Ethan's POV"I want to see her." I'd repeated this sentence countless times since my return to Idalia at 16. My siblings never took me seriously. They couldn't fathom that my mother, the scorned "mistress," had sent me to the US when I was 5, where I was connected to Edward, the head of the Aesthete family. Had they known, they might have wished for my demise during that flight to the US. They would have whispered my name at the Christmas table, masking their smirks behind false sympathy.However, it was Edward I encountered first.My only skill was fighting. So when Edward inquired about my abilities, I promptly replied, "I'm Sicily's finest fighter, Sir."His eyes crinkled with amusement. "How old are you, kiddo?"I proudly declared my age as five."Well, young lad, would you like a new responsibility? Your mother entrusted me with your care before her passing. It seems you're quite capable of looking out for yourself."With a sense of pride, I stood tall. "Ye
Hailey's POVAs the door swung open, a hushed silence befell us. I took a step to the side, allowing Ethan to enter without a word. Accustomed to seeing Ethan donning a bright smile, his serious gaze now felt both unfamiliar and dangerously alluring."I brought wine," he murmured in a low tone, presenting a bottle of red wine. His eyes roamed from my forehead to my eyes and then to my lips. My heart raced, and my breath hitched as our gazes locked once more."Just one bottle?" I inquired.His unwavering gaze met mine as he replied suggestively, "I can fetch more if you'd like."My tolerance for alcohol remained dismal. By the time the bottle was drained, I found myself barefoot with a wine glass in hand, transitioning from the sofa to the floor-to-ceiling window."I remember how much of a little troublemaker you were when we were kids," I remarked, settling by the window with my robe loosely draped, fixating on my complaints. "You'd ignore my pleas, show off in front of the
My vacation ended here. After having breakfast with Ethan, I went straight to the hospital.Truly professional doctors must ensure they aren't swayed by emotions. I did well, maintaining a convincingly high level of performance. The blissful sex last night and the smooth work today kept me in a good mood all day until I finished work.I received an overbearing phone call. The woman on the other end rudely ordered me. "Come home for dinner after work."Considering the call was from Leo's mother, it naturally referred to her house.I had no intention of seeing her. Since our marriage, Leo's mother had shown clear disdain for me numerous times. She always believed I wasn't worthy of her precious son.At that moment, I received an email from Duncan. He had obtained videos taken by guests on my birthday night. Unlike the blurry footage from the banquet hall's surveillance cameras, this video captured Leo and Elisa's despicable behavior in high clarity. The funny declarations of tr
Ryan was still in the hospital, and he asked me to wait at a nearby coffee shop.My hesitation was evident on my face, prompting the waiter who brought my coffee to ask cautiously, "Is there anything I can help you with?"I glanced at the coffee shop's slogan. [Satisfaction Guaranteed or Free Replacement.]"No, it's fine."If I wasn't happy with my coffee, I could tell the staff without any questions, and they would immediately make me a new one. The whole process was straightforward and quick. There was no need to report to the manager or consult the CEO of the coffee chain, nor would nearby customers with half-baked opinions get involved. 'Hailey, why didn't you do it that way?' I asked myself.If only marriage were as simple as this coffee shop.During the divorce from Leo, my biggest concern was Ryan. Five years ago, he was my mentor, two years ago, he became my father-in-law, and now he was my superior. It was so complicated. Anyhow, among all of Leo's connections, he
As I exited the operating room, my fellow cardiac surgeons congratulated me. "What's going on?" I asked, completely puzzled. "Guess what? Your paper on the application of pulmonary artery catheters in cardiac surgery has been accepted by Ann Thorac Surg. It's even indexed on Medline!" My colleague's words made my eyes widen slightly. Getting indexed on Medline was expected, but being accepted by Ann Thorac Surg, a particularly selective surgical journal, was quite the recognition. He patted my shoulder, looking more excited than I was. "By the way, now that your paper is settled, aren't you preparing for your promotion? If you delay any longer, the dean will have another chat with Dr. Ryan. Holy shit, don't you know your reputation in Cardiovascular Surgery Department? Mr. Aesthete specifically requested you and Dr. Ryan for his care, and you didn't disappoint him. It was perfect!" "I won't deny my expertise, but most of Mr. Edward's recovery is thanks to Dr. Ryan." "Oh, co
It took me a week to prepare all the documents the lawyer needed. During this time, I also managed to sell my house and move to a penthouse close to the hospital, which was one of Grandpa's properties that Uncle Tommy urgently arranged for me.I left all the furniture in the old house for the new owner and had the housekeeper throw away my cheap clothes, shoes, and bags that I had been frugally saving. The only thing I really took with me was myself, a happy Hailey.After moving, the first person I notified wasn't Ethan."Darling, I'm planning a huge shopping spree, and I need someone with impeccable taste to guide me. Who else but you, Lily?"Lily's understanding of the whole situation was stuck in the last century, as she put it herself."We've developed a generation gap."So much had happened to me, and she knew nothing about it. Lily couldn't accept it. "You know, Hailey, I feel like one of Grindelwald's followers who went into hiding after the leader's defeat. And then you s
"Why are you calling me and dragging me out? Why?" Lily complained with a dark expression.I couldn't help but smile and look exasperated. "I thought this was our prearranged itinerary? It's just a bit earlier than planned.""That was before Duncan invited you to dinner! Girl, I've been wondering since college. What's wrong with you? Do I need to hold up your face, two inches away from mine, and state clearly, ideally in French because you understand French, which is universally recognized as a precise language, no ambiguity whatsoever, just to let you know someone wants to date you?"I chuckled at her exaggerated tone. "Of course, I'll find time to go out with Duncan. Two meals might not be enough to express my gratitude.""Choosing the word 'date' was my mistake. Let me rephrase. If I say 'intimate relations between a man and a woman', tell me, now do you fully understand what I mean?""I understand what you mean," I blurted out, "but you're mistaken. Duncan is a great friend, a
I didn't know where Ethan got so many 'creative' ideas. His foreplay was overly thorough. When I was dissatisfied with his dawdling and reached out to pull down the edge of his swim trunks, he stood up with me in his arms."Wrap your legs around my waist."I did as he said, and before I could react, his already engorged dick was fully sheathed inside me.I let out a sharp scream, and Ethan also groaned, panting. "Baby, relax, you're too tight."The yacht had four levels, and he maintained that position, carrying me from the top deck down to the second, with each step I could feel the thing inside me hitting deeper, then shallowly withdrawing, without any rhythm to speak of.I couldn't control my breathing, and to ensure my body's balance and not fall off him, I had to tightly hold onto his neck. As a result, my nipples were pressed against his, rubbing continuously.I couldn't stand it anymore. A tingling sensation was accumulating deep in my lower abdomen, hot and itchy. I wante