LOGINShare
Chapter 45: The Edge of the Knife
Last Updated:
2024-12-22 21:45:10The sun was just beginning to rise when I left the confines of my room. The villa was silent, as if holding its breath in anticipation of the storm brewing within its walls. My mind was a chaotic whirlpool of thoughts—Rowan’s revelations, my mother’s death, my father’s betrayal, and the tangled web of deceit that had ensnared my life.
The dining room was empty when I entered, save for a pot of steaming coffee on the sideboard. I poured myself a cup and sat at the table, staring into the dark liquid as if it held the answers I so desperately sought.
"Up early?" Rowan’s voice broke the silence, startling me.
I glanced up to see him leaning against the doorway, his shirt slightly wrinkled, his hair disheveled as though he hadn’t slept.
"C
Related chapters
Her Demand, His Desire Chapter 46: Shattered Alliances
Morning light filtered through the curtains, painting golden streaks across the marble floor of the villa. I sat at the edge of my bed, staring blankly at the text on my phone. It was from Joana, a simple message saying she was feeling better and didn’t want me to worry.I wished things were that simple. Joana’s health wasn’t the only thing weighing on my mind. Rowan and I had made a fragile alliance against his family, but the cracks in our partnership were already showing. Trust was a foreign concept between us, and the secrets we kept were beginning to strangle the delicate threads holding us together.A knock at the door jolted me from my thoughts."Come in," I called, hastily putting the phone away.The door creaked open, revealing Rowan. He looked
Last Updated : 2024-12-23Her Demand, His Desire Chapter 47: The Web of Lies
The letter felt heavier than it should have in my hands. I read it again, the words sinking deeper into my mind with every pass. Someone knew what was happening—knew enough to warn me. But who? And why now?I folded the letter and stuffed it into my nightstand drawer just as a knock sounded at my door."Pamela?" Rowan’s voice came through the wood, soft but insistent."Come in," I said, my voice steadier than I felt.Rowan stepped inside, his expression hard to read. He closed the door behind him, leaning against it as if to block the outside world."Marcus just left," he began, his eyes scanning my face. "I wanted to check on you.""I’m fine," I said automatical
Last Updated : 2024-12-24Her Demand, His Desire Chapter 48: Shadows of Deception
Rowan’s words rang in my ears as I sat frozen in the chair. Lillian, involved in my mother’s death? It was almost too much to process. But the more I thought about it, the more it made a twisted kind of sense."Are you sure about this?" I asked Rowan, my voice trembling slightly.He sat down across from me, his gaze steady. "Marcus isn’t one to jump to conclusions. He has enough evidence to suspect her, but he’s still piecing everything together.""But why?" I asked, my hands gripping the arms of the chair. "Why would she do something like that?"Rowan shook his head. "That’s what we need to find out. It could be tied to Victor or something deeper."I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. "We need to confront her.""Not yet," Rowan said firmly. "We can’t let her know we’re onto her. If she’s involved, she’ll only dig herself in deeper if she feels cornered."A knock at the door interrupted us, and Rowan tensed. "Who is it?" he called."It’s Rebecca," came the reply.Rowan op
Last Updated : 2024-12-26Her Demand, His Desire Chapter 49: The Ticking Clock
Rowan paced the length of his study, his movements sharp and deliberate. I sat on the couch, gripping my hands tightly as I tried to calm the storm of anxiety brewing inside me. The villa, usually calm and imposing, now felt like a cage. Every shadow seemed to stretch too far, and every creak of the floorboards made my heart race."We can't keep doing this," I said finally, breaking the silence. My voice sounded brittle, even to my ears. "We can't just tiptoe around her."Rowan stopped, turning to face me. His expression was grim. "You think I don’t know that? But if we make a wrong move, Lillian could destroy everything. She’s powerful and cunning—more than you realize.""Then we need to stop giving her the upper hand!" I stood, my frustration boiling over. "She’s already plotting against us. Waiting only gives her more time to act."Rowan approached, his intense gaze locking onto mine. "You’re asking me to risk everything on a single play, Pamela. If we confront her without concrete
Last Updated : 2024-12-26Her Demand, His Desire Chapter 50: Web of Deceit
Back at the villa, Rowan and I moved silently through the hallways, our earlier adrenaline rush ebbing into a tense quiet. The enormity of what we had overheard still weighed heavily between us. Lillian wasn’t just scheming; she was deep in dealings with remnants of Victor’s criminal network. And now, we were tangled in her web.I glanced at Rowan, whose jaw was set like stone. He was always so composed, but tonight, his mask was cracking."Rowan," I said softly as we reached the study.He turned sharply to face me. "What?""We can’t keep brushing this off," I said, my voice firm despite my nerves. "What if they figure out we were there? What if they come after us?"His expression softened, but only slightly. "They won’t. Not yet. Lillian doesn’t strike until she’s sure of her target.""And you’re sure of that because...?" I challenged, crossing my arms."Because I know how she operates," he replied, his voice steady but low. "She thrives on control. If she’s not certain who was in the
Last Updated : 2024-12-26Her Demand, His Desire Chapter 51: The Edge of Deception
The ride back to the villa was suffocating. Rowan’s grip on the steering wheel was ironclad, his knuckles white from tension. The stolen folder sat heavy in my lap, its contents burning in my mind like a guilty secret. Every bump in the road, every shadow outside the window felt like a harbinger of doom."Do you think they know?" I finally broke the silence, my voice barely above a whisper.Rowan’s eyes stayed fixed on the road, but his jaw clenched. "Not yet. But they’ll figure it out soon enough."I wanted to press him further, to ask what we’d do if—or when—they did, but his guarded demeanor made me hesitate. Rowan was a fortress tonight, his focus impenetrable.When we arrived back at the villa, the house was eerily quiet. The usual staff seemed to have disappeared, leaving the grand hallways and towering ceilings feeling like an echo chamber. Rowan led the way to his study, motioning for me to follow.Once inside, he locked the door and pulled the curtains shut. "We need to go thr
Last Updated : 2024-12-26Her Demand, His Desire Chapter 52: The Ghost in the Room
Victor's sudden appearance left the room in stunned silence. Rowan’s jaw tightened, his hands clenched into fists as his gaze locked onto the man who had haunted us all. Lillian, for once, seemed genuinely caught off guard, her usually composed demeanor cracking ever so slightly.“Victor,” Rowan said coldly, breaking the silence. “You’re supposed to be dead.”Victor chuckled, the sound grating against my nerves. “You sound disappointed, Rowan. Did you miss me that much?”The board members, who had moments ago been debating Lillian’s guilt, now exchanged bewildered looks. Whispers broke out around the table, their confusion palpable.“Explain yourself,” one of the older board members demanded. “What is the meaning of this?”Victor stepped further into the room, his presence commanding as he addressed the room. “I’ve been... away. Cleaning up the mess left by others.” His eyes flicked to Rowan, then to me, a sinister glint in them that made my stomach churn. “But I’m back now, and I’m he
Last Updated : 2024-12-26Her Demand, His Desire Chapter 53: Threads of Deception
The photograph burned in my hands, its glossy surface mocking me with a possibility too outrageous to accept. My mother, alive? It defied everything I thought I knew. Rowan stood silently beside me, his jaw taut, while Rebecca paced the room in frantic circles.“She died, Pamela,” Rowan finally said, his voice low but steady. “I was there. I attended the funeral. There’s no way—”“But look at this!” I interrupted, shoving the photo toward him again. “That hospital gown, the IV drip. This picture isn’t years old, Rowan. Someone wants me to know she’s alive. Or they want me to believe it.”“Who sent it?” Rebecca interjected, grabbing the photo to inspect it more closely. “And why now, when everything is already spiraling out of c
Last Updated : 2024-12-27
Latest chapter
Her Demand, His Desire Chapter 120: Beneath the City Lights
The cool evening air wrapped around Pamela as she stood on the balcony of Rowan’s penthouse, her fingers gripping the cold steel railing. Below, the city buzzed with life, neon lights reflecting off the rain-slicked streets. It had been days since the chaos had unfolded, but the tension in the air showed no signs of dissipating. She could still feel the weight of everything that had happened pressing down on her chest. A chill crept in, and it wasn’t just from the night breeze.Rowan stepped behind her, his presence powerful yet comforting. His arms slid around her waist, pulling her against him as he pressed a soft kiss against the side of her neck. Pamela closed her eyes, leaning into him, feeling the warmth of his body chase away the cold that seeped into her bones.“You’re quiet,” he murmured, his voice laced with concern.“I’m just thinking,” she replied, tilting her head back to rest on his shoulder. “About everything.”He tightened his grip around her as if afraid she’d slip aw
Her Demand, His Desire Chapter 119: Bound by Fate
Rowan’s grip on Pamela tightened as he led her through the grand halls of his estate. The storm outside rattled the windows, the howling wind mirroring the chaos swirling inside his chest. He had spent years shielding himself from attachments, believing that power and control were the only currencies that mattered. Yet, with Pamela beside him, trembling but unwavering, he knew there was no escape from the emotions unraveling between them.The marble floors reflected the flickering candlelight that lined the walls, casting ethereal shadows in the dimly lit corridor. Rowan had built the estate to display his dominance, each room a testament to his success. But as they hurried toward his private study, the grandeur that had once impressed him faded into the background. The only thing that mattered now was the woman by his side, the pulse of her heartbeat synchronizing with his own.Pamela’s heart pounded as she matched his hurried steps. She had spent months trying to push him away, conv
Her Demand, His Desire Chapter 118: Shadows of the Past
The dim glow of the chandelier cast long, shifting shadows across the luxurious room as Pamela paced back and forth. Her heart pounded against her ribs, the weight of everything pressing down on her shoulders. The night outside was eerily quiet, yet inside, a storm raged between her thoughts and emotions.Rowan sat on the edge of the bed, watching her with an intensity that made her shiver. He was a man who had conquered boardrooms and adversaries alike, but now, faced with Pamela’s turmoil, he seemed almost vulnerable.“Pamela, please sit down,” he said softly, reaching out a hand.She halted, turning to face him, her expression a mixture of hesitation and longing. “I can’t,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around herself. “I keep thinking about everything. About us. About Joana. About what’s coming next.”Rowan exhaled, standing up and walking toward her. His presence was warm, comforting, but Pamela still felt the lingering ghost of the past between them. He gently cupped her face
Her Demand, His Desire Chapter 117: Unbreakable Ties
Rowan’s grip on Pamela tightened as they stood at the edge of the estate’s grand balcony, the city lights shimmering below like fallen stars. The weight of everything that had happened pressed heavily against them, but for once, in this moment, it felt like the world had stopped just for them.“I don’t want to lose you, Pamela,” Rowan murmured, his voice raw with emotion. “Not now, not ever.”Pamela inhaled sharply, the sincerity in his words making her heart clench. Her hands instinctively reached up to cup his face, her thumb tracing the faint scar above his eyebrow. “Then don’t let go,” she whispered, pressing her forehead against his. “I’m still here.”A shadow passed across Rowan’s face, his jaw tightening. “For how long?” His voice wavered, betraying the confidence he usually carried.Pamela frowned. “What are you talking about?”“Things aren’t as simple as we want them to be.” Rowan exhaled heavily, pulling away slightly. “I found something. Something about your father’s deal w
Her Demand, His Desire Chapter 116: Whispers of Fate
Pamela stood in the dimly lit corridor of the Hamilton estate, her heart hammering against her ribs as she tried to steady her breath. The soft glow of the chandelier above cast elongated shadows along the walls, mirroring the turbulence within her. She had spent so long running, so long trying to escape the chains that bound her to Rowan Hamilton, yet here she was—trapped once more in his world, but this time, not by force.Rowan’s voice was a low murmur behind her. “You’re trembling.”She swallowed hard, her fingers curling into fists at her sides. “No, I’m not.”He let out a quiet chuckle, stepping closer. The warmth of his presence was magnetic, drawing her in despite herself. She should resist—should put as much distance between them as possible—but she found herself standing still, waiting.“Pamela,” he murmured, his fingers brushing against her arm. The simple touch sent a jolt of electricity down her spine.She turned sharply, facing him. “What do you want, Rowan?” Her voice c
Her Demand, His Desire Chapter 115: Bound by Fate
The tension between Rowan and Pamela crackled like a live wire, charged with unspoken words and undeniable longing. The moon hung high above them, casting silver light across the vast estate, making everything look surreal, as if time itself had slowed down just for them.Pamela stood by the grand window of Rowan’s study, her arms crossed over her chest as she tried to suppress the storm of emotions raging inside her. Rowan, seated in his chair, watched her with piercing eyes, the weight of unspoken confessions heavy between them.“Say something,” she finally broke the silence, her voice barely above a whisper.Rowan ran a hand through his tousled hair, sighing. “What do you want me to say, Pamela? That I regret everything? That I should have fought harder for you?” His voice held a sharp edge, laced with frustration and something deeper—pain.Pamela turned, her gaze fierce. “I never asked you to fight for me, Rowan. But you walked away like I meant nothing. Like what we had was just
Her Demand, His Desire Chapter 114: Unraveling Fate
The dimly lit room seemed to shrink around them, filled only with the tension building between Rowan and Pamela as they stood there, their faces inches apart. For a moment, the world outside their bubble ceased to exist—no threats, no conspiracies, just the two of them bound together by something deeper than either had ever dared to acknowledge.“I don’t want to lose you,” Rowan murmured, his voice laced with desperation. His words hung in the air like a challenge, daring Pamela to let her guard down.Pamela swallowed the lump forming in her throat, her heart racing with each beat. She had fought so hard to keep her heart guarded, to resist the undeniable pull between them. But standing there, cocooned in his arms, resistance felt futile.“You won’t,” she whispered, her voice barely audible above a whisper. The words tumbled out of her mouth as if on their own, as if she was finally ready to admit to herself, to Rowan, that she couldn’t deny their connection any longer.A slow, deviou
Her Demand, His Desire Chapter 113: Unraveling Hearts
Rowan’s grip on Pamela’s hand tightened as they stepped onto the balcony, the city lights shimmering like distant stars. The cool night breeze rustled her hair, and for a moment, she let herself be lost in his warmth. There was something different about him tonight—something softer, yet still as intense as ever.“Are you sure about this?” Pamela asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Her heart pounded against her ribcage, unsure if it was from the cold or his proximity.Rowan turned to her, his dark eyes searching hers. “I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.”She swallowed hard, the weight of their shared past pressing down on her. The tension between them had always been undeniable, but tonight, it felt like it was reaching a breaking point.Before she could speak, Rowan closed the distance between them. His fingers gently traced the outline of her jaw before tilting her face up to his. “I need you to understand something,” he murmured. “You’re not just an obligation
Her Demand, His Desire Chapter 112: Unbreakable Bonds
Pamela's heart pounded as she clutched Rowan’s hand, their fingers interlaced in a silent promise neither dared to break. The air was thick with tension, but beneath it all, an undeniable pull bound them together—one neither of them could ignore anymore.Rowan’s gaze flickered to Pamela’s lips before meeting her eyes again, his breath heavy with unspoken words. “Pamela,” he murmured, his voice both desperate and tender, “I don’t want to waste any more time. Whatever happens, I want to be by your side.”Pamela’s lips parted, her heart hammering against her ribs. She had spent so much time running—from him, from her feelings, from the life she thought she could never have. But looking at him now, she saw the truth in his eyes—undeniable, unwavering. He was hers, and she was his.The moment between them crackled like a live wire, but before she could respond, the distant echo of footsteps broke the spell. Pamela tensed, her instincts sharpening. Rowan’s jaw clenched, his hand tightening
