But there was something different about him today— something calmer, softer.Serene. Ace was rarely this calm. Usually, he was a whiplash of emotions— angry, irritated, brooding, even sharp with happiness when the mood struck him. But today? Today, he was something else entirely.When I woke up at
Before I could think to question him, his index finger traced down, sliding out of my hair to brush against my lower lip. The movement was slow, deliberate, and the smug glint in his eyes was infuriatingly familiar.“Looks like you can call me shameless proudly because of last night—”“No,” I cut h
The choking sensation was immediate and overwhelming— a suffocating, burning pressure in my throat. My lungs screamed for air, and tears blurred my vision as I doubled over, choking uncontrollably.“Iris!” Ray’s voice was a mix of startled and confused as she appeared at my side.I gestured wildly
“Will Ace be okay with that?” she finally asked, her voice cautious as she perched on the edge of the bed in terror.She genuinely thought Ace had bombs stashed under the bed for security reasons.I giggled quietly, shaking my head. “Ray, he’s…casual about stuff like this,” I reassured her.But his
I could feel her exhale in relief, the tension leaving her body in a slow wave.“And my parents…” Ray began, breaking the silence. Her voice had changed, growing more pensive. “They’re the conservative type. That explains a lot, I think, about my situation.”I nodded in understanding, recalling how
"I mean, they still haven’t—" she stopped mid-sentence, looking at me with a troubled expression.Hasn’t forgiven Ace for killing Allegra and Freya, even though he didn’t have a choice.I bit my tongue, stopping myself from speaking"Ace never had a good impression on our families," Susan murmured s
Susan’s smile was almost playful as she looked at me. "Personal matters," she said cryptically.I raised an eyebrow. "Oh…Personal matters? The last time Ace marched out of the house and didn’t come back for a day, I don’t think it was just for personal matters."She waved it off with a dismissive ha
He reached for my shoulder in that familiar, annoying gesture, and in a flash, my hand shot out. I grabbed his wrist with a force that had him wincing. I twisted it hard, using all the anger and frustration that had been building inside me, and watched as the crowd around us turned to look, surpri
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