But work came first. I pushed aside my curiosity and extended my hand toward the older gentleman approaching me.I’d heard that he was the backbone of the company, especially with Pierce being away—apparently on a business trip.His eyes lit up when he saw me, a smile spreading across his face. "Miss Lambert, it’s been a while. You’ve changed quite a bit."The meeting went smoothly, and the old man was surprisingly warm and full of praise. It was hard not to feel pleased with how well things were going. I was relieved that my history with Pierce hadn’t affected the deal.Just as I was about to leave, the older man called out to me
Tanya sat across from me, noticing my thoughtful expression. She cleared her throat as if testing the waters. “Florence, are you wondering who caused the Caldwell family to go bankrupt?” she asked, cautiously.I simply nodded quietly.Tanya let out a long breath and, true to her lively nature, moved closer to me, squeezing my shoulders. "Well, I’ll tell you, but don’t get mad."After I promised, she finally revealed the truth."It was Pierce."I wasn’t exactly surprised when I heard his name, but it still stirred something deep inside me. Henry had constantly targeted Pierce, so it made sense that Pierce would retaliate.Just as I was processing this, Tanya handed me a cup of tea. “Actually, Pierce has…” she trailed off, her brow furrowed, hesitating. Her indecision was frustrating, making me lose my patience.“What about him?” I snapped, my voice suddenly louder.Any mention of Pierce seemed to trigger me as if the anger I harbored for him and his past actions was something I could