The man’s eyes darkened, his brows slightly furrowed, clearly displeased with what I’d said. I turned to walk away, but before I could, his hand shot out, locking around my waist. In an instant, he hoisted me over his shoulder.No matter how much I struggled, he didn’t budge.I pounded on his back, furious. “Pierce, put me down! Your fiancée is waiting for you at home!”Ignoring me, Pierce carried me to the car, pinning me against the cold window. I shivered as the icy glass touched my skin.“Pierce, we’re done. I don’t need you anymore!” He leaned in, his hot breath grazing my ear. My eyes widened, my breathing quickened, and I instinctively turned away from his gaze.“What if I insist?” His husky voice resonated in my ears, matching the rapid beat of my heart.His fingers slid along my waist, sending an electric jolt through me, igniting a tension I couldn’t ignore. The space inside the car felt tight, the faint scent of alcohol lingering in the air.He pressed his body against
Pierce stood frozen in disbelief, gently setting me down before bending over to pick up the report. His hand clenched around the paper, shaking with increasing force as his entire body trembled.Everyone was struck silent, including myself. My eyes were glued to the words on the report, and just as quickly as my heart had warmed, it turned cold again. I averted my gaze, lowering my head, struggling to hold back the tears.Once again, Pierce had deceived me. His concern, his care from the night before—it had all been a charade, just a bit of fun before his engagement party. But never in my worst nightmares did I think Lucy would end up pregnant."Florence, I never thought you'd stoop so low, seducing Pierce the night before his engagement. He’s your uncle—how disgusting."Lucy strutted forward, her hand resting on her stomach, clearly proud of herself as she stopped right beside me as if flaunting her triumph.I instinctively took a step back, trying to keep some distance between us.
Pierce didn’t appear. The balcony remained shrouded in darkness.Lucy scoffed, arms crossed, her eyes full of disdain. She waved her hand dismissively. “How do you still have the nerve to come here? Pierce doesn’t want to see you, and neither do I—nor our baby.”She touched her stomach as she spoke, the gesture deliberate. I bit my lip, staying silent.Maybe silence was the best answer. I shouldn’t keep throwing myself into situations where I’d only end up hurt. Pierce had made his choice.I closed my eyes, unable to tell if the wetness on my face was from tears or the cold water. I let it fall, unbothered.Just as I took a few steps to leave, I heard a harsh cough behind me.The violent coughing echoed through the night, and my heart clenched. I could practically picture Pierce clutching his chest in agony as if he might cough up a lung at any moment.Was he sick?I stopped in my tracks, glancing back at the balcony. But no one was there.The balcony windows were tightly shut, and
In the memorial photo, Pierce’s pale face held a forced smile, his lifeless eyes staring straight at me. I was so startled that I let go of the frame, and it clattered to the floor with a loud crash.Dazed, my mind flashed through old memories, and I nearly fainted.Could he really be dying?No, it couldn’t be true. He had lied to me so many times before—who’s to say this wasn’t another lie? He probably just wanted to cut ties with me for good. Maybe he had fallen for Lucy long ago, ran off with her three years ago, and now, to escape me once and for all, he came up with this story about being on his deathbed.My legs gave way, and I collapsed onto the floor.Staring at the black-and-white photo, my heart pounded in my chest.Of course, I was worried about him. How could I not be?But then the memories of his deceit came flooding back—the lies, the humiliation, even the fact that he and Lucy now had a child together. He had turned me into a laughingstock in a single night.I forced m
As I turned to leave, my eyes caught the glint of the engagement ring on Pierce’s finger, shining under the light. It felt like all the years of love between us had been tossed aside like they meant nothing.After waiting for so long, it was finally time to return to my own life.The Lambert family spent a fortune to bury the negative press about me. They spun the story to portray me as a devoted girl, waiting for a man to change his heart, even shifting all the blame onto Pierce. They had everything neatly arranged for me.But none of that mattered to me anymore.Tanya’s call was still connected, her voice filled with worry and concern. “Florence, have you really thought this through? Once you take this step, there’s no turning back. Don’t do something rash…”At that moment, I was sitting at my vanity, putting on my earrings. The reflection in the mirror showed my flawless face. After a few sleepless nights, I had finally come to one clear conclusion.“Tanya, I’ve decided. If none o
On the narrow sofa, Pierce pressed tightly against me, his fingers idly playing with the expensive jewels embedded in my strapless dress, the touch filled with teasing and temptation. His eyes narrowed, a cold, calculating look overtaking his expression, though beneath his lashes, there seemed to be a hint of desire.We remained frozen, neither of us speaking, as the stifling summer breeze stirred my loose hair."If you're looking for a thrill, Pierce, go find someone off the street," I said, pushing at his shoulders, trying to break the tension. "I won’t let you ruin my wedding."He remained silent but then suddenly spoke. His hand clamped around my wrist, pinning me down beneath him. His eyes, once dull, now burned with intensity."Why him?" he asked as if convinced that my marriage to Henry was just to spite him.I gave a mocking smile, a trace of sarcasm in my voice. "Why not him? What if I told you I love him?"Pierce stared at me, stunned, disbelief flashing across his face."An
I pressed my lips together, instinctively tightening my grip, feeling tense and awkward. Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Pierce in the crowd.My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly avoided meeting his gaze.Henry wasn’t a fool—he had already noticed something was off. He pulled me closer by the waist as if staking his claim. His usually soft eyes were now narrowed, staring coldly at Pierce.The two of them had been sworn enemies for years."What are you doing here, Pierce?" Henry was the first to speak.Pierce, who had just turned to leave, froze for a moment. Slowly, he turned back, his gaze flickering briefly over me. "My niece is getting married. Am I not allowed to watch?"Henry’s eyes landed on the red marks on my neck that I had failed to fully hide.Before he could respond, a sharp voice rang out."Pierce, what are you doing here?"Everyone turned toward the sound.Lucy stood at the entrance, her belly round with pregnancy, her eyes red with anger. "Are you here
"If this video were to leak, what do you think would happen, Miss Lambert?" Henry's voice was cold, sending a chill down my spine.The Lambert family was on the brink of collapse, and Henry had already saved me and my family once. No one else would step in to help us again.But Henry didn’t love me, so why marry me? I asked him, but his response was filled with mockery."Put away your childish fantasies. I married you to make your life a living hell, and to make Pierce suffer."I furrowed my brow, letting out a bitter laugh. "Pierce is already married, with a child no less. You're doing him a favor by getting rid of me. If anything, torturing me will only make him happy."Henry seemed taken aback by my words. He leaned in closer, his twisted expression filling my vision. Panic surged through me as I swallowed hard.He stroked his chin, squinting as he looked me over, and then let out an even more deranged laugh.Henry grabbed my throat, sneering as he praised Pierce's supposed devo
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