"Did you put anything on it?" he asked softly."Yeah... just a hot pack," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. It was all I could afford at the time. Not that it helped much.Brent exhaled, shaking his head. "Heat’s not the best for bruises. Ice works better."He looked at me over again, re
His dark eyes locked onto mine, cold and unreadable, but I could feel the anger simmering beneath them like a quiet storm waiting to explode.God, not again. Please, just tonight— just for one night, save me.He took a slow drag of his cigarette, the tip burning bright as he inhaled, before exhaling
The chill in the air gnawed at my exposed skin, seeping through the damp fabric of my clothes.The trees in the distance swayed, their rustling leaves whispering like unseen ghosts in the dark.And then—A single raindrop landed on my cheek.It was warm against my cold skin, a small, fleeting touch.
They were so close. Just a little more—Then I crashed into something unseen.My hands slammed against an invisible wall, the force of impact rattling through my bones. I staggered back, stunned, before surging forward again.My fingers splayed against the barrier. Cold. Solid. Unyielding.Panic gr
A group sat on the floor, eating, their murmured conversations creating a low hum that filled the room. The scent of food—spices, warmth, something vaguely savory—hit me all at once, making my stomach clench painfully.The walls felt like they were closing in.My breath came in short, uneven bursts
And just like that, I was on his lap.My body stiffened, heat creeping up my neck—not from fever this time. My hands tightened around the piece of bread I still held, as if it were a lifeline.I tried to stand but he didn’t let me."Sir, please, let me go," I whispered, my voice laced with urgency.
I exhaled sharply, rubbing my temples. He's seven! The level of knowledge these kids had nowadays was truly concerning.Hastily, I stood up from Ace’s lap, my face burning, and gently set Butter back on the ground. "No, Butter. He's no one, okay? Now go back to your mother, please."His arms staye
My fingers fumbled with the door handle, and the second my feet hit the pavement, an unsteady wave of dizziness washed over me.Ace didn’t move from his seat.But the way his hands strangled the steering wheel, knuckles stark white against his tanned skin, sent a sharp pang of unease through my ches
Why did I only notice it now?Ace chuckled—low, knowing."Do your work like a good whore," he murmured, his tone silky but laced with steel. "And show me your devotion, brat."He leaned back, and the pressure of his hands, which had been a constricting comfort around my body, vanished. Like a snake
I blinked, my breath hitching, frustration curling inside my chest."Please…" The whisper left me before I could stop it, before I could hold onto my pride. My head dipped down, shame curling my shoulders inward as I bit down on my lower lip. "Just one kiss. Even a peck."Ace clicked his tongue, th
“Don’t expect me to treat you like a good girl till I believe you’re sorry, Iris,” he murmured, his tone dark and taunting.Before I could process it, his thumb shoved past my lips, forcing them apart. My eyes flew wide, a muffled “Hmph” escaping as my hands shot up, fingers digging into his knees
“Sit on your knees.”…What?I froze.My smile slipped, and a soft “Huh?” escaped me before I could stop it.The warmth I’d felt a second ago twisted into something heavier, sharper, and I blinked at him, caught off guard.“You heard me, my sweet whore,” he said, leaning back with a smirk that stretc
I clenched my fists, inhaling sharply before narrowing my eyes at him.This man.This man would kill me.My fingers tugged at my top, pulling it back down as I tried to piece together what just happened.Why did he stop?I gulped, my throat dry, my body still traitorously warm. Ace smirked, draping
I sputtered, fisting my hands.“Boss,” Joy’s voice cut through my humiliation.“Wouldn’t Hudson sir be angry about what you just did to his sister? Should we, uh, step outside?”Ace didn’t even spare her a glance.“No. Stay here and do your work. I’ll do mine,” he said smoothly, like he hadn’t just
And he had the audacity to ignore me?He didn’t even say thank you!I glared at his back.“Boss,” I said, layering my voice with a little too much sweetness. “It’s past your lunch time. You should eat.”Nothing.Not even a glance.Ace continued flipping through his damn papers like I was invisible.
But it was probably not the sparkly, glittering fairy kind. More like the I-make-people-disappear kind.Joy. That’s her name.Wooow.A woman named Joy working at a place where she literally brings pain. “Oh yeah!! I remember now,” Joy exclaimed, her face lighting up like I was her long-lost best f
Damn it, Iris. Play it cool!His gaze didn’t waver. “May I know what you are doing here?”I cleared my throat. “Uh… just… passing by?”He arched a brow.I let out a nervous laugh and gestured to the air. “You know, just… admiring the architecture?”Then, he tilted his head toward the slightly open d